Pipeline preview: Mengden looks to continue to star for Sounds

May 29th, 2016

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in Monday's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Austin Meadows (Pirates' No. 2)
Meadows missed the first 17 games of the season for Double-A Altoona as he recovered from an orbital fracture suffered on March 9 and then got off to a slow start upon returning, hitting .148/.213/.185 in his first 14 games back. But baseball's No. 16 overall prospect has since settled in at the plate and has collected hits in seven straight games and 12 of his last 14 for the Curve. On Memorial Day, Meadows will attempt to extend his hitting streak to eight games when Altoona takes on Bowie at 2:05 p.m. ET.

Pitcher to watch: Daniel Mengden (A's No. 14)
Mengden had a superb April with Double-A Midland as he gave up just two earned runs in 23 innings (0.78 ERA) across four starts. The performance earned the 23-year-old right-hander a promotion to Triple-A Nashville, where, amazingly, he's been even better. So far this month, Mengden has allowed just three earned runs in 34 innings (0.79 ERA) over five starts for the Sounds, and he's completed exactly seven innings in each of his last four turns. Mengden attempts to finish his impressive month when Nashville squares off against Salt Lake at 2:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV.

Duel of the day: Lucas Giolito (Nationals' No. 1) vs. Rob Kaminsky (Indians' No. 10), Harrisburg at Akron (1:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Giolito, MLB's No. 1 overall prospect, is coming off of his best start of the season on May 25, when he established season highs in both strikeouts (six) and innings pitched (seven) while allowing one run on four hits and one walk for Double-A Harrisburg. The 21-year-old right-hander has been increasingly sharp in his last four starts, posting a 1.90 ERA in 23 2/3 innings.

Kaminsky, meanwhile, will be making his first start for Akron after a back strain forced him to the disabled list on May 9. Before the injury, the 21-year-old southpaw had logged a 4.75 ERA in 30 1/3 innings (six starts) in his first taste of the Double-A level.

Monday's Top 100 prospect probables

No. 52 Jorge Lopez (Brewers' No. 3), Colorado Springs at Fresno (2:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables

A.J. Cole (Nationals' No. 7), Syracuse at Charlotte (AAA)
Clayton Blackburn (Giants' No. 11), Sacramento vs. Oklahoma City (AAA)
Brady Lail (Yankees' No. 18), Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Durham (AAA)
Chris Lee (Orioles' No. 7) vs. Tyler Eppler (Pirates' No. 28), Bowie vs. Altoona (AA)
Adalberto Mejia (Giants' No. 10), Richmond at Erie (AA)
Conner Greene (Blue Jays' No. 2) vs. Tyler Mahle (Reds' No. 11), Dunedin at Daytona (A Adv)
Spencer Adams (White Sox No. 3), Winston-Salem at Potomac (A Adv)
Sam Coonrod (Giants' No. 6) vs. Ryan Castellani (Rockies' No. 16), San Jose vs. Modesto (A Adv)
Dinelson Lamet (Padres' No. 10), Lake Elsinore vs. Stockton (A Adv)
Trevor Clifton (Cubs' No. 21), Myrtle Beach vs. Wilmington (A Adv)
Luis Lugo (Indians' No. 26), Lynchburg vs. Salem (A Adv)
Phil Bickford (Giants' No. 3), Augusta at Kannapolis (A)
Jake Woodford (Cardinals' No. 12), Peoria at Quad Cities (A)
Ryan Borucki (Blue Jays' No. 12) vs. Justin Steele (Cubs' No. 17), Lansing at South Bend (A)
Peter Lambert (Rockies' No. 13), Asheville at Hagerstown (A)
Nick Wells (Mariners' No. 19), Clinton at Burlington (A)
Sandy Baez (Tigers' No. 20), West Michigan vs. Dayton (A)
Jacob Nix (Padres' No. 8), Fort Wayne at Lake County (A)
Dario Agrazal (Pirates' No. 30), West Virginia vs. Lakewood (A)