Pipeline preview: A's 1st-rounder Puk set to make pro debut

July 11th, 2016

Here's a look at top prospects to watch Tuesday in Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Lewis Brinson (Rangers' No. 2), Frisco vs. Corpus Christi (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Can he make it four in a row? Brinson has homered in each of his past three games and is hitting .423 over his past six games. The No. 13 overall prospect got off to a slow start offensively and then missed time with a strained shoulder. Now that he's healthy, Brinson is flashing the tools everyone expected and has hits in five of six games since returning to Double-A Frisco on July 6.

Pitcher to watch: A.J. Puk (Athletics' 2016 1st-round pick), Vermont vs. Auburn (7:05 p.m. ET)
Athletics fans will get their first glimpse of Puk as the 2016 No. 6 overall pick is slated to debut for Class A Short Season Vermont. Puk, who was in the mix to be the Draft's No. 1 overall pick, went 16-9 with a 3.39 ERA across 194 innings in three seasons with the University of Florida. Puk joins a Vermont club that has the best team ERA (2.37) in the New York-Penn League.

Duel of the Day: Lucas Sims (Braves' No. 11) vs. Taylor Clarke (D-backs' No. 10), Mississippi at Mobile (7:35 p.m. ET)
Sims had a rough go of it when he was promoted to Triple-A (11 games, 7.56 ERA), but has pitched better since returning to Double-A Mississippi. The 22-year-old has walked 11 over his last 15 1/3 innings, but has also struck out 19 during that span. Sims has thrown at least five innings in three consecutive starts for the first time since late April. He hasn't done it in four consecutive starts all year.

Clarke, a 23-year-old right-hander, looks to keep pitching well after a pair of terrific starts. Clarke has given up one earned run on eight hits in 15 innings in his past two outings. The D-backs' prospect has thrown at least five innings in 15 of his 17 starts and has a 3.60 ERA through his first 45 innings at the Double-A level.

Tuesday's Top 100 probables:
No. 34 Anderson Espinoza (Red Sox's No. 4), Greenville vs. Greensboro (7:05 p.m. ET)
No. 98 Stephen Gonsalves (Twins' No. 5), Chattanooga at Tennessee (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables:
Gage Hinsz (Pirates' No. 23), West Virginia vs. Augusta (Class A)
Brian Gonzalez (Orioles' No. 23), Delmarva at Columbia (Class A)
Ricardo Sanchez (Braves' No. 17), Rome at Charleston (Class A)
Jordan Holloway (Marlins' No. 14), Batavia at Williamsport (Class A Short Season)
Kevin Steen (Red Sox No. 25), Lowell vs. Staten Island (Class A Short Season)