Pipeline preview: Buffalo's Pompey aims to back Norris
Outfielder set to make Triple-A debut with lefty on mound vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Left-hander Daniel Norris and outfielder Dalton Pompey, the Blue Jays' Nos. 1 and 3 prospects, have been two of the breakout stars of this Minor League season. They began 2014 with Class A Advanced Dunedin and, after an All-Star first half, earned a promotion to Double-A New Hampshire. They kept going with the Fisher Cats, earning spots on the U.S. roster in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.
Norris soon earned another promotion, joining Triple-A Buffalo last month. A brief stint on the disabled list due to an injured quad slowed Pompey down slightly. However, after hitting a home run in his return to the Fisher Cats' lineup Tuesday, he, too, was promoted to Buffalo.
When Buffalo welcomes Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for the start of an two-game series on Thursday, Pompey will make his Triple-A debut with Norris on the mound. The game, which begins at 7:05 p.m. ET, can be seen on MiLB.TV.
Norris will be making his first start at Coca-Cola Field after making his first two for the Bisons on the road. In his two Triple-A starts, Norris has struck out 23 batters and held opponents to one run on five hits and one walk in 11 2/3 innings.
Across all three levels this season, Norris, ranked No. 28 on MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects list, is 11-1 with a 2.22 ERA. He has struck out 148 batters and walked 36 in 113 2/3 innings.
Pompey, No. 91 on the Top 100, carries an 11-game hitting streak into his Triple-A debut. Overall this season, Pompey is hitting .312/.391/.472 with nine home runs and 37 stolen bases in 101 games.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre features second baseman Robert Refsnyder, the Yankees' No. 6 prospect. Like Norris and Pompey, Refsnyder has had a breakout season in 2014. Refsnyder began the year with Double-A Trenton and was promoted to Triple-A in June. Between the two levels, Refsnyder is hitting .323/.387/.509 with 14 home runs.
In addition to Norris, several other pitchers ranked in the Top 100 are scheduled to start Thursday, including Archie Bradley (No. 11), Henry Owens (No. 23), Mark Appel (No. 44), Touki Toussaint (No. 81), Michael Feliz (No. 95) and Rob Kaminsky (No. 97).
Owens, Boston's No. 2 prospect, will be making his fourth start for Triple-A Pawtucket when he takes the mound against Lehigh Valley. After throwing 6 2/3 scoreless innings in his Triple-A debut, the left-hander hasn't been quite as sharp in his last two starts, giving up eight runs on 14 hits and two walks in 11 innings. Thursday, Owens will face third baseman Maikel Franco, the Phillies' No. 3 prospect and No. 57 on the Top 100. Franco enters Thursday hitting .245/.289/.395 with 12 home runs in 120 games this season. Fans can watch the matchup on MiLB.TV at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Top prospect probables
Victor Alcantara (Angels' No. 13), Burlington vs. Cedar Rapids
Miguel Almonte (Royals' No. 5), Wilmington at Myrtle Beach
Appel (Astros' No. 2), Corpus Christi at Midland
Ty Blach (Giants' No. 6), Richmond vs. New Britain
Scott Blewett (Royals' No. 11), Burlington vs. Bristol
Bradley (D-backs' No. 1), Mobile vs. Mississippi
Tyler Danish (White Sox No. 7), Winston-Salem vs. Salem
Feliz (Astros' No. 7), Quad Cities at Beloit
Jarlin Garcia (Marlins' No. 12), Greensboro at Hagerstown
Taylor Jungmann (Brewers' No. 10), Nashville vs. Fresno
Kaminsky (Cardinals' No. 2), Peoria vs. Wisconsin
Nate Karns (Rays' No. 15), Durham vs. Norfolk
Mike Kickham (Giants' No. 19), Fresno at Nashville
Zach Lee (Dodgers' No. 6), Albuquerque at Colorado Springs
Jorge Lopez (Brewers' No. 8), Brevard County at Tampa
Michael Lorenzen (Reds' No. 4), Pensacola at Jacksonville
Luis Lugo (Indians' No. 19), Lake County vs. Fort Wayne
Norris (Blue Jays' No. 1), Buffalo vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Roberto Osuna (Blue Jays' No. 5), Dunedin vs. Lakeland
Owens (Red Sox's No. 2), Pawtucket vs. Lehigh Valley
Ariel Pena (Brewers' No. 20), Nashville vs. Fresno
Adam Plutko (Indians' No. 17), Carolina vs. Frederick
Eduardo Rodriguez (Orioles' No. 9), Portland at Harrisburg
Victor Sanchez (Mariners' No. 13), Jackson at Huntsville
Jake Thompson (Rangers' No. 6), Frisco vs. San Antonio
Lewis Thorpe (Twins' No. 9), Cedar Rapids at Burlington
Toussaint (D-backs' No. 3), Missoula at Billings
Logan Verrett (Mets' No. 20), Las Vegas vs. New Orleans
Joe Wieland (Padres' No. 18), El Paso at Oklahoma City
Tom Windle (Dodgers' No. 7), Rancho Cucamonga at Visalia
Mike Wright (Orioles' No. 7), Norfolk at Durham