Pipeline preview: Fulmer ready for Norfolk again

Pipeline preview: Fulmer ready for Norfolk again

September 2nd, 2016

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in Friday's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Chance Sisco (Orioles' No. 2), Norfolk at Charlotte (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Sisco had a Triple-A debut to remember on Thursday when he went 2-for-5 with five RBIs and hit an eighth-inning grand slam -- his fifth home run of the season -- to help power Norfolk past Charlotte. The 21-year-old catcher was promoted to the Minors' highest level after a strong offensive campaign in the Eastern League that saw him bat .319/.405/.422 with 33 extra-base hits.

Pitcher to watch: (White Sox No. 1), Charlotte vs. Norfolk (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Fulmer, No. 61 on the Top 100, turned in a career-best performance in his last start by firing five perfect innings for Charlotte against Norfolk -- the same team he's set to face Friday. Although the 2015 first-rounder has pitched to a 6.30 ERA over 10 innings in three starts since being optioned by the White Sox, he's permitted just one earned run in nine innings between his last two starts after a forgettable Triple-A debut.

Duel of the day: Jose De Leon (Dodgers' No. 2) vs. (Royals' No. 9), Oklahoma City at Omaha (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Few pitchers in the Minor Leagues have been throwing the ball as well as De Leon, who punched out a season-high 13 hitters -- one short of tying his career high -- and allowed just four hits in 7 2/3 scoreless innings in his last turn for Triple-A Oklahoma City. The No. 35 overall prospect was set to start for Triple-A Oklahoma City, but was scratched. Several media outlets have reported that De Leon will make his big league debut in a start on Sunday.

After a stretch of rough starts, Mills, 24, got back on track in his Sunday outing for Omaha when he allowed three hits and one walk in six scoreless innings. The right-hander posted a 2.39 ERA in 12 starts for Double-A Northwest Arkansas to earn a promotion to Omaha, where he owns a 4.67 ERA through his first 11 appearances (10 starts). For the season, Mills boasts an impressive 113-30 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 119 2/3 innings between the two levels.

Friday's Top 100 prospect probables

No. 3 (Nationals' No. 1), Syracuse at Pawtucket (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 36 (Brewers' No. 4), Colorado Springs at Iowa (8:08 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 50 (Braves' No. 3), Mississippi vs. Biloxi (8 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 65 Kolby Allard (Braves' No. 4), Rome at Augusta (7:05 p.m. ET)
More top prospect probables

(D-backs' No. 3), Reno at Tacoma (Triple-A)
Jacob Faria (Rays' No. 5), Durham at Gwinnett (Triple-A)
Kyle Freeland (Rockies' No. 7), Albuquerque at El Paso (Triple-A)
(A's No. 14), Nashville at New Orleans (Triple-A)
Kyle McGowin (Angels' No. 20), Salt Lake vs. Las Vegas (Triple-A)
(Phillies' No. 24), Lehigh Valley at Rochester (Triple-A)
(Indians' No. 30), Columbus vs. Toledo (Triple-A)
(Reds' No. 7), Pensacola at Birmingham (Double-A)
Tyler Alexander (Tigers' No. 7), Erie at Binghamton (Double-A)
Andrew Moore (Mariners' No. 10), Jackson vs. Chattanooga (Double-A)
Clay Holmes (Pirates' No. 11), Altoona at Richmond (Double-A)
Hunter Wood (Rays' No. 18) vs. Jen-Ho Tseng (Cubs' No. 26), Montgomery vs. Tennessee (Double-A)
Eric Skoglund (Royals' No. 24), NW Arkansas vs. Tulsa (Double-A)
Jalen Beeks (Red Sox's No. 29), Portland at New Hampshire (Double-A)
Junior Fernandez (Cardinals' No. 8), Palm Beach vs. Charlotte (Class A Advanced)
Zack Littell (Mariners' No. 14) vs. Casey Meisner (A's No. 24), Bakersfield at Stockton (Class A Advanced)
(Padres' No. 16), Lake Elsinore vs. High Desert (Class A Advanced)
Foster Griffin (Royals' No. 16), Wilmington at Frederick (Class A Advanced)
Elniery Garcia (Phillies' No. 20), Clearwater vs. Dunedin (Class A Advanced)
P.J. Conlon (Mets' No. 26), St. Lucie vs. Jupiter (Class A Advanced)
Beau Burrows (Tigers' No. 2), West Michigan vs. South Bend (Class A)
Nick Neidert (Mariners' No. 4), Clinton vs. Burlington (Class A)
Jordan Sheffield (Dodgers' No. 8), Great Lakes at Fort Wayne (Class A)
Tony Santillan (Reds' No. 13), Dayton vs. Lake County (Class A)
(Rockies' No. 22), Asheville vs. Hagerstown (Class A)
(D-backs' No. 28), Kane County at Quad Cities (Class A)
Jason Groome (Red Sox's No. 4), Lowell at Connecticut (Class A Short Season)
Kyle Funkhouser (Tigers' No. 6) vs. Michael Shawaryn (Red Sox's No. 22), Connecticut vs. Lowell (Class A Short Season)
Mattias Dietz (Orioles' No. 7), Aberdeen vs. Brooklyn (Class A Short Season)
Bryan Hudson (Cubs' No. 10), Eugene vs. Tri-City (Class A Short Season)
Patrick Murphy (Blue Jays' No. 19), Vancouver vs. Salem-Keizer (Class A Short Season)
Shane Bieber (Indians' No. 27), Mahoning Valley vs. State College (Class A Short Season)