Pipeline preview: Brugman looks to stay hot

August 24th, 2016

Here's a look at top prospects to watch Wednesday in Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Jaycob Brugman (Athletics' No. 22), Nashville vs. Memphis (7:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Brugman appears to enjoy playing in August, as the 24-year-old is hitting .393 in 22 games this month. Brugman has hits in 20 games in that span and has two or more hits in 12, including each of the past five. Additionally, Brugman has two homers and 10 RBIs over his past four games.

Pitcher to watch:Phil Bickford (Brewers' No. 6), Brevard County vs. Clearwater (7 p.m. ET)
Bickford, MLB Pipeline's No. 60 overall prospect, is still seeking his first win since being traded to the Brewers' organization. The 21-year-old has made a trio of starts for Brevard County and has come away with mixed results. After striking out 10 in five frames on Aug. 13, Bickford struggled with command, walking six in three innings in his last start. Since the trade, Bickford has a 4.26 ERA in 12 2/3 innings.

Duel of the Day: Spencer Adams (White Sox No. 3) vs. (Rays' No. 6), Birmingham vs. Montgomery (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Adams' line from his last start (five earned runs on eight hits in seven innings) doesn't look good, but after allowing five runs in the third inning, the right-hander settled down and threw four strong frames. Adams has just six career starts at the Double-A level and hasn't given up an earned run in 13 of his past 14 innings.

Hu has also thrown the ball well lately and tied his season-high with eight strikeouts in his last outing. The 22-year-old has pitched five or more innings in 14 consecutive starts and has a 2.66 ERA in 22 Double-A starts this year.

Wednesday's Top 100 probables:

No. 60 Phil Bickford (Brewers' No. 6), Brevard County vs. Clearwater (Class A Advanced)
No. 76 Michael Kopech (Red Sox No. 5), Salem vs. Potomac (Class A Advanced)
No. 82 Mitch Keller (Pirates' No. 5), West Virginia vs. Lexington (Class A)
More top prospect probables:

(Indians' No. 13), Columbus vs. Indianapolis (Triple-A)
(Phillies' No. 18), Lehigh Valley vs. Pawtucket (Triple-A)
(Athletics' No. 30), Nashville vs. Memphis (Triple-A)
(Dodgers' No. 14), Oklahoma City vs. Colorado Springs (Triple-A)
Harrison Musgrave (Rockies' No. 26), Albuquerque vs. El Paso (Triple-A)
(Giants' No. 26), Sacramento vs. Fresno (Triple-A)
(D-backs' No. 20), Reno vs. Tacoma (Triple-A)
(Mariners' No. 28), Tacoma vs. Reno (Triple-A)
(Orioles' No. 15), Bowie vs. Trenton (Double-A)
Chance Adams (Yankees' No. 14), Trenton vs. Bowie (Double-A)
Kohl Stewart (Twins' No. 5), Chattanooga vs. Jacksonville (Double-A)
Ricardo Pinto (Phillies' No. 16), Reading vs. Akron (Double-A)
Rob Kaminsky (Indians' No. 19), Akron vs. Reading (Double-A)
Andrew Suarez (Giants' No. 8), Richmond vs. Erie (Double-A)
Brandon Woodruff (Brewers' No. 25), Biloxi vs. Mississippi (Double-A)
Chase De Jong (Dodgers' No. 17), Tulsa vs. Arkansas (Double-A)
Spencer Adams (White Sox No. 3), Birmingham vs. Montgomery (Double-A)
Chih-Wei Hu (Rays' No. 6), Montgomery vs. Birmingham (Double-A)
Ariel Jurado (Rangers' No. 8), Frisco vs. San Antonio (Double-A)
Chris Flexen (Mets' No. 30), St. Lucie vs. Charlotte (Class A Advanced)
Jordan Stephens (White Sox No. 11), Winston-Salem vs. Frederick (Class A Advanced)
Spencer Turnbull (Tigers' No. 12), Lakeland vs. Daytona (Class A Advanced)
Sandy Alcantara (Cardinals' No. 9), Palm Beach vs. Fort Myers (Class A Advanced)
Brad Keller (D-backs' No. 14), Visalia vs. Modesto (Class A Advanced)
Mike Soroka (Braves' No. 7), Rome vs. Kannapolis (Class A)
Joan Baez (Nationals' No. 25), Hagerstown vs. Delmarva (Class A)
Austin Smith (Padres' No. 27), Fort Wayne vs. Great Lakes (Class A)
Scott Blewett (Royals' No. 13), Lexington vs. West Virginia (Class A)
Cody Sedlock (Orioles' No. 1), Aberdeen vs. Staten Island (Class A Short Season)
Aaron Civale (Indians' No. 18), Mohoning Valley vs. Brooklyn (Class A Short Season)
Logan Shore (Athletics' No. 14), Vermont vs. Lowell (Class A Short Season)
Adonis Medina (Phillies' No. 17), Williamsport vs. West Virginia (Class A Short Season)
Luis Escobar (Pirates' No. 18), West Virginia vs. Williamsport (Class A Short Season)
Hansel Rodriguez (Padres' No. 19), Tri-City vs. Salem-Keizer (Class A Short Season)
Joey Wentz (Braves' No. 8), Danville vs. Greenville (Rookie)