Pipeline preview: Newman carries hot bat into matchup

Pipeline preview: Newman carries hot bat into matchup

July 24th, 2016

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in Sunday's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Kevin Newman (Pirates' No. 11), Altoona vs. Akron (6 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Newman notched his third four-hit game of the season on Saturday, and his first since being promoted to Double-A Altoona. The 22-year-old shortstop went 4-for-4 to improve his average to .350 through 30 games for the Curve. Overall, the 2015 first-rounder has posted a .359 average, with more walks than strikeouts, over 71 games between the Class A Advanced and Double-A levels.

Pitcher to watch: (Rangers' No. 13), Frisco at Corpus Christi (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Mendez, 21, has emerged as one of the better left-handed pitching prospects this season with his success against advanced competition across three levels. Since being promoted from Class A Advanced High Desert in late May, Mendez has pitched to a 3.32 ERA with 37 strikeouts over 40 2/3 innings (eight starts) for Frisco. He also was sharp in a Triple-A spot start earlier this month, when he fired five innings of three-hit ball, striking out seven, in a win over New Orleans.

Duel of the day: Stephen Gonsalves (Twins' No. 5) vs. Paul Blackburn (Mariners' No. 23), Chattanooga at Jackson (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Gonsalves, No. 96 on the Top 100, enters the day having allowed just one earned run across his past three starts for Double-A Chattanooga. In that span, the 22-year-old left-hander has piled up 25 strikeouts in 19 innings, giving him 39 punchouts in 27 2/3 frames since being promoted to the Southern League. For the season, opposing hitters are batting just .195 against Gonsalves.

Blackburn is set to make his Mariners debut after coming over from the Cubs along with Dan Vogelbach in the trade on Thursday. The 22-year-old righty, whom the Cubs selected 56th overall in the 2012 Draft, is enjoying a breakout campaign, having posted a 3.17 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP with a strong ground-ball rate over 102 1/3 innings (18 starts) for Double-A Tennessee.
Sunday's Top 100 prospect probables

No. 17 (Braves' No. 2), Mississippi at Tennessee (5:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables

Sean Reid-Foley (Blue Jays' No. 3) vs. Michael Mader (Marlins' No. 21), Dunedin at Jupiter (Class A Advanced)
(Marlins' No. 5), New Orleans at Oklahoma City (Triple-A)
Reynaldo Lopez (Nationals' No. 5), Syracuse vs. Rochester (Triple-A)
Andrew Suarez (Giants' No. 8), Richmond at Harrisburg (Double-A)
(A's No. 9), Nashville vs. Omaha (Triple-A)
Oscar De La Cruz (Cubs' No. 9), Eugene at Vancouver (Class A Short Season)
(Marlins' No. 9), Jacksonville at Mobile (Double-A)
Foster Griffin (Royals' No. 9), Wilmington at Myrtle Beach (Class A Advanced)
Brad Keller (D-backs' No. 11), Visalia vs. Stockton (Class A Advanced)
(Padres' No. 11) vs. Zack Erwin (A's No. 21), Fort Wayne at Beloit (Class A)
Jaime Barria (Angels' No. 13), Burlington at West Michigan (Class A)
Ofelky Peralta (Orioles' No. 14), Delmarva vs. Kannapolis (Class A)
Jeremy Rhoades (Angels' No. 17), Inland Empire at San Jose (Class A Advanced)
(Braves' No. 17) vs. Gage Hinsz (Pirates' No. 23), Rome vs. West Virginia (Class A)
Sandy Alcantara (Cardinals' No. 18) vs. Carson Sands (Cubs' No. 22), Peoria at South Bend (Class A)
(Giants' No. 21), Sacramento vs. El Paso (Triple-A)
Jose Mujica (Rays' No. 24), Bowling Green at Quad Cities (Class A)
Kevin Steen (Red Sox's No. 24), Lowell at West Virginia (Class A Short Season)
Luis Lugo (Indians' No. 25), Lynchburg vs. Carolina (Class A Advanced)
Brady Rodgers (Astros' No. 26), Fresno vs. Albuquerque (Triple-A)
(Indians' No. 26), Columbus vs. Pawtucket (Triple-A)
Jonathan Hernandez (Rangers' No. 26) vs. Albert Tirado (Phillies' No. 20), Hickory at Lakewood
Tyler Eppler (Pirates' No. 28), Altoona vs. Akron (Double-A)
Brandon Woodruff (Brewers' No. 29), Biloxi at Pensacola (Double-A)
Tanner Rainey (Reds' No. 29), Dayton at Cedar Rapids (Class A)