Pipeline preview: Mejia looks to extend hit streak

June 19th, 2016

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Francisco Mejia (Indians' No. 8), Lake County at South Bend (2:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Mejia enters the day riding a 20-game hitting streak during which he's hitting .418 with five home runs and 19 RBIs. The 20-year-old switch-hitter is thriving in his second tour with Lake County, as he currently ranks second and third in the Midwest League in average (.338) and OPS (.892), respectively, through 56 games.
Pitcher to watch: Phil Bickford (Giants' No. 3), San Jose vs. Rancho Cucamonga (4 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Bickford is set to make his debut for Class A Advanced San Jose after a dominant showing at Class A Augusta to begin the season. In 11 starts for the GreenJackets, the 2015 first-rounder posted a 2.70 ERA and a 69-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 60 innings. In his latest outing, Bickford, 20, recorded his first career complete game, tossing seven innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts against Charleston.
Duel of the day: Carson Fulmer (White Sox No. 1) vs. Rob Whalen (Braves' No. 27), Birmingham vs. Mississippi (4 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
After a disastrous start to his season, Fulmer, No. 33 on the Top 100, has looked like his usual self over his past three starts for Double-A Birmingham, posting a 4.08 ERA with a 23-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 17 2/3 innings. The 22-year-old still has a ways to go to get fully get back on track, however, as he enters the day with a 3-7 record and 5.37 ERA in 13 starts overall. Whalen, meanwhile, has been extraordinary of late, with a 0.56 ERA in 32 innings across his last five starts for Mississippi. For the season, he's registered a 2.36 ERA in 72 1/3 innings across 13 starts.
Sunday's Top 100 prospect probables

No. 47 Jeff Hoffman (Rockies' No. 4), Albuquerque vs. Reno (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables

Reynaldo Lopez (Nationals' No. 5) vs. Ricardo Pinto (Phillies' No. 10), Reading at Harrisburg (AA / 1:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Taylor Guerrieri (Rays' No. 6), Montgomery vs. Chattanooga (AA)
Touki Toussaint (Braves' No. 6), Rome vs. Greensboro (A)
Kyle Freeland (Rockies' No. 7) vs. Tyler Eppler (Pirates' No. 28), Hartford at Altoona (AA)
Mike Clevinger (Indians' No. 7), Columbus at Syracuse (AAA)
Jake Jewell (Angels' No. 8), Inland Empire at Modesto (A-Advanced)
Andrew Suarez (Giants' No. 9), Richmond vs. Portland (AA)
Nick Travieso (Reds' No. 9), Pensacola vs. Mobile (AA)
Rob Kaminsky (Indians' No. 9), Akron vs. New Hampshire (AA)
Juan Hillman* (Indians' No. 10), Mahoning Valley at Auburn (Short Season)
Pierce Johnson (Cubs' No. 11), Iowa at Memphis (AAA)
Cody Reed (D-backs' No. 13), Visalia vs. Lake Elsinore (A-Advanced)
Junior Fernandez (Cardinals' No. 15), Peoria vs. Burlington (A)
Andrew Faulkner (Rangers' No. 17), Round Rock at Nashville (AAA)
Marcos Diplan (Brewers' No. 19), Wisconsin at Beloit (A)
Joan Gregorio (Giants' No. 21), Sacramento vs. El Paso (AAA)
Thad Lowry (White Sox No. 21), Winston-Salem vs. Salem (A-Advanced)
Joe Gunkel (Orioles' No. 23), Norfolk vs. Durham (AAA)
Jen-Ho Tseng (Cubs' No. 24), Tennessee at Jackson (AA)
Jonathan Hernandez (Rangers' No. 27), Hickory vs. Delmarva (A)
John Means (Orioles' No. 28), Bowie at Erie (AA)
Mitch Brown (Indians' No. 29), Lynchburg at Frederick (A-Advanced)
Matt Hall (Tigers' No 30), West Michigan at Lansing (A)
*Making 2016 debut.