Pipeline preview: Rangers' Cordell, Red Sox's Espinoza in action

May 10th, 2016

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Ryan Cordell (Rangers' No. 15)
Cordell, who enters tonight's contest leading all Minor Leaguers in slugging (.720), continues to rake. The 24-year-old out of Liberty hit two home runs Monday to up his total to eight and now has reached in all 29 games this season, plus 32 straight dating back to last year. Cordell has always flashed power -- he totaled 31 homers in his first two full pro seasons -- but this year the outfielder is hitting .355, well above the .217 mark he posted last season in Double-A. Cordell leads Frisco against Midland at 8:05 p.m. ET in a game that can be seen on MiLB.TV.

Pitcher to watch: Anderson Espinoza (Red Sox's No. 4)
Eighteen-year-old Espinoza, MLBPipeline.com's No. 35 overall, is coming off a career-high 11 strikeouts in his last start against Augusta. He also matched his career highs in pitches (78) and innings (five). He's struggled a bit with command so far this season -- twice issuing three walks -- but the stuff is there. His pitch mix (a fastball that sits 94-97 mph, tight curveball and sinking changeup) and slight build (6-foot, 160 pounds) has led to Pedro Martinez comparisons. Espinoza makes the start as Greenville meets Columbia at 2 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV.

Duel of the day: Erick Fedde (Nats' No. 4) vs. Max Povse (Braves' No. 26), Potomac at Carolina (7 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Fedde, MLBPipeline.com's No. 74 overall prospect, hasn't quite lived up to the hype of his No. 18 overall selection in the 2014 Draft, with a 7.15 ERA in five starts. But that's to be expected as the right-hander is embarking on his first full pro season after spending much of 2015 recovering from Tommy John surgery. Fedde has surrendered a lot of hits (27 in 22 2/3 innings), but he has also flashed put-away stuff (29 strikeouts).

Povse is a big right-hander, checking in at 6-foot-8, and uses his frame to generate a downhill arm angle and many ground balls. He also possesses a plus changeup and solid curveball. Povse appears to be fresh after being shut down last July, and he comes into Tuesday's matchup 2-2 with a 2.97 ERA.

Monday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 12 Blake Snell (Rays' No. 1), Durham vs. Buffalo (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 35 Anderson Espinoza (Red Sox's No. 4), Greenville vs. Columbia (2 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 58 Grant Holmes (Dodgers' No. 3), Rancho Cucamongo vs. Lancaster (10:05 p.m. ET)
No. 66 Mark Appel (Phillies' No. 4), Lehigh Valley at Columbus (6:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables
Austin Voth (Nationals' No. 9), Syracuse vs. Indianapolis (AAA)
Zach Lee (Dodgers' No. 22), OKC at Round Rock (AAA)
Brooks Pounders (Royals' No. 29), Omaha vs. Memphis (AAA)
Tyler Blach (Giants' No. 23), Sacramento vs. Reno (AAA)
Alec Mills (Royals' No. 14), NW Arkansas at Arkansas (AA)
Chase De Jong (Dodgers' No. 18), Tulsa vs. Springfield (AA)
Raul Alcantara (A's No. 16), Midland at Frisco (AA)
Zach Godley (D-backs' No. 26), Mobile at Mississippi (AA)
Ty Buttrey (Red Sox's No. 26), Portland at New Hampshire (AA)
Kyle Freeland (Rockies' No. 8) vs. David Hess (Orioles' No. 14), Hartford at Bowie (AA)
Kyle Crick (Giants' No. 17), Richmond vs. Harrisburg (AA)
Conner Greene (Blue Jays' No. 2), Dunedin at Clearwater (A Adv)
Josh Staumont (Royals' No. 18), Wilmington at Frederick (A Adv)
Kohl Stewart (Twins' No. 7), Fort Myers vs. Bradenton (A Adv)
Ariel Jurado (Rangers' No. 13), vs. Ryan Castellani (Rockies' No. 17) High Desert at Modesto (A Adv)
Daniel Gossett (A's No. 25), Stockton at Visaila (A Adv)
Dinelson Lamet (Padres' No. 11), Lake Elsinore vs. Inland Empire (A Adv)
Brandon Brennan (White Sox's No. 20), Winston Salem at Myrtle Beach (A Adv)
Carson Sands (Cubs' No. 23), South Bend at Dayton (A)
Jake Woodford (Cardinals' No. 12), Peoria at Beloit (A)
Marcos Diplan (Brewers' No. 19), Wisconsin vs. Clinton (A)