Pipeline Preview: Twins' Berrios to make big league debut

April 27th, 2016

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Ryan O'Hearn (Royals' No. 13)
O'Hearn extended his hitting streak to 12 games and grabbed a share of the Minor League home run lead on Tuesday night when he blasted his seventh of the season as part of the 2-for-4 performance in Class A Advanced Wilmington's loss against Carolina. The 22-year-old first baseman has homered in three of his past four contests for the Blue Rocks, and he'll look to prolong his hitting streak Wednesday when Wilmington and Carolina meet once more in a game that can be seen on MiLB.TV at 7 p.m. ET. Overall, O'Hearn, an eighth-round Draft pick in 2014, is batting .387/.434/.760 with 29 hits (14 extra-base hits) and 18 RBIs through 19 games.
Pitcher to watch: Jose Berrios (Twins' No. 1)
Berrios, No. 16 on the Top 100, will make his highly anticipated Major League debut Wednesday night when the Twins host the Indians at 8:10 p.m. ET (on MLB.TV). The 21-year-old right-hander is getting the call to join the Twins' rotation after going 2-0 in three starts for Triple-A Rochester, during which he posted a 1.06 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 20/8 K/BB ratio in 17 innings. Berrios was particularly dominant in his final start for the Red Wings, when he carried a no-hit bid into the sixth inning en route to firing seven innings of two-hit ball.
Duel of the day: Mitch Keller (Pirates' No. 14) vs. Ricardo Sanchez (Braves' No. 19)
One of the top pitchers in the Minors to begin the season, Keller already has a pair of 10-strikeout performances to his name and has has yet to allow a run through his first 15 innings (three starts) for Class A West Virginia. The 20-year-old right-hander sports a 0.47 WHIP and outstanding 23/0 K/BB ratio in that span, during which he's allowed just seven hits (all singles). Sanchez, 19, has also pitched well in the early going this season, posting a 3.86 ERA and holding opponents to a .192 average in 14 innings across three starts for Class A Rome.
Wednesday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 16 Berrios, Minnesota Twins vs. Cleveland Indians (8:10 p.m. ET on MLB.TV)
More top prospect probables

Phil Bickford (Giants' No. 3), Augusta vs. Kannapolis (A)
Reynaldo Lopez (Nationals' No. 5), Harrison Musgrave (Rockies' No. 29); Harrisburg at Hartford (AA)
Domingo Acevedo (Yankees' No. 7), Charleston at Lakewood (A)
David Paulino (Astros' No. 7), Corpus Christi vs. Midland (A Adv)
Kohl Stewart (Twins' No. 7), Jeff Brigham (Marlins' No. 28); Fort Myers at Jupiter (A Adv)
Jacob Nix (Padres' No. 9), Jake Woodford (Cardinals' No. 12), Fort Wayne vs. Peoria (A)
Casey Meisner (A's No. 9), Stockton at San Jose (A Adv)
Max Fried (Braves' No. 10), Dario Agrazal (Pirates' No. 30); Rome at West Virginia (A)
Zach Eflin (Phillies' No. 13), Lehigh Valley at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA)
Ariel Jurado (Rangers' No. 13), High Desert at Lake Elsinore (A Adv)
Chase Johnson (Giants' No. 14), Richmond at Bowie (AA)
Steven Brault (Pirates' No. 17), Indianapolis at Norfolk (AAA)
Justin Steele (Cubs' No. 17), South Bend at Quad Cities (A)
Josh Staumont (Royals' No. 18), Wilmington at Carolina (A Adv)
Nick Wells (Mariners' No. 18), Clinton at Bowling Green (A)
Bubba Derby (Brewers' No. 21), Brevard County vs. Lakeland (A Adv)
John Gant (Braves' No. 22) Gwinnett at Toledo (AAA)
Angel Perdomo (Blue Jays' No. 23), Lansing at Beloit (A)
Sam Wolff (Rangers' No. 26), Frisco vs. San Antonio (AA)
Ty Buttrey (Red Sox's No. 26), Portland at Binghamton (AA)
Chris Flexen (Mets' No. 28), St. Lucie at Charlotte (A Adv)
Kyle Wilcox (Mariners' No. 28), Clint at Bowling Green (A)
Josh Taylor (D-backs' No. 28), Visalia vs. Modesto (A Adv)
Pedro Payano (Rangers' No. 29), Hickory vs. Greensboro (A)
Andrew Morales (Cardinals' No. 30), Springfield vs. Northwest Arkansas (AA)