Prospect preview: Kopech makes Double-A debut

April 8th, 2017

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: (Cubs' No. 2), Iowa at Oklahoma City (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Happ, No. 26 on MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects list, connected on his first Triple-A home run on Friday to help lead Iowa past Oklahoma City, 7-5. The 22-year-old switch-hitter started at second base and batted third for the Cubs, finishing 1-for-4 with two runs scored.

Pitcher to watch: (White Sox No. 3), Birmingham at Jackson (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Kopech, 20, will be making his Double-A debut when he takes the mound for Birmingham on Saturday. The No. 15 overall prospect was electric in his final Spring Training outing, recording five of his six outs via the strikeout while hitting triple digits with his fastball numerous times. Overall, Kopech fanned 11 batters in six innings across three spring outings.

Duel of the day: (Royals' No. 3) vs. Brandon Woodruff (Brewers' No. 8), Omaha at Colorado Springs (6 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
The Royals believe the 23-year-old Staumont is ready for the Triple-A level after his breakout second half last season at Double-A Northwest Arkansas and strong showing in the Arizona Fall League. In three games (two starts) this past spring, the hard-throwing righty yielded one earned run on five hits, with two walks and eight strikeouts in six innings.

Woodruff dominated across the Class A Advanced and Double-A levels last year, posting a 2.68 ERA and leading all Minor League hurlers with 173 strikeouts en route to the Brewers' Minor League pitcher of the year award. Should the 24-year-old right-hander pick up where he left off, it may not be long until he's pitching in the big leagues.

Saturday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 10 (White Sox No. 2) vs. Chris Lee (Orioles' No. 7), Charlotte vs. Norfolk (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 46 Mitch Keller (Pirates' No. 3), Bradenton vs. Charlotte (6:30 p.m. ET)
No. 51 Kolby Allard (Braves' No. 3), Mississippi vs. Jacksonville (7 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 54 (Rangers' No. 2) vs. (Cardinals' No. 14), Frisco vs. Springfield (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 58 (Nationals' No. 2) vs. Brandon Waddell (Pirates' No. 19), Harrisburg vs. Altoona (6 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 74 Dylan Cease (Cubs' No. 3), South Bend vs. West Michigan (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables
(Red Sox's No. 12) vs. (Phillies' No. 17), Pawtucket at Lehigh Valley (Triple-A)
(Indians' No. 15), Columbus at Louisville (Triple-A)
Matt Koch (D-backs' No. 17), Reno at Fresno (Triple-A)
(Rays' No. 18), Durham at Gwinnett (Triple-A)
(Pirates' No. 27), Indianapolis vs. Toledo (Triple-A)
Chris Ellis (Cardinals' No. 28), Memphis at New Orleans (Triple-A)
John Means (Orioles' No. 26), Bowie at Akron (Triple-A)
(Twins' No. 4), Chattanooga vs. Mobile (Double-A)
Trevor Clifton (Cubs' No. 7) vs. (Reds' No. 19), Tennessee at Pensacola (Double-A)
(Yankees' No. 8), Trenton at Erie (Double-A)
(Royals' No. 9) vs. (Padres' No. 17), NW Arkansas vs. San Antonio (Double-A)
(Blue Jays' No. 6) vs. (Mets' No. 24), New Hampshire vs. Binghamton (Double-A, 5:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
(Giants' No. 13) vs. (Rockies' No. 16), Richmond vs. Hartford (Double-A)
(A's No. 15), Midland vs. Tulsa (Double-A)
Jalen Beeks (Red Sox's No. 28), Portland vs. Reading (Double-A)
Cody Sedlock (Orioles' No. 2) vs. Kodi Medeiros (Brewers' No. 18), Frederick vs. Carolina (Class A Advanced)
Justin Dunn (Mets' No. 3), St. Lucie at Palm Beach (Class A Advanced)
Franklyn Kilome (Phillies' No. 5) vs. TJ Zeuch (Blue Jays' No. 7), Clearwater at Dunedin (Class A Advanced)
Scott Blewett (Royals' No. 5), Wilmington vs. Potomac (Class A Advanced)
Logan Shore (A's No. 9) vs. Mitchell White (Dodgers' No. 11), Stockton vs. Rancho Cucamonga (Class A Advanced)
Peter Lambert (Rockies' No. 10), Lancaster vs. Visalia (Class A Advanced)
Domingo Acevedo (Yankees' No. 14) vs. Spencer Turnbull (Tigers' No. 15), Tampa at Lakeland (Class A Advanced)
Drew Harrington (Braves' No. 25), Florida vs. Daytona (Class A Advanced)
Brady Aiken (Indians' No. 5), Lake County vs. Dayton (Class A)
(White Sox No. 10), Kannapolis vs. Lakewood (Class A)
Matthias Dietz (Orioles' No. 13) vs. Michael Shawaryn (Delmarva at Greenville)
Patrick Murphy (Blue Jays' No. 17), Lansing vs. Great Lakes (Class A)
Brandon Miller (Mariners' No. 21), Clinton vs. Kane County (Class A)
Ronnie Williams (Cardinals' No. 25), Peoria vs. Burlington (Class A)