Pipeline Preview: Pint looking to continue dominance

May 18th, 2017

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Bo Bichette (Blue Jays' No. 9), Lansing at South Bend (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Bichette, 19, recorded his 14th multi-hit game of the season on Wednesday, going 2-for-2 with one double, two RBIs and two walks in Class A Lansing's loss against Fort Wayne. The 2016 second-rounder leads the Midwest League in batting (.373) and ranks second in both on-base percentage (.456) and slugging (.593). He's had 18 of his 44 hits go for extra bases, including three homers, in 30 games, all the while compiling 28 runs scored and 23 RBIs.

Pitcher to watch: Mike Soroka (Braves' No. 4), Mississippi at Jacksonville (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
In his last start for Double-A Mississippi, Soroka, MLB Pipeline's No. 69 overall prospect, allowed just one hit and one walk in 6 2/3 innings after carrying a perfect game into the seventh inning. The 19-year-old righty punched out five and generated another 10 outs on the ground while throwing a season-high 89 pitches (54 strikes). Overall, Soroka has pitched to a 2.84 ERA with a 0.89 WHIP in seven starts totaling 38 innings, during which he's held opposing hitters to a .187 average.

Duel of the day: No. 44 Riley Pint (Rockies' No. 3) vs. Mike Shawaryn (Red Sox's No. 12), Asheville at Greenville (5:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Pint, ranked 44th on the Top 100, has gone three straight starts without allowing an earned run for Class A Asheville. He boasts a 1.90 ERA for the season, though control issues have kept the 19-year-old righty from working deep into games. Pint, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 Draft, has recorded more walks (18) than strikeouts (15) over 23 2/3 innings this season, and he's completed five innings just once in six starts.

Shawaryn has been a strikeout machine this season for Greenville, fanning 53 batters -- good for second place in the South Atlantic League -- in 35 innings (13.6 K/9) compared to just nine walks. The 2016 fifth-rounder owns a 1.64 ERA over his last 33 frames (six starts) since allowing nine earned runs in two innings in his season debut.

Thursday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 8 (White Sox No. 2), Charlotte at Norfolk (6:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 68 Dylan Cease (Cubs' No. 3) vs. Patrick Murphy (Blue Jays' No. 17), South Bend vs. Lansing (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 76 Forrest Whitley (Astros' No. 5) vs. (D-backs' No. 19), Quad Cities at Kane County (7:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables
Josh Staumont (Royals' No. 2), Omaha vs. Tacoma (Triple-A)
Brandon Woodruff (Brewers' No. 8) vs. Dinelson Lamet (Padres' No. 10), Colorado Springs at El Paso (Triple-A)
(Giants' No. 8), Sacramento at Oklahoma City (Triple-A)
(Indians' No. 17), Columbus vs. Indianapolis (Triple-A)
Frank Duncan (D-backs' No. 24), Reno vs. Round Rock (Triple-A)
(Twins' No. 4), Chattanooga at Biloxi (Double-A)
Sandy Alcantara (Cardinals' No. 6), Springfield vs. Tulsa (Double-A)
Jon Harris (Blue Jays' No. 8), New Hampshire vs. Trenton (Double-A)
Brad Keller (D-backs' No. 7) vs. (Rays' No. 26), Jackson at Montgomery (Double-A)
Tanner Scott (Orioles' No. 11), Bowie at Harrisburg (Double-A)
Yeudy Garcia (Pirates' No. 12) vs. P.J. Conlon (Mets' No. 22), Altoona at Binghamton (Double-A)
Patrick Weigel (Braves' No. 15), Gwinnett at Durham (Double-A)
(Tigers' No. 15), Erie vs. Reading (Double-A)
Corey Ray (Royals' No. 25), NW Arkansas at Arkansas (Double-A)
Jalen Beeks (Red Sox's No. 27), Portland vs. Hartford (Double-A)
Matt Cooper (White Sox No. 28), Birmingham vs. Tennessee (Double-A)
Eric Lauer (Padres' No. 8), Lake Elsinore at Rancho Cucamonga (Class A Advanced)
Touki Toussaint (Braves' No. 11) vs. (Yankees' No. 21), Florida vs. Tampa (Class A Advanced)
Cody Poteet (Marlins' No. 14), Jupiter at Palm Beach (Class A Advanced)
Cody Ponce (Brewers' No. 15), Carolina vs. Down East (Class A Advanced)
(Blue Jays' No. 16) vs. Genesis Cabrera (Rays' No. 28), Dunedin vs. Charlotte (Class A Advanced)
Matt Hall (Tigers' No. 17), Lakeland vs. St. Lucie (Class A Advanced)
Casey Meisner (A's No. 26), Stockton vs. Inland Empire (Class A Advanced)
Dario Agrazal (Pirates' No. 29), Bradenton at Daytona (Class A Advanced)
Juan Hillman (Indians' No. 12), Lake County vs. West Michigan (Class A)
Merandy Gonzalez (Mets' No. 14), Columbia vs. West Virginia (Class A)
Tyler Watson (Nationals' No. 17), Hagerstown vs. Lakewood (Class A)
Michael Matuella (Rangers' No. 20), Hickory at Kannapolis (Class A)
Zach Muckenhirn (Orioles' No. 27), Delmarva at Greensboro (Class A)