Pipeline Preview: Matias looks to continue power surge
Royals' No. 3 prospect has three homers in two games
Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Pitcher to watch: JoJo Romero (Phillies' No. 8), Reading vs. Erie (6:15 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
The Phillies' fourth-round pick in the 2016 Draft, Romero enjoyed a breakout full-season debut last year as he garnered midseason All-Star honors in the Class A South Atlantic League before moving up to Class A Advanced Clearwater. Logging 129 innings over 23 starts across the two levels, the 21-year-old left-hander posted a 10-3 record with a 2.16 ERA and 128 strikeouts while holding hitters to a .223 average. He'll be making his Double-A debut when he takes the mound Saturday for Reading.
Hitter to watch: Seuly Matias (Royals' No. 3), Lexington vs. Charleston (6:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Matias' power was on full display Thursday as he belted a pair of solo home runs in his full-season debut for Class A Lexington. The 19-year-old outfielder tacked on another long ball Friday, hitting a two-run shot as part of a 2-for-4, three-RBI performance for the Legends.
Duel of the day: Stephen Gonsalves (Twins' No. 3) vs. Jordan Stephens (White Sox No. 22), Chattanooga vs. Birmingham (7:15 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Gonsalves, MLB Pipeline's No. 79 overall prospect, takes the ball for his first start of 2018 after going 9-5 with a 3.27 ERA in 20 games last season. The lefty struggled a bit in Triple-A, but had good success with the Lookouts last season, going 8-3 with a 2.68 ERA over 15 starts.
Stephens will also be back in Double-A for the second straight season. The right-hander, a fifth-round pick back in 2015, went 3-7 last year, but posted a 3.14 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Stephens struck out 83 and pitched 91 2/3 innings after missing the first two months of the season with forearm tendinitis.
MILB Video - Title: Stephens' notches a K - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1462153483
Saturday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 50 Adrian Morejon (Padres' No. 6), Lake Elsinore at Stockton (9:10 p.m. ET)
No. 61 Dylan Cease (White Sox No. 5), Winston-Salem at Carolina (5 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 69 Corbin Burnes (Brewers' No. 2), Colorado Springs at Omaha, Game 2 (on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables
Sandy Alcantara (Marlins' No. 3), New Orleans vs. Nashville (Triple-A)
Jaime Barria (Angels' No. 7), Salt Lake vs. Albuquerque (Triple-A)
Yohander Mendez (Rangers' No. 7) vs. Austin Gomber (Cardinals' No. 14), Round Rock vs. Memphis (Triple-A)
Chris Flexen (Mets' No. 9), Las Vegas vs. El Paso (Triple-A)
David Hess (Orioles' No. 18), Norfolk vs. Gwinnett (Triple-A)
Thomas Hatch (Cubs' No. 7), Tennessee at Mississippi (Double-A)
Logan Allen (Padres' No. 8) vs. Chase De Jong (Mariners' No. 21), San Antonio at Arkansas (Double-A)
Keegan Akin (Orioles' No. 9), Bowie vs. Harrisburg (Double-A)
Scott Blewett (Royals' No. 9), NW Arkansas vs. Corpus Christi (Double-A)
Dillon Tate (Yankees' No. 11) vs. Jordan Johnson (Giants' No. 29), Trenton vs. Richmond (Double-A)
Jesus Tinoco (Rockies' No. 14), Hartford vs. New Hampshire (Double-A)
Conner Greene (Cardinals' No. 21), Springfield at Midland (Double-A)
Brandon Waddell (Pirates' No. 28), Altoona vs. Akron (Double-A)
Cody Sedlock (Orioles' No. 12) vs. Bryan Hudson (Cubs' No. 24), Frederick at Myrtle Beach (Class A Advanced)
Bryse Wilson (Braves' No. 13), Florida vs. Daytona (Class A Advanced)
Jonathan Loaisiga (Yankees' No. 14), Tampa vs. Lakeland (Class A Advanced)
Jordan Sheffield (Dodgers' No. 18), Rancho Cucamonga at Visalia (Class A Advanced)
McKenzie Mills (Phillies' No. 23), Clearwater at Dunedin (Class A Advanced)
Jackson Tetreault (Nationals' No. 15), Hagerstown at Rome (Class A)
A.J. Alexy (Rangers' No. 17), Hickory at Greensboro (Class A)
Spencer Howard (Phillies' No. 22), Lakewood at Kannapolis (Class A)
Mason Thompson (Padres' No. 25), Fort Wayne vs. Lake County (Class A)
Wyatt Marks (A's No. 26), Beloit at Wisconsin (Class A)
Matthias Dietz (Orioles' No. 30), Delmarva vs. Asheville (Class A)