Pipeline Preview: Watson to debut with Twins organization

August 3rd, 2017

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Cedric Mullins (Orioles' No. 5), Bowie at New Hampshire (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Mullins' three-run homer in the fifth inning accounted for all of Double-A Bowie's offense on Wednesday in their 4-3 loss against New Hampshire. The 22-year-old outfielder has made two trips to the disabled list with a hamstring injury this season, though he's been plenty productive when healthy, as indicated by his .327/.365/.564 slash line, 41 runs scored and 27 extra-base hits (10 HR) in 50 games.

MILB Video - Title: Mullins hits three-run blast - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1680338383

Pitcher to watch:Tyler Watson (Twins' No. 18), Cedar Rapids vs. Kane County (7:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Watson, 20, is set to make his first start as a member of the Twins organization after they acquired him from Washington in the Trade Deadline deal for . A tall and projectable left-hander, Watson earned All-Star honors this year in the South Atlantic League, where he'd posted a 4.35 ERA with 98 strikeouts and 24 walks in 93 innings (17 starts) prior to Monday's trade.
Duel of the day: A.J. Puk (A's No. 2) vs. Joey Lucchesi (Padres' No. 9), Midland vs. San Antonio (8 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Puk, No. 69 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list, has struggled to pitch deep into games of late, logging just 10 total innings across his past three starts for Double-A Midland. He's allowed nine earned runs in that span while allowing 11 hits and walking eight. After a dominant first half in the Class A Advanced California League, the 22-year-old lefty is 1-3 with a 6.04 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP in seven starts with the RockHounds.

Lucchesi, a fourth-round Draft pick in 2016 out of Southeast Missouri State, has enjoyed a quick rise through the Minors in his first full season, beginning the year in the California League, where he posted a 2.52 ERA with a 95-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a .194 opponents' average in 78 2/3 innings (14 starts) to earn a promotion to the Double-A level. Since joining San Antonio, the 24-year-old lefty owns a 2.52 ERA in 30 2/3 innings (five starts), giving him a 2.47 ERA in 109 1/3 frames (19 starts) this season.

MILB Video - Title: Lucchesi's seventh strikeout - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1596602083

Thursday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 14 Brent Honeywell (Rays' No. 1), Durham vs. Charlotte (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 25 Kolby Allard (Braves' No. 3), Mississippi at Mobile (7:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 46 Franklin Perez (Astros' No. 3), Corpus Christi at Frisco (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 67 (White Sox No. 8), Kannapolis at Greensboro (7 p.m. ET)
More top prospect probables
(Reds' No. 21), Louisville vs. Toledo (Triple-A)
Osmer Morales (Angels' No. 27), Salt Lake vs. Colorado Springs (Triple-A)
(Phillies' No. 28), Lehigh Valley at Rochester (Triple-A)
Dean Deetz (Astros' No. 30), Fresno at Iowa (Triple-A)
Albert Alzolay (Cubs' No. 3), Tennessee at Jackson (Double-A)
Corbin Burnes (Brewers' No. 7), Biloxi vs. Jacksonville (Double-A)
(Twins' No. 7), Chattanooga at Montgomery (Double-A)
(Blue Jays' No. 14) vs. David Hess (Orioles' No. 29), New Hampshire vs. Bowie (Double-A)
P.J. Conlon (Mets' No. 24), Binghamton vs. Trenton (Double-A)
Peter Lambert (Rockies' No. 5), Lancaster at Rancho Cucamonga (Class A Advanced)
Scott Blewett (Royals' No. 7) vs. Cody Sedlock (Orioles' No. 12), Wilmington vs. Frederick (Class A Advanced)
Roniel Raudes (Red Sox's No. 13), Salem at Myrtle Beach (Class A Advanced)
(Brewers' No. 15), Carolina at Buies Creek (Class A Advanced)
Taylor Widener (Yankees' No. 17), Tampa at St. Lucie (Class A Advanced)
Jonathan Hernandez (Rangers' No. 20), Down East at Lynchburg (Class A Advanced)
(Marlins' No. 23), Jupiter at Fort Myers (Class A Advanced)
Bryan Hudson (Cubs' No. 28), South Bend at Lake County (Class A)
Ryan Lillie (Marlins' No. 17) vs. Spencer Howard (Phillies' No. 23), Batavia vs. Williamsport (Class A Short Season)
Jackson Tetreault (Nationals' No. 17), Auburn vs. Mahoning Valley (Class A Short Season)
Alex Speas (Rangers' No. 17), Spokane vs. Eugene (Class A Short Season)
(Red Sox's No. 21), Lowell vs. Hudson Valley (Class A Short Season)
Daniel Tillo (Royals' No. 21), Burlington at Elizabethton (Rookie)