Pipeline Preview: Rutherford looks to extend hitting streak

July 17th, 2017

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Blake Rutherford (Yankees' No. 3), Charleston vs. Lakewood (11:05 a.m. ET)
Rutherford, the No. 30 overall prospect, extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a 2-for-4 performance on Sunday. Rutherford has boosted his average from .267 to .284 during the streak, and he came through in the clutch for the RiverDogs as he hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning of Charleston's 2-1 win.

Pitcher to watch: Adrian Morejon (Padres' No. 3), Tri-City vs. Boise (9:15 p.m. ET)
Morejon, the No. 88 overall prospect, is off to a strong start in his professional career. The 18-year-old has a 2.88 ERA through five starts and has notched 23 strikeouts compared to just one walk through 25 innings. Morejon is also coming off his best outing yet as he gave up four hits in six scoreless frames in his last start.

Duel of the Day: Foster Griffin (Royals' No. 20) vs Dakota Hudson (Cardinals' No. 9), Northwest Arkansas vs. Springfield (7:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Griffin has won six straight decisions, bringing his record to 7-1 with a 2.92 ERA with Northwest Arkansas. Griffin was promoted after going 4-2 with a 2.86 ERA through 10 starts with Class A Advanced Wilmington and has handled the new level well, giving up two earned runs or fewer in six of his nine starts.
Hudson has really thrived at working deep in games lately, throwing at least seven innings in six of his past eight starts. The 22-year-old has a 2.77 ERA through 16 starts this season and has surrendered one earned run or fewer in three of his past five turns.

Monday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 43 overall Kolby Allard (Braves' No. 3), Mississippi vs. Pensacola (7:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables
(Indians' No. 21), Columbus vs. Buffalo (Triple-A)
(Pirates' No. 8), Indianapolis vs. Durham (Triple-A)
(Braves' No. 18), Gwinnett vs. Lehigh Valley (Triple-A)
(Orioles' No. 11), Norfolk vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A)
Sam Howard (Rockies' No. 13), Albuquerque vs. Tacoma (Triple-A)
(D-backs' No. 1), Reno vs. Salt Lake (Triple-A)
Teddy Stankiewicz (Red Sox's No. 23), Portland vs. Trenton (Double-A)
(Rockies' No. 11), Hartford vs. Bowie (Double-A)
(Phillies No. 20), Reading vs. New Hampshire (Double-A)
Cory Taylor (Giants' No. 21), Richmond vs. Erie (Double-A)
Beau Burrows (Tigers' No. 3), Erie vs. Richmond (Double-A)
Ariel Jurado (Rangers' No. 3), Frisco vs. Corpus Christi (Double-A)
Jake Woodford (Cardinals' No. 16), Palm Beach vs. Lakeland (Class A Advanced)
Peter Lambert (Rockies' No. 5), Lancaster vs. Visalia (Class A Advanced)
Alec Hansen (White Sox No. 12), Winston-Salem vs. Lynchburg (Class A Advanced)
Ofelky Peralta (Orioles' No. 16), Frederick vs. Down East (Class A Advanced)
(Brewers' No. 11), Carolina vs. Salem (Class A Advanced)
Shaun Anderson (Red Sox's No. 16), Salem vs. Carolina (Class A Advanced)
Dennis Santana (Dodgers' No. 24), Rancho Cucamonga vs. Stockton (Class A Advanced)
Nick Neidert (Mariners' No. 3), Modesto vs. Inland Empire (Class A Advanced)
Jhonathan Diaz (Red Sox's No. 25), Greenville vs. Hickory (Class A)
Mack Lemieux (D-backs' No. 20) Kane County vs. Dayton (Class A)
Tony Santillan (Reds' No. 14), Dayton vs Kane County (Class A)
Michel Baez (Padres' No. 20), Fort Wayne vs. Peoria (Class A)
Antonio Santos (Rockies' No. 26), Asheville vs. Augusta (Class A)
Luis Escobar (Pirates' No. 12), West Virginia vs. Greensboro (Class A)
Garrett Davila (Royals' No. 16), Lexington vs. Hagerstown (Class A)
Matt Manning (Tigers' No. 1), Connecticut vs. Tri-City (Class A Short Season)
Jhoan Duran (D-backs' No. 22) Hillsboro vs. Vancouver (Class A Short Season)
Cole Ragans (Rangers' No. 8), Spokane vs. Salem-Keizer (Class A Short Season)
Huascar Ynoa (Twins' No. 22), Elizabethton vs. Greeneville (Rookie)
Elvin Rodriguez (Angels' No. 19), Orem vs. Billings (Rookie)