Pipeline Preview: Humphreys takes next turn for Columbia
Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Danny Jansen (Blue Jays' No. 21), New Hampshire vs. Akron (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Jansen helped power New Hampshire past Akron on Friday by going 2-for-4 with a solo homer, his first in 16 games since being promoted to the Double-A level. The 22-year-old catcher has posted a .345 average with eight extra-base hits in that span after slashing .369/.422/.541 over 31 games with Class A Advanced Dunedin to begin his season.
Pitcher to watch: Jordan Humphreys (Mets' No. 29), Columbia vs. Charleston (Game 2 on MiLB.TV)
Humphreys allowed one unearned run on two hits with eight strikeouts over six scoreless innings in his last start to improve to 8-1 in nine turns for Class A Columbia. The Mets' 18th-round pick in the 2015 Draft, Humphreys, 20, leads the South Atlantic League in ERA (1.40), WHIP (0.66) and opponents' average (.153). What's more, Humphreys has compiled 73 strikeouts, good for third in the circuit, against just seven walks in 57 2/3 innings.
Duel of the day: Mike Soroka (Braves' No. 4) vs. Tyler Mahle (Reds' No. 7), Mississippi at Pensacola (7:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Soroka dominated in his first start this week, scattering three hits with nine strikeouts and 13 ground-ball outs over a career-high eight scoreless innings for Double-A Mississippi. MLBPipeline.com's No. 67 overall prospect has been remarkable for the M-Braves this season, posting a 7-3 record in 11 starts with a 2.73 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP and a 60-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 52 2/3 innings. Opposing hitters, meanwhile, are batting just .209 against the 19-year-old righty.
Mahle, a 22-year-old righty, is tied with Soroka for the Southern League lead in wins (7-2). He's also pacing the circuit in WHIP (0.84), is second in ERA (1.66) and ranks third in strikeouts (75). Mahle has allowed three or more earned runs just once in 12 starts, four of which have been of the scoreless variety.
Saturday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 55 Sean Reid-Foley (Blue Jays' No. 2), New Hampshire vs. Akron (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 74 Grant Holmes (A's No. 3) vs. Connor Sadzeck (Rangers' No. 10), Midland vs. Frisco (8 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 80 Stephen Gonsalves (Twins' No. 2) vs. Greg Harris (Rays' No. 27), Chattanooga at Montgomery (7:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables
Daniel Gossett (A's No. 5), Nashville at Memphis (Triple-A)
Austin Voth (Nationals' No. 7), Syracuse at Rochester (Triple-A)
Gabriel Ynoa (Orioles' No. 11), Norfolk at Durham (Triple-A)
Miguel Almonte (Royals' No. 15), Omaha vs. New Orleans (Triple-A)
Dillon Overton (A's No. 16), Tacoma vs. Las Vegas (Triple-A)
Lucas Sims (Braves' No. 18), Gwinnett vs. Charlotte (Triple-A)
Clay Holmes (Pirates' No. 19) vs. Julian Merryweather (Indians' No. 24), Indianapolis vs. Columbus (Triple-A)
Jaime Barria (Angels' No. 9) vs. Jordan Stephens (White Sox No. 14), Mobile at Birmingham (Double-A)
Andrew Suarez (Giants' No. 10), Richmond at Altoona (Double-A)
Jorge Lopez (Brewers' No. 13) vs. Joe Gunkel (Marlins' No. 27), Biloxi vs. Jacksonville (Double-A)
Duane Underwood Jr. (Cubs' No. 15), Tennessee at Jackson (Double-A)
Myles Jaye (Tigers' No. 15) vs. Trey Ball (Red Sox's No. 29), Erie at Portland (Double-A)
Parker French (Rockies' No. 20) vs. Drew Anderson (Phillies' No. 21), Hartford at Reading (Double-A)
P.J. Conlon (Mets' No. 22), Binghamton at Harrisburg (Double-A)
Keegan Akin (Orioles' No. 5), Frederick at Lynchburg (Class A Advanced)
Vladimir Gutierrez (Reds' No. 10) vs. Connor Jones (Cardinals' No. 21), Daytona vs. Palm Beach (Class A Advanced)
Mike Shawaryn (Red Sox's No. 12), Salem at Winston-Salem (Class A Advanced)
Cody Ponce (Brewers' No. 15), Carolina at Myrtle Beach (Class A Advanced)
Matt Hall (Tigers' No. 17), Lakeland vs. St. Lucie (Class A Advanced)
Jonathan Hernandez (Rangers' No. 18), Down East at Potomac (Class A Advanced)
Ian Clarkin (Yankees' No. 19) vs. Lachlan Wells (Twins' No. 26), Tampa at Fort Myers (Class A Advanced)
Jordan Romano (Blue Jays' No. 22) vs. Dario Agrazal (Pirates' No. 27), Dunedin vs. Bradenton (Class A Advanced)
Drew Harrington (Braves' No. 25), Florida at Charlotte (Class A Advanced)
Alec Hansen (White Sox No. 10) vs. Matthias Dietz (Orioles' No. 12), Kannapolis at Delmarva (Class A)
Juan Hillman (Indians' No. 11), Lake County vs. Bowling Green (Class A)
Luis Escobar (Pirates' No. 13), West Virginia vs. Greensboro (Class A)
Yennsy Diaz (Blue Jays' No. 25), Lansing at Fort Wayne (Class A)
JoJo Romero (Phillies' No. 25), Lakewood at Hagerstown (Class A)