Pipeline preview: Rangers’ Cordell, Red Sox’s Espinoza in action

Here’s a look at top prospects to watch in today’s Minor League action:

Hitter to watch: Ryan Cordell (Rangers’ No. 15) Cordell, who enters tonight’s contest leading all Minor Leaguers in slugging (.720), continues to rake. The 24-year-old out of Liberty hit two home runs Monday to up his total to eight and now has reached in all 29 games this season, plus 32 straight dating back to last year. Cordell has always flashed power — he totaled 31 homers in his first two full pro seasons — but this year the outfielder is hitting .355, well above the .217 mark he posted last season in Double-A. Cordell leads Frisco against Midland at 8:05 p.m. ET in a game that can be seen on MiLB.TV.Top Prospects: Cordell, TEX Top Prospects: Ryan Cordell, OF, Rangers2016 MLB.com Top Prospects: Ryan Cordell has the bat speed and strength to hit for power and has showed the feel for hitting

Pitcher to watch: Anderson Espinoza (Red Sox’s No. 4) Eighteen-year-old Espinoza, MLBPipeline.com’s No. 35 overall, is coming off a career-high 11 strikeouts in his last start against Augusta. He also matched his career highs in pitches (78) and innings (five). He’s struggled a bit with command so far this season — twice issuing three walks — but the stuff is there. His pitch mix (a fastball that sits 94-97 mph, tight curveball and sinking changeup) and slight build (6-foot, 160 pounds) has led to Pedro Martinez comparisons. Espinoza makes the start as Greenville meets Columbia at 2 p.m. ET on …

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