Pipeline preview: De La Cruz primed for full-season debut

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

Mejia streak watch: Indians No. 6 prospect Francisco Mejia aims to extend his 41-game hit streak as Lynchburg faces Winston-Salem at 6:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV.

Hitter to watch: Scott Kingery (Phillies’ No. 14), Reading at Erie (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)

Kingery collected three hits on Friday for the second time in five games since being promoted to Double-A Reading. Before moving up to the Eastern League, the 22-year-old second baseman batted .293/.360/.411 over 94 games for Class A Advanced Clearwater, tallying 35 extra-base hits including 29 doubles, 60 runs scored and 26 stolen bases (in 31 attempts) in that span.

Pitcher to watch: Oscar De La Cruz (Cubs’ No. 8), South Bend at Great Lakes (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)

After three impressive starts between the Rookie-level Arizona League and Class A Short Season Eugene, De La Cruz will make his full-season debut on Saturday for Class A South Bend. The 21-year-old right-hander was particularly dominant in his two Northwest League starts, during which he registered a 1.08 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP over eight innings, allowing five hits and two walks total while striking out exactly seven hitters in both outings. Overall, De La Cruz has fanned 16 hitters in 11 1/3 innings across the two levels.

Duel of the day: Patrick Murphy (Blue Jays’ No. 17) vs. Hansel Rodriguez (Padres’ No. 20), Vancouver vs. Tri-City (10:05 p.m. ET)

Murphy is finally healthy this year and back on the mound for the first time since 2014, before he underwent surgery to have a rib removed as well as one to remove a nerve in his right elbow. The 21-year-old right-hander has already regained his pre-surgery velocity (and then some) and is pitching well for Class A Short Season Vancouver, as he enters the day having …

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