The Chicago White Sox's second-round pick in June took the mound for the Kannapolis Intimidators (Class A) on Thursday night at Lakewood, facing one of the Phillies' hardest-throwing pitching prospects. The game turned into a pitchers' duel, with both arms showing off why they're rising on prospect lists.

Right-hander Alec Hansen, the aforementioned second-rounder out of the University of Oklahoma, was 93-96 mph for four innings Thursday night, slipping to 90-94 in the fifth and 90-92 in his final inning of work. He showed both a curveball and a slider, with the curveball easily a plus pitch, 75-77 with power and depth to it, effective even against left-handed hitters because Hansen could throw it to the inner third against them. The slider had some tilt to it but wasn't as tight as the curveball, functioning a bit more as a change of pace at 84-86 rather than a true swing-and-miss slider. He gets on top of the ball from a three-quarter slot, so he's better suited for a curveball just from the delivery. He allowed just two runs, both due to his own misplays on bunts -- he failed to cover first on one bunt attempt, then when the next batter bunted, Hansen threw the ball into right field -- and walked only two in six innings.