Baseball Prospects, Part 1

Some interesting prospects have hit the majors this season, and a few big ones recently.

Jordan Schafer, OF, Atlanta Braves
Schafer surprisingly won the starting CF job out of Spring Training, and promptly had a great first week. He has since cooled off considerably, striking out 59 times in 156 AB's. Very raw, but he's flashed some power and some leather at a premium defensive position.

Rick Porcello, SP, Detroit Tigers
Only 20 years old, some thought the Tigers rushed Porcello. If you glance at his current numbers, they won't impress you. But his last 4-5 starts have shown glimpses of his immense potential. You have to like the high ground ball rates. He has delivered and will only keep getting better. He may even push Verlander for the ace label down the road.

Elvis Andrus, SS, Texas Rangers
Texas clearly wanted to get better defensively this year, giving the SS job to Andrus, even though they knew he would probably struggle offensively. He has, although that is showing positive signs of life. His glove has been spectacular; he's already one of the premier defensive SS in the game. Really special talent.

Trevor Cahill, SP, Oakland, Athletics
Oakland just parades young pitching out year after year, and Cahill is part of the next bumper crop. He's shown flashes of his #2, #3 starter potential, but thus far has been inconsistent.

Brett Anderson, SP, Oakland Athletics
Another of the Oakland stable, Anderson is the lefty to Cahill's righty. He has also been inconsistent, and on a lower performance level. His last two starts provide hope for the future.

Taylor Teagarden, C, Texas Rangers
Teagraden absolutely tore up the minors before making the big league team this year, mostly because Gerald Laird was sent to the Rangers. Jarrod Saltalamacchia has the starting job, and Teagrden's AB's have been few.

Travis Snider, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
Drafted out of high school in Tacoma, WA, Snider flew through the minors before making the big league team out of spring. He tore it up early on, but ended up slumping so bad that Toronto has sent him back the minors for more seasoning.

Jordan Zimmermann, SP, Washington Nationals
Zimmermann won the #5 starter job out of spring, but the Nationals didn't need a fifth starter for about a month, prolonging his anticipated debut. Once his .362 BABIP comes down, and his 64.4% strand rate goes up, expect Zimmermann to put up some fantastic numbers. He's got all the makings of a dominant power pitcher, already evidence by his high K/9 and low BB/9.

Josh Outman, SP, Oakland Athletics
An unheralded addition to the Blanton deal, Outman has been a nice surprise this year. He put together another good start tonight. I wouldn't expect it to continue however.

Dexter Fowler, OF, Colorado Rockies
Fowler is another gazelle manning CF in the major leagues. His 5-steal game put his speed on the map.

Cameron Maybin, OF, Florida Marlins
Maybin is a heralded prospect who got a shot out of spring training, didn't do much with it, and finds himself back in the minors. We'll see if his physical talents ever translate into on field production.

Shairon Martis, SP, Washington Nationals
Martis has had a great start to the season, but with unsustainable BABIP and strand rate numbers, expect a regression. He still factors heavily into Washington's future rotation.