Who's Next?

Tommy Hanson, SP, Atlanta Braves
He's easily the best pitching prospect who's the closest to the majors. He's polished, with power stuff. Get excited Braves fans.

Neftali Feliz, SP, Texas Rangers
Feliz is another power righty. He's more raw than Hanson, but might have more upside. When Holland and Feliz are entrenched in the Rangers' rotation, the Rangers will be a force to be reckoned with.

Carlos Carrasco, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies rotation has been awful, and now Brett Myers is done for the year. JA Happ has been nice filling in, and now Antonio Bastardo is being called upon. Why not Carrasco? Perhaps because he's currently pitching terrible in the minors. We'll see if he turns it around, because he has more upside than Happ or Bastardo. Think the Phillies would like Josh Outman right now?

Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
Nyjer Morgan and Nate McLouth have been great in the outfield for the Bucs, combining for 2.9 WAR. But any combination of Brandon Moss, Eric Hinske, and Delwyn Young would be improved upon by promoting McCutchen. McCutchen would be at least as good as Dexter Fowler, with a lot more upside. This should happen soon.

Chris Tillman, SP, Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore continues to reap the benefits of the Erik Bedard trade. Tillman is tearing up the minors and should provide a boost to the awful Orioles rotation when he arrives. Baltimore has some interesting arms in the majors between Brad Bergesen, Jason Berken, David Hernandez, and Rich Hill. With Tillman, Brian Matusz, and Jake Arrieta on the way, the Orioles may yet find themselves out of the basement in the AL East sometime in the next decade.

Josh Vitters, 3B, Chicago Cubs
Vitters is having himself a season in the minors, hitting .356/.392/.633. The Cubs are content to replace Aramis Ramirez with Mike Fontenot, but at some point we may see Vitters.

Alcides Escobar, SS, Milwaukee Brewers
While Escobar did not immediately get the call when Rickie Weeks was lost for the season, he did begin playing more games at 2B, instead of his usual SS. A defensive whiz with a subpar bat, Elvis Andrus maybe?, Escobar still has some work to do with the bat before making it to the majors.

Madison Bumgerner, SP, San Francisco Giants
He's got a 1.90 FIP, and a 4 K/BB in AA. He is the best pitching prospect in the minors. Tim Lincecum, Matt, Cain, Bumgerner, Jonathan Sanchez, and Tim Alderson would be a truly fearsome bunch.

Vince Mazzaro, SP, Oakland Athletics
Mazzaro will make his ML debut today. He's pitched well in AAA. Oakland just keeps parading young pitcher to the majors. Braden, Outman, and Eveland are 25 or 26; Anderson and Cahill are 21.

Stephen Strasburg, SP, ???(Washington Nationals)
Enough has already been written about him. He's being called the best prospect anyone alive has ever seen. He's better than AJ Burnett right now. He struck out 19 per 9 IP this year. Let's hope he's Doc Gooden, Roger Clemens, or Tim Lincecum, not Mark Prior, Ben McDonald, Kerry Wood, and Brien Taylor.