This is an exciting time in baseball. Nate McLouth was traded to the Braves, bolstering the Braves putrid outfield offense. This clears a spot for Andrew McCutchen with the big league club. He'll be exciting to watch.
The White Sox will DFA Wilson Betemit and call up Gordon Beckham. This is a surprise to see Beckham so soon.
Tommy Hanson will be called up by the Braves. He's an elite starting pitcher, with more acclaim than Kris Medlen and far more than Anthony Swarzak, Vin Mazzaro, or Antonio Bastardo.
Oh, and the MLB draft starts on Tuesday.
Showing posts with label Tommy Hanson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tommy Hanson. Show all posts
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Baseball Prospects, Part 3
Kris Medlen, SP, Atlanta Braves
Played second fiddle to Tommy Hanson in the minors, but got the call to the bigs earlier. The upside is Kevin Slowey with strikeouts so there's a lot to get excited about here.
Anthony Swarzak, SP, Minnesota Twins
Pitched great in the minors, and has continued it in two starts with the big club. His FIP indicates that he's been mighty lucky. I don't think he's a ML starting pitcher.
David Hernandez, SP, Baltimore Orioles
Tons of production without the tools, Hernandez made his ML debut last night. He pitched well, and should figure as a back end rotation pitcher, which is better than almost everything the Orioles currently have.
Fernando Martinez, OF, New York Mets
Widely anticipated for a long time, his debut flew under the radar; sort of anticlimactic given his lax production in the minors. He's begun his career 0/7 and we'll see if the fantastic tools ever translate into Hanley Ramirez meets Justin Upton.
Jake Fox, 3B, Chicago Cubs
Sort of a AAAA player; this years Nelson Cruz perhaps? Needless to say, the Cubs would be thrilled if he produced anything like Cruz. Only time will tell if Fox is a legitimate major leaguer.
Matt Wieters, C, Baltimore Orioles
The most anticipated debut since at least David Price last year. All of Wieters' tools are major league ready. Comparisons have already been made to Mike Piazza. This kid is really, really special
Played second fiddle to Tommy Hanson in the minors, but got the call to the bigs earlier. The upside is Kevin Slowey with strikeouts so there's a lot to get excited about here.
Anthony Swarzak, SP, Minnesota Twins
Pitched great in the minors, and has continued it in two starts with the big club. His FIP indicates that he's been mighty lucky. I don't think he's a ML starting pitcher.
David Hernandez, SP, Baltimore Orioles
Tons of production without the tools, Hernandez made his ML debut last night. He pitched well, and should figure as a back end rotation pitcher, which is better than almost everything the Orioles currently have.
Fernando Martinez, OF, New York Mets
Widely anticipated for a long time, his debut flew under the radar; sort of anticlimactic given his lax production in the minors. He's begun his career 0/7 and we'll see if the fantastic tools ever translate into Hanley Ramirez meets Justin Upton.
Jake Fox, 3B, Chicago Cubs
Sort of a AAAA player; this years Nelson Cruz perhaps? Needless to say, the Cubs would be thrilled if he produced anything like Cruz. Only time will tell if Fox is a legitimate major leaguer.
Matt Wieters, C, Baltimore Orioles
The most anticipated debut since at least David Price last year. All of Wieters' tools are major league ready. Comparisons have already been made to Mike Piazza. This kid is really, really special
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
