Every Team's Most Disappointing Prospect of 2014
With September call-ups out of the way and the minor league playoffs winding down, it’s time to reflect on each organization’s minor league season.
Earlier this week we broke down the season’s top players from each level by position, offering an indirect look at baseball’s best prospects. Today, however, we’re taking a different approach by analyzing each club’s most disappointing prospect from the 2014 season.
To be clear, a prospect that qualifies as a “disappointment,” is one that struggled to live up to his preseason hype—meaning he likely was ranked or touted as one of his team’s better prospects headed into the season—and failed to progress from a developmental standpoint. It's also worth mentioning that labeling a prospect as a “disappointment” based on one season does not mean he’s a bust.
While statistics served as the primary source for determining which players to include in the article, we also considered things such as injuries, park factors and strength of competition.
Here is every team’s most disappointing prospect of 2014.
Baltimore Orioles: C/DH Michael Ohlman
1 of 30
2014 Stats (AA): .236/.310/.318, 28 XBH (2 HR), 33 RBI, 43 BB, 86 K (113 G)
An 11th-round draft pick in 2009 out of a Florida high school, Ohlman’s professional career really didn’t take off until mid-2012 after he returned from a 50-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
The 23-year-old turned in a breakout performance the following year at High-A, batting .313/.410/.524 with 29 doubles, 13 home runs and 93/56 strikeout-to-walk ratio while playing in 100 games for only the second time in his career.
However, Ohlman struggled this year in his first taste of Double-A, as he failed to hit both for average (.236) and power (.082 ISO). Both of Ohlman’s home runs came in May, and he finished the season with 270 at-bats without a long ball.
Boston Red Sox: LHP Trey Ball
2 of 30
2014 Stats (A): 5-10, 100 IP, 4.68 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, .280 BAA (9 HR), 39 BB, 68 K (22 GS)
Ball, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2013 draft, had a rough start to his full-season debut at Low-A Greenville, posting a 6.59 ERA with 81 hits allowed in 57.1 innings. However, the 20-year-old left-hander (in his age-19 season) turned things around over his final eight starts of the season, as he pitched to a 2.11 ERA over 42.2 innings and held opposing hitters to a .199/.271/.311 batting line.
Ball was considered one of the more raw pitchers in the draft, so his struggles this season wasn’t particularly surprising. His strong second half gives him momentum headed into 2015, and he’s likely to open the year at High-A Salem.
New York Yankees: OF Mason Williams
3 of 30
2014 Stats (AA): .223/.290/.304, 27 XBH (5 HR), 40 RBI, 21 SB, 47 BB, 68 K (128 G)
Once viewed as the Yankees’ top prospect, Mason Williams’ stock has declined significantly since he batted .298/.346/.474 with 37 extra-base hits and 20 steals across both A-ball levels in 2012.
Williams batted .153 in 17 games at Trenton in 2013 after an August promotion, and his struggled carried over this year in his first full season at the level, batting just .223 with a .290 on-base percentage over 563 plate appearances.
Though the 23-year-old once again made consistent contact and posted solid strikeout (12.1 percent) and walk (8.3 percent) rates, his combination of a shaky approach and poor pitch selection limits his hit tool potential.
Tampa Bay Rays: SS Hak-Ju Lee
4 of 30
2014 Stats (AAA): .203/.287/.276, 14 XBH (4 HR), 23 RBI, 12 SB, 37 BB, 86 K (93 G)
Hak-Ju Lee, 23, appeared to be on the fast track to the major leagues with his hot start at Triple-A in 2013, but a severe knee injury ultimately ended the shortstop’s promising season after only 15 games.
Assigned back to Triple-A for the 2014 season, Lee never got things going at the plate as he was picked apart by International League pitchers and struggled to both make quality contact and get on base.
It could take a while for him to get back to his career batting line of .277/.353/.371, but he still profiles as a glove-first shortstop who could hit .280 with 20-plus stolen bases and very little power.
Toronto Blue Jays: RHP Alberto Tirado
5 of 302014 Stats (SS/A): 2-2, 75.2 IP, 5.00 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, .241 BAA, 67 BB, 76 K (30 G/10 GS)
The 19-year old Alberto Tirado struggled mightily this season during his time in the Low-A Midwest League, putting up a 6.30 ERA and a 2.10 WHIP before being sent down to the Short Season Vancouver.
The right-hander fared significantly better against Northwest League hitters, registering up a 3.53 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 35.2 innings, most of which was logged out of the bullpen.
His 1.81 WHIP this season was inflated by poor control, as Tirado finished the year averaging eight works per nine innings. He has the potential to be an impact starter at maturity, but clearly he will need substantial work on his control before he has a chance to reach the high minors.
Chicago White Sox: 3B Matt Davidson
6 of 30
2014 Stats (AAA): .199/.283/.362, 38 XBH (20 HR), 55 RBI, 49 BB, 164 K (130 G)
Davidson had a solid showing in the major leagues last summer with the Diamondbacks, posting a .768 OPS with six doubles, three home runs and a 24-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 31 games. The performance inspired the White Sox to trade for the third baseman during the offseason, acquiring him in exchange for closer Addison Reed.
However, Davidson’s bat was a disappointment in his first year with his new team, as he failed to bat above .200 and struck out 164 times in 130 games for Triple-A Charlotte. The 23-year-old appeared to be turning the corner in June, when he posted an .892 OPS with nine home runs, but he went ice cold during the second half and batted just .171/.275/.247 with six extra-base hits over his final 44 games.
Davidson’s 30.4 percent strikeout rate this season is concerning, but he still showed good power with 20 home runs in 530 plate appearances. His overall struggles killed his chances of returning to the major leagues this year, but he still projects as the South Siders’ future third baseman.
Cleveland Indians: RHP Cody Anderson
7 of 30
2014 Stats (AA): 4-11, 125.2 IP, 5.44 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, .285 BAA, 45 BB, 81 K (25 GS)
Anderson, a 14th-round draft pick in 2011, turned in a breakout 2013 campaign at High-A Carolina, posting a 2.34 ERA and 112-31 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 123.1 innings (23 starts). However, the right-hander struggled following a late-season promotion to Double-A Akron, allowing eight runs on 16 hits in three starts.
Things didn’t go any better for the 23-year-old this season back at Akron, as Anderson pitched to a disappointing 5.44 ERA and had his strikeout rate decline significantly (5.8 K/9). Meanwhile, Eastern League hitters batted .285 with 17 home runs against the right-hander.
Minnesota Twins: 2B/OF Eddie Rosario
8 of 30
2014 Stats (A+/AA): .243/.286/.387, 31 XBH (8 HR), 40 RBI, 9 SB, 21 BB, 73 K (87 G)
Rosario’s 2014 campaign began with a 50-game suspension after testing positive during the offseason for performance-enhancing drugs. After working his way back to Double-A New Britain, Rosario once again had his makeup called into question when the 22-year-old was suspended for four games in early August.
Twins director of minor league organizations Brad Steil described Rosario's absence as a "team situation" and said that Rosario was not injured, per the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Beyond that, the 22-year-old struggled in his return to the Eastern League, batting .237/.277/.396 after slashing .284/.330/.412 there in 2013. Additionally, Rosario saw less playing time at second as the season unfolding, further fueling the belief that his future defensive home is the outfield.
Detroit Tigers: RHP Jonathan Crawford
9 of 30
2014 Stats (A): 8-3, 123 IP, 2.85 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, .220 BAA, 50 BB, 85 K (23 GS)
The No. 20 overall pick in the 2013 draft, Crawford, 22, continued to struggle with his control this year in his full-season debut, posting a 3.7 BB/9 against mostly younger hitters in the Midwest League. Though he was still tough to barrel, evidenced by his .220 opponents’ batting average and three home runs allowed, the right-hander failed to miss as many bats as expected (6.2 K/9) given the caliber of his stuff.
The Tigers have a history of turning big righties who throw hard and have control problems into quality starters, but Crawford, who starred at the University of Florida before his selection in the first round, has not developed as quickly as they would have liked. If his control does not improve, he could turn into a potential late-inning reliever.
Kansas City Royals: OF Jorge Bonifacio
10 of 30
2014 Stats (AA): .230/.302/.309, 28 XBH (4 HR), 51 RBI, 8 SB, 50 BB, 127 K (132 G)
Jorge Bonifacio, 21, was a popular breakout candidate headed into the season after batting .301 with an .812 OPS in 25 games at Double-A Northwest Arkansas over the final month of the 2013 season.
However, he failed to repeat that level of production this year in first full season at the level, batting just .230 with 28 extra-base hits and 127 strikeouts in 132 games. His struggles, particularly his lack of power, intensified during the second half of the season, as Bonifacio posted a dismal .602 OPS with one home run over his final 66 games.
While Bonifacio's bat hasn't quite developed as expected, it is worth noting that he's received aggressive assignments through his career and has been one of the younger players at every minor league level.
Texas Rangers: RHP Luke Jackson
11 of 302014 Stats (AA/AAA): 9-5, 123.1 IP, 5.40 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, .242 BAA (14 HR), 52 BB, 126 K (26 G/24 GS)
Luke Jackson was assigned to Double-A Frisco this year after his strong performance at the level toward the end of the previous season, and the right-hander continued his assault on Texas League hitters with a 3.02 ERA and 83 strikeouts over 83.1 innings.
However, the 23-year-old right-hander’s season fell apart quickly following his promotion to Triple-A in late June. Specifically, Jackson posted a disastrous 10.35 ERA and 2.10 WHIP over 40 innings in the Pacific Coast League, a product of him yielding 56 hits and nine home runs during that span.
If there’s a silver lining to Jackson’s season, it’s that his strikeout and walk rates were in line with those he posted in 2013 between High- and Double-A.
Oakland Athletics: RHP Bobby Wahl
12 of 302014 Stats (A/A+): 4 SV, 53.1 IP, 4.89 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, .252 BAA (7 HR), 25 BB, 62 K (29 G/7 GS)
Wahl, a fifth-round selection in the 2013 draft out of Mississippi, entered the season as arguably the A’s top pitching prospect, which didn’t say much given the organization’s dearth of projectable arms.
The 22-year-old right-hander began his full-season debut in Low-A Beloit’s starting rotation, but was moved to the bullpen in May after posting a 7.01 ERA and 1.87 WHIP over his first seven starts. Wahl enjoyed immediate success in the new role, as he saved four games and posted a 2.12 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 17 innings spanning 13 appearances.
He didn’t pitch as well out of the bullpen after moving up to High-A Stockton in early August, posting a 4.22 ERA with six walks in 10.2 innings. However, Wahl still missed plenty of bats (16.0 K/9) at the more advanced level and proved he could move quickly as a reliever in 2015.
Seattle Mariners: LHP Tyler Pike
13 of 302014 Stats (A+/AA): 5-8, 110.1 IP, 6.44 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, .269 BAA (15 HR), 80 BB, 90 K (27 GS)
Pike had an impressive full-season debut last year, posting an outstanding 2.37 ERA with 90 strikeouts over 110.1 innings at Low-A Clinton. He also held opposing hitters to a paltry .194 batting average, which helped offset the fact he walked 4.7 batters per nine innings.
This season, the 20-year-old left-hander’s control issues plagued him in the hitter-friendly California League, where he pitched to a 5.72 ERA with 46 walks in 61.1 innings. Pike’s struggles worsened following a mid-season promotion to Double-A Jackson, as his inability to consistently find the strike zone led to a 7.35 ERA and more walks (34) than strikeouts (33) over 49 innings.
That being said, Pike projects as a mid-rotation starter at best who uses his athleticism and three potentially above-average pitches (fastball, curve ball, change up) to induce weak contact.
Houston Astros: RHP Mark Appel
14 of 30
2014 Stats (A+/AA): 3-7. 83.1 IP, 6.91 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, .314 BAA (11 HR), 24 BB, 78 K (19 G/18 GS)
Mark Appel, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 draft, entered the year as one of baseball’s top-ranked pitching prospects, and it was widely believed he could finish the year in Houston with a strong showing in the minor leagues.
But that never happened.
The 23-year-old right-hander got a late start to his season after undergoing an emergency appendectomy in December, but he recovered in time to open the year in High-A Lancaster’s starting rotation.
Yet, Appel struggled mightily in his first taste of the California League, posting a 6.23 ERA with 17 hits in 13 innings during the first month of the season. As a result, he was sent back to extended spring training to work through his issues. The right-hander’s return to Lancaster on May 31 was an absolute disaster, as he was shelled for 10 runs on 10 hits (three home runs) in just 1.1 innings.
A few mechanical tweaks in late July allowed Appel to finally enjoy his first taste of success in the California League, as the right-hander established season highs with six innings pitched and seven strikeouts in his final start with Lancaster.
Appel’s immediate improvement prompted the Astros to challenge him with an aggressive promotion to Double-A Corpus Christi for the final month of the season. Though the decision was met with criticism, Appel’s promotion ultimately enabled him to showcase the promise that made him the No. 1 overall the previous year, as he pitched to a 3.69 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 38-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 39 innings (seven games).
Meanwhile, the right-hander turned in the best outing of his young career on Aug. 26, when he allowed two hits and a walk and struck out 10 batters over eight scoreless innings against Frisco.
Appel’s highly anticipated season was an overall disappointing, but it would have been much, much worse without the strong finish in the Texas League.
Los Angeles Angels: 3B Kaleb Cowart
15 of 30
2014 Stats (AA): .223/.295/.324, 28 XBH (6 HR), 54 RBI, 26 SB, 43 BB, 99 K (126 G)
Kaleb Cowart, the Angels’ first-round draft pick in 2011, had an excellent full-season debut in 2012, posting an .810 OPS with 54 extra-base hits, 103 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 135 games between both Class-A levels.
However, the third baseman’s success didn’t translate at Double-A Arkansas the following year, as he posted disappointing .221/.279/.301 batting line with 27 extra-base hits and 124 strikeouts in 132 games.
The 22-year-old switch-hitter returned to Double-A Arkansas this season but failed to take any sort of a step forward offensively in his second tour of the Texas League. Granted he stole more bases (26) and increased his walk rate (8.8 percent), but Cowart once again failed to hit for either average or power. Furthermore, he decided to give up switch-hitting in late July and is now strictly a left-handed hitter, the side of the plate from which he possesses more consistent power.
Cowart looks like a far cry from the player he showed signs of becoming in 2012, though he’s obviously still young and will be given ample time to figure things out. He seems likely to return to Arkansas next season for his third consecutive year in the Texas League – but will the third time be the charm for the Angels’ former top prospect.
Atlanta Braves: RHP Lucas Sims
16 of 30
2014 Stats (A+): 8-11, 156.2 IP, 4.19 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, .247 BAA (12 HR), 17 HBP, 57 BB, 107 K (28 GS)
Sims entered the year as the Braves’ top prospect, coming off an impressive 2013 full-season debut at Low-A Rome in which he registered a 2.62 ERA, .203 BAA and 134-64 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 116 2/3 innings.
The 20-year-old right-hander seemed poised to further his success this season at High-A Lynchburg, but got off to a painfully slow start with a 5.00 ERA and 38-28 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his first 72 innings (14 starts) in the Carolina League.
Just as he did in 2013, Sims settled in during the second half and turned in a strong finish to his season, pitching to a 3.51 ERA and 69-32 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 84.2 innings (14 starts).
Sims struggled with some mechanical issues throughout the year, but late-season reports from the right-hander’s starts noted that his stuff was as crisp and promising as it was last year.
The Braves have always done well developing its top pitching prospects (and quickly), so I wouldn’t be overly concerned with Sims’ disappointing 2014 stats.
Philadelphia Phillies: LHP Jesse Biddle
17 of 30
2014 Stats (Rk/A+/AA): 5-10, 4.58 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, .234 BAA (12 HR), 51 BB, 92 K (19 GS)
The Phillies were hoping that Biddle would take a step forward this season and pitch himself into the major league rotation sometime this year. Instead, he continued to battle the same control/command issues that plagued him in 2013 during his first tour at Double-A Reading, as he posted a 4.8 BB/9 and surrendered 11 home runs in 82.1 innings (1.2 HR/9).
Biddle was placed on the temporary inactive list in late June at the height of his struggles, with the Phillies offering him a mental break after scuffling through May and June. He returned to action a month later, pitching in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League before moving up to High-A Clearwater and then Double-A Reading. Unfortunately, Biddle only made two starts back at Reading, as his disappointing season ended early due to a strained right quad.
The 22-year-old left-hander still has mid-rotation upside, but his past two seasons in the Eastern League have raised questions about his capacity to make adjustments and overall long-term potential.
Washington Nationals: OF Brian Goodwin
18 of 30
2014 Stats (AAA): .219/.342/.328, 18 XBH (4 HR), 32 RBI, 6 SB, 50 BB, 95 K (81 G)
Brian Goodwin continues to be a divisive prospect, as he shows all the tools to be an impact outfielder in the major leagues but lacks the consistency and secondary skills to hold an everyday role.
The 23-year-old outfielder spent the entire 2013 season at Double-A Harrisburg, batting .252/.355/.407 with 19 doubles, 10 triples, 10 home runs, 19 stolen bases and 121-61 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 122 games.
Goodwin’s numbers fell off across the board this season in his first taste of the Triple-A level, as he batted just .219 with 18 extra-base hits in 88 games before landing on the disabled list with a season-ending injury in early July. However, he still exhibited respectable plate discipline with a 95-50 strikeout-to-walk ratio and .342 on-base percentage.
The Nationals have no need to rush Goodwin given their current big-league outfield configuration, not to mention those they have waiting in the wings such as Michael Taylor and Steven Souza Jr. But expect the club to add him to the 40-man roster this offseason so as to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
New York Mets: 1B Dominic Smith
19 of 30
2014 Stats (A): .271/.344/.338, 28 XBH (1 HR), 44 RBI, 51 BB, 77 K (126 G)
The No. 11 overall pick in the 2013 draft, Smith was pushed aggressively to full-season Low-A Savannah this year, so his struggles shouldn’t have come as a complete surprise.
Smith began his season horribly, batting .143 with no extra-base hits through his first 19 games. Though his batting average and on-base percentage picked up as the season unfolded, the 19-year-old first baseman failed to tap into his raw power and hit just one home run over 518 plate appearances in the South Atlantic League.
Savannah is a brutal place to hit, particularly for lefties, so the fact that Smith posted a higher OPS at home (.703) than on the road (.665) is encouraging. Plus, the teenager demonstrated an impressive feel for the strike zone this season with strikeout and walk rates of 14.9 and 9.8 percent, respectively.
If Smith’s power develops as hoped, he could hit .300 with 20+ home runs while playing an above-average first base. However, after showing a lack of thump this year in his full-season debut, it’s clear that there’s a considerable gap between Smith’s present ability and overall potential at the plate.
Miami Marlins: RHP Colby Suggs
20 of 30
2014 Stats (A+): 3 SV, 58.1 IP, 5.09 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, .266 BAA, 25 BB, 47 K (46 G)
The Marlins selected Suggs in the second round of the 2013 draft hoping that the hard-throwing right-hander would race through the minor leagues and make an impact in the team’s big league bullpen.
However, after his strong professional debut last summer across three levels, the 22-year-old Suggs unexpectedly struggled this season back in the Florida State League. He was able to stay healthy and appear in 46 games for High-A Jupiter, but the right-hander’s poor fastball command resulted in too many hard-hit balls (.266 BAA) as well as disappointing strikeout (7.3 K/9) and walk (3.9 BB/9) rates.
Suggs likely will need close to another year in the minors to refine his overall command, but the right-hander’s durable build and plus fastball-curveball combination still have him pegged as a future late-inning reliever.
St. Louis Cardinals: 3B Patrick Wisdom
21 of 30
2014 Stats (AA): .215/.277/.367, 37 XBH (14 HR), 54 RBI, 39 BB, 149 K (128 G)
Wisdom, Selected by the Cardinals with the No. 58 overall pick in the 2012 draft, showed good power in his 2013 full-season debut, tallying 15 home runs and 24 doubles in 129 games between both A-ball levels. However, the right-handed hitter’s tendency to swing-and-miss was exposed in the form of 137 strikeouts in 525 plate appearances (26.1 percent strikeout rate).
Despite the obvious holes in his game, the Cardinals still handed Wisdom an aggressive promotion to Double-A Springfield this season. Unsurprisingly, the 23-year-old’s long swing and lack of pitch recognition were exploited by Texas League pitchers, as his strikeout (29.9 percent) and walk (7.8 percent) rates both trended in the wrong direction and led to a .644 OPS, .070 points lower than his 2013 total.
Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Luis Heredia
22 of 302014 Stats (A): 2-4, 89 IP, 4.15 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, .258 BAA, 33 BB, 43 K (18 GS)
Luis Heredia, who celebrated his 20th birthday in August, landed on the disabled list in mid-April with right shoulder discomfort and missed the following two months. The injury raised further concern about the 6’6” right-hander’s durability after he reported to spring training in 2013 well overweight.
The right-hander has spent the last two years with Low-A West Virginia in the South Atlantic League and saw his strikeout rate plunge from 7.6 K/9 in 2013 to 4.3 K/9 in 2014. At the same time, he did manage to shave nearly two walks (3.3 BB/9) off the 5.1 BB/9 he posted last season.
Heredia has frontline potential, but he has struggled to show anything resembling the upside displayed with his breakout 2012 season. Heredia could take a big step forward next season so long as he stays healthy, as he’s likely to move up to the pitcher-friendly High-A Florida State League—a league in which pitchers with good stuff but shaky control/command still enjoy success.
Cincinnati Reds: OF Phil Ervin
23 of 302014 Stats (A): .237/.305/.376, 48 XBH (7 HR), 68 RBI, 30 SB, 46 BB, 110 K (132 G)
Ervin, the No. 27 overall pick in the 2013 draft, turned in a stellar professional debut last season, posting a .989 OPS with 21 extra-base hits (nine home runs) and 14 stolen bases in 46 games between the rookie-level Pioneer League and Low-A Dayton. As a result, the toolsy outfielder entered the season as arguably the Reds’ top offensive prospect.
Unfortunately, the 22-year-old’s highly anticipated first full season didn’t unfold as expected, as Ervin batted a disappointing .237/.305/.376 with 110 strikeouts over 132 games at Dayton. He did pick up the pace offensively during the second half the season, however, batting .247/.314/.421 with 28 extra-base hits and 40 RBI over his final 67 games.
Though his contact and on-base skills were challenged in the Midwest League, Ervin still showed his intriguing combination of power and speed with 48 extra-base hits and 30 stolen bases (in 35 attempts).
Ervin still seems likely to move up to High-A Bakersfield next season despite his underwhelming performance at Dayton, where his production should start to tick up in the California League.
Chicago Cubs: 3B Jeimer Candelario
24 of 302014 Stats (A/A+): .223/.288/.379, 45 XBH (11 HR), 63 RBI, 41 BB, 89 K (125 G)
Jeimer Candelario put himself on the map last year in his full-season debut, when he batted .256/.346/.396 with 11 home runs, 35 doubles and an 88-66 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 130 games at Low-A Kane County.
The 20-year old switch-hitter was assigned to High-A Daytona and seemed poised for a breakout performance, but batted just .193/.275/.326 before being demoted to the Midwest League. Candelario’s production picked up following his return to Kane County, batting .250/.300/.426 with 28 extra-base hits and 37 RBI over his final 63 games.
Candelario has the raw talent to hit 20-plus home runs and pile up doubles, but he’ll need time to be able to turn his raw power into usable game power.
Milwaukee Brewers: OF Victor Roache
25 of 30
2014 Stats (A+): .226/.298/.400, 37 XBH (18 HR), 54 RBI, 11 SB, 37 BB, 138 K (122 G)
The No. 28 overall pick in the 2012 draft, Roache showcased his huge raw power last season at Low-A Wisconsin with 22 home runs in 119 games, but at the cost of 137 strikeouts (26.6 percent strikeout rate).
The 22-year-old put up similar power numbers this year despite playing in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League, but his lack of selectivity and propensity to swing-and-miss (28.7 percent strikeout rate) caused his batting average to hover in the .190-.220 range for most of the season to go along with a sub-.300 on-base percentage.
Though Roache’s 2014 campaign was an overall disappointment, the power-hitting corner outfielder did have a game to remember on May 4, when he went 3-for-3 with three home runs and four RBI against High-A Clearwater.
Arizona Diamondbacks: C/OF Stryker Trahan
26 of 302014 Stats (SS/A): .212/.283/.397, 39 XBH (19 HR), 74 RBI, 45 BB, 169 K (125 G)
Stryker Trahan, Arizona’s first-round draft pick in 2012, was demoted to Hillsboro in late July after batting a disappointing .198/.264/.367 with 13 home runs and a 35.9 percent strikeout rate over 407 plate appearances at Low-A South Bend.
The 20-year-old fared considerably better back in the Short Season Northwest League, batting .257/.344/.496 with six bombs over 131 plate appearances spanning 30 games. More importantly, Trahan’s strikeout (17.6 percent) and walk (11.5 percent) rates immediately improved at the lower level.
After being moved from behind the plate to the outfield in the spring, Trahan's ultimate defensive home is, once again, undefined after catching 15 of 30 contests at Hillsboro. Either way, if Trahan hits, his bat could carry him as a slugging catcher or outfielder.
San Francisco Giants: RHP Kyle Crick
27 of 30
2014 Stats (AA): 6-7, 90.1 IP, 3.79 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, .234 BAA, 61 BB, 111 K (23 G/22 G)
The Giants moved up Crick to Double-A this season knowing that there was a good chance he’d struggle in the Eastern League due to his lack of control—and that’s exactly what happened.
The 21-year-old right-hander managed to post a solid 3.79 ERA, but it was directly tied to his ability to miss bats (11.1 K/9) and limit hard contact (.234 BAA). Beyond that, it’s pretty hard to ignore Crick’s 61 walks in 90.1 innings (6.1 BB/9) and 1.54 WHIP, as it resulted in too many high pitch counts and prevented him from working deep into games.
Crick still has the potential to be a solid No. 2 pitcher based on his pure stuff, though his poor control/command has led to too many walks and high pitch counts and prevented him from pitching deep into games. He’s still young, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to envision Crick in anything but a bullpen role.
Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP Zach Lee
28 of 30
2014 Stats (AAA): 7-13, 150.2 IP, 5.38 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, .297 BAA (18 HR), 54 BB, 97 K (28 G/27 GS)
Though he was projected to be a potential front-of-the-rotation starter when the Dodgers selected him in the first round of the 2010 draft (and gave him a club-record $5.25 million signing bonus), Lee looked more like a Nos. 4 or 5 starter (at best) this season at Triple-A Albuquerque, pitching to a 5.38 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 150.2 innings.
The 22-year-old right-hander was knocked around in the Pacific Coast League, as opposing hitters raked against him at a .297 clip while tallying 18 home runs. To make matters worse, Lee also posted the worst strikeout (5.8 K/9) and walk (3.2 BB/9) rates of his professional career.
San Diego Padres: 2B Taylor Lindsey
29 of 30
2014 Stats (Rk/AAA): .238/.306/.372, 35 XBH (10 HR), 48 RBI, 41 BB, 59 K (118 G)
Widely viewed as the Angels’ top prospect headed into the season, Lindsey didn’t put up the numbers many were expecting in his first taste of the Pacific Coast League, batting .247/.323/.400 with 25 extra-base hits in 75 games with Triple-A Salt Lake.
However, the Angels dealt the 22-year-old second baseman, who they originally selected with the No. 37 overall pick in the 2010 draft, to the Padres in mid-July as part of a prospect package for Huston Street.
Lindsey got off to a rough start with his new organization, collecting just two hits in his first 25 at-bats (.080 batting average) over his first eight games at Triple-A El Paso. He finished strong, though, posting a slightly improved .654 OPS with nine extra-base hits and 16 RBI over his final 33 contests.
All that being said, he’s still a solid offensive prospect with his history of hitting for solid averages—thanks to a strong contact rate—with decent pop against advanced pitching.
Colorado Rockies: C Tom Murphy
30 of 302014 Stats (AA): .213/.321/.415, 9 XBH (5 HR), 15 RBI, 14 BB, 27 K (27)
Murphy enjoyed an impressive full-season debut in 2013, batting .289/.376/.571 with 31 doubles, 22 home runs and 83 RBI in 100 games between Low-A Asheville and Double-A Tulsa. However, he also posted a 103/41 strikeout-to-walk ratio during that span, raising questions about his potential to hit for average moving forward.
The 23-year-old backstop opened the season in a deep slump back at Tulsa, batting .172 with 20 strikeouts in 16 games, but showed signs of heating up with a .278/.395/.556 batting line and six extra-base hits over his first 11 games in May.
Unfortunately, those 11 games were the last Murphy played in 2014, as he landed on the disabled list in mid-May with what was described as “shoulder stiffness.” There hasn’t been any update on his health since then, which makes it hard to speculate on his status heading into 2015.
