2014 MLB Draft Picks Who Already Turned Heads in First Minor League Season

It will be several years until most of the 2014 draft picks are ready for the major leagues, but that doesn't mean we can’t get excited about the professional debuts of some of baseball’s brightest young players.

Thanks to an accelerated signing deadline in mid-July that was ushered in in 2012 as part of the new collective bargaining agreement—it used to be mid-August—draft picks are now encouraged to quickly begin their professional careers.

For some prospects, signing early gives them a head start on their development as well as the potential to debut in the major leagues ahead of schedule. At the very least, the half-season of experience this summer should improve their chances of receiving aggressive promotions to begin the following season.

Here’s a look at 2014 draft picks who already turned heads in their professional debuts.

Trea Turner, SS, San Diego Padres

2014 Stats (SS/A): 321 PA, .323/.406/.448, 45 R, 23 XBH (5 HR), 23 SB, 10.9% BB%, 20.9% K% (69 G)

Trea Turner, the No. 13 overall pick in this year’s draft, got off to a slow start to begin his career, batting just .228 over 23 games in the Short Season Northwest League.

Despite his struggles, the Padres decided to promote Turner to Low-A Fort Wayne in mid-July, which in turn jump-started his bat. During his 46 games at the full-season level, Turner batted a robust .369/.447/.529 with 69 hits (22 extra-base hits) and 14 steals. He also hit safely in 35 of those games, highlighted by 22 multi-hit performances.

Known more for his speed and defense headed into the draft, Turner showed surprisingly consistent pop this past summer, though it still was mostly to the gaps. It’ll be interesting to see how aggressive the Padres are with Turner’s development next season.

Forrest Wall, 2B, Colorado Rockies

2014 Stats (Rk): 188 PA, .318/.416/.490, 15 XBH (6 3B), 24 RBI, 18 SB, 14.4% BB%, 17.0% K% (41 G)

Forrest Wall fell to the Rockies with the No. 35 overall pick due to his limited defensive profile as a second base-only prospect and the fact he underwent shoulder surgery prior to his senior year.

But Wall quickly proved to be one of the biggest steals from Day 1 of the draft with an impressive professional debut, posting an .907 OPS with 15 extra-base hits and 18 steals over 41 games in the Rookie-level Pioneer League. The left-handed batter was particularly impressive against same-side pitching, batting .478/.613/.783 with three extra-base hits in 23 at-bats.

The 18-year-old second baseman has the potential to hit .300 and the raw power to hit 15-20 home runs in the majors, and he could be moved to center field long-term, which would take advantage of his speed.

Bobby Bradley, 1B, Cleveland Indians

2014 Stats (Rk): 176 PA, .361/.426/.652, 25 XBH (8 HR), 50 RBI, 9.1% BB%, 20.5% K% (39 G)

The Indians selected Bobby Bradley in the third round (No. 97 overall) for his big-time power potential from the left side, and power was what the 18-year-old showed in his professional debut.

The 6’1”, 225-pound left-handed batter had 25 of his 56 hits go for extra bases, leading the Arizona League with eight home runs, 13 doubles and 50 RBI. Meanwhile, Bradley’s 1.078 OPS this season was the highest among all 2014 draftees.

Bradley did most of his damage against right-handed pitchers this year, batting .407 average with a 1.230 OPS and 22 extra-base hits in 113 at-bats. However, he struggled to the tune of a .238/.340/.333 batting line in 42 at-bats against southpaws—the only glaring weakness to emerge from Bradley’s impressive professional debut.

Based on his performance this summer, one would think Bradley is a candidate to go right to full-season ball next year.

Luis Ortiz, RHP, Texas Rangers

2014 Stats (Rk/A): 20.1 IP, 1.77 ERA, 1.082 WHIP, .211 BAA, 2.7 BB/9, 8.4 K/9 (9 G/6 GS)

The Rangers took a gamble on Luis Ortiz when they selected him with the No. 30 overall pick, as the right-hander missed most of the spring with a forearm injury. However, after a great start to his professional career, he’s already looking like one of the big steals from the first round.

Ortiz was assigned to the Rookie-level Arizona League after signing and made an immediate impact, posting a 2.03 ERA and 15-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 13.1 innings. The 18-year-old's success earned him a quick promotion to full-season ball, where he allowed one run in seven innings over three appearances.

Ortiz throws a heavy fastball in the low to mid-90s as well as a sharp, downer breaking ball, but he will need to improve his overall secondary arsenal and command as he climbs the organizational ladder. It likely will take him several years to develop, but the young right-hander’s upside should make it well worth the wait.

Aaron Nola, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies

2014 Stats (A+/AA): 55.1 IP, 2.93 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, .240 BAA, 1.7 BB/9, 7.3 K/9 (12 G/11 GS)

After a breakout 2013 campaign behind Kevin Gausman in LSU’s starting rotation, Aaron Nola took over as the team’s ace this spring and emerged as arguably the top pitcher in college baseball. On the year, the right-hander posted an 11-1 record, 1.47 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 134-27 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 116.1 innings over 16 starts.

Nola, 21, was assigned to High-A Clearwater of the Florida State League following his selection by the Phillies with the No. 7 overall pick. There, he registered a 3.16 ERA and 30-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 31.1 innings.

Nola fared even better after moving up to Double-A Reading in early August, pitching to a 2.63 ERA over 24 innings, but he had his strikeout rate halved against more advanced hitters in the Eastern League.

Between both levels, Nola walked just 10 batters in 55.1 innings (1.7 BB/9) and held opposing hitters to a .240 batting average.

If all goes as planned with his development, Nola could serve as a No. 3 starter for the Phillies by mid-2015.

Kyle Schwarber, C/OF, Chicago Cubs

2014 Stats (SS/A/A+): 311 PA, .344/.428/.634, 38 XBH (18 HR), 53 RBI, 12.5% BB%, 18.3% K% (72 G)

Kyle Schwarber was assigned to Short Season Boise after signing for $3.125 million as the No. 4 overall pick, where he batted .600 with four home runs and 10 RBI in his first five games.

The 21-year-old continued to terrorize opposing pitching following a promotion to Low-A Kane County, as he batted .361/.448/.602 with four homers, eight doubles and 15 RBI in just 23 games.

The left-handed hitter got off to a slow start after moving up to High-A Daytona, but he eventually settled in to bat .302/.393/.560 with 20 extra-base hits (10 home runs) in 44 games.

While Schwarber’s bat looks as though it will be ready sooner rather than later, it will be his development on the other side of the ball that determines when he arrives in the major leagues.

Schwarber appeared in only 20 games behind the plate compared to 36 in left field during his professional debut, but he’ll work on refining his defensive chops this fall in the instructional league.

He’ll require additional time in the minors to develop as a catcher, the position at which he was drafted, though a move to the outfield full-time is still a very real possibility and would allow the Cubs to expedite his bat to the major leagues.

Nick Burdi, RHP, Minnesota Twins

Timothy D. Easley/Associated Press

2014 Stats (A/A+): 5 SV, 20.1 IP, 2.66 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, .186 BAA, 4.4 BB/9, 16.8 K/9 (20 G)

Nick Burdi was utterly dominant as Louisville’s closer during 2013 and '14, as the hard-throwing right-hander saved a total of 34 games while posting a 0.62 ERA and a ridiculous 127/23 K/BB ratio in 72.2 innings (61 appearances).

Following his selection by the Twins in the second round, Burdi saved four games and fanned 26 batters in only 13 innings (18.0 K/9) at Low-A Cedar Rapids. The flame-throwing right-hander was even more dominant after moving up to High-A Fort Myers, recording one more save while striking out 12 batters over 7.1 scoreless frames.

With two present MLB-worthy pitches in an upper-90s fastball that has exceeded triple digits in the past and a devastating, swing-and-miss slider that registers in the upper-80s, Burdi should find himself in the Twins bullpen by mid-2015.

Jacob Lindgren, LHP, New York Yankees

Dave Martin/Associated Press

2014 Stats (Rk/A/A+/AA): 25 IP, 2.16 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, .135 BAA, 4.7 BB/9, 17.3 K/9 (19 G)

Jacob Lindgren was one of college baseball's better relievers last spring at Mississippi State, and his ability to miss bats at a high rate and potentially reach the major leagues in a hurry led to his selection by the New York Yankees in the second round (No. 55 overall) of this year's draft.

The 21-year-old left-hander pitched at four different levels after signing, finishing the season at Double-A Trenton, and he nearly reached the major leagues as a September call-up behind 48 strikeouts and just 12 hits allowed (zero home runs) in 25 innings.

Lindgren’s pure stuff—highlighted by a devastating, swing-and-miss slider—and overwhelming success this summer merited a look in September. However, the Yankees seemingly decided not to push the southpaw—coming off a lengthy college campaign—more than they head already.

Expect Lindgren to compete for a spot in the Yankees’ Opening Day bullpen.

Carlos Rodon, LHP, Chicago White Sox

2014 Stats (Rk/A+/AAA): 24.2 IP, 2.92 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, .215 BAA, 4.8 BB/9, 13.9 K/9 (9 G/6 GS)

The White Sox promoted Carlos Rodon, the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, to Triple-A Charlotte in mid-August less than a month after he made his professional debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League.

The 21-year-old impressed at the minor leagues' highest level, posting a 3.00 ERA with 18 strikeouts over 12 innings (three starts). Over his final two starts, the southpaw fanned 15 batters in nine innings.

Rodon has everything one looks for in a potential front-end starter with a durable frame, three offerings with plus-or-better potential and the type of competitive mound presence that can’t be taught. Rodon should compete during spring training for a spot in the South Siders’ Opening Day rotation and, as long as he stays healthy, it shouldn’t take him long to emerge as one of baseball’s premier left-handed pitchers.

Alex Verdugo, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

2014 Stats (Rk): 216 PA, .353/.421/.511, 21 XBH (15 2B), 41 RBI, 11 SB, 9.3% BB%, 8.3% K% (54 G)

Selected in the second round (No. 62 overall) of this year’s draft, Verdugo was viewed as the best two-way player—he was also a highly regarded left-handed pitching prospect—in the class before the Dodgers decided to deploy him as an outfielder.

It’s still early in Verdugo’s career, but it’s looking like the organization made the right decision. The 18-year-old left-handed hitter batted .347/.423/.518 with 20 extra-base hits, 33 RBI and more walks (20) than strikeouts (14) over 49 games in the Rookie-level Arizona League, and he finished his impressive pro debut with a 9-for-20 performance and eight RBI over five games in the Pioneer League.

Assuming the scouting supports his numbers, Verdugo seems to be another candidate to make his full-season debut in 2015.