Each National League Team's Most Prized Youngster

Welcome to the first of two installments that will provide an in-depth analysis focusing on the baby-faced kids who will eventually blossom into the future MLB stars of tomorrow. The first edition will focus on the National League, hoping to narrow down the very best prospect in each organization.

It can be difficult to sift through a litany of stats, projections, profiles and rankings to find the undisputed best-of-the-best. So I'll attempt to save you from that tedious process.

The criteria used in this slideshow to distinguish each team's most prized young player can be summarized by the following bullet points. They are in no particular order:

• Production: If you ain't getting it done, it's hard to justify you being the top dog.
• Potential: Yes, a pitcher with a 4.00 ERA that throws 100 mph is likely a more attractive prospect than one with a lower ERA, but less dynamic stuff. I know, that's a shocker. 
• Position: Power pitching and shortstops will all get the nod over equally talented players due to the demand for elite players at those spots.
• Organizational State: Here's an example: since the Braves are in desperate need of a speedy, contact-minded hitter AND a second baseman, Jose Peraza has developed into the most important prospect for the club going forward. 
• Growth: Baseball is a game of failure, so it's pivotal to observe prospects making adjustments to enhance their game. 
• "Best Youngster": Although most of the entries on this list remain in the minors, a few choices are actually proven major league contributors. The young player with the most upside in the entire organization will be the choice.

Some decisions were easy, some became extremely difficult (Cubs fans: you're in for a treat). 

There's no emphasis on immediacy, it's all about which prospect will create the greatest impact as a professional. 

But enough with the perquisites, let's dive into the list starting with the NL East!

Don't forget to check back for the American League crop of coveted youngsters Friday. 

Washington Nationals: Lucas Giolito, RHP, 20, A

Stats to Know

• 10-2 with a 2.20 ERA in 2014 at High-A Hagerstown
• Rebounded from an arm injury to toss a career-high 98 innings in 20 starts
• Held opposing hitters to a measly .196 average, striking out over 10 per nine innings

The Skinny

If there's a team that doesn't need more starting pitching it's the Washington Nationals. The club led the MLB in ERA a season ago behind the efforts of Jordan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, Doug Fister, Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark.

But with Lucas Giolito moving his way up the pipeline, the rich may indeed get richer.

Giolito was selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2012 draft, despite an injury to his ulnar collateral ligament. After Tommy John, the right hander returned in 2013 still brandishing his elite stuff.

That elite repertoire (as disccused in the link above) includes a blazing fastball that sits in the mid-90s, but Giolito has shown he can pump it up to triple digits if need be. His curveball was named the "Best Breaking Pitch in the South Atlantic League" in 2014 by Baseball America, while his changeup has the potential to develop into another above-average weapon.

One of Giolito's biggest strengths is his command. The 20-year-old rendered only 2.57 walks per nine innings, while allowing only seven home runs in 2014. Much of that can be attributed to incredible arm talent, but it's extremely encouraging to see a young power pitcher with control at such a young age.

Lucas Giolito's 6'6", 230-pound frame should provide the hurler with the necessary base to handle 200+ innings in the majors. After dominating High-A, his next stop will likely be Double-A Harrisburg.

The Nationals don't need to rush Giolito to "The Show" and they won't. But it shouldn't be too long before the youngster joins the Washington rotation.

3 Other Names to Know

• A.J. Cole, RHP, 22, AAA
• Michael Taylor, OF, 23, AA/AAA
• Austin Both, RHP, 22, AA

New York Mets: Noah Syndergaard, RHP, 22, AAA

Stats to Know

• Threw 133 innings in 2014 with a 4.60 ERA at Triple-A Las Vegas and over nine strikeouts per nine
• Fanned 11.50 batters per nine at Double-A Binghamton and started the MLB Futures Game the same year
• Has pitched over 100 innings each of the last three seasons

The Skinny

Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler and Jacob deGrom made instant impacts upon their arrivals in Queens, but Noah Syndergaard seems destined to debut in the bigs before them all. 

The 6'5" righty looked big league ready in 2013, dominating hitters in both High-A and Double-A. He ran into some trouble in 2014 at Triple-A, suffering through his worst season as a pro.

Still, Syndergaard profiles to be a top-of-the-rotation guy.

As always, it starts with a punishing fastball in the mid-to-upper 90s. According to MLB.com's 2014 Prospect Watch, his heater often runs in on the hands of right handers making him difficult to barrel up. A 12-to-6 hook takes the cake as his second-best offering, but an improving changeup (on display above at the Futures Game) could do wonders for his potential.

Much like Giolito from the previous slide, Syndergaard's command is what sets him apart from other elite arm talents. While his walks were up in 2014, he managed a tremendous 26.6 strikeout to walk ratio in 2013. 

Syndergaard looks ready to join the Mets rotation next season. The club has built an excellent young staff, that will likely be one of the MLB's best in the coming years. 

3 Other Names to Know

• Kevin Plawecki, C, 23, AAA
• Michael Conforto, OF, 21, High-A
• Dilson Herrera, 2B, 20, AA

Atlanta Braves: Jose Peraza, 2B, 20, AA

Stats to Know

• Scorched minor league pitching with a .339 average and 159 hits between High-A Lynchburg and Double-A Mississippi in 2014
• Stole 60-plus bases for the second season in a row
• Struck out just 47 times in 469 at-bats this year

The Skinny

Jose Peraza is a perfect fit for an Atlanta Braves offense that desperately needs an injection of speed and contact. He may receive an opportunity to prove himself as early as the start of 2015 according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com.

His path to the majors may be expedited by a sudden lack of obstacles. The Braves released the much-maligned Dan Uggla during the regular season and traded Tommy LaStella this offseason. Phil Gosselin produced decently enough to close 2014, but his ceiling is likely that of a utility guy. 

Which brings us back to Peraza, Atlanta's No.1 prospect according to MLB.com. The former shortstop has since moved to second base, further evidence that the Braves view him as part of a future middle infield duo with the established fielding wizard Andrelton Simmons.

One of the Braves' key detriments last season was its lack of a true leadoff hitter. The departed Jason Heyward, Simmons, B.J. Upton and others failed to solidify the top of the lineup.

Peraza's contact-driven approach would be a sight for sore eyes in Atlanta. The Venezuelan has never recorded a higher strikeout rate than 14.0 percent and that number dipped to a career-low 7.7 percent in 2014. Check out Peraza's short stroke in the clip provided. 

Plus, my word the speed. A true table-setter with game-breaking pace is a commodity for most potent offenses, and Peraza fits that mold. 

The second baseman likely needs a tad more seasoning in the minors. B/R's own Martin Gandy believes that Peraza is more suited to be a midseason call-up in 2015.

But there's no question that "Braves Country" is anxiously anticipating the arrival of Jose Peraza. 

3 Other Names to Know

• Lucas Sims, RHP, 20, A+
• Jason Hursh, RHP, 23, AA
• Tyrell Jenkins, RHP, 22, AA

Miami Marlins: Jose Fernandez, RHP, 22, Majors

Stats to Know

• Holds a career 2.25 ERA in 224.1 career innings
• Has struck out over 10 per nine innings in his career, including a whopping 12.19 before his injury last season
• Backing up his ERA numbers, he boasts a career 2.60 FIP, 2.88 xFIP and 2.92 SIERA

The Skinny

After scouring the Miami farm system looking for a worthy candidate, I came across a simple fact that cemented Jose Fernandez as the Marlins most prized young player. 

He's only 22.

The fireballer has already cemented himself as one of the game's best arms, but Tommy John in 2014 ended his season prematurely. Before the injury, Fernandez was fanning everything in sight (including 14 Braves, as seen in the clip) and allowing an unbelievable .188 average to opposing hitters.

His fastball velocity sits around 94-95 mph, but the big righty has topped out at 99 on more than one occasion in his career. His fastball is such a tremendous option that it feels wrong to say it's actually not his best pitch. 

Fernandez has used his curve roughly 35 percent of the time in the MLB with overwhelming results. Hitters have managed a feeble .111 batting average against the hook with a strikeout rate of almost 50 percent. His breaking ball is one of the most devastating weapons in the game. 

When hitters do actually make contact against Fernandez, he's still keeping the ball on the ground and out of the bleachers. His career ground-ball rate of 45.9 percent is excellent, as is a mere 14 homers allowed in over 200 innings pitched.

I may get some grief for choosing the obvious choice here, but Fernandez has been so dominant in his young career that it's hard to select anyone else. We're witnessing one of the most impressive arm talents to enter the big leagues in quite some time.

Here's to a healthy and speedy recovery. 

3 Other Names to Know

• Andrew Heaney, LHP, 22, AA
• Tyler Kolek, RHP, 18, ROK
• Avery Romero, 2B, 21, A+

Philadelphia Phillies: J.P. Crawford, SS, 19, A

Stats to Know

• Hit .285 in a season split in Low-A and High-A with a .385 OBP
• Added 11 homers in 24 steals in 2014
• Has struck out only 109 times in 766 career plate appearances

The Skinny

I recently discussed J.P. Crawford's potential in an article focusing on the next wave of minor league talent, so it's fairly obvious that the Phillies hold Crawford in the highest regard. 

Shortstops that can both defend and swing the stick are a dime and a dozen, but the 19-year-old does just that. After struggling in Single-A to close the 2013 season, Crawford got back on track by cutting down on his strikeouts. 

Decreasing his strikeout percentage by 3 percent this season, Crawford's average, OBP, slugging percentage and OPS mirrored those of his inaugural season in rookie ball. Even more pleasing was a jump in power, as Crawford jacked 11 homers this season after only hitting one in the previous two seasons. 

In terms of his glove, Crawford's defense continues to be his biggest asset. MLB.com's Prospect Watch sees the shortstop as a player with "an outstanding arm and excellent range" and credits his "feel for the game" as reason for his defensive prowess. 

His arm strength can be seen in the provided video above.

J.P.'s cousin is none other than Los Angles Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford, so the game is in his DNA. As he continues to climb the organizational ladder, the fans in Philadelphia must be pleased to have fan-favorite Jimmy Rollins' replacement already waiting in the wings. 

3 Other Names to Know

• Aaron Nola, RHP, 21, AA
• Maikel Franco, 3B, 22, AAA
• Matt Imhof, LHP, 21, A+

St. Louis Cardinals: Stephen Piscotty, Outfielder, 23, AAA

Stats to Know

• Has never hit below .288 at any of his big league stops
• Hit .299 at Double-A to close out the 2013 season
• Led Triple-A Memphis in hits, doubles and average for players with over 300 plate appearances

The Skinny

Stephen Piscotty posted a .340 career average during his collegiate days at Stanford, and the pitching in professional baseball has been unable to figure him out either.

Scott Strandberg of FanGraphs gave his rave review of Piscotty's mechanics in a June article: "this kid was born to hit a baseball, plain and simple. His mechanics at the plate are nearly flawless; he has a very quiet approach that is the model of consistency and his swing has a smooth, even plane."

The swing int he clip above highlights some points that Strandberg mentions in his article.

Hitters often get themselves out before a pitch is even delivered due to drastic movements in their loads. But Piscotty's light wiggle is just enough to aid his timing without positioning his hands in a bad spot that will lead to weaker contact.

Another beautiful aspect of his swing is its balance.

Piscotty begins with a solid, athletic base, before loading and staying tall throughout the swing. With this tremendous balance, Piscotty is able to keep his strikeout numbers at a minimum, while making strong contact to all fields. The outfielder struck out only 61 times in 500 Triple-A at-bats, an encouraging sign for a projected middle-of-the-lineup bat. 

The recent acquisition of Jason Heyward may dampen the excitement of Piscotty's potential, but his presence on the farm was likely the reason that the Cards pulled the trigger on the potential rental in the first place. If St. Louis fails to extend Heyward, Piscotty is more than ready to take over the right field duties on a permanent basis. 

3 Other Names to Know

• Rob Kaminsky, LHP, 20, A
• Marco Gonzales, LHP, 22, AAA
• Alexander Reyes, RHP, 20, A

Pittsburgh Pirates: Gregory Polanco, Outfielder, 23, Majors

Stats to Know

• Hit .233 with seven homers and 33 RBI after being called up to Pittsburgh to finish 2014
• Before his promotion, he hit .328 with an .894 OPS and 146 wRC+
• Walks and strikes out at an above average rate

The Skinny

Here we have another current MLB player in Gregory Polanco, who enjoyed a second-half stint with the Pirates to end the 2014 season.

While he didn't light the baseball world on fire like he probably would have hoped, Polanco created flashes of his immense promise. There's no getting around a .235 average, but he did manage to show some pop (see the mammoth bomb in the video above) without a huge hike from his career strikeout rate. 

In other words, let's give the guy a full season in the bigs before we jump to overreactions. 

Polanco raked in Triple-A for the better part of 2014, showing off the complete package of power, average and speed that makes him one of the top young talents in the game. 

Baseball America has praised Polanco with the following accolades during his time in the minor leagues:

• Best Batting Prospect in the International League (2014)
• Most Exciting Player in the International League (2014)
• Best Defensive OF in the Pittsburgh Pirates System (2012)
• Best Athlete in the Pittsburgh Pirates System (2012)
• Best Hitter for Average In the Pittsburgh Pirates System (2012)

After valuable experience during a postseason run, Polanco's numbers should reflect an increase in confidence in 2015. When paired with fellow outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte, the Pirates posesses one of the more dynamic outfielders in all of baseball. 

3 Other Names to Know

• Josh Bell, OF, 22, AA
• Tyler Glasnow, RHP, 21, A
• Austin Meadows, OF, 19, A

Milwaukee Brewers: Jimmy Nelson, RHP, 25, Majors

Stats to Know

• Pitched 111 innings at Triple-A, going 10-2 with a 1.46 ERA and .177 average against
• Struck out over nine per nine innings in nearly 30 Triple-A starts over two seasons
• Struggled once promoted to the majors, but fanned over seven per nine in 2014

The Skinny

The Brewers farm system is actually quite depleted, with not one player in MLB.com's Top 100. 

Jimmy Nelson's recent call-up had much do to with that, as the right hander was the prized pig on the proverbial farm. 

Nelson started the season at Triple-A, but quickly proved his dominant stuff would need a more formidable challenge. A 1.46 ERA and high strikeout totals pushed the Brewers to promote the 25-year-old in the second half of the season.

It would be unfair not to mention that Nelson struggled mightily for the "Brew Crew", yielding a 4.93 ERA. But a 3.78 FIP, 3.92 xFIP and 3.76 SIERA suggest his struggles weren't as ugly as perceived. He enjoyed some success with the K, as seen above in a seven-strikeout outing. 

Nelson was drafted as starter from the University of Alabama, but the jury is still out on if he may profile more favorably as a reliever. 

Both his four-seam and two-seam fastballs remain his only reliable MLB ready pitches. Jeff Zimmerman of FanGraphs describes Nelson's heater duo:

"

He has two fastballs which both are around 93 to 96 mph. They are both above average with the 4-seamer the swing-and-miss pitch and the 2-seamer is the ground ball pitch. I can see why he gets some love.

"

Even with a lack of a go-to off-speed pitch, Nelson's power arm translates well to a late-inning option if those are the cards he is dealt.  

3 Other Names to Know

• Tyrone Taylor, OF, 20, AA
• Orlando Arcia, SS, 20, AA
• Taylor Jungmann, RHP, 24, AAA

Cincinnati Reds: Robert Stephenson, RHP, 21, AA

Stats to Know

• Has averaged over nine strikeouts per nine every season of his minor league career
• Threw 136.2 innings in 2014
• Hitters scuffled to hit just .218 off of him this season

The Skinny

I was tempted to roll with the lightning-quick Billy Hamilton here, but his excessive strikeout totals and alarming on-base percentage scared me away in the end.

Not that Hamilton is a bad player, I just feel like right-handed hurler Robert Stephenson's upside makes him the more prized youngster. 

A first round pick in the 2011 draft, Stephenson was the 17th ranked prospect in MLB before the 2014 season by MLB.com. The Reds finally took the training wheels off of their 6'2", 190-pound flamethrower in 2014, allowing him to throw 100 innings for the first time in his career. 

After progressing smoothly through the lower ranks of the minors, Stephenson hit a snag at Double-A this season. His 4.74 ERA wasn't exactly ideal and neither was his walk percentage of nearly five per nine innings. After being held back in terms of usage, an intense hike in innings pitched probably played a part in those unflattering statistics. 

John Sickels of Minor League Ball, an SB Nation affiliate, ranked Stephenson as his third-best pitching prospect before the season and wasn't too alarmed at the lack of production, referring to the righty as "still an elite prospect."

Look, when you can pump gas up to triple digits (seen above) and can mix in a curve and changeup that are potential plus pitches, a bump in the road isn't the end of the world. Double-A is often the level where young talent must handle adversity for the first time in their careers, so expect Stepenson to improve dramatically in 2015. 

3 Other Names to Know

• Jesse Winker, OF, 21, AA
• Michael Lorenzen, RHP, 22, AA
• Nick Howard, RHP, 21, A

Chicago Cubs: Kris Bryant, 3B, 22, AAA

Stats to Know

•  Led all of minor league baseball with 43 home runs at both Double-A and Triple-A
•  Despite being pegged as a power guy, he hit .325 with a .438 OBP
•  Has posted over 200 wRC+ in each of his minor league seasons

The Skinny

Kris Bryant's meteoric rise to the top of every prospect list in America began at San Diego, where he won the Golden Spikes Award for the nation's best collegiate player.

Maybe the finest offensive talent in the minor leagues, Bryant destroyed the baseball in his first full season in 2014. His 43 homers led all prospects. 

Bryant's detractors will strike up the argument regarding his strikeout potential, but when you look at the data as a whole they aren't such a significant factor. 

The third baseman fanned 25.9 percent of the time in AA and 28.6 of the time in AAA. For those of you mathematically challenged, Bryant struck out in 25-30 percent of his at-bats in 2014. 

But..

A 14.5 percent walk rate at both lower levels boosted a .438 OBP. Plus when Bryant makes contact, it normally ends in a productive way. A .440 and .367 BABIP in AA/AAA respectively will be unsustainable once in the majors, but to post such gaudy averages shows he's squaring up the baseball. 

But we all know it's his power that's going to land him in Chi-Town before long. His Isolated Power rating of .347 and .342 is just ridiculous. As FanGraphs points out, anything over .250 is considered excellent.

Cubs fans, enjoy the next stretch of baseball you are about to embark on. Bryant is the headliner, but the club has accumulated as much elite talent as anybody in baseball.  

3 Other Names to Know

• Addison Russell, SS, 20, AA
• Jorge Soler, OF, 22, AAA
• Albert Almora, OF, 20, AA

Los Angeles Dodgers: Corey Seager, SS, 20, AA

Stats to Know

• Hit .349 with 20 homers and 97 RBI between High-A and Double-A this season
• Posted elite on-base numbers, including a .411 mark at High-A
• Mashed 50 doubles in 2014

The Skinny

The Dodgers have the luxury of extensive resources, but the club has done an outstanding job in stocking the farm system. Depending on who you ask, L.A.'s top prospect could be a number of players. That doesn't even include its young major league talent like Yasiel Puig and Dee Gordon. 

For me, shortstops are always going to get the nod due to the premium of the position. At just 20, Corey Seager is inching closer to the major leagues. With Hanley Ramirez likely packing his bags this offseason, his trip to "The Show" may now be fast tracked. 

Obviously the elite talents in baseball are gifted offensively, so let's start there. Here's Marc Hulet of FanGraphs breaking down Seager's swing:

"

A left-handed hitter, Seager has had very few issues against southpaws. He has an advanced hitting approach and understands the value of using the whole field. He can turn on a pitch and drive it a long way and could eventually hit more than 20 home runs in a full big league season.

"

Inexperienced left-handed hitters often struggle against same-side pitchers, but Seager's ability to neutralize this usual disadvantage proves he's one of the most complete hitters in the minors. 

Questions persist about his ability to remain at shortstop, yet Andrew Friedman has insisted Seager will continue at the position. According to a report by Eric Stephen at True Blue La, an SB Nation affiliate, Friedman has stated that "his hands work really well. We have a number of guys who feel like he has a real chance to stick there."

Seager is a mature, talented young player. I expect him to be the starting shortstop in L.A. at the start of the 2016 season. 

3 Other Names to Know

• Joc Pederson, OF, 22, AAA
• Julio Urias, LHP, 18, A
• Grant Holmes, RHP, 18, ROK

San Francisco Giants: Kyle Crick, RHP, 21, AA

Stats to Know

• Posted a 3.79 ERA, striking out over 11 per nine innings in 2014 at AA
• Has recorded double-digit totals in strikeouts per nine every year of his career
• Held opposing hitters to a .199 average in 2013 and a .232 average in 2014

The Skinny

The Giants breed pitching talent; it must be something in the San Francisco water.

Kyle Crick is the next big thing for an organization accustomed to elite talent in the rotation. Madison Bumgarner, anyone?

Crick was drafted in 2011 and has done nothing but impress since. After two seasons with a sub-3.00 ERA, the right hander's 3.79 ERA in 2014 may look like a step back. But a healthy season and oh yeah, over 11 strikeouts per nine, helped the 6'2" hurler maintain his momentum to the big leagues. 

A common comparison for Crick is fellow Giant Matt Cain. The two pitchers have similar body types and pitching styles. Here's a scouting report on Crick from Sean Bialaszek of Golden Gate Sports:

"

Crick's fastball sits in the mid 90's and has been known to reach 98 occasionally. His slider is his best secondary pitch, as it seems like a legitimate swing-and-miss pitch with hard bite. Both his changeup and curveball are considered works in progress and need more time to develop before Crick can be considered an actual four-pitch pitcher. 

"

His command is an issue that needs to be addressed, as he walked over six hitters per nine last season. A minor tweak or two with his delivery could ease those command problems. 

If he can start throwing more stirkes, Crick is blessed with elite arm talent. But will he develop into a frontline starter or end up applying his trade in the bullpen? That remains to be seen.

3 Other Names to Know

• Tyler Beede, RHP, 21, A
• Andrew Susac, C, 24, AAA
• Steven Okert, LHP, 23, AA

San Diego Padres: Hunter Renfroe, Outfielder, 22, AA

Stats to Know

• Left the park 21 times this season, while driving in 75 runs
• Has produced high strikeout totals in his career, but dropped that amount 4.5 percent from 2013 to 2014
• Recorded a .935 OPS and 137 wRC+ while at Single-A this season

The Skinny

Hunter Renfroe is making quite the racket down on the San Diego Padres farm.

"

Renfroe has good bat speed, and he can loft the ball or hit line drives to the gaps. Without question, his power is his best tool. Renfroe has the type of game-changing potential that offers middle-of-the-batting-order-long-ball upside. Once he drives more balls on the line as opposed to hitting them high in the air, his home run numbers will increase markedly. 

"

That high praise came from longtime scout Bernie Pleskoff of MLB.com and it's evidence of the potential that the 22-year-old outfielder possesses. 

Renfroe was taken 13th overall out of Mississippi State in the 2013 draft and has since made the climb to Double-A. His powerful bat was on display in 2014, as he mashed 21 homers and 75 RBI. 

The strikeouts are worrisome, but he actually cut his K percentage down after his promotion to Double-A. His on-base percentage is decent enough and he's beginning to take more walks, which will help offset his tendency to whiff. 

Renfroe is an above-average athlete. As MLB.com puts it, Renfroe "earns praise for his athleticism and baseball instincts."

The Padres trotted out an anemic offense in 2014, despite finishing third in the NL West. With little offensive talent on the big club, Renfroe's power could be coming to a MLB stadium near you in the near future.

3 Other Names to Know

• Austin Hedges, C, 22, AA
• Matthew Wisler, RHP, 22, AAA
• Rymer Lirano, OF, 23, AAA

Colorado Rockies: Jon Gray, RHP, 23, AA

Stats to Know

• Went 10-5 in his first full season
• Averaged over eight k's per nine with 14.2 percent strikeout to walk ratio
• Posted a 3.91 ERA, but a 3.43 FIP and .231 average against

The Skinny

Jon Gray was drafted third overall by the Colorado Rockies in the 2013 draft, largely due to a fastball that lit up radar guns. 

Gray is a prototypical power pitcher. He's big, strong and throws downhill with tremendous velocity. However Kiley McDaniel of FanGraphs believes that the Colorado right hander may actually cut down on his fastball in favor of increased movement: 

"

Since signing, Gray's velocity has been down some, mostly sitting 91-94 and hitting 95 but Rockies sources say this is intentional and he's working on some things (they already smoothed out his delivery), which scouts assumed after Gray hit 98 mph in a short All-Star game appearance. I think he'll settle at 92-94 with more movement and command, the slider is still plus and the changeup has its moments. 

"

In his first full professional season, Gray displayed his shutdown stuff by striking out over eight per nine innings and holding opponent's to a .231 batting average. 

Coors Field is a tough place to pitch, but by developing power arms in the farm system it seems the Rockies are hoping to induce more swings-and-misses to combat the hitter-friendly air. Gray and fellow prospect Eddie Butler are at the forefront of that philosophy. 

3 Other Names to Know

• Eddie Butler, RHP, 23, AA
• David Dahl, OF, 20, A
• Raimel Tapia, OF, 20, A

Arizona Diamondbacks: Archie Bradley, RHP, 22, AA

Stats to Know

• Struck out over 10 per nine innings in rookie ball in 2012
• Allowed a .223 average in 12 starts at AA this season
• Allowed only two homers in 83 innings in 2014

The Skinny

Our list concludes with one last big, strong power pitching prospect. This time it's Archie Bradley of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Bradley was drafted seventh overall in the 2011 out of high school as one of the most coveted arms in the country. He pitched well in 2012, absolutely dominated in 2013 but ran into some adversity this past season. 

In 18 starts, Bradley posted a 4.45 ERA in a losing season. His strikeouts fell, while his walks reached career-high marks. He battled elbow injuries for most of the year, which may have led to the down year. 

Yet Bradley's stuff is as good as any minor league pitcher out there. Kiley McDaniel refers to the right hander's blazing fastball and wipeout curve as "probably the best two-pitch combination in the minor leagues." 

His rough season in 2014 could be cause for concern and more reliable pitchers like Aaron Blair and Braden Shipley may crack the Arizona rotation before he does.

Yet when on, Bradley's arsenal is unmatched. So for now, he'll continue to be the most prized possesion in the organization.

But the gap is signifcantly less than what it was this time a year ago. 

3 Other Names to Know

• Braden Shipley, RHP, 22, AA
• Aaron Blair, RHP, 22, AA
• Jake Lamb, 3B, 24, AAA