Each American League Team's Most Prized Youngster

After handpicking every National League team's most prized young player, it's time to squash rumors of potential bias and set our sights on the American League. 

As we attempt to uncover which youngsters matter most to each AL squad, we'll use a similar criteria that was used to evaluate the teams in the "Senior Circuit":

• Production: Hype makes you a prospect; production makes you a major leaguer
• Potential: Electric arms, prodigious power, roadrunner speed. Elite characteristics matter when projecting young players.
• Position: Power pitching has taken over the game, so hard-throwing arms equal higher value. 
• Organizational State: If an organization is in desperate need of certain qualities, the young players in those systems that meet those needs will jump to the top of the list. 
• Growth: Setbacks will happen in the minors, but the prospects who are capable of bouncing back are the ones in The Show.
• "Best Youngster": Depending on the organization, the most promising talent may already be in the majors. EX: Mike Trout is an established superstar in MLB, but he's only 23 years old. (SPOILER ALERT: He's on this list.)  

Again, it doesn't matter when a certain player is expected to arrive in MLB. The main focus is to find the players who will likely create the biggest impacts at the next level.

So let's hop to it, starting with the AL East and the Baltimore Orioles.  

Baltimore Orioles: Dylan Bundy, RHP, 22, A+

Stats to Know

• Posted a 3.27 ERA in nine starts after returning from Tommy John surgery
• Started 23 games in 2012 with a 9-3 record and 2.08 ERA
• Struck out over 10 per nine between Single-A and Double-A in his first pro season 

The Skinny

When Dylan Bundy was selected fourth overall by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2011 draft, many clubs viewed him as the most complete amateur pitcher in the game. 

Bundy's first professional season in 2012 was evidence of this special talent. The right hander started in Single-A before progressing all the way to the majors to close the season. His 2.02 ERA in 23 starts encouraged the O's to give the then 19-year-old hurler an opportunity to impress at the big league level. 

Baltimore was likely to consider Bundy for an Opening Day roster spot in 2013, but an injured elbow led to Tommy John surgery, ending his season.

In his return in 2014, Bundy made nine starts, posting a 3.27 ERA and allowing zero homers. More importantly, his dynamic stuff (seen in the clip above) remained in tact. Here's what Mike Franz of Fansided saw in Bundy's return:

"

While rehabbing in 2014 in the Orioles' farm system, his fastball returned to the upper 90s by the end of the summer while sometimes hitting triple digits. His curveball and changeup both improved over the summer as the Orioles limited the amount of cutters he threw (which is his best secondary pitch) in order to work on his offspeed offerings. 

"

At just 22, Bundy's Baltimore arrival has been delayed by tough injury luck. But the former first-round pick has excellent makeup according to Marc Hulet at FanGraphs, which should allow him to bounce back in 2015. 

If Bundy can prove he's fully healthy next spring, don't be surprised to see him start the season with the Orioles.

3 Other Names to Know

• Hunter Harvey, RHP, 19, A+
• Chance Sisco, C, 19, A+
• Christian Walker, 1B, 23, AAA

New York Yankees: Luis Severino, RHP, 20, AA

Stats to Know

• Advanced all the way to Double-A due to a 2.46 ERA in 2014
• Fanned over nine per nine innings this season
• Held hitters to a .213 average at Double-A

The Skinny

2014 treated Luis Severino quite nicely in terms of his pursuit of a major league debut. 

After signing with little fanfare, Severino produced a quality season at rookie ball in 2012. After continued improvement the next year, Severino zoomed through Single-A to finish the season at Double-A Trenton. During that process, the right hander posted a 2.46 ERA in 24 starts. His strikeout-to-walk ratio of 23 percent at Double-A did wonders for his perception within the organization. 

It also garnered him some media attention. Baseball America recently ranked him as the No. 1 prospect in the Yankees organization. Not bad for an unknown commodity.

Severino touts a heavy mid-90s fastball, an impressive changeup and a progressing slider. MLB.com believes his secondary pitches "have the potential to be solid or better offerings", while Baseball America thinks Severino possesses a "well-above-average changeup" in his repertoire. 

Improving additional offerings to complement a deadly heater (discussed in the scouting report above) will continue to buoy Severino's ascent up the organizational ladder. At just 20 years old, the Yankees seem to have discovered a diamond in the rough. 

3 Other Names to Know

• Gary Sanchez, C, 21, AA
• Aaron Judge, OF, 22, A+
• Eric Jagielo, 3B, 22, A+

Toronto Blue Jays: Marcus Stroman, RHP, 23, Majors

Stats to Know

• After being promoted to the majors, he won 11 games and recored a 3.65 ERA
• He fanned over 11 per nine at Triple-A before a call-up
• Walked just 5.2 percent of the major league hitters he faced

The Skinny

Every so often, there's a perfect storm of a talented group of prospects who are MLB ready around the same time. With the likes of Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez, Daniel Norris and Drew Hutchison, that time is now for the Toronto Blue Jays and their rotation.

The right-handed Stroman gets the nod here despite his diminutive 5'9", 185-pound frame. After observing him compete this season with the Blue Jays, it would be foolish to write him off due to his size. 

Stroman was drafted out of Duke in the first round of the 2012 draft and has produced at every level in pro ball. A breakout year in Double-A cemented him as one of the Jays' top prospects. He struck out over 10 per nine and posted a 3.30 ERA in 111 innings that season.

After Stroman experienced similar success in Triple-A, Toronto wasted little time promoting him last May. A 3.65 ERA looks great on paper for a rookie arm, but he may have been even better than advertised in 2014,  as evidenced by his 2.84 FIP and 3.17 xFIP. You can see a glimpse of Stroman's success in Toronto in the clip above.

Two of Stroman's biggest strengths are his command and ability to induce ground balls.

He walked just 5.2 percent of opposing batters in 2014. That number was actually lower than his minor league averages, but just slightly. His ground-ball rate of 53.8 percent is further proof that his success is sustainable. His cut fastball, slider and two-seam fastball all resulted in ground balls more than 60 percent of the time. 

Stroman is as polished a young pitcher as there is in today's game. Others may have more dynamic stuff, but his pitching acumen is unparalleled in the Blue Jays organization.

3 Other Names to Know

• Aaron Sanchez, RHP, 22, AAA/Majors
• Dalton Pompey, OF, 21, AA/AAA/Majors
• Daniel Norris, LHP, 21, AAA/Majors

Tampa Bay Rays: Wil Myers, Outfielder, 23, Majors

Stats to Know

• Won the 2013 AL ROY by hitting .293 with 15 homers and 50 RBI in only 88 games
• Mashed 37 dingers in 2012 between Double-A and Triple-A
• Struggled in 2014 with injuries, slashing only .222/.294/.320

The Skinny

Wil Myers suffered through a hideous 2014 season, but the 23-year-old slugger remains a bright spot in the Rays organization. 

After watching the World Series, Myers' path to Tampa is now well documented. The highly touted outfielder was dealt to the Rays for Wade Davis and James Shields, key cogs in Kansas City's postseason run. Myers was viewed as a can't-miss prospect after hitting 37 homers in the minors in 2012. 

Myers eventually joined the big club in 2013, winning the AL ROY and posting a 2.4 WAR in just 88 games. 

All that's great, but there's no getting around a lousy 2014. Beyond the slash-line of .222/.294/.320, Myers saw intense drops in wOBA, isolated power and fly ball distance. Mike Podhorzer at FanGraphs tried to make since of Myers' decline, attributing his reduced numbers to a decrease in line-drive rate and an increase in pop-ups. 

It wasn't all bad news though, as Podholzer mentioned that Myers' "plate discipline metrics remained the same and he actually swung and missed less frequently." 

This may sound rather bleak for Rays fans, but aside from a handful of prospects, there's not much to choose from regarding the Tampa pipeline. Myers is only 23, so a sophomore slump isn't the end of the world. He's still an elite talent, capable of contributing 30 home runs to a major league offense. 

3 Other Names to Know

• Jake Odorizzi, RHP, 24, Majors
• Casey Gillaspie, 1B, 21, A
• Willy Adames, SS, 19, A

Boston Red Sox: Mookie Betts, Outfielder, 22, Majors

Stats to Know

• Hit .291 in 52 games with the Red Sox in 2014
• Before his promotion, he hit .335 with a .411 OBP at Triple-A
• Showed tremendous plate discipline during his time in the majors

The Skinny

Mookie Betts enjoyed a breakout season in Boston after starting the year in Double-A. 

Betts hit .291 down the stretch for the Sox, using great plate coverage to drive opposing pitchers crazy. The outfielder consistently walked more than he struck out while in the minors and displayed that keen batting eye in Boston. As a rookie, he walked nearly 10 percent of the time and posted an on-base percentage of .358.

The best may be still yet to come for the 22-year-old.

NESN.com's Ricky Doyle wrote an interesting piece detailing the expectations of various Red Sox in 2015.  Using the Bill James Handbook, Betts' anticipated line of .321/.405/.493 with 15 home runs and 40 steals headlined Boston's projections. 

Betts is continuing to grow into his power. He only managed to go deep five times for the Red Sox (one of which can be viewed above), but he hit 11 before his call-up and 16 in 2013. With extended playing time, he will flirt with a 20/20 season. 

Boston lost 91 games a year ago, but the emergence of Betts, Brock Holt and other youngsters should pay off in 2015. Regardless, Betts figures to be a mainstay in the club's lineup for years to come.

3 Other Names to Know

• Henry Owens, LHP, 22, AAA
• Blake Swihart, C, 22, AA/AAA
• Rusney Castillo, OF, 27, Majors

Detriot Tigers: Nick Castellanos, 3B, 22, Majors

Stats to Know

• Hit .259 in 148 games with the Tigers this season
• At Triple-A in 2013, he mashed 18 homers to go along with 76 RBI
• Enjoyed a 28.5 percent line drive-rate this season

The Skinny

Third baseman Nick Castellanos finished his first MLB season with a .259 batting average for the AL Central champion Detroit Tigers.  

Castellanos initally made waves with a ridiculous .405 batting average in 243 plate appearances in High-A ball in 2012. His average regressed to the upper .200s in the following two seasons, but the Detroit front office decided to offer him a chance to prove he could produce at the major league level. 

2014 provided glimpses of the best and the worst of Castellanos. His .259 average was respectable enough, but a 24.2 percent strikeout rate, a .306 OBP and 94 wRC+ all were less than ideal. 

The silver lining? How about a 28.5 percent line-drive rate and a 2.1 percent pop-up rate.

According to FanGraphs, those numbers ranked as the second highest and second lowest respectively out of qualified hitters. When Castellanos made contact, it normally came off the barrel of his bat. His .326 BABIP may actually be a norm for his career. 

At just 22, Castellanos is still adjusting to big league pitching. If he can get a hold of his strikeouts and make more consistent contact, the available evidence signals he may approach a .300 batting average.

3 Other Names to Know

• Derek Hill, OF, 18, A
• Jonathon Crawford, RHP, 23, A+
• Kevin Ziomek, LHP, 22, A+

Kansas City Royals: Yordano Ventura, RHP, 23, Majors

Stats to Know

• Posted a 14-10 record with a 3.20 ERA in his first MLB season
• Started four games in the 2014 postseason, allowing just a .242 average in those outings
• Ranked third on the Royals in pitching WAR 

The Skinny

Royals youngster Yordano Ventura produced a nice year for the club in 2014, but the Dominican's performances in the postseason catapulted him into the conversation of the best young pitchers in baseball. 

Ventura started four times in the playoffs, posting a 3.20 ERA in 25 innings. That includes a minuscule 1.46 ERA in the World Series. 

As far as the regular season, the hurler finished with a familiar 3.20 ERA in 14 victories. He also struck out seven batters per nine. 

Ventura throws extremely hard. As Chris Moran of Beyond the Box Score indicates, his average fastball velocity of 96.9 mph is the highest since 2002 for any starting pitcher. Moran also mentions that the 23-year-old chucked 545 fastballs of at least 98 mph. Opposing hitters managed just a .218 average against that heater. 

Though his strikeout numbers have always been modest, there's reason to believe those statistics can markedly improve.

Opposing hitters made contact on pitches inside the strike zone 84.6 percent of the time, which was good for 12th in all of MLB. For context, Clayton Kershaw's Z-contact percentage is 83.7 percent. 

If Ventura can continue to develop any resemblance of an offspeed pitch, he's going to dominate opposing hitters due to his unprecedented fastball. 

3 Other Names to Know

• Raul Adalberto Mondesi, SS, 19, A+
• Kyle Zimmer, RHP, 23, AAA
• Sean Manaea, LHP, 22, A+

Cleveland Indians: Francisco Lindor, SS, 21, AAA

Stats to Know

• Hit .276 with 11 bombs and 62 RBI in 2014
• Stole 28 bases between Double-A and Triple-A
• Ranked the No. 4 overall prospect by MLB.com

The Skinny

I mentioned in the criteria that shortstops are a valuable commodity in MLB. Francisco Lindor is arguably the best one in the minor leagues, although Houston's Carlos Correa may take exception to that. 

However, when it comes to flashing the leather, it's safe to assume that Lindor is the class of minor league shortstops. MLB.com praises Lindor as an "elite defensive shortstop" and adds that "many scouts consider him to be the best defender in the Minor Leagues."

Gifted defenders at the sport's most important position usually stick at the major league level. Lindor's floor is fairly high due to that fact. His ability to turn into a superstar depends on his stick, but the Puerto Rican made immense strides in that aspect in 2014. 

Lindor hit a combined .276 at Double-A and Triple-A. He also flashed some pop, hitting a career-high 11 homers and driving in 62 RBI.

Lindor continued to improve in the Arizona Fall League, as he discussed in the attached clip.

Those numbers combined with elite defense should give you a slight idea of what all the fuss is about.

3 Other Names to Know

• Clint Frazier, OF, 20, A+
• Tyler Naquin, OF, 23, AA
• Francisco Mejia, C, 19, A

Chicago White Sox: Carlos Rodon, LHP, 21, AAA

Stats to Know

• Topped the NCAA in strikeouts in 2013 at NC State
• Started nine games in his first pro season and allowed zero home runs
• Averaged over 13 Ks per nine at both Single-A and Triple-A 

The Skinny

Carlos Rodon was drafted third overall in the 2014 draft and may not have to linger in the lower levels for too long.

The lefty signed a $6 million signing bonus, evidence of the type of player the White Sox believe him to be. In only six pro starts last season, Rodon yielded a .215 average and a 2.92 ERA. 

Kiley McDaniel at FanGraphs broke down Rodon's stuff in a recent article:

"

Rodon still needs to clean up the delivery a bit (he's already made some tweaks since signing) and work on his fastball command (he misses too much to his arm side), but the changeup flashed 55 to 60 potential after signing, so that above grade may be light, and the slider is an 80 at times when the fastball is in the mid-90's, so that grade could be light as well. 

"

Being left handed, Rodon may be deployed as a bullpen piece early in his career in order to better acclimate with the MLB game. But long-term, he projects to be a frontline starter.

Careful, White Sox fans: Don't salivate onto your keyboards at the potential thought of a left-handed one-two punch including Chris Sale and Rodon.

3 Other Names to Know

• Tim Anderson, SS, 21, AA
• Francellis Montas, RHP, 21, AA
• Courtney Hawkins, OF, 21, A+

Minnesota Twins: Byron Buxton, Outfielder, 20, AA

Stats to Know

• Ranked No. 1 overall prospect by MLB.com, Baseball Prospectus and Baseball America before the 2014 season
• Hit .334 in 2013 with 12 homers, 77 RBI and 55 stolen bases
• Finished 2013 with a whopping .944 OPS

The Skinny

The Twins are loaded with young talent in the system, but consensus top prospect Byron Buxton (see video above) is obviously the most coveted of the bunch. 

Buxton was the second overall pick in the 2012 draft mainly because of his game-changing five-tool ability. Every facet of the outfielder's talent was on display in 2013. He hit for a high average (.334) and produced with significant pop (12 homers, .944 OPS). He also proved he can be a capable run producer (77 RBI) or table-setter (55 steals). 

Unfortunately, the Georgia native faced adversity for the first time in career this season. Buxton was hampered by a wrist injury, before suffering a concussion from a nasty collision in the outfield. To make up for a lost season, Buxton participated in the Arizona Fall League. 

Kiley McDaniel of FanGraphs describes Buxton as a player with "literally-off-the-charts speed, an easy plus arm, advanced feel to defend and a projectable frame to go with ridiculous athleticism, looseness and bat speed."

Buxton is a rare blend of speed, power and defense, pushing him up the ranks in Minnesota. He could be an everyday MLB player as early as 2015, especially if he stays healthy. 

3 Other Names to Know

• Miguel Sano, 3B, 21, AA
• Kohl Stewart, RHP, 20, A+
• Alex Meyer, RHP, 24, AAA

Los Angeles Angels: Mike Trout, Outfielder, 23, Majors

Stats to Know

• Won the 2014 AL MVP, hitting .287 with 36 homers and 111 RBI
• Boasts career averages of .305/.395/.549 and a career OPS of .945
• Has a 165 wRC+ career rating 

The Skinny

I really wanted to try to go in a different direction here, but Mike Trout is the best young player in baseball, let alone for the Los Angeles Angels. 

Trout's meteoric rise to the top of the sport began by kicking down the door of MLB to announce his arrival in 2012. The outfielder posted an unfathomable 10.1 WAR and 167 wRC+ as a 20-year-old rookie. Even three seasons removed, it still seems fake. 

But it wasn't, just an appetizer for the entree that was 2013, which was inconceivably better than his rookie year. Trout could have easily won MVPs in each of those seasons but fell victim to that whole "team success" argument. 

But never fear, baseball fans; those wrongs were corrected this season as Trout claimed his first (of many) MVPs. His production was actually down this season, but who am I kidding: 36 homers and 11 RBI shouldn't classify as a down year. 

The Angels signed Trout to a six-year, $144.5 million extension that will keep him under team control until 2020. With the high-dollar deals being tossed out around the league these days, Trout's contract seems almost criminal. 

Atlanta Braves legend Chipper Jones recently wondered aloud on Twitter if Trout may become the first half-a-billion-dollar player in MLB history. Ridiculous, right?

But..is it really? 

3 Other Names to Know

• Sean Newcomb, LHP, 21, A+
• Joe Gatto, RHP, 19, ROK
• Cam Bedrosian, RHP, 23, Majors

Oakland Athletics: Daniel Robertson, SS, 20, AA

Stats to Know

• Hit .310 with 15 homers and 60 RBI at Single-A this season
• Recored a .402 OBP and .873 OPS
• Responsible for 132 wRC+

The Skinny

Until a certain midseason blockbuster trade, this spot was reserved for Addison Russell. Although Daniel Robertson is not quite the talent, the A's remain in safe hands with another young shortstop in Robertson. 

Robertson's strengths lie in his offensive capability. The shortstop hit .310 with 15 round-trippers and 60 RBI in 2014. He posted similar numbers in 2013, so a promotion to Double-A to start 2015 makes sense. 

MLB.com described Robertson's potential at the dish in its 2014 Prospect Watch: "Robertson's best tool is his bat. With a short stroke and an all-fields approach, Robertson makes consistent line-drive contact. His hitting acumen, bat speed and strength should give him high-producing power down the road."

Robertson is an above-average defensive shortstop due to a strong arm and instincts, as seen in the clip above. If he needs to change positions at some point in his career, his bat should always help him carve out a spot on the lineup card. 

The A's top two prospects at the beginning of the year were shortstops. Billy Beane may have flipped the more talented of the two, but he's still in possession of a future MLB talent who has the potential to hit over .300 more than once in his career. 

3 Other Names to Know

• Matthew Olson, 1B, 20, A+
• Renato Nunez, 3B, 20, A+
• Raul Alcantara, RHP, 21, AA

Seattle Mariners: Taijuan Walker, RHP, 22, Majors

Stats to Know

• Allowed only a 2.61 ERA in five MLB starts this season
• Struck out over eight per nine and rendered hitters to a .223 average in those starts
• Fanned over nine per nine at Triple-A before his promotion

The Skinny

Taijuan Walker has long been considered part of the next wave of pitching stars in baseball, and he finally got a crack at the Mariners rotation toward the end of 2014.

Walker threw 38 innings for Seattle, recording an impressive 2.61 ERA and over eight strikeouts per nine innings. Hitters struggled to create solid contact off of the right hander (as seen in a 2014 outing in the clip above), hitting only .223 to close the season. Shoulder injuries have plagued Walker throughout his career, but a healthy finish to the year bodes well for 2015. 

In his brief minor league stint, Walker relied heavily on his fastball. His heater topped out at 99 mph but usually sat around 94-95. It was extremely effective outside the zone, as Walker posted a 78.1 percent contact rate when hitters chose to chase the smoke. 

His curveball has became his go-to offspeed pitch, frustrating opposing hitters to a .074 average. The hook clocked in at as slow as 69 mph but averaged out near 74. That 20-mph drop in velocity paid dividends, as opposing hitters only made contact with his spinner 75 percent of the time.

Walker's name has been tossed around as potential trade bait for the likes of Atlanta's Justin Upton, but the Mariners should do everything possible to hold on to this potential ace. 

3 Other Names to Know

• Alex Jackson, OF/C, 18, ROK
• D.J. Peterson, 3B, 22, AA
• Gabriel Guerrero, OF, 20, A+

Houston Astros: Carlos Correa, SS, 20, A+

Stats to Know

• Hit .325 with a .416 OBP at Single-A in 2014
• Posted a .407 wOBA and 144 wRC+. 
• MLB.com ranked him the No. 2 overall prospect

The Skinny

Carlos Correa was selected first overall in the 2012 draft, ahead of the likes of Byron Buxton and Mark Appel.

Although those prospects seem destined for great careers, the Astros have to be thrilled with the progress of the Puerto Rican shortstop. 

Correa mashed in 2014 until a broken fibula sidelined him for the remainder of the year. Before the injury, he posted a .325 average and a .416 on-base percentage. His .407 wOBA and 144 wRC+ also grade out at an elite level. 

Kiley McDaniel at FanGraphs believes Correa is just scratching the surface of his offensive potential:

"

Offensively, Correa is excitingly talented with plus hitting tools across the board and projection to dream for more. It all plays in games, although the game power is still coming along, as it's usually the last to mature. There's still some concern that his short path to the ball and gap-to-gap approach won't let him get all of his raw power, but I wouldn't be surprised if he makes all the necessary adjustments down the road.

"

Defensively the 6'4", 205-pounder may outgrow the position, but he has shown enough ability to merit a chance to break into the bigs at his desired spot. 

A full recovery from injury is the next hurdle in Correa's path to the majors. At just 20 years old, the No. 2 prospect in the minor leagues is vital for Houston's resurgence.  

3 Other Names to Know

• Mark Appel, RHP, 23, A+
• Domingo Santana, OF, 22, AAA
• Colin Moran, 3B, 22, AA

Texas Rangers: Joey Gallo, 3B, 21, AA

Stats to Know

• Hit 42 homers in the minors this season, one off the league lead
• Notched a .394 OBP to offset his strikeout numbers
• Ranked the No. 6 overall prospect by MLB.com

The Skinny

Joey Gallo destroys baseballs. He did it in high school, he did it in A-ball and it has yet to cease while at Double-A. 

Gallo hit 42 bombs in 2014, one shy of Kris Bryant's league-leading mark. That followed up another 40-homer campaign the year before.

To quote Spider-Man, "with great power, comes great strikeout potential". Wait, that's not how it goes? Well, my cheesy attempt at humor still holds some merit in the modern game.

Gallo is no different than most young power hitters; he fans an awful lot. He struck out 37 percent of the time in A-ball and 39.5 percent of the time in Double-A. Kiley McDaniel attributes Gallo's biggest flaw to long limbs and an aggressive mentality at the plate. 

He's trying to combat the K's with better walk rates and reasonable on-base numbers. Of course it helps that a majority of his contact results in extra-base hits, as shown by outstanding isolated power numbers. 

Strikeouts don't appear to be nullifying Gallo's impact at the dish. He continues to profile as a heart-of-the-order thumper, capable of taking the grand tour 30 times in a MLB season. 

3 Other Names to Know

• Jorge Alfaro, C/OF, 21, AA
• Nick Williams, OF, 21, AA
• Luke Jackson, RHP, 23, AAA