7 Prospects Who Will Improve the Most in 2015

Not every successful major league player is a former top prospect. Typically, it’s the high-profile, high-ceiling players who typically garner the most hype as they ascend the organizational ladder.

One of the more rewarding aspects of scouting is identifying young players who, despite flying under the radar or underperforming early in their careers, have considerable room for improvement and showcase the potential to be impact players in the major leagues.

With that being said, here’s a look at seven prospects who will improve the most in 2015.

Trey Michalczewski, 3B, Chicago White Sox

Trey Michalczewski enjoyed a quietly good full-season debut last year at Low-A Kannapolis, batting .262/.340/.403 with 44 extra-base hits in 116 games, though he struggled over the season’s final month following a promotion to the High-A Carolina League.

A 6’3”, 210-pound switch-hitter, Michalczewski has a clean swing from both sides of the plate, and it’s easy to envision him showing more power with improved contact skills and a more refined approach. None of his tools jump off the page at the moment, save for maybe his above-average arm strength at the hot corner, but there’s definitely a lot to like about this soon-to-be 20-year-old prospect.

Michalczewski struck out 161 times last season in 579 plate appearances (27.8 percent) between both Class-A levels, which is a dangerously high total for any young hitter. However, the 19-year-old third baseman also walked 54 times during that span (9.3 percent) and posted a .340 on-base percentage, so it’s easy to see his sound approach leading to fewer whiffs and more free passes as he continues to develop and move up the ladder.

Chris Anderson, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

Chris Anderson showcased power stuff in his first full pro season and paced the hitter-friendly California League with 146 strikeouts, but he also struggled to consistently throw strikes, resulting in 63 walks and a 4.62 ERA in 134.1 innings.

A physically strong right-hander at 6’4”, 215 pounds, Anderson uses his height and strong lower half to produce fastballs in the low- to mid-90s on a downhill plane, and he can reach back for even more when necessary. He tries to blow his heater by hitters too often rather than attempting to hit spots and set up his secondary pitches.

Anderson’s slider flashes plus at 82-85 mph with good depth and tilt and a late, wipeout break that makes it his best swing-and-miss offering. The right-hander’s changeup is an average offering, thrown in the 80-83 mph range with some fading action, though the pitch stands to improve a full grade with development.

Anderson has always shown the stuff, physicality and approach necessary to serve as a mid-rotation starter, and now that he has a full season to his name, the right-hander should be ready to take a big step forward in 2015.

Trey Ball, LHP, Boston Red Sox

Trey Ball, the No. 7 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 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 weren’t particularly surprising. His strong second half gives him momentum headed into 2015, and given Ball’s outstanding athleticism and promising stuff, there’s a real chance he puts things together quickly next season at High-A Salem.

Carson Kelly, C, St. Louis Cardinals

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Carson Kelly returned to the Midwest League last year and had another respectable offensive campaign, batting .248/.326/.366 in 98 games, all the while making important strides behind the plate.

The 6’2”, 200-pound right-handed hitter has a powerful swing thanks to above-average bat speed as well as strong wrists and forearms. He eliminated a lot of the pre-pitch movement with his hands he showed in 2013, although it did lead to some minor issues with extension and weight transfer. Kelly doesn’t walk or strike out often, instead making lots of hard contact across the field.

The Cardinals converted Kelly from third base to catcher last year during the fall instructional league, and so far, the 20-year-old has made the most of the transition. The overall profile is understandably raw given his inexperience, but Kelly’s aptitude and capacity to make adjustments, in addition to his obvious tools and athleticism, could make him an average defensive backstop at maturity.

After back-to-back years in the Midwest League, Kelly finally will move up to the High-A Florida State League in 2015. He likely will be challenged at the more advanced level, but he’s shown steady improvement throughout his career and, after refining his defense behind the plate, he should be ready to take a step forward with the bat.

Jairo Labourt, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Jairo Labourt received an aggressive assignment to Low-A Lansing to begin 2014, bypassing the short-season level, but his control problems resulted in 20 walks in 14 innings, followed by a demotion to short-season Vancouver. Although his control was still shaky at Vancouver (4.7 BB/9), the 20-year-old left-hander showcased a knack both for missing bats and inducing weak contact.

At 6’4”, 204 pounds, Labourt is a physically strong left-hander who uses his size to create plane toward the plate. He’ll work in the low-90s with his fastball, at times touching 94-95, and it’s easy to see him possibly adding a few more ticks in the years to come.

Labourt’s slider has good tilt and depth and looks like a potential swing-and-miss pitch when he’s on, but overall it’s too inconsistent in terms of velocity and shape. The 20-year-old also throws a changeup with decent fade, albeit on the firm side, and he’ll need to develop the pitch thoroughly as he moves up the ladder.

As is the case with many big-bodied young pitchers, Labourt’s control problems stem from an inability to repeat his delivery and release point. However, the upside is there for a mid-rotation starter, and he’s a candidate to move quickly once the mechanical issues are resolved—similar to Daniel Norris last year.

Keury Mella, RHP, San Francisco Giants

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Keury Mella made his full-season debut at Low-A Augusta in 2014, as the hard-throwing right-hander posted a 3.93 ERA with 63 strikeouts against 13 walks in 66.1 innings before landing on the disabled list in late June with a strained rotator cuff.

After spending roughly six weeks on the shelf, Mella returned to action in early August but was dropped down to short-season Salem-Keizer. Unsurprisingly, the 21-year-old excelled during his six starts in the Northwest League, registering a 1.86 ERA with 20 punch-outs in 19.1 innings.

The right-handed Mella already possesses huge arm strength, armed with a fastball that sits in the mid-90s with late life, while the projection remaining on his 6’2”, 200-pound frame could make him a consistent upper-90s guy in a few years. Mella throws his curveball with velocity in the low-80s with sharp, downer break, and if he continues to make strides in his development of a changeup, it should give him a third average-or-better offering at maturity.

Overall, Mella’s combination of velocity, stuff and command gives him one of the higher ceilings among pitching prospects below the High-A level, and if he can stay healthy, the right-hander seems poised to take off next season. With that in mind, it’ll be interesting to see where he’s assigned to 2015.

Raul Mondesi, SS, Kansas City Royals

Raul Mondesi's promising full-season debut convinced the Royals to move him up to High-A Wilmington of the Carolina League to begin 2014, where he was the youngest everyday player in his league on Opening Day for the second straight year. However, the 19-year-old didn’t progress offensively as most expected, finishing the season with a .211 batting average and .256 on-base percentage.

However, if there was one positive takeaway from the youngster’s otherwise disappointing season, it was that Mondesi set new career highs in doubles (14), triples (12) and home runs (eight).

The switch-hitting Mondesi has a clean swing from both sides of the plate, with bat speed and barrel awareness that suggest a future above-average hit tool. It’s hard to get a read on Mondesi’s true power potential at the moment, as he’s still figuring out his identity as a hitter, but he definitely showed more raw power in 2014—especially from the left side of the plate. He’s still growing into his wiry 6’1”, 165-pound frame, and I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if he blows past his 45 overall power projection.

Defensively, Mondesi’s athleticism and tools are always on display at shortstop, and he has the instincts to develop into an impact player at the position. The youngster will need a few more years in the minors to refine his skills on both sides of the ball, but his ceiling of an All-Star shortstop should make it worth the wait.

It’ll be interesting to see whether the Royals have Mondesi repeat High-A or move him up to Double-A in 2015. Either way, with three professional seasons under his belt, the 19-year-old is ready for a true breakthrough campaign.