10 Important 2015 Spring Training Names You've Never Heard Of

Not every successful major league player is a former top prospect.

One of the more rewarding aspects of scouting comes from the identification of young players who, despite flying under the radar, showcase the potential to be impact players at the highest level. That's also what makes spring training so great: It's an opportunity to view a wide range of players who might not be well-known outside of their organizations.

With that said, here’s a look at 10 under-the-radar spring training prospects worth knowing for the 2015 season.

Giovanny Urshela, 3B, Cleveland Indians

Signed back in 2008 out of Colombia, Giovanny Urshela had a long-overdue breakout campaign in the 2014 season, batting.280/.334/.491 with 18 home runs and 36 doubles between the Double-A and Triple-A levels.

The 23-year-old third baseman then proceeded to rake in the Venezuela Winter League, batting .398 with three home runs and 22 RBI in 108 at-bats, but he suffered a knee injury in November while sliding into third base.

Urshela is an above-average defender at the hot corner with a slick glove, good mobility and range and above-average arm strength. At the dish, he exhibits strong bat-to-ball skills and an overaggressive approach, almost making too much contact at times. He's learned to stay back on the ball and use his lower half in the last year, and it's resulted in an uptick in his power frequency.

Why He’s Important

The emergence of Urshela could have Lonnie Chisenhall on the hot seat this spring, but that will also depend on the former’s recovery from the knee injury. The latest report, per Zack Meisel of The Plain Dealer, suggests the 23-year-old will be ready for spring training. Urshela is an outstanding defensive third baseman and a much better option than Chisenhall in that regard, but both players have questions about their ability to produce consistently in the major leagues.

Raisel Iglesias, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

Raisel Iglesias inked a seven-year, $27 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds last July, and the Cuban right-hander promptly showed what he was about by allowing four baserunners in seven innings during his pro debut in the Arizona Fall League.

Working out of the bullpen, the 25-year-old Iglesias sat in the low 90s with his fastball, occasionally hitting 95-plus, and he showed a good feel for inducing whiffs with his slider. He also throws a curveball and changeup, which gives him potential as a starter should the Reds take that route.

Why He's Important

Based on his strong showing in the AFL, there's growing belief that Iglesias has a real chance to make the Reds Opening Day rotation. More importantly, his new manager, Bryan Price, has made it very clear that he views Iglesias as a starter, per John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer:

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Four pitches with command — that spells out starting pitcher, especially when it's plus-stuff across the board. He was 93-97, so the velocity is there. The action on his fastball is there, much better changeup than I anticipated seeing and two quality breaking balls and a good feel. His last (appearance) that he made in the fall league, he had two strikeouts on 3-2 breaking balls. That type of confidence and ability to execute those pitches in those situations suggests he's a little bit more advanced than a lot of guys who are getting their first chance in big league camp.

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Should Iglesias compete this spring for the final spot in the Reds Opening Day rotation, he’ll be going up against Anthony DeSclafani, David Holmberg, Jason Marquis and Dylan Axelrod.

Dalton Pompey, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

Dalton Pompey emerged as one of the game’s more intriguing power-speed prospects in 2014, as his promotion to the major leagues in September marked his fourth level of the season. The 22-year-old held his own at the highest level too, batting .231/.302/.436 in 43 plate appearances.

Pompey is an exceptional athlete with a wiry-strong 6’2”, 195-pound frame that’s ideal for adding more strength moving forward. The switch-hitter’s strong hands and quick wrists translate to plus bat speed from both sides of the plate, resulting in hard contact across the whole field.

His swing is geared primarily toward stroking line drives, but he’s added some lift from both sides over the past year and has begun to tap into his average raw power.

Though he’s young and relatively inexperienced, Pompey already has a good feel for the strike zone and demonstrates pitch recognition, tracking pitches deep into the zone and working deep counts. His on-base skills also allow his plus speed to translate on the basepaths, where he should swipe upward of 30 bags annually. 

Defensively, Pompey profiles as a long-term center fielder thanks to his consistently strong jumps, plus range and closing speed, and his solid-average arm strength is likely to play up at the position.

Why He's Important

Toronto’s decision to trade Anthony Gose during the offseason suggests that it believes Pompey is ready to take over in center field in 2015. The 22-year-old certainly didn’t look overmatched during his month-long audition in the major leagues, but that’s not to say he won’t endure growing pains over the course of a full season. However, Pompey’s speed and defense give him the opportunity to still contribute on both sides of the ball as his promising bat continues to develop.

Devon Travis, 2B, Toronto Blue Jays

An oblique injury limited Devon Travis to only 100 games in 2014, but the 23-year-old still managed to put up impressive numbers in the Eastern League, batting .298/.358/.460 with 37 extra-base hits (10 home runs) and 16 stolen bases.

A right-handed batter, Travis achieves a deep contact point that allows him to generate consistent hard contact to all fields. He’s also a patient hitter who sees his share of pitches, which is why he’s equally adept at hitting fastballs and secondary offerings.

And though he may be undersized at 5’9”, 195 pounds, he possesses both the raw power and power frequency to hit 10-12 home runs at maturity, not to mention plenty of doubles and triples. However, what I really like about Travis’ power is that it plays to all fields thanks to his ability to generate backspin carry.

Travis is an average-at-best runner down the line, but he has the speed and quickness to steal 10-15 bases in the major leagues, possibly more if he’s getting on base at a solid clip. More importantly, Travis has enough speed to help him turn singles into doubles and doubles into triples with relative ease, as he’s an above-average runner underway.

Travis’ defense at second base has really improved over the last two years, especially in terms of his ability to turn the double play. His range is only average, but he still gets to a lot of balls and makes all the plays thanks to his quick feet and soft, giving hands.

Why He’s Important

Travis’ wide range of tools and skills give him sneaky upside as an everyday player in The Show, as he’s now surpassed expectations during his time at each full-season level. Regarding his immediate future, the 23-year-old now has a relatively clear path to playing time after an offseason trade from Detroit to Toronto, though I don’t expect the Blue Jays to break camp with him at the keystone. Either way, Travis is a safe bet to reach the major leagues in 2015 and contribute in some capacity.

James McCann, C, Detroit Tigers

A second-round draft pick back in 2011, James McCann took a big step forward last year in Double-A Erie and continued to improve last season at Triple-A Toledo, posting a career-best .295/.343/.427 batting line in 109 games before receiving a call-up in September.

Defensively, McCann has a good blend of strength and athleticism at 6’2", 210 pounds, and he’s a good receiver who understands game-calling and sequencing. His arm strength is slightly above average but plays up thanks to his quick release, and it helped him throw out base stealers at a 42 percent clip last season.

Why He’s Important

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski recently stated he views McCann as a future everyday catcher in the major leagues, per Anthony French of the Detroit Free Press, which means the 24-year-old will probably receive a long look this spring as the team evaluates its situation behind the plate.

As right-handed batter, McCann’s overall hit tool could become average with refinement, and it’s likely to play at least a half-grade higher against left-handed pitching, making him at least a potential platoon option behind the plate. While he’s a long shot to break camp as the Tigers’ everyday catcher, McCann shouldn’t have trouble taking the backup role from Bryan Holaday.

Ketel Marte, SS/2B, Seattle Mariners

Ketel Marte received aggressive assignments to Double-A and Triple-A last year in his age-20 season, and the switch-hitting middle infielder responded to the challenge by batting a combined .304/.335/.411 with 42 extra-base hits and 29 stolen bases over 128 games between both levels.

At 6’1” and 180 pounds, Marte, 21, has an impressive feel for making consistent contact from both sides but is noticeably more advanced as a lefty. Meanwhile, his present combination of on-base skills—a product of his advanced plate discipline and pitch recognition—and speed makes his bat even more valuable as a potential top-of-the-order presence. With one home run in 185 full-season games, power will never be part of Marte’s game. However, he should have no problem accruing a high number of doubles and triples in a given season.

Though he profiles at either middle infield position, Marte has all the tools to stick at shortstop for the duration of his career, with smooth actions, above-average range and a strong, accurate arm. He’s received glowing reviews for his makeup and work ethic, so expect the Mariners to continue to challenge him moving forward.

Why He's Important

Brad Miller and Chris Taylor will likely keep Marte in the minors for most of 2015, but spring training will give the 21-year-old a chance to throw his name into the mix for playing time later in the season. Plus, Marte’s his age and track record at an up-the-middle position—not to mention the Mariners’ lack of patience with certain players—also bode well for his future.

Steven Souza, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

Steven Souza turned in a breakout performance in 2013 and followed it up with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League, but his age (25) and lack of prospect hype (third-round draft pick in 2007) still had him flying under the radar heading into 2014.

However, that changed in a big way this past season at Triple-A Syracuse: The 6’4”, 225-pound outfielder was named International League MVP after pacing the league in batting average (.345), on-base percentage (.427) and slugging (.577), in addition to tallying 18 home runs, 25 doubles, 77 RBI and 28 stolen bases in 100 games.

He also received his first taste of the major leagues in 2014, but he went just 3-for-23 (with two home runs) in 21 games, a majority of which he entered as a defensive replacement.

However, the lack of turnover in Washington’s outfield meant Souza was unlikely to see significant time in 2015, which is why the club decided to trade him to Tampa Bay in December as part of a three-team deal with the Padres.

At 6’4”, 225 pounds, Souza is a standout athlete with the potential for four average-or-better tools at maturity, possibly five depending on how he adjusts to major league pitching. The 25-year-old’s carrying tool is his plus raw power, and he’s shown more consistent in-game thump over the last two seasons after tightening his approach.

Souza’s hit tool is still a bit of a question mark, but he should make enough contact to allow his power to translate at the highest level. His slightly above-average speed and strong instincts make him a threat on the basepaths, and it wouldn't be surprising if he continued swiping 15 to 20 bags over a full season.

Why He's Important

Souza is the type of player who will surprise people once given consistent playing time, as his combination of size, athleticism, tools and secondary skills profile favorably in a big league outfield. The 25-year-old’s ability to play all three positions will make him a near-everyday player for the Rays, as he's expected to open the 2015 season as the team's left fielder. I'm excited to see what Souza can do over a full season in The Show.

Kyle Kubitza, 3B, Los Angeles Angels

Kyle Kubitza quietly had a great year at Double-A Mississippi, as the 24-year-old set new full-season career highs in batting average (.295), on-base percentage (.405), slugging (.470), extra-base hits (50) and stolen bases (21). In January, the Atlanta Braves traded Kubitza to the Angels.

The left-handed-hitting Kubitza has a smooth, line-drive-oriented swing as well as a knack for barreling the ball and using the whole field. The Texas native employs a patient approach at the plate and draws his share of walks, though at times his selectivity seems to limit his power potential.

Kubitza’s only standout attribute is his above-average arm, but he still offers value with average tools across the board and has room left to develop. His steady improvement over the last two seasons has him on track to reach the major leagues at some point during the 2015 season, especially as a member of the Angels.

Why He's Important

With Kaleb Cowart now out of the long-term picture at third base after two dismal seasons in Double-A, the recently acquired Kubitza, who’s already on the 40-man roster, represents the Angels’ next true third baseman after David Freese, who will become a free agent after the 2015 season. Therefore, expect the 24-year-old to receive a lengthy audition this spring as his new organization attempts to determine his timeline for the upcoming season.

Elias Diaz, C, Pittsburgh Pirates

Elias Diaz turned in a breakout performance at the plate in 2014, batting .312/.366/.421 with 21 doubles and a career-high six home runs in 404 plate appearances between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis. The 24-year-old has always shown solid contact skills, but 2014 was the first year he noticeably started to drive the ball.

Diaz's agility and quickness behind the plate makes him a strong blocker, and it really stood in the context of the AFL, where he was forced to catch a variety of pitchers in a given game. His catch-and-throw skills, meanwhile, are tremendous; I had him at a 1.86-second pop time to second base on a steal attempt in the AFL...from his knees. (I have the video somewhere—you'll see.) Basically, he's a baller behind the plate.

Why He's Important

Diaz will be a guy to follow closely next season, especially with the Pirates set to deploy Francisco Cervelli behind the plate on Opening Day, with Chris Stewart serving as his backup. Diaz was added to the Pirates 40-man roster in November, as the team wisely protected him from the Rule 5 draft.

Though he’ll be given a long look during spring training, Diaz is more likely to open the season back in Triple-A. However, his defensive prowess and emerging bat make him a candidate for an early-season promotion.

Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP, Boston Red Sox

Eduardo Rodriguez turned his season around in a big way after coming over from the Orioles at the trade deadline, posting a 0.96 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 39-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 37.1 innings (six starts) at Double-A Portland.

The 21-year-old left-hander normally works in the low 90s with his fastball, but he sat in the 92-96 mph range more frequently last season. His slider has improved considerably since the beginning of the 2013 season, as it’s now more of a power offering in the mid-80s with tight spin and swing-and-miss bite.

Rodriguez’s changeup has the potential to be solid-average, registering in the low 80s with good sinking action, but his feel for the pitch varies from start to start. He has a strong feel for keeping hitters off-balance with sequencing, and his strike-throwing ability and smooth delivery suggest his secondaries should continue to improve with experience.

Why He's Important

Rodriguez’s stuff has really taken off in the past year, but the 21-year-old hasn’t fully adopted a power pitcher’s mentality. His command may never be great, but Rodriguez’s ability to miss bats with three pitches inside and outside of the zone could make him a high-end No. 3 starter at maturity.

Rodriguez will likely open the year in Triple-A, but a continuation of his 2014 post-trade dominance as well as his spot on the 40-man roster, could have the young left-hander in the major leagues ahead of schedule.