MLB Power Rankings: Chris Sale and the Top 15 Young Arms You Know Little About
Last week I took a look at some of they best young sluggers who could make an impact in the majors next season. This week it's time to take a look at some young pitchers that could put up impressive numbers in the big leagues this year.
Some of the players that will be listed made short appearances in the majors last year. Others are prospects who may finally be ready to get their shot in the major leagues.
Chris Sale
1 of 16
0-0, 2.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP in 4 appearances at A+
0-0, 2.84 ERA, 1.11 WHIP in 7 appearances at AAA
2-1, 4 SV, 1.93 ERA, 1.07 WHIP in 21 appearances at MLB
Sale was selected by the White Sox as their first-round draft pick in 2010. He wasted very little time making it to the majors. Sale signed with the team on June 20 and made his major league debut on Aug. 6.
He is the reason that the White Sox felt comfortable letting Bobby Jenks go. Sale should be the Sox closer this season and he has the potential to be dominant.
Jarrod Parker
2 of 16
1-0, 0.95 ERA, 0.84 WHIP in 4 starts at A+
4-6, 3.68 ERA, 1.48 WHIP in 16 starts at AA (Note: all stats for Parker are from 2009)
Most people would have heard of Jarrod Parker by now had he not undergone Tommy John surgery after the 2009 season. He was considered one of the best young pitchers in the minors before he was injured. Before the '09 season, he was considered the 29th-best prospect in baseball. Even with the knowledge that he would miss all of the 2010 season, Baseball America named him the 36th-best prospect in baseball.
News out of Arizona has seemed to indicate that Parker will have a chance to earn a spot with the Diamondbacks out of spring training if he can demonstrate that his arm is back to full strength. If he does not break camp with the big league team, he will likely start the year at Double-A. It is expected that he will contribute to the major league team during the year.
Kyle Gibson
3 of 16
4-1, 1.87 ERA, 1.04 WHIP in 7 starts at A+
7-5, 3.68 ERA, 1.22 WHIP in 16 starts at AA
0-0, 1.72 ERA, 1.09 WHIP in 3 starts at AAA
Gibson was a first-round pick by the Minnesota Twins in 2009. There were fairly-high expectations for him going into the 2010 season when he was named the 61st-best prospect in baseball. Gibson did not disappoint. He was able to work his way up from High-A to Triple-A in just one season.
Gibson will likely start the season at Triple-A. However, it would not be surprising to see him reach the majors by June. He could easily slide into the Twins rotation and he could be in contention for AL Rookie of the Year award, depending on when he is called up.
Zach Britton
4 of 16
7-3, 2.48 ERA, 1.20 WHIP in 14 starts at AA
3-4, 2.98 ERA, 1.30 WHIP in 12 starts in AAA
Zach Britton was overtaken as the Orioles' top prospect when the team drafted shortstop Manny Machado. However, the future looks bright for Britton, as he is still the team's top pitching prospect. Britton has had success in the minors and may be able to carry that success over to the majors better than some of the Orioles' younger starters. Chris Tillman, Brian Matsuz and Jake Arrieta have all had struggles in the minors.
Britton is expected to begin the year at Triple-A. He will be called up at some point this season and will face much tougher competition in the AL East.
Jhan Marinez
5 of 16
0-1, 4 SV, 1.42 ERA, 1.03 WHIP in 21 appearances at A+
1-0, 6 SV, 2.16 ERA, 0.96 WHIP in 15 appearances at AA
1-1, 6.50 ERA, 2.25 WHIP in 4 appearances at MLB
It is doubtful that anyone but Marlins fans have heard of Jhan Marinez. People will be hearing his name more often this season. Marinez was signed as an amateur free agent in 2006 and there was never much hype surrounding him. Marinez now has the potential to be a setup man for the Marlins this season. There is also a chance that he could take over the closing job in the near future.
Craig Kimbrel
6 of 16
3-2, 23 SV, 1.62 ERA, 1.13 WHIP in 48 appearances at AAA
4-0, 1 SV, 0.44 ERA, 1.21 WHIP in 21 appearances at MLB
Kimbrel has the potential to replace Billy Wagner as the Braves closer next season. He could be a phenomenal power arm out of the bullpen. The most eye-popping stat from Kimbrel's stint in the majors last year is his absurd 17.4 K/9 ratio.
Unfortunately, the second stat that sticks out from Kimbrel's line last year is his 7.0 BB/9 rate. Kimbrel has struggled with his control in the minors in the past, as evidenced by his career 5.7 BB/9 ratio. If he can figure out his control problems, Kimbrel could be dominant next season.
Andy Oliver
7 of 16
6-4, 3.61 ERA, 1.28 WHIP in 14 starts at AA
3-4, 3.23 ERA, 1.28 WHIP in 9 starts at AAA
0-4, 7.36 ERA, 1.77 WHIP in 5 starts at MLB
Oliver is another one of those pitchers who was on a fast track to the majors. He started 2010, his first professional season in Double-A, and had a stint in the majors during the year. Oliver struggled during his time in the majors, but he did allow just two earned runs in six innings in each of his first two starts.
Oliver needs some more seasoning in the minors. However, he will likely be back in the majors in 2011. He could play an important part at the back end of the Tigers rotation next season.
Alex White
8 of 16
2-3, 2.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP in 8 starts at A+
8-7, 2.28 ERA, 1.11 WHIP in 17 starts at AA
There has been talk that the Indians may look to trade Fausto Carmona this offseason. If that is the case, Alex White may find his way on the Indians' Opening Day roster. It does appear more likely that White will spend some additional time in the minor leagues. He will pitch in the majors this season, though, one way or another.
Daniel Schlereth
9 of 16
1-3, 2.37 ERA, 1.50 WHIP in 38 appearances at AAA
2-0, 1 SV 2.89 ERA, 1.61 WHIP in 18 appearances at MLB
Schlereth is another bullpen arm that has made this list. He is a young power arm who has the potential to develop into a force out of the Tigers bullpen. He was acquired as a part of the trade that sent Curtis Granderson to the Yankees and Edwin Jackson to the Diamondbacks.
It is likely that Schlereth will start next season in the Tigers bullpen. He could potentially serve as a setup man for closer Jose Valverde. It is possible that the Tigers may begin to groom him for the closing job, as it is possible that Valverde could be gone after next season.
Yunesky Maya
10 of 16
0-0, 1.29 ERA, 0.71 WHIP in 2 starts at A+
0-1, 13.50 ERA, 2.50 WHIP in 1 start at AA
1-1, 0.87 ERA, 1.26 WHIP in 2 starts at AAA
0-3, 5.88 ERA, 1.58 WHIP in 5 starts at MLB
Maya is a Cuban defector who was a hot commodity when he came on the market in 2010. The Nationals signed him and he reached the majors in a year. At 29, Maya is not exactly young, but he is still deserving of a spot on this list because so much about him is unknown.
Maya needs to continue his adjustment to American baseball. It is likely that he has a chance to start the year in the Nationals rotation. Maya can learn from major league pitchers and could help the Nationals fight for a Wild Card next season.
Clayton Mortensen
11 of 16
13-6, 4.25 ERA, 1.29 WHIP in 26 starts at AAA
0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.33 WHIP in 1 start at MLB
The Athletics have a few open rotation spots available for the 2011 season. Clayton Mortenson could take advantage of this opportunity and make the team out of spring training.
It will not be Mortenson's first stint in the majors. He has had cameos in the majors each year, both this year and last year.
He will likely not wow anyone with his pitches, but he has the ability to develop into a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter.
Jake McGee
12 of 16
3-7, 3.57 ERA, 1.29 WHIP in 19 starts at AA
1-1, 1 SV, 0.52 ERA, 0.69 WHIP in 11 appearances at AAA
0-0, 1.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP in 8 appearances at MLB
McGee is an incredibly talented young pitcher. His one problem is that he is in the Rays system, which is has recently graduated some of the the top young pitching prospects to the major leagues. McGee has recently begun to shift from a starter to a reliever so he can make the Rays' Opening Day roster.
It appears that the Rays will let closer Rafael Soriano sign elsewhere during free agency this year. This could lead to McGee having a chance to win the job as the Tampa Bay closer. McGee could take a similar path to this year's AL Rookie of the Year, Neftali Feliz.
Michael Pineda
13 of 16
8-1, 2.22 ERA, 1.09 WHIP in 13 starts at AA
3-3, 3.76 ERA, 1.14 WHIP in 12 starts at AAA
Pineda will definitely start the year in the Mariners' starting rotation. Mariners fans must hope that the Mariners treat his development more like that of Felix Hernandez than Brandon Morrow, who has finally started to live up to his potential with the Blue Jays.
Pineda will also likely be the Mariners' No. 2 starter. He will have a large load to carry, as the Seattle rotation is very weak behind Hernandez and Pineda.
Jay Jackson
14 of 16
11-8, 4.63 ERA, 1.28 WHIP in 32 appearances (25 starts) at AAA
Jackson was rated right behind fellow Cubs prospect Andrew Cashner last year. Cashner was ranked as the 95th-best prospect in baseball and Jackson was ranked as the 98th. Cashner had significantly more success than Jackson last season.
However, with Cashner's transition to the bullpen, Jackson could win a rotation spot with the Cubs this year if they decide to keep Cashner in the bullpen. If Cashner is moved to the rotation, then look for Jackson to potentially take his spot in the bullpen.
Simon Castro
15 of 16
7-6, 2.92 ERA, 1.10 WHIP in 23 starts at AA
0-1, 7.84 ERA, 2.13 WHIP in 2 starts at AAA
It is likely that Simon Castro will be in the running for a spot in the Padres' starting rotation during spring training. Castro will likely end up starting the season in the minors. He needs a bit more development time before he is ready to successfully contribute at the major league level.
Castro was rated as the 57th-best prospect in baseball before the beginning of the 2010 season. Padres fans can likely expect Castro in the majors by the middle of the 2011 season. It would not be surprising to see Castro have success in the majors next year.
Jordan Lyles
16 of 16
7-9, 3.12 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, in 20 starts at AA
0-3, 5.40 ERA, 1.86 WHIP in 6 starts at AAA
The most impressive thing about Jordan Lyles is the fact that he was able to reach Triple-A as a 19-year-old. He was baseball's 91st-best prospect coming into last season and that number should be even better after his performance last year.
Lyles needs more time in the minors before he is ready for the majors. He will likely spend at least two months at Triple-A before he makes his first major league spot. The Astros' rotation will be weak next season, so there is definitely room for Lyles once he is ready. Lyles could end up being the youngest pitcher in the majors next year.
