12 Prospects Who Have Dominated Spring Training

MLB prospects have dominated exhibition games and headlines throughout spring training and belittled their veteran teammates.

Many are aiming to bring their talents to the big leagues in 2012.

But only some will start from Opening Day. After all, the correlation between preseason and midseason statistics is shaky at best. Their production this March shouldn't be taken out of context.

Still, fans of these individuals have reason to be excited.

Eric Sogard (Oakland Athletics)

Nearing his 26th birthday, Eric Sogard isn't exactly a sexy prospect.

Regardless, he has impressed in the minors since being dealt to the Oakland Athletics organization in January 2010.

Sogard drew more walks than strikes in two seasons with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats before earning call-ups to the big leagues.

He has already collected a handful of extra-base hits during spring training despite never previously being considered a power threat.

Sogard has the opportunity to make the 25-man roster as a reserve infielder, or even as the starting third baseman. At the very least, he would hit for a high batting average with the A's.

Spring Training 2012 Stats (entering March 20): .366 AVG, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 2 SB, .426 OBP, 1.011 OPS

Erasmo Ramirez (Seattle Mariners)

Erasmo Ramirez is far down the list of top Seattle Mariners prospects.

However, while Taijuan Walker, Danny Hultzen and James Paxton have been dismissed from camp, he continues to pitch for the MLB coaching staff.

He is a non-roster invitee who lacks the electric stuff to cause swing-and-misses.

But attacking the strike zone and inducing ground balls through a few effective outings has kept him in contention for the open slot at the back end of Seattle's rotation.

Spring Training 2012 Stats (entering March 20): 1-0, 1.29 ERA, 7 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 3 SO, 1.00 WHIP

Logan Schafer (Milwaukee Brewers)

Logan Schafer played at four different levels in the Milwaukee Brewers organization in 2011. He was successful at each destination.

The shortest of those stints was with the MLB club (five plate appearances).

He has torn the cover off the ball in spring training, nearly hitting for the cycle on March 10.

He is similarly being praised for his defense in center field. MLB.com's Bernie Pleskoff says he takes good routes and is gifted with "above-average range and excellent speed."

Pleskoff identifies him as a fourth outfielder candidate who could fill in for Corey Hart, who is still recovering from knee surgery.

Spring Training 2012 Stats (entering March 20): .440 AVG, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1 SB, .720 SLG, 1.182 OPS

Jaff Decker (San Diego Padres)

Somewhat surprisingly, 22-year-old Jaff Decker was not sent to minor league camp with several other young, hot hitters on March 15.

The San Diego Padres are taking a closer look at the powerful outfielder who is rarely whiffing despite a reputation for taking too many pitches.

He currently leads the team in extra-base hits and runs batted in.

He has never played above Double-A San Antonio during the regular season.

Spring Training 2012 Stats (entering March 20): .323 AVG, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 1 SB, .677 SLG, 1.094 OPS

Starling Marte (Pittsburgh Pirates)

Starling Marte has been spring training's leading hitter for much of the preseason.

His insane batting average—which was recently above .500—isn't a fluke. He was nearly as dominant with the Double-A Altoona Curve in 2011 (Eastern League batting champion).

The Pittsburgh Pirates will protect him in the minors for now. Manager Clint Hurdle insists that "he is not a candidate for the 25-man roster."

Marte would have a realistic shot, though, on a franchise with less outfield depth.

He still has the tools to force his MLB debut by midseason.

Spring Training 2012 Stats (entering March 20): .520 AVG, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 2 SB, .920 SLG, 1.440 OPS

Lorenzo Cain (Kansas City Royals)

Lorenzo Cain knows Starling Marte's predicament well and is luckily one year removed from it.

He produced with minor league affiliates of the Milwaukee Brewers before being acquired by the Kansas City Royals in the Zack Greinke trade.

Last season, he was an offensive juggernaut—.312 BA, 16 HR, 84 R, 16 SB—for the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers. He was stuck there, though, as Melky Cabrera, Jeff Francoeur and Alex Gordon wreaked havoc on big-league pitching.

Cabrera has since gone to the San Francisco Giants.

Now, the Royals are excited to find out if Cain's otherworldly OPS this spring will translate to the regular season.

Will his first, full MLB campaign be akin to the one that his predecessor enjoyed in 2011?

Spring Training 2012 Stats (entering March 20): .517 AVG, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1 SB, .931 SLG, 1.507 OPS

Heath Hembree (San Francisco Giants)

After leading the Minor Leagues with 38 saves last season, fire-baller Heath Hembree is demonstrating his ability for MLB audiences.

He has been practically untouchable thanks to his ability to locate a superb fastball. Hembree compliments it with a developing slider.

The San Francisco Giants aren't rushing him to the big leagues. Closer Brian Wilson and his beard have the ninth inning to themselves.

However, Wilson is eligible to depart via free agency after 2013. The franchise sees Hembree as his heir apparent.

Spring Training 2012 Stats (entering March 20): 1.80 ERA, 5 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 7 SO, 0.60 WHIP

Andrew Oliver (Detroit Tigers)

Andrew Oliver of the Detroit Tigers is separating himself in the competition for the fifth starter's job.

Drew Smyly, actually, has posted similar statistics, but Oliver's effortless delivery appeals to manager Jim Leyland.

Also, he pitched more professional innings last year and could more easily be stretched out.

His fastball has been clocked in the mid-90s. He hasn't walked a batter since March 7.

Not many in the organization could have expected such a solid spring from Oliver. He struggled mightily with his control in 2011, both at Triple-A Toledo and during a brief stint with the Tigers.

Spring Training 2012 Stats (entering March 20): 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 6 SO, 0.56 WHIP

Kyle Weiland (Houston Astros)

A change of scenery appears to be benefiting Kyle Weiland, who was traded from the Boston Red Sox to the Houston Astros in December.

Or maybe he is motivated by the rotation spot that opened up when Brett Myers was converted into a closer.

What we know for certain is that Weiland has the repertoire of an accomplished starting pitcher. His go-to fastball often defers to his changeup, curveball and improving cutter.

Pessimistic Astros fans who forecast triple-digit losses for the team in 2012 can find comfort in the fact that Weiland will be under team control through their multi-year rebuilding process.

Spring Training 2012 Stats (entering March 20): 2-0, 1.64 ERA, 7 H, 5 BB, 7 K, 1.09 WHIP

Drew Pomeranz (Colorado Rockies)

The Colorado Rockies haven't made many decisions regarding their 2012 pitching staff yet.

But management is rooting for lefty Drew Pomeranz to be a key contributor.

He was the top prospect attained from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Ubaldo Jimenez last summer.

Before succumbing to tightness in his hip on March 13 (later deemed right glute inflammation), he was having his way with opposing batters.

Pomeranz has an impressive speed differential between his heater and curve. That should allow him to register ample strikeouts at any level.

Spring Training 2012 Stats (entering March 20): 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 7 SO, 0.71 WHIP

Jesus Montero (Seattle Mariners)

Catcher Jesus Montero is a consensus top-10 overall prospect who has dominated both games and conversations.

He is the most intriguing position player in Seattle Mariners camp.

Montero is making an effort to improve his traditionally poor pitch selection. His adjustments are already paying off.

The New York Yankees—for several years—marketed him as a future superstar.

Still only 22, Montero will be slotted in the middle of the lineup and saddled with the responsibility of turning around an anemic offense.

Spring Training 2012 Stats (entering March 20): .286 AVG, 2 HR, 10 RBI, .607 SLG, .951 OPS

Trevor Bauer (Arizona Diamondbacks)

By all first-hand accounts, Trevor Bauer has been awesome in his first MLB spring training.

He is small compared to the prototypical top-of-the-rotation pitcher (6'1" and 175 pounds).

However, the Arizona Diamondbacks aren't worried. He has four quality pitches at his disposal.

The D-Backs have a surplus of talented right-handed arms. Daniel Hudson and Ian Kennedy proved their legitimacy in 2011, and Josh Collmenter had a successful rookie season.

A lesser player than Bauer wouldn't even be in the discussion for a starting role.

Spring Training 2012 Stats (entering March 20): 1-0, 2.57 ERA, 7 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 7 SO, 0.86 WHIP

*Brett Lawrie (Toronto Blue Jays)

Brett Lawrie doesn't technically belong on this list (hence the asterisk). I'll admit it.

His 43-game stint with the Toronto Blue Jays—although just barely—exhausted his rookie eligibility.

I believe his excellence this spring should be recognized anyway considering that this article praises 12 other players in his age group.

He is the poster child for the baby-faced Jays who plan to contend in the American League East with a slew of players in their twenties.

That dream of returning to relevance is attainable.

Simply, Lawrie and the team must finish 2012 exactly like they've started it: in dominant fashion.

Spring Training 2012 Stats (entering March 20): .609 AVG, 6 2B, 8 RBI, 5 SB, .957 SLG, 1.582 OPS

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