The Most Disappointing Pitching Prospects at Every Minor League Level in 2012

Earlier in the week, I highlighted some of the more disappointing position prospects this season at every minor league level.

And now that the minor league regular season is complete—and with the various playoff series nearing an end— it’s time to further my coverage of some of the not-so-impressive minor league campaigns of the 2012 season.

This time, however, I will look at the disappointing seasons had by pitching prospects at every minor league level. And ,as I did in the aforementioned article, prospects who played at multiple levels have been assigned to the one at which they played the most games.

Triple-A

Dellin Betances, RHP, New York Yankees: 6-9, 131.1 IP, 6.44 ERA, 1.85 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 6.8 BB/9 (27 G; 26 GS)

After posting a 6.39 ERA with 69 walks in 74.2 innings, the Yankees demoted the 6’8” right-hander to Double-A where it was more of the same.

Mike Montgomery, LHP, Kansas City Royals: 5-12, 149.2 IP, 6.07 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 6.7 K/9, 3.8 BB/9.

The left-hander should have reached the major leagues this season, but instead he allowed 179 hits, 24 home runs and 64 walks in nearly 150 innings.

Brad Peacock, RHP, Oakland Athletics: 12-9, 134.2 IP, 6.01 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 9.3 K/9, 4.4 BB/9 (28 G; 25 G)

After reaching the major leagues with the Nationals last season, Peacock was part of the trade for Gio Gonzalez this past offseason. However, he hasn’t come close to the numbers he posted during his excellent 2011 campaign.

Alex Torres, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays: 3-7, 80.1 IP, 6.72 ERA, 1.79 WHIP, 12.1 K/9, 7.5 BB/9 (30 G; 18 GS)

Torres has endured a massive regression this season, posting a 8.2 BB/9 and 1.93 WHIP in 69 innings at Triple-A.

Julio Teheran, RHP, Atlanta Braves: 7-9, 131 IP, 5.08 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 6.7 K/9, 3.0 BB/9 (26 GS)

One of the game’s top pitching prospects heading into the year, Teheran has been consistently ineffective this season at Triple-A. He might be the biggest disappointment on this list.

Double-A

Noel Arguelles, LHP, Kansas City Royals: 4-14, 119.1 IP, 6.41 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 4.4 K/9, 5.0 BB/9 (25 GS)

After an impressive professional debut in 2011, the left-hander never quite adjusted to the increased competition at Double-A.

Deck McGuire, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays: 5-15, 144 IP, 5.88 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 1.4 HR/9, 6.1 WHIP, 3.9 BB/9 (28 GS)

Following a strong debut in 2011, McGuire was extremely hittable at Double-A, allowing 162 hits and 22 home runs in 144 innings.

Nestor Molina, RHP, Chicago White Sox: 6-11, 126.2 IP, 4.55 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 6.3 K/9, 1.9 BB/9 (22 G; 21 GS)

Regarded as the team’s top pitching prospect heading into the season, Molina has done nothing but drop in the organizational prospect rankings.

Trevor May, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies: 10-13, 149.2 IP, 4.87 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 9.1 K/9, 4.7 BB/9 (28 GS)

After finally reaching Double-A in his fifth season, May was hindered by his control and knack for giving up home runs. It was not quite the performance once expected from the team’s preseason No. 1 prospect.

Trey McNutt, RHP, Chicago Cubs: 9-8, 95 IP, 4.26 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 6.3 K/9, 4.3 BB/9 (34 G; 17 GS)

One of the Cubs’ few pitching prospects, McNutt didn’t make the strides that the organization hoped he would, especially in his second straight full season at Double-A.

High-A

Robert Whitenack, RHP, Chicago Cubs: 1-6, 51.1 IP, 5.96 ERA, 1.89 WHIP, 5.4 K/9, 4.7 BB/9 (15 GS)

After an excellent 2011 season between High-A and Double-A, Whitenack spent the entire 2012 season back at High-A where the results were unimpressive—to say the least.

Jed Bradley, LHP, Milwaukee Brewers: 5-10, 107.1 IP, 5.53 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, 5.0 K/9, 3.6 BB/9 (20 GS)

A first-rounder in 2011, Bradley’s professional debut was spoiled by 11.4 H/9 and 5.0 K/9 rates.

Madison Boer, RHP, Minnesota Twins: 9-12, 138.2 IP, 5.84 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 5.6 K/9, 2.7 BB/9 (27 G; 24 GS)

Boer was the Twins’ second-round draft pick in 2011, and he posted a 3.91 ERA in 25.1 innings between two rookie levels last season. Yet he struggled mightily this season in his first full season.

Brody Colvin, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies: 6-10, 138 IP, 5.87 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 7.1 K/9, 4.8 BB/9 (30 G; 25 GS)

Since entering the Phillies’ system in 2009, the right-hander has steadily regressed, turning in his worst season to date in 2012.

Alex Burgos, LHP, Detroit Tigers: 8-10, 121.1 IP, 4.90 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 5.8 K/9, 6.5 BB/9 (25 G; 23 GS)

It’s never a good thing when you amass more walks (88) than strikeouts (78).

Tyler Matzek, LHP, Colorado Rockies: 6-8, 142.1 IP, 4.62 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 9.7 K/9, 6.0 BB/9 (28 GS)

Although the left-hander had moments where it seemed as though he was turning the corner, Matzek still battled his own inconsistency all season.

Low-A

Cam Bedrosian, RHP, Los Angeles Angels: 3-11, 82.2 IP, 6.31 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, 5.2 K/9, 5.7 BB/9 (21 GS)

After missing all of 2011 recovering from Tommy John surgery, the right-hander struggled to return to his 2010 form.

J.R. Bradley, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks: 7-8, 117.1 IP, 5.98 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 4.6 K/9, 3.5 BB/9 (28 G; 19 GS)

Bradley’s stats continue to trend in the wrong direction, as he allowed 149 hits with only 60 strikeouts in nearly 120 innings.

Austin Wood, LHP, Los Angeles Angels: 5-12, 127.2 IP, 4.30 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, 5.1 BB/9 (26 GS)

The 6’4” left-hander has great stuff, but he continues to struggle more than he dominates.

Parker Bridwell, RHP, Baltimore Orioles: 5-9, 114.1 IP, 5.98 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 5.6 K/9, 5.0 BB/9 (23 G; 22 GS)

Other than Dylan Bundy, Bridwell was one of the Orioles’ top pitching prospects headed into the season. The right-hander struggled to rebound from is disappointing 2011 campaign, posting even worse numbers in 2012.

Luke Jackson, RHP, Texas Rangers: 5-2, 65.2 IP, 4.39 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 10.1 K/9, 4.4 BB/9 (13 GS)

Jackson has the arsenal to be dominant, however, he continues to miss over the heart of the plate far to often.

Class-A Short Season

Peter Tago, RHP, Colorado Rockies: 2-7, 72.1 IP, 5.47 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 4.6 K/9, 4.9 BB/9 (14 GS)

Tago has continued to struggle since the Rockies made him a first-round pick in 2010.

Hayden Simpson, RHP, Chicago Cubs: 4-7, 82.1 IP, 6.56 ERA, 1.86 WHIP, 6.9 K/9, 5.6 BB/9 (29 G; 5 GS)

Simpson continues to be about as bad as everyone expected when the Cubs selected him in the first round of the 2010 draft.

Jake Sisco, RHP, Cleveland Indians: 1-6, 77 IP, 5.03 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 5.3 K/9, 3.5 BB/9 (15 GS)

Perhaps the promotion to Short Season-ball this season was too aggressive.

Austin Platt, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks: 3-7, 62 IP, 6.39 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, 4.2 BB/9 (14 G; 7 GS)

After receiving a promotion to Short Season, his numbers looked like this: 25.2 IP, 9.12 ERA, 2.10 WHIP, 5.3 BB/9.

Brent Powers, LHP, Oakland Athletics: 3-11, 108.1 IP, 6.40 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 8.0 K/9, 4.5 BB/9 (33 G; 19 GS)

After posting a 3.84 ERA at the level in 2011, he returned to Short Season action after struggling at Low-A to open the season.

Rookie

Mitch Gueller, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies: 1-5, 27.1 IP, 5.27 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 6.3 K/9, 4.0 BB/9 (8 G; 6 GS)

It was only a small sample, but Gueller had an unexpected shaky professional debut, although this is somewhat common for players from the Pacific Northwest.

Michael Roth, LHP, Los Angeles: 0-2, 22 IP, 4.91 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, 4.5 BB/9 (11 G; 9 GS)

The former South Carolina and College World Series star struggled to begin his professional career.

Ben White, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays: 4-7, 77 IP, 5.73 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 5.84 K/9, 3.6 BB/9 (15 GS)

Despite inducing groundballs at a favorable rate, the non-drafted free agent turned in an unimpressive second season in Short Season ball.

Zach Eflin, RHP, San Diego Padres: 0-1, 7 IP, 7.71 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 5.1 K/9, 3.9 BB/9 (4 G; 3 GS)

His season ended prematurely due to arm fatigue, so hopefully that is what accounted for his poor performance.

Daniel Norris, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays: 2-4, 42.2 IP, 8.44 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 9.1 K/9, 3.8 BB/9 (12 G; 12 GS)

While his potential and upside is still there, I don’t think much is expected of him anyone.