MLB Prospects Update: Hottest, Coldest Pitchers at Every Minor League Level

As the MLB season heads into its third month, multiple prospects have already gotten the call to the big leagues.

For those that are still in the minors, many are outshining the competition, while others are struggling.

Some of the shining stars are ones you wouldn't expect to be doing so well, while some of the ones struggling are the game's top prospects.

Here's a look at the hottest and coldest pitchers at every minor league level.

Note: Only players currently in the minors will be included.

Triple-A: Hottest

Josh Lindblom has had an excellent season for Triple-A Round Rock. In fact, his season was so good that the Texas Rangers called him up to make a spot start on May 20.

After getting rocked by Oakland (four runs in 4.2 innings), Lindblom was sent back to the minors where he beat Memphis in his last start on May 27.

For the year, he is 5-0 with a 2.15 ERA and 38 strikeouts. He's also allowing opponents to hit .185 against him.

While he didn't have success in his one start with the Rangers, Lindblom has the talent to pitch in the majors. One start shouldn't determine his fate.

Jose Alvarez, Toledo

Signed by the Detroit Tigers during the offseason, Alvarez hasn't disappointed in his time in Triple-A. 

He's gone 4-3 with a 2.04 ERA and 58 strikeouts.

While he does have three losses to his credit, it's more because of the lack of offensive support he's received. In his three losses, he's given up six combined runs.

With a little more support, Alvarez could be 7-0 as opposed to 4-3.

Triple-A: Coldest

Once one of the top pitching prospects in the Braves organization, Randall Delgado has been anything but that over the last few years.

After struggling during the 2012 season with the Braves, Delgado was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Justin Upton deal.

After failing to make the club out of spring training, Delgado started in Triple-A.

In his time there, Delgado has gone 1-4 with a 7.43 ERA and 42 strikeouts. He's given up three or more runs in all but two starts.

If I were a betting man, I would say Delgado isn't getting promoted anytime soon.

Simon Castro, Charlotte

Castro was the key piece in the deal that sent Carlos Quentin to San Diego.

The Chicago White Sox thought they had a pitcher who would be contributing to the big league team by now, but sadly he hasn't.

Castro is 0-6 with a 6.08 ERA, allowing opponents to hit .284.

He has a long way to go if he's going to make the big leagues.

Double-A: Hottest

Anthony Ranaudo is currently pitching for Boston's Double-A team, Portland.

He's 5-1 with a 1.70 ERA and 50 strikeouts in nine starts.

In fact, his only loss on the year came when he gave three earned runs. He's given up two runs or less in the rest of his starts.

Selected in the first round of the 2010 draft, Ranaudo is the No. 17 prospect in the Red Sox system.

If he continues to pitch well, he may get promoted to Triple-A before the end of the season.

Alex Wood, Mississippi

Wood has looked impressive this year with a 4-2 record and a 1.26 ERA.

So impressive in fact that ESPN's Buster Olney tweeted this out:

"

Walked away from conversations this week believing this guy is going to be a factor in the ATL bullpen this year. baseball-reference.com/minors/player.…

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) May 27, 2013"

Wood will be in the majors this year helping out the Braves bullpen. He's shown he has the stuff.

Now, on to the next level.

Archie Bradley, Mobile

Bradley is one of the top prospects for the Diamondbacks and is showing why this year.

After getting promoted from Class-A Advanced, Bradley has proceeded to go 4-0 with a 0.69 ERA in five starts.

Don't be surprised to see him get a promotion to Triple-A later in the year if he continues to dominate the competition.

Double-A: Coldest

Jason Adam had a decent spring pitching on the secondary fields in Arizona, but hasn't had a great season thus far for Northwest Arkansas.

With a record of 0-6 and a 7.15 ERA, Adam ranks as one of the worst pitchers (statistically) in all of Double-A baseball.

Adam still needs a lot of development.

His premature promotion is what has seen him struggle. More time at Class-A Advanced is likely what's in his future should his struggles continue.

Pat Dean, New Britain

Dean did pitch 5.1 innings of shutout ball on May 25, but his numbers still don't look good.

Sitting at 2-5 with a 5.58 ERA and 26 strikeouts, Dean isn't showing the same abilities he did last year when he went 10-8 with a 3.99 in Class-A Advanced.

Class-A Advanced: Hottest

Anthony DeSclafani is following up his 11-3 campaign from 2012 with a solid start to 2013.

Currently 4-1 with a 1.32 ERA, DeSclafani has been somewhat of a product of bad defense around him.

Of the 14 runs that have scored on him, only six of them were earned.

He's been consistent for Jupiter and at the rate the Miami Marlins are getting rid of players, he could find himself in the big leagues in three seasons.

Daniel Winkler, Modesto

The way Winkler has been pitching this year, MLB might want to reconsider making him one of the top 20 prospects for the Colorado Rockies. 

Winkler sits with a record of 6-2 and a 2.68 ERA. He's struck out at least seven batters in six of his last seven games, having never walked more than three.

He's had success in his two previous professional seasons and 2013 is no different.

Class-A Advanced: Coldest

Rated the No. 20 prospect in Arizona's system, Kyle Winkler has had his fair share of struggles this year.

Winkler is 1-4 with a 7.20 ERA thus far, having given up at least five earned runs in six starts.

Although he's projected to be a reliever, Winkler is still used as a starter in the minors. That could be where his issues lie.

Regardless, this is not exactly the way Winkler had hoped to start the year.

Bryan Blough, Winston-Salem

Blough has been inconsistent thus far.

He's had two great outings in which he gave up no earned runs in seven innings pitched each time out.

However, he's also given up at least five earned runs in three of his last five starts and has walked 19 batters in that stretch as well.

Class-A (Low): Hottest

Rafael De Paula has been simply lights out for Charleston, a New York Yankees affiliate.

In 10 starts, he's gone 5-2 with a 2.74 ERA and 80 strikeouts. He's given up three runs twice, having also given up no runs three times.

His walk totals are a little high at 22, but this is exactly what the Yankees want to see out of their young prospects.

Zach Petrick, Peoria

Petrick is the only reliever on this list, but you have to see what he's done.

In 15 appearances, Petrick has a 0.86 ERA, four saves and 46 strikeouts.

He's pitched less than two innings twice, generally going two.

In fact, in May, he hasn't given up a run with April 27 being the last instance that happened.

Class-A (Low): Coldest

Luis DeJesus is likely going to be one of those prospects that will take a long time to get through the Cleveland Indians system.

This year has been none too kind to DeJesus as he's 0-5 with a 6.40 ERA. Opponents are also hitting .282 against him.

He's had flashes of brilliance this year, but has largely found a lot of bats every game.

Jefferson Olacio, Kannapolis

The White Sox just aren't lucky when it comes to the minor leagues.

Olacio is a prime example of this as he's 1-7 with an 8.38 ERA.

His last start was the worst of his career, in which he gave up 10 runs in 4.1 innings. You can call that a product of bad managing, but the bottom line is he still gave up 10 runs in Low-A.

His future isn't looking too bright.

Olacio isn't the only one struggling on his team, either. Fellow rotation-mate Brandon Brennan is 1-8 with a 7.88 ERA in 10 starts.