9 Impact MLB Prospects Who Could Be Called Up Post-MiLB Playoffs
The 2014 season has officially ended for most players in Minor League Baseball, but the party isn't over for every prospect just yet.
Yes, many talented names were added to MLB rosters over the past week as part of the September call-up process. But many top-tier prospects remain in the minors to battle it out in the MiLB playoffs, meaning their time for a cup of coffee in the big leagues may very well still come in 2014.
Many teams still in contention have already raided their minor league systems for all the help they can get, of course, valuing MLB help over a shot at an MiLB crown. But for teams who are out of the race or who have stacked 40-man rosters, letting players fight for a minor league championship makes plenty of sense, too.
With that in mind, let's take a look at nine prospects who could play a role for their MLB teams once the MiLB playoffs are over later this month, as well as a few notable omissions who won't get the call despite their prospect status.
Players who have exceeded 130 plate appearances or 50 innings pitched in the majors are not eligible for these rankings, and Rusney Castillo has also been excluded given his professional experience.
Matt Barnes, RHP, Triple-A Pawtucket
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There was a time just a few months ago when it seemed unfathomable that Matt Barnes would be in consideration for a September call-up. On July 12, Barnes owned a 5.06 ERA through 74.2 innings in Triple-A, and it looked like he might be headed toward a future in the bullpen.
Yet over his last eight starts, Barnes has looked like a different pitcher. He's posted a 2.38 ERA and held opponents to a .167/.232/.237 line, striking out 46 batters in 53 innings. He's also allowed just two homers during that span, whereas he allowed six in his previous 15 appearances.
Barnes isn't on the Red Sox's 40-man roster, but he'll need to be added this offseason for protection from the Rule 5 draft. That gives the Sox extra incentive to let Barnes see a few MLB innings in September, even if he won't be featured in a prominent role.
With Rubby De La Rosa, Allen Webster, Anthony Ranaudo and Brandon Workman all vying for starts in the major leagues, the Sox already have their hands full when it comes to alternative options to evaluate this fall. Yet Barnes possesses the most upside of any of those pitchers, and it would be reasonable for the Sox to want to expose him to the majors soon.
Clayton Blackburn, RHP, Double-A Richmond
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Clayton Blackburn isn't San Francisco's most heralded pitching prospect. He entered 2014 ranked fifth on Baseball Prospectus' preseason ranking of Giants prospects (subscription required) and rang in at No. 10 according to Baseball America.
Yet Blackburn has outproduced the likes of Kyle Crick and Adalberto Mejia, and Edwin Escobar is now a member of the Red Sox organization. That means that if the Giants are looking for a young arm to add to their staff this September, they might call him up.
Blackburn posted a 3.29 ERA, 2.54 FIP and 1.23 WHIP in 93 innings in Double-A this year. He struck out 22 percent of batters he faced while walking just 5.2 percent, and he gave up just one homer all year.
Despite Blackburn's very impressive numbers, he survives more on command and control than on high-quality pitches, according to Baseball Prospectus, and he profiles as a No. 4/5 starter in the majors. But with Tim Lincecum struggling and Yusmeiro Petit currently starting for San Francisco, it's feasible they could value Blackburn as a depth piece in September.
Blackburn is slated to play in the Arizona Fall League in the coming weeks, so he's somewhat less likely to get a September call-up than are many other players on this list. He'd make some sense for the Giants thanks to their lack of starting pitching depth, however, and we can't rule out a cup of coffee in the majors just yet.
Eddie Butler, RHP, Double-A Tulsa
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Eddie Butler's first stint in the majors came earlier this year, and it didn't go so well. The right-hander made just one start, lasting 5.1 innings and giving up six earned runs in the process. He then missed a month with shoulder inflammation before heading out on a brief rehab stint, then he rejoined the rotation in Tulsa.
Since then, Butler has been unspectacular in Double-A. He's given up 23 runs in 34.1 innings across seven starts since July 23, and he's missed relatively few bats along the way.
Still, Butler is one of Colorado's most promising young arms, and there's not a whole lot standing in his way in the majors. The Rockies are currently giving starts to Christian Bergman and Franklin Morales, and it may be more practical to see if Butler can survive in the majors with an eye toward using him next year.
That being said, Butler has thrown 122.2 innings this season and has dealt with shoulder fatigue, so the Rockies could decide to shut him down instead.
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Garin Cecchini, 3B/OF, Triple-A Pawtucket
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Garin Cecchini missed a real opportunity to cement himself as an everyday MLB player this season. With Will Middlebrooks missing time with injuries and underperforming when on the field, Cecchini might have seen substantial MLB playing time if he had hit well in Triple-A.
Yet from May 1 to July 31, the left-handed hitter hit just .220/.292/.316 over 260 PA, striking out 59 times and waking just 21 times over that span. For a player who'd torn the cover off the ball at every previous level, it was a startling development.
However, Cecchini has rebounded in a big way as of late. He hit .333/.413/.500 in August, and has performed well for the Paw Sox in the playoffs, too. Factor in that Cecchini has added outfield experience to his repertoire this season, and it's easy to see why the Red Sox could give him a shot in the coming weeks.
Boston now features a very right-handed-heavy lineup, with David Ortiz, Daniel Nava and Brock Holt the only lefties who see regular playing time. Cecchini could bring the type of high-OBP left-handed bat to the middle/bottom of the order Boston needs, and any exposure he gets to big league pitching in September is a positive.
Heading into the season, Baseball Prospectus (subscription required) gave Cecchini the ceiling of a high-OBP first-division regular and the floor of a second-division starter. That upside looked in doubt earlier in the year, but Cecchini's future once again looks more promising now.
Andrew Chafin, LHP, Triple-A Reno
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Andrew Chafin is often lost in the fray amidst talented Diamondbacks prospects like Archie Bradley, Braden Shipley and Aaron Blair. Yet it's Chafin who is perhaps most ready to make an MLB impact right now, and he may get a chance to do so in September.
The 24-year-old left-hander was dominant in 55 innings in Double-A this season, posting a 1.96 ERA. He's struggled more since a promotion to Triple-A, pitching to a 5.34 ERA, but his FIP is down at 4.99 and his strikeout rate has actually improved.
Before the season began, Baseball Prospectus speculated that Chafin may be a better fit in the bullpen than in the rotation, citing his inability to consistently miss bats and his spotty command. Overall, Chafin probably hasn't done much to change that assessment of his future through his performance this season.
But the Diamondbacks announced they'd be going to a six-man rotation in late August, according to ArizonaSports.com, and considering the likes of Vidal Nuno and Randall Delgado are seeing starts right now, it would make sense to give Chafin a look, too.
Chafin probably has a short window to make an impression as a starter in the majors, thanks to the talented names behind him in the system, so playing time this September could be hugely important for the southpaw.
Mikie Mahtook, OF, Triple-A Durham
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After floundering in Double-A for 700-plus PA between 2012 and 2013, Mikie Mahtook's status as a significant prospect was in doubt before the 2014 season began. He didn't make Baseball America's Top 10 Rays Prospects list, and it was disappointing to see a player of his college pedigree struggle in the mid-minors.
Mahtook has revitalized his minor league career in a big way in 2014, though. He's hit .296/.362/.458 in 550 PA in Triple-A, mashing six homers and swiping 18 bases along the way. His batting line is buoyed by an unsustainable .380 BABIP, yes. But Mahtook is walking in 8.4 percent of his PA, showing a willingness to reach base in a number of ways.
Mahtook is eligible for the Rule 5 draft this offseason, so the Rays have some incentive to add him to their 40-man roster before the year is over if they do intend to keep him in their organization.
There's plenty of outfield talent on the MLB roster already, with Wil Myers, Desmond Jennings, Matt Joyce, Kevin Kiermaier, Brandon Guyer and David DeJesus all on board, and others who can play the outfield like Ben Zobrist and Sean Rodriguez active, too.
But the Rays may want to see if Mahtook has a future with the club as a backup outfielder, and he's certainly earned a September promotion with his performance this season.
Justin Nicolino, LHP, Double-A Jacksonville
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Justin Nicolino has nothing left to prove in Double-A. The talented left-hander acquired as part of the Jose Reyes deal in 2013 has excelled in Jacksonville this season, posting a 2.85 ERA in 170.1 innings. He's walked just 2.9 percent of all the batters he's faced, though he's struck out just 11.9 percent, too.
Still, the 22-year-old has impressed with his command and control and ability to limit home runs, and it would make sense to test his stuff against MLB hitting at some point in September.
Henderson Alvarez is continuously battling injuries, and Brad Penny doesn't factor prominently into Miami's future plans. There should be starts up for grabs in the season's final few weeks, and while Andrew Heaney and Anthony DeSclafani factor into the equation, Nicolino should get some consideration, too.
Nicolino doesn't have huge upside as a stater. Before the year began, Baseball Prospectus gave Nicolino a realistic outcome as a No. 5 stater or long reliever, with a No. 3 stater ceiling, citing his inability to miss bats yet impressive command.
We've seen that scouting report play out all season long, but while Nicolino isn't flashy, he could log innings at the back of Miami's rotation as soon as next season.
Enny Romero, LHP, Triple-A Durham
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Enny Romero entered the season as the Rays' No. 1 prospect, according to Baseball Prospectus, and it was easy to see him meaningfully contributing to the team in some capacity in 2014. That hasn't happened, of course, but as the season winds down, it could behoove the Rays to see how Romero's stuff plays against MLB hitters.
The 23-year-old left-hander has thrown 126 innings in Triple-A this season, posting a 4.50 ERA and 4.13 FIP in that time. That's hardly a dominating performance, but Romero has struck out 21.2 percent of all batters he's faced, highlighting his potential to miss bats.
With a promising young rotation already in place for 2015 and active right now, there might not be room for Romero in the rotation this season. But as Daniel Russell of D Rays Bay pointed out last month, players like Romero and fellow prospect Alex Colome could come to the majors in September as relievers. In the case of Romero, there's a strong chance that's where his future will lie in the long run, too.
Odds are Romero will start 2015 back in Triple-A, and it does make sense for the Rays to stockpile starting depth thanks to the injuries that Alex Cobb, Jeremy Hellickson and others have experienced as of late. But it sure is tempting to let Romero face MLB left-handed hitters right now, even if he just gets a few appearances in relief.
Blake Swihart, C, Triple-A Pawtucket
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Blake Swihart began the season as a promising but raw prospect, needing to improve his defense and grow into his power before taking the next step. Swihart's done all that and more in 2014, and now he's arguably the best catching prospect in the minors.
The switch-hitter put up a .300/.353/.487 line in 380 PA in Portland before a midseason promotion to Pawtucket, where he's hit .261/.282/.377.
His Triple-A performance suggests he could use some more time in the minors, to be sure. But as Matt Collins of Over The Monster points out, Swihart is Rule 5-eligible this offseason, and so must be added to the 40-man roster in relatively short order.
That could entice the Red Sox to let Swihart steal a few starts away from Christian Vazquez and David Ross in September's final days, though it would also be reasonable for the Sox to want to shut Swihart down after a full season of catching.
Either way, Swihart has positioned himself to play a significant role in the majors next year if he hits in the minors, and we have little reason to think he won't hit as of now.
Notable Omissions
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Jorge Alfaro, C, Double-A Frisco (Rangers)
Alfaro has had a solid developmental year, performing well in Triple-A and then upping his production following a promotion to Frisco. But, according to the Star-Telegram's Jeff Wilson, Alfaro isn't likely to get the call this year, despite the lack of catching talent the Rangers have in the majors.
Archie Bradley, RHP, Double-A Mobile (Diamondbacks)
Bradley was viewed as a serious contender for an MLB rotation spot this spring, but after struggling in Triple-A and suffering through an arm injury, he never saw the majors at all. According to Nick Piecoro of azCentralsports.com, that won't change, and Bradley will head to the Arizona Fall League in the coming weeks.
Joey Gallo, 3B, Double-A Frisco (Rangers)
Gallo's hit 42 homers between High-A and Double-A in the minors this season, and his power could add some brightness to a dreary season for the Rangers. But as ESPN's Keith Law told KESN-FM (h/t SportsDayDFW), calling up Gallo this September would be a poor decision for several reasons, least among them his 40-man roster status.
Jon Gray, RHP, Double-A Tulsa (Rockies)
According to Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post, Gray's been shut down for the season with shoulder fatigue, knocking him out of the playoffs and putting an end to any shot he had at becoming a September call-up.
Francisco Lindor, SS, Triple-A Indianapolis (Indians)
Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com writes about the performance of Indians rookie shortstop Jose Ramirez, and it's just one of many reasons Lindor likely won't see the majors this season. The 20-year-old hit .273/.307/.388 in Triple-A this season after performing well in Double-A.
Henry Owens, LHP, Triple-A Pawtucket (Red Sox)
Owens had a phenomenal season in Double-A and has performed quite well in Triple-A, too. But the Red Sox are awash with young pitching options, and according to NESN.com's Ricky Doyle, the Sox won't be calling up Owens at any point this year.
Stephen Piscotty, OF, Triple-A Memphis (Cardinals)
According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Piscotty is unlikely to see a call-up this September because the Cardinals don't yet need to add him to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. Piscotty hit .288/.355/.406 in Triple-A this year.
Noah Syndergaard, RHP, Triple-A Las Vegas (Mets)
As the Wall Street Journal's Jared Diamond wrote on Sunday, the Mets won't call up Syndergaard to the majors this year, despite Las Vegas' elimination from the playoffs. The prospect known as "Thor" put up gaudy strikeout numbers but an unimpressive ERA in hitter-friendly Las Vegas this season.
Kyle Zimmer, RHP, Double-A Northwest Arkansas (Royals)
Zimmer missed the majority of the season with a latissimus dorsi injury, throwing just 4.2 innings in Rookie ball. Zimmer will play both in Instructional League and in the Arizona Fall League, according to The Kansas City Star's Andy McCullough.
Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs.
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