2014 MLB Draft Picks Who Are Fast-Tracked Toward MLB Debuts
While it will be several years until most of the 2014 draft picks are ready, there is a contingent of players from the class who will enter the 2015 season already on the cusp of the major leagues.
Thanks to an accelerated signing deadline in mid-July that was adopted in 2012 as part of the new collective bargaining agreement—it used to be mid-August—draft picks are now encouraged to quickly begin their professional careers.
For some prospects, signing early gives them a head start on their development as well as the potential to debut in the major leagues ahead of schedule. Look no further than 2014 first-round pick Brandon Finnegan for an example, as the 21-year-old left-hander went from pitching at Texas Christian University in the College World Series in June to pitching out of the Kansas City Royals’ bullpen in the World Series.
Here’s a look at other 2014 draft picks who will be fast-tracked toward MLB debuts.
Carlos Rodon, LHP, Chicago White Sox
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The White Sox promoted Carlos Rodon, the No. 3 overall pick in last year’s draft, to Triple-A Charlotte in mid-August, less than a month after he made his professional debut in the rookie-level Arizona League.
The 22-year-old impressed at the minor leagues' highest level, posting a 3.00 ERA with 18 strikeouts over 12 innings (three starts), including 15 over his final two starts. There was even talk that the White Sox might call him up in September to pitch out of the bullpen.
Rodon, who received a franchise-record signing bonus of $6.582 million, has everything one looks for in a potential front-end starter with a durable frame, three offerings with plus-or-better potential and the type of competitive mound presence that can’t be taught. Specifically, Rodon’s arsenal is highlighted by a 93-98 mph heater that usually sits around 94-95 and a 70-grade slider that will help him pile up strikeouts in the major leagues like he did at North Carolina State.
Rodon’s overall command is in need of refinement, naturally, and his changeup requires further development, but the White Sox seem confident that their promising left-hander can make swift adjustments on the go against the game’s top hitters.
Rodon will compete during spring training for a spot in the South Siders’ Opening Day rotation, although there’s also a possibility that the team chooses to break him in with a bullpen role.
Right now, the club seems to be playing things by ear.
"We didn’t draft this guy third in the nation to be a reliever,” pitching coach Don Cooper said via J.J. Stankevitz of CSNChicago.com. “At some point he’s going to be a starter. We haven’t discussed when is that point. Right now he’s going to come to spring training, show us what he can do and he’s going to give us all the information we need.”
The White Sox stand to save a year of team control over Rodon by having him begin the season in the minor leagues, a move that would also make sense given John Danks' and Hector Noesi’s respective abilities to hold down the back end of the rotation. However, once Rodon arrives, he’ll be up to stay, and it shouldn’t take him long to emerge as one of baseball’s premier left-handed pitchers.
Aaron Nola, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
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After the Phillies selected Aaron Nola with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2014 draft, the right-hander showcased excellent command during his professional debut, as he walked only 10 batters over 55.1 innings while reaching the Double-A level. Overall, he pitched to a 2.93 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 45 strikeouts.
Working from a low-three-quarter arm slot, Nola sits in the low 90s with a heavy fastball that induces both whiffs and weak contact, while his slider is an above-average pitch thrown with tight spin and depth on a fastball plane. Nola also does a nice job of keeping hitters off balance with his changeup, which registers in the 83-85 mph range, and his entire arsenal should always play up thanks to his plus command profile.
The Phillies have Nola on the fast track to the major leagues, and if all goes as planned with the right-hander’s development, he should spend most of 2015 in the team’s starting rotation. The team’s projected rotation for the upcoming season features David Buchanan and Jerome Williams at the moment, per Roster Resource, and it goes without saying that Nola will be an upgrade over both right-handers.
Yet because the Phillies are more or less rebuilding, it makes sense for them to play the service-time game with Nola and send him to Double- or Triple-A to begin the season. As with Rodon, Nola won’t need much time in the minor leagues to prove he’s ready for the highest level.
Kyle Schwarber, C/OF, Chicago Cubs
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Kyle Schwarber was assigned to Short Season Boise after signing for $3.125 million as the No. 4 overall pick, where he batted .600 with four home runs and 10 RBI in his first five games.
The 21-year-old continued to terrorize opposing pitching following a promotion to Low-A Kane County, as he batted .361/.448/.602 with four homers, eight doubles and 15 RBI in just 23 games.
The left-handed hitter got off to a slow start after moving up to High-A Daytona but eventually settled in to bat .302/.393/.560 with 20 extra-base hits (10 home runs) in 44 games.
While Schwarber’s bat looks as though it will be ready sooner rather than later, it will be his development on the other side of the ball that determines when he arrives in the major leagues.
Schwarber appeared in only 20 games behind the plate compared to 36 in left field during his professional debut, but he’ll work on refining his defensive chops this fall in the instructional league.
He’ll require additional time in the minors to develop as a catcher, the position at which he was drafted, though a move to the outfield full-time is still a very real possibility and would allow the Cubs to expedite his bat to the major leagues.
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Kyle Freeland, LHP, Colorado Rockies
4 of 7Kyle Freeland absolutely dominated last spring at Evansville, posting a 1.90 ERA and otherworldly 128-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 99.2 innings (14 starts). The 21-year-old’s overwhelming success continued after the Rockies selected him with the No. 8 overall pick too, as he registered a 1.15 ERA with 33 strikeouts against six walks in 39 innings between the Pioneer and South Atlantic Leagues.
With a projectable 6’3”, 170-pound build as well as easy arm action and a smooth delivery, the left-hander works in the 90-94 mph range with his fastball and has been gunned as high as 95-96 mph.
Freeland’s slider represents his best present offering, and he demonstrates a feel for adding and subtracting to it. When he throws the pitch with velocity, it plays as more of a cutter in the mid-80s with late glove-side slicing action; and when he takes something off, the pitch is closer to a true slider in the low 80s with more depth. Either way, it's a pitch that projects to miss bats at the next level. On top of that, the southpaw also showcases an advanced feel for an average changeup at 84-86 mph that plays up due to the natural deceptiveness in his delivery.
Freeland is expected to begin 2015 at either High-A Modesto or Double-A New Britain, and if all goes as planned with his development, the southpaw could be making his Rockies debut before the end of the season.
Jacob Lindgren, LHP, New York Yankees
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Jacob Lindgren was one of college baseball's better relievers last spring at Mississippi State, and his ability to miss bats at a high rate and potentially reach the major leagues in a hurry led to his selection by the New York Yankees in the second round (No. 55 overall) of this year's draft.
The 21-year-old left-hander pitched at four different levels after signing, finishing the season at Double-A Trenton, and nearly reached the major leagues as a September call-up behind 48 strikeouts and just 12 hits allowed (zero home runs) in 25 innings.
Lindgren’s pure stuff—highlighted by a devastating, swing-and-miss slider—and overwhelming success this summer merited a look last September. However, the Yankees seemingly decided not to push the southpaw—who was coming off a lengthy college campaign—more than they had already.
Expect Lindgren to compete for a spot in the Yankees’ Opening Day bullpen.
Nick Burdi, RHP, Minnesota Twins
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Nick Burdi was utterly dominant as Louisville’s closer during 2013 and '14, as the hard-throwing right-hander saved a total of 34 games while posting a 0.62 ERA and a ridiculous 127/23 K/BB ratio in 72.2 innings (61 appearances).
Following his selection by the Twins in the second round, Burdi saved four games and fanned 26 batters in only 13 innings (18.0 K/9) at Low-A Cedar Rapids. The flame-throwing right-hander was even more dominant after moving up to High-A Fort Myers, recording one more save while striking out 12 batters over 7.1 scoreless frames.
With two present MLB-caliber pitches in an upper-90s fastball that has exceeded triple digits in the past and a devastating, swing-and-miss slider that registers in the upper-80s, Burdi should find himself in the Twins bullpen by mid-2015.
Michael Conforto, OF, New York Mets
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After the Mets selected Conforto with the No. 10 overall pick, he was assigned to the Short Season New York-Penn League, where he batted a robust .331/.403/.448 with three home runs in 186 plate appearances.
One of the better hitters in the 2014 draft class, Conforto possesses above-average bat speed and employs a quiet swing with good weight transfer and hip rotation. The left-handed hitter demonstrates excellent plate discipline to go along with advanced pitch recognition, as he rarely strays from his patient approach to leave the strike zone.
At 6’2”, 217 pounds, Conforto’s impressive strength and easy swing generate plus raw power. He’s more likely to jump the yard to his pull side but can still generate the necessary backspin to go to the opposite field.
Conforto’s lack of speed and athleticism limits him defensively to left field, where he shows fringe-average range and doesn’t get consistently good jumps. Still, he makes all the routine plays, and there’s no reason to relegate him to first base less than a year into his professional career.
Of all the players on this list, Conforto is probably the least likely to reach the major leagues in 2015. That being said, the 21-year-old is an incredibly advanced hitter who has the potential to make quick work of the minor leagues, which makes it hard to rule out the possibility.
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