Top MLB Prospect Call-Up Radar Report, Week 13
Although an impressive collection of top prospects has already made its major league debut in 2015, plenty of talent remains in the minor leagues.
With the All-Star break approaching, it's an appropriate time to take a look at which youngsters are closest to following in the footsteps of their talented peers.
To simplify the process, we'll use the following system to rank just how close each of the following players are to their debuts:
- Red: 2016 call-up
- Orange: September call-up
- Yellow: Call-up after the trade deadline
- Green: Call-up is imminent
How close are Daniel Norris, Brian Johnson and Corey Seager to the big leagues? Will the Houston Astros consider promoting former No. 1 overall draft pick Mark Appel in 2015? When can we expect to see Aaron Blair, Jose Berrios, J.P. Crawford and Robert Stephenson?
Read on to see how each of those prospects has performed this season and when baseball fans can expect to see them.
Robert Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds
1 of 8
2015 Stats (AA): 4-7, 78.1 IP, 3.68 ERA, 89 K, 43 BB
After being drafted in the first round of the 2011 draft, Robert Stephenson is nearing his major league debut.
Stephenson is blessed with an electric arsenal of pitches, including arguably the best fastball-curveball combination in the minor leagues.
His heater is a mid-90s offering, capable of approaching the upper 90s on occasion. Stephenson's hook is a fantastic complement to his fastball, averaging in the low 80s with a big break. Stephenson's changeup isn't as good as his top two pitches, but it's improving and has a chance to become that quality third option MLB starters need.
Stephenson endured through a rough 2014 (4.74 ERA) mostly due to walks. The right-hander walked over four batters per nine innings and has actually walked more in 2015. The ability to miss bats is nice, but Stephenson must iron out those command issues before he's truly considered for a big league promotion.
Radar: Red
Stephenson has steadily progressed throughout his minor league career and should be headed to The Show sometime in 2016.
But with Cincinnati potentially looking to sell before the deadline, rushing Stephenson to the majors doesn't make much sense. If Stephenson can climb to Triple-A by the end of 2015, Reds fans should be thrilled.
J.P. Crawford, Philadelphia Phillies
2 of 8
2015 Stats (High-A/AA): .314/.419/.419, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 34 R, 7 SB, 24 K, 37 BB
One of the fastest-rising prospects in the minor leagues is Philadelphia Phillies shortstop J.P. Crawford.
Crawford blitzed High-A pitching in 21 games to begin 2015, posting a .392/.489/.443 slash line. The 20-year-old hasn't stopped since a deserved promotion to Double-A, recording a .376 on-base percentage in 30 games.
Another encouraging sign in Crawford's development is his plate discipline. The left-handed-hitting infielder has produced above-average walk rates throughout his career, and he's walked more than he's struck out in 2015.
Unlike many of his shortstop peers, Crawford has the ability to stick at shortstop. He's a smooth defender with a smooth transition from glove to hand, tremendous range and above-average arm strength.
Radar: Red
Although we won't see Crawford in 2015, the youngster has maneuvered his way to the top of numerous prospect lists.
There's a high probability that Crawford could begin the 2016 season as the Phillies starting shortstop. Philadelphia may want to take its time with its coveted youngster, but he's sped up his journey to the majors significantly with a standout campaign.
Mark Appel, Houston Astros
3 of 8
2015 Stats (AA/AAA): 5-2, 66.1 IP, 5.02 ERA, 50 K, 25 BB
Although he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 draft, Mark Appel's path to the big leagues has been anything but smooth.
Appel has yet to resemble the ace many associate with a top overall draft pick. In 2014, the right-hander recorded a 9.74 ERA in 12 High-A starts before a 3.69 mark after a promotion to Double-A. Appel was 5-1 with a 4.26 ERA in 13 Double-A starts to begin 2015.
Despite his struggles, Appel's stuff has never wavered. He can still push his fastball up to the high 90s and touts a plus slider and changeup. Wayne Cavadi of Minor League Ball, an SB Nation affiliate, thinks that Appel's ability to get ahead in the count more often has led to better results this season.
"One thing that jumps off the page is that when Appel was struggling earlier in the season, 62 percent of his pitches were landing for strikes. He has increased his strike percentage over this four game streak to 66. Perhaps controlling the zone and getting ahead of the batter even that little amount more has given Appel more confidence on the mound.
"
Appel has risen all the way to Triple-A this season, indicating a big league promotion is closer than it looked last year.
Radar: Orange
If the Houston Astros continue to pace the American League West, Appel would be an interesting September call-up candidate.
He obviously profiles as a starter and could be used in that capacity, but his nasty stuff would be an asset for the Astros bullpen. If Appel pitches well over the rest of the season in Triple-A, don't be surprised if Houston gives him the opportunity to earn his way onto a playoff roster.
.jpg?w=256 "MLB Farm System Rankings")
Jose Berrios, Minnesota Twins
4 of 8
2015 Stats (AA/AAA): 8-3, 90.2 IP, 3.08 ERA, 92 K, 24 BB
The Minnesota Twins have a stable of young and promising prospects in their system, but none have been more impressive than Jose Berrios.
The right-hander has impressed at every level of minor league ball. After posting a sub-2.00 ERA in his first professional season, Berrios advanced to Double-A to close 2014, where he recorded a 3.54 ERA in eight starts. Berrios earned a promotion to Triple-A this season after 15 quality starts against those same Double-A hitters.
Berrios combines above-average stuff with solid command, as his fastball, while good, sits in the low 90s. The 21-year-old does have an advanced feel for his two off-speed pitches, which separates him from other young pitchers. Berrios has consistently thrown strikes throughout his career, which MLB.com attributes to his ability to repeatedly duplicate his delivery.
Radar: Orange
Berrios has pitched just once since arriving in Triple-A but could be promoted to the big leagues later in the year if he performs at a high level.
That will be even more likely if the Twins continue to hang around the American League playoff picture. But as consistent as Berrios has been throughout his career, a major league debut is right around the corner.
Aaron Blair, Arizona Diamondbacks
5 of 8
2015 Stats (AA/AAA): 8-4, 100 IP, 3.06 ERA, 79 K, 30 BB
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Aaron Blair has quickly advanced through the minor leagues due to jaw-dropping strikeout numbers.
After Arizona selected him in the 2013 draft, Blair finished second in the minor leagues in strikeouts in 2014. Between Single-A and High-A, Blair posted double-digit strikeout-per-nine-inning totals. Those numbers have dipped in 2015, but Blair's 3.06 ERA has put him on Arizona's doorstep.
Blair doesn't have the knockout stuff, but his fastball sits in the low 90s, and he can manipulate it one way or the other. The 23-year-old's changeup is his second-best pitch, while his curve has the potential to be a plus major league offering.
For a pitcher with impressive strikeout totals, Blair has been able to keep his walks under control and goes after opposing hitters.
Radar: Yellow
Blair is as seasoned as any pitcher in the minor leagues and shouldn't be stuck in Triple-A too much longer.
The Diamondbacks likely won't contend in 2015, but any experience Blair can get in the second half could be crucial for next season. With a few more positive outings, Blair will get that opportunity.
Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers
6 of 8
2015 Stats (AA/AAA): .309/.356/.509, 11 HR, 40 RBI, 48 R, 42 K, 22 BB
Corey Seager is arguably the best prospect remaining in the minor leagues, but the Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop shouldn't get too comfortable in Triple-A.
Seager rakes, plain and simple. The 21-year-old hit nearly .350 with 20 homers in 2014 before posting a ridiculous .375/.407/.675 slash line in Double-A to begin 2015. Seager has gone deep six times since his promotion to Triple-A and has raised his average near the .300 mark.
For a player so young, the left-handed-hitting Seager has a refined approach at the plate.
He uses the whole field, which leads many to believe he'll be able to overcome any strikeout concerns to hit for a high average. He has also shown an ability to handle left-handed pitching, which is often the barometer for young, left-handed hitters.
Radar: Yellow
Jimmy Rollins is hitting .212 with an on-base percentage under .300 in 2015.
It's difficult to fully know when a prospect is ready, but Seager wouldn't have to do much to give the Dodgers a shot in the arm. With fellow rookie Joc Pederson excelling in his rookie year, LA shouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger on its next young star.
Brian Johnson, Boston Red Sox
7 of 8
2015 Stats (AAA): 8-5, 80.2 IP, 2.68 ERA, 76 K, 24 BB
With the fourth-worst starters ERA in MLB, the Boston Red Sox could use some good news on the starting-pitching front.
Left-handed pitching prospect Brian Johnson could be that glimmer of sunshine, as the 24-year-old appears ready for big league action. Johnson's sub-3.00 ERA in Triple-A this season is only outdone by a minuscule 1.75 mark in 20 Double-A starts last season.
Johnson's ability to sink his low-90s fastball makes him a ground-ball machine. He couples his heater with a sharp curve, a changeup and a cutter to keep hitters off balance. Left-handed pitchers with four reliable pitches don't grow on trees, but Johnson seems to fit that mold.
Although Boston chose Justin Masterson instead, Michal Silverman of the Boston Herald had advocated for the Red Sox give Joe Kelly's open rotation spot to Johnson.
Status: Green
Boston may have held off on promoting Johnson for the time being, but his call-up to the big leagues is inevitable.
The Red Sox figure to have a vastly different rotation next season, and Johnson has a legitimate shot to be a part of it. Why not use the rest of 2015 to see what he has to offer?
Daniel Norris, Toronto Blue Jays
8 of 8
2015 Stats (AAA since demotion): 1-8, 62.2 IP, 3.88 ERA, 61 K, 29 BB
Daniel Norris began the season with the Toronto Blue Jays, but an inability to consistently throw strikes pushed him out the door and back to Triple-A.
Although his ERA wasn't horrible, Norris walked over 11 percent of the batters he faced in five starts to begin 2015. The left-hander hasn't improved that percentage in 10 Triple-A starts, but he has increased his strikeout percentage and pitched much better on the whole.
With improved performances and a stretch of 17 straight games before the All-Star break, Norris has put himself back on Toronto's radar.
Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos spoke to Shi Davidi of SportsNet.ca regarding a Norris promotion:
"One, I'm not guaranteeing that we're going to have a spot starter and, two, it may not be him. Ideally for him, we don't necessarily want him to be on the yo-yo up and down, but we're trying to win games. If we feel he gives us the best chance to win games, we won't be afraid to do that. ... I don't know. Normally a spot start is just a spot start, especially before the break.
"
Radar: Green
Norris took his lumps early this season, but he's too talented to not be a part of Toronto's playoff push.
He's thrown much better since his demotion and is on the verge of another big league opportunity in 2015. Don't be surprised to see Norris turn a spot start into an extended stay for the remainder of the season.
Advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs and accurate as of July 2.
.jpg?w=480 "MLB Farm System Rankings")
.png?w=600 "New NBA Mock Draft 📝")
.jpg?w=600 "Offseason Moves for Every Team 👉")
