MLB Prospects Exploding from Unknown to Future Stars in 2015

From Rhys Hoskins to Ryan Williams, there are an array of low-profile farmhands who have burst onto the scene in the first half of the minor league season.

In putting together the list of five MLB prospects who have exploded from the unknown to become future stars, the thought process was simple. The idea was to dig through the minors to find high-upside players who have risen from relative anonymity to put their names on the map with standout showings in 2015.

To make sure that the players who cracked this list were truly rising from the unknown, former first-round draft picks were not eligible for inclusion. Even with that requirement in place, the list is still flooded with future aces and middle-of-the-order bats.

Honorable Mention

Before getting started with the list of future stars, it's worth taking a look at a few of the prospects who were under consideration but ultimately missed the cut.

All of these prospects have enjoyed breakout seasons in 2015, but they couldn't quite match the breakouts of the five players on the slides that follow.

• Edwin Diaz, SP, Seattle Mariners
• Max Kepler, OF, Minnesota Twins
• Jordan Guerrero, SP, Chicago White Sox
• Mychal Givens, RP, Baltimore Orioles

Casey Meisner, SP, New York Mets

Age: 20

Current Minor League Level: High-A

The Future Star

The New York Mets have one of the most talented stables of young starters in the big leagues, and more high-upside arms are on the way to Queens.

According to former Cy Young Award winner and current Triple-A pitching coach Frank Viola, Casey Meisner is the next pitcher to watch out for.

“The one hidden gem, who’s a couple, three years away, is a young man by the name of [Casey] Meisner,” Viola said, via Jonathan Lehman of the New York Post. “A right-hander pitcher, about 6'7", 180, this kid has devastating stuff.”

The unlucky hitters in both the South Atlantic League and the Florida State League have already learned just how devastating that stuff is.

Meisner, whom the Mets selected in the third round in 2013, began the season by posting a 2.13 ERA in 12 starts for the Low-A Savannah Sand Gnats. The righty hasn't missed a beat since the Mets promoted him to High-A. Meisner has won his first two outings for the St. Lucie Mets, putting up a 2.84 ERA in the process.

The pitching-rich Mets have the luxury of playing it slow with Meisner. However, with the way he's been throwing the ball in the first half of 2015, it wouldn't be surprising to see Meisner beat Viola's estimate for when he'll arrive in the big leagues.

Jacob Nottingham, C, Houston Astros

Age: 20

Current Minor League Level: High-A

The Future Star

Catchers who can hit don't exactly grow on tress. Jacob Nottingham doesn't just hit—he flat-out rakes.

Nottingham, whom the Houston Astros landed with the club's sixth-round pick in 2013, checks in with a .332 average, a .950 OPS and 11 jacks while splitting the season between the Low-A Quad Cities River Bandits and High-A Lancaster JetHawks. Those stats are especially staggering considering that the right-handed hitter batted just .230 with a .692 OPS and five homers in 2014.

This season, Nottingham has done most of his talking with his bat, but his glove work has also drawn the praise of Josh Bonifay, who was his manager with the River Bandits.

"Jacob's ability to lead a pitching staff, his ability to call games, his ability to get better at receiving have really improved," Bonifay said, via Curt Rallo of MiLB.com. "His hitting is going to be there. If he can solidify himself behind the plate, his future is one of the brightest you'll ever see."

The Astros will certainly be hoping that Nottingham continues to grow as a catcher, as the franchise is currently on the lookout for a backstop of the future.

Jacob Faria, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

Age: 21

Current Minor League Level: Double-A

The Future Star

After spending three of his first four seasons in rookie league, Jacob Faria is starting to put it all together in 2015.

The 2011 10th-round pick began the year by dominating the Florida State League, compiling a 1.33 ERA in 12 outings. As a result of that showing, Faria got bumped up to Double-A at the end of June. The right-hander certainly hasn't been overwhelmed by the new challenge.

On July 4, in just his second game for the Montgomery Biscuits, Faria recorded 14 strikeouts. The starter also turned in seven no-hit innings before getting lifted from the contest when he hit his pitch limit.

In two starts in Double-A, Faria has now amassed 22 strikeouts in 13 innings and limited the opposition to a .140 average. What's more, he's done all of that at the age of 21, which makes him three-and-a-half years younger than the average player in the Southern League, per Baseball-Reference.com.

Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies

Age: 22

Current Minor League Level: High-A

The Future Star

After hitting just .237 in 70 games in his professional debut last summer, Rhys Hoskins has taken off in 2015.

The first baseman, whom the Philadelphia Phillies selected in the fifth round of last June's draft, has demonstrated some serious power in the opening months of the campaign. In 81 games between Low-A and High-A, Hoskins has clocked 21 doubles, four triples and 12 home runs, which is good for a .535 slugging percentage.

The 22-year-old has also hit at a high clip (.318 batting average) and reached base at an impressive rate (.405 OBP). Hoskins still has plenty of climbing to do before he arrives at Citizens Bank Park, but he already has the look of a player who could supplant Ryan Howard at first base in the not-too-distant future.

Ryan Williams, SP, Chicago Cubs

Age: 23

Current Minor League Level: Double-A

The Future Star

Ryan Williams is absolutely flying through the minor leagues.

The Chicago Cubs snagged the right-hander in the 10th round of the MLB draft just over a year ago, and now he's dealing in Double-A. In six outings for the Tennessee Smokies, Williams has reeled off a 2.08 ERA and punched out 27 batters in 30.1 innings of work.

The starter earned his promotion to the Southern League thanks to a lights-out start to the season with Chicago's Low-A affiliate. In nine appearances for the South Bend Cubs, Williams posted a 1.17 ERA and limited the opposition to a .190 batting average.

One of the most impressive aspects of Williams' first full season in the minors is that he has demonstrated pinpoint command. In 84 innings, the 23-year-old has dished out only eight walks.

With a knack for staying in the strike zone and a habit of putting up zeros on the scoreboard, Williams is hurtling toward Wrigley Field. A strong second half in Double-A would put him on pace to be in the mix for a rotation job with the Cubs next spring.

Note: All stats courtesy of MiLB.com. All videos courtesy of YouTube.com.

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.