Tracking Some Top Minor League Prospects

So far this baseball season, we have seen top prospects like Jason Heyward, Ike Davis, Justin Smoak, and Mike Leake make an impact for their respective ball clubs.

Over the next couple of months we should be seeing some more top prospects getting the call up to the major leagues.

Of course, the most notable call up will be Washington Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg. Here are some of the top prospects in baseball and how they are performing in the minors this season.

Stephen Strasburg RHP, Washington Nationals: 0.99 ERA with 54 K’s, and a 0.71 WHIP in 45.1 between Double A & Triple A. The above mentioned Strasburg is going through the minors like a hot knife through butter. Every game he pitches is like an event, and Strasburg should be making his Nationals debut in mid-June.

Carlos Santana C, Cleveland Indians: .313/.447/.573 with 10 HR’s, five SB’s, and nine doubles in 150 AB’s at Triple A. The Los Angeles Dodgers are really going to regret trading this guy. This switch-hitting catcher is a man-beast and will be the Indians’ new version of Victor Martinez, but better.

Santana has been working really hard on his defense this year and could find himself in an Indians uniform by June.

Buster Posey C, San Francisco Giants: .346/.441/.525 with five HR’s and 12 doubles in 162 AB’s in Triple A. Posey is in almost a similar situation as Santana above. He is murdering Triple A pitching, but is still working on improving his defense.

And just like Santana, Posey can’t be held down for too much longer. With current catcher Bengie Molina being ever so mediocre, look for the Giants to call up Posey in mid-June.

Brett Wallace 1B, Toronto Blue Jays: .291/.350/.553 with 11 HR’s, and 15 doubles in 179 AB’s in Triple A. Wallace started his professional career as a third baseman, but with his rather unshapely body that didn’t last too long. He projects as a first base/DH type at the major league level.

While not being the best defensive player in the world, the kid can flat out hit. Wallace and Adam Lind should form a nice one-two punch in the middle of the Blue Jays lineup for years to come.

He could be in the majors in late August/early September.

Mike Stanton OF, Florida Marlins: .318/.451/.734 with 17 HR’s and 11 doubles in 154 AB’s in Double A. If Santana is a man-beast, then Stanton a man-beast times two. At 6′5″, 235 lbs, Stanton might be the most imposing power hitter prospect to come around in quite some time.

The scary part about Stanton is that he is only 21-years-old. At 19, he hit 39 HR’s in Single A. Look for Stanton to be with the Marlins in June.

Pedro Alvarez 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates: .251/.342/.503 with 10 HR’s, eight doubles, and two triples in 167 AB’s in Triple A. Alvarez really hasn’t gotten off to the start that the Pirates were hoping for. While he continues to show a good eye at the plate, he has struggled with the bat to an extent.

It’s most likely that Alvarez will get a shot in September with the Pirates.

Chris Carter 1B, Oakland A’s: .246/.343/.474 with 10 HR’s and nine doubles in 171 AB’s in Triple A. Carter’s numbers look similar to Alvarez’s above. Carter is a power hitting first baseman, which the A’s need, but I don’t foresee him in the majors until September.

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