MLB Power Rankings: Each Club's Top Performing Hitting, Pitching Prospect
Don't look now, but the number one prospect in all of baseball, Bryce Harper, is starting to heat up.
Harper is hitting .441 over his past 10 games with five homers and 13 RBI, making him one of the hottest hitters in the minor leagues right now.
But he isn't the only one tearing the cover off the ball, and you can argue that there's at least five or 10 guys who are performing at a higher level than the 2010 top-overall pick.
On the mound, so far the story of the year has to be the Rangers stable of pitchers. Martin Perez and Robbie Erlin have been about as good as any lefty-lefty combo in the minors, and they've been complimented by strong performances from Neil Ramirez and Joe Wieland.
All four pitchers could be in line for promotions by the All-Star break, with Ramirez possibly earning a spot on the big-league roster by September.
So, without further ado, I give you the hottest hitters and pitchers for each team through the first month of the minor league season.
Enjoy!
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Hitter
We're almost a month into the minor league season, and Paul Goldschmidt has yet to slow down. He's been raking ever since Opening Day, and he's now hitting .359 with nine homers and 21 RBI in just 19 games. The 23-year-old hulking first baseman has seven more walks (19) than strikeouts (12), showing above-average plate discipline and has done a great job of not getting frustrated by all the pitchers who have been avoiding throwing strikes to him. Goldschmidt tore apart the Cal League last year, and he's performed so well in 2011 that it might be time to see if he can handle the jump to Triple-A.
Pitcher
It's been a really rough go for most of the D-Backs star pitching prospects. Jarrod Parker has the looks of a man who's been rushed back too soon from Tommy John surgery, Tyler Skaggs has looked plain shell-shocked, and Wade Miley missed most of the first month with shoulder issues.
Through it all, Wes Roemer has been a rock, making all four of his scheduled starts and going at least five innings in each, including seven innings twice. His ERA currently sits at 2.88 and he's 3-0 with 17 strikeouts in a team-leading 25 innings.
Roemer's start shouldn't come as a surprise. He was considered a top D-Backs prospect back in 2009, when he was coming off of an 162.2-inning season in which he posted a 122-to-33 K-to-BB ratio. He had a rough season in 2010, splitting time between Double- and Triple-A. Back in Mobile (Double-A) for the third year in a row, he seems to have found his footing.
Atlanta Braves
2 of 30
Hitter
The Braves are pretty weak in the hitting department, with their two best prospects having ascended to the Majors the past two seasons. That leaves very little in the minors, and you can tell by the fact that 21-year old third baseman Jakob Dalfonso is having the best start to the 2011 season of any of the Braves hitters. Dalfonso is hitting an even .300, but he's doing it at an advanced age in Low-A ball. He hasn't hit for much power, but has shown some surprising speed (two triples and two steals) and has shown a great eye at the plate. Still, the fact that Matt Lipka, Tyler Pastornicky, Cory Harrilchak, Adam Milligan and Todd Cunningham are all having terrible starts has overshadowed Dalfonso's debut.
Pitcher
The Braves were facing a win-win when they had to choose from Brandon Beachy or Mike Minor for the big-league club's number-five starter. They went with Beachy, who has had a stellar debut, and sent Minor back to the minors (pun intended).
Minor's been dealing better than any pitcher in a loaded Braves organization. Through four starts, the seasoned lefty has gone at least six innings in each outing and has only allowed more than one earned run once. He's already posted seven, eight and nine strikeout performances and leads the system with 29 Ks in 25.2 innings. It's only a matter of time before Minor finds his way back to Atlanta, but for the time being, he's doing his best Jeremy Hellickson circa 2010 impression.
Baltimore Orioles
3 of 30
Hitter
Trent Mummey began his pro career last year with Aberdeen, the Orioles short-season Low-A affiliate, and it only took a few games to realize his all-around play was too advanced for the New York-Penn League. The O's moved him up to Delmarva, where he raked to the tune of .291 with 12 RBI and 12 steals in just 14 games, earning a promotion to High-A Frederick, where he's been even better, hitting .333 with five RBI and three more steals in just four contests. For the season, Mummey is hitting .301 with three doubles, an organization leading four triples, two homers and 17 RBI. He's also added 15 steals in 17 tries and has a nifty 12-to-14 BB-to-K ratio. It might not be long before Mummey is again on the move, this time to Double-A Bowie.
Pitcher
The Orioles are so bereft of starting pitching that it only makes sense that their best pitcher through the first month of the season has been a reliever. Last year's third-round pick Daniel Klein has made the transition from college ball look very easy. Through his first six outings, he's allowed only eight hits in 13.2 innings, only two runs (both solo HRs) and issued only two walks. His ERA sits at a minuscule 1.32 and he's struck out 18 batters, good for a strikeout rate of 11.9 K/9. The Orioles wavered about whether to move Klein to the rotation, where his four-pitch repertoire would be more effective, but they eventually decided to leave him in the bullpen to keep his innings down. You have to wonder, though, with him being so effective, if they're eventually going to switch his role back.
Boston Red Sox
4 of 30
Hitter
While the Braves' hitters have struggled immensely to start the season, the Red Sox have had no such problem. Kolbrin Vitek, the team's number one pick last year has gotten off to an incredibly hot start and is screaming for a promotion. Bryce Brentz, Brandon Jacobs, Will Middlebrooks and Tim Federowicz have also been raking at their respective affiliates.
But quite possibly the hottest hitter has been former Yankee cast-off Reynaldo Rodriguez. The 25-year-old Rodriguez scuffled around the NYY system for six years before signing with the Sox after a successful stint in the Golden Baseball League. Back in the minors, his career has taken off. He hit .281 with 14 homers, 59 RBI and 12 steals in 85 Low-A contests, and a level higher in 2011, he's absolutely tearing the cover off the ball. He's currently hitting .380 with 12 doubles, four home runs, 21 RBI and an 11-to-13 BB-to-K ratio.
During a five-game stretch last week, he hit .571 with five doubles, three home runs and nine RBI. Age is, and will always be, a bit of a concern for Rodriguez, but if he can handle a jump to Double-A sometime this year, the Sox could have a nice gem.
Pitcher
This slide has a very international feel, as Domincan Manuel Rivera has been the Red Sox best minor league pitcher through the first month. The 21-year-old lefty has posted a 3-1 record in five starts while holding down a 1.73 ERA. Batters are hitting a pathetic .196 off of him, and he's only surrendered one home run in 26 innings. If you get rid of Rivera's one bad start, if you can even call a five inning, threeearned run outing that, he's 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA. He's been a strikeout machine, setting 29 batters down on strikes, and has shown improved control, issuing only four walks. It's against right-handers that Rivera has been un-hittable, allowing only 11 hits in 21 innings, striking out 25. Rivera is pitching in Low-A for the second straight season, and his great start might have the team thinking about bumping him up a level to get more of a challenge.
Chicago Cubs
5 of 30
Hitter
While Cubs top prospect Brett Jackson has gotten off to an incredibly impressive start, teammate Ryan Flaherty has actually been a bit better at the plate. The 24-year-old from Vanderbilt has quietly moved his way up through the minors on the strength of his great bat and in spite of his defensive liabilities. Through the first month, Flaherty has been exceptional both at the plate and in the field, raking to the tune of a .355 average with six homers and a team-leading 20 RBI. He has been Tennessee's best offensive player and has been no slouch on defense either.
Last year, after settling at third base, Flaherty committed 13 errors in 52 games and finished play with a .902 fielding percentage. This year, he's been on the ball, committing only one error, two less than Jackson has committed playing in the outfield. If Flaherty can keep up his steady play at third, he could give the Cubs a solid alternative to Aramis Ramirez in the long-run.
Pitcher
Robert Whitenack has been nearly unhittable in four starts for the Cubs' High-A squad, allowing only 11 hits in 23 innings. He's allowed even fewer (three) earned runs and has an ERA of 1.17. He's also won three of his starts. The main reason I decided to go with the 22-year-old right-hander is the dramatic improvement in his command.
A year after walking 40 batters in 143 innings, Whitenack has only walked one through his first 23. He's also struck out 25, marking the first time in his short career that his K/9 rate is over 9.00. Whitenack had a solid 2010 campaign, winning 11 games over two levels, but he really came into his own in a seven-start promotion to Daytona, where he went 3-1 with a 2.04 ERA. It seems Daytona agrees with him, as he has posted a 6-1 record, 1.72 ERA and a 53-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 11 starts there.
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
Hitter
The White Sox knew that they likely weren't going to get a future big-league superstar when they pegged Alabama's Ross Wilson as their 10th round pick last year. Instead, they envisioned a solid defender with enough bat to maybe eek out a job as a utility guy.
Wilson has been arguably the team's best overall player through the first month, providing excellent defense while showing better than expected results as the plate. Through 17 games, he's hitting .344 with three doubles, a triple and 12 runs scored. He's got a pretty decent approach at the plate, and it's shown with 11 walks and only eight strikeouts. He's also showed some impressive speed, swiping four bases, getting caught only once.
The 22-year old is currently riding a seven-game hit-streak, during which he's hitting .583 with two doubles, that triple and three RBI. And if you need any further incentive to dig Wilson, remember that he's the former Hoover High QB that made Two-A-Days such a part of our (some of us anyways) adolescence.
Pitcher
There were many reasons the White Sox were so excited to pounce on Jacob Petricka with their second pick in last year's draft. Chief among them was his ability to fire 100-mph bullets and his ability to hold his mid- to high-90s velocity throughout his outings.
After an impressive debut ending with 10 strikeouts in 10 relief innings in Low-A ball, Petricka is back pitching for Kannapolis, this time out of the rotation, and results have been astounding. He's struck out 29 batters in just 22 innings, issued only six walks and has only allowed five earned runs, good for an ERA of 2.05. Batters are hitting just .213 against him. Petricka's minuscule 0.53 ERA was destroyed by a eight-hit, four-run outing this past week, although he still picked up the win, his second of the season.
Cincinnati Reds
7 of 30
Hitter
Like with the Red Sox and Cubs, the Reds are flush with hot-hitting prospects right now. They've got a handful raking at Triple-A in Dave Sappelt, Chris Valaika and Devin Mesoraco and a few more guys, like Yasmani Grandal and Cody Puckett, putting up huge numbers at the lower levels.
Still, there's no denying that the hottest of them all has to be 2009 seventh-round pick Josh Fellhauer. He's from Cal State-Fullerton, so you know he's got some polish, but this year, hitting in the offense-oriented Cal League, Fellhauer has been better then ever, hitting .382 through 21 games. He's been an incredible run-producer, driving in 21 and scoring 12 of his own. He's showed some solid pop, rapping nine doubles and three home runs, and his plate discipline has been extraordinary. He's walked 11 times and struck out 12 times. Fellhauer has been especially lethal with RISP, hitting .417.
Pitcher
Pitching in the Cal League is never easy, but try telling that to Reds' High-A pitcher Josh Ravin, who has posted a 2.49 ERA through 21.2 innings, spanning four starts. Ravin has somehow managed to hold hitters to a .139 batting average, while striking out 30, good for a strikeout rate of 12.5 K/9. Ravin already has three eight-strikeout games to his credit and has allowed two or fewer hits in three of his four outings. A cool note about Ravin is that he attended the same high-school as 2007 first-round picks Mike Moustakas and Matt Dominguez. Ravin, however, was drafted the year before in the fifth-round
Cleveland Indians
8 of 30
Hitter
While Jason Kipnis is likely the future for Cleveland at second base, it's his teammate Cord Phelps, also a second baseman, who has gotten off to a hot start.
Phelps, the team's third round pick back in 2008, is hitting .303 for Triple-A Colombus with an organization-leading 20 walks. He's also rapped three doubles, a triple and hit one home run. He's been a great catalyst in the Clippers lineup, getting on-base at a .443 rate. He's even been a decent run-producer, driving in ten.
Pitcher
Alex White's meteoric rise through the minors has almost culminated in a big-league job. The way that the hard-throwing right-hander has pitched this year in just four starts has given Indians fans something else to be excited about. White has been dazzling in those starts, allowing only 19 hits in 23.2 innings. He has 28 strikeouts, only five walks and his ERA currently sits at 1.90.
During White's most recent start, he allowed five hits and one run in 5.2 innings. He gave up his first homer of the season, but he also struck out a season-high eight batters, walking just two. His two starts before Monday's saw him allow only one run in 13 innings, while he struck out 14 and walked none. White split the 2010 season between High-A ball and Double-A, so there's no reason to think he won't be doing the same thing again this year. He's already proven himself as one of the most polished pitchers in the minors, and the Indians' rotation could use a little extra boost if they hope to remain in contention for a good part of the season.
Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
Hitter
You can't have a much hotter start to your pro career than Kyle Parker has had. The Rockies' first round pick from 2010, Parker signed late and didn't get a chance to make it onto the field last summer. In his first taste, at Low-A Asheville, he's raking to the tune of a .390 average. He's been a doubles machine, racking up eight in just 16 games, and he's also driven in 18 runs thanks to a six-game stretch that saw him drive in at last one in each game, and included a seven-RBI performance. The Rockies are taking it slow with Parker because he played major college football for three seasons, meaning this is the first time he's been able to devote himself fully to just baseball. If he keeps this up, though, he could be in High-A by the All-Star break.
Pitcher
Juan Nicasio checked in at No. 8 on Baseball America's Rockies Top 30, and despite his presence behind fellow pitchers Tyler Matzek (No.1), Christian Friedrich (No. 4), Peter Tago (No. 5) and Rex Brothers (no. 7), no Rockies pitcher has been better through the first month of the season.
Pitching in Double-A for the first time, Nicasio is 3-1 through four starts and not only has a 2.45 ERA, but also a stunning 30-to-3 K-to-BB ratio in just 22 innings. He already had two seven strikeout performances, but had his best outing on April 23rd, gutting through seven innings of five-hit, three-run ball, finishing with ten strikeouts and just two walks. The right-hander has also only allowed one home run so far this year.
Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
Hitter
Hernan Perez was a relative unknown heading into the 2011 season, with Baseball America ranking him at the very bottom of the Tigers' depth chart at shortstop. Maybe it's that motivation or maybe he's just finally hitting his stride, but something has finally clicked for the 20-year-old Venezuelan. He's raking at a record pace so far, racking up a .343 average and six steals in just 19 games. He isn't, and never will be, an extra-base hit machine, so the four (three doubles, one homer) in 67 at-bats shouldn't come as a total surprise. Still, like a few other guys on this list, Perez is on pace to set career-highs in numerous offensive categories.
So, what's been the key to Perez's success so far this season? How about his .526 average against lefties? He's 10-for-19, and while he'll be lucky to hit half of that for an entire season, it's an encouraging sign for the career .236 hitter.
Pitcher
As good as Jacob Turner has been, and while he definitely is the superior prospect, Charlie Furbush has been the hottest pitcher in the Tigers system over the first month. The 25-year-old lefty is 2-1 with a 1.90 ERA and already has two complete games, both of which have been of the seven inning variety. His first was quite possibly the best game any pitcher has pitched this season. Furbush hand-cuffed Indianapolis for only one hit through seven-innings, striking out nine. His next outing saw him allow seven hits and two runs, but he upped the ante by striking out 11 Syracuse Chiefs. The Tigers have to be glad that Furbush is having a fine bounce-back season after posting a 6.29 ERA through nine starts for Triple-A Toledo last season.
Florida Marlins
11 of 30
Hitter
25-year-old outfielder Bryan Petersen seemed to regress last season, his first in Triple-A, posting career-lows in just about every offensive category.
This year, however, taking on the PCL for the second year, he's looked like the same player who hit 23 home runs over three levels back in 2008. Through 21 games, he leads the New Orleans Zephyrs with a .348 average. He's racked up seven doubles and is now only 11 more away from setting a new career-high. He's also hit three home runs and driven in 10 runs. He has just as many walks (13) as strikeouts and has two steals. Petersen's future is most likely as a fourth-outfielder, but you could do a lot worse than a solid all-around talent like him.
Pitcher
Tom Koehler is another player who has carried over the momentum from a break-out season last year into a fantastic month-long debut in 2011. He's not a top-notch prospect, but don't tell him that. He won an MiLB-leading 16 games last year, going 16-2 with a 2.61 ERA. He also struck out 145 batters in 158.2 innings en route to winning Southern League Pitcher of the Year honors.
This season, Koehler's back at it. He's 2-0 through four starts and again has a sub-3.00 ERA. He has 19 strikeouts and only six walks in 23.0 innings. He hit a bit of a stumble during his last start though (5 IP, 9 H, 5 ER), and the performance jacked his ERA up more than a full run. Given that Florida's rotation is questionable near the back end, Koehler will probably get a chance to make his big-league debut sometime this summer. If not, look for another 12-16 victories.
Houston Astros
12 of 30
Hitter
For all the talk about the "hottest hitters in the minors," Astros farm-hand Jose Altuve might very well be THE hottest hitter in the minors. He's scorching the ball to the tune of a .455 average through 22 games. He is playing in the Cal League, but nonetheless, his start has been eye-popping. He has six doubles, four triples and two homers already and has driven in 12 runs while scoring 19 of his own. He's also aided his cause by walking just as often (ten times) as he's struck out. And when he's gotten on base, he's been a terror, stealing 12 bases in 15 tries.
Don't think of the 20-year old Venezuelan as a break-out star of 2011, though. He's been hitting for four seasons now, including a .301 average last year that accompanied 15 homers, 67 RBI, 93 runs and 42 steals. Despite his 5'5" frame, Altuve might be finally proving he's the real deal.
Pitcher
Kudos to the Astros for rocking the Venezuela prospect look. Not only do they have Altuve lighting it up at second base, they also have diminutive left-hander Gabriel Garcia, a 20-year-old reliever who's getting his first taste of full-season ball after spending the past two years starting in the Appy League.
The Astros wanted to break Garcia in as a reliever, and so far, he's been excellent. He's appeared in five games, pitching multiple innings in each outing. He's struck out at least three batters in each of his appearances and for the season has 19 Ks in 14.1 innings. He's been incredibly stingy with the walks (two) and earned runs (two), resulting in a 1.26 ERA.
Kansas City Royals
13 of 30
Hitter
If it seems like all is not right in the Royals world because of the early struggles of Mike Moustakas and Wil Myers don't fret. Things are slowly getting back on track, and it's all starting with first baseman Eric Hosmer who's riding a .693 average over his past three games. He's now hitting .413 for the year with five doubles, two homers, 12 RBI and 11 walks in 21 games. Don't forget Hosmer has some sneaky speed to (14 SB in 2010), and he's already three-for-three on steal attempts this season.
Hosmer is coming off of a career-defining year, like most of the Royals, and no doubt the team has been impressed with how he's carried over the momentum into the 2011 season. Hosmer should be on the big-league roster by September.
Pitcher
Picking the Royals' hottest pitcher requires a coin-flip between Danny Duffy and Jake Odorizzi. Both pitchers are 1-0 with very low ERAs. Odorizzi's sits at 2.25, while Duffy has the best in the system at 0.90. Both have issued only four walks and have racked up insane strikeout numbers.
In the end, however, I'm going to five the edge to Odorizzi, who has 30 Ks in 20 innings, including back-to-back 10 strikeout performances. Without a doubt, the 21-year-old right-hander is endearing himself to his new organization and adding yet another high-ceiling arm to the most loaded system in all of baseball.
Los Angeles Angels
14 of 30
Hitter
Jean Segura so impressed the Angels last season with a .313 average, 12 triples, 10 homers, 79 RBI and 50 steals that not only did they happily grant his promotion to High-A for the 2011 season, but they also shifted the dynamic defender to shortstop in an effort to further increase his value.
And so far, it looks like it's working. Segura has carried over the momentum from his break-out 2010 season and is hitting .344 through 22 games for High-A Inland Empire. He's been an extra-base hit machine, rapping four doubles and two triples and two recent homers. He's driven in 11 runs and scored 18 of his own.
And his speed is as good as ever. He's swiped 13 bags in 16 tries, including a two-steal performance last week that also saw him go 5-for-8 at the plate with two RBI.
Segura has also shown solid plate discipline, walking eight times with only 12 Ks. If Segura can continue to play solid defense at shortstop, while remaining the dynamic offensive catalyst that he's proven he can be, he should emerge from the 2011 campaign as one of the top prospects in all of baseball.
Pitcher
Pitching has been huge for the Angels big-league club so far this season, so it's no wonder that that has trickled down to Low-A, where 21-year old Daniel Tillman has had a field day against opposing hitters. Switching back and forth between relief and a starting role, Tillman has thrived, winning three games and posting a 2.95 ERA in 21.1 innings. He has 24 Ks in that span, including seven in his most recent performance, a four-inning relief outing during which he allowed four hits and only one run. Tillman's walk total (13) is more than you'd like to see from a college draftee pitching in Low-A, but the fact that he's still managed to be so successful is a great sign.
Los Angeles Dodgers
15 of 30
Hitter
Dee Gordon hasn't gotten off to a super-hot start like Jerry Sands did before his promotion, or even like Tony Delmonico or Gorman Erickson in High-A ball, but he has quietly gone about being the most consistent performer through the first month. His .302 average at Triple-A Albuquerque isn't the best on the roster, but he's been at the center of most of the run production. He has only eight RBI, but he's scored a team-leading 17 runs and racked up a team-best 26 hits. He also paces the Isotopes with nine steals in 11 chances.
Gordon is one of the fastest, most electric players in the minors, and given his steady performance during his first full-season at Triple-A, I doubt the Dodgers would hesitate to promote him if the need arose at the big-league level.
Pitcher
Zach Lee has more than justified his $5.25 million bonus awarded to him last season, with four very impressive outings that have cemented his status as one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball.
A former two-sport star who earned a scholarship to play football at LSU, Lee has looked every bit the seasoned pro pitcher, winning three of his first five games and posting a 1.09 ERA. He has yet to go more than 5.2 inning in any of his starts, but he's been efficient, allowing only 23 hits and 11 walks. He's erased the majority of his base-runners with 27 strikeouts.
Lee picked up his third victory last Sunday, with 5.2 innings of four-hit, one-run ball. He walked two batters and struck out a season-low four, but he's still looking at a K/9 rate of 11.4, one of the best numbers in the entire organization. Lee is clearly polished enough to dominate Low-A hitters, so the Dodgers might eventually try to bump him up to see how he handles the competition in High-A.
Milwaukee Brewers
16 of 30
Hitter
Erik Komatsu was regarded by Baseball America as being the most talented hitter for average in the Milwaukee system, and over the course of the first month, he has certainly been that for the Brewers. Playing in Double-A for the first time, Komatsu is hitting .345 with five extra-base hits, 11 runs and a 9-to-4 BB-to-K ratio through 18 games.
The 23-year-old California native had a break-out 2010 season, hitting .323 in the Florida State League, racking up 31 doubles, six triples, 63 RBI and 90 runs. He also swiped close to 30 bases last year, but only has two so far this season.
Pitcher
In a system bereft of elite or even above-average pitching, Wily Peralta has stood out like a sore thumb through five early season starts. The six-foot, 240-pound beast has posted a 2-2 record, a 3.18 ERA and 31-to-10 K-to-BB ratio in 28.1 innings, showing dramatic signs that he could be on the verge of a break-out season. It's been especially impressive that while his stats look good, he's actually had to gut his way through three of his outings, struggling to keep the ball in the park and hitters off the bases.
In his first start, he gave up only one hit and one run in six innings, but he has since allowed 23 in the 22 innings. He gave up six runs, all unearned, in his third start of the season and allowed six hits and four runs in his most recent start.
Peralta, a 2005 international sign from the Dominican Republic, has worked his way into the Brewers' long-term plans, and they showed their faith in him by adding him to their 40-man roster this offseason.
Minnesota Twins
17 of 30
Hitter
If it seemed to you like Twins prospect Oswaldo Arcia was putting up video-game numbers in the Appy League last year, you weren't the only one. After posting an historic .375/.424./704 line up, while jacking 14 homers and driving in 51 runs in just 64 games, the Twins put Arcia on a full-season roster, and so far, he's responding like he's back at Elizabethtown. Through 20 contests, he's hitting .352 with eight doubles, five homers and a team-leading 18 RBI.
Arcia exploded onto the prospect forefront last season, and if he can continue to shine in 2011, he could be headed toward the top of all top prospect lists heading into 2012.
Pitcher
All Kyle Gibson is waiting for is a chance. After breezing through three levels of the minors last year, Gibson had hoped to maybe crack the Twins rotation out of spring training, and even though he had a great pre-season, he still ended up back at Triple-A.
Through five starts, he's been the best pitcher not only on the team, but in the entire organization, posting a 3.46 ERA and a 27-to-4 K-to-BB ratio. As you can tell, Gibson clearly fits the bill of being a strike-thrower who doesn't issue too many walks, making him a perfect fit for the Twin Cities. He's not issued a walk in three of his five performances so far and only walked 39 batters in 152 innings last season. There's no doubt that Gibson will be the first name called if the Twins need a long-term rotation replacement.
New York Mets
18 of 30
Hitter
The Mets third-round pick back in 2008, Kirk Nieuwenhuis is strongly making a case for a call-up with his stellar play through 25 games for Triple-A Buffalo. Showing a great attitude and a do-it-all mentality, Nieuwenhuis has been the offensive leader on this squad, hitting .330 with nine doubles, four homers and seven RBI. He has five more walks (16) than any other member of the Bisons and has the highest OBP on the team. He also leads the squad in hits, doubles, homers and runs scored.
The 23-year-old is coming off of a break-out season in which he hit 18 homers, drove in 77 runs and stole 13 bases, earning a late-season promotion to Triple-A. There's a good chance he'll get a good amount of playing time with the big league club this season.
Pitcher
It's hard to imagine a pitcher having a more perfect start than St. Lucie's Matt Harvey, the seventh overall pick in last year's draft. Harvey signed too late to make an appearance for the Mets, but he's more than making up for it, tossing 22 scoreless innings to begin his professional career before getting tagged for six runs (four earned) in his most recent start. Harvey has been dominating, striking out 30 in 26.1 innings while allowing only 23 hits. He's a 4-1 with a stunning 1.37 ERA, and he's been amazingly consistent in each of his five starts, excluding his last one of course. He's struck out nine, eight, three and then seven while issuing two walks in each contest. In only two games has he allowed more than four hits, and for the season, batters are hitting .240 against him.
New York Yankees
19 of 30
Hitter
The Yankees surprised some when they went the high-school route and selected athletic outfielder Slade Heathcott with their first-round pick back in 2009, but it looks like their gamble is really starting to pay off.
Back in the South Atlantic League for the second consecutive year, Heathcott is in the process of earning a well-deserved promotion. Through 21 games, he's hitting .353 with a team-leading 11 doubles, two triples, two homers and 11 RBI. He's already equaled his HR total from last season and is only six doubles away from setting a new career-mark in that statistic.
Heathcott was especially hot last week, reaching base in every game and racking up five multi-hit performances.
Pitcher
It's been a rough start to the 2011 season for the Yankees minor league pitching depth. They've already lots a few arms to big-league promotions and have dealt with a few more injuries that have sidelined some major pieces.
Through it all, 2008 ninth-round pick Michael O'Brien has been fantastic. Pitching full-season ball for the first time, he breezed through four early season starts before finding some trouble in his fifth and most recent outing. Before his five-inning, seven-hit, five run performance on Saturday, he had an ERA of 2.07. It's now up to 3.38. He also has 32 strikeouts in 26.2 innings and only seven walks. He's also yet to finish an outing with less than six strikeouts.
Oakland Athletics
20 of 30
Hitter
Getting Jemile Weeks back and healthy was one of the top priorities for the A's this season, and seeing him tear up Triple-A pitching has to be a very welcomed sight for the brass.
Playing in the PCL for the first time, Weeks is hitting .333 through 19 games, with four doubles, three triples and two homers. He's driven in 10 runs and scored 14 and ranks second in walks and total bases on the team. A constant threat on the base-paths, Weeks has only three steals in five attempts this season, but expect more production in the SB department as the season wears on.
Pitcher
The A's seem to have a monopoly on players named Doolittle. While slugger Sean has yet to make an appearance this season, Ryan Doolittle, a pitcher for High-A Stockton, has been exquisite. The 23-year-old right-hander has allowed only one run (a solo HR) in 18 innings, and he's been incredibly stingy with the base hits as well, allowing only 11 of those. His ERA currently sits at 0.50, and he's come out with a win in three of his first four outings.
Doolittle's lone run was given up in his most recent start, which also happened to be the site of his first issued walk of the year. He now has 21 strikeouts and only one free pass. He has already set a career-high with his three victories, and now he's out to surpass his numbers from two shortened seasons that saw him split time between the bullpen and starting rotation.
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Hitter
Joe Savery hit a wall as a pitcher, stalling at Triple-A, when he convinced the Phillies to give him a shot as a hitter, an area Savery was incredibly talented at in college. And so far, there's been no hotter hitter in the Phillies system that the 25-year-old. He's been tearing the cover off the ball at High-A, his first step towards a pro career as a hitter. He's leading Clearwater with a .440 average through 22 games. He has ten extra-base hits and has driven in 13 runs, while scoring 12. He's shown a great eye at the plate, striking out only seven times in 84 at-bats. Since he is 25, there could be some urgency behind the Phillies decision about how and when to move Savery.
Pitcher
For all the love Joe Savery has been getting for his miraculous transition from struggling pitcher to sizzling hitter, there's been another Phillies farmhand who has been racking up some very impressive numbers so far in 2011: the unheralded Jon Pettibone, the team's 2008 third-round pick. The 20-year-old right-hander has quietly worked his way through the system, improving at each level and pitching in High-A ball for the first time, he has gotten off to a tremendous start. He's won three of his five starts and has only allowed five earned runs in 29 innings. He's been incredibly stingy with the base hits too, allowing only 22.
And while Pettibone has never been a big strikeout guy or an impressive K-to-BB pitcher, he's been on the money so far, striking out 20 batters and issuing only seven walks. Pettibone doesn't have the "prospect status" of Trevor May or Brody Colvin, but he's posted much better numbers pitching at the same level at roughly the same age. As a result, he could be the first one headed up to Double-A, where his polish and solid repertoire of pitches should allow him to succeed there too.
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Hitter
One of the Pirates' top hitting prospects, Starling Marte couldn't have imagined a better start to the 2011 season. Through 21 games, he's hitting a robust .330 with four doubles, two triples, a homer and 14 RBI. He's also stolen seven bases in eight tries and has scored 10 runs.
His two best games of the season came last week. In the first, he went 3-for-7 with a triple, six RBI and a walk. In the second, he went 4-for-5 with another triple, a RBI and a stolen base. The Pirates could benefit greatly from Marte having a strong season, as he has shown the ability to be an exciting all-around player and a potential top-of-the-order hitter. At the rate he's going, he is on pace to shatter most of his career-highs by the All-Star break. If he keeps his stellar level of play up, he could find his way to Triple-A before the end of the season, positioning himself for a potential September call-up to Pittsburgh.
Pitcher
The Pirates have added more top-notch pitching talent over the past few years than any other team, securing the rights to Jameson Taillon and Stetson Allie through the draft and Luis Heredia through the international signing process.
Another solid addition, acquired from the Mariners, has been Aaron Pribanic. The 24-year old right-hander is 2-0 through five appearances (four starts) and has been the model of consistency. He's gone at least five innings in each start, striking out two in each outing. He's only given up four earned runs, issued two walks and surrendered one home run. His ERA currently sits at 1.50 after tossing five shutout innings in his last start. Pribanic has been one of the Pirates most durable starters over the past few seasons, tossing 154 innings last year and 124.2 the year before.
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Hitter
It's really hard to pick a Padres farmhand who's had the most impressive start to the 2011 campaign, and it's not because of a lack of candidates. Jaff Decker, Jedd Gyorko, James Darnell and Keyvius Sampson are all having exceptional seasons so far, but the one who's stood out the most has to be Anthony Rizzo, formerly of the Boston Red Sox.
Rizzo was one of the major pieces in the Adrian Gonzalez trade, and he's done nothing but hit since joining the Padres. His average stands at a ridiculous .389 right now, pacing the team—and the organization—with seven homers and 32 RBI in only 23 games. Always a patient hitter, Rizzo has an 11-to-19 BB-to-K ratio and has actually shown some sneaky speed, stealing three bases. He also leads the team with 23 runs, eight doubles and 68 total bases.
The Padres couldn't have hoped for a better start for Rizzo, who could reach the big leagues as early as the All-Star break if he keeps hitting like he is now. With Gonzalez's departure, the Padres have had to use a makeshift combo of Jorge Cantu and Brad Hawpe at first base, and both players are currently hitting below .200.
Pitcher
As mentioned above, no pitcher has gotten off to as good a start as Keyvius Sampson, the team's fourth-round pick from 2009. After a solid debut in 2009, Sampson had a very good year in 2010, showing dominating stuff and impressive command.
He's back at it again this year, allowing a ridiculous 11 hits in 26 innings, good for an opponents' batting average of .129, one of the lowest averages in the minors. He's recorded 33 strikeouts and is about on pace with his career K/9 average. He's come out victorious in four of his five starts and has a 2.77 ERA, one of the best in the system. He's also continued to be incredibly stingy with the long-ball, giving up only one so far after surrendering only four last year in 43 innings. Finally pitching in full-season ball, Sampson could move quickly for a team desperately in need of starting pitching at the upper levels of the minors.
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Hitter
Giants first-round pick Gary Brown has made a much better impression so far this season than he did in his sneak-peak of a debut in 2010. After hitting .159 in 12 games last season, Brown has reversed that trend in a big way, hitting .333 through 23 games so far. He only has five extra-base hits, but he ranks near the top of the team chart with 15 RBI and leads the way with 20 runs.
Drafted primarily for his top-notch speed, Brown hasn't disappointed in that department—swiping 17 bags in 23 tries—ranking near the top of all base-stealers in the minors. Brown has also shown a very polished approach at the plate, walking 14 times while striking out only 17 times. Brown is another player who could split time between two levels this season, assuming he can maintain a solid average. He's going to steal bases wherever he goes, so his bat will be key to his progression.
Pitcher
It's been rock-chalk so far for the Giants, as their top-ranked hitter and pitcher have both emerged as the strongest in each category so far this season. It's been 2009 first-round pick Zack Wheeler on the mound, who, pitching for High-A San Jose, has posted a 3.38 ERA and a 2-0 record in four starts. Wheeler has allowed only 15 base-hits in 21.1 innings and has a very impressive 27-to-6 K-to-BB ratio. His most recent start was an excellent example of how he has progressed as a prospect. Wheeler gave up four hits and three runs, but managed to gut it out for 5.2 innings, striking out nine batters in the process.
Wheeler had one of the most underrated campaigns of any player in 2010, and could be on the verge of a break-out season that could vault him into the conversation for top pitching prospect in the minors.
St. Louis Cardinals
25 of 30
Hitter
When the Cardinals were able to snag Miami shortstop Ryan Jackson in the fifth-round back in 2009, they were excited to get one of the top defensive shortstops in college baseball. The doubts about Jackson centered around his bat, and those fears were justified when Jackson hit a paltry .216 during his debut in the NYPL.
He bounced back with a .278 average last year, but this year he's really taken off, hitting .326 through 23 games for the team's Double-A affiliate. Jackson has been a doubles machine, rapping nine of them to go along with one home run and 10 RBI. He's shown a great approach at the plate (11 walks, 19 Ks) and even has a stolen base. As usual, Jackson has been great in the field, making only one error.
Pitcher
As good as Shelby Miller has been, Nick Additon has been better. And as good as he's been, Jordan Swagerty, the team's second-round pick from last year's draft, has been just a tad bit better. Swagerty was expected to have an easy time adjusting to pro ball, but his debut season has been sensational so far. Through four starts, he's 2-1 with a 1.44 ERA. Opposing batters are hitting .186 off of him, and he's only surrendered one home run in 25 innings.
A workhorse at Arizona State, Swagerty has carried that over, going at least six innings in each of his starts. And if you subtract his six-hit, four-run shellacking, Swagerty has been perfect, sandwiching 19 scoreless innings around that one bad outing. Swagerty will almost certainly earn a promotion at some point during the season.
Seattle Mariners
26 of 30
Hitter
For all the other top prospects in Seattle's system, including Dustin Ackley and Nick Franklin, it's been 21-year-old Daniel Carroll who's gotten off to the hottest start.
The outfielder, who didn't even rank in the Top 30 according to Baseball America's Mariners rankings, is hitting .337 through 23 games with five doubles, four homers, 10 RBI and 15 steals in 16 attempts. He has shown excellent plate discipline, walking 18 times, and he leads the High Desert Mavericks with 23 runs and is second with 49 total bases.
Last week alone, Carroll had a four-hit game and a three-steal outing. The California native is on pace to shatter career-highs in just about every offensive category, and we're not even through the first month of the season yet.
Pitcher
It's tough to find a Mariners pitcher who's had a truly incredible season to date, and maybe that's in part due to the huge shadow that Michael Pineda, the front-runner for the A.L. Rookie of the Year, has cast over the organization.
Still, somebody has to be awarded the honor, and with that in mind, I'll tab the un-heralded James Gillheeney. The 23-year old lefty was the team's eighth-round pick in 2009 and has quietly worked his way up to High-A. He was great last year, winning 10 games and posting a 3.55 ERA with 145 strikeouts in 152 innings.
This season, back with High Desert at least for the time being, Gillheeney is 1-1 with a 3.04 ERA and a whopping 33 strikeouts in 26.2 innings. He's coming off of a stellar performance on April 30 that saw him K 10 batters in just 5.2 innings of work, allowing only two hits.
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
Hitter
One of the hottest of the hottest hitters through the first month, Hak-Ju Lee has certainly endeared himself to his new organization after coming over from Chicago in the Matt Garza deal. Lee has out-shined former number one overall pick Tim Beckham, hitting an insane .446 in 14 contests. Despite playing in almost 10 fewer games that most of Charlotte's regulars, Lee ranks near the top of the club in hits, runs, walks, steals and actually leads the team in homers with two.
Lee will never be a big-time HR guy, but the fact that he's leading the club just shows you how he's firing on all cylinders. If he continues to progress, Lee could find himself in the conversation for best shortstop prospect in the minor leagues come 2012.
Pitcher
While Alex Torres might not have the "prospect status" that was awarded to David Price, Jeremy Hellickson or Matt Moore, he certainly hasn't let that bother him as he's jumped out to the most impressive start in the organization. Capitalizing on the extra attention bequeathed to him due to poor performances by the rest of the Rays' stellar pitching depth, Torres has shined, allowing only five runs through 25.1 innings in five starts.
This is Torres' first exposure to Triple-A, so the Rays have taken it easy with him, but eventually, they're going to have to stretch him out. And given his results so far, including 33 strikeouts and 16 walks, it doesn't look like that's going to hinder his performance in the slightest. In just five outings, he already has an eight, nine and 10-strikeout game.
Torres also doesn't have the prototypical size that the other Rays pitchers feature, but he's slowly proving himself worthy of a crack at the rotation, further justifying why Tampa is the best pitching factory in minor league baseball.
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
Hitter
Mike Olt, the Rangers first-round supplemental pick in last year's draft, has built on the momentum he generated with a strong debut in 2010 and has emerged as possibly the team's best position prospect.
Through 23 High-A contests, Olt is hitting .318 with three homers and 16 RBI. He also has a team-leading nine doubles and a remarkable 16 walks. He was a walk-machine in 2010, racking up 40 in just 69 contests. Like last year, he's been prone to the strikeouts, racking up 25 of those, but as long as he keeps producing at the plate and balancing out the Ks with some walks, the Rangers won't care.
Pitcher
The Rangers pitchers are having the kind of season that the Yankees farm-hands had last year, a bump that rocketed the team up the charts to the fifth-overall ranking in Baseball America's 2011 Prospect Handbook. Martin Perez, Neil Ramirez, Joe Wieland and Justin Grimm have all shone, but 2010 break-out star Robbie Erlin takes the cake as the team's pitcher of the month.
Pitching in High-A ball for the first time, Erlin has been nearly un-hittable, surrendering only 13 base-hits through 29 innings. That's an opponents average of .130. The 20-year-old lefty has also been at his usual best with his command, issuing only four walks. He walked only 17 batters last year in 114.2 innings of work, posting one of the best K/9 ratios in the minors. He also finished with a 2.12 ERA, which was the best in the Sally League.
The Rangers already have arguably the best lefty pitcher in the minors in Martin Perez, and with Erlin, it looks like they might have the best two.
Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
Hitter
The Blue Jays' top overall prospect, Brett Lawrie has been arguably the toughest out in the Pacific Coast League, hitting at a .373 clip through 23 games. He has nine doubles, two triples, four homers, 15 RBI, 20 runs and five steals.
Formerly a top prospect with the Brewers, Lawrie has adjusted nicely to his new organization the Canadian-born hitter can truly call home. Combining a lightning-quick bat with impressive plate discipline and surprising pop, the 21-year-old has shot through the minors despite defensive limitations that have forced multiple position changes.
Once upon a time, Lawrie was drafted back in 2008 as a catcher. He then switched to second base and finally to third base, where scouts are saying he looks more comfortable than he has anywhere else.
Pitcher
Crash Davis said it best when he proclaimed "strikeouts are boring, besides that, they're fascist."
Clearly, Asher Wojciechowski has been channeling his inner Davis so far in 2011. The team's second draft pick in last year's draft, Wojo has adjusted quite nicely to pro ball, pitching to a 0.87 ERA through four starts for High-A Dunedin. Wojo has only 12 strikeouts and hasn't struck out more than four batters in any of his starts, but that hasn't helped opposing batters' chances against him. They're hitting .213, and have only tagged him for two earned runs.
The real key to Wojo's success has been his ability to get outs with men on base. With runners on base, he has an ERA of 0.93, and with runners in scoring position, he's at 1.59.
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
Hitter
It's nearly impossible to not pick Bryce Harper, who, through the first month of his debut season, already leads the entire organization with six homers. After a rough start, Harper has righted himself and has been every bit as good as advertised for the Nats Low-A club.
He's currently riding a six-game hit streak, and over his past 10 contests, he's hitting .441 with six doubles and five home runs. He has been prone to the strikeout (20 in 73 at-bats), but he's still hitting for a high average and with great power. He's also been a fiend on the base-paths, swiping four bases. Harper has homered in five of his past nine games, and if he continues to tear up opposing pitchers, he could be looking at a mid-season promotion to High-A Potomac.
Pitcher
As good as Brad Meyers has been (31 K, 0 BB in 29.1 innings), his counterpart, Brad Peacock has been more effective and thus, better, over the first month of play. Peacock has rebounded from a "rough" first outing, in which he gave up seven hits and two runs to allow only two runs over his next three starts. He posted back-to-back nine-strikeout games before tossing seven innings of one-run ball a few nights ago, striking out seven and picking up his third win of the season. Peacock's ERA sits at 1.50. Against lefties, Peacock has been devastatingly good, getting 16 strikeouts in 13.2 innings, allowing only six hits. His ERA against them is 0.66.
