2011 MLB Season: Mark Prior and 6 Minor Leaguers Who Should Be on Your Radar

For what it is worth, it was not Mark Prior who broke my heart after the 2003 season; it was Kerry Wood. Wood was the next Bob Feller, the next Nolan Ryan, the next Roger Clemens.  Prior was a little harder to get a fix on.  A dominant pitcher with perfect mechanics, it was hard to tell if Prior would be the next Greg Maddux or the next Curt Schilling (skinny version).

As it turned out, Prior was the next Smokey Joe Wood: dominant today, gone tomorrow.

After four seasons in the majors from 2002 to 2005, and after pitching over 200 innings in only one of those seasons, Prior was shelved in 2006 after nine miserable, injury-plagued starts, never to be heard from again.

Never, that is, until now.  As of today, Prior has pitched in three innings at High-A ball in Tampa of the Florida State League, followed by a single inning for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre of the Independent League.  

Of course, Prior is now on the disabled list, and has only pitched four innings this season, but none of that matters now.

What is important is that Prior is back, baby!

All kidding aside, once we are done feigning excitement over the return of Mr. Prior, here is a look at six other minor league players to actually keep your eye on at this point in the season.

6. Brett Lawrie, 3B, Las Vegas 51s

A former first-round pick out of high school in the 2008 draft, Brett Lawrie was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Shaun Marcum.

Thus far in 2011, the 21-year-old Lawrie has been lighting it up at Triple-A Las Vegas, hitting 15 home runs, 19 doubles and four triples to go with his .354 batting average, 1.092 OPS and 11 stolen bases in 12 attempts. Lawrie has serious five-tool potential in the majors if he learns to play third base well this season, his first at the position.

5. Zach McAllister, SP, Columbus Clippers

The New York Yankees seriously screwed something up here.

At last season's trading deadline, the Yanks acquired Austin Kearns for a player to be named later.  They subsequently sent Zach McAllister to the Indians to complete the deal.

Then, in the offseason, the Yankees did not re-sign Kearns, and he went back to the Indians as a free agent.

Now McAllister, the pitcher the Indians essentially got for free, is 7-1 with a 2.42 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 67 innings at Triple-A Columbus.

4. Alex Cobb, SP, Durham Bulls

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Alex Cobb has one of those beautiful minor league careers that reflects a mastery of each level of the minors that is consistently on schedule.  

After being drafted out of high school in 2006, Cobb spent the short-season in Rookie ball, all of 2007 in Low-A ball, all of 2008 in Single-A, all of 2009 in High-A and all of 2010 in Double-A.

Cobb started off the 2011 season in Triple-A, where he amassed a 5-0 record with a 1.14 ERA while striking out 50 batters and walking only 10 in 47.1 innings pitched.  His performance was rewarded with what has now been two starts with the big club, and Cobb appears to be getting his sea legs about him.

3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Tucson Padres

This offseason, the Boston Red Sox acquired Adrian Gonzalez from the San Diego Padres in exchange for a bevy of players which included Anthony Rizzo.

All Rizzo has done in 49 games this season is hit .371 with a 1.172 OPS and 15 home runs, 18 doubles, 60 RBI and 41 runs scored.

Did we mention that he is 21 years old, and this is his first season at Triple-A?

Of course, this does come with a caveat: Welcome to the Pacific Coast League, my friend.

2. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks

Curious as to why the Arizona Diamondbacks let Adam LaRoche go and have contented themselves with Juan Miranda thus far this season?

It is because they have the mighty Paul Goldschmidt coming down the pike.

At 23 years of age, Goldschmidt is a touch young to still be in Double-A, with the Mobile Bay Bears.

That notwithstanding, Goldschmidt is ripping apart the Southern League, hitting .330 with a .451 on-base percentage and a 1.121 OPS.  He leads the league in home runs with 17, and no other player has more than 11.  He also walks more than he strikes out and leads the league in total bases on the year.

1. Brad Meyers, SP, Syracuse Chiefs

Brad Meyers started the season at Double-A Harrisburg for the Washington Nationals, but they had to move him up to Triple-A when, after 36.1 innings pitched he had struck out 38 batters...and not yet walked a single hitter.

It has been a bumpier ride at Triple-A, where he is 3-1 with a 4.13 ERA.  Nevertheless, his strikeout-to-walk ratio is still an amazing 21-to-2 in 28.1 innings pitched.

Meyers is a big 6'6", 25-year-old right-hander who missed most of the 2010 season due to a stress reaction in his foot.  If this guy can stay healthy, he could be the next guy the Washington Nationals call up.