Every MLB Team's Prospect with the Most Pressure on Him in 2012

While the offseason is a time of free-agent signings and big-time trades, it is also a time for general managers to assess their current prospect situation and attempt to figure out who could be the next big league contributor.

For some prospects, a certain level of pressure comes with the beginning of a new season. Whether it is due to a poor season the year before, an increased workload at the big league level in the year to come or something else, some prospects just have more pressure on them than others.

So here is a look at each MLB team's prospect with the most pressure on him for the 2012 season.

Arizona Diamondbacks: SP Jarrod Parker

26 GS, 11-8, 3.79 ERA, 112 Ks, 130.2 IP at Double-A
1 GS, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 Ks, 5.2 IP at Arizona

The Diamondbacks have an absolutely ridiculous amount of top-tier starting pitching prospects right now, as Jarrod Parker, Tyler Skaggs, Trevor Bauer and Archie Bradley all profile to be front-of-the-rotation starters.

Bradley was a high school selection in this year's draft and Skaggs is still just 20 years old, so both of them will no doubt spend another year in the minors. Bauer, the team's top selection in this year's draft, is as polished as anyone in his class, but he will still likely see at least some minor league action in 2012.

That leaves Parker, who was taken ninth overall in the 2007 draft, as the front-runner for the fifth spot in the rotation.

For a Diamondbacks team that expects to compete for another division title and with so many impressive young pitchers waiting in the wings, there will be plenty of pressure on the 23-year-old right-hander.

Atlanta Braves: SS Tyler Pastornicky

.314/.359/.414, 7 HR, 45 RBI, 65 R, 27 SB at Double-A and Triple-A

With the trade of Derek Lowe and potential trade of Jair Jurrjens, there could be a number of young pitchers making an impact for the Braves in 2012.

However, there is little pressure on the likes of Julio Teheran, Randall Delgado and Arodys Vizcaino to succeed immediately, as they all have bright futures and will be given every chance to be big league starters.

Instead, the prospect with the most pressure on him will be shortstop Tyler Pastornicky, who came over from the Blue Jays along with last year's shortstop, Alex Gonzalez, in the trade that sent Yunel Escobar out of town.

If the team decides not to re-sign Gonzalez, the starting job could go to the 22-year-old former fifth-round pick in 2008.

The Braves have other talented shortstops in the lower levels of their minor leagues, so Pastornicky will need to produce, whether in the majors or at Triple-A, if he hopes to be the shortstop of the future in Atlanta.

Baltimore Orioles: 3B Josh Bell

.253/.320/.438, 19 HR, 57 RBI, 62 R at Triple-A
.164/.215/.164, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R at Baltimore

The Orioles have an opening at third base this coming season, with the expected move of Mark Reynolds to first base after he made a whopping 26 errors in just 114 games at the hot corner last season.

Former Rangers top prospect Chris Davis could get the first crack at the job, but 25-year-old Josh Bell should get a look as well.

Bell turned heads with a .295 BA, 20 HR, 76 RBI season in 2009, a year in which he was acquired midseason from the Dodgers for reliever George Sherill.

He entered the 2010 season as the No. 37 prospect according to Baseball America, but he has not shown enough in the past two seasons at Triple-A to warrant more than a cup of coffee each season.

Now, at 25 years old, the window may be closing on his chances to be an everyday player, and this will be a make-or-break year for him.

Boston Red Sox: 3B Will Middlebrooks

.285/.328/.506, 23 HR, 94 RBI, 62 R, 10 SB at Low Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A

You may wonder how a 22-year-old who flew through three different levels of the minors last season and officially put himself on the prospect map could have so much pressure on him, but there was a reason for his expedited progress through the minors.

The Red Sox have a big hole at third base, as Kevin Youkilis will be 33 years old and the team holds a $13 million option on him for next season that they may very well decline. If the team re-signs David Ortiz, Youkilis will be back at third, but he is better suited as a DH at this point.

Regardless, the team needs a long-term plan at third base and for now that looks to be Middlebrooks. If he can post another stellar season in the minors, he could force his way into the starting lineup, but if he struggles, the team may have to start looking at other options, at least for 2013.

Chicago Cubs: SP Hayden Simpson

25 GS, 1-10, 6.27 ERA, 57 Ks, 79 IP at Single-A and Rookie League

More than a few heads were scratched when the Cubs reached for Hayden Simpson with the 16th overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft.

He was the reach of the first round and projected to go in the third or fourth round.

He did little to justify the reach in his first pro season, as he struggled through 16 starts at Single-A before being demoted to the Arizona Rookie League, where he was even worse.

Taken as a college player, he will already be 23 next season and if he doesn't figure things out quickly, the pick will just be another in a series of first-round flops for the Cubs.

Chicago White Sox: CF Jared Mitchell

.222/.304/.377, 9 HR, 58 RBI, 74 R, 14 SB at High Single-A

An impressive athlete who played both football and baseball at LSU before being taken 23rd overall in the 2009 MLB Draft, Mitchell has yet to put it together as a pro.

He played in just 34 games after signing in 2009, then missed all of the 2010 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ankle tendon.

Finally healthy last season, he struggled at High Single-A, and he will need to show signs of improvement this coming season if the 23-year-old wants to get back on track.

Cincinnati Reds: LF Yonder Alonso

.296/.374/.486, 12 HR, 56 RBI, 46 R at Triple-A
.330/.398/.545, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 9 R at Cincinnati

One of the top first base prospects in baseball for the past three seasons, Alonso has been blocked by Joey Votto in Cincinnati and the center of trade rumors for some time now.

However, he made the transition to left field last season and now looks to be the odds-on favorite for the starting left field job despite having just 108 pro games at the position.

Adjusting to life as a big league player is hard enough without having to learn a new position, and it will be interesting to see how Alonso handles the first month or so of the season.

Cleveland Indians: LF Nick Weglarz

.179/.360/.306, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 25 R at Double-A

Drafted in the fifth round of the 2005 MLB Draft, the Canadian-born Weglarz has the potential to be a solid middle-of-the-order hitter, but he has struggled with injuries throughout his minor league career.

He enjoyed a breakout season in 2007 when he hit .274 BA, 24 HR, 83 RBI, and he didn't miss a beat the following season at High Single-A.

However, his average plummeted to .227 in his first year in Double-A in 2009 and while he adjusted well in 2010, he missed most of last season as the injury bug again reared its head and limited him to just 42 games, in which he hit an unimpressive .179.

Despite that, the 24-year-old could end up in Cleveland this coming season at some point if he can get healthy, as the team is incredibly weak in the outfield. He will need not only to prove he can stay healthy, but also that he is capable of adjusting to the next level of pitching.

Colorado Rockies: SP Drew Pomeranz

20 GS, 4-3, 1.78 ERA, 119 Ks, 101 IP at High Single-A and Double-A
4 GS, 2-1, 5.40 ERA, 13 Ks, 18.1 IP at Colorado

The surprise move of the trade deadline last year came when the Rockies dealt ace Ubaldo Jimenez to the Indians for pitching prospects Alex White and Drew Pomeranz.

Both have bright futures, but there was little question that the Indians willingness to part with Pomeranz was what made the Rockies pull the trigger on the trade. The 23-year-old was the fifth pick in the 2010 MLB Draft and is as polished as anyone from his class.

The Rockies gave him a four-start audition at the end of last season, and there is a very good chance that he will be part of the rotation in 2012. The simple fact that the team traded their ace for him will make the expectations high, and he will have to respond to the expectations that surround him.

Detroit Tigers: SP Jacob Turner

20 GS, 4-5, 3.44 ERA, 110 Ks, 131 IP at Double-A and Triple-A
3 GS, 0-1, 8.53 ERA, 8 Ks, 12.2 IP at Detroit

The Tigers farm system is fairly thin right now, with much of their talent in the low levels and at least a year or two away. However, their top prospect Jacob Turner should be part of the rotation for 2012.

Still just 21 years old, Turner was the ninth overall selection in the 2009 MLB Draft and with Brad Penny departing in free agency this offseason, he is the front runner to land the fifth spot in the rotation.

Pitching for a contender, he will have plenty of pressure and with so little else to be excited about in the Tigers organization in the near future, there will be even more expectation placed on the young right-hander.

Houston Astros: C Jason Castro

Injured, Did Not Play

While things are looking bleak for the Astros right now, there is no better time to be a prospect in Houston, as it will be all hands on deck as they continue to trim payroll and rebuild for the future.

That said, there is not a whole lot of expectations and pressure to be put on the young players coming up, but one player with something to prove is catcher Jason Castro.

Taken 10th overall in the 2008 MLB Draft, Castro had a huge season in 2009 when he hit .300 BA, 10 HR, 73 RBI. He earned a cup of coffee the following season, but missed all of last year with an injury.

Despite that, he looks to be set as the team's opening day catcher, and a good start to the season would go a long way towards showing that he is still a big part of the team's future.

Kansas City Royals: SP Mike Montgomery

27 GS, 5-11, 5.32 ERA, 129 Ks, 150.2 IP at Triple-A

The youth movement hit Kansas City in full force last season, and there is more to come in 2012 as the team continues to tap into its impressive farm system on their way back to contention.

Danny Duffy was the first prospect to join the rotation, and All-Star reliever Aaron Crow will be joining him this coming season.

However, the team's top two starters entering last season remain a question mark as John Lamb underwent Tommy John surgery and Montgomery stumbled in his first Triple-A action.

Still, the Royals are counting on the left-handed Montgomery being close and if he can make a few minor adjustments he could be on his way to being an important part of the rotation.

Los Angeles Angels: CF Mike Trout

.326/.414/.544, 11 HR, 38 RBI, 82 R, 33 SB at Double-A
.220/.281/.390, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 20 R, 4 SB at Los Angeles

Ranked behind only Bryce Harper by Baseball America heading into the 2011 season, Trout did not miss a beat as he moved on to Double-A despite being only 19 years old.

He has displayed the full five-tool arsenal over the past two seasons in the minors, and he earned himself a call-up last season when Peter Bourjos was injured, and while it only lasted 40 games he showed plenty of potential.

There is a good chance he will begin the season in the minors, but the Mike Trout era is likely going to start at some point next season and when it does it will come with more pressure and expectation than any Angels prospect has brought in years.

Los Angeles Dodgers: SP Nathan Eovaldi

19 GS, 6-5, 2.62 ERA, 99 Ks, 103 IP at Double-A
6 GS, 1-2, 3.63 ERA, 23 Ks, 34.2 IP at Los Angeles

The Dodgers made a big move in shoring up superstar Matt Kemp already this offseason, but they may lose two starters in Hiroki Kuroda and Jon Garland, which means they could look internally to fill out their rotation.

Tops on the list of internal options would be 22-year-old Eovaldi, who appeared in 10 games with six starts last season.

If the team chooses not to go outside the organization, they will be putting an immense amount of confidence in Eovaldi and at the same time a good deal of pressure on him.

Miami Marlins: 3B Matt Dominguez

.249/.309/.405, 12 HR, 58 RBI, 48 R at High Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A
.244/.292/.333, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R at Florida

The 12th overall pick in the 2007 MLB Draft, Dominguez has been the Marlins' third baseman of the future since signing and he has progressed right on schedule to take over as the starting third baseman at some point this season.

Always a terrific defensive third baseman, it is the 22-year-old's offense that has been a question as he advances levels.

He has the potential to be a .275/20/80 guy if he adjusts to big league pitching, but his rookie season could be a rocky one if his offense does not progress as the Marlins hope.

Milwaukee Brewers: 1B Mat Gamel

.310/.372/.540, 28 HR, 96 RBI, 90 R at Triple-A
.115/.148/.154, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R at Milwaukee

For the past four seasons, Gamel has shredded Triple-A pitching but there has been no place in the lineup for him, and he has managed just 171 big league at-bats.

Now, with Prince Fielder likely headed out of town, Gamel is the most likely option to take over for him at first base should the team not go after anyone in free agency.

The 26-year-old has gotten all he can out of the minor leagues, and he will never be more ready to step into the role. However, stepping into the shoes of someone like Prince Fielder will come with added pressure.

Minnesota Twins: CF Aaron Hicks

.242/.354/.368, 5 HR, 38 RBI, 79 R, 17 SB at High Single-A

Taken 14th overall in the 2008 MLB Draft out of high school, Hicks has the five-tool talent to be a future star with the Twins, but his progression has not been what the team has hoped.

He will be 22 years old next season, and after struggling last season at High Single-A, he will need a hot start next season to earn a promotion to Double-A and continue his progression.

At this point, Hicks is not enough of a speedster or contact hitter to hit lead off and he has not developed the power to be a run producer, so significant progress will need to be made in 2012 to keep him on the prospect radar.

New York Mets: RF Fernando Martinez

.260/.329/.417, 8 HR, 30 RBI, 29 R at Triple-A
.227/.261/.455, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R at Mets

The Mets are set to head in a new direction after freeing up a good deal of payroll this offseason, and they will need assess their current prospect situation and decide who to build around moving forward.

Perhaps the biggest question mark in the organization is Martinez, who was dubbed a future star after hitting .279 BA, 10 HR, 39 RBI at the age of 17 while reaching High Single-A.

Since then he has not progressed much and has struggled in three separate late-season call ups. Nonetheless, the team no longer has Carlos Beltran and will likely non-tender Angel Pagan, so there is a need in the outfield, and the 23-year-old could get a look.

New York Yankees: DH Jesus Montero

.288/.348/.467, 18 HR, 67 RBI, 52 R at Triple-A
.328/.406/.590, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 9 R at New York

The Yankees held off on calling up their top prospect Montero until September, but he was good enough in his one-month audition to earn a spot on the Yankees' postseason roster and will enter the 2012 season as the team's starting DH.

With Montero stepping into the DH role, the Jorge Posada era looks to officially be over and because he is playing in New York, all eyes will be on him as an everyday player for the most scrutinized team in baseball.

He will likely enter the season as the AL Rookie of the Year front-runner, along with Rays pitcher Matt Moore, and while he has the talent to fulfill those expectations, there will be a good deal of pressure on him simply because of where he will be playing.

Oakland Athletics: LF Chris Carter

.278/.371/.544, 21 HR, 79 RBI, 58 R at Low Single-A and Triple-A
.136/.174/.136, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2 R at Oakland

Carter certainly looks the part of a slugger at 6'4" and 245 pounds, and he seemed to be on his way to becoming the next big thing when he hit .329 BA, 28 HR, 115 RBI in his first taste of Double-A pitching back in 2009.

Since then, however, his average has dropped off significantly and while he has launched 52 home runs over the past two seasons, he has also struggled mightily when given the chance at the big league level with a .167 batting average over 114 at bats.

For an offensively starved team like the Athletics, someone with Carter's potential will be given every chance to succeed and he could open the season as the starting left fielder.

Still, he is already 25 years old and if he struggles this time around, it could be the end of his hopes of being an everyday player.

Philadelphia Phillies: RF Domonic Brown

.274/.395/.414, 5 HR, 19 RBI, 26 R at High Single-A and Triple-A
.245/.333/.391, 5 HR, 19 RBI, 28 R at Philadelphia

Entering the 2011 season, Brown was among the favorites to win NL Rookie of the Year, but when a spring training injury cost him the first month of the season, he instead started the season in the minors.

He wasn't called up until the end of May, and once he got to the majors, he did not produce at the level many expected he would. That led to the team trading for Hunter Pence, as Brown returned to the minors for most of August and September.

Now with Raul Ibanez departing in free agency, he could again get a shot at a starting job, but he will now have to compete with John Mayberry Jr. for that role.

Pittsburgh Pirates: C Tony Sanchez

.241/.340/.318, 5 HR, 44 RBI, 46 R at Double-A

Taken with the fourth overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, Sanchez began his pro career with a .309 BA, 7 HR, 48 RBI season as he advanced to High Single-A.

That was followed by an injury-shortened 2010 season, in which he played just 59 games before his season was ended when he was hit in the face with a pitch. Still, he hit .314 BA, 4 HR, 35 RBI over that 59-game stretch.

Last year marked his first full season in Double-A, and he struggled to adapt to the higher level of play. He is still the team's catcher of the future, but he will need a bounce-back season to get back on that track.

San Diego Padres: 1B Anthony Rizzo

.331/.404/.652, 26 HR, 101 RBI, 64 R at Triple-A
.141/.281/.242, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 9 R at San Diego

The main player to come over in the Adrian Gonzalez trade along with pitcher Casey Kelly, Rizzo annihilated Triple-A pitching as he drove in 101 runs in just 93 games.

He spent 49 games with the Padres in June and July, but struggled to match his minor league success and was eventually sent back down.

Still just 21 years old, Rizzo has tremendous potential and the 128 at-bats he got last season in the majors should only help in his development.

That said, he has a long swing and could continue to struggle with the jump to big league pitching unless he adjusts.

San Francisco Giants: SS Brandon Crawford

.265/.335/.422, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 27 R at High Single-A and Triple-A
.204/.288/.296, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 22 R at San Francisco

The Giants had trouble filling the shortstop position last season, as the likes of Miguel Tejada, Mike Fontenot, Orlando Cabrera and Crawford all held the spot at one point or another.

Things don't look any better for the 2012 season, and one of the team's potential free agent options, Clint Barmes, recently signed with the Pirates. That means unless the team intends to make a run at Jose Reyes or Jimmy Rollins, they may have to go with Crawford once again.

He played a total of 66 games last season, and while his offense was poor at best, he is a solid defensive shortstop and may be worth waiting to see if his offense comes around. Regardless, a .204 average won't cut it for a whole season and he will need to get better with the bat.

Seattle Mariners: LF Trayvon Robinson

.289/.374/.552, 26 HR, 71 RBI, 80 R at Triple-A
.210/.250/.336, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 12 R at Seattle

Acquired from the Red Sox as part of the Erik Bedard trade last season, Robinson enjoyed a breakout season last year in the power department, as he was better than ever in his first stint in Triple-A.

For an offensively challenged team like the Mariners, that sort of breakout will likely result in significant playing time at the big league level next season.

There is no question his 2011 season was solid, but out of a former 10th round pick, you have to wonder if the breakout was perhaps a bit of a fluke and he will be unprepared for the expanded big league role.

St. Louis Cardinals: SP Lance Lynn

12 GS, 7-3, 3.84 ERA, 64 Ks, 75 IP at Triple-A
18 G, 1-1, 3.12 ERA, 40 Ks, 34.2 IP at St. Louis

The Cardinals bullpen was one of the biggest stories of the 2011 postseason, and among the biggest surprise contributors was Lynn, who appeared in 10 games and gave up four runs in 11 innings.

A starter in the minors, Lynn will likely be a part of the bullpen once again this coming season and if he can maintain his high strikeout numbers, he could find himself in a primary setup role.

Looking beyond the 2012 season, though, he could make a move to the rotation at some point. A good 2012 season could go a long way towards earning him a starting spot down the line.

Tampa Bay Rays: SP Matt Moore

27 GS, 12-3, 1.92 ERA, 210 Ks, 155 IP at Double-A and Triple-A
3 G, 1-0, 2.89 ERA, 15 Ks, 9.1 IP at Tampa Bay

The Rays have an amazing group of starting pitchers under the age of 25, and after Jeremy Hellickson won the AL Rookie of the Year this past season, they will have another front-runner for the award in 2012 thanks to 23-year-old left-hander Matt Moore.

He has steamrolled his way through every minor league stop, and was dominant in three big league appearances at the end of the season. He has the stuff to be a staff ace and strikeout title winner down the line.

However, the Rays have talked about trading either James Shields or Wade Davis, and that could mean Moore beginning the season not only in the rotation but in a higher spot in the rotation and with more expectations on him.

If anyone can handle that sort of pressure, it would seem to be Moore, but he could be relied on heavily nonetheless.

Texas Rangers: CF Leonys Martin

.295/.362/.421, 4 HR, 42 RBI, 53 R at Rookie League, Double-A and Triple-A
.375/.375/.500, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2 R at Texas

A 23-year-old signed out of Cuba prior to last season, Martin is more advanced than many of the guys on this list and he reached Triple-A in his first pro season.

He earned himself a late-season call-up, and moving forward, he could be the team's starting center fielder at some point in 2012.

With David Murphy perhaps heading for a non-tender and Craig Gentry more suited for a fourth outfielder role, Martin looks to destined to at least get a shot at a starting role.

When that time comes, he will be asked to carry his weight in the most potent offense in baseball.

Toronto Blue Jays: SP Kyle Drabek

15 GS, 5-4, 7.44 ERA, 45 Ks, 75 IP at Triple-A
14 GS, 4-5, 6.06 ERA, 51 Ks, 78.2 IP at Toronto

When the Blue Jays decided to deal Shaun Marcum to the Brewers last offseason, it was due in part to the expectation that top pitching prospect Drabek would be able to step into his spot in the rotation.

He broke camp with the team but struggled mightily and was sent down on June 12. After pitching even worse in Triple-A, he returned in the late season, but as a reliever.

Now, the Blue Jays seem to have at least planned to begin the 2012 season with Drabek not part of the rotation, so he will have to pitch his way back into the big league picture.

Washington Nationals: RF Bryce Harper

.297/.392/.501, 17 HR, 58 RBI, 63 R, 26 SB at Single-A and Double-A

While it was not a .400 batting average or 50 home runs, there was a lot to like about Harper's first pro season after entering the league as the most hyped prospect perhaps of all time.

At the same time, there was a lot to be concerned about as he hit just .256 in 37 games after being called up to Double-A. More so, his immaturity showed on more than one occasion as he toes the line between confident and arrogant.

Until he reaches the big leagues and becomes the All-Star player that he was hyped to be, there will be a tremendous amount of pressure on Harper.

While he certainly seems ready to handle it, the immense hype surround him will always be something he has to deal with.