Spring Training, when professional baseball players from around the world descend upon Florida and Arizona, provides a truly unique stage as today’s stars, today’s role players, yesterday’s stars, and tomorrow’s stars practice and play together for 5 weeks. It’s a chance for fans to reacquaint themselves with their squad and see how their offseason acquisitions look in their new unis. Throughout March, the best prospects in baseball get their 15 minutes of face time, before being sent down to small town minor league teams, never to be heard from until they get called up to the big show. Even the Futures Game during All Star Week gets almost zero media attention. CubicleGM plans to check in on MLB’s future stars. The Minor League Watch series will be a monthly column that tracks 5 of the game’s hottest prospects, each of whom are each at different stages of their development. Today, we start with player introductions. Check back each month for more updates on player’s season and progression.
Colby Rasmus -22 – CF, St. Louis Cardinals organization
Where he’s playing: St. Louis Cardinals
His story: Drafted as a first rounder out of Russell County High School in Alabama in 2005, Rasmus tore through the Cardinals system, entering the 2008 season as an elite prospect expected to bring both power and speed to the Cardinals line up one day. His 2008 season failed to live up to expectations as he got out of the gates poorly, and was then slowed by multiple injuries later in the season. Because of his poor season, he was expected to be sent back to AAA after spring training. However, the big club saw enough, and he started the season on the big league roster – now its just a matter of getting ABs in a crowded outfield.
Early season stats: He has got an AB in every Cards game this season and started 6 of 9. His batting average is not impressive at .241, but his .371 OBP is great.
Andrew McCutchen – 22 – CF – Pittsburgh Pirates organization
Where he’s playing: AAA Indianapolis Indians
His story: McCutchen was drafted 11th overall in 2005 out of high school, where he hit .709 his senior year. Over the last 4 years he has worked his way through the Pirates system, spending all of 2008 at AAA Indy, where he hit .283 with 34 stolen bases in 135 games. He was selected to the Futures Game, and was a AAA All-Star last season. Originally projected for 30HR/30 Stolen Base potentials, scouts now peg him as a 20/40 type. Expect to see him in the majors this season, and as the starting CF in 2010.
Early season stats: After an impressive spring training he was sent down to AAA to further improve his game. In 7 games, he is hitting .281, with an OPS of .892, including 3 triples and 2 stolen bases in just 7 games. Anytime you have as many triples as strikeouts, how are off to a good start.
Neftali Feliz – 21 – SP – Texas Rangers organization
Where he’s playing: AAA Oklahoma City Red Hawks
His story: After being signed by the Braves organization in 2005, and pitching well in short season ball, Feliz was shipped off to Texas as part of the Mark Teixeira trade. He surpassed all expectations posting a 2.98 ERA last season at Double A. He pitches in the mid to upper 90s, with the ability to hit 100 on occasion. He also has a plus breaking ball and changeup, from his ¾, smooth delivery. He will be up in the majors in ’09 and likely to stay up 2010 and beyond.
Early season stats: In 2 starts at AAA Feliz has 9 Ks over 9 IP, tallying one win and a 2.00 ERA. He has been erratic, however, yielding 8 walks in those 9 IP.
Lars Anderson – 21 – 1B – Boston Red Sox organization
Where he’s playing: AA Portland Sea Dogs
His story: An 18th Round pick out of Jesuit HS in CA in 2006, Anderson dominated AA pitching last season making him the best prospect in the Red Sox organization. He hit .316, and had an OBP over .430, yielding an OPS close to 1.000. Scouts call him a ‘smart’ player, with intelligence and understanding of the game well beyond most 21 year olds. Barring any unforeseen injuries to David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis, or Mike Lowell, Anderson’s role is unclear until 2011 as Lowell and Ortiz are signed through 2010. Some think a Lowell trade, along with move Youkilis back to 3rd is best for the organization for next year.
Early season stats: Anderson has got off to a very slow start hitting just .282 with 8 strike outs in his first 8 games. He has 3 doubles, but not home runs, and just 2 walks in the early going. Its very cold up in Maine this time of year though, so hopefully he heats up as the weather does.
Madison Bumgarner – 19 – SP – San Francisco Giants organization
Where he’s playing: High A San Jose Giants
His story: The youngest and least developed of the five on the list, Bumgarner was a 1st round pick in 2007. He wasted no time exceeding 1st Rounder expectations by posting what baseball Prospectus calls ‘The Best Season by any Minor Leaguer’ in 2008, which is nothing to scoff at. Please refrain from scoffing. This lefty’s command of his fastball is exceptional, potentially even Greg Maddux-esque, and touches 95-96. His second pitch is a power slider that is almost equally devastating. The will need to improve the change-up to become a big league ace. He is still a ways off from the big league squad, but the Giants will be sure to make room for him once he is ready.
Early season stats: Bumgarner has not lost a beat in the least, starting the season 2-0, with a 0 ERA and .73 WHIP and 9 Ks in his first two starts. He appears to be a man among boys at single-A, and will likely be moved to AA very soon.
[...] In Mid April, I started a recurring monthly series titled ‘Minor League Watch,’ with the hope of providing a monthly update on some of baseball’s brightest prospects. The series will follow 5 prospects, ranging from A ball to one youngster that made the Big Show out of Spring training. As we near the quarter point in the MLB season, its time for our May update. The first post, that introduced Colby Rasmus, Lars Anderson, Neftali Feliz, Andrew McCutchen, and Madison Bumgarner can be found here. [...]