The Braves system is not as deep as it once was and the majority of the talent is found in the lower levels of the system. With that said, there are some intriguing pitching and up-the-middle infield prospects. The outfield depth is very thin.

#1 Julio Teheran (P)

It was an off year for Teheran but it’s important to remember that the Colombia native was just 21 years old and pitching in both triple-A and the majors. He posted a 5.08 ERA with 146 hits allowed in 131 innings for Gwinnet. His strikeout rate of 6.66 K/9 was a career low, and the result of poor fastball command. Teheran fell behind in counts too often and wasn’t able to set up his curveball.

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After a quick glance at the Top 15 list it should be fairly clear that this is one of the weakest minor league systems in Major League Baseball. Poor drafts (mainly due to lost draft picks from free agent acquisitions) and trades have decimated the system, which has almost no starting pitcher depth to speak of.

#1 Kaleb Cowart (3B)

The 18th overall selection of the 2010 amateur draft, Cowart has moved methodically through the Angels system. The third baseman split 2012 between two A-ball levels with modest results. Cowart, 20, has shown the ability to do a little bit of everything – flashing five tools. He currently has good gap power that is transitioning into more over-the-fence pop and he’s not afraid to take a walk. He swings and misses a fair amount but he’s young and still improving his pitch recognition. A switch-hitter, he tends to hit for better average from the right side of the plate but flashes solid power from the left side. When I saw him in April, Cowart was swinging around the ball and showed a need to get quicker to the ball.

At the hot corner, Cowart shows a strong arm –although it’s inaccurate at times –and sure hands. The athletic fielder has average range.The Georgia native was a two-way player in high school so his slower development is not a surprise — or a red flag. He has the potential to develop into an above-average third baseman, both on offense and defense. After struggling in the Arizona Fall League at the conclusion of the regular season, Cowart could return to the high-A level to open 2013 with an eye on reaching double-A in the second half of the season. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m a little concerned about the overall depth of the Brewers system but the Top 15 list filled out a little bit better than I expected it to. There are a number of pitching prospects that appear capable of developing into solid big league starters, which should be welcomed news in Milwaukee considering how thin the big league staff is at this time.

#1 Tyler Thornburg (P)

Questions about Thornburg’s ability to remain a starter have been raised since he entered pro ball. He’s a shorter right-hander and has some effort to his delivery but, to this point, he’s been durable by providing more than 130 innings in each of the past two seasons. The Texas native is a hard thrower. As a starter, he works in the 89-94 mph range but has hit the upper-90s as a reliever. He flashes a good changeup and a solid curveball.

Thornburg, 24, has steadily moved through the system since being selected in the third round of the 2010 amateur draft out of Charleston Southern University. He made 13 starts in double-A and then another eight in triple-A in 2012. He also made his MLB debut with eight appearances (three starts) but an ideal situation would allow the right-hander to return to triple-A to open 2013. With the big league rotation as thin as it is, though, Thornburg has a decent shot at opening the year in the starting rotation. Read the rest of this entry »

The Orioles list is strong at the top but begins to taper off quickly after the Top 4 players. The system boasts a fair bit of up-the-middle position talent (especially in the outfield) and strong pitching. There were another three or four prospects that could have easily slide into the 11-15 range and just narrowly missed the list.

#1 Dylan Bundy (P)

There’s not much to be said about Bundy that hasn’t already been written about a hundred times. Just 19 in 2012, he carved through the minors and reached the majors in his first full pro season. Bundy possesses mid-to-high-90s velocity on his fastball and he also features a plus changeup and a curveball that shows plus potential. He also has a cutter that he hasn’t thrown much as a pro.

I asked a scout familiar with Bundy about the other aspects of the young phenom’s game. “His mechanics are clean and he’s a good athlete with very good body control which allows him to repeat his delivery for solid-average to plus command and he’s got a good feel for what he’s doing,” the talent evaluator said. “His make-up is off the chart. He’s the most driven and focused young man that I’ve every seen and he’s a good character guy. As far as what Dylan needs to work on. I would say he needs to refine his repertoire and learn the finer points to using his pitches.”

The fourth overall selection in the 2011 draft, Bundy made just three starts above A-ball in 2012 so he could return to double-A or triple-A in 2013. With three potentially-plus pitches and plus make-up, Bundy has true No. 1 starter potential. Only an injury appears capable of derailing this once-in-a-generation talent. Read the rest of this entry »

The Chicago White Sox organization ranked 30th on the Top 30 minor league systems list entering 2012 but this is a much improved system after a couple of solid drafts and a number of prospects took big steps forward in their development. It’s an organization on the rise.

#1 Courtney Hawkins (OF)

“He came out guns a blazing,” a talent evaluator said about Hawkins’ pro debut after being selected 13th overall in the 2012 amateur draft. The Texas teenager played at three levels and topped out in high-A ball, which is almost unprecedented for such an inexperienced player. I’m told even the White Sox underestimated how advanced he was and he should open 2013 back in the Carolina League (high-A). It wouldn’t be a shock if he ended up in double-A by the end of the season.

Despite all the excitement, Hawkins still has work to do at the plate. He needs to strengthen his pitch recognition, tighten his plate discipline and learn how to work counts. Standing 6’3” and weighing 220 lbs with good bat speed, Hawkins has plus power potential and is very athletic for his size, which should allow him to steal some bases.

The outfield prospect should be average or better in right field with a strong arm but, again, he’s still polishing his game and learning to take better routes to the ball. He played center field in high school and could fill in there at the big league level, if needed.

Hawkins is well known for doing a back flip on TV after being drafted by the White Sox but now it’s the organization that’s doing back flips over the young outfielder’s future in Chicago. As my contact stated, “Talent-wise, ability-wise, the sky is the limit for him.” Read the rest of this entry »

The Tigers organization isn’t known for developing a ton of in-house talent but uses prospects well to build its big league club via the trade route. With that said, the organization features some interesting prospects with improved depth in the upper levels of the system, and even has some that are almost ready to contribute at the big league level. The Tigers also picked up some interesting players in the 2012 amateur draft.

#1 Nick Castellanos (3B/OF)

Castellanos has been the Tigers’ best hitting prospect since being selected in the supplemental first round of the 2010 draft. Originally a third baseman, he was moved to right field in 2012 in an effort to find a spot for him on the big league club with veteran Miguel Cabrera currently manning the hot corner.

He still has a chance to play regularly at either position, depending on what the future holds for him. A talent evaluator said Castellanos has embraced the move. “Nick’s taken to it quite well… He’s working very hard at it. He’s a good athlete… it’s just going to take some time.”

Castellanos has consistently hit for average but he has yet to tap into his power, which projects to be at least average. The contact said the prospect is a good hitter who knows the strike zone. “He barrels the ball as well as anybody… He has a good body to add power.”

After hitting .264 in 79 double-A games (after a promotion from high-A), he then hit .242 in 24 Arizona Fall League games which increases the likelihood that Castellanos could return to the level to begin 2013. Despite potentially returning to double-A, he could reach the majors this coming season. I’m told he’ll open the year playing right field while taking grounders at third base. Read the rest of this entry »

The Dodgers will trot out a formidable wave of big league talent to take on the National League West in 2013 but the strength of the major league club comes at the expense of the minor league system. The organization has flipped its home-grown talent to acquire the likes of Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, and Hanley Ramirez. The new draft and international free agent rules will affect LA’s ability to over-pay for amateur talent but the club showed the ability to work within the new guidelines and had a solid 2012 amateur draft.

#1 Zach Lee (P)

Lee, 21, is an athletic pitcher who’s still learning to channel his raw skills to the mound and he doesn’t dominate as much as expected. The right-handed Texan split 2012 between high-A and double-A pitching a total of 121 innings.

He walked just 32 batters, displaying above-average control for his age, but also struck out just 103 batters because his secondary stuff – curveball, slider, changeup – has yet to fully develop. He offsets his lack of Ks with above-average ground ball numbers. A former star high school quarterback, Lee has moved quickly through the system and may need to spend all of 2013 in double-A before his ticket to L.A. is punched. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s not often that a club has the opportunity to acquire the reigning Cy Young award winner but the Toronto Blue Jays did just that when they acquired R.A. Dickey from the New York Mets on Monday. Understandably, the Blue Jays paid a steep price for the veteran knuckleballer. Along with the top prospect in their system — Travis d’Arnaud, whom I wrote about earlier — the Jays also flipped prospects Noah Syndergaard and Wuilmer Becerra to their National League trading partners.

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I wouldn’t say the Seattle Mariners organization is the deepest system in the majors but it has some of the best upper-tier talent among the 30 baseball clubs. What’s even more impressive with the organization is that so many of those top prospects are pitchers and up-the-middle position players. Also, unlike a lot of the top systems in the game, the bulk of Seattle’s talent is at the double-A and triple-A level suggesting better days are ahead for the Mariners and their fans.

#1 Michael Zunino (C/DH)

It’s not often you can say this when a club chooses a player third overall in the amateur draft, but the Seattle Mariners may have gotten a steal with Zunino. The University of Florida alum made an immediate impression upon turning pro by hitting for power, average and showing a good understanding of the strike zone. After posting a 1.210 OPS in 29 Northwest League games, Zunino had a .974 OPS after a three-level promotion to the double-A Southern League. And if that wasn’t enough, he posted an .800 OPS in 19 Arizona Fall League games.

Although his hit tool may end up being underrated – a lot of evaluators project it as average – there probably aren’t many, if any, that would argue his right-handed power is a plus tool. Along with his intriguing bat, Zunino possesses all the intangibles that make up good a field leader. His defense projects to be average or a hair above, but he shows a promising game-calling skills and an average arm.

Zunino could not have had a better pro debut and it will be interesting to see where he starts off the 2013 season: double-A, triple-A or the majors. A strong spring could push the organization to start the year with him as the club’s starting catcher – especially since the American League West should be quite competitive and the club may need every win it can squeak out. However, with John Jaso and Jesus Montero (who could move to a full-time DH with Zunino’s promotion, or be flipped in a trade to fill a more glaring hole) are probably quite capable of holding down the fort until Zunino truly forces the Mariners’ hand.

#2 Taijuan Walker (P)

If Zunino wasn’t a steal, Walker certainly was after being nabbed with the 43rd selection of the 2010 draft for only $800,000. Now 20, the right-hander spent most of the 2012 pitching as a teenager in the double-A Southern League.

The first thing you notice when watching Walker pitch is his frame. He has a perfect pitcher’s frame and is very athletic. He fields his position very well and that athleticism should eventually allow him to develop above-average command, although it’s currently inconsistent. He has a low-stress delivery and easy velocity; he looks like he’s playing catch with the backstop. He stands very tall, stays back well over the rubber and maintains good balance.

Walker has a fastball that sits in the mid-to-upper 90s but I did not seen premium movement. With that said, hitters either don’t pick up the ball well or there’s some late movement that keeps the ball off the sweet spot on the bat. When I saw him pitch he was certainly favoring the fastball while sprinkling in curveballs and the very occasional changeup. He did slow his arm down a bit when he threw some of his breaking balls. Hitters either don’t pick up the ball well or there’s some late movement that keeps the ball off the sweet spot on the bat

Walker’s numbers on the season were skewed by a particularly bad June, where he posted a 9.15 ERA. His overall numbers were good, but not great, and he deserves credit for being the youngest pitcher in the league. I’d probably start him off back in double-A to begin the year but wouldn’t be shocked if he was assigned to triple-A instead. He could be in the major league rotation before his 21st birthday and has the ceiling of a No. 2 starter.

#3 Danny Hultzen (P)

The second overall pick of the 2012 draft, Hultzen ascended through the minors quickly, reaching triple-A after just half a season in pro ball. Unfortunately, he struggled mightily with his control after the promotion and walked 43 batters in 48.2 innings. It’s an entirely new issue for the U of Virginia alum, as he displayed at least average control in both college and double-A.

Hultzen has excellent zip on his fastball for a lefty and it sits 88-93 mph and touches the mid-90s when he reaches back for a little extra. His changeup can be deadly when he can set it up. He shows the same arm speed and action on both his fastball and changeup. When I saw Hultzen pitch at the triple-A level in August, his slider was inconsistent but showed a nice break.

While watching him, it was clear that he was struggling with his fastball command. When the ball was wandering, the southpaw was getting ahead of his arm and dragging his arm behind him. Hultzen also does a pronounced knee bend during his delivery and he was bending shortly before beginning his wind-up and that seemed to be messing up his balance. In speaking with a talent evaluator familiar with Hultzen it sounded as though there wasn’t too much concern over his struggles. “Danny is just going through the process becoming a big league pitcher. He just has to be able to command all his pitches and throw them for strikes,” he said. “I would also like to point out that it was his first full year. Learning to pitch is definitely a process.”

He will almost certainly return to triple-A to open the 2013 season and all eyes will be on his ability to control the strike zone. If he can iron out his issues, Hultzen could be ready for the majors around mid-2013. If everything clicks, Hultzen has the ceiling of a No. 2 starter.

#4 Nick Franklin (2B/SS)

The best non-pitching prospect in the Mariners system, Franklin isn’t overly physical but he has a stronger lower half and shows a wide, well-balanced base at the plate. The ball jumps off his bat, but I’d like to see him hit fewer fly balls and more line drives. He slugged 23 home runs at the A-ball level in 2010 but is not a true home-run hitter and will likely pop 10-15 homers at the big league level with a large collection of two-baggers.

Franklin isn’t as strong defensively as currently big league shortstop Brendan Ryan but he offers much more upside with the bat. The prospect could eventually push Ryan to a back-up role or send him out of town. Franklin is reliable at shortstop, fielding everything hit to him, and has good actions but both his range and arm are fringe-average for the position. Second base would probably be his best position but Dustin Ackley is far more secure in his job than Ryan.

A strong 2012 Arizona Fall League helped Franklin make up for a modest second half of the season at the triple-A level where he posted an 83 wRC+. Seattle will likely open the 2013 season with Brendan Ryan at shortstop but Franklin could emerge from the minors by mid-season.

#5 James Paxton (P)

Paxton has a ceiling close to that of Danny Hultzen but he also struggles with his control, having walked 54 batters in 106.1 double-A innings in 2012. He shows above-average, easy fastball velocity for a southpaw and has a tall, sturdy frame with a strong lower half and should be capable of providing tons of innings as a No. 3 starter in the starting rotation. He also has a very good curveball with plus potential and has worked to improve his changeup, which projects to develop into an average offering.

In watching Paxton pitch, I noticed that he throws with a high-three-quarter delivery with deception. He keeps the ball hidden well and has a distracting delivery thanks to a lot of extranious arm movement. But he also doesn’t have the most controlled delivery so it’s easy to see why he struggles with both his command and control. On the plus side, there isn’t much effort to his delivery. He was quite slow and deliberate from the stretch with pronounced arm action. Because of that, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him struggle at holding runners at the big league level.

After a solid double-A season in 2012, Paxton made another five starts in the Arizona Fall League with modest results. He should be ready for the triple-A test in 2013 but could see major league action in the second half of the year.

#6 Carter Capps (P)

Capps was utterly dominating when he came out of the bullpen at the MLB level in 2012. He was hitting 98-99 mph with late movement in October. Along with his fastball, Capps also possesses an average slider and a changeup that he rarely throws. He has a strong, durable frame and throws with a three-quarter arm slot. There is not a ton of effort in his delivery when you consider how hard he throws.

Capps, 22, works up in the zone more than I’d like and he also gets hit rather hard at times — posting a line-drive rate of more than 27% in the majors — likely due to his lack of reliable secondary pitches. His control is currently better than his command.

A former supplemental third round pick out of a division II college in 2011, Capps zoomed through the minors and reached the majors in his first full season. The right-hander should have a spot in the Mariners’ bullpen to open 2013. He has the potential to develop into a high-leverage reliever and could rack up saves in Seattle for years to come.

#7 Brandon Maurer (P)

Maurer improved his stock more so than any other pitcher on the Top 15 list between 2011 and 2012. Prior to last year, he had never made more than 13 starts in a season during his four-year career and saw his innings almost double from 79.1 to 137.2 over the past two seasons. A big, strong-bodied right-hander, Maurer will look to put his checkered injury history behind him as he looks to build on his breakout performance with a promotion to triple-A to open 2013.

The former 23rd round draft pick should settle in nicely at the big league level as a No. 3 or 4 starter. He features a four-pitch mix, which includes a fastball that works in the low 90s and can hit the mid-90s. He also has a curveball, slider, and changeup. His slider has plus potential while his changeup needs to most polish. Maurer has the potential to develop both above-average command and above-average control of his repertoire but is a little behind the eight-ball because of all the missed time.

When I saw Maurer pitch he flashed all his secondary pitches and set them up well by establishing his fastball early in the count. With a three-quarter delivery, the right-hander pounded the lower half of the strike zone but got hit hard when he elevated the ball. He was able to get swings and misses on his breaking stuff. He worked quickly but was falling forward ahead of his arm at times.

#8 Brad Miller (SS)

A left-handed hitting shortstop with a plus hit tool and average power is extrememly valuable. Miller, 23, was a second round draft pick out of Clemson University in 2011 and he reached double-A in just his first full pro season.

A .341 career hitter, the infielder has enjoyed playing in some favorable hitting environments, which may have skewed his numbers to a degree, but he has shown the ability to control the strike zone quite well. His low-maintenance approach at the plate and swing give hope that he’ll maintain his offensive success as he moves up the ladder. A contact I spoke with about Miller said he has not been surprised with the shortstop’s success in pro ball because he’s a hard worker and dedicated to his craft. “As a hitter he has pretty good hand-eye coordination,” the talent evaluator said. “He just needs to get stronger and gain more experience.”

The big question with Miller is whether or not he’ll be able to stick at shortstop. He is athletic and shows good fielding actions but his throwing leads to numerous errors. He may end up at either third base or shortstop, but could offer enough offense for either position — even if his power is not quite ideal for the hot corner. Miller hit very well in 40 double-A games in 2012 but could return there to begin the coming season. If he continues to swing the bat like he has, he could reach Seattle by the end of 2013. A glut of infielders in the upper levels of the system and majors, though, could slow down his timetable.

#9 Stefen Romero (2B)

I’ll admit it: When I first started following Romero’s 2012 season I thought it was a fluke brought on by the hitting environment in the California League. However, he never stopped hitting – even after a promotion to double-A (.347 average) and then on into the Arizona Fall League (.333). I recently asked a talent evaluator about the prospect and he said, “Stefen Romero is just a solid player, a very advanced hitter. “He just needs to continue to play games to continue to progress.”

When I saw him play, he showed solid bat speed and a very nice level swing. He had a straight-away stance at the plate with a wide base. The opposition was pitching him in on the inner half of the plate but he did a nice job of waiting for his pitch to come out over the heart. He doesn’t use his legs much in his swing but has very quick hips that help generate his above-average power.

The big question with Romero is: Where is he going to play on the field? He’s played mostly second base as a pro, although he’s also dabbled at third base and in left field. He’ll probably never be a great second baseman – maybe not even average – but his bat should continue to carry him. Perhaps a super-sub role, similar to former Oakland A’s player Tony Phillips, is in his future.

#10 Victor Sanchez (P)

Sanchez, arguably the top international arm available in 2011, is a massive man-child who already tips the scale at more than 250 lbs (He’s only 6-feet tall). The right-hander has an advanced approach and feel for pitching, posting a walk rate of just 2.86 BB/9 during his pro debut against competition much older than himself. His strikeout rate was modest in part because he has yet to develop a reliable breaking ball but he possesses a couple of impressive weapons. As a talent evaluator stated, “He has very good fastball and has a feel for his off-speed, as well, which is pretty uncommon for a kid so young.” Sanchez should open the 2013 season in full season ball but will probably spend the entire year there. His ceiling is immense and it would be tempting to try and accelerate his timetable but there is a lot of pitching depth ahead of him.

#11 Patrick Kivlehan (3B)

A fourth-round selection out of Rutgers University in 2012, Kivlehan has impressed the Mariners front office with his potential. The infielder may have more upside than the typical 22-year-old college senior because he focused primary on football during his collegiate career and did not play baseball until this past season. Despite his inexperience on the field, Kivlehan’s athleticism has helped him succeed in the bowels of the minor league system.

He posted a 152 wRC+ with above-average power output in 72 games. On the down side, the New York state native is very aggressive at the plate and needs time to improve his pitch recognition and learn how to identify and wait for his pitch. He struck out at a rate of 29% with a walk rate of just 6%. Kivlehan is very raw in the field and may not have enough development time to play catchup (because his bat is more advanced, and his age is not on his side), which could result in a position switch. Because of his raw edges, he could open 2013 at Clinton in the Midwest League with a quick promotion to the high-A California League in mind.

#12 Gabriel Guerrero (OF)

You’re going to get some press when your uncle is Vladimir Guerrero but with Gabriel the attention is warranted for his own abilities on the field. He’s raw but projectable and should add strength to his slender frame, which could help his power blossom. He already shows a quick bat and makes solid contact. Like his uncle, the young hitter is aggressive — although not to the same crazy degree. The 19-year-old prospect opened the 2012 season in the Dominican Summer League and hit .355 with 11 home runs. That earned him a late promotion to the Arizona League for his first taste of North American ball. He again hit more than .300 and added four long balls in 18 games. Guerrero won’t reach Seattle any time soon but his ceiling is perhaps higher than any bat in the system.

#13 Tyler Pike (P)

A projection pick from the 2012 amateur draft, Pike was signed away from a commitment to Florida State University. The 18-year-old southpaw showed a little more polish than expected when he posted a 1.78 ERA and allowed just 34 hits in 50.2 rookie ball innings. He struck out 57 batters but walked 21. Pike, a Florida native, will need to improve both his command and control as he moves up the ladder. His repertoire includes a high-80s fastball, curveball and changeup. He currently projects to develop into a No. 4 starter.

#14 Stephen Pryor (P)

Pryor, 23, is another hard-throwing reliever that debuted with the Seattle Mariners in 2012. He doesn’t have the same easy velocity that Carter Capps possesses, and his delivery is also not as fluid or easy. He has a strong frame and should be durable. His control has fluctuated throughout his career and needs polishing before he realizes his potential.Pryor reached the majors in just his third pro season. He played at four levels and could open 2013 with Seattle as a middle reliever. Eventually, he should have the ceiling of an eighth-inning reliever.

#15 Timmy Lopes (2B)

Lopes, 18, showed some late advancement in high school, which convinced the Mariners to sign him away from a commitment to UC Irvine. The middle infielder immediately took to pro ball and hit more than .300 with gap power in rookie ball. A contact I spoke with was not surprised at his early success. “I would think having older brother (Christian Lopes, 2011 7th rounder) who just went through al lot of the same things has helped him with the transition.” Both brothers have a shot at developing into an everyday second baseman at the big league level with Timmy having the higher ceiling.

Originally a shortstop in high school, Lopes moved to second base as a pro, although he did appear in seven games at his natural position. “His defense at second base is pretty good,” the contact said, although cautioning:. “[He] will need to continue to work on all aspects of his game.” Lopes shows good actions in the field and solid range but his arm strength is below average for a shortstop. The organization gave him a vote of confidence at the end of the regular season by allowing the California native to appear in four games in high-A ball. He should open 2013 in full-season ball, although likely in Clinton.

With news of the R.A. Dickey trade coming to fruition, the New York Mets organization will reportedly acquire the best catching prospect in baseball (narrowly edging Seattle’s Mike Zunino). Prior to the 2012 season, I ranked d’Arnaud as the 37th best prospect in baseball on FanGraphs’ Top 100 Prospects list — behind fellow catchers Jesus Montero (13th overall, and term used loosely) and Devin Mesoraco (17th), and just ahead of Yasmani Grandal (40th). All three of those catchers graduated to the majors in 2012; d’Arnaud definitely will be moving up on the Top 100 list that will be coming out this March, even after missing most of the second half of the season thanks to a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his knee.

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