There is always a bit of a lull between the end of the minor league playoffs in September and the start of the annual top prospects lists in early November. Because of that gap, I’m breathing new life into an old feature that I wrote for the site in FanGraphs’ infancy back in 2008 and 2009.

The series ‘A Minor Review of 2013’ will look back on some of the major happenings in each MLB organization since the beginning of April as a primer for the upcoming FanGraphs Top 10+5 prospects lists. This series will run throughout September and October. I hope you enjoy the series and are eagerly anticipating the start of ‘Prospect List Season.’

The player listed in the sleeper section was featured in a pre-season series that looked at one fringe prospect in each organization that was expected to take a big step forward during 2013, chosen by myself, a scout or a front office talent evaluator.

Read the rest of this entry »

There is always a bit of a lull between the end of the minor league playoffs in September and the start of the annual top prospects lists in early November. Because of that gap, I’m breathing new life into an old feature that I wrote for the site in FanGraphs’ infancy back in 2008 and 2009.

The series ‘A Minor Review of 2013? will look back on some of the major happenings in each MLB organization since the beginning of April as a primer for the upcoming FanGraphs Top 10+5 prospects lists. This series will run throughout September and October. I hope you enjoy the series and are eagerly anticipating the start of ‘Prospect List Season.’

The player listed in the sleeper section was featured in a pre-season series that looked at one fringe prospect in each organization that was expected to take a big step forward during 2013, chosen by myself, a scout or a front office talent evaluator.

Read the rest of this entry »

There is always a bit of a lull between the end of the minor league playoffs in September and the start of the annual top prospects lists in early November. Because of that gap, I’m breathing new life into an old feature that I wrote for the site in FanGraphs’ infancy back in 2008 and 2009.

The series ‘A Minor Review of 2013? will look back on some of the major happenings in each MLB organization since the beginning of April as a primer for the upcoming FanGraphs Top 10+5 prospects lists. This series will run throughout September and October. I hope you enjoy the series and are eagerly anticipating the start of ‘Prospect List Season.’

The player listed in the sleeper section was featured in a pre-season series that looked at one fringe prospect in each organization that was expected to take a big step forward during 2013, chosen by myself, a scout or a front office talent evaluator.

The Graduate: Tony Cingrani, LHP: The rookie southpaw played a key role in the Reds’ strong season. He spent the majority of his time in the starting rotation (18 starts) but also made five relief appearances. His command and control both need work but it’s tough for hitters to pick up the ball out of his hand, as witnessed by his strikeout rate and hits-to-innings-pitched rate. It remains to be seen, though, how long he can survive as a big league starter by relying on his heater more than 80% of the time.

The Riser: Jesse Winker, OF: I ranked Winker as the ninth best prospect in the system during the offseason and he took a big step forward in 2013. A contact I spoke with in the offseason said the young outfielder had an advanced approach and a plus bat. Well, Winker proved that contact right with a strong season in Low-A ball and will look to repeat his success in 2014; he could move quickly for a prep draftee.

The Tumbler: Daniel Corcino, RHP: Corcino suffered a complete meltdown in 2013 at the Triple-A level. The right-hander carried an ERA of more than 7.00 into June when he when both his command and control deserted him. The 23-year-old will no doubt return to Triple-A in 2014 and is likely another poor month or two away from revisiting his previous role as a reliever.

The 2013 Draft Pick: Ben Lively, RHP: Lively carved up hitters in short-season ball and earned a late-season promotion to Low-A ball. The right-hander isn’t flashy but he commands a four-pitch repertoire and his heater works in the low-90s. He doesn’t have a huge ceiling but the Florida native could develop into a durable No. 4 starter.

The Sleeper: Seth Mejias-Brean, 3B: One of my favorite sleeper picks from last off-season, Mejias-Brean hit more than .300 for the second straight season while showing intriguing gap power. He doesn’t possess eye-popping power but he does enough things well that he could eventually find himself starting at the hot corner at the big league level and the Reds’ current third baseman Todd Frazier is by no means irreplaceable.

There is always a bit of a lull between the end of the minor league playoffs in September and the start of the annual top prospects lists in early November. Because of that gap, I’m breathing new life into an old feature that I wrote for the site in FanGraphs’ infancy back in 2008 and 2009.

The series ‘A Minor Review of 2013? will look back on some of the major happenings in each MLB organization since the beginning of April as a primer for the upcoming FanGraphs Top 10+5 prospects lists. This series will run throughout September and October. I hope you enjoy the series and are eagerly anticipating the start of ‘Prospect List Season.’

The player listed in the sleeper section was featured in a pre-season series that looked at one fringe prospect in each organization that was expected to take a big step forward during 2013, chosen by myself, a scout or a front office talent evaluator.

The Graduate: Junior Lake, OF: Lake, 23, teased the Cubs with his raw athleticism for six seasons before finally reaching the Majors in 2013. A move from shortstop to the outfield may have helped him focus more at the plate and he showed a little more consistency, although he still has a ways to go to prove he can be a big league regular. With some polish, he could be a very good defensive outfielder.

The Riser: Arismendy Alcantara, SS: Alcantara has turned himself into one of the better middle infield prospects in the minors. He can play second base, third base and shortstop but his best position is probably the keystone. At the plate, he generates surprising pop for his size and hit 55 extra base hits in 2013 while sacrificing contact for power. He could be ready to challenge for the starting second base gig by mid-2014.

The Tumbler: Arodys Vizcaino, RHP: Vizcaino’s powerful arm has kept him near the top of prospects lists since his early days in the Yankees system. However, the litany of never-ending injuries has finally taken a toll on his prospect status. Vizcaino has missed the last two years due to surgeries and the subsequent rehabs. On the plus side, he won’t turn 23 until mid-November and the Cubs are in a rebuilding mode so they can afford to be patient.

The 2013 Draft Pick: Rob Zastryzny, RHP: A Canadian, Zastryzny is understandably raw for a college product but he possesses a strong body and two promising pitches in a low-90s fastball and changeup. The development of the left-hander’s breaking ball will go a long way to determining his eventual role and ceiling.

The Sleeper: Gioskar Amaya, 2B: This Venezuelan infielder caught my attention while playing with short-season Boise last season. His tools (and ceiling) are not as loud as some of the other prospects that he played with at Boise, and later in Low-A Kane County in 2013, but he’s a solid little player. Just 20, Amaya needs to get stronger and he also strikes out too much for a player with modest power.

There is always a bit of a lull between the end of the minor league playoffs in September and the start of the annual top prospects lists in early November. Because of that gap, I’m breathing new life into an old feature that I wrote for the site in FanGraphs’ infancy back in 2008 and 2009.

The series ‘A Minor Review of 2013’ will look back on some of the major happenings in each MLB organization since the beginning of April as a primer for the upcoming FanGraphs Top 10+5 prospects lists. This series will run throughout September and October. I hope you enjoy the series and are eagerly anticipating the start of ‘Prospect List Season.’

The player listed in the sleeper section was featured in a pre-season series that looked at one fringe prospect in each organization that was expected to take a big step forward during 2013, chosen by myself, a scout or a front office talent evaluator.

Read the rest of this entry »

There is always a bit of a lull between the end of the minor league playoffs in September and the start of the annual top prospects lists in early November. Because of that gap, I’m breathing new life into an old feature that I wrote for the site in FanGraphs’ infancy back in 2008 and 2009.

The series ‘A Minor Review of 2013’ will look back on some of the major happenings in each MLB organization since the beginning of April as a primer for the upcoming FanGraphs Top 10+5 prospects lists. This series will run throughout September and October. I hope you enjoy the series and are eagerly anticipating the start of ‘Prospect List Season.’

The player listed in the sleeper section was featured in a pre-season series that looked at one fringe prospect in each organization that was expected to take a big step forward during 2013, chosen by myself, a scout or a front office talent evaluator.

The Graduate: Shelby Miller, RHP: Pick a rookie, any rookie. The Cardinals may have received more impact from the minor leagues than any other club in 2013. Miller produced the second highest strikeout rate (8.78 K/9) of any rookie pitcher with at least 130 innings pitched, behind only Jose Fernandez of Miami. After some inconsistent results in the minors, the Texas native is once again looking like a future top-of-the-rotation talent.

The Riser: James Ramsey, OF: Ramsey was a tough player to rank in the offseason because the third-party scouting reports weren’t as kind to him as the opinions I received directly out of the Cardinals organization. I finally settled on a home for the outfielder at the 11th spot of the Cardinals Top 15 prospects list. He went on to play at three levels in 2013 and finished the season in Triple-A. Ramsey showed unexpected power with 16 home runs and posted an OPS of .814.

The Tumbler: Carson Kelly, 3B: When I spoke to a talent evaluator last winter, he said Kelly might have the highest ceiling of any player taken by the Cardinals in the 2012 amateur draft. The 19-year-old third baseman opened 2013 in low-A ball but posted a .590 OPS in 43 games to earn a trip back to short-season ball where he regrouped. That same talent evaluator compared Kelly’s offensive potential to the Giants’ starting catcher Buster Posey, which is fitting considering the Cardinals decided to move the second-year pro behind the plate after the ’13 season.

The 2013 Draft Pick: Steven Farinaro, RHP: The right-hander was considered a tough sign due to his commitment to UCLA, as well as the mixed opinions on his future (starter or reliever). Only three other players (The first three picks) received a larger bonus in the Cardinals’ draft class than Farinaro’s $750,000 — even though he was selected way down in the 11th round. He had a rude introduction to pro ball when he posted a 6.29 ERA in 10 games (six starts).

The Sleeper: Tony (Anthony) Bryant, OF: This was a huge miss. Bryant’s raw potential caught the attention of a talent evaluator I spoke with in the winter. However, before the end of spring training, the young outfielder was handed his release papers and failed to appear in an official game in 2013 despite later catching on the with Washington Nationals.

There is always a bit of a lull between the end of the minor league playoffs in September and the start of the annual top prospects lists in early November. Because of that gap, I’m breathing new life into an old feature that I wrote for the site in FanGraphs’ infancy back in 2008 and 2009.

The series ‘A Minor Review of 2013’ will look back on some of the major happenings in each MLB organization since the beginning of April as a primer for the upcoming FanGraphs Top 10+5 prospects lists. This series will run throughout September and October. I hope you enjoy the series and are eagerly anticipating the start of ‘Prospect List Season.’

The player listed in the sleeper section was featured in a pre-season series that looked at one fringe prospect in each organization that was expected to take a big step forward during 2013, chosen by myself, a scout or a front office talent evaluator.

Read the rest of this entry »

There is always a bit of a lull between the end of the minor league playoffs in September and the start of the annual top prospects lists in early November. Because of that gap, I’m breathing new life into an old feature that I wrote for the site in FanGraphs’ infancy back in 2008 and 2009.

The series ‘A Minor Review of 2013’ will look back on some of the major happenings in each MLB organization since the beginning of April as a primer for the upcoming FanGraphs Top 10+5 prospects lists. This series will run throughout September and October. I hope you enjoy the series and are eagerly anticipating the start of ‘Prospect List Season.’

The player listed in the sleeper section was featured in a pre-season series that looked at one fringe prospect in each organization that was expected to take a big step forward during 2013, chosen by myself, a scout or a front office talent evaluator.

Read the rest of this entry »

There is always a bit of a lull between the end of the minor league playoffs in September and the start of the annual top prospects lists in early November. Because of that gap, I’m breathing new life into an old feature that I wrote for the site in FanGraphs’ infancy back in 2008 and 2009.

The series ‘A Minor Review of 2013’ will look back on some of the major happenings in each MLB organization since the beginning of April as a primer for the upcoming FanGraphs Top 10+5 prospects lists. This series will run throughout September and October. I hope you enjoy the series and are eagerly anticipating the start of ‘Prospect List Season.’

The player listed in the sleeper section was featured in a pre-season series that looked at one fringe prospect in each organization that was expected to take a big step forward during 2013, chosen by myself, a scout or a front office talent evaluator.

Read the rest of this entry »

There is always a bit of a lull between the end of the minor league playoffs in September and the start of the annual top prospects lists in early November. Because of that gap, I’m breathing new life into an old feature that I wrote for the site in FanGraphs’ infancy back in 2008 and 2009.

The series ‘A Minor Review of 2013’ will look back on some of the major happenings in each MLB organization since the beginning of April as a primer for the upcoming FanGraphs Top 10+5 prospects lists. This series will run throughout September and October. I hope you enjoy the series and are eagerly anticipating the start of ‘Prospect List Season.’

The player listed in the sleeper section was featured in a pre-season series that looked at one fringe prospect in each organization that was expected to take a big step forward during 2013, chosen by myself, a scout or a front office talent evaluator.

Read the rest of this entry »