Prospect Watch: NL East Prospects

by
May 19, 2014

Each weekday during the minor-league season, FanGraphs is providing a status update on multiple rookie-eligible players. This particular Prospect Watch feature will focus on prospect notes from around the minors — focusing on both top prospects and sleepers.

National League East

Atlanta Braves

  • Panama native Johan Camargo placed ninth of the Braves pre-season prospects ranking at FanGraphs but he got off to a slow start to the year with a .409 OPS in April. In May, though, the 20-year-old shortstop is hitting .262/.333/.333 (.667 OPS) through 14 games.

  • One level higher, another talented shortstop — Jose Peraza — is hitting .313 with 20 stolen bases in 25 attempts. The development of this 20-year-old Venezuelan (who entered the year ranked as the third best prospect in the system) will ensure that the organization can be patient with Camargo.
  • The club will face a tough decision with both Peraza and Camargo — as well as at least seven more prospects that will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft this coming December, unless they’re added to the 40-man roster by the November deadline. Other names that need protecting include right-handed pitchers Mauricio Cabrera (ranked 4th in the system), J.R. Graham (5th), and Cody Martin (15th), as well as infielder Tommy La Stella (8th) and outfielder Matt Lipka (NR).

    Miami Marlins

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  • Anthony DeSclafani — ranked as the Marlins’ sixth best prospect entering the season — was the first pitching prospect to feel the effects of the Jose Fernandez injury. The former University of Florida reliever made a successful transition to starting in pro ball after being selected in the sixth round of the 2011 amateur draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. The 24-year-old pitcher was acquired by The Fish in the Jose Reyes/Mark Buerhle deal that also saw breakout pitcher Henderson Alvarez relocate to Miami.

  • DeSclafani’s continued development could make him more valuable in the long run than the more highly-touted Justin Nicolino, who entered the year ranked third in the system and has plateaued in Double-A. The 22-year-old southpaw has continued to throw up excellent control numbers (1.45 BB/9) but his strikeout rate continues to dwindle: 8.61 K/9 in 2012, 6.05 in ’13. 3.95 in ’14. Nicolino is fighting for a post-season spot on the 40-man roster.
  • Andrew Heaney is widely regarded as the best pitching prospect in Miami’s system and he was pitching along side both DeSclafani and Nicolino in Double-A. The Oklahoma State alum’s statistics have actually been the best of the trio but the business side of things may have played a small part in the lack of a promotion. DeSclafani was due to be added to the 40-man roster by November (to protect from the Rule 5 draft) and but Heaney is safe until after the 2015 season. Still, if The Fish remain in the playoff hunt in the second half of the year and the lefty is still throwing well, the organization may have no choice but to add him early.

    New York Mets

  • The Mets organization has gone from having so-so catching depth to solid depth in just two years. Despite his early struggles, the club has one of the more talented up-and-coming backstops in Travis d’Arnaud (acquired from Toronto in the R.A. Dickey deal) at the big league level. His offensive woes are somewhat worrisome but he’s hit at every level he’s played. If he does end up needing a little more minor league seasoning, he has one more minor league option remaining. If it’s used in 2014, though, he’ll have to stick in the Majors in 2015 or be passed through waivers to go back to the minors. He’s currently backed up by offensive-minded slugger Anthony Recker.

  • Defensive whiz Juan Centeno, just 24, isn’t embarrassing himself with the bat in Triple-A (.686 OPS, 9/13 K/BB in 21 games), but he’s probably worthy of a five to 10 year big league career on his glove alone. He also has some added value because he swings from the left side of the plate. The Puerto Rico native’s development in the last few years has been nothing short of impressive after originally signing as a 32nd round draft pick way back in 2007.
  • Kevin Plawecki, ranked as the sixth best prospect in the Mets system, continues to hit exceptionally well as a pro. Selected 35th overall in the 2012 amateur draft out of Purdue University, the right-handed hitting catcher currently sports a triple-slash line of .316/.349/.418 in 25 games at the Double-A level. His defense also continues to improve and he’s doing a solid job of controlling the running game with a 34% caught-stealing rate. He’s not due to be added to the 40-man roster until after the 2015 season but the 23-year-old catcher could be ready for The Show by the end of the year or early next season.

    Philadelphia Phillies

  • With serious injuries to prospects such as Adam Morgan and Shane Watson, as well as a disappointing season from Severino Gonzalez, Jesse Biddle is one of the few bright spots on the mound. But his season hasn’t been without frustrations. After walking just seven batters in his first five starts (28.1 innings), the lefty has now issued 15 free passes in his last four appearances (22.0 innings). With Cliff Lee possibly heading elsewhere at the trade deadline, Biddle may be the beneficiary of the move — assuming he can find a little more consistency with his control. The Philadelphia native is due to be aded to the 40-man roster by November of this year, anyway.

  • Shortstop J.P. Crawford continues to display a more advanced bat than expected. The 16th overall selection from the 2013 amateur draft, he’s hitting .328 with a .902 OPS in 34 games. He also has an impressive 20/21 BB/K rate. Crawford has also impressed in the field, although he’s made a few youthful miscues. Phillies incumbent shortstop Jimmy Rollins is having a respectable season at the age of 35 and has an $11-million option for the 2015 season. Crawford likely won’t be ready for the Majors until mid to late 2016 — assuming he continues on this advanced development path — so picking up the veteran’s option might make some sense.

    Washington Nationals

  • The Nationals acquired two intriguing prospects during the off-season during the deal that sent pitching prospect Nate Karns to Tampa Bay and also saw catcher Jose Lobaton relocate to Washington. Unfortunately, both of the B-level prospects have struggled in their new surroundings. Felipe Rivero, a 22-year-old southpaw in Double-A, has struggled with his command and against right-handed batters. Lefties are hitting just .133 against him with righties are swatting him around to the tune of a .344 batting average. Outfielder Drew Vettleson, 22, appeared in just nine games at Double-A before hitting the disabled list. The left-handed hitter enjoyed his time at home (in a small sample size) with his three hits going for a triple and two home runs. He suffered a broken hand after he was hit by a pitch from Phillies prospect Jesse Biddle and should be out until late May or early June.

  • Prized pitching prospect Lucas Giolito continues to rebound exceptionally well from Tommy John surgery. Selected 16th overall in the 2012 amateur draft, he made just one pro appearance before going under the knife. The 19-year-old hurler returned for 11 appearances in 2013 and has looked even stronger in ’14. The right-hander his showing eye-popping stuff, including an upper-90s heater and is also inducing a ton of ground-ball outs to go with 36 strikeouts in 32.1 innings.





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    Marc Hulet has been writing at FanGraphs since 2008. His work focuses on prospects and fantasy. Follow him on Twitter @marchulet.

    21 Comments
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    LaLoosh
    11 years ago

    People continue to over rate D’Arnaud. Maybe he’s not 100% healthy. If he is, he looks pretty far from being a plus ML hitter. He looks very overmatched at the plate.

    Carry on.

    -3
    Definitely
    11 years ago
    Reply to  LaLoosh

    You’re right. Who would want a young catcher with a 9.5% walk rate, 18% K rate and 120ISO. 16% LD rate giving him a .218BABIP but yeah he’s not unlucky, he’s just overmatched.

    3
    LaLoosh
    11 years ago
    Reply to  Definitely

    I don’t know what this post purports to say about TdA. I didn’t say he isn’t due some correction and better results. I am clearly saying that reports of him being an elite catcher (4 straight years as BA top 50 prospect) overstated his potential as a player. He has no standout tool/skill. He can an average ML catcher but probably not more.

    -1
    Za
    11 years ago
    Reply to  LaLoosh

    Based on what, exactly? Catchers take plenty of time to develop. It’s pretty hard to say that right now, a few weeks into his Major League career, that he’ll never be an above average offensive catcher. Yadier Molina wasn’t above average offensively until his 6th (5th full) season.

    Moreover, TdA seems to be a) above-average defensively and b) is already an improvement over every single catcher that the Mets have had over the past several years.

    Moving forward, the offensive bar for catchers isn’t very high and it still seems perfectly reasonable for TdA to hit for an .800+ OPS in the not-too-distant future – which would immediately make him one of the stronger offensive catchers in baseball.

    0
    Kenz
    11 years ago
    Reply to  LaLoosh

    I’d be patient with d’Arnaud. The prospect hype and poor offesnive performance at the outset of his ML career remind me exactly of Devin Mesoraco. Catcher development is always erratic, unless you’re an MVP like Buster Posey.

    2
    LaLoosh
    11 years ago
    Reply to  Kenz

    D’Arnaud will be nowhere near the hitter that Mesoraco can be. He simply doesn’t have that kind of power.

    -2
    Josh
    11 years ago
    Reply to  LaLoosh

    .230+ ISO at every stop since 2011 and even before that .150+. You seem to be a D’Arnaud hater with nothing to back it up.

    1
    LaLoosh
    11 years ago
    Reply to  LaLoosh

    what?! hater?? oh please. I’ve seen him play. Let’s leave it at that. And be careful about any analysis that includes vegas results…

    -1
    Josh
    11 years ago
    Reply to  LaLoosh

    Won’t disagree about Vegas but he also had a .230 ISO in AA.

    0
    LaLoosh
    11 years ago
    Reply to  LaLoosh

    yes. he had one very good non-vegas year in the minors or two if you want to add 2008 which was about 100 yrs ago. Look, multiple injuries may have taken a toll on him. I don’t know. All I know is that he looks very overmatched at the plate and even when he hits something squarely, it’s about 340 foot power.

    I don’t think he’s a lost cause bc as someone said his underlying numbers suggest a correction. But even corrected, he’s not an impact hitter. I think we’re looking at a Kurt Suzuki kind of guy (and I know he’s having a very good year now), not more.

    -1
    Za
    11 years ago
    Reply to  LaLoosh

    Funny you mention Mesoraco as a comp – a player who hit very poorly in his first FOUR stints in the Major Leagues. Go look at Mesoraco’s MLB stats before this year. Now look at d’Arnaud’s, and figure out why you can’t use Mesoraco as a comp for what d’Arnaud won’t be. Also look at d’Arnaud’s superior minor league homer rate while you’re at it.

    0
    LaLoosh
    11 years ago
    Reply to  Kenz

    Mesoraco just didn’t get the playing time. That isn’t an issue the issue for D’Arnaud.

    -2
    Kenz
    11 years ago
    Reply to  LaLoosh

    Of course the minor league track record is better for Mesoraco in terms of power potential. But he did play in parts of 3 seasons in the bigs, including over 100 games last year, exhibiting solid walk/strikeout rates and low BABIPs. Not like his current tear is going to last forever, but Mesoraco is finally living up to the hype regardless.

    Also, d’Arnaud was never rated as highly as Mesoraco ever was; his status as a BA top-50 prospect has more to do with his position than any standout tools. Though I have to say, his pitch framing skills are fairly promising.

    0
    Za
    11 years ago
    Reply to  LaLoosh

    Mesoraco played over 100 games last year with a 74 wRC+ and a .124 ISO, so let’s drop the playing time argument. The wRC+ and ISO are pretty close to what d’Arnaud has done this year – 69 and .118 respectively. How about let’s let d’Arnaud play the rest of this year because in all likelihood, he’ll put up better numbers this year than Mesoraco did last year.

    0
    LaLoosh
    11 years ago
    Reply to  LaLoosh

    have you seen D’Arnaud play or are you just repeating what scouting reports have said for the past few years…? because they’re never wrong…

    -1
    LaLoosh
    11 years ago
    Reply to  LaLoosh

    you’re saying that TdA is going to be as good as Mesoraco?? Do I have that right?

    -1