MLB Dirt

Yesterday I posted my article on the National League teams and today we have the American League. I have taken the projected breakout and sleeper prospects for each team from the 2011 Baseball America Prospect Handbook and looked back on how each of those players did in the 2011 season.

Baltimore Orioles:

Breakout: Parker Bridwell—20 years old, right-handed, starting pitcher. 5.26 ERA, 8.4 K/9, 4.2 BB/9 in 75.1 innings between Low A and High A. Performance was much better than appears. FIP sat around 3 at both levels.

Sleeper: Cameron Coffey—21 years old, left-handed, starting pitcher. 2.21 ERA, 6.4 K/9, 2.0 BB/9 in 36.2 innings at rookie level.

Boston Red Sox:

Breakout: Xander Bogaerts—19 years old, right-handed, shortstop. Hit .260/.324/.509 with 16 homeruns and 45 RBI in 296 plate appearances at rookie ball but a majority at Class A. Ranked as Jonathan Mitchell’s top Red Sox prospect.

Sleeper: Henry Ramos—19 years old, switch-hitting, outfielder. Hit .262/.299/.383 with 5 homeruns, 15 stolen bases, and 43 RBI in 332 plate appearances for High A. Scouts report he “flashes” five-tool talent.

Chicago White Sox:

Breakout: Mike Blanke—23 years old, right-handed, catcher. Hit .246/.306/./371 with 9 homeruns and 43 RBI in 450 plate appearances. Big build at 6’4” 220lb.

Sleeper: Drew Lee—23 years old, switch-hitting, middle infielder. Hit .272/.313/.391 with 5 homeruns, 36 RBI, 4.9 BB% and 22.6% in 350 plate appearances at Class A.

Cleveland Indians:

Breakout: Luigi Rodriguez—19 years old, switch hitting, outfielder. Hit .304/.356/.423 with 3 homeruns, and 19 stolen bases in 227 plate appearances between rookie level and Class A. Ranked 5^th on Jonathan Mitchell’s top Indian’s prospects.

Sleeper: Austin Adams—25 years old, right-handed, starting pitcher. The converted shortstop spent all of 2011 at AA. Had a 3.77 ERA, 8.7 K/9, 4.2 BB/9, and a 3.35 FIP in 136.0 innings pitched.

Detroit Tigers:

Breakout: Bruce Rondon—21 years old, right-handed, relief pitcher. 2.02 ERA with a 13.7 K/9 but a 7.6 BB/9 in 40.0 innings at Class A. Needs to work on control but could be on fast track to the bigs with a plus fastball.

Sleeper: Javier Azcona—20 years old, right-handed, second baseman. Hit .232/.279/.411 with 6 homeruns, 30 RBI, 5 stolen bases in 190 plate appearances between Low A and High A. Very raw still and can play all around the infield.

Kansas City Royals:

Breakout: Yordano Ventura—20 years old, right-handed, starting pitcher. 4.27 ERA, 3.38 FIP, 9.39 K/9, 2.56 BB/9 in 84.1 innings pitched at class A.

Sleeper: Kevin Chapman—23 years old, left-handed, relief pitcher. 4.94 ERA, 13.1 K/9, 4.1 BB/9 in 62.0 innings pitched between High A and Double A. Good fastball/slider combo which could help him develop into a setup man or closer.

Los Angeles Angels:

Breakout: Daniel Tillman—22 years old, right-handed, reliever. 2.30 ERA, 9.4 K/9, 4.1 BB/9 and a 1.265 in 74.1 innings pitched between Low A and High A.

Sleeper: Jeremy Cruz—24 years old, right-handed, corner infielder/outfielder. Hit .261/.324/.391 with 9 homeruns, 55 RBI, 10 stolen bases in 495 plate appearances at Class A.

Minnesota Twins:

Breakout: Eddie Rosario—20 years old, bats left-handed, center fielder. Hit .337/.397/.670 with 21 homeruns, 60 RBI, and 17 stolen bases in 270 plate appearances for rookie level. One of the best breakout prospect picks.

Sleeper: (Justin) Dallas Gallant—22 years old, right-handed, reliever. Had a 1.98 ERA, 9.9 K/9, and 3.3 BB/9 in 13.2 innings pitched for rookie level.

New York Yankees:

Breakout: Brett Marshall—21 years old, right-handed, starting pitcher. First full season after Tommy John Surgery. Had a 3.78 ERA, 3.24 FIP, 7.3 K/9, 3.1 BB/9 in 140.1 innings pitched. Fastball up to 97 MPH.

Sleeper: Ramon Flores—19 years old, left-handed, first base/outfield. Hit .265/.353/.400 with 11 homeruns, 59 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 534 plate appearances for Class A.

Oakland Athletics:

Breakout: Jonathan Joseph—23 years old, right-handed, starting pitcher. Had a 5.67 ERA, 8.1 K/9, and 3.4 BB/9 in 81.0 innings pitched for High A.

Sleeper: Omar Duran—21 years old, left-handed, relief pitcher. Had a 2.16 ERA, 1.140 WHIP, 8.1 K/9, and 4.6 BB/9 in 33.1 innings between Low A and High A.

Seattle Mariners:

Breakout: Ramon Morla—22 years old, right-handed, third baseman. Numbers were down in 2011. Hit .229/.282/.333 with 4 homeruns, 29 RBI, and 16 stolen bases in 327 plate appearances between rookie level, Low A, and High A. He spent very little time at rookie level.

Sleeper: Stephen Landazuri—19 years old, right-handed, starting pitcher. Had a 4.35 ERA, 3.60 FIP, 8.96 K/9 and 3.61 BB/9 in 72.1 innings pitched for Low A.

Tampa Bay Rays:

Breakout: Kevin Kiermaier—21 years old, left-handed hitting, center fielder. Hit .241/.316/.338 with 4 homeruns, 39 RBI, and 27 stolen bases in 459 plate appearances for Class A.

Sleeper: Isaias Velasquez—23 years old, right-handed, center fielder. Hit .254/.328/.413 with 2 homeruns, 25 RBI, and 5 stolen bases in 241 plate appearances which were almost all at AA.

Texas Rangers:

Breakout: David Perez—19 years old, right-handed, starting pitcher. I was a huge fan of him entering the year. Had an 8.60 ERA, 4.88 FIP, 12.76 K/9, and an 8.60 BB/9 in 30.1 innings for Low A. Still very young and raw but huge ceiling.

Sleeper: Hanser Alberto—19 years old, right-handed, shortstop.  Hit .267/.308/.321 with 0 homeruns, 16 RBI, and 7 stolen bases in 202 plate appearances for Low A.

Toronto Blue Jays:

Breakout: Kellen Sweeney—20 years old, left-handed hitting, third baseman.  Hit .114/.295/.143 in only 35 plate appearances at rookie level.

Sleeper: A.J. Jimenez—21 years old, right-handed, catcher. Great pick here, he hit .303/.353/.417 with 4 homeruns, 52 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 422 plate appearances for High A. Has always had great defense but bat appears to be developing.

Filed under: Digging Deep - Analysis, On the Farm - Prospects Tagged: | A.J. Jiminez, Austin Adams, Brett Marshall, Bruce Rondon, Cameron Coffey, Dallas Gallant, Daniel Tillman, David Perez, Dree Lee, Eddie Rosario, Hanser Alberto, Henry Ramos, Isaias Velasquez, Javier Azcona, Jeremy Cruz, Jonathan Joseph, Kellen Sweeney, Kevin Chapman, Kevin Kiermaier, Luigi Rod, Mike Blanke, Omar Duran, Parker Bridwell, Prospects, Ramon Flores, Ramon Morla, Stephen Landazuri, Xander Bogaerts, Yordano Ventura