1) Wily Peralta, RHP, Grade B: Looks like he could be a solid number three starter if his command remains steady. We should see him sometime in 2012.

2) Tyler Thornburg, RHP, Grade B: A year behind Peralta on the development track, should begin 2012 in Double-A, another guy who can be a mid-rotation starter.

3) Taylor Jungmann, HP, Grade B: Grade could go a notch higher once we get some pro data and see how his velocity looks. He should also be a mid-rotation guy at worst.

4) Jed Bradley, LHP, Grade B: As with Jungmann, he could be a B+ once we see how he looks in pro ball. I like both of them.

5) Taylor Green, 3B, Grade B-: I don't expect him to be a star, but he should be a solid contributor, hitting for average with moderate power and acceptable glovework.

6) Jorge Lopez, RHP, Grade B-: Puerto Rican righthander is a big favorite of mine from the 2011 draft. Super-projectable, already throws strikes. Grade could shoot up fast.

7) Scooter Gennett, 2B, Grade B-: Seems to hit .300 in his sleep, but needs to steady down on defense, improve baserunning.

8) Mike Fiers, RHP, Grade B-: Took a lot of people by surprise, but if you read my book last year, you knew about him. Average fastball, but excellent changeup, good breaking ball, good command, knows what he's doing. Older prospect at age 26 but ready to help now, could be like Josh Collmenter.

9) Cody Scarpetta, RHP, Grade B-: Borderline C+. Higher ceiling than Fiers, but still struggling with his command.

10) Logan Schafer, OF, Grade C+: I really love his glove, should hit for a decent average with some steals, excellent fourth outfielder.

11) Santo Manzanillo, RHP, Grade C+: Throws very hard, successful when his command is working, but his track record before 2011 is troublesome and regression always possible.

12) Caleb Gindl, OF, Grade C+: Doesn't look great in uniform, but controls zone well, has some pop, held his own in Double-A at age 22.

13) David Goforth, RHP, Grade C+: Would rank higher on pure velocity, but secondary pitches are still in question. If he refines them, grade could be much higher next year.

14) Nick Bucci, RHP, Grade C+: Continues slow, steady development pace. Possible mid-rotation starter, Double-A transition will tell us a lot.

15) Kentrail Davis, OF, Grade C: Made better use of his speed this year, but otherwise disappointing.


16) Orlando Arcia, SS, Grade C: Not a high profile guy, but played very well in the Dominican Summer League on both offense and defense. Stock will rise quickly if he replicates this.

17) Hunter Morris, 1B, Grade C: Nice power numbers, but poor strike zone judgment stands out as a negative factor for future success.

18) D'Vontrey Richardson, OF, Grade C: Tools guy, Florida State football product, still very raw. Has 70 speed but a sub-.500 stealing success percentage, which is really hard to pull off.

19) Jimmy Nelson, RHP, Grade C: Ate innings and got grounders in Low-A, but command issues are apparent and he was a college guy against younger hitters.

20) Nick Ramirez, 1B, Grade C: Similar to Morris, a first baseman with power but a very low walk rate from a big-time baseball school.

This system isn't as bad as you might expect at first glance, but there is very little depth beyond the top guys. Peralta, Thornburg, Jungmann, and Bradley are a good foundation for a future pitching staff, and Jorge Lopez could end up being the best of the lot if he develops properly. Mike Fiers doesn't have the upside of the others, but is ready now.

Top 15 Prospects: Milwaukee Brewers
by Marc Hulet

1. Taylor Jungmann, RHP
BORN: Dec. 18, 1989
EXPERIENCE: College
ACQUIRED: 2011 1st round (12th overall), U of Texas
2010-11 TOP 10 RANKING: NA

SCOUTING REPORT: Jungmann has the makings of a solid No. 2 or 3 starter at the Major League level if he can improve his secondary pitches: a slider and changeup. The right-hander’s main weapon is a heavy fastball that sits in the low 90s and touches the mid 90s. With a big, strong frame he has the potential to develop into an innings-eater but there is a little effort in his delivery that might need to be smoothed out.

YEAR IN REVIEW: The Texas alum didn’t play pro ball after signing, even though fellow first rounder Jed Bradley pitched in the Arizona Fall League. Jungmann had an impressive season in college, posting a 1.60 ERA in 141 innings of work.

YEAR AHEAD: Jungmann will likely be assigned to high-A ball where he’ll look to improve the command of his secondary offerings. He could reach double-A at some point in 2012.

CAREER OUTLOOK: It won’t be long before Jungmann joins fellow young hurlers Zack Greinke and Yovani Gallardo in the Milwaukee starting rotation. He should secure a permanent spot by 2013 and could have a long career with the Brewers.

2. Tyler Thornburg, RHP
BORN: Sept. 29, 1988
EXPERIENCE: 2 seasons
ACQUIRED: 2010 3rd round, Charleston Southern University
2010-11 TOP 10 RANKING: 9th

SCOUTING REPORT: I was pretty high on Thornburg on last year’s list, ranking him ninth overall after his initial pro effort. His value skyrocketed in 2011, showing that he definitely has what it takes to stick as a starter in pro ball despite his smallish statue. Thornburg has a low-to-mid-90s fastball and a potentially-plus changeup. His curveball is inconsistent but his arm slot is too high to give him the option of switching to a slider. The right-hander’s command and control both need work.

YEAR IN REVIEW: Thornburg split the season between low-A and high-A, dominating the lower level. Opposing batters had difficulties getting good wood on the right-hander; he posted a hit rate of just 6.42 H/9 and a FIP of 2.82 (1.57 ERA). Moved up to high-A, his FIP rose a bit and his walk rate jumped from 3.28 to 4.47 BB/9. His strikeout rate, though, also rose from 9.96 to 11.12 K/9.

YEAR AHEAD: Although he struggled with his control at high-A ball, Thornburg is probably headed to double-A for 2012, unless Milwaukee wants to keep him with 2011 first rounders Taylor Jungmann and Jed Bradley. He’ll pitch at double-A at some point in 2012 and even has an outside shot of reaching the Majors.

CAREER OUTLOOK: Thornburg’s size will always be cause for concern while he’s in the starting rotation but it’s hard to argue with his stuff and results so far. At worst, he should be a solid No. 3 starter capable of providing 180-200 innings a season.

3. Wily Peralta, RHP
BORN: May 8, 1989
EXPERIENCE: 6 seasons
ACQUIRED: 2005 international free agent
2010-11 TOP 10 RANKING: 5th

SCOUTING REPORT: I’m a little more cautious in my ranking of Peralta than some; I’m just not sold on him being anything more than a No. 3 starter (which isn’t a bad thing at all). The right-hander has a 90-95 mph fastball, which is his best pitch, as well as a slider and changeup. He’s made strides in the development of his secondary pitches but neither is a plus pitch. Peralta’s conditioning is a bit of an issue but he should be an innings-eater.

YEAR IN REVIEW: Peralta spent the majority of 2011 in double-A where he posted a 3.53 FIP (3.46 ERA) in 119.2 innings of work. His control is decent but it’s still a little inconsistent. His strikeout rate of 8.80 K/9 was good to see – especially coupled with a solid ground-ball rate. Peralta made five starts in triple-A, as well, and produced very good numbers, including 40 Ks in 31 innings of work.

YEAR AHEAD: There doesn’t appear to be any room at the inn for Peralta, which means a return to triple-A to begin the 2012 season. However, the Brewers starting rotation is a little brittle so the young pitcher should get an opportunity to make his MLB debut sooner rather than later next season.

CAREER OUTLOOK: As mentioned, I see Peralta as more of a reliable, workhorse No. 3 pitcher – who might pitch like a No. 2 starter for a few seasons. The youngster reminds me a little bit of Bartolo Colon.

4. Jed Bradley, LHP
BORN: June 12, 1990
EXPERIENCE: Arizona Fall League
ACQUIRED: 2011 1st round (15th overall), Georgia Tech
2010-11 TOP 10 RANKING: NA

SCOUTING REPORT: Bradley is a solid pitcher but doesn’t have the same ceiling as some of the other pitchers on this list. He has a solid fastball that ranges from 88-93 mph and occasionally touches 95 mph. His slider is his second-best pitch, while his changeup needs some fine tuning. Bradley is still a work in progress and he improved significantly in each of his three seasons at Georgia Tech, lowering his ERA from 6.65 to 4.83 to 3.49.

YEAR IN REVIEW: Unlike Taylor Jungmann, Bradley did not surpass the 100-inning mark in 2011 during the college season so Milwaukee sent him to the Arizona Fall League for his pro debut. He scuffled, though, allowing nine hits and four walks in 8.1 innings.

YEAR AHEAD: Even though he stumbled a bit in his debut, Bradley is likely ticketed for high-A to pitch with Jungmann (and possibly Thornburg). His control is a head of his command right now so he’ll look to work on that in 2012.

CAREER OUTLOOK: Bradley has a more modest ceiling than his draft mate and looks like a potential No. 3 or 4 starter. He has an excellent pitcher’s frame and should provide plenty of innings once he sharpens up his secondary pitches.

5. Taylor Green, 3B
BORN: Nov. 2, 1986
EXPERIENCE: 6 seasons
ACQUIRED: 2005 25th round, California community college
2010-11 TOP 10 RANKING: Off

SCOUTING REPORT: Green has worked his butt off to get to where he is today. A former low ranked draft pick, the infielder was almost traded to Cleveland in the C.C. Sabathia deal although the Indians ultimately chose outfielder Michael Brantley instead. Green also stagnated in double-A for parts of three seasons before jump-starting his bat again in 2011. He doesn’t have a huge ceiling – especially for a natural third baseman – and there is no clear path to playing time in Milwaukee with the recent acquisition of Aramis Ramirez.

YEAR IN REVIEW: Green found the Pacific Coast League to his liking in 2011. He hit a career high .336 and also posted career best power numbers (22 homers, .248 ISO). The British Columbia native also has a good eye at the plate, having struck out less than 20% throughout his career while maintaining +10% walk rates. A left-handed hitter, Green holds his own against southpaws but performed much better against right-handers in 2011 (.741 vs 1.078 OPS).

YEAR AHEAD: Green should be done riding the buses. He’s proven himself and is deserving of a big league role. As it stands now Green’s best hope for playing time in 2012 is to out-perform fellow youngster Mat Gamel for playing time at first base, assuming Prince Fielder is not re-signed (which is looking extremely unlikely) or another veteran first baseman is not brought in.

CAREER OUTLOOK: In the future, Green will likely end up as a solid utility player and pinch hitter. He doesn’t have the power that teams look for in corner infielders but he does a lot of other things well and is similar to former Kansas City Royal Joe Randa.

6. Scooter Gennett, 2B
BORN: May 1, 1990
EXPERIENCE: 2 seasons
ACQUIRED: 2009 16th round, Florida HS
2010-11 TOP 10 RANKING: Off

SCOUTING REPORT: As time passes, and after leaving the second baseman off Milwaukee’s list last year, I’m warming up to Gennett. He has shown the ability to consistently hit for average thanks to a solid swing at the plate. He’s overly aggressive, though, and doesn’t hit for much power or steal many bases so he doesn’t have a lot of offensive weapons. On defense he’s currently ranked as a below-average fielder, although there is a general feeling that he should develop into an average second baseman.

YEAR IN REVIEW: Gennett just missed hitting .300 in 2011. He also struck out 11.5% of the time, showing excellent bat control – but the walk rate of 4.5% is disappointing. He also needs to work on his approach against southpaws. After the regular season Gennett headed to the Arizona Fall League where he caught fire, hitting .411 with seven doubles in 90 at-bats.

YEAR AHEAD: The infielder should move up to double-A in 2012 and it will be interesting to see if he’s over-powered by better pitching or is able to adapt. He has an outside shot of playing in the Majors later on in 2012 but there is no rush with Rickie Weeks entrenched at the keystone.

CAREER OUTLOOK: Gennett has the potential to be an average second baseman at the MLB level. Aside from his ability to make contact and hit for average he doesn’t really offer anything that suggests future stardom. He could be a solid No. 2 hitter in the lineup where his ability to make contact would be extremely valuable.

7. Jimmy Nelson, RHP
BORN: June 5, 1989
EXPERIENCE: 2 seasons
ACQUIRED: 2010 2nd round, University of Alabama
2010-11 TOP 10 RANKING: 8th

SCOUTING REPORT: Nelson is a big, strong pitcher who profiles best as an innings-eater starter with the ceiling of a No. 3 starter. He has a low-to-mid-90s fastball that can touch 96-97 mph and a potentially-plus slider. His changeup is still in the ‘development’ stages. He induces a ton of ground-ball outs. If he cannot improve the command of his secondary pitches, Nelson could develop into a eighth-inning guy.

YEAR IN REVIEW: Nelson spent the year in low-A ball learning to take the ball every fifth day. He made significant strides by the end of the season, as witnessed by his ERA splits (5.20 in the first half, 3.76 in the second half).

YEAR AHEAD: The right-hander will move up to high-A in 2012 and, if all goes well, he should reach double-A before the year is out. He succeeded against left-handed hitters in 2011 but he’ll need the changeup to improve if he’s going to have a consistent weapon against them as he moves up the chain.

CAREER OUTLOOK: Nelson’s future hinges on his secondary pitches. He has the body and the fastball to succeed as an innings-eater in the starting rotation but he needs a weapon against good left-handers and he needs the slider to become more consistent against the right-handers. Still just 22, youth is on his side.

8. Jorge Lopez, RHP
BORN: Feb. 10, 1993
EXPERIENCE: 1 season
ACQUIRED: 2011 2nd round, Puerto Rico HS
2010-11 TOP 10 RANKING: NA

SCOUTING REPORT: A high draft pick out of Puerto Rico, Lopez is fairly new to pitching so he’s a project. The right-hander has a solid pitcher’s frame and has room to fill out, which could help his 88-93 mph fastball get even better. His best pitch could eventually be his curveball, which already flashes plus potential. Lopez’ changeup is in the nascent stage. Also he struggles with consistency, there are signs that he could develop above-average control.

YEAR IN REVIEW: The former second round draft pick made just four appearances after signing but he pitched well. He showed decent control but struggled with his command – especially within the strike zone.

YEAR AHEAD: Lopez will turn 19 in February so Milwaukee will be cautious with him. He’ll likely open 2012 in extended spring training with an assignment to a rookie level club in June.

CAREER OUTLOOK: The pitcher has the ceiling of a No. 3 starter but he’s four to five years away from the Majors at this point. Because he has a strong athletic background, I fully expect Lopez to master a changeup in due time.

9. Caleb Gindl, OF
BORN: Aug. 31, 1988
EXPERIENCE: 5 seasons
ACQUIRED: 2007 5th round, Florida HS
2010-11 TOP 10 RANKING: 10th

SCOUTING REPORT: Gindl bounced around the Top 15 list before I finally settled on the ninth hole for him. He’s produced outstanding offensive numbers in his pro career but he looses value because of his size (5’9”) and the fact that he plays a corner outfield spot that requires above-average power to be an everyday player on a first division club. Gindl plays his heart out but he’s a No. 4 outfielder with average defensive tools but slightly-below-average range in center field.

YEAR IN REVIEW: Gindl hit .307 at triple-A in 2011, while also showing good gap power and the ability to get on base consistently (.390 OBP, 11.7 BB%). He’s not hopeless against southpaws but the left-handed batter should mostly face right-handers at the MLB level.

YEAR AHEAD: The diminutive outfielder has hit everywhere that he’s played and he really has nothing left the prove at the minor league level. Gindl has a good shot at breaking camp with the Brewers, unless the club ultimately signs Japanese veteran outfielder Norichika Aoki, for whom they recently won the rights to negotiate with. Gindl could play somewhat regularly if Ryan Braun misses the first 50 games of the season.

CAREER OUTLOOK: As mentioned, Gindl will likely top out as a No. 4 starter, although he could spend a few seasons playing everyday for a second division club. He has the skill set and apparent drive to have an extended career as a part-time player.

10. Hunter Morris, 1B
BORN: Oct. 7, 1988
EXPERIENCE: 2 seasons
ACQUIRED: 2010 4th round, Auburn University
2010-11 TOP 10 RANKING: 7th

SCOUTING REPORT: Morris has been on the prospect landscape for quite some time, even though he just turned pro two years ago. He made what may have been an ill-advised choice to walk away from the Red Sox for Auburn University after being drafted in the second round out of high school. His bat didn’t develop as much as hoped and he ended up going to the Brewers as a fourth rounder after his junior season of college. Morris could develop into an average first baseman, although he’s too aggressive at the plate and his power output will likely top out in the 15-20 home run range.

YEAR IN REVIEW: Morris spent the majority of 2011 in high-A ball but he received a brief mid-season taste of double-A while on temporary assignment. He hit .271 in high-A but his on-base percentage of .299 left a lot to be desired. The left-handed batter actually hit better against southpaws than right-handers but that might have been a small-sample-size aberration (.841 vs .731 OPS).

YEAR AHEAD: Morris should spend much of 2012 in double-A but first base in Milwaukee is suddenly unoccupied. He’ll never threaten to fully replace Prince Fielder, but Morris could keep the spot warm for a few seasons until the Brewers find another offensive star for the position.

CAREER OUTLOOK: The first baseman may get stuck as a quad-A hitter if he cannot tone down his aggressiveness at the plate. He needs to get on base on a decent clip because he doesn’t have a ton of power and his defensive value is close to zero.

UWbrewball wrote:Braddock placed on temporary inactive list
By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com

Promising Brewers left-hander Zach Braddock is back on Triple-A Nashville's temporary inactive list, where he spent the second half of last season while receiving treatment for personal issues.

Braddock, a key piece of the Brewers' bullpen as a 22-year-old in 2010, did not appear in any of Nashville's first seven games and is not currently with the team, Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash said.

Beyond that, "I can't discuss it," Ash said.

Braddock, now 24, posted a 7.27 ERA in 25 appearances last season and spent time on the Brewers' disabled list while being treated for a sleep disorder. He returned to the team in June but was demoted to Nashville following a four-run outing against the Rockies on July 14 and didn't throw another pitch.

After a spotty Spring Training in which he threw with diminished velocity, the Brewers optioned Braddock back to Triple-A last month and discussed using him as a starter in an effort to build arm strength. That plan never came to fruition.

http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/a ... l&c_id=mil

shirt wrote:I'm going to keep my eye on both of those guys!

The Brewers have placed some of their top pitching prospects at high Class A Brevard County and the early returns have been impressive.

The Manatees tossed their second consecutive shutout Tuesday night and have a string of 22 consecutive scoreless innings. The staff ERA is 1.87, including a 1.16 ERA by the starting rotation

Left-hander Jed Bradley, a first-round draft pick in 2011 out of Georgia Tech, tossed six scoreless innings against Lakeland and has yet to allow an earned run in three starts, covering 19 innings. He is 2-1 and has allowed only three walks while striking out 18 in 19 innings.

Right-hander Taylor Jungmann, the Brewers other first-rounder in 2011 out of University of Texas, is 2-1 with a 3.06 ERA through starts covering 17 2/3 innings.

Right-hander Jimmy Nelson, a second-round pick in 2010 out of Alabama, is 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA through three starts and has struck out 21 hitters in 17 innings.

Righty Austin Ross, an eighth-rounder in 2010 out of LSU, is 0-0 with a 0.90 ERA through two starts, allowing just one run in 10 innings.

Looks like this staff is going to be one to keep an eye on for Brewers fans wondering about the future of pitching in the organization. And Tyler Thornburg has been tearing it up at Class AA Huntsville, taking a perfect game into the eighth inning in his most recent start.

Prospect Scouting Notebook: Nelson, Heckathorn, Jungmann
By J.P. Breen

RHP Jimmy Nelson

Aside from Tyler Thornburg, the most glowing scouting reports this spring have been attached to the big right-hander out of the University of Alabama. Nelson is now throwing 94-96 MPH with his fastball, which has serious sink, and maintains his velocity well. One report I received had Nelson still hitting 94 MPH in the eighth inning during one of his better starts this spring.

His overall repertoire features the fastball mentioned above, as well as a mid-80s slider that has true two-plane break and serves as his knock-out pitch. He can spot it for strikes and get both lefties to swing-and-miss. Nelson also throws a changeup. This spring, he talked about his changeup becoming his second-best offering and how much it has progressed, but he has not featured his changeup as much as expected this season. Still, it is a decent third pitch he can feature during his second or third time through a batting order to keep batters off-balance.

I am huge on Jimmy Nelson right now. Hopefully, we get to see Nelson make the jump to Double-A this summer and continue his success. If he does that, Nelson could be a Top 5 prospect within the system next year.

2B Scooter Gennett

Milwaukee does not have too many position players worth following, though Gennett is certainly a notable exception. The minuscule second baseman has always fought off questions about his height. Scouts and talent evaluators have never questioned his hit tool, though, and one scout told me this spring that Gennett was one of the most impressive hitters he saw in Arizona. He will not feature plus-power or walk a ton, but he barrels everything at the plate. An adjustment last season has rocketed him up the scouting boards.

Don’t worry about the .273 batting average. That will climb this summer. The 22-year-old is simply navigating through a tough stretch at the plate. Things will turn around.

All of the value as a prospect does lie in the batting average, though. The power does not project to be much at the big league level. The defense is shaky. The on-base percentage will be heavily dependent on the batting average, as he does not walk much. His prospect value is thus limited, but you have to love prospects with a standout tool, especially a true plus hit tool.

RHP Kyle Heckathorn

Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus receives much of his prospect information straight from scouts and big league executives. He recently said of Heckathorn:

“His stuff plays up due to some deception from his long levers and his durable frame is built to eat innings. There’s no star potential, but he’s very much starting to look like a usable big league arm down the road.”

This is precisely where expectations stood when the Brewers drafted him in the supplemental first round in the 2009 Draft. Nobody expected a superstar. Scouts believed the organization was drafting a workhorse arm that had a chance to be a mid-rotation starter or a back-end reliever. The adjustment period appears to have taken a bit longer than previously expected, but Heckathorn has begun to figure out how to pitch to professional hitters and has regained his value as a prospect.

RHP Tyler Thornburg

Thornburg is atop the Southern League leaderboards in almost every pitching category. He impressed the organization this spring and carried over his success into the regular season. Some fans had their feathers ruffled when Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus quoted a scout as saying that he is rather “unathletic” and still may not be a starter long-term.

That evaluation has nothing to do with his stuff or his command. It has everything to do with his delivery and the sustainability of that delivery for 150+ innings per year. Keep in mind, it’s one thing to repeat that delivery at 22 or 23, when your body can handle a lot of strain and bounces back extremely well. It’s another thing entirely to maintain a stressful delivery at 30 or 31.

With that said, I am becoming more and more comfortable with the idea of Thornburg starting. One scout I ran into this spring told me that the concerns about Thornburg starting were far overblown. I also know that the organization absolutely views him as a future piece of the rotation. At the very least, he has earned every right to fail as a starter before being moved permanently to the bullpen.

LHP Jed Bradley

The left-hander started his season brilliantly, throwing 19 innings before giving up his first earned run of his professional career. His most recent starts have not been as smooth, but he has more than held his own in the Florida State League.

Reports of his velocity only sitting 88-91 MPH in some starts has been concerning. This spring saw him at 91-92 MPH and he touched 93 multiple times, but even that is lower than what he was hitting last fall in instructionals. Expect the velocity to improve throughout the summer months, though.

OF Caleb Gindl

Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com spoke to a scout about Gindl, who said:

“This kid is going to hit. He’s more athletic than people give him credit for. He’s a good outfielder with a plus arm.”

That is one of the more glowing scouting reports I have ever read regarding Gindl. Most see him as a fourth outfielder due to his relegation to a corner outfield spot and his fringe power. He showed a solid hit tool this spring, though.

Having seen Gindl multiple times, I am not exactly sure where the “good outfielder” part comes from. He does feature a big arm, but the instincts and routes are not very good in right field. Multiple scouts have reiterated that to me. Granted that was over the past two years, so perhaps Gindl improved enough this spring to garner the report from the scout above, who obviously knows much more than me.

RHP Taylor Jungmann

Although Jungmann has not lit the Florida State League on fire, his performance has been steady and effective. His fastball velocity has again been a little underwhelming at 90-92 MPH, even 88-89 at times, though he is reportedly working with more movement on his fastball than he did in college. He also features a curveball and changeup that can be thrown for strikes on a consistent bases.

Jungmann is exactly what we thought he would be.

RHP Hiram Burgos

One of the more pleasant surprises this spring has been Burgos. The right-hander currently has an ERA of 0.87 and a 41-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has overwhelmed opposing hitters by mixing speeds, throwing strikes, and throwing four or five legitimate pitches. His fastball velocity has reportedly sat 90-91 MPH in recent starts, though I hear that his slider has been quite good this spring.

We must be skeptical of players making repeat performances at levels — especially of a 24-year-old in High-A ball — but the early results are promising. He throws strikes and is extremely competitive on the mound. Look for the organization to push him to Double-A if he continues his success throughout the remainder of the month of May.

1B Hunter Morris

The former Auburn Tiger has pounded out doubles in the Southern League this year, hitting 16 doubles en route to a .303 batting average. His walk rate has improved a bit, as he has drawn eight walks in his first 35 games. He only had 18 walks all of last year.

Still, his value is somewhat limited. The extreme raw power is obvious, but approach issues and a lack of on-base skills could keep him from making a big league roster down the road. A couple of minor league talent evaluators have gone on record this spring stating that they are not huge Hunter Morris fans. Still, as stated before, you have to love standout tools from prospects, and Morris certainly has shown legitimate raw power over the past year.