Top Prospect Recap; 21-25. Taillon Leads

July 8, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; USA pitcher

throws a pitch during the 2012 All Star Futures Game at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

We continue our recap of our preseason top 115 with numbers 21 through 25. 

#25 – Bubba Starling, outfielder, Kansas City Royals

Height/Weight: 6’4″, 180

Born: August 3, 1992 (age 21)

2012 Stats (with Class A Burlington): .241/.329/.398, 13 HR, 63 RBI, 22 SB, 53 BB, 128 SO, 125 G (498 PA)

Heading into 2013… Arguably the most talented player from the 2011 draft, Starling has enourmous potential but was incredibly unpolished and still years away from the big leagues.

Now that the 2013 season is over… Starling’s raw skills have still not translated onto the field as he struggled as a 20 year old in A ball. He has the potential for .380 OBP and 40 home runs, but he only hit 13 home runs last year, while getting on base at a .329 clip. Bubba did, however, play an outstanding center field, showcasing the outstanding arm and speed he’s had since draft day, 2011.

Looking ahead….The Royals will almost certainly have Bubba repeat A ball next year and hope that his tools finally yield statistical results. Quite frankly, they’re too good not too.

#24 – Billy Hamilton, Centerfield, Cincinnati Reds

Height/Weight: 6’1″, 160

Born: September 9, 1990 (age 23)

2013 Stats (Triple-A Louisville): .256/.308/.343, 6 HR, 41 RBI, 75 SB, 38 BB, 102 SO, 123 G (547 PA)

Heading into 2013… The speedster had just made national headlines by breaking Vince Coleman‘s minor league stolen base record. Even better, he played terrific defense and got on base at a torrid pace (.410 OBP), and Reds management could have potentially called him up by the summer of 2013.

Now that the 2013 season is over…Hamilton got his cup of coffee in the majors but it wasn’t due to any exceptional performance in the minors. Hamilton’s stolen base totals came down to earth, he doesn’t hit for any power, and he stopped either walking or hitting for average. The only positive was his defense as his speed allows for fluidity and range in the outfield.

Looking ahead….The Reds see Hamilton as more than just his poor 2013 season and will likely give him every opportunity to replace Shin Soo Choo in center next year. Regardless of his overall performance, his high stolen base totals alone should make him a 2014 Rookie of the Year contender.

Mar 9, 2013; Peoria, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers first baseman Mike Olt (9) throws out San Diego Padres second baseman Jedd Gyorko (not pictured) during the second inning at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

#23 – Mike Olt, third baseman, Texas Rangers

Height/Weight: 6’2″, 210

Born: August 27, 1988

2013 Stats (with Triple A Iowa and Triple-A Round Rock): .201/.303/.381 15 HR, 42 RBI, 0 SB, 55 BB, 131 SO, 107 G (432 PA)

Heading into 2013… One of the top hitting prospects in baseball for several years, Olt had just torn through Double-A and was all but ready to rake in the majors.

Now that the 2013 season is over… “Disaster” would be too nice of a word to describe Olt’s 2013 season. He struggled with vision problems through the first month of the season and was just never able to recover, even after his eyes were fixed. He struck out thirty one more times than he had the year prior and his OPS was almost 300 points lower. In July he was shipped off to the Cubs and was even worse, hitting .168/.276/.275

Looking ahead….Olt’s prospect pedigree is too long for him to drop off this past. He will look to get back on track in 2014, and he could replace Donnie Murphy at third rather quickly.

#22 – Jameson Taillon, right-handed pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates

Height/Weight: 6’6″, 225

Born: November 18, 1991 (age 22)

2013 Stats (Between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis): 5-10, 3.73 ERA, 26 G(25 GS), 147.1 IP, 52 BB (2.4 BB/9), 143 K (8.7 K/9), 1.324 WHIP

Heading into 2013… Taillon pitch well despite playing as one of the youngest players in High-A and Double-A in 2012. His stuff had never been questioned and he now seemed polished enough to start in the upper minors. A good year in Double and Triple-A would position him to reach the majors by 2014. 

Now that the 2013 season is over… Taillon wasn’t dominant, but continued to perform like a mid-rotation starter. Considering the sheer velocity and movement of his plus fastball and the effectiveness of his above average change and breaking ball, thats as good a performance as he’ll have to turn in in order to earn a promotion to the majors. He tossed his last six starts of the year in Triple-A and was good enough, posting a 9.0 SO/9 and 3.89 ERA, although his 3.9 BB/9 is a tad worrisome.

Looking ahead… The Pirates are understandably high on Taillon and he will likely follow in the footsteps of curent Bucs rookie starter Gerrit Cole, joining the major league rotation next June after two more months in Triple-A.

Stock: Up

#21 – Francisco Lindor, shortstop, Cleveland Indians

Height/Weight: 5’11″, 175

Born: November 14, 1993 (age 20)

2013 Stats (Between High-A Carolina and Triple-A): .303/.380/.407, 2 HR, 34 RBI, 25 SB, 49 BB, 46 SO, 104 G (464 PA)

 Heading into 2013… An incredibly gifted defensive shortstop, Lindor’s bat had yet to develop in 2012, but his bat speed and approach at the plate should yield statistical success at the plate dwon the line.

Now that the 2013 season is over… Lindor shown on both sides of the ball in 2013, getting on base at a .380 clip while continuing to show plus range and arm at short. The more impressive numbers, however, are 46 and 49, as Lindor actually walked three more times than he struck out, an indication of advanced plate discipline and vision that will allow him to succeed in the upper levels.

Looking ahead… Twenty year olds are generally considered to be years away from the majors, but Lindor reached Double-A as a 19 year old last year. Asdrubal Cabrera has the Cleveland shortstop job for now but Lindor should replace him by the start of 2015. Let the gold gloves rain after that.

Stock: Up