Minor League Previews: PCL American Northern

Mar 14, 2014; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies second baseman

(14) follows through on a swing in the sixth inning at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado Springs Sky Sox

Parent Club: Colorado Rockies

Rockies fans in Colorado Springs were certainly hoping Jon Gray and Eddie Butler would kick off the season with the Sky Sox, but they both report to Double-A instead. The Triple-A team for the Rockies will start off without a whole lot of names that will be a big draw, but there are plenty of names in Double-A, so this could be an interesting mid-season club.

Pitching

The pitching staff really only features one prospect, Tyler Matzek, but he probably fits as a middle reliever rather than a starter at the next level. Overall, the pitching staff for the Sky Sox opens the season in a rather boring fashion.

Batting

Kyle Parker has three consecutive seasons with more than 20 home runs and has a minor league career slugging line over .500. He is the best prospect on the Sky Sox roster and giving him a home park at altitude along with a hitter’s league like the PCL, he just might allow him to put up 30+ home runs this season. Josh Rutledge spent part of both the two previous seasons in the big leagues but opens the season in Triple-A. He will likely be shifted back and forth between the Springs and Denver should the big league club suffer any injuries and, given the teams track record, that is only a matter of time.

Jul 14, 2013; Flushing , NY, USA; World infielder

(7) forces out USA outfielder Geroge Springer (bottom) but is unable to turn a double play during the 2013 All Star Futures Game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa Cubs

Parent Club: Chicago Cubs

There is probably no single team in the whole of the minor leagues that will feature more top level prospects this year one could easily make the argument the most exciting team to watch this season will be the Iowa Cubs.

Pitching

The Cubs system is full of fantastic bats, but the arms in the system are certainly a question, and it shows in the Triple-A staff. Neil Ramirez came over as the player-to-be-named in the Matt Garza trade, and he might have the most upside of anyone on the roster. He has a big fastball and decent change, but his breaking stuff is fringe at best as is his control. Chris Rusin has seen time in the big league rotation each of the past two seasons, and had an ERA under 4 last season, but he is the closest thing to a well known name to start the season on the mound for Iowa.

Batting

It appears super prospect Javier Baez will begin in Double-A, but he will see time in Triple-A at some point this season. That does not mean there isn’t a stud shortstop in Iowa, as Arismendy Alcantara will start the season there. Alcantara’s future might end up being at second rather than short, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be special. He had a true breakout season in 2013 as he saw a big uptick in power numbers, significantly increased his walk rate, and stole more than 30 bags for the fist time in his minor league career.

Another players that will open in Iowa is Lars Anderson. He was once a top prospect in the Boston Red Sox organization, but bounced around the past few years before finding himself out of baseball last summer. He now joins his former GM, Theo Epstein, in the Cubs organization.

The team will also feature two long time Cubs prospects that have not lived up to expectation in Josh Vitters and Brett Jackson. Both guys hit under .200 in brief stints in 2012 before spending all of 2013 in the minors.

Mar 13, 2014; Dunedin, FL, USA; Houston Astros center fielder

(79) bats in the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit:

-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma City RedHawks

Parent Club: Houston Astros

While the Iowa Cubs might have end up having the most talent throughout the season, the most talented team in the whole of the PCL on Opening Day just might be Oklahoma City. Multiple pieces of the team that is expected to be ready to compete in just a couple years will start the season with the RedHawks, whether they want to or not (George Springer).

Pitching

Stop me if you have heard this before, but the talent on this squad sits mostly with the bats rather than the arms. Chia-Jen Lo and Jose Cisnero both pitched alright in the bullpen for the Astros last year, but there are no real impact arms currently on the roster.

Batting

George Springer did not want to be back in the minor leagues to start 2014, but that is where he will be when the minor league season kicks off on Thursday. Springer had one of the better power/speed seasons in minor league history in 2013, coming three long balls shy of a 40/40 season.

Jon Singleton missed 50 games after a second failed marijuana test, and then proceeded to have a poor season, but he should bounce back this year and put up the power numbers that had him listed in the top 30 prospects in all of baseball heading into the 2013 season. Behind the dish is Max Stassi, who got a late season call up to the big leagues where he got two hits in seven at-bats. He has the potential of becoming a power hitting catcher in the big leagues sooner than later, but his health has been an issue in the past as he has caught just 95, 66, and 50 games the past three seasons.

Sep 2, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher

(41) delivers a pitch in the first inning of the game against the Seattle Mariners at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Omaha Storm Chasers

Parent Club: Kansas City Royals

If I were to pick a team that will win the most games in the division, it would be the Storm Chasers. The team has some good arms, quality prospects, savvy vets, and and plenty of Quad-A type players.

Pitching

John Lamb, Chris Dwyer, and Danny Duffy all make the team, already giving the Storm Chasers the best trio of arms in the division. To go along with those three there is the age-less Brett Tomko. Yes, that Brett Tomko, who is now 40 years old and has not pitched in the big leagues since 2009.

Batting

The outfield will feature three guys that have all seen at least some time in the big leagues with Melky Mesa, Gorkys Henandez, and Jimmy Paredes. While none of the three are the types of names that will make you stop and take notice, all three could be of value to the big league club at some point this season.

The infield will feature a guy who has made plenty of trips from Omaha to Kansas City and back in Johnny Giavotella. For the first time in a while the second base job was not between he and Chris Getz, as the Royals signed Omar Infante this off-season, so Giavotella should be with the Storm Chasers for the majority of the season.

Christian Colon was a consensus top-100 prospect heading into the 2011 season, but lacks a single carrying tool. I saw Colon plenty this spring, in both minor league games and big league games, and he screams average, but that is not a bad thing. He has a decent bat, plays solid defense, and can run a little, but does nothing that makes him stand out from the crowd. He should get a call-up to the big leagues at some point this season, but while at Triple-A he should be very productive.