Minor League Previews: Texas League North

Feb. 21, 2113; Tempe, AZ, USA: Los Angeles Angels infielder

poses for a portrait during photo day at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Today, we’ll preview the Texas League North division which is going to have some very good pitchers, including one of the minors’ best.

Arkansas Travelers

Parent Club: Los Angeles Angels

While the Angels don’t have a particularly strong minor league system (comparatively), Arkansas is the team to watch in that system.

Pitchers

Mark Sappington is the youngest pitcher slated for the starting rotation in 2014. The righty, who throws up to 97 mph, has an excellent slider as well. He’s still trying to figure out his control after walked 20 in 25 2/3 innings in a late season promotion to Double-A last year.

The Travelers’ bullpen is headlined by prospect R.J. Alvarez. The hard-throwing, right-handed reliever throws in the high-90s and is on the fast track for the majors after being drafted in the third round of the 2012 draft. He’s pretty much tamed the California League already (a nightmare for many pitchers) and is poised to do the same in the Double-A Texas League.

Another reliever, Mike Morin, is another 2012 draftee and he already has some experience in the Texas League, holding batters to a .230 average and posting a 1.00 WHIP with just five walks and 33 strikeouts in 31 innings last year. He doesn’t have Alvarez’s stuff but has been extremely effective in his minor league career thus far.

Hitters

The Angels’ #1 prospect, Kaleb Cowart is beginning 2014 with Arkansas. The third baseman is only 21 and is actually repeating the Double-A level after an unimpressive 2013. He’s going to be excellent defensively and is looking to right the ship and rebound in 2014.

Second baseman Alex Yarbrough had a very strong season with an .800 OPS in High-A Inland Empire last year. He’s plays average defense so he’s going to have to impress with the bat to keep moving up. With decent speed and some power, Yarbrough could have a very strong year and we’ll see how much of his .313 average and 53 extra-base hits were due to the California League effect.

Outfielder Zach Borenstein moves up with Yarbrough from Inland Empire. Borenstein had a monster season last year, hitting for a .1034 OPS and launching 28 home runs into the thin, California air. Look for Borenstein to light up Texas (and Arkansas) in 2014.

Shortstop Eric Stamets is the third member of a highly talented trio moving up from High-A. More of a defensively-oriented player, Stamets doesn’t strike out a lot and made solid contact last year. The big question is whether his bat is going to play in Double-A against better pitching.

Nov 2, 2013; Surprise, AZ, USA; Kansas City Royals outfielder

against the East during the Fall Stars Game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Parent club: Kansas City Royals

The Naturals didn’t get a couple of players who are anticipated to be key pieces of the club but there is still a lot of prospect gold to be found.

Pitchers

The Royals’ top prospect, Kyle Zimmer is still injured but will likely join the Naturals at some point this season. The 22 year old has three plus pitches and showed flashes of dominance in his four starts at the Double-A level last season but fans of the Naturals are going to have to wait to see him this year.

Jason Adam struggled in Northwest Arkansas last year but is still only 22 and showed some good K/9 numbers along with good control. He had better numbers as the year went on and he’s still working on his offspeed offerings before he’s ready for the next level. Adam is likely going to be the Naturals’ #1 starter and workhorse of the staff.

I would also keep an eye out for 23-year-old Angel Baez who is skipping over High-A to Double-A. He has had some control issues but if they’re behind him, he could be a nice bullpen piece.

Hitters

While there were rumors that Orlando Calixte would repeat the level, he’s not on the club’s roster but there are still several prospects to watch.

The highest ranked is Jorge Bonifacio, brother of Cubs’ utility-man Emilio. Jorge doesn’t have his older brother’s speed but has much better hit and power tools and is projected to be a very strong hitter. While his power hasn’t really showed up in-game, he’s only 20 years old and some of his doubles might carry a little further as he fills out and gets stronger. He has a strong arm and will be the right fielder for the Naturals

Cheslor Cuthbert is coming back to play third base He’s only 21 and struggled a lot after getting a promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas last year. Despite his .215 batting average, he still had a solid .144 ISO and many people think that he could take a step forward this season.

Feb 16, 2014; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher

(75) throws during spring training at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Springfield Cardinals

Parent club: St. Louis Cardinals

Despite not having too many highly-ranked prospects in Double-A Springfield to start 2014, there are some very interesting players who will take to Hammons Field.

Pitchers

The biggest name is 24-year-old Zach Petrick who finished 2013 in Springfield with nine solid starts. Throwing in the low-to-mid-90s with a solid curve and change, Petrick has shown the ability to strike out close to a batter per inning over three levels of baseball in 2013. His control is probably his biggest asset and with good velocity, movement and control, Petrick could very well be a back-of-the-rotation type of starter for the Cardinals down the road.

Hitters

The most interesting name is Aledmys Diaz, the Cuban second baseman that the Cardinals signed this offseason. Diaz, 23, will be interesting to watch, mainly because he doesn’t have a track record and fans are going to be curious to see what kind of offense and defense he provides. Don’t expect him to get to the majors all that quickly with Kolten Wong playing now.

Outfielder James Ramsey had a very strong season, mostly with Springfield, last year, blasting 15 home runs and hitting .251/.356/.424 in 347 at bats. The 2012 first rounder returns to Double-A at the age of 24 but, with some success, I wouldn’t expect him to stay too long. He should be one of the core players for Springfield but might not quite have the skills to translate to the major leagues.

Third baseman Patrick Wisdom is going to be in Springfield to start the year. Wisdom spent most of 2013 in Class-A Peoria but showed enough to get a jump up to Double-A after just 92 at bats in High-A Palm Beach. While he strikes out a lot, he has some very good power and is an exceptional fielder.

Feb 26, 2014; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher

poses during photo day at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Tulsa Drillers

Parent club: Colorado Rockies

One of the biggest prospects in baseball will start the season in Tulsa, as well as several other young potential big league stars.

Pitchers

Well, one needs only start with the team’s best prospect, Jon Gray. His electric, 80-grade fastball and two solid offspeed pitches are coming to Tulsa in 2014. How long he stays there is another question. The Rockies could use the big righty and he’ll probably be promoted quickly if he can dominate in Double-A. Tulsa baseball fans should go see him early and often.

Eddie Butler is another stud pitching prospect with four solid pitches and projects to be at least a mid-rotation starter. With a 1.80 ERA over three levels in 2013, Butler also racked up 143 strikeouts and just 52 walks in almost 150 innings. A 2013 Futures Game appearance also helped solidify his bonifides as he returns to Tulsa to start 2014.

Lefty Tyler Anderson is a bit older than both of the previous fellows but he’s coming off a strong season in High-A Modesto. He’s had injury troubles and the lefty is a classic “crafty” lefty who throws with a lot of movement, control and deception.

24 year old Scott Oberg will be the closer for Tulsa after a season with 33 saves and a 1.85 ERA in High-A Modesto last year.

Hitters

Catcher Tom Murphy is the highest rated hitting prospect for Tulsa in 2014. The catcher smashed 22 home runs in 2013 (mostly in the Class-A South Atlantic League) and continued to hit even when promoted to Double-A. He might need to walk a little bit more but he’s a solid catcher with excellent power.

Shortstop Christhian Adames is the other up-and-comer in Tulsa. Better known for his defense, Adames is repeating the level but is still only 22 and is certainly not too old for Double-A. Look for him to play some second base to help him become more of a utility infielder in for when he makes the major leagues.