The 2015 Best Farm Systems in Baseball Part I

Jul 14, 2013; Flushing , NY, USA; USA pitcher

Kyle Crick

throws a pitch during the 2013 All Star Futures Game at Citi Field. USA defeated World 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

It is the time of year that every baseball junkie loves. As we edge closer to Spring Training and begin to find out what minor leaguers will be invited to camp with a shot at 2015 glory, we begin to wonder about where the youngsters rank. Prospect guru Keith Law recently released his farm system rankings for the 2015 season. It seems like there are a few teams that are ready to explode onto the scene with new, fresh talent.

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There are some surprise teams on this list, and others who may have dropped a few spots due to trades or graduation to the big leagues. The bottom third of farm system rankings tend to contain teams that are good right now, as five of the 10 on this list made the playoffs in 2015. It should be no surprise that the reigning champs and winners of three of the last five World Series are right there at the bottom.

Prospect ranking is not an exact science. For every boom there is a bust, and for every superstar in the making, they simply sometimes don’t click on the big league level. Today, we look at the bottom third of the list, breaking down the 30th through 21st farm systems in baseball.

Sep 3, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Detroit Tigers pinch hitter

Steven Moya

(33) celebrates his single in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

30. Detroit Tigers

The Tigers’ farm took a big hit this off-season, trading 5 of its top 10 prospects away and having Nick Castellanos become a big league regular. In order to acquire Alfredo Simon, they parted with Jonathan Crawford and Eugenio Suarez. They also shipped off promising second base prospect Devon Travis. The system wasn’t great last year, but now they are really lacking talent.

First round pick Derek Hill probably has the most potential out of any of them, but he hit a disappointing .208/.295./.296 in his 47 game debut. Outfielder Steven Moya
smashed a very impressive 35 home runs last year, which led to him being called up to Detroit. He’ll have to iron out issues with his contact rate and patience at the plate, but the 6-foot-6, 230-pound lefty has the makings of a big league power hitter.

The Tigers have a few pitchers who performed really well in 2014, but none are regarded as great prospects. Kevin Ziomek, Austin Kubitza, and Buck Farmer all had fantastic seasons, and are all over 22 years old, meaning they should be able to help the Tigers out sooner than later. Farmer already had his cup of coffee with Detroit at the end of the 2014 season, getting roughed up in two starts.

Jun 24, 2014; Omaha, NE, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores pitcher

Tyler Beede

(11) throws against the Virginia Cavaliers during game two of the College World Series Finals at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

29. San Francisco Giants

Like the Tigers, the Giants tend to trade their prospects frequently to upgrade their major league roster. Hard to argue with that strategy when it leads to two World Series titles in three years. They traded top ten prospects Heath Humbree and Edwin Escobar for Jake Peavy at the trade deadline last season, which weakened their system.

The Giants have a couple of top pitching prospects that should appear on top 100 prospects lists everywhere. Kyle Crick is a strikeout machine, having been the Giants top prospects for a couple years now after a breakout in 2013. He didn’t dominate Double-A ball in 2014, but he still recorded 111 strikeouts in 90 innings.

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Tyler Beede has been a big name in the MLB Draft dating back to 2011 when he was coming out of high school. He elected not to sign with the Jays after they took him in the first round, and ended up going to the Giants with the 14th pick of the 2014 draft. He pitched very well in six minor league starts, and could be ready to compete in San Fran if he can put together a solid first half of 2015.

The Giants top prospects mostly consists of arms, as the only quality hitting prospect is catcher Andrew Susac. He ended up playing 35 games in San Fran, but he is blocked by Buster Posey.

Jun 4, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher

Corey Knebel

(49) pitches in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Comerica Park. Toronto won 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

28. Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers haven’t had many draft picks pan out over the last few years. Their system may not contain a player ranked in the top 100 overall, which gives the team a pretty gloomy outlook for the next few years.

The top ranked player in the system is probably 20-year old outfielder Tyrone Taylor. He has very good speed which should make him a good defensive center fielder in the future. He isn’t known for his power, but his quick bat speed leads to a lot of gappers that allow him to use his wheels. He doesn’t strike out a lot, and he has some good patience at the plate. If his bat continues to improve, he could have the makings of a leadoff hitter in the future.

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Shortstop Orlando Arcia, the younger brother of Twins outfielder Oswaldo, is another intriguing prospect. He has a similar skill set to Taylor, with a good contact rate, good speed, low strikeout rate, and patience at the plate. The 20-year old is still a couple of years away, but should develop into a quality player.

2014 top picks Kodi Medeiros and Jake Gatewood definitely have potential, although they didn’t exactly set the world on fire in their debuts last season. The best prospect they acquired in the Yovani Gallardo deal was probably pitcher Corey Knebel.

Jun 29, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher

Andrew Heaney

(25) throws during the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at Marlins Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

27. Los Angeles Angels

As far as minor league depth goes, the Angels are right near the bottom of the league. With the trade for Andrew Heaney and the signing of middle infielder Roberto Baldoquin, they managed to stay a few spots above the last spot.

Heaney raced through the minors ever since he was drafted 9th overall by the Marlins. The lefthander made five big league starts in 2014, and the results were mixed. His wipeout slider and mid 90’s heat should lead to high strikeout numbers as he settles into the Angels rotation. He should still be a top 25 overall prospect heading into the 2015 season.

The 20-year old Baldoquin has good enough fielding ability to stick at shortstop. The Angels obviously expect a lot out of him after giving him an $8-million dollar signing bonus. He should spend 2015 with Double-A , and there is no telling when he’ll be Major League ready.

2014 first round pick Sean Newcomb is perhaps the only other noteworthy Angels prospect. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound lefthander has the makings of a power pitcher, although his debut in 2014 was less than spectacular. He’ll probably remain a top 100 overall prospect heading into 2015.

Oct. 14, 2014; Mesa, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics outfielder

Matt Olson

plays for the Mesa Solar Sox during an Arizona Fall League game against the Scottsdale Scorpions at Salt River Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

26. Oakland A’s

The A’s are known for their player development, but after a flurry of trades the last few years, their system appears pretty lackluster. Trading Addison Russell to the Cubs is a trade the team will surely like to have back.

They are particularly short on pitching prospects, with Dillon Overton having the most potential. The pitchers they acquired from the Jays in the Josh Donaldson trade, Sean Nolin and Kendall Gravemen should be able to help the club in 2015. The 24-year old Gravemen had a spectacular 2014 season, posting a 1.83 ERA through four levels, ending in Triple-A. He’ll be their most intriguing pitching prospect to follow during the 2015 season.

The A’s have a few solid hitting prospects. First basemen Matt Olson is the clubs’ top overall prospect after hitting 37 home runs and recording a whopping 117 walks in 2014. The 20-year old does strike out a lot, which is to be expected with a lot of power hitters. He should develop into a solid defensive player at first base making him a pretty advanced prospect for his age. He might still be a year away, but his debut in Oakland will be much anticipated.

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Franklin Barreto was the biggest name sent the A’s way in the Donaldson trade, replacing Russell as the shortstop-of-the-future. The 18-year old was outstanding in short season A-ball in 2014, hitting .311/.384/.481 with 29 steals in just 73 games. He may need to move away from shortstop, but the youngsters bat and speed should be able to play anywhere. He is still far away from the big leagues, but he could be a top 20 overall prospect in a couple of years.

Sep 20, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman

Maikel Franco

(7) hits a single against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

25. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies seem to always be near the bottom of these lists. This year they have a few solid prospects, but lack the overall depth. Trading Jimmy Rollins to the Dodgers netted them a couple of solid pitching prospects, giving them a decent top five. Their top three prospects should appear on top 100 lists everywhere.

Their top hitting prospect is their first rounder from 2013, shortstop J.P. Crawford. The lefty has great range and a strong arm that will be able to keep him at short in the big leagues. The 19-year old is also projected to hit double digit homers and steal 20 bags a year. His patience at the plate (65 walks in 2015) could lead him to be the future leadoff hitter for the club.

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After leading Phillies minor leaguers in homers (31) in 2013, Maikel Franco
struggled a bit in Triple-A in 2014. His strong second half still ended up getting him a call up to the big leagues. The third basemen should see lots of time in Philly in 2015.

As far as pitching goes, 2014 7th overall pick Aaron Nola is definitely the most promising. He had a 2.93 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in his 11 start debut in 2014. The 21-year old’s fastball and changeup are above average offerings that should get him to the big leagues before long. The prospects acquired in the Rollins deal, Zach Elfin and Tom Windle, are average prospects that probably won’t be ready to contribute in the Majors until 2016.

Feb 18, 2014; Jupiter, FL, USA; Miami Marlins

Justin Nicolino

(79) in spring training action at Roger Dean Stadium Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

24. Miami Marlins

The Marlins frequently call their prospects up to the big leagues quickly, so they rarely rank high on these lists. This season, the Marlins have a few intriguing prospects, but none that appears to be close to major league ready.

Their top prospect is the 2nd overall pick from last years draft, righthanded pitcher Tyler Kolek. Despite being drafted out of high school, Kolek is already filled out at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds. He’ll have to make sure he doesn’t get much bigger than that as he develops. He has a true 80-grade fastball, consistently throwing it over 100 mph with sinking action. His slider should develop into a solid strikeout pitch as well.

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Justin Nicolino was part of the blockbuster trade with the Blue Jays involving Jose Reyes in 2012. The lefty was stellar in Double-A last season, going 14-4 with a 2.85 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. He strikes out nearly half a batter per inning, but his strong command leads to many groundball outs. The 23-year old may be a candidate for the Marlins rotation at some point in 2015.

The best hitting prospect in the system is second basemen Avery Romero. He has a very good contact tool, hitting .320 last year at two levels. He has the versatility to play third base as well because of his strong arm. The 21-year old will likely spend the bulk of 2015 in Double-A, which may set him up to be in Miami for the start of the 2016 season.

23. Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays have been terrible in recent years at developing their top draft picks. Aside from David Price and Matt Moore in 2007, they’ve really struggled to find anyone to help their Major League roster. The trades of Myers and Zobrist helped bring in some hitting talent, but they are low on pitching prospects.

The team was able to acquire two of the better shortstop prospects in the game via trade. Daniel Robertson is probably their top prospect, slashing .310/.402/.471 in advanced-A ball last season in the A’s organization. He also added 15 homers, showing the power potential to possible develop into a 20-homer a year kind of guy. The 20-year old has a very strong arm, but isn’t the fastest guy, so if he has to move from shortstop it will probably be to third base.

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Willy Adames was acquired from the Tigers in the Price deal, playing his first full season in A-ball in 2014. His contact numbers aren’t where you’d like them to be, but at 19 years old, he is still raw. He has the arm to play short, but like Robertson, he may not have the quickness for the position. He’s probably a better fit at second, but he’ll have a chance to prove he belongs at short.

Conor Gillespie’s younger brother Casey is another solid prospect for the Rays. Taken in the first round of the 2014 draft, he managed to play in 71 games last season, showing good patience at the plate. He only hit 7 homeruns, but he’s expected to be a 20+ homer a season kind of guy in the future.

February 27, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher

Dylan Bundy

(49) throws a pitch in the third inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

22. Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles lack the depth in their system to be any higher than No. 22 on the list, despite having two of the best pitching prospects in the game. They lost one of their better prospects in pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez in the trade to get Andrew Miller last season.

Dylan Bundy has been one of the most highly touted pitchers for a number of years now. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2013, he pitched 41 innings in 2014. He didn’t necessarily look like he was completely back to his pre-surgery form, but the power righthander should make strides towards the big leagues in 2015. He throws his fastball in the upper 90’s and his curveball and changeup are developing into solid off-speed pitches.

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The Orioles drafted Hunter Harvey in the first round of the 2013 draft, and he’s dominated hitters ever since. He definitely has the pedigree as the son of former All-Star closer Bryan Harvey. In 17 starts in A-ball last season, the 20-year old held opponents to a .209 batting average and struck out 106 batters in 87 innings. He has the projectibility to put on weight as he matures and throw consistently in the mid-90’s. His curveball is his best off-speed pitch, and his changeup is also improving.

The O’s best hitting prospect is probably catcher Chance Sisco, who hit .340/.406/.448 in Single-A ball as a 19-year old. He’s drawn rave reviews for his defense behind the plate, but his bat is what will take him to the big leagues. With a solid 2015 season, Sisco will definitely get more recognition as a top prospect.

21. Seattle Mariners

The Mariners have had one of the better farm systems over the last few years, being carried by top pitching prospects James Paxton and Taijuan Walker. With their likely graduation to the big leagues, the Mariners system is now without any top level pitching and instead has some very promising hitting prospects.

Corner infielder D.J Peterson had a fantastic 2014, smashing 31 homers in 123 games split between Single-A and Double-A. The 2013 first rounder’s contact rate wasn’t great once he was promoted to Jackson last season, but it was a solid first full professional season. At 23 years old, he probably won’t need a whole lot more time in the minors. His power will probably force Seattle to call him up sometime in 2015.

The Mariners used their 2014 first rounder on another hitter, taking Alex Jackson 6th overall. He was a catcher and outfielder in high school, but the team drafted him as an outfielder. The 19-year old should develop into a right handed power bat, like Peterson. The Mariners have had trouble developing hitters in recent years, and will take it slowly with Jackson. He may be ready to be their starting rightfielder by 2017.

Although he’s far away from the big leagues, The M’s expect a lot from 18 year old outfielder Gareth Morgan. They gave him a $2 million dollar bonus after taking him 74th overall in last years draft, the largest bonus ever given to a Canadian player. At 6’4″ and 220 pounds, he is known for his big-time power and strong outfield arm. There is considerable hype of Morgan following in the footsteps of Canadian sluggers Larry Walker, Joey Votto and Justin Morneau. However, he’ll need to prove his talent in the lower minor leagues first. Last year he only hit 2 homeruns and hit .148 in 45 games. The 2015 season will be key in determining how good of a player he can be.

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