This has to be one of the most intense baseball postseasons in recent memory, and we don’t even know who will play the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series. There have already been two Game 5s, and there is another one tonight. Check your heart rate tomorrow morning.
Look at the baseball postseason landscape, and prospects—should we call them “former prospects?”—have had an immense impact. Just ask the St. Louis Cardinals:
The impact of prospects goes beyond the obvious examples of Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Noah Syndergaard and Carlos Correa; Royals Game 5 starter Johnny Cueto is on the team because they traded Brandon Finnegan and John Lamb to get him; Delino DeShields played a huge role for the Texas Rangers in their playoff run; speaking of the Rangers, they shipped five prospects to Philadelphia in order to land Cole Hamels.
Members of 2015’s rookie class are just starting to put their fingerprints on the game, and it makes one optimistic for what the next rookie classes can add to the game. With that in mind, I’m looking forward to 2016, and here are the prospects I most want to see thrive.
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Orlando Arcia, shortstop, Milwauke Brewers
Arcia is my favorite minor leaguer, and I hope to see him in the majors in 2016. Francisco Lindor and Correa might be the two most fun players to watch in all of baseball, and Arcia looks like he can join the fraternity of young, exciting shortstops.
Amir Garrett, pitcher, Cincinnati Reds
I followed the High-A leagues all season, and Garrett was the player I followed the most closely. It was so fun keeping up with his award-winning season, and like other pitchers to dominate the Florida State League—Pirates pitcher Tyler Glasnow, for example—I can’t wait to see what Garrett has in store for 2016 and beyond.
Glasnow, pitcher, Pirates
Speaking of Glasnow, he had another dominant season in which he posted a 2.39 ERA and 3.16 K/BB. With his continued dominance, the Pirates might have 2016’s version of Syndergaard.
Hunter Harvey/Dylan Bundy, pitchers, Baltimore Orioles
These are two highly touted prospects who haven’t pitched a significant amount of innings in a long time. Bundy pitched in only 22 innings in Double-A Bowie this season and only has 63 1/3 to his credit since 2012. Harvey’s last official outing was July 25. Of 2014. As a baseball fan, I want to see these pitchers develop and pitch in the majors.
Bubba Starling, outfielder, Kansas City Royals/ Monte Harrison, outfielder Milwaukee Brewers
As a resident of Omaha, Neb., I’m exposed to an overwhelming amount of Cornhusker football passion. (In the interest of full disclosure, I am not a Nebraska native.) Starling and Harrison each spurned the opportunity to wear the scarlet and cream for the chance to play professional baseball, and Nebraskans love to keep tabs on these “former recruits.” The following from Nebraskans and the Nebraska media is positive and supportive, and you have to root for the kids to feel happy about their decision. Here’s to successful baseball careers and no regrets.