MLB Top Prospects Watch: AL Central offseason report
Nov 3, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view as Kansas City Royals fans and players celebrate the World Series championship at Union Station. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
This year’s American League Central champs did what few people thought they could accomplish by making a second consecutive postseason run. Not only did they win the division, they went as far as a second World Series appearance in the same number of seasons. This time, they were able to capitalize and win it all, much so on the strength of their home-grown, high contact hitters.
Players like C Salvador Perez, 1B Eric Hosmer, 3B Mike Moustakas and OF Alex Gordon all came up through the Royals’ prospect pipeline and were critical pieces in their 2014 ALCS pennant and this year’s World Series victory.
The Central should be an intriguing division to watch this offseason. Mark Shapiro is no longer in Cleveland and Dave Dombrowski has vacated his post in Detroit. With seven total prospects inside the nation’s top 50, expect some of those names to come up in conversations from now until winter meetings between some of the AL Centrals’ front office brass.
Next: Chicago White Sox
SS Tim Anderson – CHW
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Major League Baseball ETA: 2016
MLB Overall Rank: No. 38
A first round draft pick who appears to be panning out after three seasons in the minors, Tim Anderson can fly. On the 20-80 scale, his speed is graded a 70 and by far his standout asset. He was always no stranger to the stolen base from 2013-14, but this past season with the Double-A Birmingham Barons, Anderson swiped 49 in 62 attempts over 125 games.
His career MiLB batting line is .301/.343/.429, which was boosted by a strong showing with the Barons at .312/.350/.429 in 2015.
Not much came Anderson’s way in terms of baseball scholarships after high school. He was the star point guard of Hillcrest HS in Tuscaloosa, AL and did not player competitive baseball until his junior year. Accordingly, he ended up playing his college ball at a community college in Decatur, MS. Anderson did his part there, leading Division II batters with a .495 average and .568 OBP.
Making good on his light baseball experience, Anderson is a short-term shoe-in to replace departing free agent shortstop Alexei Ramirez, who at 33, did not play as well in his contract year as he did in 2014 when he earned Silver Slugger and All-Star recognitions. Anderson’s defense at short is susceptbile to errors. If he can’t hang as a middle infielder in the Majors, he has the tools to play center field.
Next: Cleveland Indians
OF Bradley Zimmer – CLE
Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Major League Baseball ETA: 2017
MLB Overall Rank: No. 26
This University of San Francisco Dons alum became the second first round draft pick in his immediate family. Before the Tribe selected Bradley Zimmer 21st overall in 2014, his brother Kyle (a pitcher) and fellow Don was taken by the Royals fifth overall in 2012.
Zimmer is a well balanced prospect. He does everything well, but nothing extraordinarily well yet. The young outfielder will be 23 on Opening Day. He witnessed his numbers drop some in his second full season of minor league ball. Going from a .308/.403/.493 line in High-A, his second half numbers with Double-A Akron after a promotion fell to .219/.313/.374. As a plus though, Zimmer did hit 16 home runs across both levels and committed only four errors in 903.1 innings logged.
The Indians see Zimmer as a center fielder in the big leagues. Should that not become a realization, his strong arm will be well suited for a role in right field. His left-handed swing might make Cleveland left-heavy in the future with the likes of Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley, while Carlos Santana and Francisco Lindor have the ability to hit switch, but Zimmer has pop and that should only lead to more home runs as he develops physically.
Next: Detroit Tigers
RHP Michael Fulmer – DET
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Major League Baseball ETA: 2017
MLB Overall Rank: No. 98
Sure, the veteran presence of Miguel Cabrera is not to be overlooked. Victor Martinez will be 37 and seems to only have muscled his way through 2014 because it was his final stab at another lengthy MLB contract. His health is usually dicey on a week-to-week basis and that’s saying something for a full-time DH. Ian Kinsler and J.D. Martinez will produce, but a youth movement has to occur sometime in the future.
The likes of Nick Castellanos, James McCann and Anthony Gose need to maximize their respective opportunities. This Tigers top prospect barely cracks the top 100. Michael Fulmer has been pitching in the minors since 2011 with the Mets’ system and is yet to crack a big league lineup. He was one of the fruits Detroit reaped from being sellers at the 2015 trade deadline, coming over in the Yoenis Cespedes deal.
The next test for Fulmer will be Triple-A in 2015. He’s yet to throw there. Across two Double-A programs in 2015, the right-hander managed a 10-3 record in 21 starts with a 2.14 ERA. His four-pitch repertoire of a fastball, curve, slider and change-up could forecast the front end of the Tigers’ rotation if he and Daniel Norris pan out.
Next: Kansas City Royals
SS Raul A. Mondesi – KCR
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Major League Baseball ETA: 2017
MLB Overall Rank: No. 33
The Royals have proven the inherent value of a strong scouting department over the last two seasons. The organization is still relatively prospect rich, with three of their own residing inside the top 100. The highest of those comes from great pedigree and is the son of 13-year MLB veteran, Raul Mondesi.
Raul Adalberto Mondesi was born in Los Angeles during his father’s playing time with the Dodgers. He was the first player ever to make an MLB debut amidst a World Series game, recording a strikeout in game three versus Noah Syndergaard. Undrafted, Mondesi was signed as a free agent in 2011 by the Royals and projects to be a rangy middle infielder.
The 20-year-old should grow into a 15 home run swing in the Majors once his 6-foot-1 frame fills out, though he’s prone to hitting line drives right now — also a plus. His switch hitting ways bring added value to his skill set. Like his father, he runs, fields and throws very well. A .243-36-6-33-19 line from 81 games at Double-A shows promise. He has looked overmatched at times in his minor league career, with opposing pitchers using Mondesi’s aggressive swing to their advantage regularly.
The Royals have done well with their recent batch of prospects in terms of maturation and development, but they should probably ease up on pushing Mondesi too far too soon.
Next: Minnesota Twins
OF Byron Buxton – MIN
Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Major League Baseball ETA: 2016
MLB Overall Rank: No. 1
Byron Buxton‘s raw tools are apparent to all around him. All five of his tools rate 60 or higher on the scouting scale. Registering only 129 at-bats in 2015, his rookie status remains intact for 2016. He will be up with the Twins at some point, but it’s not a given that he cracks the 25-man roster out of Spring Training.
A .209/.250/.326 line with Minnesota was by no means fulfilling during a time his club was looking to make a real push for an American League wild card spot. He’s twice participated in Arizona Fall League action, showing a thirst and certain determination for wanting to live up to his long hyped potential.
Entering his age 22 season, Buxton’s durability issues are one of the few things holding him back from stardom at the MLB level. After a sprained thumb in June (11 GP, .189/.231/.270) saw him return to the minors, his second stint with the Twins produced a mild improvement from August 20 to October 4 (28 GP, .217/.258/.348). For a more in-depth look at Buxton’s chances of success in 2016 with the Twins, click here.