Call to the pen
Fansided

Baseball’s 50 Top Prospects: 50-41

By Benjamin Chase

Oct. 14, 2014; Mesa, AZ, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Josh Bell plays for the Scottsdale Scorpions during an Arizona Fall League game against the Mesa Solar Sox at Salt River Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct. 14, 2014; Mesa, AZ, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Josh Bell plays for the Scottsdale Scorpions during an Arizona Fall League game against the Mesa Solar Sox at Salt River Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Feb 26, 2015; Goodyear, AZ, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Amiir Garrett (76) poses for a picture during photo day at the Reds Player Development Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2015; Goodyear, AZ, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Amiir Garrett (76) poses for a picture during photo day at the Reds Player Development Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

48. Nick Gordon, SS, Minnesota Twins

Gordon was the #5 overall selection in the 2014 draft, and as such, he’s been on the prospect radar from day 1, ranking as a top 100 prospect by the “big 3” (Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, MLB.com) in pre-season – #53 at BA, #91 at MLB.com, #62 at BP.

This year has seen Gordon take another step forward at high-A Fort Myers. He’s flashed more power in his swing, though the discipline still hasn’t improved at the plate, walking only 14 times in 248 plate appearances, not a ratio that’s great for a guy who’s projected as a speedster up the middle type of player.

Like his brother, Dee Gordon, Nick has incredible speed, but unlike his brother, he also has some very good natural baseball instincts. Gordon will likely get a taste of AA this season at 20 years old, which is a very tremendous progression.

He’s listed at 6′ and 160 pounds, but I’d wager he’s more like 175-180 now with good fill to his athletic frame.

47. Amir Garrett, LHP, Cincinnati Reds

Garrett is an incredible story – a 22nd round selection from St. John’s University that’s worked his way into an elite prospect. Now, the draft position is somewhat misleading as he was an incredible basketball talent that many felt wouldn’t sign at all due to his basketball commitment, which is why he fell in the draft. The Reds allowed him to play basketball while playing baseball in the summer and have reaped the rewards. Coming into the season, he was ranked as the #73 prospect in baseball by Baseball America, #69 by MLB.com, and #77 by Baseball Prospectus.

At 6’5 and 210 pounds listed (maybe even a touch lighter than the 210, but that looks about right), Garrett uses his long legs and long legs to generate a ton of velocity, reach, and incredible sink and depth in his pitches.

He moved up slowly until 2014, when he gave up basketball completely, and this year, he’s worked his way all the way to AAA. Combined between AA and AAA, he’s got a 1.81 ERA, 1.03 WHIP (interestingly enough, exactly matched 1.026 WHIPs at AA and AAA), and a 36/87 BB/K ratio in 89 2/3 innings. He has not allowed a single home run the entire season.

Garrett works with a fastball that sits in the low-90s, but it runs up to 95-96, and it looks even faster due to his long limbs and long reach toward the plate before he releases the ball. He has a great slider that breaks hard toward a right-hander’s toes, and the big step forward this year has been in his change, which has added sink that breaks toward a lefty hitter’s toes.

Next: #46 & #45

Home/MLB News