Call to the pen
Fansided

Oakland Athletics Jesus Luzardo heads up prospects that could impact 2018 playoff teams in 2019

By Benjamin Chase

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: Starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo #9 of the Oakland Athletics and the World Team works the first inning against the U.S. Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: Starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo #9 of the Oakland Athletics and the World Team works the first inning against the U.S. Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Oakland Athletics
PHOENIX, AZ – SEPTEMBER 23: Garrett Hampson #1 of the Colorado Rockies bunts during the top of the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 23, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are currently working through issues of being cash-strapped, which makes pouring cash into their biggest weakness in 2018, a porous bullpen, an issue. That opens the door for one of their underrated young arms to really make an impact this year.

The Cubs drafted big righty Dakota Mekkes in the 10th round in 2016 out of Michigan State. The 6’7″, 250+ pound Mekkes features a low arm slot that he’s been able to generate up to mid-90s velocity on his fastball while working on locating the pitch very well throughout the zone. His slider and change both are average pitches, but he knows how to mix them with his fastball to dominate hitters.

How dominant has he been? Over his minor league career, Mekkes has now pitched to a 1.16 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a 32.1% strikeout rate over 147 minor league innings. He has walked 11% of hitters, but even then, he’s been so difficult for batters to hit that he generates outs quickly.

After Mekkes put up a 1.44 ERA nad struck out 41 in 31 1/3 innings in a half-season in AAA in 2018, he’s ready for a shot at the majors, and he could be exactly what the Cubs bullpen needs.

Colorado Rockies

Though he got his feet wet in September with the big league club, so he’s not completely new to the big leagues, Garrett Hampson will get every opportunity in 2019 to handle a full-time big league role. The Rockies were quick to announce Daniel Murphy as a first baseman when they signed him recently, not a second baseman.

That leaves the middle infield slot open for Hampson, who would continue a history of Long Beach State infielders to have success at the big league level, including Evan Longoria, Troy Tulowitzki, Matt Duffy, Danny Espinosa, Bobby Crosby, and recently Jeff McNeil.

Hampson in 2018 had plenty of success across the upper levels of the minors, hitting .311/.382/.462 over 504 minor league plate appearances with 25 doubles, 6 triples, 10 home runs, and 36 stolen bases. At the major league level, he hit .275/.396/.400 over 48 plate appearances. He’s an excellent defender that should be a positive in base running as well for the Rockies.

We’ll then look at the division winners in what were considered the two weakest divisions in the game in 2019, though at least one of those is shaping up to be a tougher competition in 2019!

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