2012 Top 50 Pitching Prospects in Review, Part Two

Here is Part Two of the 2012 Top 50 PRE-SEASON Pitching Prospects list, as issued in the 2012 Baseball Prospect Book last January. Remember, this is the PRE-SEASON list being reviewed.

It is NOT a new list. I am working on an update.

26) Tyrell Jenkins, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B+: 5.14 ERA in 19 starts for Low-A Quad Cities, 80/36 K/BB in 82 innings, 84 hits. Struggled with command and nagging injuries. Still projectable and talented.

27) Daniel Norris, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays, Grade B+: Horrible season, posted 8.44 ERA with 43/18 K/BB in 43 innings between Appalachian and Northwest Leagues, 58 hits. Good arm strength but mechanics need a lot of work.

28) Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Kansas City Royals, Grade B+: Went 15-5, 3.03 ERA in 26 starts between Double-A and Triple-A, 135/50 K/BB in 145 innings, 132 hits. Main weakness is tendency to work high in the strike zone, leaving him gopher-vulnerable, but overall it was a strong year.

29) Jesse Biddle, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies,Grade B+: Went 10-6, 3.22 in 26 starts, 151/54 K/BB in 143 innings, 129 hits in High-A. Solid campaign all-around.

30) Nestor Molina, RHP, Chicago White Sox, Grade B+: Went 6-10, 4.55 with 88/27 K/BB in 127 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, 165 hits. Missed some time with elbow injury but pitched well late. This was an aggressive ranking that didn't work out, although his control still gives him a chance.

31) Drew Hutchison, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays, Grade B+: Made three starts in Double-A, moved up to majors, went 5-3, 4.60 in 11 starts with 49/20 K/BB in 59 innings, 59 hits, before blowing his elbow and requiring Tommy John surgery.

32) Matt Barnes, RHP, Boston Red Sox, Grade B+: Went 7-5 in 25 starts between Low-A and High-A, posting 2.86 ERA with 133/29 K/BB ratio in 120 innings, 97 hits allowed. A very fine performance, all systems go, stock moving up.

33) Zach Lee, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B+: 4.55 ERA with 52/10 K/BB, 60 hits in 55 innings in High-A, 4.25 ERA with 51/22 K/BB, 69 hits in 66 innings in Double-A. Holding his own but scouting reports are more optimistic than the stats at this point. I'm thinking he's an inning-eater rather than a true ace.

34) Robbie Erlin, LHP, San Diego Padres, Grade B+: Limited to 14 starts by elbow injury, posted 2.82 ERA with 80/16 K/BB and 60 hits allowed in 61 innings, mostly in Triple-A. Was throwing well in his last two outings in August/September, so hopefully he's healthy again.

35) Deck McGuire, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays, Grade B+: Hide your eyes: went 5-15 in 28 starts for Double-A New Hampshire, with a 97/62 K/BB in 144 innings and 162 hits allowed. Lost some zip on his fastball, secondary pitches and command weren't good enough to compensate. Stock way down at this point.

36) Joe Wieland, RHP, San Diego Padres, Grade B+: Posted 4.55 ERA with 24/9 K/BB in 28 major league innings before going down with Tommy John surgery.

37) Keyvius Sampson, RHP, San Diego Padres, Grade B+: Went 8-11, 5.00 in 25 starts for Double-A San Antonio, 122/57 K/BB in 122 innings, 108 hits. Erratic command but he pitched better as the season progressed, still a solid prospect.

38) Martin Perez, LHP, Texas Rangers, Grade B+: 4.25 ERA with 69/56 K/BB in 127 innings in Triple-A, 122 hits allowed. Posted 5.45 ERA with 25/15 K/BB in 38 innings in the majors with 47 hits allowed. He looks like a pitcher, but doesn't produce consistently positive results, and low strikeout rate this year was troublesome. Still just 21 (22 in April '13).

39) Brad Peacock, RHP, Oakland Athletics, Grade B: Went 12-9, 6.01 with 139/66 K/BB in 135 innings, 147 hits in Triple-A. Didn't pitch as badly as the ERA indicates, but his command failed him more often than it should. Stock down but still has upside.

40) Manny Banuelos, LHP, New York Yankees, Grade B: Limited to 24 innings in Triple-A by a sore elbow. Rehab attempt didn't go well and he went under the knife for Tommy John in October.

41) Sonny Gray, RHP, Oakland Athletics, Grade B: Went 6-9 in 27 starts between Double-A and Triple-A, 4.26 ERA with 99/58 K/BB in 152 innings, 158 hits. Ate innings but not as dominant as Oakland had hoped. Stock down a bit.

42) Chad Bettis, RHP, Colorado Rockies, Grade B: Missed entire season with a shoulder problem.

43) Nate Eovaldi, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B: Traded to Marlins. Went 4-13 in 22 major league starts, 78/47 K/BB in 119 innings, 133 hits. I don't have anything really objective to back this opinion up, but I think he can improve on this.

44) Garrett Richards, RHP, Los Angeles Angels, Grade B: 4.21 ERA with 65/35 K/BB in 77 innings in Triple-A, 4.69 ERA in 71 innings in the major, 77 hits, 47/34 K/BB. Started nine games and relieved in 21. As with Eovaldi, I think Richards can improve on this.

45) Jeurys Familia, RHP, New York Mets, Grade B: 4.73 ERA with 128/73 K/BB in 137 innings for Triple-A Buffalo, 145 hits. Showed both stuff and command problems in 12 inning major league trial. No question about his stuff, he just needs to throw strikes.

46) Lance Lynn, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B: Went 18-7, 3.78 with a 180/64 K/BB in 176 innings for the Cardinals, 168 hits. Very impressive rookie campaign.

47) Wily Peralta, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade B: 4.66 ERA with 143/78 K/BB in 147 innings in Triple-A, 154 hits. In the majors, 2.48 ERA with 23/11 K/BB in 29 innings, 24 hits. Command remains erratic but his stuff is impressive and he flashes the ability to use it well.

48) Alexander Torres, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B: Command failure, 7.30 ERA with 91/63 K/BB in 69 innings in Triple-A, 70 hits. Looked better late, posted 14/2 K/BB in final eight innings. Not a lost cause just yet, but stock obviously down.

49) Tyler Thornburg, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade B: Solid year, 10-4, 3.20 in 21 starts between Double-A and Triple-A, 113/37 K/BB in 113 innings, 95 hits. 4.50 ERA with 20/7 K/BB in 22 major league innings. Should help in some way in '13.

50) Dellin Betances, RHP, New York Yankees, Grade B: Another ugly command failure, 6.44 ERA with 124/99 K/BB in 131 innings, 144 hits split between Triple-A and Double-A. Skeptics are starting to look right about this one.