2014 Sleeper Alert List Review, Part One

Here is a review of my list for "Sleeper Alert!" prospects as written up in the 2014 Baseball Prospect Book.

Fans of a specific team are often aware of such prospects before general fans and fantasy owners. The point of a Sleeper Alert is to get ahead of the national publicity curve on a prospect and point them out before they break out into popular consciousness.

Let’s see how the list performed this year. This list was originally posted April 28, 2014.

This is Part One, letters A through L.  Part Two will be posted tomorrow.

Osvaldo Abreu, SS, Washington Nationals: Age 20, hit .229/.279/.305 with 10 steals, nine walks, 41 strikeouts in 210 at-bats for Auburn in the New York-Penn League. Weak season with the bat and his glove was rather disappointing as well. From the Dominican Republic.

Rafael Bautista, OF, Washington Nationals: Age 21, hit .290/.341/.382 with 69 steals, 33 walks, 72 strikeouts in487 at-bats for Low-A Hagerstown. More power would be nice but the speed is standout, a successful jump from rookie ball. From the Dominican Republic.

Matt Boyd, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays: Age 23, outstanding at High-A Dunedin (1.39 ERA, 103/20 K/BB in 91 innings, just 65 hits) but hit hard for Double-A New Hampshire (6.96 ERA, 44/13 K/BB in 43 innings, 55 hits). Will try again in Double-A next year and I still think he has good potential. Sixth round pick in 2013 from Oregon State.

Steven Brault, LHP, Baltimore Orioles: Age 22, 11^th round pick in 2013 from Regis University, posted 2.77 ERA with 124/30 K/BB in 146 innings, 114 hits combined between Low-A Delmarva and High-A Frederick. Successful campaign for a polished college arm.

Curt Casali, C, Tampa Bay Rays: Age 25, hit .253/.382/.369 with 45 walks in 233 at-bats between High-A, Double-A, Triple-A. In the majors, hit .167/.268/.208 in 72 at-bats for the Rays. I think he’s capable of better but he should be around for a while as a reserve.

Miguel Castro, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays: Age 19, breakthrough candidate broke through, posted 2.68 ERA with 78/30 K/BB in 81 innings for short-season Vancouver, Low-A Lansing, High-A Dunedin. Projectable, throws hard, secondaries coming around.

Jason Creasy, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates: Age 22, posted 3.93 ERA with 100/22 K/BB in 149 innings for High-A Bradenton, 165 hits. Good control but quite hittable, still interesting. 8^th round pick in 2011 from a high school in North Carolina.

Joey Curletta, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers: Age 20, hit .277/.333/.380 with 30 doubles, seven homers, 15 steals, 41 walks, 111 strikeouts in 516 at-bats for Low-A Great Lakes. Not a terrible year but not special either. Still young, sixth round pick in 2012 from high school in Arizona.

Rookie Davis, RHP, New York Yankees: Age 21, posted 4.93 ERA with 106/42 K/BB in 126 innings for Low-A Charleston, 134 hits. Another young pitcher who ate some innings but did not consistently dominate, still young. 14^th round pick in 2011 from high school in North Carolina.

Jacob Faria, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays: Age 21, posted 3.46 ERA with 107/32 K/BB in 120 innings for Low-A Bowling Green, 113 hits. Solid control, reports emphasize strong command, 10^th round pick in 2011 from high school in California.

Chris Flexen, RHP, New York Mets: Age 20, posted 4.83 ERA with 46/37 KBB in 69 innings for Low-A Savannah, went on disabled list in June, had Tommy John surgery in July. 14^th round pick in 2012 from high school in California.

Dylan Floro, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays: Age 23, posted 3.48 ERA with 112/24 K/BB in 179 innings for Double-A Montgomery, 209 hits. Very hittable but outstanding control is an asset. 13^th round pick in 2012 from Cal State Fullerton.

Jarlin Garcia, LHP, Miami Marlins: Age 21, posted 4.38 ERA with 111/21 K/BB in 134 innings for Low-A Greensboro, 152 hits. Yet another guy who gave up a lot of hits but threw strikes, flashes three quality pitches in low-90s fastball, curve, change. Signed out of the Dominican Republic.

Sergio Gomez, RHP, Boston Red Sox: Age 21, from Colombia, suffered serious command problems for Low-A Greenville in Sally League with 6.75 ERA, 57/49 K/BB in 77 innings, 88 hits. Was much more effective at lower levels but couldn’t bring it forward.

Niko Goodrum, INF, Minnesota Twins: Age 22, hit .249/.337/.336 with 58 walks, 99 strikeouts, 35 steals in 438 at-bats for High-A Fort Myers. Second round pick in 2010 from high school in Georgia, continues to show tools/athleticism and will take a walk but lacks power.

Joan Gregorio, RHP, San Francisco Giants: Age 22, from Dominican Republic, fairly effective at Low-A Augusta (3.57 ERA, 65/27 K/BB in 68 innings, 50 hits) but had some issues at High-A San Jose (6.75 ERA, 27/13 K/BB in 23 innings, 27 hits). This is typical for him, alternates great outings with poor ones.

Jin-De Jhang, C, Pittsburgh Pirates: Age 21, from Taiwan, hit .219/.263/.301 with 15 walks, 36 strikeouts in 269 at-bats for High-A Bradenton. Was jumping from New York-Penn League to Florida State League and didn’t handle it.

Joe Jimenez, RHP, Detroit Tigers: Age 19, from Puerto Rico, posted 2.70 ERA with 41/6 K/BB in 27 innings for Connecticut in the New York-Penn League, 22 hits. Looks like an excellent relief prospect at this point.

Cory Jones, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals: Age 22, went on DL in May after posting 7.00 ERA with 13/15 K/BB in 18 innings for High-A Palm Beach. Tommy John surgery. Fifth round pick in 2012 from College of the Canyons.

Felix Jorge, RHP, Minnesota Twins: Age 20, from Dominican Republic, terrible for Low-A Cedar Rapids (9.00 ERA, 23/20 K/BB, 57 hits in 39 innings). Demoted to rookie level Elizabethton, posted 2.59 ERA with 61/14 K/BB in 66 innings, 58 hits. Problem is that he already pitched well at that level in 2013. Still young of course.

Brett Lee, LHP, Minnesota Twins: Age 24, posted 2.45 ERA with 54/33 K/BB in 106 innings for Fort Myers, 111 hits. Pretty ERA and a nice 1.75 GO/AO ratio, but low strikeout rate is a red flag. Shuts down lefties and is probably a LOOGY in the long run. 10^th round pick in 2011 from St. Petersburg College.

Chris Lee, LHP, Houston Astros: Age 22, posted 3.66 ERA with 75/51 K/BB in 113 innings for Low-A Quad Cities, 120 hits, 1.98 GO/AO. More power in his stuff than Brett Lee (no relation) but command is weaker, will likely also be a LOOGY. Fourth round pick in 2011 from high school in Florida.

Corey Littrell, LHP, Boston Red Sox: Age 22, posted 3.83 ERA with 110/48 K/BB in 132 innings for High-A Salem and High-A Palm Beach, traded to the Cardinals in the John Lackey deal. Not a bad season but not terrific, fifth round pick in 2013 from University of Kentucky.

Jake Lowery, C, Cleveland Indians: Age 24, hit .201/.306/.329 with five homers, 33 walks, 71 strikeouts in 219 at-bats for Double-A Akron. He hit .275/.363/.449 at the same level last year so this was a disappointing campaign and he’s getting old for a prospect. Fourth round pick in 2011 from James Madison.