Down on the Farm: Top Hitting and Pitching Prospects Statistics

Hitters

Billy Butler, Kansas City Royals

22 Games, .369 AVG, 5 HRs, 12 RBI, .631 SLG, 1.079 OPS

Butler started the season with the big club, but he struggled with the bat, showed almost no power, and was sent back to AAA. Butler obviously has nothing more to prove in the minors, as he went right back to ripping it up when he was sent down. It is just a matter of time before he is back in Kansas City, and he is certainly someone you want to have on your team when he does. Butler has the talent to be one of the best pure hitters in the majors, a high average and lots of power, he just needs to find a position.

Cameron Maybin, Florida Marlins

67 Games, .260 AVG, 12 HRs, 33 RBI, 14 SB, 86 Ks, .480 SLG, .836 OPS

The jewel of the trade that sent Miguel Cabrera to Detroit, Maybin could be a 30/30 player in the near future. The Marlins wanted him to start the season in centerfield, but he struggled in Spring Training, and was sent to AA to hone his skills. His batting average is lower than you might expect, and he is striking out at an alarming rate. Don't let this scare you away, particularly if you are in a keeper league. Maybin has mad skillz, and when he does come to the majors, he should have an immediate impact.

Colby Rasmus, St. Louis Cardinals

73 Games, .247 AVG, 10 HRs, 33 RBI, 9 SB, 61 Ks, .402 SLG, .743 OPS

The Cardinals best hitting prospect since that Pujols guy, Rasmus will be held in the minors perhaps for most of the season. With the way the Cardinals outfield has been playing, coupled with Rasmus' struggles, there's no reason to rush their young prize to the majors. Any injury in the outfield in St. Louis (which is possible the way they are falling for the Cards), and you could see Rasmus with the big boys. Don't let the low average fool you, Rasmus has the tools to be a great player very quickly.

Matt LaPorta, Milwaukee Brewers

71 Games, .295 AVG, 19 HRs, 58 RBI, 1 SB, 52 Ks, .610 SLG, 1.021 OPS

There's good news and bad news for Matt LaPorta. The good news is he is having one of the more impressive seasons in all of the minor leagues. The bad news? With Corey Hart, Mike Cameron, and Ryan Braun in the Brewers' outfield, it would take an injury to have him arrive in Milwaukee. More bad news? All three of those guys are under contract next year as well. LaPorta obviously has a ton of potential as a power hitter once he gets his opportunity, and a name to watch the news for because he should be on all fantasy teams when he arrives.

Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates

70 Games, .286, 8 HRs, 28 RBI, 20 SB, .436 SLG, .804 OPS

McCutchen is a rare, young talent. He has good power potential with the possibility of hitting 25+ homers and could easily steal 50 bases. The emergence of Nate McLouth has kept him at AAA, but at just 21 years old, McCutchen has an insanely bright future in front of him. He might not make the majors until September, but he is someone all keeper league players will want to own.

Pitchers

Francisco Liriano, Minnesota Twins

12 Starts, 3-3, 4.00 ERA, 32 ER, 72 IP, 60 Ks, 25 BB, .237 BAA

What really needs to be said about Liriano? In 2006, the greatest pitching prospect in a long time set the major league world on fire with an 11-2 record then was lost for a year with Tommy John Surgery. His attempted return in 2008 was halted by wildness and inconsistency and he was returned to the minors after being unable to get anyone out or throw the ball over the plate. Liriano has been much better of late, and a return to the majors after the All-Star Break seems likely. Will he return to his pre-surgery form? That is still up for debate.

Gio Gonzalez, Oakland Athletics

14 Starts, 3-5, 5.01 ERA, 44 ER, 79.1 IF, 78 Ks, 38 BB, .262 BAA

Last year's minor league leader in strikeouts, Gonzalez has been struggling for most of the season. He was traded to the A's in the Nick Swisher trade, but so far this is one guy that Billy Beane might have missed on. Gonzalez has plenty of potential, and certainly knows how to miss bats, but he needs to work on being more consistent before he gets a sniff of the majors. He is someone to keep your eye on, but his shining star has dimmed some in 2008.

Adam Miller, Cleveland Indians

6 Starts, 0-1, 1.88 ERA, 6 ER, 28.2 IP, 20 Ks, 12 BB, .239 BAA

When Miller is healthy, he has been one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball. Unfortunately for him, that hasn't been the majority of the time. Miller is currently out right now after undergoing surgery to repair a frayed tendon in his middle finger. This injury history will always follow him, and it will cause him to be overlooked in the future by fantasy players, but for those risk takers out there, Miller could be a great option if/when he reaches the majors.

Nick Adenhart, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

12 Starts, 5-6, 4.66 ERA, 35 ER, 67.2 IP, 47 Ks, 35 BB, .285 BAA

The Angels top pitching prospect has nothing more to prove in the minors, but was less than stellar when he was called to the big leagues. Lately, however, Adenhart has been struggling at AAA as well. He has lost six of his last seven starts, and he has fallen to 5-6. It has gotten to the point where I would wait until he is called up AND had three or four quality starts before I thought of adding Adenhart to my roster.

David Price, Tampa Bay Rays

5 Starts, 3-0, 1.27 ERA, 4 ER, 28.1 IP, 30 Ks, 5 BB, .225 BAA

This is one of the most dynamic pitching prospects to come around in some time. Price has dominating stuff, and although he is just in Single-A right now, it isn't out of the question that he could be in the majors before the end of the season. He is awesome at all things, he doesn’t walk many, his strikeout rate is just overone an inning, and he doesn't allow many runs. Now that the Rays are a team that actually scores runs and wins games, Price is probably the hottest commodity to get your hands on in those leagues that allow minor league players.

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