As Spring Training starts let's take a look at the top prospects from the AL North.
Montreal Royals
Al Johnson, 3b, 19: Johnson is a solid hitting 3b who currently plays for the Royals Low A affiliate. He projects as a solid power hitter and is good at seeing the ball out of both righties and lefties. Johnson might not be an everyday player in the Majors, but he projects to be a solid bench bat at the very least.
Santiago Zurbaran, rp, 25: Zurbaran is one of the top closer prospects in the league. He projects to have fantastic control of his pitches and couples a ++ 4-seamer with a + curve and a good change-up for a solid set of three pitches. He throws to both lefties and righties very well. Zurbaran made his major league debut last season, pitching 4.1 innings in 6 apperances giving up no runs. Look for Zurbaran to be in the Royals bullpen sometime this season.
Carl Baptist, cf, 19: Baptist projects a a solid fielding cf with great range. Baptist has never had any power in his swing but he projects to have average contact, with a good eye and the ability to pick up pitches well out of the pitchers hand he could find a place in a Major League lineup 3-4 years from now. Baptist brings superior speed and while he is still developing his baserunning skills, he has the ability to be a great base stealer.
Cincinnati Sinners
Samuel McConnell, rp, 19: McConnell is a setup/closer prospect for the Sinners. The groundball pitcher projects to have good control and velocity and has a three pitch repertoire that projects to include a ++ sinker, + curve and a solid 4-seamer.
Horacio Merced, sp, 23: Merced is a solid starting pitching prospect, he projects to be a middle of the rotation starter in Cinncy. He has elite stamina and projects to have good control and velocity. He pitches well to both lefties and righties. He has a projected + curve but the rest of his four pitches are nothing to write home about. Look for him in the Majors in two or three seasons.
Felix Matthews, 2b, 21: Matthews is the Sinner's top prospect. He is a solid 2b who projects to have good contact to go along with his mostly developed power. He sees the ball much better against lefties but has a good eye that should keep him from being strikeout prone. He has very good speed but his baserunning skills are only so-so. Look for Matthews to be in the Majors in the next 2 seasons.
Buffalo Wings
Adam Patterson, 2b, 21: Patterson is a solid fielding 2b who projects to be an ML starter one day. He has good contact and power and sees pitches out of the glove well. He has an elite eye, that should result in many walks throughout his career and has very good baserunning instinct. Expect to see Patterson in the Majors in two or three seasons, although he has the skills to be play in the Majors today.
Don Gload, sp, 20: Last years #13 pick is one of Buffalo's best prospects. He projects to be a frontline starter with his good control and stamina. He pitches well to both lefties and righties. He doesn't have much velocity and many scouts do not see him improving much from where he is today. He projects to have a + 4-seamer and a good sinker and change for three solid pitches. Gload is at least 2 seasons away from his major league debut.
Arthur Roberts, ss, 20: Roberts is currently playing short for the clubs Triple A affiliate. Roberts does not project to be a ML ss, he could play anywhere in the corner outfield or infield, most likely 3b will be his ML position. He projects to have good power to go with a good eye. Roberts sees the ball well out of the pitchers hand and should be a solid addition to the Wings lineup when he gets there in two or three years.
Trenton Generals
Louie Saenz, sp, 20: Saenz is a middle of the rotation prospect who is currently pitching for the Generals Double A affiliate. He has adequate control of his pitches and projects to have below average velocity. He makes up for that with the ability to pitch well to both lefties and rightie batters and couples three good pitches, projected his best pitch is a + sinker to go along with good circle change and split finger. Saenz could be in the Majors by next season.
Karl Sanders, sp, 19: Last seasons #12 pick, Sanders looks to be near the top of the General's rotation in a few years. Scouts project elite stamina, control and velocity for Sanders. He projects to have a + slider and a good 4-seamer in his 5 pitch selection. Don't expect to see Sanders in the Majors any time soon though.
Rickey Basile, ss, 20: Basile is currently playing short for the clubs Double A affiliate. He projects to be a slightly below average fielding ss at the major league level and doesn't wow anyone with his bat but won't be an offensive liability either. He projects to have solid power with a decent eye. He hits lefties quite a bit better the righties. Expect to see Basile in the Majors in one or two seasons.
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