OTF's 32 Most Interesting Prospects: No. 14, Heath Hembree, RHP

It's been a while since I added to the list. Mostly I have been busy with some work stuff, so that is why the posts have been so inconsistent as of late. However, I should have most of June to post, so I'll have free time to make two posts a day starting in a week.

Anyways, number 14 in the list is Heath Hembree, a power reliever who may have the best stuff out of any pitcher in the Giants minor league system. That being said, despite his power repertoire, Hembree is still a raw commodity of sorts, and there is some concern how he will fare as he moves up the Giants system because his pitch repertoire is so limited as of now.

Hembree originally started his career at South Carolina, but transferred to junior college after 2008 and then made the transition to the College of Charleston in 2010. In his only year in Charleston, he displayed amazing strikeout stuff, as he punched out 42 batters in 29 innings of work. However, despite his strong ability to strike guys out, he also had some control and command problems, as he posted an ERA of 6.52, a WHIP of 1.76, a BB/9 of 5.6 and a K/BB ratio of 2.3. Still though, despite the limited innings in college, scouts were impressed by his stuff and ability, as Baseball America said this in their profile of Hembree in their Prospect Handbook:

"Hembree was a draft curiosity as a seldom-used closer at the College of Charleston, with rumors in the scouting community that he could hit 100 mph. But he also walked 18 in 29 innings and didn't have much track record, and he missed his senior year of high school with a torn ACL he sustained in a football game."

Despite the questions, his size (6-foot, 4-inches and 205 pounds) and velocity prompted the Giants to take a waiver on him in the fifth round of the 2010 draft. In his debut season in Arizona, Hembree struck out 22 batters in 11 innings, and posted an ERA and WHIP of 0.82. What was even more surprising was Hembree's newfound control as he walked zero batters in his 11 innings of work (that's right ZERO).

Of course, 11 innings is such a short sample, but the strong performance in rookie ball suddenly garnered him some attention from prospect analysts everywhere. Baseball America ranked him as the 19th best prospect in the Giants system in their Prospect Handbook, the Minor League Baseball Analyst rated him as the 14th best Giants prospect, and John Sickels ranked him 17 in his Giants Top-20 list. Even ESPN prospect analyst and former Blue Jays front office member Keith Law said Hembree was the Giants' "sleeper" prospect in 2011. This is what Law said in his writeup about Hembree:

"Heath Hembree was a fifth round pick who barely pitched this Spring for College of Charleston, then dominated the Arizona League in his brief time there, striking out 22 of 41 batters without a walk. He hit 98 repeatedly in instructional league in September."

While there was some pressure on Hembree to perform this year with the influx of higher expectations, he has stepped it up and performed admirably this season in the Cal League. He is posting a 0.87 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP in 20.2 innings of work. Furthermore, the strikeout stuff and solid control and command he displayed in Arizona is still evident in San Jose, as he has struck out 38 batters, walked only 9 and posted a K/BB ratio of 4.22. Hembree has been the Giants' go-to guy in the ninth, as he has accumulated 18 saves this year.

There is a lot to like about Hembree. He is a big, strong pitcher with a power fastball and a power slider (it was graded a four-plus by Rob Gordon in the Minor League Baseball Analyst 2011 annual). Furthermore, he knows how to make batters miss, he doesn't give up many hits (he has only a H/9 of 7.0 this year) and his control and command have been sterling thus far. The only concern I have is that I am concerned about his limited pitch repertoire. He's a two-pitch pitcher for the most part, though there have been reports that he has added a changeup to his arsenal. (Apparently in instructional league the Giants asked him to pitch his changeup 90 percent of the time, and according to Baseball America, it wasn't a "wasted effort.") However, one has to wonder how a two-pitch pitcher will do as he advances in the Giants system. Double-A will be a very telling sign of how he'll project as a pitcher, though considering how limited his experience is on the mound in the past few years, I doubt we'll see Hembree earn a promotion to Richmond this season. He'll probably transition to the Eastern League sometime next year, simply because I'm sure the Giants brass wants to see how he can pitch over a full season at one level.

Hembree is still relatively young, as he is only 22 years old and just a year removed from college. That bodes well in his favor, and allows the Giants to stay patient with Hembree and develop him as a pitcher. They don't need to rush him, and that will only result in good things for Hembree as he continues to gain more professional pitching experience.

OTF's 32 Most Interesting Prospects: No. 15, Ryan Verdugo, LHP

I'm winding down in the Top-32 Most Interesting Prospects list for 2011, and at No. 15, I have left-handed pitcher Ryan Verdugo. Now, Verdugo isn't a high-ceiling pitcher like some guys on this list, and in terms of his tools, I wonder if he could transition and find a spot on the Giants' Major League roster. Nonetheless, he is a high-strikeout pitcher who has put up great numbers in the minors, so I he has some promise and was worth taking a look at in this spot.

Verdugo came out of baseball powerhouse LSU as a pretty under-the-radar pitcher. He was drafted twice by the Giants, in the 47th round in the 2007 MLB draft, and in the 9th round of the 2008 draft. Verdugo is a pitcher who relies heavily on his fastball, but does possess a slider and curve (his curve was rated a three-plus according to Rob Gordon of the MLBA). Verdugo did have some hype out of high school, as he was won the Mr. Baseball award in Washington as a senior. There was some issues with his health though, as he underwent Tommy John surgery while in Junior College, which hurt his stock after he declared for the draft again after he finished Junior College in 2007.

He broke into professional ball in 2008, and performed well in his first year as a pro, showcasing some good stuff as a reliever in the Arizona Fall League (he was primarily used as a starter while at LSU). He made eight appearances in Arizona and struck out 19 batters in 13 innings pitched, while allowing nine hits, three runs and six walks. Verdugo finished the season with a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 3.17 K/BB ratio.

In his first full year as a professional, the Giants promoted Verdugo to Augusta and he made 21 appearances with the Green Jackets and finished five games. In 32.1 IP, he struck out 45 batters and allowed only 19 hits and 6 runs. Walks however, were a bit of a concern for the lefty, as he walked 19 batters, good for a 5.3 BB/9. The high walk rate killed his overall K/BB ratio in the Sally, lowering it 2.37 (he had a K/9 of 13.5, which is very impressive). Still, though his overall numbers were pretty impressive for a 22-year old in his first professional season, as he finished the year with a 1.39 ERA and 1.18 WHIP.

Still under the radar going into 2010 (he was not mentioned in Baseball America's Top-30 or John Sickels's Top-20 Giants lists), Verdugo started the year in Augusta again, pitching 32 innings and striking out 50 while allowing 26 hits and 14 walks. His walk rate went down (3.9) and his K/BB ratio went up (3.57), and thus, the Giants organization decided to promote him to High Single-A San Jose in July. In the Cal League, the walk issues came back (his BB/9 jumped back up to 5.6), but he still struck guys out at a good rate (12.9) and posted excellent ERA and WHIP numbers (1.47 and 1.11, respectively).

This year, Verdugo got a little bit more attention from prospect analysts, as Sickels listed him as an honorable mention in his Top-20 list, and Baseball America ranked him the 25th best Giants prospect in the organization. However, the biggest change for Verdugo this year was his switch to the rotation in Richmond. Primarily a reliever for most of his minor league career (he only started one game, and that was in San Jose in 2009), many wondered if Verdugo had the versatility to go five to seven innings a game (his career high in innings pitched was in 2010 when he threw 62 IP).

It has paid off though, as he has been a solid addition to the Flying Squirrels pitching staff. He has made eight starts and thrown 41 IP, but he is posting a solid ERA (3.07) and a decent WHIP (1.37). Additionally, while his strikeout rates are down from previous years (expected since he is pitching more innings and facing batters more than once in a game), he is still showing good strikeout ability (9.7 K/9). He could show better command (2.75 K/BB ratio), but it certainly is above average and an improvement from his previous stint in San Jose. Also, he is coming off a 6.1 inning, 5-hit, 10 strikeout performance against Erie in his most recent outing, which is a good sign of how well he is making batters miss while logging more innings as a starter (he did earn the loss though, unfortunately, but it was still a pretty solid start nonetheless).

Physically, there is still some concern whether or not Verdugo will be able to transition his Minor League success (career 2.10 ERA in the minors) to the Majors. He doesn't sport an electric fastball (it goes in the 92 MPH range), and there have long been questions about his command (carer 2.81 K/BB) and secondary pitches. That being said, Verduo has shown flashes of promise in the minors, and he tore it up in the Arizona Fall League last year. Here is what Fangraphs writers, Carson Cistuli, said about Verdugo in a review of the AFL:

"Scottsdale’s Ryan Verdugo went straight to the top of the SCOUT pitching charts last night after doing this against the Phoenix Desert Dogs: 17 BF, 4.0 IP, 3 BB, 9 K. He’s made all of one start in his minor league career, which began in 2008 after being drafted in the ninth round by San Francisco. He has 167 K in 113.0 IP across four levels, most recently in the High-A California League."

Statistically speaking, Verdugo has shown great strides and improvement in his time in the Giants organization. Furthermore, his transition from the bullpen to the starting rotation has been interesting, mainly because it has increased his value greatly. That being said, Verdugo's future seems to be very cloudy at this point. I think he has a shot in terms of becoming a decent Major League pitcher. His ability to make batters miss can't be debated (12.3 career K/9). At the very least, he seems like he could develop into a Dan Runzler-esque option out of the bullpen for the Giants in the future, and considering Jeremy Affeldt has struggled to regain his 2009 form the past two years, a left-hander like Verdugo could be an enticing option.

At the same time though, it seems like the Giants are grooming Verdugo to be a starter, and as we all know there isn't much room in the Giants rotation for another starter. Furthermore, he's behind other top-tier starting pitching prospects like Zack Wheeler and Eric Surkamp (and rightfully so), and with the June Rule 4 Draft loaded with pitching talent, one has to wonder how much time Verdugo has left with the Giants. If anything, he's probably trade fodder at this point, mainly because he's a good arm that would bring some value to any impending deal this year or this off-season.

I think Verdugo could have some impact for the Giants, and like Runzler, he could be a cheap, effective bullpen option. Unfortunately, if he remains a starter, his days in the Giants organization seem numbered. It's just a matter of time of when Brian Sabean makes that deal, whether it's this year or after the season is over.

OTF's 32 Most Interesting Prospects: No. 16, Chuckie Jones, OF

The Giants sort of lucked out when it came to drafting Chuckie Jones in the 2010 draft. The St. Louis Cardinals were planning to draft the outfielder out of Boonville, Missouri in the 7th round. He was a local kid, and his role model happened to be Albert Pujols. However, the Giants swooped him up one pick earlier, and instead of going to college (he was committed to Maple Woods Community College in Missouri), he signed with the Giants.

Jones is an incredible athlete. He was a high school quarterback and played hoops, but it was obvious that baseball was the sport he was most focused on. Like many multiple high school sport athlete prospects though, Jones' baseball skills were really raw. While he had athleticism and obvious power, there were a lot of questions about his plate approach as well as his overall instincts for the game. Additionally, the fact that he wasn't more widely recruited to four-year colleges was also a question mark, since you think a college would give a shot to a kid with as much power and athleticism as Jones.

Despite the concerns though, he performed admirably in his debut season in the Arizona Rookie League. In 190 plate appearances, he hit five home runs, 47 RBI and posted a batting average of .279 and an OPS of .817 with an ISO of .182 and an extra-base hit percentage of 35 percent. He wasn't dominant of course by any means, as the concerns surrounding him when he was drafted were evident in Arizona. He struck out 61 times (a 37 percent rate) and he had a BB/K ratio of 0.33. Furthermore, defensively he showed some obvious flaws, as his RF/G was only 1.69 and he had a fielding percentage of .922 while playing mostly center field in the AZL.

Now, I know most people aren't impressed by his numbers in the AZL, and I wouldn't blame them. Matt Garroich of MLB Bonus Baby didn't exactly have the most sunny outlook about Jones as a prospect. The strikeout rate was surprisingly high, and his contact rate (63 percent) was also alarming as well, especially considering it was the AZL. That being said, I would compare Jones to Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp, who also came into the Gulf Coast League as a very raw, but athletic prospect. Here are the numbers Matt Kemp put up as an 18 year old in the GCL:

168 plate appearances, .270 average, .298 OBP, .346 Slugging, .644 OPS, .076 ISO, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 7 BB, 25 SO.

Now, Kemp is a better athlete and does have more speed and range as an outfielder than Jones. I don't think Jones could do what Kemp does in center field with the Dodgers. However, Kemp was a player with raw power, but didn't have the best plate approach. Granted, he did strike out a lower rate than Jones (16 percent), but his walk to strikeout ratio was very similar (0.28).

Jones already is off to a better start than Kemp when it comes to power (his ISO obviously shows that). Furthermore, Jones drew more walks than Kemp (who had only a 4 percent walk rate as a rookie), so Jones does have that advantage over the Dodger center fielder at this point. If Jones can hone his approach a little better and improve his strike zone recognition and batting eye (which is possible as he continues to face professional pitching), it isn't out of the question to think that Jones could bring an Kemp-like offensive upside to the Giants organization.

For those who think I might be reaching about the Kemp-comparison, here is what Baseball America said in their writeup on Jones:

"Jones doesn't bother to cut down his swing with two strikes, fanning 61 times, in 165 at-bats. But he also drew a team-high 20 walks, indicating he has some plate discipline. Despite his tender age, Jones is built like an NFL linebacker with above average throwing and running ability. He'll probably outgrow center field, but scouting director John Barr assumed the same things about Matt Kemp when he was with the Dodgers. He has enough arm strength to make right field a possibility."

Of course, this is all theory and Jones, who will begin the year in Salem-Keizer, will be challenged to adjust to better pitching as he moves up in the Giants system. Still, there is some excitement about Jones as a prospect. Baseball America ranked him as the 18th best prospect in the Giants system, and the Minor League Baseball Analyst for 2011 ranked him as the 12th best Giants prospect. You just can't discredit guys with good athleticism and power like Jones. He isn't an elite runner like some prospects who were multiple sport athletes in high school (Kemp, Carl Crawford, etc.), but he can steal a base efficiently (six stolen bases in eight attempts last year), which does heighten his value if he can continue to display this as he plays at higher levels in the minors.

Jones is as raw as it comes as a prospect, but he's extremely interesting because of his age, tools and upside. Furthermore, he's relatively under the radar, which is also intriguing because his career could go either way at this point. I'm not willing to consider him a major sleeper in the Giants system just yet (I want to see how he does in the Northwest League first), but if he can continue to display the skills he showed last year in Arizona this season in Salem-Keizer, then I wouldn't be surprised to see Jones really climb up the prospect rankings in 2012 and be on the Giants radar in a few years.

OTF's 32 Most Interesting Prospects: No. 17, Kendry Flores, RHP

A 19-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic, Kendry Flores is the kind of raw, high-upside pitcher that could either boom or bust. Yes, we have seen nice success stories of high power, high ceiling arms like Santiago Casilla (though he was brought up in the Oakland A's system to be fair), but we have also seen burnouts like Waldis Joaquin and Denny Bautista. To use Ron Shandler and Rob Gordon's grading system (It is explained in their Minor League Baseball Analyst Annuals), I would sense that Flores would grade out anywhere from a 9E to an 8D prospect (the number represents the potential while the letter represents the probability of reaching that potential).

There is some hype surrounding Flores, though it's safe to say he's a pretty unknown commodity around baseball circles, not surprising considering he has only played one season in the United States (last year in the Arizona Rookie League). While John Sickels ranked him the 13th best prospect in the Giants system (he graded him as a C+ prospect), Baseball America overlooked him on their Top 30 Rankings for the Giants system in their 2011 prospect handbook (though to me, he's a better prospect than outfielder Darren Ford and catcher Johnny Monell). Even amongst the Giants blogosphere there are some mixed feelings about Flores' ceiling. SF Dugout, a Giants Online Magazine, ranked him as the 34th best prospect in the Giants system, while Dr. B of When the Giants Come to Town had him as the 18th best Giants prospect.

Why such fluctuation? Well...he's incredibly young and we have such little statistical data to lean on in terms of evaluating him. Even if you include his Dominican Summer League numbers, he has just pitched 121 innings of professional ball and only 55 of those innings were seen stateside. Thus, Flores may be a good prospect with a high ceiling in the Jorge Bucardo-mold. He just isn't getting as much attention as Bucardo simply because what we have to evaluate Flores is such a small sample size.

But what do we do know about Flores? In terms of reports on mechanics and stuff...well...not that much. He does sport a nice frame that he will easily grow into (he's six-foot, two inches tall and weighs 175 pounds), and Dr. B notes that Flores "has fastball in the low-mid 90's with a pretty good changeup and a slurvy breaking ball." It is probably expected that some more scouting reports will surface once Flores debuts this season. As of now, he is in extended Spring Training and is probably going to start the year in the Northwest League with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. The Giants are definitely taking it slowly with him, which may not be a bad thing to do considering he is just 19 years old and has just two years of professional baseball experience (and only one year of AMERICAN professional baseball experience).

In terms of what he has done as a professional statistically, Flores has been stellar. As a 17-year-old in the DR, he made 13 starts and pitched 66 innings while striking out 57 batters. He showed decent control (3.8 BB/9) and command (2.38 K/BB ratio), but the best aspect of the game was that he induced groundballs (1.81 GB/FB ratio) and minimized the hits, as his hit rate was only 6.1 per nine innings in 2009.

In his first year in the states, his command and strikeout ability improved, though he did get batted around a little bit more in the Arizona Rookie League. Just 18-years-old in the AZL, he made 11 starts and two relief appearances and pitched 55 innings total for the season. In those 55 IP, Flores struck out 56 batters (a 9.2 K/9) and allowed only 13 walks (a 2.1 BB/9). His K/BB ratio was a very promising sign (4.31), as it was an almost two point improvement from his professional debut season in the DSL. That being said, the hits did go up a little as he sported a hit rate of 8.0 (a 1.9 increase from the DSL) and the groundball-flyball ratio did regress a little (1.27), but he did sport a high BABIP (.320), so you could argue that hitters got a little lucky on him in terms of finding balls for hits in the AZL.

Dr. B had a nice writeup on him and here's a nice paragraph that sums up what Flores has done as a professional so far in the past two years:

"I had Kendry Flores on my Dominican Dandies list last year after a fine 17 yo campaign in the DSL: 7-2, 2.18, 66 IP, 24 BB, 57 K, GO/AO- 1.85. He handled the advancement to the states with aplomb improving on his K/9 and BB/9 in the process. His last 10 games were especially sparkling: 5-2, 1.47, 43 IP, 6 BB, 41 K's. The first thing I look at in the stat lines of a young pitching prospect is K/9, but the second is BB/9. While Kendry's K/9 is certainly adequate, it's the great control for a kid so young that really jumps out at you."

I ranked Flores at No. 17 mainly because I'm intrigued by his potential. He has pitched pretty well for a young, starting pitcher in the DSL and AZL, but he has performed admirably in limited stints at very low levels. While the Northwest League isn't a major step up, it is still better competition nonetheless. Flores' stock as a prospect from here on out will probably ride on how well he adjusts to Northwest League hitters in 2011.

Additionally, I'm not sure if Flores will stay a starting pitcher. As with a lot of Latin American arms in the Giants system, there is a possibility that he may be transitioned to the pen in due time, much like Henry Sosa. However, there simply isn't enough information out there right now to make the assumption that the Giants are going to move him to the pen, so as for now I'm viewing him as a starting pitching prospect at this point.

The Northwest League begins on June 17th, as the Volcanoes will open the season on the road against the Spokane Indians (a team I'm fond of because I actually used to live in Spokane and I went to college at Gonzaga University). Right now, all Giants fans can hope for is that Flores is making the necessary strides  in extended Spring Training to get him ready for his stint in Salem-Keizer. He's an interesting pitcher, with some intriguing tools and a solid professional history so far, and hopefully, he'll continue to develop as a pitcher as he transitions to Short-Season ball.

OTF's 32 Most Interesting Prospects: No. 18, Clayton Tanner, LHP

The Giants added left-handed pitcher Clayton Tanner to the 40-man roster this November, and he brings some interesting things to the table. In my opinion, he offers a bit more upside in comparison to other starting pitchers on the 40-man roster in the past (such as Kevin Pucetas, Ryan Sadowski and Joe Martinez). As a prospect though, his ceiling is a bit questionable, as his potential has leveled out a bit since making the transition to Richmond last season.

Originally out of Australia, Tanner played high school ball at De La Salle HS in Concord, Calif. A local Bay Area kid, the Giants took Tanner in the third round of the 2006 draft, hoping the six-foot, one-inch lefty would develop over time in the minors. In his first season of professional ball, Tanner was assigned to Short-Season ball, and performed admirably in 13 appearances in relief with Salem-Keizer. He pitched 26 innings and allowed 17 and 10 runs, with 25 strikeouts and only eight walks. His 3.13 K/BB ratio, 3.46 ERA and 0.96 WHIP were all impressive numbers for the 18-year-old in the Northwest League, and his FIP (2.82) and his xERA (1.96) outperformed his ERA, which were good signs in his debut stint.

In his first professional season, he earned a promotion to the Sally, this time as a starting pitcher (as many envisioned he would be when he was drafted). While the strikeouts went down a bit (his K/9 fell to 6.9), he still displayed good control (2.9 BB/9) and command (2.40) over the increased workload (he pitched 135 innings for the Green Jackets). He did prove to be more hittable in the Sally as his H/9 increased to 9.8 and his WHIP jumped to 1.41. However, he did suffer from a bout of bad luck (his BABIP jumped to .335), which explains his 3.19 FIP (though his xERA was 3.93, 33 points higher than his ERA). Nonetheless, at 19 years old and just a year removed from high school, Tanner was a starting pitcher with some upside whom the Giants expected to get better the more he got exposed to professional hitting and developed his secondary pitches.

Going into 2008, there was plenty of attention on Tanner from other baseball analysts. John Sickels ranked him as the 7th best prospect in the Giants system heading into his second full season, grading him as a B- prospect. He didn't disappoint in his promotion in San Jose, as he finished the season with a 10-8 record, a 3.69 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 117 innings pitched. The strikeouts went down again (his K/9 fell to 6.5), but he allowed less hits in 2008 (his H/9 fell to 9.5), a promising sign considering the Cal League tends to be a hitter's paradise. His FIP in 2008 also improved to 3.08, as did his xERA, which finished at 3.56.

Though he started the year in San Jose again in 2009, the hype was still there for Tanner. Marc Hulet of Fangraphs ranked him as a potential sleeper going into the 2009 season, citing his excellent control and good pitch repertoire which consisted of a high 80's fastball that touched the low 90's, and a slider and curve. Sickels dropped him to No. 12 in his Giants Top-20 list, but he still liked him as a sleeper in 2009, much like Hulet.

Tanner pitched much better in San Jose in 2009, as he benefited from a much more generous BABIP (.289) as well as a better strikeout rate (7.8 K/9) and improved command (2.9 K/BB ratio). He finished his second season in the Cal League with a 12-6 record, 3.17 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 139 innings of work, a career high at the time. Hulet commended him in his review of the Giants system in 2009 saying this about the lefty:

"Tanner received some consideration for 'The Riser' category before I realized he was listed as the sleeper prospect in the 2008 minor review. The southpaw can be labeled as a soft-tosser, which limits his ceiling to a degree, but the Australian continues to make improvements and have success. Tanner posted a walk rate of just 2.71 BB/9 while repeating high-A ball for the second year."

After a solid campaign in San Jose in 2009, Tanner was ranked as the Giants' 23rd best prospect in Baseball America's Prospect Handbook for 2010. Sickels also ranked him at 16, grading him as a C+ prospect, though noting that  he was a borderline C prospect and "that he needed to see if game will work against better hitters" (Sickels noted that he was a bit of a soft tosser that didn't have intimidating stuff).

His first season in the Eastern League though proved to be a reality check for Tanner of sorts. At 23 years old, he didn't blow away guys as easily as he did in the Sally and Cal League. His K/9 fell to a career low 4.8, and he struggled with his command as he sported a K/BB ratio of 1.23. The hit rate also jumped to 9.1, as he allowed 150 hits in 149 IP. While his ERA wasn't bad at 3.68, his WHIP (1.44), FIP (4.44) and xERA (4.04) were a bit disappointing, especially considering his solid 2009 showing in San Jose, and the fact that the Eastern League tends to favor pitchers.

Tanner's stock took a bit of a tumble, as he tumbled to No. 30 in Baseball America's Giants prospect rankings this year, and fell out of John Sickels Top-20 list for 2011. Still despite the regression in Richmond, the Giants still thought somewhat highly of Tanner, as evidenced by naming him to the 40-man roster (though it might have simply been a formality, as he is 24 years old and going into his sixth year of professional ball).

This year, much like his 2009 in San Jose, Tanner has improved in his second go-around in the Eastern League. In six starts and 32 innings pitched, he still proves to be quite hittable (34 hits allowed; 1.44 WHIP), but he has increased his strikeouts (7.1 K/9) and showed better command (2.17). He is not dominating by any stretch of the imagination. That being said, the Giants brass and fans expected some kind of improvement in 2011, and while his ERA (3.94) doesn't suggest it, his FIP (4.20) illustrates that Tanner is figuring it out a little bit better this second time-around in Richmond (his FIP was 4.44 last year).

With a pitching staff loaded with good, young starters at the Major League level, and some promising arms lingering in the minors (Eric Surkamp especially), Tanner doesn't present the promise and upside he once did back in 2008, when he was a sleeper prospect who could be in the Noah Lowry mold. Rob Gordon in his Minor League Baseball Analyst annual for 2011 rated him as a 7C prospect, not exactly disheartening, but evidence that Tanner may not be a slam dunk at the big league level (Gordon rates his potential as a No. 4 starter). Here is what Gordon said in his writeup about Tanner:

"Athletic pitcher with plus slider and fastball location, which compensates for average velocity. Continues to pitch effectively despite a below average FB. Isn't overpowering, but knows how to locate and keep batters off balance. Not a lot of upside, but could see a few seasons as a backend starter."

Considering he's on the 40-man, you would hope as a Giants fan you'd see that potential being realized sooner rather than later. However, with Ryan Vogelsong performing admirably in the absence of Barry Zito, and Zito due to come off the disabled list soon (and you know the Giants are going to pitch him considering how much the Giants are paying him), Tanner seems to be on the outside looking in at this point in terms of breaking into the Majors. The best case scenario for Tanner at this point seems to be a callup to Fresno, and even then, I'm not even sure if the Giants feel Tanner is ready enough to make the jump up to Triple-A.

I still like Tanner for a variety of reasons. I think he has displayed good control over his professional career (he has a career walk rate of 3.1) and good control and command can never be underestimated. That being said, without powering stuff and his tendency to get knocked around by batters, it is safe to say that Tanner's outlook as a prospect is a bit cloudy. It's his sixth season of professional ball, and while has been good at various levels, he has never displayed any real dominance in the minors, and one has to wonder if how that will bode in the Majors (His Minor League Equivalents produced a 4.83 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 1.00 K/BB ratio based on last year's numbers).

Still, I ranked him at 18 because he is showing some signs of bounce back this year and I think his outlook is still sunny considering his potential. Is he going to be a future front-end starter that's going to pitch 200-plus innings a year? Obviously not. But a back-end starter who could produced decent numbers over 120-150 IP a season in the bigs? I think that's more attainable for Tanner, and not a bad weapon for the Giants to have.

OTF's 32 Most Interesting Prospects: No. 19, Jorge Bucardo, RHP

A right handed pitcher from Nicaragua (home of Marvin Bernard and Ricardo Mayorga...he's a boxer by the way who does really awesome pre-fight interviews), Jorge Bucardo has had an interesting professional career that was beset by injury this season. If Bucardo recovers from the shoulder issues that landed him on the 7-day Disabled List to start off the year, he could be a sleeper prospect that might have some upside.

Bucardo signed with the Giants in 2006 (he was signed by Pablo Peguero, one of the main Giants Latin American scouts who also signed Francisco Peguero, Rafael Rodriguez and Jose Casilla) and broke into the Giants' Dominican Summer League club in 2007 as a 17-year-old. He did very well in the DR, going 7-2 with a 1.35 ERA and 0.87 in 12 appearances (including 11 starts) and 60 innings pitched. He didn't strike out a lot of batters in the DSL (he only K'd 39, a 5.8 K/9), but he showed exceptional control (only seven walks) and command (5.57 K/BB ratio) for a pitcher his age.

The next year, he made his debut stateside in the Arizona Rookie League and again built on the confidence he garnered in the DR. He made 11 starts and pitched 51 innings in the AZL and struck out 51 batters and posted a K/BB ratio of 3.4. The walks went up (15 free passes) as did the hits (8.9 H/9 in comparison to the 6.8 rate he posted a year ago), but at 18 years old, his United States professional debut was a very promising sign.

In 2009, Bucardo was promoted to the Northwest League and pitched 30 more innings and his stat line remained solid. He finished the year with a 2.66 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP and a 2.27 xERA in 15 starts and 81.2 IP. The strikeout numbers went down a bit (his K/9 fell to 7.1) as did his K/BB ratio (3.05), but he allowed less hits (7.2 H/9) and walked less batters (2.3 BB/9).

His stint in Augusta in 2010 seemed to be the big jump for Bucardo. He threw a career high 114 innings and went 9-4 with a 2.21 ERA, a 1.83 xERA, a 1.00 WHIP and a K/BB ratio of 3.06. His performance in the Sally was so promising that Bucardo earned a promotion to San Jose later in the year. However, he wasn't able to capture the effectiveness of his Green Jackets stint in the California League, as he proved to be quite hittable. In 38 IP, he finished with an ERA of 4.40, a WHIP of 1.70 and a xERA of 5.32. He showed a lot of problems with walks (he gave up 18 base on balls, a 4.5 rate) and wasn't able to make batters miss as much in San Jose (his K/9 was 6.1). Furthermore, his K/BB ratio with the Cal League Giants was a career low at 1.37.

Despite the lackluster campaign in the California League, he was 20 years old at the time, which is a couple of years younger than the average Cal League pitcher. Furthermore, scouts and experts were actually encouraged by his overall 2010 season, even with the mediocre stint in San Jose. After not being ranked the previous season, Bucardo was named the 20th best prospect in the Giants system according to Baseball America, and John Sickels ranked him as the ninth best Giants prospect, giving him a C+ grade.

As noted earlier, Bucardo is currently on the DL, apparently suffering through shoulder issues. If he comes back healthy this year, he probably will get another stint in San Jose. Overall, Bucardo brings some nice tools to the table. Baseball America in their Prospect Handbook noted that he has the stuff of a starter and reliever, and that he is a good athlete, who throws from several arm angles (which makes his pitches deceptive to hitters). Reports have his fastball touching 94 MPH, though it mostly sits in the 88-90 MPH range (though Rob Gordon of the Minor League Baseball Analyst rated his fastball as a four-plus pitch). His best pitch seems to be his sinker (it is a hybrid sinker/slider really), which generates a lot of groundballs (2.1 GB/FB ratio in 2010) and broken bats according to Gordon. Gordon also notes that his arm action leads to solid movement and velocity.

His frame is a bit concerning because its so lean and wiry (he's six-foot, two inches and a 155 pounds), but he's only 21 years old and thus he is going to be growing into his body really soon. That being said, the latest injury this year is a bit of a red flag mainly because one has to wonder how serious it is and how it's going to affect his performance when he returns to the mound. We have seen pitchers come back easily from injury. However, shoulder injuries are always unpredictable and they have come back to nag pitchers and put serious blocks in their development.

The strikeout rates aren't great for Bucardo, but his good command and control, and groundball-inducing sinker, make him an interesting pitching prospect that could have some real upside (read this article from Grant Brisbee of McCovey Chronicles about the effectiveness of the sinker). With his solid pitch repertoire and athleticism, he certainly has the potential to be a good, middle of the rotation starter (Gordon ranked him as an 8D prospect with a No. 4 starter potential). At the very least, he could be a solid, middle innings reliever.

Like I said before, let's just hope this injury isn't serious. Sure, he's still young and even if he misses extended time, he is young enough in his professional to certainly bounce back. However, it would be sad to see his development take a blow, especially considering how well he's pitched as a professional thus far.

OTF's 32 Most Interesting Prospects: No. 20, Jason Stoffel, RHP

Jason Stoffel isn't exactly a pitcher with a high ceiling, but a good fastball (which was clocked as high as 96 MPH) and high strikeout rates early in the minors make Stoffel an interesting arm in the Giants minor league system.

Stoffel played college baseball at the University of Arizona (a very good baseball program) where he put together a solid career as a reliever, finishing as the Wildcats' all-time saves leader (He earned 29 saves in three seasons). While his 2008 campaign with the Wildcats (1.71 xERA, 14.8 K/9, 5.3 K/BB ratio) was much better than his 2009 one (2.68 xERA, 9.2 K/9, 2.2 K/BB ratio), Stoffel came into the 2009 MLB Draft as a polished power pitcher who had a closer's mentality and a fast track ticket to the Big Leagues, according to John Klima of Baseball Beginnings.

After being drafted in the fourth round, the Giants assigned him to Rookie League right off the bat. In 9.2 IP, he allowed eight hits and only struck out six batters, but he showed very good control. He faced 38 batters in Arizona and didn't allow a single walk. The good control carried in a promotion to the Northwest League, as he faced 39 batters and pitched 10.1 innings, but only allowed one free pass. Furthermore, Stoffel displayed better command and dominance with the Volcanoes as he struck out 13 hitters and finished with a WHIP of 0.68.

The good campaign in Salem-Keizer earned Stoffel some attention from baseball writers and analysts going into the 2010 season. Baseball America ranked him as the 15th best prospect, and John Sickels had him as the ninth best in the Giants system going into 2010. Stoffel spent his 2010 in San Jose, mostly as the team's primary closer. He didn't disappoint in the role, as he earned 25 saves and helped the Giants win a second-straight California League title.

However, most of his numbers suffered from a bit of an inflation from the previous season (which is probably to be expected since he only pitched 20 innings in 2009). In 50.2 IP, Stoffel had a WHIP of 1.56 and a xERA of 4.66 (which is 18 points better than his 4.84 ERA). He still showcased the power fastball and electric stuff (11.7 K/9), but the pinpoint control he displayed in 2009 faded. He had a BB/9 of 4.3 and a K/BB ratio of 2.75. Also concerning was the fact that he was more hittable in San Jose than in Arizona or Salem-Keizer, as had a 9.8 H/9 in 2010 (almost a three point jump from the previous year). Of course, you could probably point to the high BABIP (.383) and the fact that the California League favors hitters as a reason for the inflation in hits allowed. Thus, while the high rate of base hits was an issue, it didn't alarm too many people.

This year, Stoffel's stock fell a little bit in the eyes of minor league analysts and scouts. Baseball America dropped him to No. 22 in their Giants prospects rankings, and John Sickels dropped him out of the Top 20 all together (though he did list him as a honorable mention). Nonetheless, there was still hope for him, as Rob Gordon in the Minor League Baseball Analyst 2011 annual rated Stoffel as an 8D prospect (the number representing upside and the letter representing possibility of reaching that upside; the higher the number (9 being the best) and letter (A being he's a lock to reach his upside), the better).

This year, there have been a fair share of issues for Stoffel in Richmond. He has pitched 13 innings in the Eastern League so far and has allowed 16 hits and 6 walks, and his ERA is currently 4.85 and his WHIP is 1.69. The biggest concern for Stoffel has been the loss of his dominance and command in comparison to last year, as his K/9 rate is down to 7.6 and his K/BB ratio is 1.83. Considering his MO is as a power reliever who can dominate in the ninth, Stoffel hasn't exactly showed signs of improvement since last year, which doesn't bode well for his Major League hopes. (It's especially concerning since the Eastern League tends to favor pitchers; the positive spin on it though is the fact that he is two years younger than the average EL pitcher, so he has that going for him.)

In reality, there wasn't a huge amount of upside to Stoffel to being with, and he probably is going to always be what he is: a power-armed, one-to-two inning reliever. He is a big guy (six-foot, two-inches, 225 pounds), but he isn't very athletic, and he was pretty much described as a one-pitch pitcher who was destined to the bullpen the second he was drafted. He has been working on his secondary pitches to change that reputation, but it is coming slower than the Giants organization expected/wanted. Here is what Baseball America said about his pitches:

"Stoffel throws his fastball at 88-93 MPH, at times reaching the mid-90's, and has a power slider that sits in the upper 70s and touches 80 MPH. He can turn it into a hard slurve at times. He worked on a changeup on the side, but didn't have the confidence to use it in games. His future depends on his ability to locate his fastball down and to both sides of the plates, something he he's shown the ability to do when he's composed on the mound."

If Stoffel can get his walk and command issues from last year and the beginning of this year under control, and display that K/9 that made him so enticing in San Jose, then he certainly could be contributing to the Giants bullpen in a year or two. As Baseball America implies, the stuff is there and Major-League ready. He just needs to polish up his command, especially as he continues to progress and develop in the Giants system.

OTF's 32 Most Interesting Prospects: No. 21, Roger Kieschnick, OF

Roger Kieschnick is an outfield prospect who broke onto the scene fast in 2009, but took a big step back in 2010. After producing big numbers in three years at Texas Tech (he hit 39 homers and posted ISO numbers of .319 and .327 his last two years with the Red Raiders), he was drafted by the Giants in the third round of the 2008 MLB Draft. Considering his college pedigree and five-tool potential, many experts felt that the Giants got a steal in the third round with Kieschnick (Baseball America rated him at the time as one of the system’s best prospects).

In 2009, he earned a promotion to San Jose right off the bat, and he was perhaps the Giants’ most dynamic hitter in the system in his first professional year. In 517 plate appearances, Kieschnick hit 23 home runs, drove in 110 RBI, and posted an ISO of .236 and an OPS of .874. He also displayed some good speed and athleticism, as his defense earned good reports, and he stole nine bases on ten attempts in 2009.

Kieschnick’s campaign in the California League was far from perfect, however. While his power numbers were nice, there were major concerns about his swing (scouts noticed that he had a lengthy swing and didn’t always stay back on pitches) as well as his plate approach. He didn’t walk very much (6.4 percent walk rate) and he whiffed at a very high rate (25.1 percent), which produced very alarming BB/K ratios (0.28). Also, Kieschnick showed slightly below contact ability (75 percent contact rate) in a league that favored hitters. That being said, a lot of people cut him some slack, mainly because it was his first year in professional ball and his plate approach would improve as he got more at-bats under his belt in the minors.

The breakout season earned him some nice attention from a lot of publications and scouts. Baseball America in 2010 named him in the seventh best prospect in the Giants system, and Fangraphs writer Marc Hulet had him pegged as the fifth-best prospect in the Giants system, behind only Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Thomas Neal, and Dan Runzler.

Unfortunately, Kieschnick struggled to build upon his solid California League campaign in 2009, as he regressed statistically in Richmond. Back spasms and issues limited Kieschnick to only 60 games and 246 plate appearances, but even in the limited action, he didn’t impress. He only hit .251, with a .117 ISO and .673 OPS, all dramatic drop offs from the previous season. His eye at the plate improved a little bit (his BB/K ratio rose to 0.33), but it still was far from impressive and didn’t make up for the lack of power and overall regression he suffered in the Eastern League.

Of course, there were a couple of things that lessened the blow of Kieschnick’s down year. First off, he was injured, and it was an injury that obviously affected his production mightily (it took an 0-for-34 slide before Kieschnick finally admitted that something needed to be done). Also, the Eastern League tends to favor pitchers greatly, so while the massive offensive drop off was surprising, some kind of regression was to be expected, especially considering he was in his second season of professional ball and he was a year younger than the average EL player.

The Giants assigned Kieschnick for a second year in Richmond this season, hoping that he’d fare better against Eastern League pitching now that he is healthy and with a year of Double-A under his belt. Unfortunately, Kieschnick hasn’t shown much sign of improvement during this first month of play, as he is hitting .200 with a .529 OPS and only nine extra base hits. Striking out continues to be an issue as he has punched out 24 times in 120 at-bats, and sports a BB/K ratio of 0.38. His approach and eye at the plate is probably going to be a continuing issue for Kieschnick as evidenced by the past couple of years in Double-A. That being said, without the power to make up for the lackluster plate approach, Kieschnick doesn’t offer much as a prospect, and that makes his future with the Giants organization a little bleak (especially considering the talent in the Giants system in the outfield).

There are some things to like about Kieschnick. He’s a good defender (the Minor League Baseball Analyst has him as four-plus rated defender), and he showed in college and in the California League that when he gets behind the ball, he can drive in runs and extra base hits. The only problem is that he’s struggled to make consistent contact and his plate discipline needs to improve, especially when it comes to swinging at pitches he can drive. It is still early in the year of course, and there are some signs that Kieschnick can turn things around in the Eastern League at the plate (he doubled twice in a game against the Bowie Bay Sox on May 11th).

That being said, his status is a little bit questionable as a prospect, and one has to wonder if he was just a beneficiary of the California League’s hitter friendly environments. He looks to have some Nate Schierholtz potential, especially with his solid defensive skills and Team USA baseball pedigree. However, Kieschnick this year needs to start showing at least a semblance of the power he displayed in San Jose if he wants to be considered a serious prospect again like he was prior to the 2010 season.

OTF's 32 Most Interesting Prospects: No. 22, Brett Pill, 1B

On upside alone, I am very skeptical about Brett Pill. There a slew of prospects on this list I like more than Pill (even Chris Dominguez, whose high strikeout rates and low walk rates don't exactly comfort me at night) and with Brandon Belt pretty much the heir apparent at first, and Aubrey Huff the current solution at the Major League level, there just doesn't seem to be much room for Pill in the Giants organization.

That being said, Pill is still an interesting prospect because of his ability to make contact and his very good year in the Eastern League in 2009 with the Connecticut Defenders. Furthermore, he's off to a good start in Fresno this year, which makes his situation with the Giants even more intriguing (especially considering he's vying for playing time at first in Fresno with Belt and Travis Ishikawa, two first basemen who have Major League experience).

Pill was drafted by the Giants in the seventh round of the 2006 MLB draft after playing three years at college baseball powerhouse Cal State Fullerton. While Pill wasn't a prospect of major note in college (he was a 45th round pick out of high school by the Atlanta Braves), he still managed to have a solid college career, especially his final year with the Titans.

In 2001, he hit .328 with a .433 OBP and a .905 OPS. While he didn't flash much "big fly" ability (he only hit 15 home runs total in his three years with Fullerton), Pill earned a reputation as a good defensive first baseman, and did manage to be a good gap-to-gap hitter as he racked 23 doubles his final year (he totaled 42 over his career). So, even though the lack of home runs from a college first baseman scared off scouts a bit, his ability to make consistent contact (he only struck out 45 times and drew 39 walks his last year in Fullerton) and hit the gaps as a hitter helped him get drafted after he declared for the second time.

In the lower minors, nothing really stood out about Pill as a prospect. The big issue with him was the fact that he didn't flash much power for a first baseman in college, and that issue persisted in the Northwest League, Sally and even California League. He still managed to be a great gap hitter (he accumulated 47 doubles in Augusta in 2008), but his home run numbers were underwhelming. In three years between the Volcanoes, Green Jackets and Giants (the San Jose ones), Pill hit just 24 home runs in 1,347 plate appearances. The lackluster power numbers also hurt his advanced statline as well, as he never had a wOBA over .330 or a wRC+ (Adjusted runs created based on wOBA) over 97 (the average is 100) from 2006-2008.

After the 2008 season ended, Pill seemed to be a fringe prospect that looked to have a replacement-level career in the Majors at best. Here is what Baseball Evolution.com writer Richard Van Zandt said about Pill after his 2007 in the Sally:

"Widely regarded as the best defensive first baseman in the system, Pill led the SAL in 2007 with 47 doubles and ranked 6th in RBI with 91, clubbing 10 home runs.  Overall.  his bat has been less than lethal, as his career line of .259/.316/.398 indicates.  Still, the club has hopes the 6’4” Pill’s power numbers will blossom in time, turning doubles into home runs."

While it was nice to see Pill's defense noted, he pretty much was viewed by most analysts and scouts as a college-style hitter who played  a position where power and home runs were expected. Unfortunately for Pill, home run power did not come naturally for him. Did that automatically bury his chances to be a Major League player? No, but it didn't help and he didn't exactly show the plate approach (0.47 BB/K ratio average over his first three seasons in the minors) that made up for his lack of pop.

That all changed though in 2009 for Pill with the Defenders, as those doubles started to turn into home runs like Van Zandt mentioned in his piece.

In 139 games and 581 plate appearances, Pill hit 19 home runs, 37 doubles, scored 71 runs and drove in 109 RBI as the regular first baseman in Connecticut. What made this power surge (.828 OPS, .368 wOBA, 125 wRC+) even more remarkable was the fact that the Eastern League was a notorious pitcher's league with the weather environments and park (especially Connecticut's) often making things challenging for hitters. And yet, Pill not only overcame these factors, but he managed to have his best season in professional ball.

All this got Giants fans and management wondering: is Pill suddenly undergoing a late awakening with his batting stroke? Or are these offensive numbers a fluke?

Last year, while Pill didn't revert totally back to his pre-2009 form, he didn't exactly tear things up in the Pacific Coast League like he did in the Eastern League with Connecticut. Pill still managed to hit 16 home runs and produce an ISO of .158. However, his wOBA fell to .330 and he was under the 100 wRC+ average for the fourth time in five years (his wRC+ was 90 in 2010).

Were his numbers a dramatic regression? Not really. That being said, to succeed in a pitcher's league and in a tough hitter's environment such as the Eastern League, it would have been nice to see Pill take advantage of the conditions and hitter-friendly environments that the PCL offered in 2010, his first full year in Triple-A.

Pill is off to a good start this year (.328 average, .852 OPS, four home runs), but there are some concerns with his plate approach. He still has continued to be a good contact hitter (he had a 12.4 strikeout percentage last year and has a 10.4 percentage with the Grizzlies this year), but his declining walk rates (5.3 percent in 2010, 2.8 percent this year) don't really spring a whole lot of confidence in terms of his projection as a prospect.

While he could be a surprise at the Major League level (he certainly has shown more power potential the past couple of seasons than he did in the Northwest League, Sally and California League, which is good), it's hard to believe that Pill will make an impact with the Giants. There simply isn't much of a market for good defensive first basemen who lack consistent power and don't really draw walks.

If anything, he seems to be in the mold of a Travis Ishikawa or Lance Niekro (plus defenders who had fringe power numbers in the minors). That probably isn't a good sign for Pill's Major League future. Nonetheless, it'll be interesting to see if Pill can break that mold if/when he breaks into the Majors. (And considering Pill is better at making contact than those two, it is a possibility, if a remote one.)

OTF's 32 Most Interesting Prospects: No. 23, Conor Gillaspie, 3B

Conor Gillaspie's road as a prospect has become an up and down rollercoaster of sorts. Drafted in the supplemental round of the 2008 draft, Gillaspie came with some hype when he was drafted out of Wichita State. In his junior year with the Shockers, Gillaspie hit .419 with an 1.197 OPS. He smacked 11 home runs, drove in 82 RBI, scored 71 runs and stole 16 bases on 18 attempts. With the selection of Gillaspie and Buster Posey as their first two picks of the draft, many Giants fans felt that the Giants brass had two players on their hands that were well-developed and close to being Major League-ready very soon.

Gillaspie got on the fast track in the Giants system. He was placed on the Giants 40-man roster his first year in professional baseball and after 24 games and 105 plate appearances in Rookie League and the Northwest League, he got a late season callup when the Giants expanded the roster. While his tenure with the big league club was a brief one (he had only seven plate appearances), he still managed to get a hit and two walks. The feeling amongst Giants fans was that if Gillaspie could have a solid year in the minors in 2009 and move up quickly, he would be called up again and perhaps given a more extended shot.

Unfortunately, his 2009 didn't go as stellar as many expected. While Gillaspie didn't strike out much (14.5 strikeout percentage) and showcased a good plate approach in San Jose (he had a BB/K ratio of 0.81), he didn't show any power (.100 ISO, .756 OPS) and he had a lot of issues defensively (.908 fielding percentage; 2.29 RF/G). Considering the California League is considered a hitter's league, Gillaspie's lack of extra base hits was a bit surprising. Sure, nobody expected him to be a 20-home run hitter or 1.197 OPS hitter like he was in college, but Giants fans and management expected more considering how polished a hitter he was in college.

Despite the down year in San Jose, Gillaspie made some progress last year in the Eastern League. He showcased a little bit more power, as his slugging, OPS and ISO numbers all improved (his slugging went up to .420, his OPS was .754 and his ISO was .132, all improvement from the previous seasons) despite playing in a pitcher's league and park. Furthermore, his defensive skills improved as well, as his fielding percentage (.946) and range (2.46) went up as well. The only real concern about Gillaspie was the fact that he didn't draw as many walks in Richmond. After walking 55 times in 2009, he only garnered 37 free passes in 10 more plate appearances in Double-A. That being said, he did double his home runs (eight in comparison to four), quadrupled his triples (eight in comparison to two), and garnered more total bases (206 to 181), so his lack of walks was more than made up for. Furthermore, he still was able to make contact consistently, as his strikeout percentage actually went down in Double-A (from 14.5 to 13.6 percent), so his BB/K ratio wasn't affected too badly (0.55, which is still good).

Minor League Ball blogger and prospect analyst John Sickels had some good things to say about Gillaspie after his improvement in the Eastern League in 2010.

"Jumping up to Double-A Richmond this year, he hit .287/.335/.420, which doesn't look much better on the surface. His OPS improved a bit to +3 percent. However, Richmond is sort of the opposite of High Desert: it's a tough environment. He hit just .253/.303/.378 at home, but a much more impressive .320/.365/.460 on the road, which is more like what the Giants were looking for when they drafted him out of Wichita State...

I still don't know if Gillaspie will have enough of a bat to be a regular third baseman, but he made enough progress to go from a Grade C to a C+."

This year, Gillaspie earned a promotion to Fresno and he is producing good numbers going into today's game. He is continuing to improve his power (he has a .422 slugging and a .780 OPS), and his defensive abilities are still developing (career high 2.74 RF/G this year in the PCL). Also, his OBP and BB/K ratio have gotten back to his San Jose levels (.358 OBP; 0.78 BB/K ratio), so it seems like he's finally getting everything all together offensively now at Triple-A. The scouting reports have also been good on Gillaspie, as reports say he's been hitting a lot of line drives with the Grizzlies, which is a good sign.

The problem with Gillaspie may just be the fact that he plays at a position where more power is expected. Third basemen are expected to be major run producers and right now, Gillaspie hasn't necessarily showcased the power in the minors that makes scouts or analysts think he'd be worthy of being an everyday Major League third baseman. I would counter with the fact that his plate approach, good contact ability and ability to get on base make him a viable option to any MLB club, and he could be an everyday third baseman (or at worst, a utility infielder) on the right team. We have seen players like Daric Barton and Bill Mueller become very solid Big League contributors despite lacking power at positions where power is traditionally expected (i.e., third base and first base).

I think Gillaspie will need to be flexible with his position if he wants to break in with the Giants anytime soon, which I think is possible (though there are issues and questions in terms of his ability to perhaps play second base; a position where many Giants fans felt he might need to move to). Furthermore, if he can continue his development defensively, he may allow Pablo Sandoval to move to first, considering Sandoval has had defensive issues in the past (however, Sandoval is in shape and has played solid defensively this year, though Sandoval's erratic arm may prevent him from playing the position long term). The only problem with this scenario is first baseman Brandon Belt, who would keep Sandoval at third. If Belt breaks into the Majors again soon (which is highly likely considering how well he is hitting in Fresno), then it will be a challenge to find Gillaspie in the Giants lineup.

Gillaspie's stock has been a little erratic over the course of his minor league career, and I don't know if he'll be a major contributor to this Giants team mainly because of the solidity at the third base, and even second base position with Sandoval and Freddy Sanchez. That being said, Gillaspie has rebounded nicely after a disappointing 2009 in San Jose, and he certainly is more than capable of developing into the "Bill Mueller-esque" player that many scouts and expected envisioned him to be when he was drafted in 2008.

OTF's 32 Most Interesting Prospects: No. 24, Steve Edlefsen, RHP

Steve Edlefsen to me is one of those "under the radar" arms that has done well in the minors despite low expectations. Drafted in the 16th round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants, Edlefsen came out of Nebraska after only really pitching full-time for one year. After transferring from Barton Community College (he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2005, missing his entire sophomore season), he was originally a utility infielder primarily, batting .260 with a .695 OPS in 70 AB his junior year. His senior year, he was mostly used in a relief role, as he pitched 26.1 innings and struck out 25 and walked 27, producing an ERA of 4.10 and a WHIP of 1.82.

Nonetheless, the Giants took a waiver on him despite his lack of innings in college (probably not a bad thing since his arm didn't have too many miles on it) and he hasn't disappointed. In Salem-Keizer in 2007, he pitched 33.1 IP and posted an ERA of 1.62, a WHIP of 0.90 and a 7.0 K/9. His K/BB ratio and FIP weren't exactly impressive (1.60 and 3.35, respectively), but it was certainly a surprise considering he didn't "wow" anybody his senior year with the Huskers.

In 2008, Edlefsen showed some more improvement, pitching 77.2 Innings and posting an ERA of 3.36, a WHIP of 1.40 and a K/9 of 8.9. The hits increased (8.9 H/9), but his slight improvement in his K/BB ratio (2.03) over more innings pitched (44.1 specifically)  was a promising sign that his tenure int the Northwest League wasn't just a fluke.

His third year in the minors proved to be huge in Edlefsen's development. He played at three levels in 2009, starting the year in San Jose and finishing in Fresno. On a stacked San Jose team, Edlefsen dominated, posting an ERA of 0.96, a FIP of 2.20 and a K/9 of 12.9 in 28 innings pitched. He was promoted to Connecticut midway through the year, and while he regressed a little (11.1 IP, 10 hits allowed, 1.00 K/BB ratio) in the Eastern League, he still showed enough for the Giants organization to promote him to Fresno. With the Grizzlies, he finished the year strong, striking out 24 in 30 innings pitched, and sported an ERA of 2.40.

His second year in Fresno proved to be better than the last, as he pitched 64.1 IP, had an ERA of 2.38, a K/9 of 7.0 and earned a spot on the PCL All-Star team as well. Additionally, the good year in Fresno earned Edlefsen a spot on the Giants 40-man roster this Spring. Edlefsen is struggling his third go-around in the Pacific Coast League this year (4.70 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 11.7 H/9), but he does have a BB/9 of 1.8 and a K/BB ratio of 3.67, all career bests.

Edlefsen is known for his slider and his sidearm delivery (in a post by Bay City Ball, Edlefsen's slider was graded as the best slider in the Giants system in 2007). However, control has been an issue, as his BB/9 in the minors is 4.4 and his K/BB ratio is 1.84. Furthermore, his FIP numbers have been pretty pedestrian over his professional career. Sans the 2009 California League campaign and this year, he has never had a FIP under 3.35, and that was his first year in Salem-Keizer.

He may not be an "elite" prospect by any means (though he was an honorable mention on John Sickels' Top-20 prospect list this year). That being said, Edlefsen could have a good career in the Majors as a middle reliever or perhaps even as a setup man. His slider and arm slot could give Major League hitters problems (similar to Javier Lopez). While the Giants bullpen is set as of now (I don't see Edlefsen replacing anybody at this point), he could be a solid option this year if somebody gets injured, or next year when some relievers become free agents (Guillermo Mota and Lopez will be free agents next year). If he can get his walk issues under control (and he's starting show some progress this year, though the hits allowed is a little discouraging), he could be a guy Giants fans may need to pay attention to in the near future.

OTF's 32 Most Interesting Prospects: No. 25, Nick Noonan, 2B

Nick Noonan is another prospect (much like Henry Sosa, No. 26 on the list), who's stock has taken a considerable plunge over the past couple of seasons. Unlike some experts who think Noonan probably won't live up to the hype he garnered when he was drafted No. 32 in the 2007 MLB Draft, I still think Noonan has a chance to carve out a good professional career in the future. He just won't be the "high-ceiling star" a lot of Giants fans christened him to be early on in his career.

Noonan was drafted out of high school, playing ball in the San Diego area (a very competitive region for high school baseball...then again, most of California is). Scouts had a lot of praise to say about Noonan, especially offensively, as chronicled in a 2007 post by Obsessive Giants Compulsive.

Here is what a couple of NL scouts said in their reports about him:

"Every time you watch him, you get a better appreciation for him and what he can do. He does everything smooth and easy..."

[One NL Scout] considers Nick one of the top high school hitters in Southern California: "I've seen him hit 95 MPH like it's 75 MPH. He has a quick bat and exceptional knowledge of the strike zone. Nothing fazes him. He's just a cool customer - a true baseball player...."

When the Giants got him at No. 32 in the supplemental round, it was considered a steal of sorts. Yes, Noonan was still young and had a lot of development to do as a player. That being said, the Giants could afford to wait, and Noonan seemed to have the tools to succeed.

Noonan came onto the scene fast, hitting pretty well in the Arizona Rookie League. In 224 plate appearances in 2007, he hit .316 with an .809 OPS and three home runs, 40 RBI and had 18 stolen bases on 21 attempts. The impressive campaign by the 18-year-old in the 52 game stretch only added to the hype surrounding Noonan, as the second baseman was on most Giants writers and bloggers Top 10 prospects lists going into the 2008 season.

While he didn't excel like he did in the Rookie League, his time in the SALLY still proved to be a respectable stint for Noonan statistically. While his BB/K ratio fell from an impressive 0.60 in Arizona to 0.23 in Augusta, and his OPS dipped from .809 to .730, Noonan did hit nine home runs, drove in 48 RBI, and stole 29 bases on 33 attempts in 119 games in 532 plate appearances. While the high number of strikeouts (19.6 percent strikeout rate) and low walks (4.3 walk percentage) did alarm some scouts, many felt that his offensive upside, decent power and ability to swipe bags at efficient rate boded well for his future. Futhermore, the fact that he did this as a 19 year old was even more impressive, and the thought was that Noonan's plate approach would get better as he acquired more at-bats and more professional experience.

Unfortunately, 2009 in San Jose didn't exactly prove to be kind to Noonan. While playing on a team stacked with talent such as Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Conor Gillaspie, Thomas Neal and Darren Ford, Noonan didn't exactly stand out in a crowded pool. He hit only .259 with a .727 OPS and seven home runs and 64 RBI. What was most concerning was his dip in stolen bases, as he had only 9 on 14 attempts after swiping 29 in the SALLY. (Of course, he probably wasn't needed to steal bases with Ford on the roster, but nonetheless...the dip was big, especially considering he played five more games in San Jose than Augusta.)

Much like his 2008 campaign in Augusta, many fans remained positive about Noonan's potential, citing his age, an improvement in BB/K ratio (0.49) and a strong finish in the California League (he hit .292 in August and .310 in September) as promising signs that made up for his regressing OPS, slugging and stolen base numbers from the previous seasons.

In 2010, the Giants organization decided to move up Noonan to Richmond along with Neal, Gillaspie, Ford, Brandon Crawford and Roger Kieschnick. The move was a bit rash, since Noonan statistically didn't show anything in San Jose that merited a promotion to Double-A. As expected, the Eastern League proved to be overwhelming for the 21 year old as he hit .237 with a career low .584 OPS and three home runs and 26 RBI in 406 plate appearances with the Flying Squirrels. The improvement he also showed in plate approach in San Jose went out the window as well, as Noonan had a 0.30 BB/K ratio and a career low .266 wOBA. The lackluster season in Double-A killed Noonan's rankings with experts, as John Sickels, who had him ranked as the 13th best player in the Giants system going into 2010, left him off the list completely going into 2011.

This year, Noonan's back in Double-A, and he is off to an okay start (thanks to a big game last night, where he hit a home run in each game of a double-header with New Britain). Currently, he is hitting .246 with a .701 OPS and two home runs and seven RBI in 70 plate appearances. Noonan still has some issues at the plate (he has struck out 15 times this year), but the showing of power this early is nice, and hopefully he can continue to build upon this with a year of the Eastern League already down his belt.

In my opinion, there is still a lot to like about Noonan. There was a whole lot of "Chase Utley" comparisons early-on in his career, and to me, those expectations seemed to be quite lofty and perhaps unfair. Noonan, while inconsistent with the bat, has flashed good defensive skills in the minors, as he has a career fielding percentage of .969 and range factor of 4.74 in 392 games in the minors. If he can be at least "replacement level" offensively (or better yet, slightly above, though I'll settle with "replacement level"), then he could have a future as a utility player in the Mike Fontenot mold because of his defensive ability. As far as developing beyond that comparison though is questionable at best.

Sure, Noonan is still young (he just turned 22 on May 4th), so he has that going for him. That being said, he needs to have a massive change offensively (both in approach and production) if he ever wants to recapture that promise he garnered after his solid AZL campaign in 2007. Considering how he's done so far in 115 games in Double-A, it's probably unlikely he'll bounce back to that "top 20 Giants prospect" status again (though I certainly wouldn't rule it out completely).

OTF's 32 Most Interesting Prospects: No. 26, Henry Sosa, RHP

The ceiling on Henry Sosa is one that has declined sharply in a short period of time. Once considered a sleeper prospect in 2007 when he made the All-Star Futures game, Sosa has had a hard time finding consistent success in his journey through the Giants system. While he may still have a future as a middle-reliever of some kind (and that isn't necessarily a bad thing to have), it's safe to say that Sosa probably won't live up to the hype he garnered back in 2006 and 2007, when he burst onto the scene in the Arizona Rookie League, SALLY and California League as a 20 and 21-year-old.

When Sosa broke into the minor leagues at 20 years old, Sosa was known for a lively fastball and for striking guys out in bunches (his K/9 was 11.4 his rookie year in the AZL). When he advanced to the SALLY and California League in 2007, he had some issues with his control, as he posted high walk numbers (61 walks in a 125.2 IP between Augusta and San Jose).  That being said, he still maintained good strikeout numbers (11.0 K/9 in 63.2 IP in San Jose; 8.9 K/9 in 62.0 IP), so there wasn't too much panic about Sosa's control, especially considering he was only 20 years old

2008 was supposed to be a big transition year for Sosa (especially considering the hype he garnered by making the Futures game). Here is what Obsessive Giants Compulsive said about Sosa before Spring Training that season:

"...Our rotation could get very crowded with top of the rotation throwers in a couple of years. We have Zito, Cain, Lincecum, Lowry, and Correia currently plus Sanchez and Misch in the wings, but Sosa, Bumgarner, and Alderson could be ready in the 2010-2011 timeframe to come up and start in the majors, though I would say that there is an outside chance that both Sosa and Alderson could make the majors in 2009 - as Sabean said Alderson could on draft day - if the Giants advance them aggressively, much like they did with Sanchez, bringing them up to relieve initially..."

Unfortunately, Sosa didn't transition to the Majors as fast as Giants fans would have hoped as injury issues kept him in the lower minors for another season (he had surgery to repair a torn tendon in his left knee). After pitching 125.2 IP in 2007, Sosa only pitched 57.2 IP in 2008 and didn't show much improvement in his second go-around in the California League. His ERA was 4.31 and he allowed 62 hits and 18 walks in 56.1 IP in San Jose. While he did strike out 58 batters, his 9.3 K/9 was a 1.7 point decline from the previous season.

The health problems and regression from 2007 to 2008 probably should have been a red flag and a sign of things to come. However, the real warning signs came during his 2009 season in Double-A Connecticut. Despite posting good "traditional" numbers to start out the year (6-0, 2.36 ERA), Sosa was shut down after 14 appearances and 72.1 IP due to "arm fatigue" issues. While the arm issues were an obvious scare, what was even more concerning was his 5.5 percent strikeout rate in the Eastern League, an almost four percent decrease from 2008 and a five and a half point decrease from 2007.

Sosa bounced around between being a starter and reliever last season in Fresno, but eventually found himself regulated more to the bullpen over the course of the year. Despite his role-change, the numbers didn't change much in the Pacific Coast League: his K/9 rate only improved to 6.5 and his K/BB ratio was 1.51, the lowest ratio of his minor league career (until this year where it is 1.19, but it is only the start of the season so I won't rush to judgment too quickly).

In many ways, Sosa's career path almost resembles that of Merkin Valdez. Granted, Valdez was a higher-rated prospect than Sosa. Valdez ranked No. 40 and No. 58 according to Baseball America in 2004 and 2005. Sosa never cracked any of Baseball America's Top-100 lists. (Though in retrospect, the Giants system was so shallow that Valdez was really just the best of a meager bunch, and hence, his ranking was inflated in response. The Giants system was a lot better when Sosa arrived, and hence, he went under the radar with Madison Bumgarner and Tim Alderson commanding all the attention.)

If you look past the "rankings" though, Sosa and Valdez have had very close career paths. Valdez broke in as a raw pitcher with serious gas, but injury issues (he missed the entire 2007 season due to Tommy John surgery) and never developing as a "pitcher" (e.g. just being a "thrower" who relies on his fastball) prevented him from capitalizing on the early hype he garnered in the minors. The same could almost be said of Sosa. He had a great arm, but he's been plagued by injuries, and his command has been questionable since his knee surgery.

If you don't buy the Valdez-Sosa comparison, check out their Minor League numbers (Sosa and Valdez) and you'll see that they have had eerily similar statistics (lower K/BB ratios and lower K/9 numbers the higher they climbed in the minors). Does that mean Sosa is the second coming of Valdez? Not exactly, but I don't see Sosa faring much better than Valdez considering where he's at and how he's pitched lately, especially this year with the Grizzlies (8.59 ERA, 2.52 WHIP in 14.2 IP).

Of course, Valdez did pitch 68.1 IP in the Majors over four seasons and 69 games. If the Giants can get that out of Sosa, he may still prove to be valuable to this Giants organization. Bullpen depth is never a bad thing to have (especially considering how inconsistent middle relievers can be), and it's always nice to bolster that depth as cheaply as possible and within the system (Sosa satisfies both factors).

OTF's 32 Most Interesting Prospects: No. 27, Brock Bond, 2B

As a prospect, Brock Bond's ceiling has been a hot topic with many Giants fans. After all, he is 25 years old, has been in the minors since 2007 (he is starting is second year in Fresno), and his stats in the minors over five seasons are pretty impressive. His minor league career batting average is .308, his OBP is .406 and his OPS is .791 in 1,723 plate appearances. He has posted solid BB/K ratios throughout his minor league stops (he's never had a BB/K ratio under 0.65 going into this seasons, sans a 0.30 mark he had in Richmond where he only played 12 games), and he can occasionally steal a base here and there as well (46 stolen bases).

Unfortunately, while his numbers may suggest that he's an "under the radar" prospect, many experts and fans have a hard time buying the Bond hype. First off, he was a 24th round pick out of college, not necessarily a bad thing (a lot of late round picks have carved out good careers), but it illustrates that he didn't really have that high of a stock when he graduated from Missouri. Second, his slugging numbers have been questionable, as his career slugging percentage is .385 and he has only hit 93 extra base hits in his five seasons in the minors (he has only hit three home runs to boot). While not having much power doesn't bury him immediately, he still lacks the other complements or strengths of other "slap" hitters who have produced good careers in the Majors (e.g. he doesn't have much speed or base-stealing ability to make up for his lack of extra base hits).

Another issue with Bond is just the fact that he's playing at such a crowded position in the Giants system. Emmanuel Burriss has Major League experience. Charlie Culberson, Nick Noonan and Carlos Willoughby are guys in the minors who have more upside and money invested in them than Bond. And Freddy Sanchez seems to have a stranglehold on the position, as he just fresh off a contract extension as well. Even if Bond proves to be Major League ready, he might not get an opportunity with talent lingering in the lower minors and veterans ahead of him on the active roster (e.g. delving into Kevin Frandsen territory).

This year though, he is expected to be a major contributor to the Grizzlies' offense, which is still a good tag to have at this point (like I said, he's only 25 years old, so it's not like he's an older guy playing in Triple-A like a Tyler Graham or Edgar Gonzalez). While he isn't hitting too hot out of the gate (.213 average in 52 plate appearances), he is still showcasing the plate discipline (0.63 BB/K ratio) that made him such an interesting prospect when he was tearing it up in the Eastern League with the Connecticut Defenders (the Giants' Double-A affiliate at the time before they moved to Richmond last season).

To be honest, I ranked Bond this high mainly because I'm sympathetic with guys in his boat. Frandsen deserved a more serious shot and never got one despite putting up very good numbers in Fresno. Bond isn't like Frandsen in terms of his skill set (Frandsen has more power, but Bond is better in terms of getting on base). However, you can't deny the fact that they are in very similar situations, and if history repeats itself (and it often does in the Giants' minor league system...after all, Brian Sabean has been the general manager since 1997), Bond will most likely go through many of the same growing pains, flip-flopping constantly between Fresno and San Francisco (and that might be the best case scenario...he could be buried in Fresno more than Frandsen was).

Of course, you never know. Sanchez has had injury problems, as has Burriss and Mark Derosa, and God knows how effective Mike Fontenot will be as a backup infielder. If Bond gets a chance (and it is possible concerning the injury history and effectiveness of the middle infielders on the Giants active roster), maybe he can make the most of a callup ala "Eugenio Velez" style (e.g. a crazy ridiculous streak that garners him more playing time). Guys who get hits, get on base, showcase solid defense (which has been the report on Bond...good but not spectacular) and scores runs, then there will be a place for Bond on a Major League roster.

As a Giants fan, I would hope it would be on the Giants. (I want the Giants to develop and play their OWN players...isn't that the point of the farm system, really?). That being said, while I can be as optimistic as I want about Bond, it is probably a stretch he'll be a regular or even spot contributor in a Giants uniform at any point in the future.

OTF's 32 Most Interesting Prospects: No. 28, Rafael Rodriguez, OF and Carlos Willoughby, 2B

I was torn between these two mainly because I like what they bring to the table, but I'm a bit unsure if they really will develop into legitimate Major League players. As enticing as their tools and skills are, they both don't offer much power, and they have shown some inconsistencies at the plate in their short times in the minors (mostly so in Rodriguez's case). That being said, they still are extremely young (Rodriguez is only 18 years old and Willoughby is only 22), so they still have a lot of time to develop, which makes me optimistic.

Rodriguez came in with a lot of hype when he was signed as a 16 year old out of the Dominican Republic. At the time, Rodriguez got one of the biggest signing bonuses in team history at $2.55 million passing Angel Villanona's, who signed for $2.1 million in 2006 (Buster Posey later passed him in 2008). When he was signed, many people were making comparisons to Vladimir Guerrero in terms of his body type and athleticism. At six-foot, five-inches and 198 pounds, it is certainly understandable to see the Guerrero comparison, but so far, Rodriguez hasn't really lived up to lofty projection.

In the Arizona Rookie League in 2009, Rodriguez held his own in 148 plate appearances, posting a .299 average and a .392 OBP. While he didn't hit for much power (he hit no homers and he only had eight extra base hits), his plate patience was a promising sign considering his age at the time (he was only 17). However, the next season he took a bit step back as he struggled in his second go-around in Rookie League and his promotion to the Northwest League. In a combined 181 plate appearances between Arizona and Salem-Keizer, Rodriguez hit only .265 with a .309 OBP and .653 OPS. What was even more concerning though was his change in plate discipline (as his walk numbers dipped from 16 to 8) and how overwhelmed he looked in Short Season Single-A. In the Northwest League, he only hit .163 with a .459 OPS and had 12 strikeouts in 63 plate appearances. The only silver lining to this was the fact he was only 17 years old, and he was competing with guys who were three to five years older than him.

This Spring though, Rodriguez was "stinging the ball" in Minor League according to AZ Giants.com, and ended up getting a promotion to Augusta despite the lackluster campaign with the Volcanoes. So far, he's off to a good start as he is hitting .293 with a .711 OPS. He has also recaptured some of the plate approach he flashed in Rookie League in 2009, as he has five walks and only three strikeouts in 63 plate appearances. As AZ Giants.com stated, Rodriguez is still raw, but if he can develop his strength (which is likely as he gets older and grows into his tall frame) and continue the solid plate approach of 2009 and this year, he could become a legitimate prospect a few years down the road (not necessarily a bad thing considering his age).

As for Willoughby, he's a bit older than Rodriguez, but he already has a lot of professional experience under his belt. At 18, the native of Colombia began in the Dominican Summer League and immediately had an impact with the Giants' club. In three seasons in the DSL, he posted OPS numbers of .756, .759 and .904. The most attractive quality of Willoughby's game seems to be his speed, as he stole 91 bases in three seasons in the Dominican Republic. As he made the transition to the states in 2010, he didn't slow down, as he posted an OPS of .804 and stole 23 bases in 27 attempts in 45 games in the Arizona Rookie League.

Willoughby is a lot more developed than Rodriguez and his plate patience numbers have been a lot more consistent than Rodriguez. Willoughby posted a .372 OBP in the Arizona Rookie League last year and this year, he has an OBP of .402. Even in the DSL, the same proved to be true, as he never had an OBP below .414 in his three years in the DR.  With his speed and ability on the basepaths (he already has 10 stolen bases in only 19 games with the Green Jackets), his ability to draw a walk and get on base only adds to value as a prospect.

My only issue with Willoughby, much like Rodriguez, is that Willoughby seems to be more of a slap hitter without much power. His slugging percentage in his three years in the DSL was only .388, and unlike Rodriguez, it doesn't seem like he has a lot of potential to develop much power the future considering his size (he's five-feet, 10-inches and 170 pounds). That being said, Willoughby did post a slugging of .432 with six triples last year, so if he can hone his slap-hitting abilities, while still maintaining his patient plate approach, the lack of "big fly" potential might not be a big issue anyways. After all, Jose Reyes isn't hitting 30 bombs a year, but he is still a threat because is he able to stretch singles into doubles and doubles into triples. Willoughby could have the same kind of potential (then again, he could also develop into Luis Castillo as well).

In terms of upside? I like Rodriguez more. In terms of who's better now and will have a shot of breaking into the higher levels of the Giants system sooner? I got to go with Willoughby. Either way, these two are both very interesting players, and their good starts so far in the SALLY this year should give Giants fans (and the Giants management) a lot of hope concerning their potential as prospects.

OTF's 32 Most Interesting Prospects: No. 29, Michael Main, RHP

Michael Main was the crown jewel in the Bengie Molina to Texas trade last June. Sure, Chris Ray was nice for like...a month...but when Main was named the player to be named later in the deal, many Giants fans and writers thought they were getting a steal. Molina was obviously proving to be dead space behind the plate, Buster Posey was obviously ready to take the reigns (The Rookie of the Year award being evidence), and Main was a first round pick pitcher who had some obvious upside (See the number of times I used the word "obvious?" That's how much Giants fans wanted Molina traded).

And yet, Main's career has been a series of up and downs. The right-handed pitcher from Florida, and the 24th pick overall in the 2007 MLB draft has really not developed as well as many hoped. What was once deemed an absolute hi-jacking by the Giants, proved to be a questionable pickup, as the Rangers organization probably wouldn't give up a prospect like Main (high pick, pitcher, etc) if there wasn't some "buyer beware" warnings attached. After all, Jon Daniels is one of the best general managers in the game who has really developed the Rangers' minor league talent during his tenure.

Early on in his career, Main lived up to his first-round hype. In a split campaign in Rookie Ball and Short Season Single-A, Main had a K/9 rate of 10.9, a K/BB ratio of 2.62, an ERA of 3.20 and a WHIP of 1.286 in 28 innings pitched. The following season in a split campaign between Rookie Ball and Single-A, he probably had his best season in the minors yet. He made 15 starts and pitched 58.2 innings, going 3-3 with a 2.76 ERA, a 3.61 K/BB ratio (compounded by a 10 K/9) and a 1.108 WHIP.

However, a variety of weird injuries (he got a viral infection) in 2009 seemed to sideline as he made the step up High Single-A ball in the Rangers system. In Bakersfield, he went 4-6 with a 6.80 ERA, a 1.879 WHIP and his gaudy K/BB ratio fell to 1.32. Granted, he wasn't helped by the .350 BABIP, but it was safe to say that Main's 2009 brought up some serious red flags in terms of his future and projection as a prospect.

Things didn't get much better when he was traded to the Giants organization. Despite showing some improvement his second time around in Bakersfield (he went 5-3 with a 3.45 ERA, 1.182 WHIP in 15 starts and 91.1 IP), he got shellacked in his promotion to Richmond. In 13.2 IP, he went 0-3 with a 13.83 ERA, a 2.561 WHIP and his K/BB ratio was a dismal 0.50. Main didn't show any of the control or strikeout ability that made him such a gaudy prospect when he was in the lower levels of the Rangers' farm system.

This year, he was assigned in San Jose to start the year, which the Giants probably should have done last year. He is off to a good start (0.87 ERA, 1.161 WHIP, 4.00 K/BB ratio in 10.1 IP), but he has found himself on the injury list, which further hinders his development this season. It's nice to see Main find some success, but this is his third go-around in the California League, so you do have to keep his good start in context.

There are some things to like about Main. Though he probably won't duplicate the impressive K/9 numbers he flashed early on in his career, his FIP has outperformed his ERA during most of his stints in the minors (his FIP has been lower in five of his nine campaigns in the minors) and when his control is on (his BB/9 has been under 4.50 seven times), he can be as dominating as any pitcher in the Giants minor league system. Unfortunately, that hasn't always been the case, and his inconsistency with walks and control has been an issue more as of late.

Main still has a pretty decent ceiling as a prospect (though even Sickels admits he was probably vastly overrated by Rangers fans early in his career). He has a power arm and he has shown flashes of good command. However, considering he is still in the California League despite being 22 (he broke into professional ball in 2007 when he was 18) and his shaky health history, Main just seem to be a guy who'll live up to his first round billing. That being said, if he can turn it around in San Jose, and make an adjustment in Richmond some time this season, then Main might have some kind of future in the Giants system...even if it is a shaky one.