Minor League Barometer: Amir Trades Hoops for Diamonds

Everyone wants to discover the next prospect to come out of nowhere and take the minor league scene by storm. In the pitching realm, nobody has seen their stock soar like Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Jose De Leon in 2015. The 22-year-old hurler is putting up video game-type numbers. He started the year at High-A Rancho Cucamonga; in 37.2 innings in the hitter-friendly confines of the California League, De Leon posted a staggering 58:8 K:BB ratio. After dismantling the competition, he was promoted to Double-A Tulsa. In two starts, he has fanned 19 batters. While rotation mate Julio Urias could be the best pitching phenom in all of baseball, De Leon is certainly turning some heads, and due to his age he could be fast-tracked to the majors if this incredible success continues.

Let's look at some other prospects who should be getting more hype but are flying under the radar.

UPGRADE

Amir Garrett, P, CIN - Unlike fellow two-sport star Pat Connaughton, Garrett decided last year to put his hoop dreams behind him and focus on baseball. Of course, Garrett was never the basketball player that Connaughton was; Garrett averaged just 6.4 points per game in two seasons at St. John's. Still, with all his energy now focused on baseball, Garrett appears to be coming into his own. The 23-year-old has a 2.40 ERA and 54:18 K:BB ratio through 48.2 innings at High-A Dayton. His last start was an absolute gem, as Garrett tossed seven scoreless innings. He scattered six hits, did not walk a batter and struck out 12. Garrett has a low-90's heater, emerging slider/curveball and improving changeup. With his athleticism, his upside is considerable, and he has thrown far fewer innings than most other 23-year-olds due to his dual-sport status up until last season. The Reds don't have the greatest minor league system either, so Garrett could skyrocket up the ranks with a few more stellar outings.

Jorge Mateo, SS, NYY - Will Mateo be the first Yankees shortstop in the post-Jeter era to actually have a shot at filling The Captain's shoes? Didi Gregorius does not appear to be the answer, and former first-round pick Cito Culver looks to be a bust. Mateo is just 19 years of age, but is holding his own at Low-A Charleston. Speed is Mateo's greatest asset, as he has 36 steals in 44 games. Though he only has two home runs and 16 RBI, he is not a small shortstop by any stretch, and is expected to develop some power as he matures. Mateo's plate discipline needs work, but that can be said for all teenage prospects. He won't hit the Bronx for several years, and it is doubtful anyone can truly replace Derek Jeter. However, Mateo does the Bombers a glimmer of hope of a return to prominence for the shortstop position in New York.

Nick Williams, OF, TEX -Joey Gallo overshadowed the rest of his squad at Double-A Frisco before his promotion, but even teammate Nomar Mazara gets more pub than Williams. However, Williams is developing into a worthy player in his own right. The 21-year-old is batting .289/.359/.474 with seven home runs, 23 RBI and six steals through 50 games for Double-A Frisco. The improvement in plate discipline is the true testament to his growth, though. Williams struck out an unmanageable 140 times in 112 games last season, mostly at High-A. He also walked just 22 times over that span. Flash forward to 2015. In 50 games, Williams has already drawn as many walks as he did all of last season. Likewise, he has fanned just 41 times. Don't forget about the toolsy Williams simply because he played with other more recognized names.

Cody Bellinger, 1B, LAD - It's easy to overlook Bellinger, a fourth round pick in 2013 who doesn't have the build of a first baseman but is athletic enough to play centerfield. There were questions about his power coming out of high school, but he has responded with 10 home runs in 50 games thus far for High-A Rancho Cucamonga. He has also swiped seven bases over that span, showing an intriguing combination of power and speed. Bellinger has been on fire over his last 10 games, batting .438 with three home runs and 15 RBI. Did I mention he's only 19 years old? It remains to be seen what position he will be play in the future, particularly with Adrian Gonzalez entrenched at first base and Joc Pederson looking like a mainstay in center. Still, Gonzalez isn't getting any younger, and Bellinger's versatility could prove extremely useful for the Dodgers down the road.

CHECK STATUS

Edwin Diaz, P, SEA - It's been a tale of two levels this season for Diaz. He mowed down the competition at High-A to begin the 2015 campaign. The 21-year-old righty posted a 1.70 ERA and 42:9 K:BB ratio in 37 innings. The M's quickly promoted Diaz to Double-A, but he has abruptly hit a wall. In four starts since being promoted, Diaz has an 8.66 ERA. He has already walked nearly as many batters at this level, in less than half of the innings that he pitched at High-A. Control issues hurt him last season, so that is certainly something to keep an eye on in future outings. Curiously, however, Diaz has also suddenly become extremely hittable. Opposing batters are crushing the ball at a .338 clip. The sample size is small, but Diaz will obviously need an adjustment period at Double-A, which is usually considered the make-or-break level for prospects.

Carlos Tocci, OF, PHI - It seems like Tocci has been talked about forever, as the Phillies have simply decided to take it slow with him. He saw Low-A as a 17-year-old, which is nearly unheard of. Now 19 years of age at the same level, Tocci finally appears to be living up to his lofty promise. He is slashing .330/.393/.423 through 48 games. He has cut down on his strikeouts immensely, while already stealing a career-best 12 bases. The power stroke is still a work in progress, and the lean Tocci may never quite contribute much in that department. Still, the speed and approach at the dish make him a prospect to watch, and it now appears that his ascendance up the ranks may truly begin.

Michael Kopech, P, BOS - Even for a pitcher that can hit 100 mph on the radar gun, Kopech isn't really talked about a whole lot in the stacked Red Sox system. After a slightly rough introduction to the minors in 2014, Kopech has found hid groove at Low-A in 2015. He has added some muscle and also tinkered with his mechanics. These factors have been a crucial part of Kopech's early season success. His curveball is also rapidly improving, and a changeup should eventually be added to the mix as well. The hard-throwing righty has a 2.76 ERA and 38:11 K:BB ratio in 32.2 innings. Opposing batters are hitting just .217 against him, and with the help of the aforementioned curveball, he has continued to keep the ball down in the zone. In fact, he has allowed just two home runs in 46.1 innings during his brief professional career, and his current GO:AO ratio is 1.45. With an electric heater at his disposal, Kopech should rise through the ranks, as long as he can maintain his control.

Forrest Wall, 2B, COL - Is there some significance to that incredible name? Perhaps one day we'll know. Wall sounds like he could be the name of one of the monsters from the beloved children's book, "Where the Wild Things Are." In reality, though, Wall is just a second baseman at Low-A who was playing high school baseball in Florida in 2014. He had a promising showing in the Pioneer League after being drafted, batting .318/.416/.490 with three home runs and 18 stolen bases in 41 games. With little fanfare, the 19-year-old is batting .255/.337/.441 with five home runs, 27 RBI and nine steals through 47 games at Low-A. Future home games in the thin air of Colorado will always aid a future hitter's stock, and Wall has shown an interesting combination of power, speed and plate discipline. The Rockies have gotten surprisingly solid contributions from DJ LeMahieu at second this season, but it remains to be seen if he is a viable long-term answer. Wall could also end up battling a shortstop prospect like Trevor Story for playing time if the Rockies do not move Troy Tulowitzki at some point. Still, Wall is a name to file away, and it shouldn't be difficult to forget.

DOWNGRADE

Rio Ruiz, 3B, ATL - One of the pieces in the Evan Gattis trade with the Houston Astros, Ruiz has had an abysmal 2015 campaign thus far. He was one of the better performers at High-A as a 20-year-old last year, slashing .293/.387/.436 with 11 home runs, 77 RBI and four stolen bases in 131 games. While his power numbers did not jump off the page, he was a productive run-producer. He also showed plate discipline well beyond his years, with almost as many walks (82) as strikeouts (91). 2015 has been a vastly different story. While Ruiz has still shown the ability to take a walk, he is batting a putrid .184 through 42 games at Double-A Mississippi. Perhaps most concerning, though is his total lack of power. His slugging percentage is just .221, and Ruiz has failed to hit a home this season, leaving questions as to whether he will be able to stick at the hot corner. Ruiz will need more than the occasional walk to become a future big-leaguer.

Gabby Guerrero, OF, ARZ - Guerrero has come crashing back down to earth after a breakout 2014 campaign. Much like his uncle Vlad, Gabby is a free-swinger, and he took advantage of his surroundings in the California League last season to hit .307 with 18 home runs, 96 RBI and 18 stolen bases. He struck out 131 times in 131 games, though, as his strikeout rate curiously increased for the third straight season. The strikeouts have remained in 2015, but the production has not. Guerrero is batting just .213 with 48 strikeouts in 47 games at Double-A. He has just two home runs and three stolen bases over that span. Vlad Guerrero was one of the greatest "bad ball" hitters of all-time. It's an extremely difficult path to follow, though, and it appears Gabby's genes may be more of a hindrance than a help in this regard. The Diamondbacks, though, thought enough of his raw skills to acquire him in the Mark Trumbo deal with the Mariners this week.

Taylor Lindsey, 2B, SD - The prospect luster has faded fast for Lindsey, who was once arguably the top player in the Los Angeles Angels farm system. Dealt from the Angels last season in the Huston Street trade, Lindsey was off to an underwhelming start to the year in 2015. He was hitting .228 with no home runs, seven RBI and three stolen bases in 33 games. The 23-year-old subsequently suffered an undisclosed injury and has been sidelined since late-May. His performance over the last year or so is a far cry from 2013, by far his best campaign as a professional. That year, Lindsey hit .273 with 17 home runs and 56 RBI at Double-A. Double-digit home runs may be a pipe dream at this point even if Lindsey makes it to the majors. Perhaps most disappointing, his average has decreased in each successive season since 2011.

Stephen Piscotty, OF, STL - Why does the 24-year-old Piscotty keep getting passed over for a promotion? Could it be that his transition from third base to the outfield has not gone as smoothly as planned? There does not seem to be much of a rhyme or reason for Piscotty to continue to stay at Triple-A, other than the fact that he would not get everyday at-bats at the big-league level. Still, Randal Grichuk has suddenly become an integral part of the Cardinals outfield, and Grichuk is a year younger than Piscotty. Matt Holliday is getting up there in terms of age, and Jason Heyward is a free agent after this season, so Piscotty's time may come soon enough. Still, one has to wonder whether playing in Triple-A for the last year-plus has started to wear on Piscotty. He is batting .255 currently, by far his lowest average since entering the minors in 2012. He is drawing more walks, but also striking out with much greater frequency. An injury or trade could change his current trajectory, but right now Piscotty looks stuck in Triple-A.