Week 11 Little Hero of the Week

Robert Stephenson, rhp, Reds
Team: Double-A Pensacola (Southern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 2.57, 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 10 SO

The Scoop: This is why you don’t give up on a 22-year-old hard-thrower, no matter how wild he may seem at times. Stephenson has walked five or more batters on three different occasions this year, including a six-walk start just two weeks ago, but when he’s on, he’s dominant. This is his third double-digit strikeout start of the year.

Runner Ups

Mark Appel, rhp, Astros
Team: Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas)
Age: 23.
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO

The Scoop: Nothing has been easy for Appel. He didn’t sign the first time he was a first-round pick. His 9.74 ERA in high Class A Lancaster last year was truly nightmarish and even this year, while he’s been better, there have been plenty of hiccups with three starts where he gave up more earned runs than innings pitched. But he’s a month removed from his last poor start and has rightfully earned a promotion to Triple-A Fresno.

Marcos Diplan, rhp, Brewers
Team: Rookie-level Helena (Pioneer)
Age: 18
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 2.25, 12 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 5 BB, 15 SO

The Scoop: Acquired in the offseason in the trade that sent Yovani Gallardo to the Rangers, Diplan signed with Texas just less than two years ago for $1.3 million. He’s a small righthander, yes, but he brings big stuff to the table, including a fastball that in the past has touched as high as 95 mph. He pairs the pitch with a curveball that flashes above-average and a changeup. In his first two starts with Helena, Diplan generated 15 strikeouts in a dozen innings.

Tim Anderson, ss, White Sox
Team: Double-A Birmingham (Southern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .500/.500/.778 (9-for-18), 4 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 RBIs, 0 BB, 1 SO, 1-for-2 SB

The Scoop: Will Anderson’s approach work at higher levels? He’s already shown he can make the important Double-A leap, batting .311/.335/.418 in 65 games. Yet his free-swinging approach limits his on-base skills (he has just nine walks) and cuts into his ability to impact the ball. He has solid-average raw power but only one home run. He’s still a premium athlete with plus speed, so his biggest believers think he can make the necessary adjustments to his approach.

Week 11 Hero of the Week

SP Noah Syndergaard was named Week 11 Hero of the week. He went 10inn, striking 14 while allowing 4 runs.

Week 10 Little Hero of the Week

Michael Conforto, lf, Mets

Team: Double-A Binghamton (Eastern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .417/.462/.625 (10-for-24), 4 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 2 BB, 4 SO

The Scoop: Kyle Schwarber is getting much-deserved attention as a 2014 first-round pick who raked in the minors and is already having success in the big leagues, but the Mets have to be elated with their 2014 first-rounder. Conforto hasn’t slowed down since the Mets promoted him to Double-A at the end of May, batting .393/.500/.639 in 17 Eastern League games. That’s no surprise, given his nice lefty stroke, plate discipline, ability to use the whole field and above-average raw power. He does not stand out on defense, but he has everything you want in a player who can hit in the middle of the lineup.

Runner Up

A.J. Reed, 1b, Astros

Team: high Class A Lancaster (California)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .560/.676/.960 (14-for-25), 11 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBIs, 8 BB, 4 SO

The Scoop: Reed this week hit for Lancaster’s second cycle of the season, but it’s his overall body of work that’s been even more impressive. He paces all minor leaguers with a 1.034 OPS this season, and he leads or is tied for the lead in the Cal League with home runs (17), on-base percentage (.433) and slugging (.605). Reed is a polished hitter and, because he plays first base, he will need to keep up exactly what he’s doing to find his way into an everyday spot in the major leagues.

Week 10 Hero of the Week

For the 2nd week in a row SP Lance McCullers JR has been named hero of the week. He went 1-1 over 12 Inn while piling up 11 K's. He gave up only 4 hits and 3 ER's during that 2 game span.

Week 9 Little Hero of the Week

Michael Conforto, lf, Mets

Team: Double-A Binghamton (Eastern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .400/.538/.700 (8-for-20), 7 R, 3 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 6 BB, 5 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: The top two college bats in the 2014 draft class have lived up to expectations so far. The Cubs’ Kyle Schwarber has ranked among the best hitters in the minors this year, and Conforto has earned a promotion to Double-A with a solid start at high Class A St. Lucie. The jump to the Eastern League has done nothing to slow down Conforto, who has hit safely in 9 of his first 11 games, and he’s also finding it easier to hit for power—he had four extra-base hits this week—now that he’s left the stifling humidity of the Florida State League.

Runner up

Stryker Trahan, c, Diamondbacks

Team: low Class A Kane Couty (Midwest)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .421/.400/1.105 (8-for-19), 5 R, 1 2B, 4 HR, 13 RBIs, 0 BB, 8 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: Trahan led the Midwest League with 26 extra-base hits through June 10, while ranking 12th in the minors with 12 home runs. The D-backs bumped him to high Class A Visalia the very next day, and he went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in his California League debut. As powerful as Trahan’s first half has been, though, he has not advanced to this point in a linear fashion. The 2012 first-rounder put up a tame .790 OPS in the Rookie-level Pioneer League in 2013, then weathered a position change to right field and a demotion to short-season ball in 2014. Trahan clearly caught up with the speed of the Midwest League as he repeated the league this season, with improved balance and swing plane at the plate going a long way toward that success.

Week 9 Hero of the Week

SP Lance McCullers pitched a gem this week going CG 9inn, 11K's 0BB, 4hits, and the win while giving up 1.

Week 8 Little Hero of the Week

Robert Stephenson, rhp, Reds
Team: Double-A Pensacola (Southern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 2 GS, 15 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 17 SO
The Scoop: Stephenson entered the year as Cincinnati’s No. 1 prospect, a ranking that was more a testament to his stuff and upside than his 2014 results. He missed bats last year, but he was also missing the strike zone, which resulted in him getting tagged for a 4.74 ERA in Double-A. The Reds had Stephenson repeat the Southern League this year, and things only seemed to be going backwards for him.
By mid-May, Stephenson had a 5.45 ERA and had completely lost his mechanics, including one start where he got lit up for six runs and didn’t make it out of the first inning, plus another where he walked seven in 6 1/3 innings. Now, things are starting to click for Stephenson, who’s done a better job of repeating his delivery and pounding the strike zone in his last two starts. He still has a mid-90s fastball, a putaway curveball and a changeup that could develop into an average pitch, all the stuff to be a frontline starter if he can keep filling up the strike zone.

Runner up (7 of the top 12 on the hot sheets were Heroes this week)
Rookie Davis, rhp, Yankees
Team: high Class A Tampa (Florida State)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 1.50, 12 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 16 SO
The Scoop: Armed with a three-pitch mix of mid-90s fastball, mid-70s curveball and a changeup, Davis has made a run up the Yankees’ pitching-prospect list. A moose of a man at 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, Davis’ progress in 2015 continued this week, when he made two starts, including one against Dunedin in which he struck out 10 hitters. His 58 strikeouts this year have him in a three-way tie for third place in the Florida State League, and he should get a chance to test out his arsenal against Double-A hitters in the second half.

Mauricio Dubon, 2b/ss, Red Sox
Team: low Class A Greenville (South Atlantic)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .429/.500/.679 (10-for-25), 11 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 3 BB, 2 SO, 5-for-5 SB
The Scoop: Without the hype of his fellow infielders, Dubon has slowly but surely made a name for himself. He’s been featured in Helium this year, and now he’s made multiple Hot Sheet appearances. And for good reason. He sports an .786 OPS for the season, has stolen 15 bases in 17 chances and has played solid defense at both shortstop and second base. It’s anything but a downgrade when either Yoan Moncada or Javier Guerra need a day off.

Cody Bellinger, 1b/cf, Dodgers
Team: high Class A Rancho Cucamonga (California)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .400/.464/.880 (10-for-25), 8 R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 11 RBIs, 3 BB, 7 SO
The Scoop: With a home run on Thursday, Bellinger tied Astros prospects Brett Phillips and A.J. Reed for the California League lead with 29 extra-base hits. Of course, the Houston duo plays half its games in Lancaster, one of the friendliest parks for hitters in the minors. Bellinger does not, which makes his breakout year all the more impressive. (The irony here being that Bellinger actually hit that Thursday home run on the road in Lancaster.) He also ranks among the league leaders with 43 RBIs, 45 runs and a .571 slugging percentage.

A.J. Reed, 1b, Astros
Team: high Class A Lancaster (California)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .320/.469/.760 (8-for-25), 6 R, 2 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBIs, 5 BB, 8 SO
The Scoop: It was a good week for the Astros’ 2014 college bats, as you’ll see below. Reed, the former Kentucky two-way stud and 2014 College Player of the Year, has fully transitioned to pro ball, showing the kind of power the Astros envisioned when they popped him in the second round. Reed still is learning his way around the first-base bag and is limited defensively, but his power-and-patience combo has the Astros drooling.
Derek Fisher, lf/cf, Astros
Team: high Class A Lancaster (California)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .320/.414/.920 (8-for-25), 10 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 16 RBIs, 3 BB, 9 SO, 4-for-5 SB
The Scoop: In truth, Fisher made this list with one monumental day early in the week. The rest was just gravy. Part of the Jethawks’ trio of college colossuses—colossi?—along with A.J. Reed and J.D. Davis, Fisher kicked off his time in high Class A with three homers. Two of those blasts were grand slams, and he added a double, good enough to help him total 12 RBIs. Fisher, a supplemental first-round pick from Virginia, is a pure hitter with plenty of potential to hit for average and power, but he’ll need to improve his outfield defense before he projects as a regular in the major leagues.

Lucas Giolito, rhp, Nationals
Team: high Class A Potomac (Carolina)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 SO
The Scoop: Maybe every top-end pitching prospect should stay at their team’s extended spring training complex for a month. Giolito and fellow touted righty Reynaldo Lopez broke camp late this spring and have pitched brilliantly since. The former’s latest outing featured nine punchouts over five, two-hit innings. Want to know how nasty Giolito has been over the course of his season? Of the 82 outs he has recorded, 38 come via the strikeout (46 percent), and he’s fanned one-third of batters faced overall.

Hero Chat on BP

agetting (Queens): Who do you like more long-term? Tijaun Walker or Noah Syndergaard and why?

CJ Wittmann: Noah because of the bigger FB and he has progressed at every level. Once he gets adjusted, I like his long-term value more. That may take time but he'll get there. But I do like Walker's stuff a great deal.

I'm working through internet issues here. Bear with me for a little bit. Thanks!


agetting (Queens): Obviously Syndergaard has reached the majors before Matz. What is the likelihood Matz is better than Syndergaard?

CJ Wittmann: I don't have Matz rated high than Noah but I know some do. Is that because they really love Matz or they are low on Noah? I'm not sure but I am not one of them.


Steve (Philly): I haven't listened to the podcast yet. Who is your vote for the next Reynaldo Lopez? Also, has the hype around Reynaldo Lopez gotten even louder?

CJ Wittmann: Make sure you give that a listen. I really enjoy doing that and could not be more grateful. We are going to go deeper into pitching prospects so that's when I'll answer this but a guy I said could get some real steam was Luis Ortiz. And I think it will get louder once you see the consistency at higher levels. He is special.


Tommy (Atlanta): Hi CJ, Out of Jose Deleon, Reynaldo Lopez and Alex Reyes who would you prefer ?

CJ Wittmann: Alex Reyes. Lopez may have the biggest fastball but I would take Reyes' FB/CB future combo. OFP for Reyes would be the highest.


neph27 (The cmbl): I know you guys love you some Raimel Tapia. How concerning is approach (6BB in 183PA at high A) in determining the risk profile? I've heard he feasts on fastballs and not much else, is there any truth to this?

CJ Wittmann: I know Ryan Parker loves him. I think his overall approach needs refinement, sure. But that's not something out of the ordinary for a young kid reaching the upper minors.


Peter (Delaware): Tim Anderson - what do you think he has to show in the minors this year to get an everyday MLB job in 2016? Is it just the defense or are the lack of walks a serious concern?

CJ Wittmann: I think his speed really plays and he has shown easy power potential. I am not too concerned about his defense because I don't think he'll be a SS anyway and the hands are smooth. He could stay up the middle but I think his arm is a little light for the 5.5 hole. He's still a different kind of raw because he just started playing baseball later in HS. I think he'll refine the approach and ease into barreling spin more. They are aggressive and I think you could see in '16 if not sooner.


Pelecos (Chicago): The White Sox can't develop position players. How do they reverse the course? Is it a personnel issue and or an organizational philosophy?

Mauricio Rubio: This is an issue that came into sharp focus with Gordon Beckham but it's been there for awhile. You have to really think about the last position player the White Sox developed (it might go all the way back to Crede). This is an organizational thing in my estimation. Beckham is a shell of what he was teasing in college and the rush job they did with Beckham did him no favors. Reversing the course is a tough question but it likely involves re-evaluating how they instruct their players on the whole. I'm keeping tabs on Tim Anderson closely for this reason.


Rory Breaker (The Pub): In the minor league update, you mentioned Tim Anderson being polarizing. BP had him very highly ranked on the fantasy prospects list (much higher than other sources), and I used this info to purchase him in an auction draft. What kind of fantasy projection do you have for him, and what about him is so polarizing?

Mauricio Rubio: Anderson's particular profile is very abstract. He's very new to baseball so any of the positive signs or the red flags can be interpreted in extreme fashion. He's a tooled up player with 70 speed and the potential for solid average power. The SB's might come with 15-20 HRs depending on how well he hits.

I'm a big fan of the player.


fan (California): Time to sell Mark Appel?

Mauricio Rubio: In dynasty leagues? I think you're selling low with Appel so I'd probably hang onto him and hope he figures something out because it's been ugly so far this year.


Chris (Phoenix): Big question about Derek Fisher was his power and he wasn't able to tap into it in college. Has his profiled changed recently with a higher power projection or do the same questions exist and he's now in Cal league where the numbers are skewed?

Mauricio Rubio: I saw Fisher during Quad Cities trip to Kane County recently. The raw is there and he did put on an impressive show in game there as well but it's still a question he'll have to answer at AA. I was pretty impressed with his approach and ball tracking ability and the power is easy in BP, but it's pretty clear he was too advanced for the level and Cal League stats aren't going to clarify the issue all that much. I don't think he taps into his power all the way but there's potential for average to solid average pop.


AK (New York): How about Manny Margot? More of a good all around player, or superstar potential?

Mauricio Rubio: I think more of a solid all around player who can be very good in centerfield. Superstar is a step too far but he's a good player.


seddrah (seattle): Which young arm has biggest upside? Luis Ortiz, Reynaldo Lopez, Blake Snell, Luis Severino, or Yadier Alvarez?

Mauricio Rubio: I'll go with Tuck's boy Reynaldo here.


AJ (Phoenix): The day will not be complete with you saying Raimel Tapia... and maybe saying something about his future. Or his #rig.

Mauricio Rubio: That's my favorite name to say in baseball tons of swag. Mucho swagger


Max (Hartford): BREAKING: Joey Gallo is using Pony as his walk up song. On a far less important note, is Gilbert Lara going to make it past low-A this season? What are your expectations for him and his schedule for the next couple of seasons?

Mauricio Rubio: I know the Brewers are aggressive but I don't think Lara climbs past Low-A this year.


David (Idaho): Brad Zimmer: Potential 5-tool stud or college hitter who should be raking in high-A? Is he bound for Double-A before July?

Mauricio Rubio: 5-tool stud and it wouldn't surprise me if he's in AA before July at all.


ORWahoo (Tigard, OR): Re: Derek Fisher: Just before his final year began, he broke his hamate bone, which tends to impact power for a year or so. Also, UVa plays in a pitcher's park, from what I recall, so that could also have depressed his numbers.

Mauricio Rubio: Pretty important to keep in mind RE Fisher.


Mike (Oregon): At this point, what's Folty's realistic role in the MLB going to be?

Mauricio Rubio: If we're being realistic he's probably a 4 starter or a late inning reliever. If I had to bet I'll go in on Folty the starter but I'm the lonely guy on that ship.


Pat (Texas): What range would you rank these guys now compared to their preseason rank: Difo, D.J. Peterson, Alex Jackson, Fisher, Brad Zimmer, Hoffman, and Honeywell. Thank you!

Mauricio Rubio: Difo, Zimmer, Hoffman, Fisher and Honeywell all take jumps up. Peterson takes a hit and Alex Jackson's stock took a serious hit.


Stephen (Vermont): What's Gilbert Lara's best case scenario prime numbers? He seems like someone that could make his debut at 20 or under, right? Barely 17.

Mauricio Rubio: .265 with 25 HR's if it all works out. He's very young and there's a lot of room for development but the pitfalls are real as well.

Week 8 Hero of the Week

Rookie SP Noah Syndergaard pitched a really well this week going 1-0 in 7.1inn with 6K's and 0runs