The Heroes had 10 of the top 50 players on BP's mid season top 50 list that came out today.
7. RHP Lucas Giolito (Nationals)
Placement on pre-season 101: #13
Current MiLB level/Affiliate: Low-A Hagerstown
Developmental Update: The training wheels are nearly off in terms of development with Giolito. On his best nights, he flashes two elite offerings in the fastball and curveball. Both pitches are capable of doing extreme damage in the majors, with the curveball one of the best pitches currently in the minors. Giolito has the makings of a front-end starter with the giant frame and fastball/curve combo, but there is still some risk in terms of long-term health and the development of the changeup. Regardless, this is the prospect in the minors that offers the highest ceiling and could very well solidify a Washington rotation with top-end talent. –Tucker Blair
10. RHP Robert Stephenson (Reds)
Placement on pre-season 101: #22
Current MiLB level/Affiliate: Double-A Pensacola
Developmental Update: With only four starts of Double-A experience under his belt, Stephenson returned to the level to start the 2014 season, and has continued to rise through the ranks as one of the top young arms in the game. With plus athleticism and elite arm strength, the 21-year-old righty profiles as a frontline starter, with a double-plus fastball/curveball combination and a projectable changeup that could push him into the Reds’ major-league rotation at some point in 2015. –Jason Parks
26. RHIP Jameson Taillon (Pirates)
Placement on pre-season 101: #19
Current MiLB level/Affiliate: Triple-A Indianapolis
Developmental Update: The former second overall pick still makes the cut despite the lost season to Tommy John surgery. The 6-foot-7 Taillon has ideal workhorse size and strength to go along with an advanced four-pitch arsenal. He was able to find success last season in Double-A and Triple-A thanks to his easy mid-90s fastball and a downright filthy curveball. Taillon also sports a two-seamer that has tons of sink and can be relied upon to induce groundballs or miss bats, whichever you prefer. His changeup is bringing up the rear of his repertoire, but it was coming along before the injury and should grade out to be average at worst. There is still a huge amount of potential here and he remains the top arm in a deep Pirates system. –Chris King
30. OF Stephen Piscotty (Cardinals)
Placement on pre-season 101: #66
Current MiLB level/Affiliate: Triple-A Memphis
Developmental Update: The old "hitters hit" adage directly applies here. For the third straight year since being drafted, Piscotty is hitting right around .300. The Stanford alum doesn't struggle against lefties, and should have no problem as an everyday fixture on a corner of the Cardinals outfield. He manipulates the barrel, keeps it in the zone for a long time, and can hit to all fields. The profile is more of a doubles hitter than a true HR threat. On top of the hit tool, Piscotty has a big time arm and is solid-average on defense. –Jordan Gorosh
34. RHP Mark Appel (Astros)
Placement on pre-season 101: #21
Current MiLB level/Affiliate: High-A Lancaster
Developmental Update: The supposed “can’t miss” no. 1 overall pick hasn’t done nearly enough to warrant the selection. The stuff has been inconsistent at best, and when the stuff was good he lacked the command you would expect from a polished arm. Questions about his makeup are legit ones, and you can’t help but ask if he’s hiding an injury. He’s back in High-A now after the Astros sent him to extended spring training for a couple of weeks to sort things out, but the questions remain and are serious enough to push him down the rankings, hopefully just for the time being. –Chris Rodriguez
35. OF Raimel Tapia (Rockies)
Placement on pre-season 101: #97
Current MiLB level/Affiliate: Low-A Asheville
Developmental Update: Tapia is an extremely interesting prospect. His thin frame and unique stance do not scream future first-division player but that is exactly what Tapia has a shot to become. Tapia is extremely quick out of the box and uses that speed and his good instincts to cover ground in the outfield despite average top-end speed. The bat is his calling card, earning the rare double-plus (70) future grade. He can drive the ball even if the pitcher hits a spot. It’s an extremely special tool. –Ryan Parker
38. SS Tim Anderson (White Sox)
Placement on pre-season 101: Just missed the cut
Current MiLB level/Affiliate: High-A Winston-Salem (Disabled list)
Developmental Update: Anderson sticks out like a sore thumb in low-minors ball; his smooth actions and athleticism jump off the field. The ball makes a different sound off his bat, and the power projection is real. Outstanding wrists and hand-eye coordination have helped this raw athlete turn into a bona fide baseball player. While he's out of position at SS and will likely move to CF in the near future, Anderson offers a multitudinous tool set as a player who can impact the game in multiple ways. Although he's still a high-risk proposition, especially considering his lack of reps as a baseball player, the ceiling is immense. –Jordan Gorosh
43. RHP Nick Kingham (Pirates)
Placement on pre-season 101: #80
Current MiLB level/Affiliate: Triple-A Indianapolis
Developmental Update: Lacking the ceiling of some of his fellow listmates, Kingham makes up for that with a high floor and proximity to the majors that could see him called upon late this year or early next. He's built to handle innings and has the arsenal to do it, and he should slide into the middle of the Pirates’ rotation whenever they make room for him. –Jeff Moore
49. RHP Alex Gonzalez (Rangers)
Placement on pre-season 101: #70
Current MiLB level/Affiliate: Double-A Frisco
Developmental Update: The former first round pick has shown strong development and polish of his skills. Gonzalez flashes a four-pitch mix with an electric fastball helping all of his off-speed arsenal play up. Starting at the High-A level, he improved his command within the strike zone and ability to control the zone with his improved curveball. This led to his promotion to Double-A in his age-22 season. A mid-rotation-starter ceiling with a back-end-starter floor makes him a very intriguing prospect. –CJ Wittmann
50. RHP Miguel Almonte (Royals)
Placement on pre-season 101: #46
Current MiLB level/Affiliate: High-A Wilmington
Developmental Update: The right-handed starter has shown development in his skills and is becoming more of a polished arm while pitching at the High-A level as a 21 year-old. Almonte has a plus fastball and a double-plus changeup that has allowed him to succeed at all levels leading up to this year. Development of a third pitch was the main concern I had with the prospect, and this year he has shown big strides in the development of his curveball. Command improvement within the strike zone, and the ability to be more consistent with his fast mechanics, will allow him to hit his high ceiling as a mid-rotation starter on a playoff-caliber team. Early in the season, Almonte was showing more reliever traits than starter traits but he has had a strong stretch and in recent starts has shown the ability to control the strike zone. –CJ Wittmann
Also the Hero drafted two others in the 2014 draft and had to part ways due to roster limits and both were traded for picks
44. OF Hunter Renfroe (Padres)
Placement on pre-season 101: Just missed the cut
Current MiLB level/Affiliate: Double-A San Antonio
Developmental Update: Previously left off the preseason Top 101, the stocky outfielder exploded in the California League thanks to plus-plus power potential that’s already showing its face in game action. He can impact the game on the other side of the ball as well, with a solid defensive profile and a weapon in his arm. His rapid ascent into the premier crop of outfield prospects has earned him a promotion to Double-A, where he’ll continue to hone his future average hit tool and developing approach. –Chris Rodriguez
48. RHP Luis Severino (Yankees)
Placement on pre-season 101: N/A
Current MiLB level/Affiliate: High-A Tampa
Developmental Update: Not many guys go from a mostly unknown to a top 50 prospect in less than a year, but here we are. Even with concerns about his size or lack thereof and a delivery that ranges from mid- to high-effort, Severino has quieted lots of critics with his electric right arm. His fastball sits easily in the 93-96 range and is topping out at 97 this season. While the fastball is his meal ticket, his secondaries are on the rise, especially his changeup. He's showing the ability to maintain good arm speed, which allows him to disguise this pitch and the late arm-side action on it. There is still some debate about whether his future is in the rotation or out of the pen, but if his slider comes along as his changeup has, the odds of him sticking as a starter will greatly increase. No matter which way you view his future role, Severino is a legit talent and one of the most enjoyable
