By Sam Dykstra / MiLB.com
Before the start of this month, the Minor League scene was in a tizzy over which top prospects would get the call to the Majors when rosters were allowed to expand to include those on 40-man rosters. On Sept. 1, we got our answers, and with one week left in the Major League season, it’s about time to check in on how those former Minor Leaguers have done at the game’s highest level.
(Gus Ruelas/AP)
Joc Pederson, Dodgers OF: To those expecting the PCL’s 30/30 man to carry his Triple-A momentum to the Majors immediately, you were obviously disappointed (and perhaps a little delusional). Pederson is 3-for-20 (.150) with nine strikeouts in 29 plate appearances since joining the Dodgers on the first of the month. All three of his hits have been singles. As such, the 22-year-old slugger hasn’t been able to force his way into an already crowded Dodgers outfield. His three starts each came in the first six days of the month, and ever since he’s served as late-game pinch-hitter/runner and defensive replacement. It can be tough to get into a groove when you’re getting only one at-bat here and there. If that’s not enough to make a Pederson fan to feel better, there’s additional solace in the fact that he has walked eight times, meaning his 31 percent walk rate in the Majors is better than the impressive 27 percent rate he put up at Triple-A Albuquerque.
Maikel Franco, Phillies 3B: The Phillies have given Franco plenty of playing time with 12 starts this month, 10 at third base and two at first. Like Pederson, he hasn’t been able to do much with the time he has been given. The 22-year-old right-handed slugger is just 8-for-48 (.148) with no homers, two doubles, five RBIs, 12 strikeouts and but one walk in 50 plate appearances. Major Leaguers have been able to take full advantage of Franco’s lack of patience at the plate — he walked just 6.4 percent of the timed during his Minors career — although he’s usually better at making contact (24-percent K rate in Majors vs. 14.6 career in the Minors).
The Phillies’ No.3 prospect notably struggled at the start of the season (.230/.285/.364 in the first half) at Triple-A Lehigh Valley but bounced back nicely (.309/.326/.551 in the second) before making his Major League debut. The Phils hope that, by getting his feet wet now, Franco will see a similar uptick in Major League production if they decide to go with him at the hot corner to start the 2015 season over Cody Asche. Not to go unmentioned as well, his defense is already drawing raves from the Philadelphia faithful.
Daniel Norris, Blue Jays LHP: You could make an argument that Norris was the most successful pitcher in the Minors this season. (And if you want to make such an argument, watch out for 2014 MiLBYs voting coming soon.) The 21-year-old left-hander started the season at Class A Advanced Dunedin and climbed his way to the Majors after going 12-2 with a 2.53 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 163 strikeouts in 124 2/3 Minor League innings. As such, he became the Blue Jays’ top prospect and surged to No. 26 overall in MLB.com’s rankings.
In an attempt to limit his innings, the Jays have kept him in the bullpen in the Majors, where he’s made four appearances, giving up two earned runs on four hits in 3 1/3 innings. He’s struck out three and walked three. Obviously, that doesn’t give us much to analyze how Norris’ stuff will hold in the Majors, but if his first career strikeout against David Ortiz is any indication, the future remains bright.
Dalton Pompey, Blue Jays OF: A similar story to Norris in the same organization. Pompey started in the Florida State League, and through a steady ability to reach base (.392 OBP) and steal bases (43) in the Minors, he rose to the Majors on the first of the month. His first seven appearances were as a pinch-runner/hitter before he made three straight starts in the outfield against the Yankees last weekend. He’s 1-for-14 with four strikeouts in the Majors so far, but hey, at least he got to meet Derek Jeter.
Taijuan Walker, Mariners RHP: The hope was to have Walker in the M’s rotation all season, but shoulder issues and general ineffectiveness (4.81 ERA in 14 Minor League starts) limited him to only three Major League starts before September. The 22-year-old right-hander has held his own lately though, allowing four earned runs in 15 innings (2.40 ERA) while striking out 14 and walking four in four appearances (two starts). The improved control has been a big-time plus after he issued 13 free passes in 15 innings in the Majors this season before his latest callup.
(Seth Wenig/AP)
Brandon Finnegan, Royals LHP: As a 21-year-old left-hander coming out of TCU, there was some thought that Finnegan wouldn’t need long to climb the ladder if he became a reliever. The Royals took him 17th overall in June, sent him to Class A Advanced Wilmington for five starts (1 ER in 15 IP), moved him to Double-A Northwest Arkansas for eight relief appearances (3 ER in 12 IP) and called him up at the beginning of September, making him the first from the 2014 Draft class to reach the Majors.
Relying heavily on his fastball that averages 92.6 mph along with a two-seamer, slider and changeup that he uses less frequently, Finnegan has yet to allow a run or surrender a walk in four relief appearances (4 1/3 IP) for the Royals as they chase an AL playoff spot. The southpaw has struck out six and scattered two hits in that span. The Royals claim they still believe Finnegan’s future is in the rotation, but for now he’s been providing yet another dangerous arm in a bullpen that already includes Greg Holland (1.52 ERA), Wade Davis (0.91) and Kelvin Herrera (1.48).
Andrew Heaney, Marlins LHP: The Marlins first gave their top prospect a Major League spot back in the middle of July, but the first trip to the Majors didn’t go so hot for Heaney, who went 0-3 with a 6.53 ERA and five homers allowed in four starts (20 2/3 innings). They’ve kept Heaney in the bullpen during this second go-round in September, and he’s performed well in a long-relief role, giving up just two hits and no walks while fanning four in 5 2/3 scoreless innings across two appearances in the last week.
