Future Rookies: LaPorta Shown the Door

Future Rookies promoted Derek Holland from its column two weeks ago, and now we’re proud to send along Matt LaPorta, the top hitting prospect in the Indians organization and one of the best hitting prospects in all of baseball. With Travis Hafner hurt, Cleveland has decided to call up the prized acquisition in the CC Sabathia trade last year. He’s likely gone in your dynasty leagues, but anyone that plays in a keeper league that designates more than a couple keepers should pounce on LaPorta if he’s still available.

Is there anyone you’d like to see featured in Future Rookies? Send along your requests and questions to fbcmailbag@gmail.com, and you could be featured in Monday’s Mail Call article.

Now Available

In the first edition of Future Rookies, I suggested you keep an eye on the “Added Players” list for Brett Cecil. After being called up by the Blue Jays to be inserted into the rotation, Cecil is now available in Yahoo. He’s struggled so far in 2009, but the 22-year-old pitcher dominated Single-A and Double-A last year. Those people in deep leagues looking to strike gold at pitcher should consider adding Cecil; for the rest, keep an eye on his first couple starts to see if he can stick in the majors.

Featured Add – Hitter

Josh Whitesell, 1B, ARI, Age 27, Triple-A

	AB	R	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
2008 AAA	475	86	26	110	1	74	136	.328	.425	.568	.993
2009 AAA	80	18	3	20	0	20	20	.363	.490	.575	1.065

For this week, I wanted to go a little deeper into the minor league pool and find a guy that’s not as highly-touted as most that come through this space. Whitesell was once a pretty solid power prospect, until the Nationals took things slow enough that he’s now a little old for the minors. In 2007, Whitesell’s numbers improved across the board in his second stint in Double-A. After moving to the Arizona organization in the offseason, Whitesell had a great first year in Triple-A, with an OPS near 1.000. He’s been even better in 2009, adding a 20/20 K/BB ratio to his game. Chad Tracy has been manning first base for an Arizona team that’s last in the majors in batting average and on-base percentage. Arizona would be better served playing Whitesell at first base against righties and Tony Clark against lefties, while shipping Tracy and his affordable contract to a contender in need of a backup corner infielder.

Hitter Performance Review (as of 5/3/09)

		AB	R	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Mat Gamel	AAA	78	18	7	27	0	15	20	.385	.474	.756	1.231
Last 10	AAA	33	4	2	8	0	7	12	.303
Nolan Reimold	AAA	82	17	8	24	4	11	17	.390	.469	.756	1.225
Last 10	AAA	35	8	5	9	1	5	4	.371
Gaby Sanchez	AAA	87	19	4	16	1	11	14	.345	.414	.517	.931
Last 10	AAA	38	11	3	7	0	8	5	.342
Kyle Blanks	AAA	84	13	5	17	0	14	23	.298	.410	.524	.934
Last 10	AAA	34	4	3	6	0	3	9	.265
Brett Wallace	AA	87	18	5	13	0	15	25	.276	.422	.483	.905
Last 10	AA	42	7	3	5	0	4	13	.262
Andrew McCutchen	AAA	88	18	1	6	4	6	9	.261	.309	.466	.774
Last 10	AAA	40	5	0	3	1	1	4	.200
Alcides Escobar	AAA	93	15	2	7	11	6	14	.269	.320	.387	.707
Last 10	AAA	37	6	1	2	5	1	3	.243

Featured Add – Pitcher

Jarrod Parker, SP, ARI, Age 20, Double-A

	IP	ERA	WHIP	HR	BB	K
2008 A	117.2	3.44	1.24	8	33	117
2009 A+	19.0	0.95	0.84	0	4	21

Those of you with Parker on your team still have quite a wait on hand before you can use him. Everything about the 20-year-old prospect suggests that it will be worth the wait. He mixes a high-strikeout arsenal (about a K per inning) with excellent command, and the results in 2009 have been amazing. He’s done so well that the Diamondbacks have already promoted him to Double-A, where he was promptly roughed up to the tune of three earned runs in 4.1 innings. However, he did post a great 5/1 K/BB ratio in the start and still has a sub-2.00 ERA overall. We’ll keep a close eye on Parker in the coming weeks to see if he can continue to dominate new players at this higher level.

Pitcher Performance Review (as of 5/3/09)

		IP	ERA	WHIP	HR	BB	K
Tommy Hanson	AAA	26.2	1.69	1.05	0	9	38
April 30	AAA	6.0	0.00	0.83	0	2	9
Michael Bowden	AAA	20.0	1.35	0.90	0	7	17
May 1	AAA	6.0	3.00	0.50	0	2	2
Jeremy Hellickson	AA	28.0	1.93	0.93	1	8	33
April 30	AA	6.0	3.00	1.00	0	1	9
Chris Tillman	AAA	19.0	2.37	1.11	0	9	21
May 1	AAA	5.0	5.40	1.20	0	2	6
Carlos Carrasco	AAA	26.0	4.50	1.23	2	5	31
May 1	AAA	4.1	4.15	1.62	1	2	8
Junichi Tazawa	AA	26.1	3.76	1.22	3	10	25
May 1	AA	5.0	1.80	0.80	0	2	6

Minor League Non-Rookies

Ian Kennedy (AAA, NYY) continues to shine, posting a 25/7 K/BB ratio in his four starts this season to go along with a 1.59 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. He missed a start because his hands were cold – he has a constriction in his middle finger called a vasospasm, which is normally brought about by cold weather – but he shouldn’t miss much time. Andy Marte (AAA, CLE) has been smacking the ball around lately, going 5/10 with 3 HRs and 8 RBIs against Durham this weekend. If he keeps it up, some unsuspecting team may swoop in with an offer, thinking he might be their long-term answer at third base.

Homer Bailey (AAA, CIN) pitched seven scoreless innings on May 2 and has a 31/11 K/BB ratio in 27.1 innings. He had an unbelievable 15-K performance on April 26 as well. Luke Hochevar (AAA, KC), the once-prized top prospect, is rebuilding his value in Triple-A, posting a 1.13 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in his first five starts of 2009. With the Royals sending out some bad arms, one has to think Hochevar will get another chance with the big league club before soon.

R.J. White (or daullaz) has been actively involved in fantasy sports for over 14 years, making him an addict at this point. He loves writing, the Atlanta Braves, music, the Buffalo Bills, theatre, the Philadelphia Eagles, his family, and the number 42, though not in that order.

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