Future Rookies: 7 HRs and a Perfect Game

Time for another look at some Future Rookies. We broke the streak last week of featuring players that were soon after called up. Of course, when you write about a random no-name pitcher and an excellent hitter that will not be given a chance by his parent team, no matter the numbers, that’s bound to happen. Kris Medlen got rocked in his first start, and if he can’t put things together today against San Francisco, he’ll likely be back in the minors and back in this column for the rest of the year.

 
Featured Add – Hitter

 
Josh Vitters, 3B, CHC, Age 19, Single-A

	AB	R	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
2008 A-	259	38	5	37	1	13	45	.328	.365	.498	.863
2009 A	152	26	10	27	2	3	24	.355	.381	.612	.993
Last 10	42	11	7	14	1	0	8	.476

Normally I tend to stick to featuring guys in the high-minors that could potentially make an immediate impact for fantasy teams. It’s about time to step back and take a look at a premier third base prospect tearing up the lower minors. Vitters showed why he is the Cubs top-ranked prospect in his first full season last year, posting an .863 OPS as an 18-year-old. This year he has been even better, way better, knocking 10 home runs in just 152 at-bats for a .993 OPS. He hit a home run in four straight games last week and has seven dingers in his last ten games. His K/BB rate is atrocious, but I think we can cut the teenager some slack there. His value is rising, and there is no reason to think he won’t live up to the hype. If you play in a dynasty league and Vitters is still available, add him now before the other owners wake up.

 
Hitter Performance Review (as of 5/24/09)

 

		AB	R	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Brett Wallace	AA	128	22	5	16	0	18	34	.281	.403	.438	.840
Last 10	AAA	34	3	1	4	0	1	6	.353	.378	.471	.849
Kila Ka’aihue	AAA	138	30	7	24	0	42	33	.268	.432	.514	.946
Last 10	AAA	38	6	2	6	0	9	6	.342
Mike Carp	AAA	148	29	8	24	0	29	33	.297	.411	.547	.958
Last 10	AAA	33	6	0	2	0	10	5	.273
Andrew McCutchen	AAA	161	33	2	16	9	15	17	.280	.345	.466	.811
Last 10	AAA	42	7	1	5	3	3	7	.333
Alcides Escobar	AAA	180	33	2	14	20	11	30	.289	.333	.389	.722
Last 10	AAA	44	10	0	4	2	1	7	.364
Kyle Blanks	AAA	160	23	9	25	0	22	48	.250	.353	.450	.803
Last 10	AAA	38	5	1	2	0	6	11	.132
Gaby Sanchez	AAA	87	19	4	16	1	11	14	.345	.414	.517	.931
DL	AAA	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–

 
Featured Add – Pitcher

 
Jeanmar Gomez, SP, CLE, Age 20, Double-A

	IP	ERA	WHIP	HR	BB	K
2008 A+	138.1	4.55	1.45	14	46	110
2009 A+	24.0	2.63	0.92	2	5	15
2009 AA	29.0	0.31	0.34	0	1	26
May 21	9.0	0.00	0.00	0	0	8

Completely off the radar heading into 2009, Jeanmar Gomez is in the middle of making a big leap in ability and up the prospect rankings lists. His numbers so far are reminiscent of Tommy Hanson circa 2008. After four good starts with High-A Kinston, the Indians promoted Gomez to Double-A Akron. Since the promotion, Gomez has been absolutely phenomenal, from giving up only one run on two hits and a walk in his debut, to shutting out his opposition in his next two starts, striking out 13 and walking none. The streak reached an apex on May 21, when Gomez tossed a perfect game, lowering his WHIP to 0.34 through four Double-A starts. He’s really making a name for himself, and with Cleveland hurting for solid rotation guys, he could see some action as soon as this year if he continues to dominate.

 
Pitcher Performance Review (as of 5/24/09)

 

		IP	ERA	WHIP	HR	BB	K
Tommy Hanson	AAA	53.2	1.51	0.84	4	15	73
May 21	AAA	6.0	0.00	0.33	0	1	9
Michael Bowden	AAA	44.0	1.64	0.91	1	17	30
May 23	AAA	2.0	18.00	2.50	1	1	2
Chris Tillman	AAA	38.0	2.13	1.21	1	13	44
May 23	AAA	2.0	0.00	1.50	0	0	2
Jarrod Parker	AA	25.0	2.52	1.72	0	12	29
May 23	AA	4.2	1.93	2.36	0	4	4
Junichi Tazawa	AA	49.1	2.74	1.14	3	15	47
May 22	AA	6.0	0.00	0.83	0	2	5
Carlos Carrasco	AAA	48.0	5.81	1.46	4	13	52
May 24	AAA	6.2	2.70	1.20	1	2	8
Jeremy Hellickson	AA	30.0	2.10	0.93	1	8	36
DL	AA	–	–	–	–	–	–
J.D. Martin	AAA	37.1	3.13	0.88	3	2	31
May 21	AAA	6.0	3.00	0.83	0	0	5

Thanks for checking out Future Rookies this week. E-mail us questions and comments at fbcmailbag@gmail.com. Good luck this week, guys!

 
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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