Continuing with last week’s theme – a look at some of the names that will be popping up on top of prospect lists all over the Internet this offseason with a focus on those players that will make major league debuts next season or shortly after. The names mentioned below will only be of players who did not make an appearance in the majors this season. This week I’ll look at some pitching prospects.
Boof Bonser (P), Minnesota – The Twins acquired Bonser from the Giants in the very fruitful A.J. Pierzynski trade that also netted them pitchers Francisco Liriano and Joe Nathan. Bonser put together a solid season at Triple-A going 11-9 with a 3.99 ERA, 153 hits allowed and a 168/57 K/BB ratio in 160.1 innings pitched. Bonser’s 22 home runs allowed are a slight concern but at only 23 years of age, there is still time for him to improve here. The Twins will likely give Bonser a chance to compete for a starting job with Liriano this spring. Probably only one will come away with the job while the other heads back to Triple-A.
John Danks (P), Texas – Danks was selected by the Rangers out of high school with the ninth overall pick in the 2003 draft. He began the 2005 season at A+ Bakersfield where he went 3-3 with a 2.50 ERA, 50 hits allowed and a 53/16 K/BB ratio in 57.2 innings pitched. The Rangers promoted Danks to Double-A Frisco at the end of May. He went on to post a 4-10 record with a 5.49 ERA, 117 hits allowed and an 85/34 K/BB ratio in 98.1 innings pitched. Those numbers look bad until your realize that Danks is only 20 years old and won’t turn 21 until the start of the 2006 season. To have made it to Double-A at his age is already a solid accomplishment. The Rangers will likely have him start 2006 back at Double-A. If Danks figures some things out this second time around he’ll put himself into the Rangers plans at mid-season.
Thomas Diamond (P), Texas – Diamond was a first round pick out of the University of New Orleans in 2004. He started 2005 at A+ Bakersfield where he went 8-0 with a 1.99 ERA, 53 hits allowed and a 101/31 K/BB ratio in 81.1 innings. The Rangers promoted him to Double-A Frisco in June where he went 5-4 with a 5.35 ERA, 66 hits allowed and a 68/38 K/BB ratio in 69 innings pitched. I don’t have all the game logs available from Diamond’s starts but I am willing to bet the high ERA stems from one bad start. His peripheral numbers look strong but he will need to reduce his walks a bit if he wants to be successful in the majors. Expect to see him competing for a rotation spot this spring but I’d guess he’ll start the year back in the minors.
Daniel Haigwood (P), Chicago – The Sox nabbed Haigwood as a 16th-round pick in 2002 out of high school. The 21-year-old began the season at A+ Winston-Salem where he went 8-2 with a 3.77 ERA, 79 hits allowed and an 84/33 K/BB ratio in 76.1 innings before a promotion to Double-A Birmingham. Haigwood continued to impress at Double-A, posting a 6-1 record with a 1.74 ERA, 39 hits allowed and a 76/31 K/BB ratio in 67.1 innings pitched. Additionally, he did not allow a home run in his 11 starts at Birmingham. Haigwood’s success stems from an improved changeup, a pitch that could serve him well in the majors. The White Sox may start him back at Double-A next season but a promotion to Triple-A shouldn’t be far off. A stint in the majors next season isn’t out of the question either.
Craig Hansen (P), Boston – (Note: Hansen was promoted to the majors this past Monday, a day after this column was written.) Hansen was the 26th overall pick in this year’s draft and might already be in the majors had it not been for a tired arm. He may in fact be called up by the time you read this as the Red Sox are rumored to be considering promoting him this week to help out their bullpen. Hansen made two appearances for the Gulf Coast League Red Sox before being promoted to Double-A Portland. Combined he went 1-0 without allowing a run while posting a 14/1 K/BB ratio in 12.2 innings. Hansen throws a mid-90s fastball and has a very good slider. Those two pitches can make him a very successful reliever in the majors right away. He’s Boston’s closer of the future and is a very good keeper prospect for that reason.
Jeff Niemann (P), Tampa Bay – Niemann was drafted by the Devil Rays with the fourth overall pick in 2004. He hardly pitched in 2005 because of shoulder inflammation and, later because of a groin strain. However, he gets mention here because of Tampa’s need for quality arms at the Major League level. Niemann began the year at A+ Visalia where he went 0-1 with a 3.98 ERA, 12 hits allowed and a 28/10 K/BB ratio in 20.1 innings pitched. He was promoted to Double-A Montgomery in August and went 0-1 with a 4.35 ERA, seven hits allowed and a 14/5 K/BB ratio in 10.1 innings. Niemann is considered a potential front of the rotation starter in the majors but the injuries have to be viewed as a bit of a concern. A solid and healthy start to 2006 could put him in line for a mid-season promotion to the majors. Continuing arm problems could force the Devil Rays to shift Niemann to the bullpen, but that decision would likely be much further down the road.
Anibal Sanchez (P), Boston – The Red Sox signed Sanchez out of Venezuela in 2001. He began this season at A+ Wilmington where he went 6-1 with a 2.40 ERA, 53 hits allowed and a 95/24 K/BB ratio in 78.2 innings pitched. He was promoted to Double-A Portland in July where he went 3-5 with a 3.45 ERA, 53 hits allowed and a 63/16 K/BB ratio in 57.1 innings pitched. Sanchez throws a mid-90s fastball and made improvements with his offspeed pitches this season. He’s shown good control at both levels which bodes well for future success in the big leagues whether he ends up as a reliever or starter. The Red Sox may choose to start Sanchez at Double-A next season but a promotion to Triple-A isn’t far off. He’ll get a cup of coffee next September if he isn’t needed before that.
Jeremy Sowers (P), Cleveland – The Indians selected Sowers with the sixth overall pick in the 2004 draft. He started 2005 at A+ Kingston where he went 8-3 with a 2.78 ERA, 60 hits allowed and a 75/19 K/BB ratio in 71.1 innings pitched. He was promoted to Double-A Akron in mid-June where he went 5-1 with a 2.08 ERA, 74 hits allowed and a 70/9 K/BB ratio in 82.1 innings. Sowers also made one late season appearance at Triple-A Buffalo and picked up a win while allowing only one run in 5.2 innings. The 22-year-old will likely begin next season back at Triple-A and could be a mid- to late-season callup depending on how he starts the year. Sowers doesn’t have an overpowering fastball but he has shown very good command. He looks like he could be a decent middle of the rotation starter for the Indians.
Jered Weaver (P), Anaheim – Jeff Weaver’s little brother finally signed with the Angels this summer almost one full year after being selected with the 12th overall pick in 2004. Weaver began his year at A+ Rancho Cucamonga where he went 4-1 with a 3.82 ERA, 25 hits allowed and a 49/7 K/BB ratio in 33 innings pitched. He was promoted to Double-A Arkansas in late July and went on to post a 3-3 record with a 3.98 ERA, 43 hits allowed and a 46/19 K/BB ratio in 43 innings pitched. The Angels could give Weaver, considered the most polished pitcher available when he came out of college in 2004, a chance to win a rotation spot in spring training. If he starts 2006 in the minors expect to see him in an Angels’ uniform by September at the latest.
Joel Zumaya (P), Detroit – Zumaya, selected by Detroit in the 11th round of the 2002 draft, put himself on the prospect map with a breakout season in the minors this year. He began the season at Double-A Erie where he went 8-3 with a 2.77 ERA, 71 hits allowed and a 143/52 K/BB ratio in 107.1 innings. He was promoted to Triple-A at the All-Star break and went 1-2 with a 2.66 ERA, 30 hits allowed and a 56/24 K/BB ratio in 44 innings. Zumaya, who has hit triple digits with his fastball, has the stuff to be a front of the rotation starter but he’ll need to continue to work on his control. If he can’t make it as a starter he could be a dominating closer. He’ll get an opportunity to win a spot in Detroit’s rotation next spring.
AL or Nothing will be back again next Wednesday with the final column for 2005. In the meantime, if you have questions regarding add/drops, trades or anything else you can post in the columnists section of our message board. I'll do my best to answer all questions.
Brian Pelowski is the 2004 champion of the CREATiVESPORTS.com American League Challenge Expert League. He lives and works in New York City along with eight million other people.