The Padres drafted the former Arkansas Razorback as the third of seven consecutive offensive player selected in the '08 draft. Forsythe was limited to just 12 games late last summer with the Padres' short season affiliates, but the club felt confident that his polish shown in college would allow for him to transition smoothly to High-A ball. It indeed has as Forsythe hit .320 with 3 HR 11 RBI and 25 runs scored through his first 29 games. Extremely disciplined at the plate, Forsythe has a fluid right-handed swing that drives the ball well to the gaps with good XBH power and the occasional homerun. He makes good contact with the ball and has a good game plan during each plate appearance. Normally a third baseman, Forsythe is also skilled enough to play just about any position in the field adeptly, making him an excellent utility player. Though he is not a speed guy, Logan runs the bases with a good deal of intelligence and determination, allowing him to manufacture runs in many different ways.
2009 Update: As stated before, Forsythe seems to be handling the challenge of High-A ball well in his first full professional season. He is currently batting in the #5 hole for Lake Elsinore and has collected 11 XBH and 27 BB in his first 29 games. Forsythe is someone who's value may not always be recognized statistically as he does so many little things well. He should, though, be a solid #2 or #6 hitter at the major league level who hits 10-15 HR per season while posting an OB% that rivals .400. The Padres are building something special within their organization as they have drafted a ton of high-discipline, mid-ceiling players that should be solid role players as professionals and Logan Forsythe fits right in with that philosophy. With Kevin Kouzmanoff manning the hot corner for the next few seasons, there is no immediate need to rush Forsythe's development. He should play most or all of the season at High-A with an MLB ETA of 2011. By that time, it will be about time for the Friars to decide what to do with Kouzmanoff's upcoming free agent contract. With no other big time third basemen in the system, Forsythe has a genuine opportunity to be groomed as San Diego's next keeper of the hot corner.
The former Michigan Wolverine had his best season as a pro last year between AA Tennessee and AAA Iowa, batting .287 with 31 HR 105 RBI 39 doubles and 93 runs scored. Determined to earn a ticket back to Wrigley longer than his 14 AB stint in 2007, Fox worked hard in the off season and put together an impressive spring in which he hit .350 with 4 HR and 16 RBI. Former teammate Micah Hoffpauir won a final roster spot, however, and Fox was sent back to Iowa. Since that time, he has hit .432 with 11 HR 29 RBI and 21 runs scored in his first 18 games, pushing the envelope for another call up. Though he has the power to hit 25-30 HR at the major league level, Fox still struggles from time to time with his plate disicpline. He crushes fastballs, but often has a difficult time grinding out AB's once he himself into breaking ball counts. Defensively, Fox was a subpar catcher which prompted his move to a corner OF spot where he is...subpar. He is an adaquate first baseman, however, and would be an excellent candidate to DH for an American League club in the future.
2009 Projection: His hot start pretty much guarantees that he will get a call up at some point this spring or early summer. Cubbies free agent aquisition Milton Bradley is off to a miserable start and his checkered health history makes him a prime candidate for a DL stint at some point this season. Enter Jake Fox. Fox has the power capability to put up numbers in bunches but his below average plate discipline and defensive culpabilities will likely have detrimental effects on his ability to sustain big numbers throughout an entire major league season. At 26, his career path is somewhat similar to Oakland A's slugger Jack Cust who spent several seasons as a minor league slugger before breaking out with in the Bay area as a one dimensional HR magnet.
Hoffmann signed with the Dodgers in 2003 as and undrafted free agent after being drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL. Last season, Hoffmann flashed an array of tools at AA Jacksonville, hitting .278 with 10 HR 71 RBI 28 SB and 64 runs scored. He has a big, strong frame that has the potential to hit 20 HR per season at the major league level. He is an extremely disciplined hitter at the plate as well. Last season, Hoffmann had a respectable 54 BB/73 K rate and was successful on 28 of his 37 SB attempts. Defensively, Jamie has decent range as a centerfielder, but his arm strength and his body size is more serviceable in right field. His seven errors in right field last season were due in large part to a powerful arm that, at times, can become inaccurate. At 24 years old, Hoffmann is not the youngest prospect at the AA level and he will need to progress quickly through AAA in order to maintain his allure as a low-cost sleeper prospect.
2009 Projection: Hoffmann is back at AA with the Dodgers' new affiliate, Carolina. He is off to an excellent start, hitting .333 with a HR, three RBI, three SB and 14 runs scored in his first 11 games. Additionally, he has walked 14 times versus 9 strikeouts. Expect Hoffmann to jump to AAA at some point this season, though his chances of cracking the Dodgers big league lineup in 2009 are remote, to say the least. One thing that could change this is if he can more effectively tap into his power potential. A 20 HR/20 SB season would do wonders for his resume by either making him a potential late season call up or, more likely, a possible trading chip within the next season.
The Red Sox used Masterson as both a starter and reliever last season and he performed admirably in both roles. In 36 outings, the tall righthander went 6-5 with a 3.16 ERA and 40 BB/68 K in 88 IP. The San Diego State alum features a heavy 92-94 MPH fastball that he throws from a 3/4 arm slot with a great deal of leverage. In addition to his fastball, he has a promising slider that has good lateral movement, but sometimes gets left up in the zone when he drops his arm slot. His changeup has some promise to be effective too, but it lags behind his other two offerings. Hitters have a difficult time generating much pop off of his fastball, but his slider is still hittable and his command numbers will need to improve. The presence of Jonathan Papelbon at the end of Boston's bullpen may eventually push Masterson into the rotation. Whether he is throwing every 5th day or every other day, he is a highly valued piece to the future prosperity of the Red Sox.
2009 Projection: The acquisitions of Brad Penny and John Smoltz has relegated Masterson to the 7th or 8th inning job once again. His control has been excellent this spring as he has walked just two hitters in 12.2 IP. Keep an eye on this as the major league season goes on. His ability to command the strike zone should allow for him to use his sinker much more effectively as an out pitch. Also monitor the health of Boston's rotation. If one of their horses goes down, Masterson will be the first name called to step into a rotation spot. Once he gets in, he may be too good to supplant.
Cruz has long been a player that tears up minor league pitching and then is overmatched and undisciplined once he reaches the major leagues. 2008 offered a departure from that and ushered in hope that the 28 year old OF has finally turned the corner. Cruz blasted PCL hurlers to the tune of a .342 with 37 HR 99 RBI and 24 SB at Oklahoma City earning another promotion to Texas where he continued his tear, hitting .330 with 7 HR and 26 RBI in 31 games. Cruz has excellent athleticism and has a fully matured frame that offers power and speed. Judging from his spring numbers, (.302 6 HR 16 RBI and 13 runs scored in 15 games) Cruz looks like he has turned the corner from prospect to suspect to productive big league player. Texas has a super deep farm system so it will be integral for Nelson to make the most of this opportunity.
2009 Projection: Nelson will be in the everyday lineup for the Rangers and should be slotted somewhere between the #3 and #6 spots in the lineup. He has the power to hit 25-30 HR per season and steal upwards of 20 bases. The plate discipline is still a question mark. Cruz started out red hot this spring but has seen his batting average drop nearly 100 points from March 20 - March 31. If he struggles at the major league level, Rangers manager Ron Washington will not hesitate to inject Marlon Byrd, Brandon Boggs, or Frank Catalanatto to stop the bleeding. However, the more positive signs seem to point to Cruz being the consummate late bloomer now realizing a greater slice of the potential that he has always possessed.
The Twins selected the young Puerto Rican OF in the 3rd round of the 2007 draft. After a mediocre '07 season with the Twins' GCL affiliate, Angel Morales came back in '08 and put up big numbers at short season Low-A Elizabethton hitting .301 with 15 HR 28 RBI 7 SB and 33 runs scored in just 183 AB. Morales has fast hands and a powerful swing that exerts excellent torque on balls in the strike zone. His athleticism plays well in every aspect of his game as he is an above average runner and solid OF. The big question mark in his game, at this point is the infamous plate discipline numbers. Last season Morales walked 26 times but punched out 74 times in 56 games. He gets overly aggressive with pitches outside the zone and has difficulty altering his approach against offspeed pitches. Also, there has been some concern that his breakout numbers could be partially inflated by the home park that he played in, as many Elizabethton players put up excellent numbers last year. Morales batted .333 at home and .275 on the road, but his power numbers were almost identical 8 HR at home vs. 7 on the road). There is a great deal to like about Morales, but much of it is raw and merely projectible at this point.
2009 Projection: Angel Morales will be gearing up for his first full season of baseball at Low-A Beloit. This should provide a good challenge for him to prove that his breakout season is authentic. Watch the K numbers this year. Last season's average of nearly 1.5 per game will not be acceptable at higher levels, making that .300 BA an outlier. The Twins will be working with Morales to get him to keep his hips closed and hands back longer, this should help him see the ball for just a bit longer and utilize the entire field when he hits. Morales has quick enough hands that he should be able to make this transition without negatively affecting his power numbers.
The Tampa Bay Rays continue to be a tremendous success story, transforming their farm system and major league roster from futility to fortune in just one year's time. Longoria, Price, and Upton, and Garza have become household names, while pitching prospects Wade Davis, Jeremy Hellickson, and Jake McGee loom as potential stars on the imminent horizon. Nicholas Barnese is quite a ways behind them in development but not in talent.
With a lively 91-93 MPH fastball and power slurve, Nicholas Barnese overpowered hitters at short season Low-A Hudson Valley last season going 5-3 with a 2.45 ERA and 24 BB/84 K in 66 innings. Nicholas is a confident and aggressive pitcher with a mean streak on the mound. He goes right after hitters, pounding all quadrants of the strike zone and challenging hitters on the inner half of the plate. A changeup is currently in the works for Barnese and, while hie throws it with a good arm speed, its command and movement lags behind his other two quality offerings. Barnese has some projectibility left in his frame that could build a little more bulk and velocity within the next year or two. If it comes, his overall skill set will closely resemble that of current Ray hurler Matt Garza.
2009 Projection: Barnese will get a taste of full season ball at Low-A Bowling Green. Barnese seemingly came out of nowhere to post his solid numbers last season. Watch to see if he can sustain that success over a full season. His frame is still a bit slender, which could deter from his durability. His changeup is an essential component to his ability to continue progressing as a starter. With so many fine young arms in the Rays organization, Barnese has been able to fly under the radar and exceed expectations. That could come to a close soon. A big 2009 season from Nick should vault him into the same conversation as names like Davis, McGee, and Hellickson.
Drafted in the 3rd round last year, Vasquez signed early and immediately put up some solid numbers at short season Low-A Johnson City, batting .317 with 4 HR 25 RBI 8 SB and 42 runs scored in 55 games. His fine performance earned him a promotion to Low-A Quad Cities where he promptly struggled, managing just 5 hits in 39 AB. Vasquez has power that belies his demure build. He generates tremendous torque with his quick right-handed swing that prompts some scouts to speculate that he can become a 20-25 HR hitter at the major league level. He has shown the ability to take a walk and work deep into counts, but his K rate is too high (69 K in 66 games) for someone with his average power numbers. Defensively, Vasquez has below average speed, but his sure hands and strong accurate arm mitigate errors and should allow for him to stay at the position throughout his development.
2009 Projection: Vasquez should get another shot at Quad Cities and should put up better numbers. Monitor the power progress and also his ability to mitigate his K totals. If he doesn't, he will see a precipitous drop in his batting average numbers. The Redbirds have slick fielding Pete Kozma tabbed as their SS of the future which could mean that Vasquez may need to move to 3B down the road. His arm and good instincts would make him a good fit, but the power would need to progress to a more acceptable level in order to ensure his long term viability at that position.
The native New Englander managed a solid showing after signing with the Red Sox, batting .305 with 9 RBI 14 SB and 15 runs scored in 27 games at Boston's GCL Rookie League Affiliate. He struggled considerably after a brief promotion to Low-A Lowell, going 3-35 with 11 K's. Gibson has an intriguing set of tools that offer considerable upside. He is athletically gifted and can adequately play a variety of infield positions as well as the outfield. Once a top-tier pitcher in high school, Gibson has a strong arm that profiles best at SS or 3B. He has been clocked at 6.4 seconds in the 60 yard dash and he uses his speed well in the field as well as the basepaths (16 for 16 in SB attempts). Gibson has a lively, athletic body that could develop more power potential as he matures and he has already shown a disciplined approach at the plate, earning a respectable 20 BB/29 K ratio in 41 pro games. The Red Sox are flush with talented young middle infield and outfield talents and it is hard to say exactly where Gibson will someday fit in. His versatility and overall athleticism, however, makes him one to watch in the ensuing seasons as a high upside sleeper.
2009 Projection: The Red Sox have no need to rush Derrik's development, which makes it quite likely that he will spend time at extended spring training before heading to Lowell again in June. Expect Gibson to fare better this go around, putting up good speed and plate discipline numbers. The XBH power will be an interesting factor to monitor. There is promise for his frame to build more strength to drive the ball with greater authority, but it is far from being a foregone conclusion. If he can exhibit better power numbers (i.e. 10-12 HR per season) he should be able to ascend quickly on this list and enter himself in the same conversation of other fine SS/3B prospects within Boston's fruitful system.
Selected in the 3rd round last season, the former UC Davis star continued to show off his hot bat at short season Hudson Valley, batting .316 with 2 HR 41 RBI and 16 doubles. Jefferies make excellent contact at the plate by spraying line drives from foul line to foul line and working deep into counts. He has a tall and strong build, but his swing does not produce much loft at this time which mitigates his HR totals. Jefferies is a solid athlete as well with fringe average speed and good mobility behind the plate. He has shown himself to be adept at calling pitches and blocking balls in the dirt, but his arm is iffy and baserunners in the New York-Penn League exploited it by succeeding in 23 of 27 SB attempts. There is still a good deal of projectibility left in this 22 year old's skill set. The Rays believe that with some minor adjustments to his swing trajectory and release time, Jefferies will evolve into a very good big league receiver.
2009 Projection: Jefferies will get a crack at full season ball, probably with the Rays' new Low-A affiliate Bowling Green. There is some promise that Jacob can put up better power numbers in coming seasons. He drove in a good number of runs last season and did hit a good amount of doubles. Currently, Tampa Bay's organizational depth chart is devoid of any considerable catching talent. Jefferies, with a little refinement, has an opportunity to move quickly through the Rays' system, making him someone to watch over the next couple of seasons.
This young southpaw emerged as one of the Angels' brighter young pitching prospects after a fine season at Low-A Cedar Rapids. Despite being the youngest pitcher in the Midwest League, Reckling compiled a 10-7 record with a 3.37 ERA and 128 K in 159 IP. At this stage in his development, Trevor is not an overpowering pitcher. His fastball sits at 87-92 MPH with good movement, but his frame has still yet to fully develop and there is some conjecture that he can add a couple of ticks to his fastball. The true out pitch for him, however, lies in a big bending curveball that some scouts have likened to Barry Zito's infamous yakker. Reckling controls this pitch very effectively and his change up has come a long way to also be a potential plus pitch. Because his offspeed stuff is so good, Reckling gets in trouble at times when he tends to lean on them too often. If he can gain some velocity on his fastball, he should be able to feel confident in establishing it more, making his curve and change much more effective pitches.
2009 Projection: Reckling should move to High-A Rancho Cucamonga to start the '09 season. The key for him will be to improve his fastball, while at the same time maintaining his success on keeping the ball down in the zone. Last season, Trevor was quite effective at this, inducing a GO/FO ratio of 1.73. The Californian League can wreak havoc on young pitchers who struggle with their locations. While he keeps the ball down, Reckling does struggle from time to time with pitching to contact. The added velocity on his fastball would help tremendously. If he does bump it up a couple of notches, Reckling has the potential to be a solid #2 starter at the major league level. If he doesn't, his ceiling shifts dramatically to a back of the rotation starter.
"Nails Jr." was selected with one of the Brewers' 2nd round picks in the '08 draft and, after signing quickly he put up some solid numbers at both of Milwaukee's short season affiliates hitting .271 with 5 HR 17 RBI 4 SB and 29 runs scored in 46 games. Cutter Dykstra is a slightly bigger and more powerful version of his father Lenny Dykstra. He has good hand speed that explodes though the ball generating surprising pop for someone of his stature. He is an aggressive hitter at the plate but, like his father, he has advanced plate discipline (26 BB/37 K) and a good feel for the strike zone. Cutter was a shortstop in high school, but his fringy arm and inconsistent play necessitated a shift to CF where his plus speed and athleticism serves him well. Dykstra is a tough competitor and intelligent player who, while proud of his dad's accomplishments, has a strong desire to make a name for himself.
2009 Projection: Cutter is ready for Low-A Wisconsin and his first full season of professional ball. One area to watch this next season is his SB totals. Last year, Dykstra was successful in only 4 of 9 attempts, but with his speed and intelligence, these numbers should drastically improve this season. Dykstra has the blend of plate discipline and speed to be a solid leadoff hitter with a little bit of pop. The Brewers have some talented OF in their system, but mainly they are concentrated on the corners (Lorenzo Cain, Caleb Gindl, Eric Fryer). If Dykstra can continue to hit for average and improve his stolen base totals, he should ascend quickly through this talented system.
The former Miami Hurricane took a major step forward in his development last season by hitting .314 with 17 HR 92 RBI 17 SB and 42 doubles at AA Carolina. His superb showing earned him the opportunity to debut with the Marlins where he rapped 3 hits in 8 AB. Sanchez is a complete hitter who uses a disciplined approach at the plate to drive pitches to the gaps with decent power. He works counts well and is a good contact hitter (69 BB/70 K). Some scouts have criticized his shoddy conditioning and fringe athleticism in the past, but he seems to have worked dilligently prior to the '08 season to firm up his body and increase his speed. Sanchez plays both 1B and 3B defensively, though his soft hands and fringe average range profiles better at 1B where he should be a solid fielder. Despite his well-rounded game, Sanchez's skills are likely at their apex which, given his numbers, makes him a decent but not spectacular 1B prospect. However, the Marlins' organization feel good enough about his development that they let 30+ HR hitter Mike Jacobs leave via free agency in the off season.
2009 Projection: Spring training will provide Sanchez with ample opportunities to prove to the Marlins' brass that he is prepared to take the reigns at 1B this season. The window for Sanchez to succeed is small. While he is slated to be the starter this season over veteran Wes Helms and 2008 MILB HR champ Dallas McPherson, his hold on the 1B job will last only as long as the Marlins decide to wait until they usher super prospect Logan Morrison into the role. By that time, Sanchez will find him self in a new position or on a new team.
Poreda kept trudging along Chicago's fast track, pitching well at both High-A Winston Salem and AA Birmingham for a combined 8-9 record with a 3.13 ERA and 40 BB/119 K in 161 IP. Poreda's towering barrell-chested frame is quite durable and effortlessly generates a mid-90's fastball that touches 100 MPH on a few occasions. As dominant as his fastball is, his secondary pitches, a slider and change, are far less effective. This has allowed for hitters to sit on the fastball and make good contact at times. Without a solid secondary reportoire, it would seem that Poreda would be best suited for the bullpen, but Chicago team officials are optimistic that these offerings will come along in time. Poreda does a fine job of commanding his fastball down in the strike zone which helps him to induce more groundballs (1.39 GO/FO) and limit the amount of long balls he surrenders ( 6 HR allowed in '08). His competitive makeup and poise are highly regarded and well suited for his future role as a frontline starter or dominant closer.
2009 Projection: There has been some speculation that Poreda will earn a rotation spot in spring training, but the more likely destination for him is AAA Charlotte. The White Sox are flush with left-handed pitching depth with the likes of Mark Buerhle. John Danks, and Clayton Richard already in the rotation, but the upside for Poreda is so high that he could push Richard for that final spot in the rotation this spring. Another possibility is that Poreda could make the MLB roster as a late inning reliever . The best bet for him would be to continue to refine his offspeed stuff in Charlotte while being first in line for a promotion if and when a spot opens up for him. Watch to see if he can boost his K rate this season as that will be an indicator of how much his breaking pitches have progressed. Regardless of whether he is a starter or reliever, Poreda has the stuff and mindset to be a dominant pitcher at the Major League Level.
Things really picked up for the World Champs' top pitching prospect once he arrived at AAA Lehigh Valley as he went 2-2 with a 1.72 ERA and 46 K's in 36.2 IP. He has continued his dominance in the Venezuelan Winter League earning a perfect 3-0 record with a 2.11 ERA and a 11 BB/45 K ratio in 47 IP. Carrasco's fastball sits between 90-94 MPH with good late movement and command on both sides of the plate, but his best pitch may be his changeup which ranks as the best in the system and is an effective out pitch. His curve has come a long way from being a mere "show me" pitch to becoming a valuable part of his repertoire. Carrasco has shown good durability as a pro and his sturdy frame should be able to handle the rigors of a 200 inning season with regularity and success.
2009 Projection: Carrasco has thrown a lot of innings this past year (198.1) which could mean that the Phillies will opt to use him sparingly early in the season. However, the race for the #5 spot in Philadelphia's rotation features the likes of Kyle Kendrick, Chan Ho Park, and Adam Eaton, all of which are far less talented than the 22 year old Venezuelan. Watch to see how this situation develops as spring progresses. If Carrasco doesn't earn an opening day roster spot, he will continue to toil at Lehigh Valley until a spot opens up for him. Once he arrives, he should be able to make positive contributions and the values of his cards should see a solid market boost. Carrasco has all the ability to become the perfect compliment to current ace Cole Hamels atop the rotation of the '08 World Champs.
This 20 year old Venezuelan broke out in a big way in 2008 dominating both Low-A Asheville and High-A Modesto to the tune of an 18-3 record with a 2.03 ERA and 42 BB/160 K's in 177.2 IP. His 90-92 MPH fastball can reach 94 MPH but it is the heavy sinking action that induced ground ball outs to the tune of a 2.83 per flyout rate. Mixed with an effective curveball and changeup, Chacin has exceptional command and a highly advanced feel for how to set hitters up. Those who have seen him pitch also state that he is a nimble athlete and that his frame has the room to add more muscle to it. Though he has good command of his three pitches, Jhoulys must continue to develop the depth of them as he progresses. The jet streamed air and spacious gaps of Coors Field have squashed the futures of many a young pitcher, but Chacin's ability to induce groundball outs, coupled with his advanced control of the strike zone may give him a realistic shot at bucking this trend.
2009 Projection: Chacin will be asked to continue his devlelopment at AA Tulsa this season. If he can continue to put away more advanced hitters, he could received a promotion to AAA Colorado Springs at some point. The challenge for Chacin will be to keep the ball down. The Rockies' several minor league stops are hitter-friendly environments (Colorado Springs especially) and the hitters will be much more advanced and patient. If Jhoulys can continue to locate his fastball down in the zone, his future as a key cog in the Rockies' young rotation could be realized by the start of the 2010 season.
Drafted twice as a pitcher, the long, lean Georgia Tech alum found his future as a position player would be much more lucrative. After a successful 2008 campaign with the Yellow Jackets (.396 8 HR 45 RBI 25 SB and 66 runs scored), the Colorado Rockies made him their 2nd round selection. Blackmon continued to hammer pitching at short season Tri-Cities to the tune of a .338 BA with 2 HR 33 RBI and 13 SB as well. Blackmon has a lively, athletic frame that has room to build extra bulk. His lefty swing has good balance and potential gap power that could produce 15-20 HR per season. His speed plays well on the basepaths and in the OF where his range is good enough for CF and his arm strength plays well in RF. Blackmon doesn't strike out much, but he doesn't walk much either. This can be due to the fact that he is still quite inexperienced as a full time position player and has yet to establish a strong feel for the strike zone.
2009 Projection: His exceptional short season performance and advanced age may be cause for Blackmon to spend very little time at Low-A Ashville before earning a promotion to HIgh-A Modesto. There should be an increase in the HR totals this season as Blackmon smacked 21 doubles at Tri-Cities. As he gains more polish, he should also have an increased comfort in being more aggressive on balls in the inner portions of the plate. With Dexter Fowler and Carlos Gonzalez likely manning CF and LF in the near future, it will be crucial for Blackmon to increase his power output if he is to stick as an everyday Rockies RF. Brad Hawpe has a stranglehold on that position through at least 2010 (and a $10 million club option in 2011) which should provide Blackmon enough time to develop into a viable replacement for Hawpe.
The Cardinals selected the Ole Miss hurler with the supplemental 1st round pick they received for losing Troy Percival to free agency. Lynn did not disappoint, going 1-0 with a 0.96 ERA and a sterling 4 BB/22 K ratio in 18.2 IP at short season Batvia before being shut down in August after a couple of good starts at Low-A Quad Cities. Lynn has a big, durable frame that should be able to handle a heavy work load. Featuring three average major league pitches, Lynn is not particularly overpowering, but he controls the strike zone with great proficiency and is a fiery competitor on the mound. Some scouts are concerned about Lynn's robust build, noting that conditioning will be a key for him. Additionally, despite his solid debut, Lynn does not have dominant stuff which will make it difficult for him to replicate his success against more advanced hitters.
2009 Projection: Lynn should be ready for the 2009 season and likely will start the '09 season at High-A Palm Beach with, barring any setbacks, a promotion to AA Springfield will likely happen shortly thereafter. The main thing to watch for with Lynn is his continued ability to put hitters away. This would be most visible in his batting average against (BAA) and his K/9 IP. Ultimately, he should be a durable mid-rotation starter who eats up innings and wins 10-15 games per season.
H/W: 6-1 185 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 1/14/87
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