Sunday August 19th, 2012

Codey Harrison (Lead MiLB Prospect Analyst):  We are back  this week with the weekly prospect hot/cold sheet, this week we will feature starting pitchers. First, We will feature 3 pitching prospects that are on fire, and 3 pitching prospects that are ice-cold. Our list of players will only include those who are still prospect eligible (less than 50 innings pitched at the MLB level). Featured players are generally players who are highly regarded amongst the minors and are regarded as legit prospects. Gaining our ranking as the hottest prospect of the week is Pirates prospect Gerrit Cole, who is starting to show the impressive strikeout numbers scouts have been waiting to see from the 2011 number one overall draft pick.

HOT PROSPECTS

Gerrit Cole (Pirates AA) – The 6 foot 4 Cole is everything scouts look to find in a starting pitcher. Gerrit Cole posses the size, strength, and power stuff that have most scouts believing Cole can become an Ace. A fastball that sits 94-97 MPH, and occasionally touches 100 MPH rates as the top pitch for the very talented righty from UCLA. Cole has recently been putting up the dominant walk/strikeout numbers scouts have been waiting to see from the Pirates prized prospect, which has led to Cole being the feature hot prospect this week. With AA Altoona Cole has gone 11 1/3 innings,  6 hits, 2 runs (1ER), while only walking 3, and striking out 15 in his last 2 starts. In his first full pro season Cole has posted numbers that make it very clear why the Pirates where unwilling to trade Cole, or his new AA teammate Jameson Taillon.

Trevor Bauer (Diamondbacks AAA) – Following a 2 week shutdown following his demotion from the Diamondbacks, Trevor Bauer has started to put it all together with AAA Reno. On august 17th the Diamondbacks top prospect threw his first pro complete game. Which is surprising considering Bauer was the complete game king in college at UCLA, as each of his final 7 starts as a collegiate player Bauer pitched a complete game for the Bruins. The recent complete game outing saw Bauer post a very solid line CG 9 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, and 12 strikeouts in the Reno Aces win. While Bauer’s first major league experience didn’t go the way he wanted, Diamondback fans should still be very excited about a rotation containing Bauer.

Jameson Taillon (Pirates A+/ AA) – The 2012 2nd overall pick Jameson Taillon has pitched very well of late, earning him a promotion to AA Altoona where he will join fellow prospect Gerrit Cole. Like Cole, Taillion has the size, strength, and power pitches that give Taillon a chance of becoming a frontline starter. In his last 4 starts in Class A advanced, Taillon was completely dominant going 22 innings, allowing 3 earned runs on 15 hits, while walking 6 and striking out 14 batters.

COLD PROSPECTS

Dallin Betances (Yankees AA) – Betances who entered the season as a top 50 prospect by most experts rankings has fallen of a cliff progression wise this season. unfortunately it hasn’t been any better of late for the Yankees prospect either, going 8 innings, allowing 15 runs on 17 hits, walking 8 and striking out 8. The 6 foot 8 right is still only 24-years old as Yankees fans hope it’s just an off-season, and he possibly return to form in 2013.

Trevor May (Phillies AA) – Trevor May has had a similar story in 2012 as Betances, as both entered the season as a top 50 prospect, and just like Betances, May has failed to meet his expectations in the 2012 season. With the 2012 MiLB season almost over, Phillies fans should look forward to a possible rebound 2013 rebound for the 6 foot 5 righty Trevor May. In his last start with AA Reading May lasted only 2 2/3 innings, allowing 6 runs on 7 hits, with 1 walk, and 1 strikeout.

Zack Wheeler (Mets AAA) – Wheeler who was recently promoted to AAA Buffalo was solid in his first two starts faltered in his latest outing.  Wheeler made it through 5 innings, but allowed 5 runs on 8 hits, while striking out 5 batters. This is likely just a minor hiccup in the tremendous season for Wheeler, as lets face it, even the best pitchers struggle occasionally. Mets fans should still be excited going forward, as 2013 will likely see the major league rotation containing both highly considered prospects Zack Wheeler, and Matt Harvey.

With the 2012 MiLB season ending in early september, stay tuned to MLBreports.com as we will have a Minor league addition of Awards of the year following the seasons conclusion.

(*The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com*)

Today’s article was prepared by Codey Harrison, MiLB Prospects Analyst. We would like your feedback, so please feel free to comment on the article below, and share in discussion with our readers. You can also follow Codey on Twitter (@ProspectsMLB)

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