This article is part of our Minor League Barometer series.
The job the Tampa Bay Rays have done as an organization in acquiring, cultivating and ultimately producing elite talent is astounding. They're in the unique position of having made the World Series last season while also operating MLB's top farm system. They boast the surefire No. 1 phenom in the game in Wander Franco. They traded for last year's breakout star Randy Arozarena, who for some reason could not crack the Cardinals' outfield. Tampa seems to have a track record with these types of lopsided deals, as they once acquired Austin Meadows, Tyler Glasnow and Shane Baz for Chris Archer. Meadows and Glasnow could be stars, while Baz has resurrected his career in Tampa. By the way, Archer is back on the Rays again. Sure, they gave up a former Cy Young Award Winner in the form of Blake Snell, but acquired an elite pitching prospect in Luis Patino in the process.
The point of this gushing is that farm systems can be bolstered in a variety of ways: draft picks, trades, international signings. The best organizations - or the best minor leagues - utilize every avenue at their disposal. It isn't just about identifying talent, but also about developing and maximizing that talent once they arrive. Not to pick on the Pirates, but obviously they knew players like Gerrit Cole and Austin Meadows were talented when they drafted them. However, those prospects ultimately reached greater heights with other clubs. The Rays are not alone in this maximization, but they should be championed from
The job the Tampa Bay Rays have done as an organization in acquiring, cultivating and ultimately producing elite talent is astounding. They're in the unique position of having made the World Series last season while also operating MLB's top farm system. They boast the surefire No. 1 phenom in the game in Wander Franco. They traded for last year's breakout star Randy Arozarena, who for some reason could not crack the Cardinals' outfield. Tampa seems to have a track record with these types of lopsided deals, as they once acquired Austin Meadows, Tyler Glasnow and Shane Baz for Chris Archer. Meadows and Glasnow could be stars, while Baz has resurrected his career in Tampa. By the way, Archer is back on the Rays again. Sure, they gave up a former Cy Young Award Winner in the form of Blake Snell, but acquired an elite pitching prospect in Luis Patino in the process.
The point of this gushing is that farm systems can be bolstered in a variety of ways: draft picks, trades, international signings. The best organizations - or the best minor leagues - utilize every avenue at their disposal. It isn't just about identifying talent, but also about developing and maximizing that talent once they arrive. Not to pick on the Pirates, but obviously they knew players like Gerrit Cole and Austin Meadows were talented when they drafted them. However, those prospects ultimately reached greater heights with other clubs. The Rays are not alone in this maximization, but they should be championed from top to bottom in their structure from scouting to development. It's quite a feat what they've been able to accomplish in recent memory.
As we inch towards the start of the 2021 campaign, let's take a look at some prospects in the news in this edition of the Minor League Barometer.
UPGRADE
Jonathan India, 2B/3B, CIN – Up to this point, India has not lived up to his lofty billing as a high draft pick. However, the narrative could be changing. He's compiled a standout spring for the Reds while shifting from the hot corner to the keystone in an attempt to keep his bat in the lineup. India is slashing .344/.475/.633 with two home runs, five RBI and one stolen base over 16 contests. With Eugenio Suarez now at shortstop and Mike Moustakas playing third base, India appears to have the inside track at the starting second base job. That is quite a turn of events for a prospect largely considered a disappointment thus far and one who had slipped down the prospect rankings.
Alek Manoah, P, TOR – Everyone wants to talk about Nate Pearson, but it has been Manoah who has looked the part of a future frontline starter this spring. While Pearson just reaggravated a groin injury, Manoah has been mowing down the competition by fanning 11 batters in five innings. He's only allowed one hit and has not walked anyone. At 6-6, 260-lbs, it should come as no surprise Manoah he throws hard but also uses a wipeout slider while his changeup is a much-improved offering to round out his repertoire. He won't make the roster out of camp, but he offers huge upside. This could be a helium season for the burly right-hander.
Luis Campusano, C, SD – One of the top catching prospects in baseball, Campusano looked to be ticketed for Triple-A before Austin Nola fractured a finger. With Victor Caratini as the only other healthy backstop, Campusano now looks primed to begin the season in the big leagues. Caratini was Yu Darvish's personal catcher last season in Chicago and figured to reprise the same role with San Diego prior to Nola's injury. Campusano has enjoyed a strong spring by hitting 6-for-20 across 10 outings. He showed an advanced approach at the dish during a standout 2019 campaign at High-A by notching almost as many walks (52) as strikeouts (57). Campusano slashed .325/.396/.509 with 15 home runs and 81 RBI as co-MVP of the California League (High-A). It will be interesting to see how the playing time is divided up between Campusano and Caratini until Nola returns.
Aaron Ashby, P, MIL – After Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes, the Milwaukee rotation takes a steep drop off. Though Ashby and Ethan Small are unlikely to make the big league rotation out of camp, it would appear both are firmly in the future plans for the Brew Crew. Ashby is the nephew of two-time All-Star Andy Ashby, so he certainly has the pedigree to succeed and was named the Brewers' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2019. Over 2.2 innings this spring, the southpaw has fanned seven batters, walked three while allowing just one hit. Ashby has an unorthodox delivery that can baffle the opposition, but he is certainly far from smoke and mirrors. Ashby has shown as many as five pitches, though his most notable offerings are a hard slider and riding fastball in the low 90's. If the back end of the Milwaukee rotation struggles, they could begin the youth movement sooner rather than later.
CHECK STATUS
Taylor Trammell, OF, SEA – Trammell has certainly lost some of his prospect luster from the last couple of years, but is battling for a starting outfield spot for the M's while hitting .292/.370/.583 with one home run, two RBI and one steal in 11 contests. His main competition, Jake Fraley, has scuffled and it doesn't appear uber-prospect Jarred Kelenic will be ready to start the season with the big club. As a result, Trammell has emerged with a legitimate shot to make the roster out of camp. Unfortunately with Kelenic, Kyle Lewis and Julio Rodriguez pegged as the outfield of the future, Trammell may only be a stopgap option in the long run. That could mean yet another trade is on the horizon for the suddenly well-traveled youngster.
Heliot Ramos, OF, SF – Marco Luciano gets the pub in this farm system and even Hunter Bishop and Luis Matos tend to garner more interest than Ramos in prospect circles. However, Ramos will hit the big leagues before any of those other neophytes and has produced a standout spring with .379 with three home runs, six RBI and one steal over 29 at-bats. He also played all three outfield positions at the alternate site in 2020. Other than Mike Yastrzemski, the rest of the Giants' outfield is not exactly set in stone. While Ramos will be sent to the minors to begin 2021, it might be difficult to keep him there if he continues to rake.
Shane McClanahan, P, TB – McClanahan has filthy stuff by combining a blazing fastball with a stellar curveball and slider from the left side. The Rays got a taste of his potential when he pitched in Game 1 of the ALDS versus the Yankees. McClanahan racked up the strikeouts in the minors, but can struggle with command at times. He will also suffer from a fantasy perspective being in the Rays' organization as there is just as much a chance he is used as an opener or multi-inning reliever as he could be as a traditional starter. That will ultimately cap McClanahan's upside, but there is no doubt he can be electric when on his game.
Matthew Liberatore, P, STL – The southpaw pitched well in limited action this spring by only allowing three hits and one earned run in six innings while fanning five batters. Liberatore was the headliner sent back to the Cards in the Randy Arozarena deal, so there will be pressure on him to live up to his billing after Arozarena's mammoth 2020 postseason. Liberatore hasn't pitched above Low-A yet, so the evaluation of that trade has a long way to go. He's only 21 and offers excellent off-speed pitches, but how his fastball plays at the big league level may ultimately decide his future fate. Liberatore has looked the part this spring despite his lack of experience, which should give the Cardinals plenty of hope heading into a crucial campaign for his development.
DOWNGRADE
Josh Jung, 3B, TEX – The top prospect for the Rangers, Jung suffered a stress fracture in his left foot and will need to go under the knife and will reportedly miss at least the next 6-8 weeks. While it was unlikely he would make the opening day roster anyway, he's the future third baseman for the Rangers and the path has largely cleared for him to take over the hot corner when ready. Jung's showcase at the alternate site last season even led some in the Texas ranks to state he would make his MLB debut this year. However, that timeline may be pushed back due to the surgery and the Rangers could instead choose to proceed with caution, especially with the team not expected to contend.
Oneil Cruz, SS/OF, PIT – Cruz had a tough time at the dish this spring going just 1-for-23 at the plate before being optioned to the minors. As with many taller players, the 6-7 phenom has more strike zone to cover and it is readily apparent the more seasoned hurlers he faced this spring were effectively using his height against him. Cruz is a superb athlete and the Pirates are betting he can make the necessary adjustments. Unfortunately, that is not the only tweak he had to make this spring coming up as a shortstop but also taking reps in the outfield. As a result, Cruz remains a project even despite reaching the upper levels of the minors and will get a chance to work on some of his shortcomings at Triple-A.
Khalil Lee, OF, NYM – Lee will get a fresh start with the Mets after being dealt in a three-way trade that sent Andrew Benintendi from the Red Sox to the Royals. Lee swiped 53 bags in 2019 at Double-A, but his hit tool is suspect. He struck out a ton that season and the fact he only hit eight home runs in 129 games only compounds the problem. A 2016 third-round pick, Lee will begin the season in Triple-A in the hopes of making a bit more contact and finding added power. Unfortunately, this may be the finished version of Lee, which pegs him as nothing more than a fourth outfielder or late-inning pinch-runner.
Seth Beer, 1B/OF, AZ – Beer would seem to be a perfect Designated Hitter on a rebuilding team. Unfortunately for him, the National League will not have the DH in 2021and that hurts Beer as much as any current minor league prospect. At first base, Christian Walker is the starter and is having a big spring while 2017 first-round pick Pavin Smith appears to have jumped Beer on the depth chart. Smith boasts exceptional plate discipline and has also been playing the outfield to increase his playing time. Beer also didn't exactly set the minors on fire after coming over from the Astros organization in 2019 and needs to show he can regain previous form. The one advantage Beer has over Smith is power. Due to Beer's defensive deficiencies, the opportunities may be limited and will have to show out at the dish to prove playable for the D-Backs even when he does get the chance.
