Mound Musings: Back to the Future

This past weekend, as it always is, was one of the highlights of my season. The Futures Game is a showcase of exceptional talent, both in the batter's box and on the mound. I mean, where else can you see so many quality young arms, on their way up, and all pitching in the same place, and on the same day? Admittedly, it is a little disappointing that they can only throw one inning, and I hate the hitters going up there and swinging at the first pitch, but there are still some key things to watch for.

I'll start by saying this Futures Game didn't feature as many blue chip pitchers as we have seen in the past. There were quite a few very good ones, but to be honest, many of the very best are already in or headed to the major leagues. That said, I found myself primarily looking at raw talent – perhaps at the High-A or Low-A level – with the tools to make an impact at some point a little further down the line. There were elite arms, but there will be some discussed here that aren't so well known. Let's take a look …

Lucas Giolito (Washington Nationals)

There is no question, Giolito was the headliner of the 2015 Future Games mound corps, and deservedly so. With a fastball that can touch triple-digits, and secondary pitches with plenty of movement, he is a handful for any hitter. It was very nice that he pitched two innings, but it also gave us a better chance to see what he still needs to do. The Nats drafted and signed him knowing he needed Tommy John surgery – that should give you a good indication of his potential ceiling. He missed virtually all of 2013, and worked closely monitored innings in 2014. All the pieces are there – a blazing fastball, and a knee-buckling curve, with an improving change-up. He's still just at High-A Potomac as Washington inches up his workload, but that also means he is generally overmatching the competition. If all goes well, he could see the show at some point next year, but they aren't going to rush it. When he does arrive, it will have been worth the wait.

Jose Berrios (Minnesota Twins)

Berrios was the top pitching prospect on the World team. In fact, he was making his second start for the World team after pitching the first inning of the game in 2014. He's just 21 years old, but he has blitzed through the Twins' minor league system, and is currently working at Triple-A Chattanooga. At just 6'0" and 190 pounds, he doesn't have the preferred build of someone like Alex Meyer, but he has a repeatable delivery, and command of three decent pitches. I like his mid-90's fastball, and the fact that he can change speeds on his breaking balls, but his quickly developing change is what is boosting his prospects. He could see Minnesota as early as late this year, but he needs to show that he can handle hitters in the advanced minors, despite being younger than most he faces. Berrios doesn't look like an ace, more along the lines of a solid, middle-of-the-rotation starter with the ability to consistently keep his team in games.

Amir Garrett (Cincinnati Reds)

Pretty much every year, I see someone in this game that surprises me a bit. This year, Garrett was the pitcher who added his name to my watch list. A true athlete, he was playing basketball at St. Johns as recently as 2012, he eventually gave up hoops, and put his baseball career in high gear. A young, 6'6" southpaw who sits in the mid-90's is going to draw some attention, but he's now also showing an aptitude for a pretty decent change-up. His command of all his pitches is still a little erratic, but given the amount of time he has spent on a baseball mound, that's not too surprising, and he is showing steady progress. And, that time on a mound is another notable consideration. Given his basketball time, and his overall background, his is what would be considered a "low mileage" arm. Unlike most pro pitchers who have been working a lot of innings for a great many years, Garrett the exception who could have a lot of innings left.

Sean Newcomb (Los Angeles Angels)

Newcomb was on the radar right out of the draft (1^st round, 15^th overall in 2014). And, his calling card, nice clean mechanics and a free and easy delivery, including three or even four solid pitches, has already made him a possible fast-track prospect. Another lefty, he's a big guy which scouts always love, and he can make a 94-96 mph fastball look like soft toss. He's already moved up to High-A, and it's not impossible that he could reach Double-A later this year, with the possibility of pitching for the Angels as early as next season. That's pretty quick, but his poise and demeanor, along with a well-developed arsenal, put him ahead of many pitchers his age. I consider him the top pitching prospect in their system, and see a higher ceiling than Andrew Heaney. He's still refining his command, but his delivery suggests that will be a mere formality, so keep a close eye on him as he progresses. Again, he's not likely to become an ace, but he could be a very competent innings-eater when he does arrive.

Blake Snell (Tampa Bay Rays)

The Rays are known for being conservative while developing their young arms, and Snell has been on exception. He was in the organization for three seasons before eclipsing the 100 inning mark last year, but even with the light workload, he is drawing attention. He throws a modest low-mid 90's fastball, and a decent slider, but what gets everyone excited is his advanced straight change. How good is it? That change was a big factor in him beginning 2015 with 46 scoreless innings at High-A, and then Double-A. Hitters in A ball don't see his kind of change-up, so it will be interesting to see how it plays against much tougher Double-A hitters. He doesn't have the raw power to profile as a top gun, but with his repertoire, he could be a useful fantasy starter in time.

Mark Appel (Houston Astros)

Appel continues to be something of an enigma. He was selected in the first round in both 2012 (he didn't sign with the Pirates) and 2013, and he has three pitches that grade plus or higher on any given night. The problem is, any or all of three can be mediocre at best on any given night as well. His fastball can be too straight, his slider can lack depth, and command of his change is inconsistent, making the fastball and slider even more appealing to hitters. Despite mixed results, he has made it to Triple-A, but he still has a long way to go. Just don't forget his pedigree. Things could click at any time.

And, here are some Futures Game short takes:

Obviously I was paying special attention to the pitchers, but I do watch the hitters a bit too. Kyle Schwarber of the Cubs was named the MVP, but the at bat that stood out to me was off the bat of the Nats' Trea Turner. He rocketed a ball into the gap in right-centerfield, and waltzed into third with a triple. He never touched that afterburners. Interestingly, Team USA's Aaron Nola was the only pitcher not to appear for USA. He was listed as "unavailable" and I think a call-up to the Phillies may be imminent.

Some Notable Rotation Happenings:

• I watched last Friday's start by Noah Syndergaard against the Diamondbacks, and it really was that good. His stuff is unquestioned, but he also shows a lot of poise given his age and experience level. He could still have a shaky outing, of course, but he is a little more confidence in his change from being a true ace.
• The Red Sox have lost Clay Buchholz with a flexor strain, but that will probably present an opportunity for Brian Johnson to get a trial in the rotation. He's worth keeping an eye on, and may have the tools and mound presence to enjoy some success right out of the chute.
• In Atlanta, Shelby Miller has come crashing back to Earth after a great start to the season. His inconsistency, and tendency to plunge into prolonged funks is probably why the Cardinals felt they could afford to deal him. He has very good stuff, but he has yet to show he can effectively use it day in and day out.
• Last week I mentioned there were signs that the M'sHisashi Iwakumacould be rounding back into form after missing much of the first half. I watched his start against the Angels, and he was spotting everything. That was enough for me to say I expect a very strong second half. That was impressive.
• Brandon Beachy made his first start since 2013 on Saturday, and the results were pretty ho-hum. He allowed three runs over four innings, and while the velocity was there (he has just average stuff) the command was missing. I would have rather seen Zach Lee, but the Dodgers want to know what Beachy offers.
• Oh the woes of chasing wins for your pitching staff. Cleveland's Corey Kluber has a very respectable 3.38 ERA, an equally solid 1.11 WHIP, and he's rung up 154 strikeouts in 133.1 innings. And, all that adds up to a 4-10 record. Be patient Kluber owners, his fortunes should improve going forward.

The Rays seem to have settled into primarily using Brad Boxberger as their closer. As long as he does the job, they will probably keep him there with Jake McGee setting him up. The Detroit bullpen, including Joakim Soria, imploded late last week. The Tigers signed Neftali Feliz a day later, but I don't expect him to challenge Soria unless things continue to go badly. The Braves have lost Jason Grilli for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Jim Johnson is the likely replacement, but he is a shaky choice at best and they may explore other options. The Jays are still pretty non-committal on what role Aaron Sanchez will fill when he returns. Roberto Osuna is doing a respectable job as the closer, but I still think that may be the landing spot for Sanchez if he falters. The Padres' Craig Kimbrel is not the same guy he was in Atlanta. The velocity is still there, and he has experienced some bad luck, but he is much more hittable these days as he leaves a lot of pitches up in the zone. The Red Sox ended the first half playing much better and a big reason is Koji Uehara. He has allowed just two hits in his last 10 appearances. Trevor Rosenthal was hit hard in the last game before the break, and then sat out the All-Star game. The Cardinals hope to have him back when regular play resumes on Friday.