1/20/12

Baseball: Jason Heyward, Jacob Turner, Tyler Skaggs, Jurickson Profar



It may sound strange, but in a way Jason Heyward’s 2011 season is actually a testament to his supreme ability. How many hitters (much less 21-year-old hitters) could manage a league-average batting line in the majors while injured and watching so many balls put in play gravitate toward gloves? Heyward does need to keep the ball of the grass and pare down the pop ups to truly tap into his power, but it’s important to remember that he’s still younger than many celebrated rookies and prospects. With better luck, health and a little more development, Heyward could be a monster in 2012. http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/index.php/buy-low-on-jason-heyward/

Jacob Turner, Tigers: Following the Tigers' model for young pitchers, Turner made his Major League debut in just his second pro season, leaping up from Double-A for a July outing and then returning in September. Now he's ready to compete for a rotation spot on Opening Day. Just 21 when the season starts, Turner has improved as an all-around pitcher. Though his plus fastball is still his best pitch, his other offerings -- curve and changeup -- have improved, as has his command. If that continues, he'll be able to join former fast-trackers like Justin Verlander and Rick Porcello in the Tigers' rotation. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120112&content_id=26330142&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&tcid=tw_article_26330142

Tyler Skaggs, D-backs: One of the lefties the D-backs got from the Angels in the Dan Haren trade in 2010, Skaggs had an outstanding first full season in the Arizona organization, pitching across two levels and starting the Futures Game in his projected big league home. He handled the jump to Double-A without any problem and pitched extremely well as his Mobile club won the Southern League title. He has three average or better pitches, with his fastball, curve and changeup all having the chance to be above-average to plus. He won't be 21 years old until July but could start knocking on the door soon. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120113&content_id=26339048&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&tcid=tw_article_26339048

As a 16 year old international free agent out of Curacao in the summer of 2009, every MLB team inquired on Jurickson Profar. All of them were interested in him as a pitcher as he threw in the mid-90′s off the mound, impressive for a player so young. But Profar had always thought of himself as a shortstop, making his decision much more effortless. Once he declared his intentions to be a shortstop as a pro, every team backed away from Profar because he was much less proven as a position player. Every team except for one, the Texas Rangers. The Rangers liked Profar as a pitcher just as much as everyone else, but they acquiesced to his demands to be a shortstop. They signed him to a 1.5 million dollar bonus on July 2nd, 2009. Even since then, the Rangers have been more and more impressed with what they’ve seen. http://seedlingstostars.com/2012/01/19/2011-sal-all-stars-ss-jurickson-profar/#more-3220

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