- RHP Tyler Glasnow
- RHP Jameson Taillon
- OF/1B Josh Bell
- C Reese McGuire
- RHP Nick Kingham
- RHP Mitch Keller
- OF Austin Meadows
- INF Alen Hanson
- SS Cole Tucker
- OF Harold Ramirez
1. Tyler Glasnow
Position: RHP
DOB: 08/23/1993
Height/Weight: 6’7” 195 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/R
Drafted/Acquired: 5th round, 2011 draft, Hart HS, (Santa Clarita, CA)
Previous Ranking: #3 (Org), #42 (Top 101)
2014 Stats: 1.74 ERA (124.1 IP, 74 H, 157 K, 57 BB) at High-A Bradenton
The Tools: 6+ FB; 6 potential CB; 5+ potential CH
What Happened in 2014: Glasnow proved to be well ahead of the curve in the Florida State League, fanning an impressive 157 batters in 124 1/3 innings and only allowing 74 hits.
Strengths: Outstanding size; creates good angle on hitters; throws downhill; fast arm; heater easily operates 93-95 with late life; capable of reaching for more; aggressive with fastball; snaps curveball with loose wrist; creates excellent snap; deep break and teeth at 77-79; bat-missing potential; flashes feel for changeup; improving action; power-arm potential.
Weaknesses: Lot of body to control due to size; loses feel for delivery; consistency of release point suffers; will overthrow fastball when reaching back; can hold onto curve too long; change lags behind other offerings; too firm at times; lacks finish out of the strike zone; overall command needs a grade jump; gets away with mistakes in the zone; still learning finer points of craft.
Overall Future Potential: High 6; no. 2/3 starter
Realistic Role: High 5; no. 3/4 starter
Risk Factor/Injury History: Moderate risk; yet to pitch in upper levels; pitchability progression.
Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: The WHIP will likely always be an issue, outside of any extreme BABIP-depressing seasons, but it’s a small price to pay for the strikeout potential. He’s exciting from a statistical standpoint, but for fantasy owners, he’s still a big risk—and even the payoff may look a little like Lance Lynn. I’d still take the next guy on this list as the top fantasy arm in this system.
The Year Ahead: There is no doubt Glasnow is ready for an assignment in Double-A as he gets set to take the next step in his developmental journey this season. The raw stuff here shines on the mound. The right-hander’s fastball-curveball combination gives him a distinct leg up on the competition. It’s typically a barrage of mid-90s fastballs and hammer curves aimed at churning quickly through opposing lineups. The vision is of Glasnow pushing to the front of a big-league rotation at peak, with the ability to have a solid string of successful seasons. The future is without a doubt bright, but there are some underlying concerns that the big righty needs to address to reach his potential. The feel for the craft—notably command—and utility of the changeup presently lag behind. Currently, the other weapons help mask these weaknesses, but once in the majors, their development will be big factors in making the ceiling a reality. It’ll be interesting to see how Glasnow transitions into the Eastern League, and whether he is pushed right off the bat to be finer with the heater, along with incorporating his change more in sequences. If he can show similar success to previous campaigns, he’ll ride the wave to a 2015 debut.
Major league ETA: Late 2015
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