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Fantasy Insider For your consideration: AL pitching prospects
Posted: Friday August 27, 1999 07:08 PM
By Dan George, CNN/SI OK, Rick Ankiel has made his long-awaited start, and if he didn't immediately resemble the second coming of Cy Young, it was a perfectly respectable outing. The Cardinals' young lefty surrendered three runs in five innings, scattering five hits and walking two while striking out six. Granted, it didn't hurt to be facing the free-swinging Expos, but Ankiel appeared to be pretty much as advertised, a hard thrower with a 90 mph-plus fastball and a big curve. He's not ready to overpower major leaguers on stuff alone as he did in the minors (13-3, 2.35 ERA, 194 strikeouts in 138 innings at Class AA and AAA), but the potential is clearly there. He's just 20 and already very poised. If he stays healthy and the Cards keep him under 200 innings in each of the next couple of years as he fills, Ankiel could be special. In the American League, Ramon Ortiz hasn't gotten quite as much hype, but he's made an even bigger splash so far, compiling a 1-1 record and 1.80 ERA with 11 strikeouts in two starts for the lowly Angels. After pitching a no-hitter in '97, Ortiz missed most of last season with a bad elbow but he bounced back strongly this year (14-7, 3.24, 150 Ks in 155 innings at Class AA and Class AAA). At 23, he may be further along than Ankiel, but that elbow and his slight build (6-0, 165 pounds) are warning signs for someone who depends primarily on his fastball. Other young pitchers are on the way as major league teams expand their rosters after Sept. 1. As you consider them, keep several things in mind. If you're looking for help this year, be very careful. Even the best of them will probably struggle, and just one or two bad games could ring the death knell for your ERA and WHIP. This is especially true if they're toiling for bad or mediocre teams. Contending teams improve your chances, but they are also less likely to turn to an inexperienced pitcher down the stretch. On the other hand, if you're in a keeper league, this is the perfect time to latch onto some youngsters who could be pleasant and cheap surprises next season. Wait 'til next spring's draft, and the preseason hype will almost certainly drive the prices up on some of these guys. Let's look at a few pitchers who could make a fantasy impact, either in the next few weeks or early next season. We'll consider American League hurlers this week, then check out the National League next time out. Jin Ho Cho, Red Sox -- Just turned 24, the right-handed Cho doesn't have much to prove at Class AAA Pawtucket, where he's 8-3 with a 3.48 ERA. But he's struggled in a couple of Boston stints and, with the Red Sox in the wild-card hunt, will probably see limited action in September. Chris Fussell, Royals -- K.C. sent Jeff Conine to the Orioles this spring for this 23-year-old right-hander, who stepped up by going 10-3 with a 3.54 ERA at Class AAA, allowing just 66 hits in 81 innings and fanning 80. He should get a strong look once the minor league playoffs are over. Jon Garland, White Sox -- A member of what's turning into a pretty good pipeline of young Chicago pitchers, Garland, 20, is 2-0 with a 3.30 ERA since his promotion to Class AA Birmingham. Good command, curve sinker. The 1997 first-rounder is just one more reason Jaime Navarro's days are numbered. Calvin Maduro, Orioles -- One-time prospect has lost some of his glitter, and the O's drag their feet on their legitimate phenoms, so that's not good. Still, he's 10-11, 4.17 on a bad Class AAA Rochester team. And can he be any worse than Doug Linton? Gil Meche, Mariners -- Seattle, a bastion for pitchers? The early returns from Safeco seem to indicate so. Freddy Garcia, John Halama and Meche, a 20-year-old right-hander, are the nucleus of what could be a superior rotation a couple of years from now. After struggling in July, Meche is 2-2, 3.92 this month. Gabe Molina, Orioles -- Fourteen saves this season at Rochester, 24 last year in Class AA. You'd like to see the floundering O's give him a look in a few save situations down the stretch. Probably even if you're a Mike Timlin owner. Brett Laxton, A's -- Despite not reaching Class AAA until he was 25, Laxton has elbowed his way into the A's pitching picture by winning 25 games over the past two minor league seasons, including a 12-8, 3.30 showing this year at Vancouver. Mark Mulder, A's -- The first-round pick from '98 is 6-6, 4.07 at Class AAA Vancouver. Tim Hudson and Laxton have already moved ahead of him and, with the A's still seeking a playoff spot, he'll probably get no more than a token look in September. Still an excellent prospect, though. Aaron Myette, White Sox -- A 6-4 right-hander with a good fastball and solid command, Myette is 11-6, 3.80 at Class AA Birmingham this season. That's after 13-6, 2.33 at two classifications in '98. Should get a good look in 2000. Tomokazu Ohka, Red Sox -- The most dominating pitcher in the minors this season (14-0, 2.47, 100 Ks in 127 innings), Ohka, like Cho, struggled in early major league appearances. But with Derek Lowe moving to the closer's role, Ohka will probably pitch in middle relief the rest of the way and bid for a starting spot next spring. Juan Pena, Red Sox -- The high point in the 22-year-old Pena's season came when he struck out 15 in 13 innings while going 2-0 with an 0.69 ERA in his only two starts for Boston. The low point came a few days ago when a sore shoulder knocked him out for the rest of the season. Should be ready to go in the spring, though. Matt Perisho, Rangers -- Seems like Perisho's been around forever (his major league debut came in '97 with the Angels), but the lefty is still just 24. At Class AAA Oklahoma City this season, he's 14-7 with a 4.70 ERA and 143 Ks in 149 1/3 innings. Robert Ramsay, Mariners -- After going 6-6, 5.35 at Class AAA Pawtucket, Ramsay flourished at Tacoma (4-1, 1.08) when the M's obtained him in the trade for Butch Huskey. Now the 25-year-old Washington state native will take over in the rotation for Jeff Fassero, traded Friday to the Rangers. Matt Riley, P, Orioles -- Baltimore's top pitching prospect is 10-4, 2.80 at Class AA Bowie this season, with 116 strikeouts in 115 2/3 innings. Who knows what'll happen in September, but hopefully the O's will end their rebuilding denial by next spring and give him a shot in the rotation. Kip Wells, White Sox -- Perhaps the closest of the Sox's youngsters, Wells is 7-1, 2.98 at Class AA Birmingham this season, not to mention an eye-catching 2-0, 1.74 in two emergency starts for the Sox. He should get a real look in September. Ed Yarnall, Yankees -- The rebirth of Andy Pettitte has delayed Yarnall's return to the Bronx, but the lefty is doing just fine at Class AAA Columbus (13-4, 3.47, 146 Ks in 145 1/3 innings). Could get a start or two with the big club in late September as the Yanks get their rotation in order for the playoffs. Dan George, a senior producer at CNNSI.com, has played fantasy baseball since 1985. He's not especially proud of it, but he's owned Ken Hill as an Expo, Cardinal, Indian, Ranger and Angel. You can reach him via e-mail at dan.george@turner.com.
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