2/25/2065
Here is a link to last year’s relief pitching prospect ranking. Usually this position is pretty desolate as I prioritize keeping my best pitching prospects throwing as starters as long as possible. That's changed some, partially due to the floor for relief pitcher quality increasing significantly, but even more so due to how easily pitchers are losing stamina these days. This increases the value of BBA relievers while simultaneously forcing me to reclassify guys to reliever more aggressively in the minors.
Reminder on the scale:
A: star player just by developing to their potential
B: BBA regular just by developing to their potential or star potential but has some risk factors
C: potential is enough to make it to the BBA but beyond that uncertain
D: needs some bumps to have a BBA future or a lot of uncertainty around their potential
#1
George Schroeder (B-) | Age: 22 | AA
| OVR/POT | STUFF | MOV | HRA | BABIP | CON |
|---|
| 40/55 | 5/6 | 5/6 | 4/6 | 5/5 | 5/7 |
Schroeder is a former promising starting pitching prospect who got reclassified as a reliever after lumping to 4 stamina. He's a three pitch pitcher who was in need of a fast track after being added to the 40-man roster during the 2063-2064 offseason. Despite all three pitches remaining raw in their development, Schroeder retired hitters with ease during the 2064 campaign, posting a 2.54 FIP and 0.7 WAR at the A level before achieving a 3.61 FIP and another 0.7 WAR in AA. Right now he's ticketed to repeat AA, but if he comes on strong enough he could always find himself back in a starting rotation which gives him extra prospect juice in my eyes.
#2
António García (B-) | Age: 24 | AAA
| OVR/POT | STUFF | MOV | HRA | BABIP | CON |
|---|
| 50/50 | 9/9 | 6/6 | 7/7 | 6/6 | 4/5 |
Garcia received a September cup of coffee after compiling 47 innings of 3.37 FIP baseball in AAA. He's got lights out stuff that would draw him consideration for the closer role if he ever fully develops his control (it wasn't an issue in AAA). The other knocks on Garcia are sizable platoon splits (although he is still effective against LHH) and his 1 stamina.
#3
Orlando Gonzáles (B-) | Age: 21 | AA
| OVR/POT | STUFF | MOV | HRA | BABIP | CON |
|---|
| 40/55 | 7/7 | 6/7 | 6/7 | 6/6 | 4/5 |
Last year's top relief pitching prospect moves down two spots despite improving his letter grade. A successful offseason dev lab program moved Gonzales' control up a much needed peg. He threw 51.1 innings of 3.44 FIP baseball in AA flashing the most important skill (durability) despite his fragile tag. Gonzales should work from AAA in 2065.
#4
Pablo Silva (C+) | Age: 22 | AA
| OVR/POT | STUFF | MOV | HRA | BABIP | CON |
|---|
| 40/45 | 5/7 | 5/6 | 4/7 | 6/6 | 4/6 |
Silva made the starting pitching prospect list last year but a lack of durability and stamina that at one point lumped to 3 (it's back up to 4) earned him a reassignment to the bullpen. After a successful 2063 A level campaign as a starter, we figured he'd easily transition to AA as a reliever. We were mistaken, as Silva struggled to a 5.22 FIP and negative WAR in 2064. His pitches all need much refinement so his second pass at AA will be crucial to his long-term success. He remains a highly regarded prospect because his base potential ratings are great.
#5
Mert Kiraç (C+) | Age: 17 | R
| OVR/POT | STUFF | MOV | HRA | BABIP | CON |
|---|
| 25/55 | 2/8 | 3/7 | 2/7 | 4/5 | 1/6 |
Kirac has the best potential base ratings of this entire position group if he can reach them. That remains a long way away for this 2064 IFA who received a $2.2M signing bonus, which explains the lower score and position on the list. To his credit, despite a highly undeveloped scouting report that describes a plus-plus cutter/curveball combo, Kirac was dominant in Rookie ball as a 17 year-old. He had 21 saves and a 4.13 FIP, good for 0.9 WAR at that offensively bloated level.
