I was very ecstatic to hear that Barry Zito and Tim Hudson would oppose each other in their final career starts. It is just a nice story: former teammates who both started their careers in Oakland would face off against one another for one last hurrah. I hope they both pitch well. It would be nice to see them both go out on a high note.

Clayton Blackburn (SP, SF, Triple-A)

Stats: 123.0 IP, 2.85 ERA, 3.55 FIP, 7.24 K/9, 2.34 BB/9, 0.44 HR/9

Clayton Blackburn has always flown under the radar, ever since the Giants took him in the 16th round with the 507th overall pick in the 2011 draft. Blackburn still isn’t considered to be a top pitching prospect, but his consistency has helped place him in a great position to compete for a rotation spot in 2016.

The 22-year-old righty is not going to strikeout 10 batters per game on most nights, but he will muster a few punchouts. Blackburn is primarily a groundball pitcher who can make quick work of a lineup because of his aggressive approach to hitters and great command. As a pitcher who pitches to contact, Blackburn does not have an overwhelming fastball (tops at 93, sits upper-80s). He does have a nice curveball and a complete repertoire, but his slider and changeup are average at best pitches.

With Tim Hudson retiring and Mike Leake potentially departing to free agency, there will be some openings in the Giants’ rotation and Blackburn looks very likely to occupy one of those spots in April. He is a sleeper pick in fantasy leagues who could be more of a waiver wire add than anything else. For fantasy owners in deep or NL-only leagues, he could be a great draft steal.

Sean Nolin (SP, OAK, MLB)

Stats: 47.1 IP, 2.66 ERA, 4.82 FIP, 7.23 K/9, 3.61 BB/9, 0.95 HR/9

As you may have noticed, there is an MLB where the current playing level is for Sean Nolin. That is because with the rosters expanding, Nolin was one of the players called up to join the big league club. This isn’t his first stint of Major League action, but he would still qualify as a 2016 rookie making him eligible to be on this list. Now that I’ve addressed that, let’s discuss Sean Nolin.

Nolin has a very nice repertoire and definitely profiles as a future starting pitcher. He has a four pitch combo of a fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup. The fastball can reach the mid-90s, but typically sits low-90s. He has a very average curveball and a sub-par slider that both need some improving before they are ready to get Major League hitters out on a consistent basis (the slider needs the most work). His changeup is quite good at this point and looks to be his primary out pitch. He is neither a groundball pitcher nor a strikeout pitcher and most of his outs come through the air. Normally this might be an issue, but not in O.co Coliseum.

The Oakland Athletics opted to leave him in the minors this year, but he figures to compete for a rotation spot next year. Nolin isn’t going to be an ace for the Athletics, and he won’t be the most valuable starting pitcher for fantasy owners, but he does have some value in deep leagues and AL-only leagues as a back end of the rotation type starter.

Sean Newcomb (SP, LAA, Double-A)

Stats: 141.1 IP, 2.36 ERA, 3.31 FIP, 10.95 K/9, 5.03 BB/9, 0.32 HR/9

Sean Newcomb is one of those starting pitchers who will be quick from the draft to the majors because he spent a lot of time at college. Newcomb is one of the bigger left-handed pitchers in baseball (6’5”, 245 lbs) and certainly intimidates opposing batters. After reaching Double-A in just his second season, expect him to see plenty of time in the majors in 2016.

Newcomb had a repertoire far above many of the pitchers in the 2014 draft class and it has shown so far in his minor league career. Newcomb’s top pitch is his fastball that can reach anywhere from 92-98 with has a lot of life to it. His curveball appears to be a future above-average pitch as it comes in with a spin and movement while being roughly 20 mph slower than his fastball. His changeup doesn’t have the ceiling of the curveball, but it could be an average pitch for him if he can ever put some life in it.

Newcomb will not be in the majors this season, but he will certainly be competing for a spot in the Angels rotation next season. Unlike the other pitchers in this article, Newcomb (if given a rotation spot) would represent a potential rookie of the year candidate and should definitely be owned in most leagues for his top of the rotation potential.

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