The Desert Dogs benefit nicely from being fed by organizations that are either rebuilding, are coming out of rebuilding, or, in the case of the Pirates, are always restocking thanks to being in a smaller market. As a result, this is a very good team with some interesting names to watch.

Top Prospects Of The Solar Sox

Steven Brault, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Brault entered the season as the 25^th-best prospect in the Pirates’ organization, and the scouting grades on his stuff were not exactly high. Starting the year in the High-A Florida State League, Brault’s numbers were good, not great, with a record of 4-1 with a 3.02 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 45:21 over 65 2/3 innings in 13 starts. Again, good, not great, but still good enough to earn him a promotion to Double-A Altoona, where suddenly everything started to click for him and he numbers were amazing.

Over 15 starts, Brault was 9-3 with a 2.00 ERA and 1.01 WHIP, walking just 19 while striking out 80 in 90 innings of work, with opposing batters hitting just .212 against him. That’s going to earn Brault a serious look in spring training – provided the Pirates like what they see this fall in Glendale.

J.P. Crawford, SS, Philadelphia Phillies

Crawford is coming off of his second-straight appearance at the Futures Game and was Baseball America’s third overall prospect in their midseason top 100, Crawford definitely has the stuff to be a superstar, but he needs to stay on the field. Crawford missed the first month of the season due to a quad injury in spring training. Barring further injury, that should be the last spring training he does not leave with the big league club. Between High-A and Double-A this year, Crawford hit .288 with six home runs, 42 RBI, 68 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases in 16 attempts.

A.J. Reed, 1B, Houston Astros

The scariest part of the Astros' success is that they weren’t supposed to be ready yet, and they are only going to get better. Reed had the most home runs (33) and RBI (120) in the minors this year, along with the best OPS (1.059) and slugging percentage (.621). He also showed a strong level of plate discipline with an on-base percentage of .432 between High-A Lancaster and Double-A Corpus Christi. Chris Carter did a respectable job as a placeholder at first, but it's time for an upgrade.

Austin Meadows, CF, Pittsburgh Pirates

Okay, right off the bat, no, he’s not going to be playing center field next year for the Pirates, since the incumbent there is really, really good (and in the AFL Hall of Fame), but they are going to have to find a spot for him somewhere. Because of his age (20) and his lack of experience at higher levels, with just six appearances above High-A, Meadows likely will start the season back in the minors His .310 batting average, seven home runs, 55 RBI, 77 runs, and 21 stolen bases between High-A and Double-A show that they are going to have to find a place for him sooner than later.

Courtney Hawkins, LF, Chicago White Sox

There’s no doubt that Hawkins can hit the ball very, very hard when he makes contact – including one that landed on a moving train last year. The problem is his contact ate. He had 100 strikeouts in just 300 at-bats last year with the Double-A Birmingham Barons. His home run total also took a significant drop, with just nine last year after 19 in both 2013 and 2014 at High-A. If he cannot improve his approach at the plate, that power won’t matter.

Andrew Knapp, C, Philadelphia Phillies

Coming off of Tommy John surgery, the biggest question for Knapp this year was health. While he only appeared in 118 games between High-A and Double-A, he was quite impressive in that time, especially after his promotion. With the Double-A Reading Fightin’ Phils, Knapp hit .360 with 11 home runs, 56 RBI, 39 runs, and a 1.050 OPS in 214 at-bats over 55 games. Carlos Ruiz is signed through 2016 by the Phillies, so Knapp won’t be rushed, but he will definitely be up at some point in 2016 and the everyday catcher in 2017. If the Phillies get lucky and are able to trade Ruiz this offseason, though, he’s almost certainly breaking camp with them.

That’s it for today – next up, the Mesa Solar Sox!

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