And we have finally made it to the last team in the Arizona Fall League, the Saguaros, brought to you by the Kansas City Royals, the Milwaukee Brewers, the New York Yankees, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Texas Rangers, the letter M, and the number 6. So, with this being the last team on the list, is there still anything worth checking out here? You bet, starting off with one player we’ve been hearing about so long, it feels like he should be in his late 20s by now, but he’s just 22 and finally ready to make a huge splash after getting a chance to tear things up in the AFL. Well, the Rangers hope at least…

Top Prospects Of The Saguaros

Jurickson Profar, Second Base, Texas Rangers

Well, at least we think he’s on the roster. Sort of. Profar was rushed to the majors way too soon, struggled, got injured, lost all of 2014, lost almost all of 2015, and he has yet to make an appearance in the AFL thanks to his right shoulder. Provided that he is able to get clearance from Rangers’ team doctor Dr. Keith Meister, Profar will join the Saguaros’ lineup, but as a designated hitter, not as a second baseman. That right there should put caution to any optimism one might have about him becoming an impact player in 2016 – he won’t. As General Manager Jon Daniels said last week when talking about Profar, “We have to get him healthy first.”

Even if he goes into Spring Training fully healthy, there’s no spot for him in the lineup, so he either will be an everyday player in the minors or a utility player in the majors. The Rangers are an American League team, of course, and the fantasy value of an American League utility player is below that of a slap-hitting DH. Still, he will open the 2016 season at 23, so there’s plenty of time for him to bust out, just not in 2016.

Ian Clarkin, Starting Pitcher, New York Yankees

Continuing the theme of prospects that have lost a ton of time over the last two years to injury, Clarkin finally returned to the mound on Monday for the first time since 2014. A first round selection by the Yankees in 2013 with the 33^rd-pick overall, Clarkin made just 16 starts in 2014 before being lost to an elbow injury. He showed a lot of promise before being shut down with a record of 4-3 and a 3.12 in 17 appearances (16 as a starter) between the South Atlantic (Sally) and Florida State Leagues. In 75 innings, Clarkin struck out 75 while walking just 23, although he was somewhat hittable, as opposing batters hit .258 against him. Still, he kept those hits in the park, with just six home runs allowed, which works out to 0.72 home runs per nine innings.

In his return to pitching, Clarkin held the Salt River Rafters to four hits, three walks, and one earned run in four innings, and he struck out two. That might not be dominating, but after missing so much time, just getting back to the mound is a huge success for him. Clarkin happens to be the youngest player on the team, still just 20 years old, so the Yankees won’t be rushing him to the majors, but he’ll open 2016 in either High-A or potentially Double-A, depending on his outing here. He is someone to watch for 2018.

Tyler Wade, Shortstop, New York Yankees

Another 20-year-old Yankee prospect (Wade turns 21 on November 23), Wade has quickly shot through the Yankees’ organization, finishing the season with the Double-A Trenton Thunder. Wade did struggle once reaching Trenton, but not so much to ignore his success in the Florida State League. There, with the Tampa Yankees, Wade hit .280 in 368 at-bats over 98 games, with two home runs, 28 RBI, 51 runs scored, and 31 stolen bases in 46 attempts. While he could use some more walks, he did pick up 39, bringing his on-base percentage up to .349, to go along with a .353 slugging percentage. Wade has made four appearances already at the AFL, with three hits (one double) in 13 at-bats, one walk, three strikeouts, and he was caught stealing in his one attempt thus far. His patience on the bases and at the plate needs work, but that will come with age.

Bubba Starling, Center Field, Kansas City Royals

Bubba Starling must really like the Arizona Fall League. Why do I say that? Two reasons. One, this is his second time here. Two, he’s opened up the season absolutely crushing the ball. Through six games, Starling is hitting .417 with ten hits, two of which left the yard, in 24 at-bats, with four RBI and four runs scored. He has also picked up a couple of walks, giving him an on-base percentage of .462 and an OPS of 1.128.

Of course, that’s a pretty small sample size, so how did the season look for him? Well, he made 12 appearances at High-A, completely emasculated opposing pitchers, and hit quite solidly in his 91 games at Double-A Northwest Arkansas (well, Springdale, Arkansas – “Northwest Arkansas” isn’t really a place on the map, but that’s where the team says it’s from, so that’s that), hitting .254 with 10 home runs, 32 RBI, and 51 runs scored, and he did almost all of that while still 22, with his 23^rd birthday coming in August. Starling should make his big league debut at some point in 2016, with a full-time major league job likely coming his way in 2017.

Alex Reyes, Starting Pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals

Yes, another starting pitching prospect for the Cardinals, because they can never have too many. Seriously, the rate in which they produce pitching studs is pretty ridiculous. Reyes didn’t turn 21 until the end of the regular season, a season that saw him rocket up to the ridiculously-hitter-friendly Texas League, which he completely owned. In his eight starts in Double-A with the Springfield Cardinals, Reyes was 3-2 with a 3.12 ERA.

Okay, that part isn’t total ownage, so here’s the stat that makes everyone drool: a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 52:18 in just 34 2/3 innings. Oh, and opposing batters hit just .174 against him. Wait – it gets better. In a league where someone can homer on a check swing, Reyes allowed just one. Yes, one. And in his thirteen starts at High-A before this most recent promotion, he allowed none, in 63 2/3 innings, while striking out 96 and walking just 31. He’s already made his first start for the Saguaros, allowing just one hit and two walks in 3 2/3^rd innings, and he struck out five. This kid is ridiculously good. The Cardinals have no reason to rush him, and he will likely return to Double-A to open the year – he’ll be just 21 after all – but he’ll be in the bigs no later than September next year, because he will force the issue.

That’s it for previews, and with games underway, we’ll be breaking down some of the hot starts our next time around. See you then!

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