The Fab Four: Pitchers

Nope. Not those guys.

In the first half of a two- part March series, Mark Smith gives a peak at four prized pitching prospects that we all may want to remember as 2010 moves forward. Stay tuned later this month for a look at four hitters to watch.

Your top young arm not listed? Feel free to sound off about it. We like feedback.

--TQ


Stephen Strasburg: Almost every baseball fan has heard of Strasburg by now. Last season the only professional work he got in was in the Arizona Fall League where he had 23 strikeouts in only 19 innings. While his AFL work was cut short by a minor knee injury, Stephen has picked up where he left off. In 5 scoreless spring training innings he has 4 strikeouts and has handled all the media attention with ease. Having been hyped up as the best pitching prospect in history is a tall order but so far Strasburg has lived up to the billing.

What to expect in 2010: I do not think the Nats will have him on Opening Day but I am guessing it will be similar to what happened to Lincecum a few years back. He will be sent to AAA and brought up around the middle to end of May to delay his arbitration clock from ticking. I see him having year end stats close to 8-4, 3.50 era, and about 130 K’s in 120 major league innings

Kyle Drabek: As an alumnus of The Woodlands High School I feel like I have to say something about my fellow Highlander Kyle Drabek. So far the biggest thing in his career has been getting traded for Doc Halliday. Drabek was drafted 18th pick in the 2006 amateur draft and has been extremely dominant through the majority of his minor league career. After coming back strong from Tommy John surgery in 2008 he vaulted to the top of the Phillies prospect rankings. While many see him as a future closer, Toronto views him as a top of the rotation starter. Don’t expect him to head north of the border when camp ends but he will definitely make his debut for the Jays sometime this summer.

What to expect in 2010: I do not see him as having a stellar rookie year in the brutal AL East but he will evolve over the next few years as at least a number 2 starter. This year expect about 3-6, 5.50 ERA, and close to 80 K’s in about 90 major league innings.

Brian Matusz: As the first pitcher taken in the 2008 draft, much is expected. As part of the new wave of top prospects in Baltimore there is finally hope in Baltimore for the first time in ages. After having been dominant through all of his minor league stops, Matusz will definitely be donning the Orange and Black early this year, if not on Opeining Day.

What to expect in 2010: Baseball Prospectus has him projected for 7-9, and 106 K’s in about 143 innings with a 5.02 ERA. From what I have heard of Matusz, this sounds right. Even though he is one of the top prospects in the game developing young pitchers in the AL East does not usually work out well. Give Matusz about 2-3 years and he will be a very good pitcher for the up and coming Orioles.

Neftali Feliz: As a part of the prospect theft commited by Jon Daniels as part of the Texiera trade, Feliz is looking like an elite level pitcher. With a 100 mph fastball that looks easy, Perez is ready for the big time. After a great midseason debut for the Rangers last year, expect big things from Neftali. I do not see him closing as he is still young and may not be ready for that type of pressure. So unfortunately he he is going to be much help in fantasy this year, except maybe for some high strikeout numbers He is projected as either a Joba type at the back of the bullpen or has the potential to be a front of the line starter.

What to expect in 2010: Feliz is projected to have about 110 innings and a mid 4 era, mixed as a starter and reliever. I project his ERA to be lower as mostly a reliever. Baseball Prospectus has a 4.60 ERA projected, but to me if he is in the bullpen I see it substantially lower. I think he will be high 2’s to low 3’s as a reliever at the back end of the Rangers bullpen.