Top Prospects in American League West
It is not like the American League West did not put their share in the regular season of Major League Baseball, as the Texas Rangers were the runner up of the World Series in 2011 season, but the division is still little limited to their own territories.
Besides, Texas Rangers, the other three clubs of the AL west are in dire need of top players. Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners all were not as promising in 2011 as they used to be in the previous seasons.
With just a month away from the 2012 regular season, it has become even more challenging for the clubs to hire the top prospects, able to put in a striking performance at the right time. Los Angeles Angles are to be the first to decide about their 2012 roster,
as they have already written Garret Richards in their register. This past year, the right-handed pitcher, top selectee by the fans, Richards debuted on August 10 against the New York Yankees’ strong batting line-up.
The pitcher had three more games during 2011, impressing the manager and coach and will likely be the top choice for the 2012 season, if Joel Pineiro does not remain in the rotation. Richards posted an excellent 12-2 record with a 3.15 ERA in 21 starts at
double-A level this past season before moving to the big league. However, he still has to put up a performance like Jered Weaver and Dan Haren to stay in the rotation for the club.
Texas Rangers’ manager Ron Washington has a stunning eye to judge the abilities of a player and that is why he had already committed $15 million to an outfielder for a minor league level. Leonys Martin played just 73 games to be impressive enough to be considered
for the big league. Washington might provide him centre-field position as it has been said the team will provide him a chance to practice during Spring Training. During his small career in double-A, Martin put .348 and hit a .389 on-base percentage in the
Arizona Fall League.
There has never been such a rapid promotion in the Oakland Athletics in their current history, as 22-year-old Sonny Gray made. The right-handed pitcher was drafted in the first round of the 2011 MLB draft and after playing just one game in the minor league
jumped to double-A Midland. Sonny justified his sudden promotion, tossing five sparkling starts with 0.45 ERA and made 18 strike-outs in 20 innings. Sonny is still lying in the arms of doubt, as it will be a difficult task for the Athletics to decide about
his place in the 2012 starting rotation. Some of the scouts rank him as a bullpen person while others consider him a middle of the rotation starter. However, it will be evident when the Athletics land him in the spring rotation.
Danny Hultzen was acquired in the 2011 MLB draft with a vision to back Felix Hernandez and Michael Pineda, who has already proved to be the best Rookie of the Year in the Seattle Mariners. The team is now considering him seriously for the spot, but it will
not be possible without looking at his spring training practice. While in Arizona Fall League in double-A level, the choice prospect was very promising with his fastballs, curveballs, perfect changeups and sudden sinkers. However, the Mariners are not ready
to take any risk and it will put Danny into a testing session during Spring Training in 2012.
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