Top Prospects in National League East
Changes have become the forefront for the each Major League Baseball team, especially for those who were not even able to make through to the post-season. As it has been seen in each division of Major League Baseball, the National League Eastern franchises
are also active to consider new talent for the 2012 season. Changes are being made at all level, even from uniforms to caps and media rights to full name, as the Florida Marlins has changed to Miami Marlins.
Starting from the top club of the League, with unsurpassed pitching depth, the Philadelphia Phillies, our evaluation will move forward until final analysis of the Miami Marlins. Already equipped with the most dangerous pitchers in the history of baseball,
the Philadelphia Phillies are still looking to rely on their pitching depth. The club has aligned 24-year-old right-handed pitcher Justin De Fratus for their 2012 starting rotation behind Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt.
Justin justified his September call in 2011 season, putting 2.25 ERA in five relief appearances. He was called to the big league after an unmatched display in both double and triple-A level, where he appeared in 51 games and worked 75.1 innings to post a
2.99 ERA with 99 strike-outs.
It is also a season of free agency and many pitchers are heading towards different clubs, but De Fratus will not prefer going anywhere else than the Phillies.
It was somewhat of a good season for the Atlanta Braves with their increased winning percentage, but the rumours swirling about their top pitcher Jair Jurrjens might put the Braves into a struggling position in the coming season. Another blow was the trade
of Derek Lowe to the Cleveland Indians, but the Braves’ worries seem to have ended with the appearance of the Julio Teheran in the scenario.
The 20-year-old right-handed Teheran started 24 games at Triple-A level and posted 15-3 with a 2.55 ERA for the Gwinnett Braves in 2011. The path seems clear for Teheran, but he still has to compete with Randall Delgado for the fifth spot in the 2012 starting
rotation.
Before the start of the 2011 season, there were a lot of expectation to the experts about seeing Matt Dominguez at the third base spot, but the things did not come up as per their thoughts, as Dominguez went out of the spot due to injury. However, now with
an ambition to do everything new, create something different and an aim to reach at least the post-season, the Marlins, by any means, will have to consider the right-handed prospect.
Matt will have to remove many hurdles from his way before moving forward to third base. One of them is from his own club, as Marlins are keeping a strong eye over the shortstop Jose Reyes. If Reyes joins the team, Hanley Ramirez will be shuffled to third
base, eliminating Matt’s chances to be in the camp. However, if Reyes declines, still unpredictable, Matt will defiantly be able to make his Major League debut in 2012 season.
New York Mets have Jeurys Familia, a right-handed pitcher from Santo Domingo, sparkled 2011 season at single-A level, putting 2.90 ERA along with 132 strike-outs off 124 innings in 23 starts. Some qualities in Familia distinguish him from other prospects,
tremendous four-seam fastball being the best among all. As the Mets are serious to provide him a chance at the big league level in 2012 season, the 22-year-old pitcher might provide some crucial wins to the Mets.
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