Top prospects in National League West – Part 2
As Jordan Parker has been rated the top prospect for the Arizona Diamondbacks and left-hander Eric Surkamp is the most possible prospect for the San Francisco Giants, other clubs in the National League West are also looking for the best candidate to fill
at least one spot for the 2012 season. Just a month after St. Louis Cardinals overthrew the Texas Rangers to be crowned the 2011 World Series Championship, a sense of excitement and aggression is being seen among the clubs, which could not make to even divisional
league.
Among all, the National League western franchise, Los Angeles Dodgers is wounded with 79 defeats in the season without even making it to the postseason. They also had to face their worst ever defeats. Sometimes their batters performed like amateurs and sometimes
pitchers tossed as if they were throwing for the minor leagues, but the biggest problem for the club is lack of any reliable rotation for the 2012 season. Their only hope for the season Hiroki Kuroda is now seriously considering going back to Japan with family
and Ruby de la Rosa has undergone Tommy John Surgery, which will not let him come into action in the entire 2012 season.
Without any promising pitcher in the rotation and problems with the owner and media groups seems as if some hidden controversies are being weaved within the Dodgers, but besides all these, the club will have to look closely at upcoming season, which is now
just two months away. Despite all problems and difficulties, the Dodgers have seen something in 21-year-old Nathan Eovaldi.
While playing for Double-A Chattanooga, the right-handed pitcher posted impressive 2.62 ERA in 19 starts. Nathan was also inspiring when given chance at big league level for some time. He appeared in ten games, six of them were starts and managed 3.63 ERA.
Although he made only one win but his overall impact in the games was enough to give him value again in the 2012 season.
It is being reported that the Dodgers will stick him to triple-A level, but looking at his stats and passion for the big league, he should be given a chance at the big level, especially when two major players are out of action.
Chris Lannetta is the defence behind the plate for the Colorado Rockies, but the team will not be in trouble to replace him with Wilin Rosario, if the young lad displays something different in Spring Training. Qualities shown not only with the gloves, Rosario
have also created wonders with bat in Triple-A level. Wilin launched 22 home-runs and as a result made his debut in Major League baseball on September 6. In his 16 games, he made three home-runs, scored six runs and eight RBIs with a .204 batting average,
though low but still dangerous at least to Lannetta.
Rosario, with his perfect throw, got 41 percent of the runners in just 16 games. Quality in his short career has emerged as the perfect replacement for Lannetta, if not in 2012, then possibly in the 2013 season.
With not perfect, yet still considerable stats, the San Diego Padres’ Casey Kelly is a part of the discussions in the front office. Playing at Double-A, the right-handed pitcher, Casey struggled with his consistency, but still managed to put 11-6 with a
3.98 ERA in 27 starts. There is still Spring Training before the regular season and Casey may acquire perfection to cement his spot in the starting rotation.
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