The Southern League is a Professional Minor League Baseball division. In 2012 the Southern League hosted many top notch prospects that did or could recieve the Call to the Bigs in 2013. Players such as Tyler Thornburg, Christian Bethancourt, Sean Gilmartin, Stolen-Base Record holder Billy Hamilton, Tyler Skaggs, Andrelton Simmons and many more but, 2013 could be a huge year for prospects in the Southern League. Im gonna break down each team and their prospects that could be seeing alot of playing time in the Southern League. This blog will be the South Division.
Mobile Bay Bears: The Mobile Bay Bears are the AA affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They finished in last place last year but are looking to bounce back. The Bay Bears could see several top prospects.
Archie Bradley SP - Archie was a first round draft pick by the D-Backs back in 2011 seing most of his time in LoA South Bend last year. Archie put up significant numbers posting 12-6 w/l record an ERA of 3.84 and 152 Strikeouts. Archie is the #3 prospect in the Dbacks organization.
Matt Davidson 3B - The Dbacks recieved Matt in the 2009 supplemental draft. Matt played the 2012 season with Mobile and posted very good numbers. In 135 games he batter .261 , 23 HomeRuns, 76 RBI's and .367 OBP. Matt is the #5 prospect in the Dbacks Organization.
Nick Ahmed SS - The Dbacks received Ahmed via trade that sent Justin Upton to the Braves. Nick was the #11 player in the Braves organization before being traded and I believe he will be a top 10 prospect for the Dbacks. In 2012 Nick posted .269 BA, 36 Doubles, 6 HR's, 49 RBI's and a .337 OBP. Nick had a very promising winter league where he posted awesome number.
Other Honerable Mentions: (NA) DiDi Gregorius, (NA) Zeke Spurill,(NA) Drory Hernandez, (#9)Andrew Chafin, and (#12) Michael Perez.
Jacksonville Suns: The Jacksonville Suns are the AA affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They finished 2nd in the South Division in 2012. The Marlins have a large some of the most promising prospects out there and alot of them will see time with the Suns.
Jose Fernandez SP - Jose is the #1 prospect in the Malins organization. Baseball America graded him a 70 which they believe he will be an All Star one day. Jose was a first round pick in the 2011 draft for the Marlins and in 2012 he posted amazing numbers split between LoA Greensboro and HiA Jupiter. Jose posted a 14-1 W/L record with 157 Strikeouts and 35 walks. He averaged 9.7 Strikeouts per 9 innings. the most impressive number through is Hernandez's ERA between the two leagues he posted a 1.76 ERA. One of the best in the minors. Fernandez will more than likely start off in Jacksonville but he could recieve the call by mid season if he post the same numbers he posted last year.
Christian Yelich OF - Christian was another first round pick by the Marlins back in 2010 this 21 year old outfielder has impressive legs and has a great potential. He is the Marlins #2 prospect and has a BA score of 65. Christian hit for .330 with 29 doubles, 12 HR's, and 20 SB's. Christian will likely start CF for the Suns this season and could be helping Gianacarlo Stanton roam the OF in Miami very soon.
Andrew Heaney - Andrew was a 1st round pick in 2012 out of Oklahoma St. While at OK St. he led Division 1 with 140 strikeouts in 118 innings. Andrew played a partial season with LoA Greensboro last year where he posted 4.95 ERA in 20 innings with 21 Strikeouts! Heany will likely start the 2013 season with HiA Jupiter but could see the promotion to AA Jacksonville before Midseason.
Honerable Mentions: (#4) Jake Marisnick, (#5) Marcell Ozuna, and (#6) Justin Nicolino
Mississippi Braves - The Mississippi Braves are AA Affiliate of the you guessed it the Atlanta Braves. The Braves finished last year in 4th place. The Braves have graduated most of the major talent to MLB but they still have some potential talent in the Minors.
J.R. Graham SP - Graham was drafted by the Braves in the 4th round of the 2011 draft he is the Braves #2 prospect. Graham was promoted to Mississippi last year after mid season. While at Mississippi he posted a 3.18 ERA witha 3-1 record, 42 Strikeouts in only 45 innings. Depending on his spring Graham could start this season in AAA Gwinnett but could be demoted back to AA after Brandon Beachy returns from Tommy John Surgery.
Alex Wood SP - Alex Wood was the 2nd round pick by the Braves in 2012 and is the clubs #7 prospect. Wood played college ball at the University of Georiga. In a short season last year in LoA Rome Alex posted a 2.22 ERA with 52 Strikeouts in only 53 innings pitched. Wood a lefty has been compared to a young Tom Glavine.
Evan Gattis OF/C - Evan was drafted in the 23rd of the 2010 draft. Evan has a pretty awesome back story where he took 4 years off of baseball where he was a janitor. Gattis then went to play D-II baseball and was selected in the 23rd. Gattis peaked in 2011 where in LoA Rome he hit 22 HR's in just 88 games. Gattis then in 2012 went on to hit 18 HR's in 74 games. Gattis was a drafted Catcher but with the emergince of Christian Bethancourt Gattis has moved to the OF. Gattis was rummored to possibly get the call in 2013 but with the Braves trading for Justin and B.J Upton it could help him get some more time in the Minors. I believe he will start the season in AA but should be up in AAA Gwinnett by mid season.
Other Honerable Mentions: (#5) Lucas Sims, (#10) Jose Peraza, (#12) Todd Cunningham (#18) Joey Terdoslavich.
Pensacola Blue Wahoo's: The Blue Wahoo's are the AA affiliate of the Cinncinati Reds. They finished in 3rd place in 2012. The Blue Wahoo's got to host the proffesional baseball stolen base champ Billy Hamilton. Hamilton will most likely be in AAA Lousville this year so I will be leaving him off.
Robert Stephenson SP - Stephenson was a 1st round draft pick by the Reds in 2011. Robert played a short season in 2012 where he posted interesting numbers. Robert went 3-4 with a 3.18 ERA in Rookie and LoA Dayton. Robert also had 72 strikeouts, Robert has shown he has the best pure stuff since the 04 draft pick Homer Bailey but, the Reds believe still needs time to develop. Robert should start the season off in HiA but he could get promoted to AA by mid season. With the Reds trading SS DiDI Gregorius he is the Reds only real top prospect.
Honerable Mentions: (#6) Nick Travieso, (#7) Jesse Winker, (#14) Evan Marshall.
Montgomery Biscuits - The Montgomery Biscuits are the AA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. The Biscuits finished first in the South Division but fail short of winning the Southern League Title.
Taylor Guerrieri SP - Taylor was a 1st round draft pick in 2011 by the Reds. Taylor posted a 1.04 ERA in the Short Season League with 45 stikeouts in 52 innings. Taylor is predicted to start the season off in LoA but with the potential this young man has he could see time in AA before seasons end.
Jake Odorizzi SP - Jake has been moved around quiet a bit in the past year when he was traded from Milwaukee to Kansas City in order for the Brewers to get Zach Greinke, Then was traded from the Royals to the Rays in the James Shields/Will Myers trade. Jake has promising stuff and even recieved the call to play in Kansas City last year but with the Rays having a decent rotation Jake could start off in AA just to give him time to develop if not he will be in AAA Durham.
Honerable Mention: (#7) Richie Shaffer, (#8) Enny Romero, (#9) Blake Snell, (#11) Drew Vettleson.
Mobile Bay Bears: The Mobile Bay Bears are the AA affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They finished in last place last year but are looking to bounce back. The Bay Bears could see several top prospects.
Archie Bradley SP - Archie was a first round draft pick by the D-Backs back in 2011 seing most of his time in LoA South Bend last year. Archie put up significant numbers posting 12-6 w/l record an ERA of 3.84 and 152 Strikeouts. Archie is the #3 prospect in the Dbacks organization.
Matt Davidson 3B - The Dbacks recieved Matt in the 2009 supplemental draft. Matt played the 2012 season with Mobile and posted very good numbers. In 135 games he batter .261 , 23 HomeRuns, 76 RBI's and .367 OBP. Matt is the #5 prospect in the Dbacks Organization.
Nick Ahmed SS - The Dbacks received Ahmed via trade that sent Justin Upton to the Braves. Nick was the #11 player in the Braves organization before being traded and I believe he will be a top 10 prospect for the Dbacks. In 2012 Nick posted .269 BA, 36 Doubles, 6 HR's, 49 RBI's and a .337 OBP. Nick had a very promising winter league where he posted awesome number.
Other Honerable Mentions: (NA) DiDi Gregorius, (NA) Zeke Spurill,(NA) Drory Hernandez, (#9)Andrew Chafin, and (#12) Michael Perez.
Jacksonville Suns: The Jacksonville Suns are the AA affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They finished 2nd in the South Division in 2012. The Marlins have a large some of the most promising prospects out there and alot of them will see time with the Suns.
Jose Fernandez SP - Jose is the #1 prospect in the Malins organization. Baseball America graded him a 70 which they believe he will be an All Star one day. Jose was a first round pick in the 2011 draft for the Marlins and in 2012 he posted amazing numbers split between LoA Greensboro and HiA Jupiter. Jose posted a 14-1 W/L record with 157 Strikeouts and 35 walks. He averaged 9.7 Strikeouts per 9 innings. the most impressive number through is Hernandez's ERA between the two leagues he posted a 1.76 ERA. One of the best in the minors. Fernandez will more than likely start off in Jacksonville but he could recieve the call by mid season if he post the same numbers he posted last year.
Christian Yelich OF - Christian was another first round pick by the Marlins back in 2010 this 21 year old outfielder has impressive legs and has a great potential. He is the Marlins #2 prospect and has a BA score of 65. Christian hit for .330 with 29 doubles, 12 HR's, and 20 SB's. Christian will likely start CF for the Suns this season and could be helping Gianacarlo Stanton roam the OF in Miami very soon.
Andrew Heaney - Andrew was a 1st round pick in 2012 out of Oklahoma St. While at OK St. he led Division 1 with 140 strikeouts in 118 innings. Andrew played a partial season with LoA Greensboro last year where he posted 4.95 ERA in 20 innings with 21 Strikeouts! Heany will likely start the 2013 season with HiA Jupiter but could see the promotion to AA Jacksonville before Midseason.
Honerable Mentions: (#4) Jake Marisnick, (#5) Marcell Ozuna, and (#6) Justin Nicolino
Mississippi Braves - The Mississippi Braves are AA Affiliate of the you guessed it the Atlanta Braves. The Braves finished last year in 4th place. The Braves have graduated most of the major talent to MLB but they still have some potential talent in the Minors.
J.R. Graham SP - Graham was drafted by the Braves in the 4th round of the 2011 draft he is the Braves #2 prospect. Graham was promoted to Mississippi last year after mid season. While at Mississippi he posted a 3.18 ERA witha 3-1 record, 42 Strikeouts in only 45 innings. Depending on his spring Graham could start this season in AAA Gwinnett but could be demoted back to AA after Brandon Beachy returns from Tommy John Surgery.
Alex Wood SP - Alex Wood was the 2nd round pick by the Braves in 2012 and is the clubs #7 prospect. Wood played college ball at the University of Georiga. In a short season last year in LoA Rome Alex posted a 2.22 ERA with 52 Strikeouts in only 53 innings pitched. Wood a lefty has been compared to a young Tom Glavine.
Evan Gattis OF/C - Evan was drafted in the 23rd of the 2010 draft. Evan has a pretty awesome back story where he took 4 years off of baseball where he was a janitor. Gattis then went to play D-II baseball and was selected in the 23rd. Gattis peaked in 2011 where in LoA Rome he hit 22 HR's in just 88 games. Gattis then in 2012 went on to hit 18 HR's in 74 games. Gattis was a drafted Catcher but with the emergince of Christian Bethancourt Gattis has moved to the OF. Gattis was rummored to possibly get the call in 2013 but with the Braves trading for Justin and B.J Upton it could help him get some more time in the Minors. I believe he will start the season in AA but should be up in AAA Gwinnett by mid season.
Other Honerable Mentions: (#5) Lucas Sims, (#10) Jose Peraza, (#12) Todd Cunningham (#18) Joey Terdoslavich.
Pensacola Blue Wahoo's: The Blue Wahoo's are the AA affiliate of the Cinncinati Reds. They finished in 3rd place in 2012. The Blue Wahoo's got to host the proffesional baseball stolen base champ Billy Hamilton. Hamilton will most likely be in AAA Lousville this year so I will be leaving him off.
Robert Stephenson SP - Stephenson was a 1st round draft pick by the Reds in 2011. Robert played a short season in 2012 where he posted interesting numbers. Robert went 3-4 with a 3.18 ERA in Rookie and LoA Dayton. Robert also had 72 strikeouts, Robert has shown he has the best pure stuff since the 04 draft pick Homer Bailey but, the Reds believe still needs time to develop. Robert should start the season off in HiA but he could get promoted to AA by mid season. With the Reds trading SS DiDI Gregorius he is the Reds only real top prospect.
Honerable Mentions: (#6) Nick Travieso, (#7) Jesse Winker, (#14) Evan Marshall.
Montgomery Biscuits - The Montgomery Biscuits are the AA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. The Biscuits finished first in the South Division but fail short of winning the Southern League Title.
Taylor Guerrieri SP - Taylor was a 1st round draft pick in 2011 by the Reds. Taylor posted a 1.04 ERA in the Short Season League with 45 stikeouts in 52 innings. Taylor is predicted to start the season off in LoA but with the potential this young man has he could see time in AA before seasons end.
Jake Odorizzi SP - Jake has been moved around quiet a bit in the past year when he was traded from Milwaukee to Kansas City in order for the Brewers to get Zach Greinke, Then was traded from the Royals to the Rays in the James Shields/Will Myers trade. Jake has promising stuff and even recieved the call to play in Kansas City last year but with the Rays having a decent rotation Jake could start off in AA just to give him time to develop if not he will be in AAA Durham.
Honerable Mention: (#7) Richie Shaffer, (#8) Enny Romero, (#9) Blake Snell, (#11) Drew Vettleson.