Prospect Previews: Starting Pitcher #1
Of all the young, high-upside, power arms the Rangers have accumulated in the past two years -- Blake Beavan, Fabio Castillo, Neftali Feliz, Wilmer Font, Carlos Pimentel, Geuris Grullon, Wilfredo Boscan, Neil Ramirez, Kasey Kiker -- none has the combination of pure talent, advanced approach, complete repertoire, plus makeup and athletic ability that Michael Main brings to the table.
Font and Feliz might throw a bit harder, but they lack secondary stuff. Beavan's slider might be the most overwhelming hard breaking ball in the group, but he's just now beginning to develop the change and doesn't have Main's fastball velocity.
The top power arms in what would be the 2007 draft assembled at a showcase in Arkansas during the summer of 2006 and scouts had a chance to see them all lined up, one after another -- Main, Beavan, Rick Porcello, Matt Harvey, etc. -- "but," according to Baseball America's Alan Matthews, "none was as impressive as Main. During one sequence he delivered fastballs at 97 mph, 97, 96, 96, 94, 96, 94 and 95. When he showed some feel for his 79 mph changeup and 74-77 mph breaking ball, there was little question who had claimed the title as the top rising senior pitching prospect."
After the Rangers gleefully scooped him up with the 24th pick late in the first round of the 2007 draft, Main signed quickly and reported to Surprise where he spent a week in center field (he was also regarded as one of the top prep prospects at that position), before climbing the bump for the first time as a pro, but once he did, he dropped jaws.
In 12.2 innings for the AZL Rangers, Main fanned 16, held the opposition to a .196 batting average and surrendered two runs (1.42 ERA) before he was sent packing to the NWL where -- like John Danks, Eric Hurley and Kasey Kiker before him -- he would face off against a league composed almost exclusively of college draftees three to four years older than himself.
Main pitched just 15.1 innings for Spokane -- not enough action to qualify for Baseball America's list of the top-20 prospects in the league -- but if he had qualified, BA's Matthews says that he would have been the league's #1 prospect, doling out this assessment:
"He's got a quick, clean arm action, and began to make some adjustments in his approach to pitching. He has a power breaking ball with tight spin and more than just feel for his changeup. He's been up to 97 mph in the past, and was checking in with 93s and 94s in the NWL. One scout compared him to Mike Mussina with a slightly firmer fastball, and don't forget that Mussina could bring it in his prime, too."
Yeah. Give me some of that.
Have fun in Clinton Mr. Main.
I love to see so much discussion as to who the top guy is and so many different opinions. Here's a question mjh- who likes Main more, you or Alan Matthews?
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Is Clinton definite?
I know that's the track Kiker and Hurley were on, just wondering if you're basing that on other info...
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WOW!!!!! Guts!
What a nice problem to have. Main, Hurley, Beavan, Feliz, Kiker, Ramirez, Harrison, Font, Castillo and Diamond. I'm 300 miles away. Can you see my smile?!?
Make It A Great Day!
Len
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Mike,
#1, Thanks for writing! You have provided a great list & wonderful writeups with compelling arguments for each pitcher.
I notice that BA says that Main has "quick, clean arm action" and that excites me. I enjoy your argument for Main and I am excited about enough talent at the top for the to actually be room for disagreement.
Personally, I believe I am about to get on the Neftali Feliz bandwagon. By All-Star break, if Feliz is pitching the way I expect, I'm tossing the cooler on his Bandwagon and climbing aboard for the ride to Arlington. I am in total agreement that JD being able to pry him away from the Braves is unbelievable.
Please keep writing, Mike!
Best, Cliff Holden
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Mike,
Really miss your incisive reports daily. These are the next best thing! I enjoy the farm insights more than the actual games, I believe. It is amazing how many young studs can bring it at 95mph or better. What seems to separate the MLB studs from the minors is the movement. One guy overwhelms the batters while they kill the next guy! How many young guns are throughout the minors now who can bring it at mid ninety heat? Stan
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Wow, this is a suprise, rating Main over Hurley... I've been waiting for Main to pop up as you counted down the top 5, and here he his is at #1 (much to my suprise). I admit I've never been that familiar with Michael Main, but after reading this, I'm excited. If what I'm reading here is true, Main actually looks like he could turn into a blue-chip prospect (a la Clay Buchholtz or Phil Hughes) in the next couple years.
One question though, Mike: I know it's hard to predict the ETA of guys like Main, but just off the top of your head... how long would you say it'll be until we might see Main in Arlington?
Finally, thanks for the write ups on all these guys. These days, there's nothing like a little in-depth insight into the farm system to brighten the day of a Rangers fan. Keep up the excellent work!
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There's just no telling on ETA for these young kids. I won't even pretend to suggest that there's any way of knowing when they'll be ready.
And Alan Matthews seems to like Main more than I do, but it's close.
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This is great stuff for Rangers fans. I can't get enough of it. Keep up the good work and Go Rangers.
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