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Jim Callis is an MLB.com Draft and prospect expert. He has been covering the Draft and prospects since 1988.
 | Though the Astros still have seven months to determine whom they'll take at No. 1, North Carolina State left-hander Carlos Rodon has established himself as the frontrunner. Owner of a mid-90s fastball and a wipeout slider, Rodon topped NCAA Division I with 184 strikeouts last spring and led the Wolfpack to their first College World Series appearance in 45 years.
More» Alex Jackson, HS Catcher |
 | Our First-Year Player Draft experts, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo, take their first crack at projecting how the top 10 selections in 2014 will unfold.
More» Carlos Rodon, College Pitcher |
 | Will the Pirates be the first club to get four outfield prospects in the Top 100 rankings? What does the Brian McCann signing mean for Yankees catching prospects Gary Sanchez and J.R. Murphy? Jim Callis tackles those topics and more in the latest edition of the Pipeline Inbox.
More» Gregory Polanco, OF, Pirates |
 | The good news with Tommy John surgery is that pitchers often make a full recovery. Dylan Bundy's legendary work ethic -- check out "Dylan Bundy workout" on YouTube -- gives him an even better chance of coming all the way back, and he already has demonstrated that he can dominate Minor League hitters and work his way to the Majors.
More»Who is the better prospect returning from Tommy John? |
 | Garin Cecchini has earned a gold medal with a U.S. national team, All-Star recognition in three different Minor Leagues and berths in the Futures Game and Fall Stars Game. Yet, the Red Sox's third-base prospect says Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award he received before the Arizona Fall League Championship Game means the most.
More» Cecchini, Bryant recieve AFL awards |
 | Cubs third-base prospect Kris Bryant added to his trophy case Saturday when he was named the Arizona Fall League's 2013 Joe Black MVP Award winner before his Mesa Solar Sox faced the Surprise Saguaros for the league title.
More»Kris Bryant continues his success in the AFL |
 | Jorge Alfaro, the Rangers' top prospect, contributed in all phases of the game Saturday at Scottsdale Stadium. As a result, the Surprise Saguaros won the Arizona Fall League championship, 2-0, over the Mesa Solar Sox.
More»Jorge Alfaro shows off his skills in the AFL |
 | Which talented Pirates right-hander has the brighter future, Gerrit Cole or Jameson Taillon? How long can Xander Bogaerts stay at shortstop for the Red Sox? Jim Callis answers these questions and more in the Pipeline Inbox.
More»Taillon recaps AFL, looks ahead to Spring Training |
 | On Thursday afternoon, Blue Jays pitching prospect Aaron Sanchez and Giants pitching prospect Kyle Crick showed they have the power it requires to develop into frontline starters in the next few years.
More»Crick pleased to follow up 2013 season with AFL play |
 | The main focus of the Arizona Fall League is to help prospects in the final stages of their development. It gives extra at-bats, defensive reps and innings to players hoping to make the jump to the Major Leagues. While refining skills is the point of emphasis, the AFL also honors one player each year for qualities unrelated to on-field performance.
More» Travis rips an RBI triple to center |
 | The Twins have a lot riding on Alex Meyer. They're rebuilding after losing 96 or more games for three straight seasons, and one of the ways they're trying to do that is switching from a philosophy of finesse-minded strike-throwers to pitchers with more dominating stuff.
More» Meyer hurls 5 1/3 innings of one-hit ball |
 | It seems strange to say this about someone who signed for $5 million as the No. 7 overall pick in the talent-rich 2011 First-Year Player Draft, but D-backs pitching prospect Archie Bradley has exceeded expectations.
More»Who is the best pitching prospect in baseball? |
 | St. Louis had more homegrown players on its roster than any of the other nine playoff teams this year, and an impressive crop of rookies helped fuel its postseason run. The bad news for the rest of baseball is that the Cardinals have more young talent on the way, and outfielder Oscar Taveras is poised to have a greater impact in the Major Leagues in 2014 than any position-player prospect in any organization.
More»Who is the best hitting prospect in baseball? |
 | Between top prospects Byron Buxton (Twins) and Oscar Taveras (Cardinals), who is the better hitter right now? Has anything changed with Astros prospect Jonathan Singleton from a tools standpoint? Jim Callis answers these questions and more in the Pipeline Inbox.
More» Taveras' four hits against the Twins |
 | After losing nearly two years of at-bats, infielder Garin Cecchini is more than happy to put in some overtime in the Arizona Fall League, where he joins seven other Boston prospects on the Surprise Saguaros.
More» Cecchini drills a solo home run |
 | For both Kris Bryant and Miguel Sano, their calling card is power, but Sano has just a little bit more. He's also 16 months younger than Bryant and has proven more at the pro level.
More»Comparing Bryant, Sano as third-base prospects |
 | Jim Callis runs down the top 2014 Draft prospects who appeared at Perfect Game's annual World Wood Bat Association World Championship, which was won by the Evoshield Canes.
More» |
 | Cubs prospect Kris Bryant, the No. 2 overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft, has been raking all year. After closing a stellar collegiate career and making a tremendous pro debut in high Class A, the slugging third baseman has kept rolling in the Arizona Fall League.
More»Cubs prospects prepare in the AFL |
 | There are dozens of future big leaguers playing in Perfect Game's 16th annual World Wood Bat Association World Championship. Of the roughly 1,700 players on the 85 teams, perhaps none looks more like a big leaguer than Scott Blewett.
More» |
 | Michael Lorenzen was a center fielder and closer during his college career at Cal State Fullerton. But the Reds hope to turn him into a starter. That's why they've sent him to the Arizona Fall League and put him in the rotation for the first time since he was a 12-year-old playing travel ball.
More»Reds prospects on display in Arizona Fall League |
