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Jim Callis is an MLB.com Draft and prospect expert. He has been covering the Draft and prospects since 1988.
 | As with Jeff Samardzija in 2006, Notre Dame again has the top collegiate two-sport talent in the Draft. Pat Connaughton, a three-year starter as a guard/forward for the basketball team, has an even brighter future as a right-handed pitcher.
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 | Kennesaw State's Max Pentecost is the top prospect in the 2014 Draft who's a sure bet to stay behind the plate. He figures to go in the second half of the first round, and he could challenge Chad Jenkins (No. 20 overall to the Blue Jays in 2009) as the highest pick in school history.
More» Max Pentecost, College Catcher |
 | San Diego's Central Cathedral High School left-hander Brady Aiken ran into some tough luck Wednesday, but he did nothing to hurt his Draft standing after striking out 11 of the 23 batters he faced.
More» Brady Aiken, HS Pitcher |
 | While D-backs Minor Leaguer right-hander Archie Bradley, MLB.com's top pitching prospect, certainly has what it takes to pitch in the Majors sooner rather than later, no prospect is more deserving of a promotion to the bigs than than Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco. And the Pirates would be best served by making that happen pronto.
More»Mayo, Callis debate first callup among top prospects |
 | Thirteen of baseball's 50 best prospects are currently on the shelf. While none of the injuries should be career-altering, the teams with the injured phenoms are anxious to see them return.
More»Callis on injuries to some top prospects |
 | No college player had a better weekend than Kentucky's A.J. Reed. On Friday night, he threw seven shutout innings to beat Florida and hit a solo home run to provide all the support he needed. After shifting to DH on Saturday and Sunday, he went deep in both games and finished the series 8-for-12 with six RBI.
More»MLBPipeline.com on Draft changes we would like to see |
| In a deep year for prep arms, righty Grant Holmes is doing his best to separate himself from the rest of the pack. Holmes hit 100 mph with his fastball during a preseason scrimmage and has delivered premium velocity in his first three starts of the season.
More» Grant Holmes, HS Pitcher |
| Texas Christian left-hander Brandon Finnegan couldn't buy a win as a sophomore. He surrendered two runs or less in eight of his 15 starts last year yet finished with an 0-8 record. This season, Finnegan consistently has dominated college hitters and has the victories to show for it.
More» Brandon Finnegan, College Pitcher |
| The financial values for picks in the first 10 rounds of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft and for each team's four international Draft slots will be increased by 1.7 percent over last year's assigned figures.
More»MLBPipeline.com on Draft changes we would like to see |
 | The San Diego Padres have a ton of speed in the minors, but outfielder Mallex Smith is in a class of his own when it comes to stealing bases.
More»Mayo, Callis debate 2014 Minors stolen base leader |
 | Since their last playoff appearance in 2009, the Rockies have slid backward. Fortunately for Colorado, help is on the way, and fast. The Rockies have the game's top tandem of pitching prospects in right-handers Jon Gray and Eddie Butler.
More»Gray, Butler making strides as regular season nears |
 | The quality of farm systems usually runs in cycles, and all of those promotions and trades have left Cincinnati's a little thinner than usual. What the Reds may lack in depth, they make up for with excitement, as they feature two of baseball's most dynamic prospects.
More»Stephenson, Hamilton ready to take the next step |
 | Cleveland has built its winning clubs mostly via astute trades and occasional free-agent signings. That looks like it's about to change, however, as the Indians have a pair of recent first-rounders who have the look of future stars.
More»Lindor, Bauer enjoying spring learning experience |
 | The D-backs' stock of mound prospects begins with Archie Bradley, the best in the game. But it doesn't come anywhere close to stopping there. The strength of Arizona's farm system is pitching, even after trading Trevor Bauer, Tyler Skaggs and David Holmberg since the end of the 2012 season.
More»Bradley, Owings showing progress this spring |
 | The Rangers are as aggressive as any team when it comes to signing amateur talent. They're not afraid to gamble on high-ceiling players even if they come with high risk, and price has been no object when it comes to the international market. As a result, Texas has amassed an impressive collection of prospects.
More»Odor, Choice talk baseball experiences |
 | Padres vice president for player development and international scouting Randy Smith can't remember a time when the franchise had more Minor League talent than it does now.
More»Hedges, Wisler talk about how they can improve |
 | The upper levels of the A's farm system aren't teeming with talent, so the composition of their big league club won't change significantly in the next couple of years. But Oakland is bullish on several promising youngsters in the lower levels, and they should give the club plenty of in-house options in 2016 and '17.
More»Russell, Burns preparing for Major League debuts |
 | The good news about the Brewers' farm system is that it began paying dividends in 2013. The bad news is that outside of a pair of righties, the system doesn't have much to contribute in 2014. Most of the Brewers' best remaining prospects have yet to play above high Class A and are two or three years away from the Major Leagues.
More»Nelson, Hellweg learning a lot at Spring Training |
 | The White Sox's future is considerably brighter than the recent past. General manager Rick Hahn has swung trades for young building blocks such as Matt Davidson, Adam Eaton and Avisail Garcia, and signed Cuban slugger Jose Abreu. And the system is undergoing a renaissance, boasting more prospect depth than it has in years.
More»Johnson, Davidson on what they've learned in camp |
 | Jim Callis gives some insight into Boston's future plans with its loaded farm system and tackles much more in the latest Pipeline Inbox.
More»Bogaerts, Bradley Jr. and Owens enjoying spring ball |
