On Thursday morning, Baseball America released their list of the top 20 prospects in the South Atlantic League. Two players from the West Virginia Power made the list, with Yeudy Garcia ranking ninth overall and Cole Tucker rated as the 15th best prospect.
Garcia made the unlikely jump from the Dominican Summer League last year to full-season ball this year. That alone is impressive, but then he went on to lead the league with a 2.10 ERA. His 1.07 WHIP was the third best in the league and his 112 strikeouts ranked him fifth overall. The strikeout total was made more impressive by the fact he was 17th in the league in innings pitched. Garcia held hitters to a .204 BAA and he posted a 1.50 GO/AO ratio.
Tucker would have likely ranked higher if he didn’t injure his shoulder in late July, which required surgery to repair a torn labrum. With a recovery time of 10-12 months and the surgery occurring on August 26th, he could possibly miss all of the 2016 season. Best case scenario is that he returns around July 1st. Before getting injured, Tucker put up a .293/.322/.377 slash line in 73 games. He hit for average, stole bases(25 in 31 attempts) and played solid defense. Tucker didn’t draw many walks or hit for power, but he was 18 for most his season and one of the youngest players in the league, so the age was factored into his ranking.
BA has also ranked the FSL prospects, putting three Pirates on the list. Kevin Newman made the NYPL list, Carlos Munoz made the Appalachian League top 20, and Ke’Bryan Hayes was on the GCL list.
