The newest MLB Pipeline top 100 prospects list came out early Tuesday morning, and two local stars have made the list.
Colorado Rockies pitcher Jeff Hoffman has made the list, ranking at number 37. The Shaker product was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays with the ninth overall draft pick in 2014 out of East Carolina University. He had Tommy John surgery following college, and he made his pro debut in May 2015. He was traded to Colorado in July of 2015 as a part of the infamous Troy Tulowitzki trade, and got his call to the Big Show in mid-August, and made his MLB debut against the Cubs on August 20. He has struggled since his call-up, going 0-2 with a 6.60 ERA in three starts this season in the hitter-friendly Coors Field in Denver.
He went 6-9 with a 4.02 ERA in 22 starts in Triple A Albuquerque this season before his call-up.
His profile on MLB Pipeline says, “He sits in the mid-90s with good sink on his fastball and his big-breaking ball gives him a second well above-average pitch. His changeup shows signs of becoming a plus third offering and he throws a lot of strikes.”
He is expected to make a bigger contribution in Colorado in 2017, and years to come.
Ranked at number 84 on the list is Shenendehowa standout Ian Anderson. The talented pitcher was drafted third overall in June by the Atlanta Braves, making him the highest-selected player in this region ever. He immediately has done well in the minor leagues this season, beginning the season with the Gulf Coast League Braves, where he started his professional career by tossing 18 scoreless innings in five starts, going 1-0. He earned his call-up to the rookie-level Danville Braves, based out of Danville, Virginia and the Appalachian League on August 5, and went 0-2 with a 3.74 ERA over five starts in Danville. In total this season in the minors, he went 1-2, and boasted an impressive 2.04 ERA in 10 total starts.
He is still only 18 and his estimated time of arrival to Atlanta isn’t until 2020, but he is already showing signs of being a front-of-the-line starter in the majors.
His profile on MLB Pipeline says, “Tall and projectable with the ability to add strength, Anderson throws his fastball in the 91-95 mph range with good downhill angle. His breaking ball can be plus at times, getting swings and misses. It has slurve action at this point, but could tighten and become a true slider in time. Anderson has good feel for an average changeup as well. He’s generally around the strike zone and attacks hitters.”
Both players have the potential to be major contributors in the major leagues, and with this, the Capital Region could gain two more players that reach the MLB. If they are both in the majors, they would be the second and third active players in the major leagues, joining Tommy Kahnle of the White Sox. Both are also ranked above former Tri-City ValleyCat Derek Fisher, as well as Indians prospect Francisco Mejia, who recorded a 49 game hitting streak earlier this summer in the minor leagues.
To see the full top 100 list, click here: http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2016?list=prospects
