Notable prospects added to 40-man rosters
Sano, Syndergaard, Swihart, Taillon among those protected by clubs
On the surface, getting added to a 40-man roster may feel like a small move. It doesn't guarantee a Major League spot. In fact by rule (and math), 15 of the players on said roster aren't with the big club at any given time until September when rosters are allowed to expand.
But it does provide two things for the players involved. The first is protection. To be more specific, that's protection from the Rule 5 Draft, coming up Dec. 11. Players who were 18 or younger when they signed their first pro contract are eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 Draft five years after putting pen to paper. Players who were 19 or older can be taken four years afterwards. Unless of course, they are added to the 40-man roster. Players on the 40-man as of Thursday at midnight ET, however, are not eligible to be taken and are therefore protected from moving to another organization.
The second is respect. Talk to a player or two that's been added to a 40-man roster for the first time, and they'll tell you how important it is to officially see that their organization thinks highly enough of them to give them that spot.
"It was pretty humbling, I'd say," said Red Sox right-hander Anthony Ranaudo after being added last offseason. "It's great to be officially on the roster now. It feels good knowing that I had a good year, and they had enough confidence in me after what they saw last year."
With that in mind, here's a breakdown of prospects who are ranked in the Top 20 in their respective organizations by MLB.com and were added to 40-man rosters before Thursday's deadline:
NOTABLE Players Added To 40-man rosters
| NAME | POS | MLB ORG | NOTES AND 2014 STATS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Drury | 3B | ARI | D-backs' No. 6 prospect; .299/.362/.510, 23 homers, 42 doubles, 95 RBIs |
| Jose Peraza | 2B | ATL | Braves' top prospect; No. 52 overall prospect; .339 average, 60 steals; could start 2015 in ATL; More here |
| Tyrell Jenkins | RHP | ATL | Braves' No. 7 prospect; acquired from STL in Heyward/Miller deal; 3.28 ERA in 74 IP |
| Mauricio Cabrera | RHP | ATL | Braves' No. 8 prospect; 5.73 ERA in 33 IP; missed time with forearm injury; 70-grade fastball |
| Kyle Kubitza | 3B | ATL | Braves' No. 12 prospect; .295 average, .875 OPS, 31 doubles, 21 steals |
| Mike Wright | RHP | BAL | Orioles' No. 7 prospect; 4.61 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 103 strikeouts, 41 walks in 142 2/3 IP |
| Tyler Wilson | RHP | BAL | Orioles' No. 15 prospect; 3.67 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 157 strikeouts, 43 walks in 166 2/3 IP |
| Blake Swihart | C | BOS | Red Sox's No. 2 prospect; No. 24 overall prospect; .293/.341/.469, 13 homers, 26 doubles; threw out 45.6 percent of would-be basestealers |
| Eduardo Rodriguez | LHP | BOS | Red Sox's No. 7 prospect; acquired from BAL in July in Andrew Miller deal; 0.96 ERA, 39 strikeouts in 37 1/3 IP after joining BOS |
| Sean Coyle | 2B | BOS | Red Sox's No. 13 prospect; .295/.371/.512, 16 homers, 13 steals |
| Travis Shaw | 1B | BOS | Red Sox's No. 18 prospect; .278 average, .826 OPS, 21 homers |
| C.J. Edwards | RHP | CHC | Cubs' No. 5 prospect; 2.35 ERA, 54 strikeouts, 25 walks in 53 2/3 IP (missed time because of shoulder injury); 1.80 ERA, 13 strikeouts and eight walks in 15 IP in the Arizona Fall League |
| Amir Garrett | LHP | CIN | Reds' No. 18 prospect; 3.65 ERA, 127 strikeouts, 51 walks in 133 1/3 IP; former two-sport athlete now focusing soley on baseball |
| Cody Anderson | RHP | CLE | Indians' No. 11 prospect; 5.44 ERA, 1.48 WHIP in 125 2/3 IP |
| Giovanny Urshela | 3B | CLE | Indians' No. 13 prospect; .280 average, .825 OPS, 18 homers, 36 doubles |
| Tony Wolters | C | CLE | Indians' No. 18 prospect; .249 average, .633 OPS; threw out 47.2 percent of would-be basestealers |
| Tyler Anderson | LHP | COL | Rockies' No. 12 prospect; 1.98 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 106 strikeouts in 118 1/3 IP; Texas League Pitcher of the Year; 2011 first-round pick |
| Francellis Montas | RHP | CWS | White Sox' No. 3 prospect; 1.44 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 80 strikeouts in 81 IP; 3.52 ERA, 19 strikeouts in 23 IP in the Arizona Fall League; 70-grade fastball |
| Angel Nesbitt | RHP | DET | Tigers' No. 17 prospect; 1.43 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 72 strikeouts in 66 2/3 IP as reliever; 70-grade fastball; Went unprotected in 2013 but wasn't picked in Rule 5 Draft |
| Michael Feliz | RHP | HOU | Astros' No. 7 prospect; 8-6, 4.03 ERA in 25 appearances, 111 strikeouts, Futures Game selection in 2014 |
| Vincent Velasquez | RHP | HOU | Astros' No. 8 prospect; 3.52 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 91 strikeouts, 25 walks in 64 IP; missed time due to groin injury; 6.59 ERA, 13 strikeouts, three walks in 13 2/3 IP in the Arizona Fall League |
| Jorge Bonifacio | OF | KC | Royals' No. 7 prospect; .230/.302/.309, four home runs, 51 RBIs, eight steals in 11 tries |
| Orlando Calixte | SS | KC | Royals' No. 12 prospect; .241/.288/.374, 11 homers, 37 RBIs, nine steals in 14 attempts |
| Zach Lee | RHP | LAD | Dodgers' No. 6 prospect; 5.38 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 97 strikeouts in 150 2/3 IP; 2010 first-round pick |
| Chris Reed | LHP | LAD | Dodgers' No. 8 prospect; 4.26 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 134 strikeouts in 158 1/3 IP; 2011 first-round pick |
| Scott Schebler | OF | LAD | Dodgers' No. 9 prospect; .280/.365/.556, 28 homers, 14 triples, 23 doubles, 73 RBIs; .310 average with five homers, 13 RBIs in Arizona Fall League |
| Justin Nicolino | LHP | MIA | Marlins' No. 4 prospect; 14-4, 2.85 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 81 strikeouts in 170 1/3 IP; 2014 Southern League Pitcher of the Year |
| Adam Conley | LHP | MIA | Marlins' No. 8 prospect; 5.92 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 50 strikeouts in 65 1/3 IP; missed time due to elbow tendinitis |
| Domingo German | RHP | MIA | Marlins' No. 11 prospect; 2.48 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 113 strikeouts, 25 walks in 123 1/3 IP; hasn't pitched above Class A |
| Austin Barnes | C/2B/3B | MIA | Marlins' No. 16 prospect; .304/.398/.472, 13 homers |
| Taylor Jungmann | RHP | MIL | Brewers' No. 10 prospect; 3.57 ERA, 147 K in 153 2/3 IP; 2011 first-round pick |
| David Goforth | RHP | MIL | Brewers' No. 17 prospect; 3.76 ERA, 46 strikeouts, 29 walks in 64 2/3 IP |
| Miguel Sano | 3B | MIN | Twins' No. 2 prospect; No. 7 overall prospect; didn't play in 2014 after undergoing Tommy John surgery; hit 35 home runs in 2013; 75-grade power |
| Alex Meyer | RHP | MIN | Twins' No. 4 prospect; No. 27 overall prospect; 3.52 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 153 strikeouts in 130 1/3 IP |
| Eddie Rosario | OF/2B | MIN | Twins' No. 10 prospect; .243/.286/.387 line in 87 regular season games; batted .330 with 10 steals in Arizona Fall League; suspended for first 50 games of 2014 due to drug abuse |
| Noah Syndergaard | RHP | NYM | Mets' top prospect; No. 10 overall prospect; 4.60 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 145 strikeouts in 133 IP; could start 2015 in Mets rotation |
| Gabriel Ynoa | RHP | NYM | Mets' No. 12 prospect; 4.07 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 106 strikeouts in 148 1/3 IP |
| Cory Mazzoni | RHP | NYM | Mets' No. 14 prospect; 4.68 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 75 strikeouts in 77 IP |
| Jake Leathersich | LHP | NYM | Mets' No. 15 prospect; 3.31 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 93 strikeouts in 54 1/3 IP, all in relief |
| Tyler Austin | OF/INF | NYY | Yankees' No. 15 prospect; .275 average, .756 OPS, nine homers, five triples, 20 doubles; spent time at right field, third base and first base |
| Mason Williams | OF | NYY | Yankees' No. 17 prospect; .223 average, .593 OPS, 21 steals; 60-grade run, field tools |
| Renato Nunez | 3B | OAK | A's No. 3 prospect; .279/.336/.517, 29 homers, three triples, 28 doubles, 96 RBIs |
| Jesse Biddle | LHP | PHI | Phillies' No. 4 prospect; 4.58 ERA, 92 strikeouts, 51 walks in 94 1/3 IP; 2010 first-round pick |
| Jameson Taillon | RHP | PIT | Pirates' No. 2 prospect; second overall pick of 2010 Draft missed all of 2014 after undergoing Tommy John surgery; 65-grade fastball |
| Nick Kingham | RHP | PIT | Pirates' No. 5 prospect; 3.34 ERA, 119 strikeouts, 52 walks in 159 IP |
| Willy Garcia | RF | PIT | Pirates' No. 13 prospect; .271 average, .789 OPS, 18 homers, 63 RBIs, eight steals in 12 attempts |
| Taylor Lindsey | 2B | SD | Padres' No. 11 prospect; .238 batting average, 10 homers, 69 runs scored in 118 games |
| Tayron Guerrero | RHP | SD | Padres' No. 18 prospect; 6-1, 1.45 ERA, .178 batting average against, four saves in six chances |
| Ketel Marte | SS | SEA | Mariners' No. 8 prospect; .304/.335/.411, four homers, 55 RBIs, 29 steals in 39 attempts |
| John Hicks | C | SEA | Mariners' No. 18 prospect; .290/.351/.403, five home runs, 47 RBIs; threw out 38.2 percent of would-be basestealers |
| Derek Law | SF | RHP | Giants No. 15 prospect; 10-for-11 in save chances, 2-0, 2.57 ERA in 27 appearances |
| Joan Gregorio | SF | RHP | Giants No. 18 prospect; 4-9, 4.37 ERA in 19 appearances, 92 strikeouts over 90 2/3 innings |
| Jose Dominguez | TB | RHP | 1-2, 3.63 ERA, 10-for-14 in save opportunites, 41 strikeouts over 34 2/3 innings, five big league appearances |
| Ryan Brett | 2B | TB | Rays' No. 8 prospect; .303/.346/.448, 27 stolen bases, 189 total bases, 64 runs scored |
| Mikie Mahtook | OF | TB | Rays' No. 13 prospect; .820 OPS in 132 games, 12 homers, fourth in International League with 224 total bases |
| Justin O'Conner | TB | C | Rays' No. 16 prospect; .278/.316/.466 slash line, career-high 35 doubles, threw out 55 percent of base stealers |
| Luke Jackson | RHP | TEX | Rangers' No. 3 prospect; 9-5, 5.40 ERA, 126 strikeouts, 52 walks in 123 1/3 IP |
| A.J. Cole | RHP | WAS | Nationals' No. 2 prospect; No. 56 overall prospect; 13-3, 3.16 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 111 strikeouts in 134 IP |
| Brian Goodwin | OF | WAS | Nationals' No. 7 prospect; .219 average, .670 OPS; played in only 81 games due to injury |
| Wilmer Difo | SS/2B | WAS | Nationals' No. 19 prospect; .315/.360/.470, 14 homers, seven triples, 31 doubles, 90 RBIs, 49 steals; South Atlantic League MVP |