Prospects Spotlight: American League West

Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

As I sit here watching the very first nationally televised Spring Training game of the 2015 Major League Baseball season –the Pittsburgh Pirates vs. the Toronto Blue Jays– it has me excited on so many levels.

One level of that excitement is my adoration and obsession with the “next wave,” if you will.

Prospects.

Spring Training games usually start out with veteran filled lineups, but in a matter of innings you’re watching a whole lot of unknown names or barely known names or “I know that guy!” names…or you’re not watching at all. And frankly I wouldn’t blame you.

But as someone who loves to dig in deep to each organization’s prospect tree of hundreds and even more, highlighted by a select few like Dalton Pompey, a 22-year old from Ontario, Canada who is the favorite to be the Blue Jays Opening Day center fielder.

Photo Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Or Jung Ho Kang, the first ever position player to make the trip direct from Korea. He’ll be 28 come Opening Day and despite his age is absolutely considered a prospect to me and most because well, he’s brand new to our baseball world. The wonder world of Major League Baseball. He projects comfortably as Pittsburgh’s everyday shortstop.

So over the next few weeks, I’ll cover a prospect for each team –and maybe another name or three if I can’t help myself because, after all, youth is the future eventually.

Let’s begin right at home with our American League West. Starting with the…

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