Prospect Review

After being ranked 3rd for much of last season, South Carolina sees a slip to #4 overall in the ranking of their Minor League System.

SP - John Martin - #1 ABL Prospect.  22 year old prospect received in the Joe "Crayon" Frost trade and the center piece of the trade with So Cal.  Martin, rates very highly in all rated categories and could probably step into the Bomber rotation right now.  Currently rated at 2.5/4.5*.  GM Gary Altman has not ruled out adding Martin to the roster if the Bombers make a run for the Billy Martin Division Title.  A lot of that decision will need time to decide.
EXPECTED ARRIVAL 2014

CF - Ken Forryan, #16 ABL Prospect.  22 year old, 1st Round Draft Choice is already dealing with some adversity.  Starting out in AA Forryan was facing a demotion to A Ball to get his bat on track as he was hitting .102 with no homers and just 3 RBI's before being placed on the 60 Day DL with a torn back muscle.  His expected return is mid August and projections for Forryan are still very high.  No determination has be made on the level he'll return to.  Currently .5* / 4.5*
EXPECTED ARRIVAL 2016

SP - Steve Walker - 23 years old, 6th Round Draft Choice in the 2012 Amatuer Draft, Walker possesses 4 plus pitches and above average stuff.  Walker suffered a setback with a torn labrum and ending his season.  He's expected to make full recovery and should be cleared in December/January.  For the season was 0-4, 4.54 ERA in 7 games and starts.  He did have 42K's in 35 IP. Currently .5*/3*
EXPECTED ARRIVAL 2016

SP - Roger Marshall - 23 year old, 2nd Round Draft choice in 2012.  Marshall went into the draft as a middle reliever but based on his 15 Stamina was converted to a SP.  Placed in AA ball, the hard throwing lefty needs to trust his stuff more and not be afraid of contact.  Sitting at 0-2 with a 3.32 ERA, the hard throwing lefty (95-97 mph) with a 73% GB rate has walked 31 in 38 innings, and struck out just 16.  Those are the only negative numbers we're seeing.  He's given up just 25 hits and 1 HR, has a WHIP of a more than respectable 1.47 including the walks.  If he gets his control under control, his WHIP, ERA and K's will all move in very positive direction.  Currently 1*/4.5*
EXPECTED ARRIVAL September 2015

SP - Reginald Thompson - 22 year old, 4th Round Draft Choice in 2012.  Thompson has had a tough adjustment to the professional level.  Rated as .5*/4.5* and another pitcher converted after the draft to a SP.  He started in college so he's familiar with the role, just having a tough time controling the walks. 22 BB, 3K's in 25 innings.  Thompson has better ratings across the board than Marshall and needs to trust his stuff.  He went 1-2, 6.12 ERA in AA Ball before heing sent down to Coney Island to "right the ship".  In his only start in A ball, Thompson wwent 6 innings, 4 hits, 1 BB and 2 K's with no runs allowed.  If he can dominate A Ball, he'll be back in AA within 2 months and his career and managements expectations will be rewarded.
EXPECTED ARRIVAL September 2015 or 2016

1B - Bob Vaughn, 23 years old, 18th overall pick from the inaugural draft, Vaughn is starting to find himself.  Last year he had respectable numbers for A ball.  But this year, he's really stepped up his game.  Hitting .291, OB .369, and .496 Slugging in 141 AB's, including 7 homers, Vaughn is really forcing management to look at a AAA promotion for this slugger.  An exceptional glove at first is a bonus, but with Fernandez excelling at the ABL Level, a position change to possibly 3B could be in the cards for Vaughn.  Fact of the matter here is that if he continues to hit like he is now and improve on that, it's going to be real tough to keep Vaughn from reaching the ABL.  Rated 0.5* / 2.5*
EXPECTED ARRIVAL 2015

2B - Rick Grant, 19 years old,  15th overall pick from the inaugural draft, Grant is a gifted defender. Rated 1*/4* he has progressed nicely through the organization to AA right now.  GM Altman is taking a very slow methodical approach to getting Grant ready for the South Carolina.  Grant projects to be a leadoff hitter as he lacks raw power.  As he gets older, and his body matures our scout thinks Grant could reach 15 homers in a season.  There isn't much rush to get Grant to the ABL as a stop gap free agent was signed to bridge the arrival of Grant (Mario Antonio)
EXPECTED ARRIVAL 2015

Other prospects having arrived this season, filling in for injuries that decimated the Bomber infield, including Angelo Casas, and Dan Mullen (just returned to AAA).