NL East Prospects...Worth a Look

This crop of prospects coming up in the NL East has All-Star written all over most of them. Each has a specific skill set that separates them from others in their organization. They are worth drafting in all Dynasty Leagues or a spare bench spot if possible. Definitively keep them on your waiver priority list when they get their shot.

NL EAST

Atlanta Braves

Atlanta has a stockpile of B grade prospects but no real slam dunk prospect that will contribute in 2014. That being said I feel their best prospect for the future is Lucas Simms. He is a local kid who throws in the mid 90s with both a curve and change. He throws strikes and has a very athletic build. Last year he went 12-4 with 134K in only 117 innings while only giving up 83 hits. Look for an increase in innings and monitor how a larger workload could affect him.

Miami Marlins

Many come draft day will be thinking of Christian Yelich as a possible sleeper to target. He is the one getting all the pre draft press at the moment. The one I want you to consider is Jake Marisnick. He went from A ball to The Show last year. Coming off minor knee surgery he is good to go come spring training. CF is his to lose as I feel Yelich will have competition from Ozuna in LF.  Once he secures CF the best possible scenario would for him to hit 2^nd in the order . If he hits 7^th or 8^th his value drops dramatically. He has potential for a 12/12 guy who could put up some good Run numbers hitting in front of Stanton.

New York Mets

Probably a mid season call up Noah Syndergaard is the real deal. IN 117 innings pitched between High-A and Double-A last season the right hander went 9-4 with a 3.06 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 133 Ks. After getting time in big-league camp during spring training in 2014, Syndergaard will likely start the season with the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s. Sound familiar? New York did the same with its other two top pitching prospects; Harvey and Wheeler. Be the first to use your waiver request or FA dollars to snag this guy if you do not draft him.

Philadelphia Phillies

Maikel Franco, 3B, began the 2013 season with the Clearwater Threshers for 65 games. All he did was hit 16 home runs (40 XBH), 52 RBI for a .299/.349/.576 slash line. At the time of his promotion he was leading the Florida State League in doubles (23) and tied in HR (16) with Minnesota Twins mega prospect Miguel Sano. He was promoted to Double-A and continued to hit. Somehow the fast rising prospect performed even better against more advanced pitching. The final line after 69 games though was promising to say the least: .339/.363/.563 with 15 HR, 51 RBI (30 XBH). His combined stats for the season were 36 2B, 3 3B, 31 HR, 103 RBI, 1 SB, 2 CS, 30 BB, 70 K, .320 AVG, .356 OBP, .569 SLG in 541 total at bats across High-A & Double-A. It looks like Asche and Howard are blocking his spot at the Major League level but he is only 1 injury away from a call-up.

Washington Nationals

The Nats have a true 15/20 leadoff hitter in Brian Goodwin. He is the top OF prospect in the Nats system. The 2011 1^st round pick put up a fantastic slash line last summer and then was a standout in the Arizona Fall League which is a final tune up for the Bigs.  In Arizona he had a 19 game season which he put up a .296 BA with 4 Doubles, 1 Triple, 2HRs and 3 SB in 88 Pas for the winning Mesa Solar Sox. He wil be the Nats replacement for Denard Span who is signed through this year so a trade of Span or an injury will keep Goodwin down in Triple A until then.