Nick Neidert

Here are some facts about Neidert: his ERA, FIP and xFIP were all between 3.00 and 3.50 and he logged a 1.13 WHIP and 154:31 K:BB in 152.2 innings as a 21-year-old at Double-A. Here are some other facts: he is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound righty whose fastball sits 89-91 mph and his plus changeup is his only above-average pitch. So, how far can high-end command and a nasty changeup get a right-handed starter? Maybe he can be Kyle Hendricks 2.0. Of course, Hendricks might have 80-grade command, and it would be foolish to expect any pitching prospect to develop that level of command against major-league hitters. Hendricks is also better than Neidert at generating groundballs and preventing the long ball. The good news is that we should see Neidert in the majors this summer, so those stashing him in dynasty leagues won't have to wait long to see if he can beat the odds.

Control is the name of the game for Neidert, a 20-year-old righty who walked just 13 batters in 91 innings at Low-A Clinton in 2016. Neidert is rather polished for a high school pitcher drafted in 2015, and he already has three pitches he can throw for strikes. Neidert's fastball sits in the low 90s, while his curveball and changeup can both baffle hitters at times. Still, he doesn't exactly have the build or the strikeout stuff of a future rotation anchor. He is just 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, and only fanned 69 batters in those 91 innings. Opposing batters did hit just .225 against him at Low-A, though Neidert needs to prove he has more swing-and-miss ability in terms of strikeouts. Until then, his upside is that of a No. 3 or No. 4 starter. Look for him to begin the 2017 season at High-A Bakersfield.

Neidert was selected 60th overall in the 2015 MLB draft out of Peachtree Ridge high school. He dropped from a first-round pick to a second-round pick after developing elbow tendinitis during his senior season. Neidert is now healthy and began his professional career pitching for the Arizona League Mariners in Rookie ball. He finished summer with a 1.53 ERA in 11 starts, while posting a tremendous 0.96 WHIP and .198 batting average against. Neidert will look this season to improve his 2.56 K:BB ratio. His fastball is 92-94 mph, peaking at 96. He has an advanced changeup for his age, but must continue to improve his curveball. The No. 10 prospect in the Mariners' organization, Neidert is a few years from the majors, but he has the potential to be a good starter.