Two Major One Minor 060413

Here is the 10th Two Major One Minor segment of 2013. This is my third year of doing this series where I feature two Major League players and one minor league player each week. This week I am featuring Michael Wacha, Kevin Gausman and Daniel Winkler. The first two were on the fast track to the Majors after being drafted last June.

RHP Wacha of the St Louis Cardinals sky rocketed through the minors after being drafted with the 19th pick of the first round in 2012 out of Texas A&M. Wacha started 2012 with the Aggies going 9-1, 2.06 WHIP, 116 K, 1.01 WHIP in 113.1 IP over 16 games. After the draft he visited Rookie Ball, Class A Advanced and Double A where he showed dominance going a combined 0-0, 0.86 ERA, 40 K, 0.57 WHIP in 21.0 IP over 11 games which included two starts at Rookie Gulf Coast. This season he was tossed into the fires at Triple A Memphis of the offensive skewed Pacific Coast League and he continued to shine. He was 4-0, 2.05 ERA, 34 K, 0.95 WHIP in 52.2 IP over 8 games at Memphis. He made his MLB debut last week and looked like he belonged with a line of 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K. His presence on the mound strengthens the Cardinals rotation which is already one of the best in the MLB. Wacha will be 22 on July 1st.

RHP Gausman of the Baltimore Orioles had a similar path after being drafted with the fourth pick of the first round in 2012 out of LSU. He started 2012 dominating for the Tigers going 12-2, 2.77 ERA, 135 K, 1.08 WHIP in 123.2 IP over 18 games. After the draft he had five controlled short starts combined between Class A and Class A Advanced going 0-1, 3.60 ERA, 13 K, 0.80 WHIP in 15.0 IP over 5 games. This season he started at Double A Bowie where he was 2-4, 3.11 ERA, 49 K, 1.06 WHIP in 46.1 IP over 8 games. Although he had a few hiccups at Bowie the Orioles still decided to have him make the jump right to the Majors and its been a bumpy ride. After taking losses in his first two MLB starts he had a respectable no decision as he is now 0-2, 7.20 ERA, 9 K, 1.53 WHIP in 15.0 IP over 3 games. Before he was drafted Gausman was compared to Josh Beckett and Max Scherzer but with his recent struggles names like Adam Loewen are being thrown around. I think some more time in the minors is needed for him. Gausman turned 22 on January 6th. 

RHP Winkler is at Class A Advanced Modesto of the Colorado Rockies. While he isn't one of the prized fast trackers he is having a solid season going 7-2, 2.57 ERA, 75 K, 0.92 WHIP in 63.0 IP over 11 games. Add in the fact he is holding California League batters to a .175 average in a traditional hitter's league. If he can continue that trend it will serve him well in Colorado some day. He was originally drafted by the Rockies in the 20th round in 2011. Winkler turned 23 on February 2nd.