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In the midst of a horrid 2014 season, the Boston Red Sox might have bigger issues to worry about. Dustin Pedroia, the team’s star second baseman, is dealing with a hand injury that might force him to miss the remainder of the MLB season.    

Sean McAdam of Comcast Sports Net passed the news along from Red Sox manager John Farrell:

Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal had more from Pedroia:

Boston’s official account provides more from Farrell on the situation:

Pedroia has played in 135 games this season, but has battled several injuries throughout the year. Despite the ailments, he still carries a .278 average, seven home runs and 53 RBI during a down year for the franchise.

Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe notes the hand problem has been a recurring one for Pedroia:

As the 2008 American League MVP and a four-time All-Star, there’s no need for the franchise to keep him on the field if he’s not 100 percent right now. Currently sitting at 63-81, the Red Sox are well outside of the chase for a playoff spot.

Despite the success he’s had on the field, Scott Lauber of The Boston Herald notes he has been battling through injuries since 2012:

Not much is known about the length of time he will miss, but it’s clear Pedroia needs time to rest his hand.

After winning the World Series last year, the team still has talent to contend in the future. If Pedroia can rest and return to full health either later in the season or next year, Boston has a true leader and All-Star to help get things turned around.

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In the midst of an abysmal season for the Texas Rangers, things just got much worse for the franchise. Ron Washington, the team’s manager since the 2007 season, has reportedly resigned from the franchise.

Bob Dutton of The News Tribune reported the news Friday afternoon:

Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram provided background information on the matter:

During Washington’s time in Texas, the Rangers went 664-611 and won the American League pennant twice, coming up short in the World Series both times. He was also the All-Star Game manager during both the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com relayed Washington’s statement on his resignation:

Today, I have submitted my resignation from the job I love – managing the Rangers – in order to devote my full attention to addressing an off-the-field personal matter. As painful as it is, stepping away from the game is what’s best for me and my family.

This is in no way related to the disappointing performance of the team this season. We were already discussing 2015 and looking forward to getting the Rangers back to postseason contention.

I deeply regret that I’ve let down the Rangers organization and our great fans. Over the past eight seasons, it’s been a privilege to be part of some of the best years in club history and I will always be grateful for the opportunities I’ve had here, and for the great management, players, and coaches who have made our time here a success. Thank you for respecting my privacy.

Jesse Spector of Sporting News offered his take on the resignation:

As for his replacement, bench coach Tim Bogar will take over managerial duties for now, per Jim Bowden of ESPN:

In eight seasons with the Rangers, Washington became the franchise’s all-time leader in regular-season wins and games managed. Though he was unable to win either of the World Series, Washington was the only manager to win an AL pennant in Rangers history.

While he was able to turn the franchise around, the Rangers have fallen apart due to countless injuries this season. After Washington’s announcement, Sullivan put the overall season in perspective:

Others like Ray Ratto of CSN and Phil Rogers of MLB.com noted how great of a person Washington has been as a manager:

Back in 2010, it was reported that Washington tested positive for cocaine during the previous season. The manager recovered from that scandal by leading the team to successful seasons, and his resignation was not due to the previous failed drug test.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels confirmed that news, per Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News:

Much about the situation is still unknown, but it comes as a shock to many fellow managers around the game. The Rangers have severely underachieved this season, for obvious reasons, but Washington had led the team to four consecutive 90-win seasons from 2010-13.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today notes the reaction from managers:

Bruce Bochy of the San Francisco Giants was also shocked by the decision, via Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle:

Though the current season has been underwhelming, the move was not due to any questions about his future with the team.

Daniels spoke on that matter, per Wilson:

The 62-year-old Washington leaves behind a team mired in a 53-87 season, but one with plenty of promise for the future. While the Rangers are struggling this year, they have talent in the franchise to build around with or without Washington.

Competing in a difficult AL West that includes the Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners, the road ahead will be difficult. Washington was able to lead the franchise to several successful seasons, but the division has drastically improved.

With Prince Fielder returning next season from a neck injury that has sidelined him for most of 2014, the team could take a completely different shape. But without Washington at the helm, there’s no telling what the leadership around the franchise will look like.

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The Philadelphia Phillies have been abysmal for most of the 2014 MLB season, but Monday was a bright spot, as Cole Hamels and three relievers combined for a complete-game no-hitter against the Atlanta Braves.  

SportsCenter reported the final result when the score became official:

Matt Gelb of The Philadelphia Inquirer pointed out the significance of the game:

Jesse Spector of the Sporting News weighed in on the no-hitter in the grand scheme of the Phillies’ season:

Hamels pitched the first six innings of the contest, striking out seven batters. He allowed five walks while not giving up a hit. The Phillies pulled him after the sixth likely due to him having already thrown 108 pitches, although CBS Sports’ Eye On Baseball noted Hamels also suffered a groin injury during the game:

According to Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, Hamels said afterward the game ball would be dedicated to team president David Montgomery, who took a medical leave of absence Thursday:

As for the rest of the pitchers who toed the rubber, Jake Diekman, Ken Giles and Jonathan Papelbon closed the door for Hamels. In fact, after Hamels allowed five walks early, the arms out of the bullpen did not allow a single hitter to reach base.

ESPN Stats & Info noted just how historic the no-hitter was for Philadelphia:

As for the league’s history of combined no-hitters, High Heat Stats MLB broke down the most recent occurrences:

Carlos Ruiz caught the no-hitter, helping seal his place in history (via Ace of MLB Stats):

While Philadelphia likely won’t be making a playoff push at 63-74—the Phillies are 10.5 games out of the second wild-card spot—the team clearly has tremendous talent on the mound in Hamels. As he proved on Labor Day, the 30-year-old pitcher is one of the best starting pitchers in MLB.

Meanwhile, Atlanta’s offensive woes continue. If they are looking to make the postseason, the Braves will need a much greater contribution from the lineup to help out the pitching staff down the stretch.

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Updates from Tuesday, Aug. 12

Chris Iott of MLive.com reported on Justin Verlander following Tuesday’s MRI:

Jason Beck of MLB.com provides comments from Tigers manager Brad Ausmus:

Detroit Tigers head athletic trainer Kevin Rand expanded on the results, via Iott:

Justin underwent an MRI this morning in Detroit which basically showed normal wear and tear on a pitcher’s shoulder. No major structural damage. He’s obviously going to be reevaluated tomorrow at the ballpark by Dr. (Stephen) Lemos. When he sees him then we’re going to discuss all treatment options at that time.

Original Text

Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander was removed from the team’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday with an apparent shoulder injury after just one inning of work. 

Chris Iott of MLive.com reported the news on Verlander’s injury:

After the Tigers’ 11-6 loss to the Pirates, Iott provided an update on Verlander:

Verlander was blunt in his assessment of the night and also spoke about how he felt, via Tom Gage of The Detroit News: 

The 2011 American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner has gone just 10-10 this season with a 4.76 ERA. His ERA has not been above 4.00 at the end of a season since 2008, also the last season he failed to amass 200 strikeouts.

Earlier this month, Verlander spoke about attempting to turn around his season, per Brendan Savage of MLive.com:

I think pitching is constant tinkering. You’re always working on things. This year I made more drastic adjustments than I would have liked but I feel like I’m heading in the right direction and will continue working on what I’ve been working on and go out there and continue to pitch the way I did tonight.

Unfortunately, those struggles resurfaced on Monday night. But the possible injury might be more significant for the Tigers.

Verlander surrendered five runs during the outing before being taken out. ESPN Stats & Info notes the significance of the unfortunate start:

The start was not only bad for Verlander, but also for the exhausted Tigers bullpen, as Bob Nightengale of USA Today pointed out:

There is no word yet on the severity of the injury, but the situation will be evaluated further on Tuesday, as Iott mentioned.

The Tigers came into Monday night just a half game ahead of the Kansas City Royals and needed a strong outing from Verlander.

Following the buzz generated around Detroit after the David Price acquisition at the trade deadline, potentially losing Verlander would be extremely disheartening.

Verlander has been scuffling this season, but he has been a crucial component for the Tigers over the last nine years. If he is forced to miss time, their playoff hopes could take a hit.

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Just four days after he was released by the Oakland Athletics, the Detroit Tigers have reportedly signed closer Jim Johnson to a minor league contract.   

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported the news on Twitter:

Johnson scuffled earlier in the season with the Athletics, holding a 4-2 record with a 7.14 ERA, 28 strikeouts and 23 walks during 40.1 innings with just two saves. That’s a stark difference from his stretch between 2012 and 2013, in which he collected 101 saves and held a 2.72 ERA.

The former All-Star has fallen on hard times but is still just 31 years old and might have more in the tank for the Tigers. That’s exactly what Detroit is hoping for after securing David Price to strengthen the rotation.

Prior to his release from Oakland, Fox Sports’ Gabe Kapler offered his thoughts on the reliever:

If he can [reduce his walk rate], he’ll be a valuable piece of a bullpen again, but Oakland didn’t think it would happen quickly enough. The data is compelling enough to make a tough decision and designate Johnson for assignment.

So what about the GM out there betting on the come with Johnson? 

Wagers on horses with the longest odds have made folks rich before, at least temporarily.

Joe Nathan has struggled in 2014, running his ERA up to 5.45 despite having 22 saves. While Joakim Soria was acquired ahead of the deadline from the Texas Rangers, he currently holds a 16.88 ERA through 2.2 innings thus far with Detroit.

If Johnson is able to make it back to the big leagues, he could offer another closer option. Nathan is 39, so Johnson also gives the team a younger arm moving forward if he can return to form in the minors.

In what has already been an arms race through the midway point this season, the A’s and Tigers will likely keep building for the postseason. Johnson proving to be a vital part of the bullpen might make this a huge move later in the year.

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With a mere nine days remaining until the MLB trade deadline on July 31, rumors are swirling around multiple contenders and pretenders around the league.

A few surprise teams like the Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers are well outside of the mix and looking to move veteran players. Then there are franchises looking to make the postseason this year hoping to add those valuable assets.

As several division races heat up, the time is now for teams to make a move that can help them. Teams like the Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates are on the outside looking in with a chance to contend.

Here’s a look at the latest rumors surrounding some of the biggest trade prospects in the MLB.

Winning Affecting Possible David Price Move for Rays

For a team like the Rays, this has been a disappointing season thus far. But with a five-game winning streak, all seems back to normal in Tampa Bay, right? Wrong.

Two straight series wins over the Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins before and after the All-Star break would appear to be a great sign for the Rays. Unfortunately, all it has done is complicate matters for the franchise and David Price, in particular.

Buster Olney of ESPN (subscription required) provides the latest on rumors about the starting pitcher:

The Rays will factor many things into their decision as to whether to trade Price, including their place in the standings, how well they are playing, their need for prospects and Price’s trade value, which gradually slides downward as he nears free agency. But one executive involved in the conversations with Tampa Bay believes that, ultimately, it’s the potential buyers that will clarify the choice for the Rays with the quality of their offers. 

Will he stay or will he go? That’s the question Tampa Bay must answer before July 31 while they also look to climb back into the AL East race.

Currently fourth in the division at 47-53, the Rays still have a shot to overtake every other team in the East. The Baltimore Orioles currently hold the lead but are without injured Matt Wieters, and the New York Yankees have question marks with Masahiro Tanaka.

Basically, what the decision will come down to now is simply how aggressive teams are in trying to acquire Price. The former Cy Young winner has been nearly flawless during July, pitching 31.2 innings over four starts while allowing just three earned runs, including his last two scoreless starts.

Making a swap for Price won’t be easy, and it clearly won’t be a given anymore with the Rays winning again. With Wil Myers reporting progress with his wrist injury and Chris Archer pitching well in three of his last four starts, the Rays have youth to get back into the chase.

Whether or not Price will be a part of that climb will be decided by July 31.

Alex Rios Among Potential Targets for Royals

He might not be showing the same power from years prior, but Alex Rios has still been a consistent force at the plate this season.

Unfortunately, his offensive prowess has been on the Texas Rangers, a team that was 3-14 during the month of July. That makes them dealers on the trade market and fifth in the AL West.

For the Kansas City Royals, the team is trying to make a push for their first postseason berth since winning the World Series in 1985. With a slumping offense, the Royals apparently have interest in Rios, per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports:

The Royals are looking for corner bats as they try to fix their offensive woes and get back into the AL Central race, and Rangers right fielder Alex Rios is one player they’ve considered.

Kansas City is 14th in the AL with a .687 OPS and 12th with 388 runs, so it understands it needs some help.

Heyman goes on to say that the Royals are also interested in other options like Marlon Byrd and Domonic Brown, but Rios is a clear option for the team. With his consistency at the plate, the Rangers slugger might just be what Kansas City needs in the lineup.

Looking for their first playoff berth in nearly 20 years, the Royals will still have to overtake both the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians. Following a sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox, Kansas City might be another fringe team like the Rays when the deadline comes.

A.J. Burnett Drawing Interest from Pirates

On the heels of a three-game winning streak, the Pirates are right back in the thick of the NL Central race. If they plan on overtaking both the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals along with holding off the Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh will need help in the starting rotation.

Help might just be on the way in the form of a familiar face, as Jon Morosi of Fox Sports reports:

During his two seasons with the Pirates, Burnett finished with a 26-21 record and never saw his ERA rise above 3.51 either year. He also collected over 180 strikeouts both seasons as he returned to form after three down seasons with the Yankees.

If the Pirates truly do have interest, it could wind up being huge for both sides. Burnett is currently on a Philadelphia Phillies team that is nowhere near a playoff spot and Pittsburgh needs help to get there.

While several other teams might be looking to add Burnett, the familiarity of Pittsburgh might be just what both sides need.

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For years, Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz has defended himself from rumors about performance-enhancing drug usage. This week, he went slightly further to prove he was clean, responding strongly to suggestions that he isn’t held to the same standards as others involved in PED scandals.

It all started when Red Sox pitcher John Lackey and Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter got in a war of words Saturday regarding the Orioles’ Nelson Cruz, who was suspended 50 games last year after MLB ruled he took a banned substance.

When discussing the dust-up Monday, MLB Network analyst Joe Magrane apparently said Ortiz received a “free pass” after a 2009 New York Times report identified him as testing positive for PEDs in 2003, per Steve Silva of The Boston Globe.

Ortiz shared his thoughts on Magrane’s comments with Rob Bradford of WEEI.com:

In this country, nobody gets a free pass. He wants to make it sound like I got a free pass because nobody can point fingers at me directly. But the reason why I got that fake [expletive] free pass that he’s saying is because they pointed fingers at me with no proof.

It’s easier to do it that way than having something that they can say, “Yes, you did this, you did that.” My [expletive], I call straight-up bull. Let me tell you. You don’t get no free pass here, especially a guy like me. I don’t get no free pass. That free-pass B.S. that they want to talk about over there, they can shove it up their [expletive].

Ortiz has repeatedly denied the Times‘ 2009 report, but his name has still been tossed around by analysts since it surfaced.

Meanwhile, Cruz is now the American League’s starting designated hitter in the 2014 All-Star Game. Though he might not have received a free pass, he is making the most of his return.

Ortiz wasn’t done there, though:

What pisses me off is the whole thing about, why does my name got to be mentioned in that? What did I have to do with that? … It was the Lackey and Showalter thing, going back and forth. Showalter didn’t say anything about me.

Dan Dakich of ESPN provides his thoughts on Ortiz’s comments:

Though he’s up in arms about the comments made, Ortiz has been putting together another strong year. While his batting average sits at .259, he has hit 19 home runs, has 55 RBI and holds a .360 on-base percentage.

As for his team, the Sox haven’t had the same success as last season and currently sit in the cellar of the AL East. Looking up at the division-leading Orioles from 10 games back, it remains to be seen if Ortiz’s comments have any effect on the team or bring any added attention.

Trying to claw their way back into the race, maybe an upset Ortiz will do just the trick to help get the franchise re-focused.

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Do you like monstrous power at the plate? How about unhittable pitching with some of the nastiest stuff from some of the best hurlers in the game? Throw in a few hints of unbelievable defensive gems, and that’s exactly what fans will feast their eyes on during the 2014 MLB All-Star Game.

Multiple mashers like Mike Trout, Miguel Cabrera, Andrew McCutchen and Troy Tulowitzki will look to put on a show at Target Field. But with aces in Felix Hernandez, Yu Darvish, Clayton Kershaw and Adam Wainwright looking to silence those big bats, a battle of attrition will take place during every at-bat.

As for the depth of the rosters, it appears the American League might just have the upper hand. With huge hitters in Jose Abreu and Yoenis Cespedes on the bench along with Chris Sale missing out on the initial roster, there is plenty of talent to go around for the AL team.

With the All-Star Game set to start on July 15, here’s a look at the full rosters after the reveal and some of the top projected performers for the Midsummer Classic.

Projected Top AL Performers

Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

In a loaded AL lineup, there are several offensive players worthy of taking this honor. But with Trout, baseball fans get a little bit of everything.

The five-tool player is capable of just about anything on the diamond and flashes every tool almost every time he takes the field. Rather than getting big-headed about his ability, Trout remained humble when he earned the starting nod:

Then there’s what he’s done on the field already this season. Hitting .308 with 20 home runs, a 1.005 OPS and 63 RBI, Trout leads the Angels in each category. In a lineup that includes both Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton, that’s saying something for the 22-year-old.

He’s also been one of the most clutch players in the MLB this season, as ESPN Stats & Info notes a pretty remarkable stat:

Don’t worry, he’s still flashing the leather as well. MLB’s official account passes along footage of an insane catch from earlier this month:

If he doesn’t do it with the bat or glove, Trout has a good chance of stealing the show on the basepaths as well. With 10 stolen bases this year, Trout literally could impact every part of the Midsummer Classic with his ability.

Felix Hernandez, RHP, Seattle Mariners

During a season where the Seattle Mariners are working hard to establish themselves as a contender in the AL West, Hernandez has been one of the biggest reasons—as usual.

As absurd as it sounds, Hernandez might just be putting together his best season yet, per MLB:

The 28-year-old might be in line for yet another Cy Young Award with those numbers, but he’s also established himself as the best in the AL so far. King Felix leads the AL in ERA (2.11) and innings pitched (136.1) thus far this season.

Though he likely won’t have several innings to make a difference in the game, Baseball Tonight believes he is one of three starters who might potentially start the contest:

Whether it’s his 90-plus fastball or his devastating breaking pitches, Hernandez has an entire arsenal that will baffle NL hitters. Regardless of whether or not he starts, Hernandez will make an impact for the deep pitching staff.

On the biggest stage during the regular season, Hernandez will come out and prove yet again why he’s considered one of the best in the game.

Projected Top NL Performers

Carlos Gomez, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

We could have stayed with the young guard and said Yasiel Puig. Or maybe gone with last year’s NL MVP in McCutchen. Then there’s the league leader in batting average in Tulowitzki, who also has 18 home runs this season.

But on the All-Star stage, something about Carlos Gomez just screams out MVP potential. For one of the hottest teams in the MLB, Gomez has led the Milwaukee Brewers this season and truly put himself in the same category as some of the National League’s best outfielders.

As the MLB account notes, it’s difficult to crack such an athletic group of players:

The irony here, of course, is that Gomez and Puig, two of the most polarizing figures in the game, both earned starter duties by the fans. While fellow players and some fans might get riled up by their antics, both Gomez and Puig have done enough to be revered by the majority of the MLB audience.

Ian Casselberry of The Outside Corner provides his thoughts on the situation:

Regardless of what some fans might think of Gomez, he’ll certainly bring the wood on July 15. Much like Trout, he has the potential to change the game in a multitude of ways, but his bat will shine at Target Field—a park where he hit a three-run homer just last month.

On a star-studded roster with several potential top performers, look for Gomez to shine.

Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

You didn’t think the best pitcher in the game was going to be left off the list, right?

Despite missing the first part of the season for the Dodgers, Kershaw has still been phenomenal. The two-time Cy Young winner is making a case yet again with a 10-2 record, 1.85 ERA, 115 strikeouts and, of course, a no-hitter.

How unhittable has Kershaw been this season? Mark Simon of ESPN shares a look at a heat map from his last four starts:

Kershaw has also made a case to be the All-Star starter on a deep roster with his recent pitching. Along with the low batting average against him, every team during the last 36 innings has been unable to put up a run against him, as ESPN Stats & Info notes:

In a rotation that includes teammate Zack Greinke, Johnny Cueto and Wainwright, Kershaw will once again be the top player to toe the rubber at Target Field. Coming into the game pitching some of the best baseball of his career, he’ll do the same on the All-Star stage.

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The Toronto Blue Jays were thrown a bit of a knuckleball on Saturday evening.

Toronto starting pitcher R.A. Dickey left his start against the Baltimore Orioles after an apparent groin injury hampered the former Cy Young Award winner.

Scott MacArthur of TSN reported Dickey’s injury:

Anthony Rieber of Newsday offered more insight into the injury:

Dickey’s season has been a bit rocky despite his current 6-4 record. Coming into Saturday’s outing, Dickey held a 4.20 ERA with just 68 strikeouts and 38 walks during that span.

While the season has been far from stellar for Dickey, his outing against the Orioles was going well before the injury, as Barry Davis of Sportsnet points out:

Dickey spoke recently about his season, sharing his thoughts with Megan Robinson of Sportsnet:

This isn’t the first injury of Dickey’s career. Back in 2012, the same season he won the Cy Young, Dickey was suffering from an abdominal tear that he still pitched through.

With his team currently in the lead in the AL East with a 40-30 record heading into Saturday, having Dickey back on the mound will be crucial. Following a good outing that was derailed by the injury, he might be finally turning the corner after a slow start to the year.

The New York Yankees are currently riding a four-game winning streak and are once again nipping at the Blue Jays’ heels. Following the series with the Orioles, the Jays will travel to New York to tangle with the Yankees.

There is no word yet on the extent of the injury, but missing a start against the Cincinnati Reds next weekend or the Yankees the following week could be a minor setback for the former ace.

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In the wake of the 2014 MLB draft, several franchises came away with a crop of players they hope will materialize in the coming years. That goes for every team, but not all will be so lucky.

Players like Brady Aiken and Tyler Kolek, the No. 1 and 2 overall picks, respectively, will obviously take a while before they get the call-up coming straight from high school. But for several other players who are more polished, the coming months could bring a promotion they’ve dreamed of their entire lives.

In recent years, players like Chris Sale and David Price both saw a rapid rise to the majors and even worked out of the bullpen during their debut campaigns. Many of the top college players will be expected to work their way up through the system, but not all will reach the MLB as fast as others.

With the entire draft having come to a close, let’s take a look at some of the prospects who will see a rapid ascent to the majors.

Carlos Rodon, LHP, Chicago White Sox

For nearly a year, it was almost a foregone conclusion that Carlos Rodon would go No. 1 overall to the Houston Astros. After Aiken’s stellar season, the high school pitcher eventually overtook the college ace.

That decision might just work out perfectly for Rodon. Rather than waiting around until the Astros would be competitive enough to finally call him up, the former N.C. State pitcher now joins the farm system of a team working to earn a potential wild-card spot in the American League.

Not to mention, he also joins a team that already has an established ace, as Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports notes:

Much like Sale, who pitched a total of 10.1 innings before receiving the call in 2010, Rodon could find himself as a member of the bullpen before season’s end.

The key here is obviously that Rodon must sign rather quickly—something that general manager Rick Hahn believes will happen soon, per CSNChicago.com Insider Dan Hayes (via HardballTalk). As for living up to expectations of the high-pick status, Rodon isn’t worried about that, per Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune:

“That comes with the talent,” Rodon said. “The expectations come with all that, when you’re a good player. You have to expect it yourself. All eyes are watching, and you’re going to get criticized every little thing you do wrong. That’s part of it, and you have to love it and hate it.”

After watching Rodon for the last several seasons, he’s an elite pitcher with a plus-fastball and slider. While the pitch count was usually high, it was simply because he typically forced Wolfpack coach Elliott Avent to keep him in games due to his competitive nature.

If he makes it to the MLB ranks this season, he’ll be a bulldog coming out of the bullpen for Chicago. As for the future, the one-two punch of Sale and Rodon for the White Sox might be the best in the AL Central in the next few years—they’re that good.

Nick Burdi, RHP, Minnesota Twins

He might not have been taken as high as some others on this list, but Nick Burdi has the stuff to quickly rise through the Minnesota Twins system.

His fastball touches 100 mph, and he had a miniscule 0.54 ERA as a closer for Louisville heading into the draft. Despite being taken in the second round on the first night of the MLB draft, Burdi told Jeff Greer of The Courier-Journal, “They’re getting one of the most determined people in the whole draft. I’m not upset. I’m pissed now. I’m ready to play.”

Needless to say, he was none too happy to slide that far. While Rodon has a career as a starter ahead of him, Burdi‘s bread and butter will likely be as a relief pitcher and eventually a closer at the MLB level.

Louisville coach Dan McDonnell spoke about what type of player the Twins are getting, per Greer:

I said, “Nick, for 22 years, I’ve been dealing with the draft. It’s not an exact science.” I’ve told the kids for years not to let someone define who you are. … He has a right to be (pissed). He’s gonna pitch in the big leagues this summer.

Sometimes playing with a chip on your shoulder is a good thing. … He wants to be great. He wants to be a big leaguer. 

After taking Burdi in the 24th round back in the 2011 draft, the Twins might finally be able to sign him following the Cardinals’ College World Series run. If he comes in and shines right away, he could meet a similar fate as Rodon this season.

If he doesn’t immediately earn the call, expect him to be a setup pitcher for years to come in Minnesota.

Aaron Nola, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies

Outside of Rodon, Aaron Nola came into the 2014 draft as the most polished pitching prospect in the class.

The LSU ace was stellar all season and possesses a good fastball, a great slider and a devastating changeup as his out pitch. With all of those in his repertoire, Nola has a chance to compete for a starting job in spring training next season.

MLB.com provides a scouting report on the 21-year-old starter:

Nola isn’t physical or overpowering, but he has exquisite command of his three-pitch arsenal. He effortlessly works at 91-93 mph with his fastball, which plays up because his low three-quarters arm slot produces sink and he can locate the pitch wherever he wants. His changeup is his best secondary pitch, grading as plus at times, and he can throw his three-quarters breaking ball for strikes.

With an advanced arm and outstanding control, Nola will quickly find his way to the majors in the coming seasons. For a Philadelphia Phillies team that likely won’t be competing for a playoff spot at the end of the season, look for Nola to to make his impact in 2015 as he skips over some of the lower rungs.

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