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Chicks dig the long ball; at least that’s what the old commercial featuring Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine told us. 

Even though Major League Baseball has shifted toward a pitching and defense game, it’s still exciting to see a hitter step in the box and launch balls over the fence. After all, the best part of the All-Star festivities is the Home Run Derby. 

As we prepare for the start of spring training in February, there is a wave of hitting prospects coming through the minors who will be starring in a few of those Home Run Derby events and taking part in many All-Star games. 

Pitching is also plentiful in the minors right now, but the hitting talent that is on the way has the potential to bring offense back to the forefront. 

There are a lot more than 25 hitting prospects for fans to pay close attention to in 2014, but to avoid information overload, these are the players you should go out of your way to watch at least once this season. 

Some of these names will be very familiar, especially if you follow the minor leagues. Others are slowly moving up the prospect ladder, but all of them have the potential to be special with a bat in their hands. 

Here are the minor league hitters with the potential to change games when they step into the box or get on base.

All stats courtesy of MiLB.com unless otherwise noted. 

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The arrival of generational stars Bryce Harper, Mike Trout and Manny Machado in the major leagues during the 2012 season set a new standard for all future rookie classes.

Yet, in spite of the lofty expectations, the overall influx of young talent in the major leagues last season as a whole was more impressive than the now legendary 2012 class.

In fact, 30 of Prospect Pipeline’s preseason top 100 prospects for 2013 debuted in the major leagues last year, including 12 players that ranked in the top 25.

Many of those top-ranked prospects, such as Wil Myers, Jose Fernandez, Yasiel Puig, Gerrit Cole, Zack Wheeler and Christian Yelich, made an immediate impact and quickly justified the hype ascribed to them at the onset of their respective professional careers. However, except for Fernandez, who to everyone’s surprise opened the season in the Marlins starting rotation after pitching at High-A in 2012, all of the aforementioned players were promoted to the major leagues later in the season.

Thankfully, fans won’t have to wait until the latter months of the regular season for a glimpse at the future of baseball, as many of this year’s top-ranked prospects are expected to start the season in the major leagues.

So, in anticipation of the start of spring training, here’s a rundown of major league-ready prospects capable of making an impact out of the gate in 2014.

Jackie Bradley, OF, Boston Red Sox

Jackie Bradley made the Boston Red Sox’s Opening Day roster in 2013 thanks to an eye-opening performance in spring training (1.120 OPS, 13 R, 7 XBH) as well as injuries to several of the team’s outfielders.

However, the 23-year-old outfielder struggled to establish rhythm at the plate and posted a dismal .392 OPS through 12 games in April. After that, he spent the season bouncing between Triple-A Pawtucket and the major leagues. Bradley would ultimately appear in 37 games with the Red Sox, though he batted just .189/.280/.337 with eight extra-base hits in 107 plate appearances.

Though he didn’t shine in his time with the Red Sox last season, Bradley’s experience in the major leagues should pay enormous dividends as he prepares to take over for Jacoby Ellsbury as the team’s everyday center fielder. The gig will be his to lose—which is also why the organization recently signed Grady Sizemore—so expect the Red Sox to keep him on a short, performance-based leash.

Billy Hamilton, OF, Cincinnati Reds

Billy Hamilton took baseball by storm last season as a September call-up, going 4-of-4 in stolen-base attempts and scoring three runs as a pinch runner before logging his first career at-bat.

The Cincinnati Reds gave Hamilton three starts over the final month of the season to see what he could do, and the 23-year-old responded by batting .500 (7-for-14) with four runs scored, two doubles and six stolen bases in those games.

With Hamilton tabbed as the Reds’ Opening Day center fielder, the organization is finally ready to find out what it has in Hamilton. But will he become the star that his tools suggest, or merely an insanely fast reserve outfielder? One thing is certain, though: If Hamilton comes remotely close to reaching his sky-high ceiling, he could become a frequent All-Star and one of the game’s premier up-the-middle players.

Kolten Wong, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals promoted Kolten Wong to the major leagues in the middle of August to add depth in anticipation of a playoff run. Besides a two-game outburst from August 19-20, when he combined to go 5-for-10 with a double and three stolen bases, the 23-year-old struggled to make the most of his limited playing time and batted only .153/.194/.169 in 62 plate appearances spanning 32 games.

With an above-average glove and potential plus hit tool, Wong is ready for an everyday gig in the major leagues. And with Matt Carpenter expected to take over at the hot corner in the wake of the offseason trade of David Freese, he’ll likely have every opportunity in spring training to prove he’s ready for an everyday gig at the highest level.

Xander Bogaerts, SS/3B, Boston Red Sox

Regarded as Boston’s top prospect for the last two seasons, Xander Bogaerts was promoted to the major leagues in late August to bolster the team’s roster for the stretch run. While the recently turned 21-year-old’s playing time was limited, he still impressed by batting .250/.320/.364 in 18 games and playing both positions on the left side of the infield.

The Red Sox decided to include him on their postseason roster, and the youngster validated their decision by batting .296/.412/.481 with nine runs scored, four extra-base hits and six walks in 12 games after emerging as the starting third baseman during the ALCS.

Bogaerts has the ceiling of one of baseball’s top players, with the potential to offer All-Star-caliber production at a premium position. Even if he’s forced to slide over to the hot corner, the bat should make him a perennial All-Star.

As of now, and unless the Red Sox bring back Stephen Drew on a one-year deal, the 21-year-old is poised to open the season as the everyday shortstop.

Kevin Gausman, RHP, Baltimore Orioles

It was a busy 2013 season for Kevin Gausman, as he was rushed to the major leagues as a starter in May (7.66 ERA in 24.2 innings) before finally finding success as a reliever in September. On the year, the 22-year-old appeared in 15 games out of the bullpen, posting a 3.52 ERA and 29-7 strikeout-to-walk rate in 23 innings.

The 6’3” right-hander has easy velocity at 94-99 mph with his four-seam fastball; his two-seamer registers a few ticks slower, but features more arm-side run. Gausman’s changeup is a legitimate plus-plus pitch in the low- to mid-80s with devastating, splitter-like drop, and he’s made noticeable strides improving his slider over the last year.

In general, Gausman’s electric arsenal and plus command profile give him an insanely high ceiling, and with a more consistent and effective breaking ball, he could realize that potential in short order. The right-hander will begin the 2014 season in the team’s big-league rotation and has the potential to emerge as one of the best young starters in baseball.

Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle Mariners 

Taijuan Walker opened the 2013 season by mastering the Southern League, posting a 2.46 ERA and a 96-30 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 84 innings at Double-A Jackson after struggling at the level during the previous year.

The 21-year-old received a promotion to Triple-A Tacoma in late June where he, in spite of being one of the younger pitchers at the level, held his own with a 3.61 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 57.1 innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Given his success at both levels and overall maturation as a pitcher, the Mariners rewarded Walker with a promotion to the major leagues in late August. The right-hander didn’t disappoint, either, as he registered a 3.60 ERA and 12-4 strikeout-to-walk rate in 15 innings spanning three starts.

Manager Lloyd McClendon has already stated that he expects Walker to open the season in the starting rotation, though he’ll likely face competition during spring training with five other pitchers vying for one spot.

However, in order for Walker to both make the Opening Day roster and stick in the major leagues next season, he will need to show improved control compared to his 2013 campaign (particularly his time spent at Triple-A). Walker certainly has the raw stuff to be effective and hold his own at the highest level—as he demonstrated last September—but he still lacks the efficiency needed to work deep into games.

All videos courtesy of MLB Advanced Media

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

It’s that magical time of year where websites and prospect writers have gathered all their information to provide readers with the list of top 100 minor leaguers who will impact Major League Baseball in the near future. 

With these lists comes a lot of praise—especially for the work that goes into it—but also a lot of backlash. Fans want to see their favorite prospects appearing on a top 100 list because it provides hope and optimism. 

Everyone has their own opinions and methods for determining why a player does or doesn’t make a top 100 list.

In analyzing some of these lists, which combine scouting reports from various sources and the writer’s opinion, there are a lot of things to agree with. Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton as the No. 1 player, according to MLB.com, is a no-brainer. 

Not everything will be agreed upon, which is the point of this particular list. While staying respectful to the process and lists put forth by various writers, there are players who would have made my hypothetical top 100 list who aren’t appearing as high, or were left off, other rankings. 

So here are the 10 prospects I believe deserve more love than they are currently getting from certain major outlets. 

Note: All stats courtesy of MiLB.com unless otherwise noted. Lists used via MLB.com and Baseball Prospectus. 

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It’s been a hectic past few months for Taijuan Walker.

In September (well, technically Aug. 30), Walker—who is widely considered the Seattle Mariners’ top prospect, as well as one of the top-ranked pitching prospects in baseball headed into the 2014 season—made his major league debut. By early December, the 21-year-old right-hander was the subject of trade rumors as the Mariners explored a deal for Tampa Bay’s David Price.

However, in spite of the swirling rumors, the trade for Price never transpired, as the Mariners quickly backed off their presumed willingness to include Walker in a hypothetical deal.

But after months of uncertainty surrounding Walker’s immediate future in the organization, new Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon now expects the right-hander to open the 2014 season in the team’s starting rotation.

According to Robert Emrich of MiLB.com:

McClendon declared Friday that the team’s top prospect is expected to be part of the Mariners’ Opening Day roster.

…

“I’d be very disappointed if he’s not [in the rotation],” he said.

So, what can be expected from Walker if he does crack the Opening Day rotation?

Background

Selected by the Mariners in the supplemental first round of the 2010 draft, Walker has everything one looks for in a future ace. At 6’4” and 210 pounds, the right-hander is an outstanding athlete with a fluid delivery, quick arm and exceptional stuff.

After an up-and-down age-19 campaign in 2012 at Double-A Jackson, Walker’s control and execution of his electric arsenal developed rapidly during his second tour of the level last season.

The 21-year-old began the 2013 season by mastering the Southern League, posting a 2.46 ERA and a 96-30 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 84 innings at Jackson, and he ultimately earned a promotion to Triple-A Tacoma in late June.

Despite the fact that he was one of the younger pitchers at the level, Walker held his own with a 3.61 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 57.1 innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Even though he had logged a career-high 141.1 innings between both minor league levels, the Mariners still decided to offer their top prospect a taste of the major leagues as a September call-up.

Suffice it to say that Walker responded favorably to the challenge.

Making his debut against the Astros on Aug. 30, Walker tossed five solid innings to capture his first major league victory. The right-hander allowed one unearned run on two hits and a walk while notching a pair of strikeouts, and he threw 43 of his 70 pitches for a strike in the outing.

Success didn’t come as easily for Walker in his follow-up start in Kansas City on Sept. 4, as he was tagged for four earned runs on four hits but still completed his scheduled five innings. He also recorded a pair of walks and strikeouts in the outing.

Walker benefited from facing the Astros a second time in his final start of the year on Sept. 9, as the promising right-hander allowed two earned runs on five hits and a walk with eight strikeouts over five innings.

Overall, Walker registered a 3.60 ERA, .204 opponent batting average and 12-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 15 innings spanning three starts.

Scouting Report

At 6’4″ and 210 pounds, the 21-year-old is a top-notch athlete with highly projectable talent, and he’s shown the ability to handle a sizable workload throughout his young career.

Walker’s fastball explodes out of his hand and consistently registers between 93-96 mph, and he’ll dial it up to 97-98 on occasion. The Mariners introduced a cutter into his arsenal in 2012, and he’s quickly adopted a feel for the pitch, throwing it in the low-90s with excellent slicing action to his glove side.

Walker’s curveball is still inconsistent and leaves something to be desired, though it has good shape and downward bite when he’s on.

As reflected by the above graphic, which covers Walker’s three starts in the majors last season, his overall inconsistency with the pitch stemmed from a varying release point.

When he would get on top of the pitch and achieve a higher arm slot, it featured excellent pace and shape, not to mention sharper biting action in and around the zone. However, when he failed to achieve said arm slot, the offering had significantly less shape and, therefore, less vertical movement.

Finally, his changeup has come a long way over the past year and could surpass initial projections with further development, though it’s still a fringe-average offering at the present.

The Year Ahead

While Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma are locked in as the Mariners’ No. 1 and 2 starters for the 2014 season, the rest of the team’s starting rotation is likely to be decided during spring training.

As of now, the Mariners have six pitchers competing for the final three spots in the rotation: Walker, James Paxton, Brandon Maurer, Erasmo Ramirez, Blake Beavan and Hector Noesi. However, that could change in a hurry should the team sign one of the remaining big-name free-agent pitchers such as Ervin Santana or Ubaldo Jimenez.

In order for Walker to both make the Opening Day roster and stick in the major leagues next season, he will need to show improved control compared to his 2013 campaign (particularly his time spent at Triple-A). Walker certainly has the raw stuff to be effective and hold his own at the highest level—as he demonstrated last September—but he still lacks the efficiency needed to work deep into games.

Expectations must be tempered if Walker wins a spot in the Mariners’ Opening Day rotation next spring, as it’s important to remember that he’s far from a finished prospect and will be forced to make adjustments on the fly against the game’s best hitters.

The three main statistical projection models (Steamer, Oliver and ZIPS) each suggest that Walker’s performance will be up and down next season, which makes sense considering the aforementioned concerns about his control and lack of polish.

Here’s a look at each projection:

Though the numbers don’t exactly jump off the page and imply that Walker will face some form of team-imposed innings limit, they should be good enough to allow him to stick at the back end of the Mariners’ rotation for the duration of the season.

Plus, Walker’s history of year-to-year improvements against advanced competition is an encouraging sign—one that accurately portrays his capacity to make adjustments, as well as his desire to become one of the top pitchers in baseball.

Still, Walker’s 2014 role with the Mariners will depend on his showing in spring training. However, if his performance comes remotely close to the expectations set by the organization, then it’s difficult to envision him not beginning the year in The Show.

All videos courtesy of MLB Advanced Media.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Every prospect feels pressure to surpass expectations upon reaching the major leagues. After all, if the player is a high-profile prospect, then chances are he’s already viewed as a potential franchise cornerstone.

However, that’s nothing compared to the pressure felt by a prospect tabbed for an everyday role in The Show to begin a season. Such a scenario usually involves prospects that have at least tasted the major leagues—guys who understand what’s at stake and will do everything in their power to relish the opportunity.

This offseason, there have been numerous trades and signings that have affected a prospect’s standing on his organization’s depth chart.

Here’s a look at seven top-ranked prospects that will feel pressure to produce out of the gate in 2014.

*All stats courtesy of FanGraphs.com unless otherwise noted

*All videos courtesy of MLB Advanced Media

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The free-agent and trade markets have been quiet since the conclusion of December’s Winter Meetings. However, with the Jan. 24 deadline for a team to reach a deal with Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka edging closer every day, it’s only a matter of time until things pick back up.

The few starters who are still on the market—namely Ervin Santana and Matt Garza—are likely to receive more lucrative contracts once the winner of the Tanaka sweepstakes is announced, so they’re wisely holding out until then. And once those pieces fall into place, there will likely be more activity on the trade front as well.

With that said, it’s not surprising that there is a complete lack of reasonable prospect-based trade rumors at the moment. However, ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden proposed several interesting trade scenarios earlier this week in a pair of articles about the missing links for every American and National League team (subscription required).

So, in the absence of prospect rumors, I thought I’d breakdown a few of his suggested trades in the aforementioned articles in order to determine the short- and long-term impact of the moves.

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The last Brewers pitching prospect drafted in the first round that developed into an impact major-league starter was Ben Sheets in 1999. Since then, the organization has struck out repeatedly when drafting a pitcher in the first round.

Milwaukee drafted college right-hander Eric Arnett in 2009, who’s now a 25-year-old reliever that has yet to graduate from A-ball. They targeted upside the following year and drafted prep right-hander Dylan Covey in the first round. However, Covey decided not to sign and ultimately honored his commitment to the University of San Diego.

And while many pitchers from the 2011 draft—Jose Fernandez, Gerrit Cole and Sonny Gray, for example—have each made an impact in the major leagues, Milwaukee’s pair of first-round picks from that year, college pitchers Taylor Jungmann and Jed Bradley, have struggled to climb the minor-league ladder and lack favorable long-term projections.

The Brewers finally landed a much-needed power arm this past June, drafting prep right-hander Devin Williams with its first pick (coming in the second round). The 19-year-old is a project and will need time to develop in the minor leagues, but the finished product has the potential to be a solid No. 2 or 3 starter.

The organization houses several under-the-radar position prospects that seem poised for breakout campaigns in 2014. Shortstop Orlando Arcia and outfielders Tyrone Taylor and Mitch Haniger are likely to open the season at High-A and, if everything goes smoothly in their respective developments, they could conceivably reach Double-A by season’s end.

Here’s a look at the Milwaukee Brewers’ top-10 prospects for the 2014 season.

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With a wave of impact prospects poised to reach the major leagues as early as late 2014 and more high-ceiling talent developing in its lower levels, a strong case can be made that the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system is the best in baseball.

Even after the graduation of Gerrit Cole to the major leagues last season, the Pirates still boast a deep collection of high-end pitching prospects. It shouldn’t be long until right-hander Jameson Taillon—the second overall pick in the 2010 draft after Bryce Harper—joins Cole in the big league rotation, and Nick Kingham isn’t far behind after a breakout 2013 campaign between High- and Double-A.

In the lower levels, 6’7″ right-hander Tyler Glasnow absolutely dominated last year during his full-season debut, holding opposing hitters to an anemic .142 batting average while piling up a South Atlantic League-leading 164 strikeouts in 111.1 innings for Low-A West Virginia.

The system also stands out for its outfield depth, with top prospect Gregory Polanco on the verge of reaching the major leagues and taking over as the Pirates’ everyday right fielder. Beyond Polanco, switch-hitter Josh Bell’s potent bat suggests breakout potential and could result in a taste of Double-A late next season, while 2013 first-rounder Austin Meadows and fellow New York-Penn League standout Harold Ramirez will both make their full-season debuts at Low-A West Virginia.

Here’s a look at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top 10 prospects for the 2014 season.

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The Miami Marlins’ farm system is a shell compared to its pre-2013 state, though that was expected following the graduation of two monster prospects in Jose Fernandez and Christian Yelich.

Fernandez ranked among the major league leaders in numerous statistical categories, including first in opponents’ batting average (.182) and hits allowed per nine innings (5.8 H/9), fourth in WHIP (0.98) and fifth in strikeouts per nine innings (9.75 K/9). Fernandez’s 2.19 ERA was the second-best mark in the major leagues as well as the lowest by a rookie starter in either league since 1970.

On the other side of the ball, Christian Yelich, 22, emerged as one of the best young hitters in the game following a call-up in late July, as the sweet-swinging left-handed hitter posted a .288/.370/.396 batting line and 116 wRC+ in 273 plate appearances, per FanGraphs.

Down on the farm, the Marlins have one of the deepest collections of left-handed pitching prospects in baseball, with four young hurlers who have already experienced success at or above the Double-A level. While top prospect Andrew Heaney has the realistic upside of a No. 3 starter, the team’s other southpaws—Justin Nicolino, Adam Conley and Brian Flynn—are better-suited for a role in the back of a rotation.  

The system didn’t have a lot of power to begin with before the graduation of Yelich to the major leagues. So, replacing Yelich as the team’s top position prospect on this year’s list is fellow outfielder Jake Marisnick, who was rushed from Double-A to the major leagues last season, where he struggled to control the speed of the game. However, 2013 first-round pick (No. 6 overall) Colin Moran isn’t far behind Marisnick, and he’s the safe bet to rank as the organization’s top position prospect at this time next year.

One prospect to keep an eye on in 2014 is catcher J.T. Realmuto. The 2010 third-round draft pick is an excellent athlete with the catch-and-throw skills to at least serve as a major league backup at maturity, and his bat-to-ball ability and contact rates suggest the bat could be a late-bloomer.

Here’s a look at the Miami Marlins’ top 10 prospects for the 2014 season.

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The Cincinnati Reds’ system ranks in the bottom half among all 30 MLB teams, but it’s rich with players that should contribute in the major leagues over the next several years.

Billy Hamilton obviously is the first name to come up in any conversation regarding the future of the Reds. However, focusing solely on Hamilton overshadows the fact that the system is rich with outfield talent.

22-year-old Yorman Rodriguez’s prospect stock is on the rise after a long-overdue breakout season in Double-A, as is the stock of 2012 first-rounder Jesse Winker following his impressive full-season debut in Low-A. Last but not least is Phil Ervin, the 27th overall pick in the 2013 draft, who posted a .989 OPS with nine home runs in 200 plate appearances this past summer during his professional debut.

On the mound, right-hander Robert Stephenson made a surge up the organizational ladder last season behind a near-elite fastball and devastating breaking ball, and he enters the 2014 season ranked as the team’s top prospect.

After Stephenson, the Reds house several intriguing arms in Michael Lorenzen, Carlos Contreras, Nick Travieso and Ben Lively. However, all four right-handers have fringy command and may be better suited for a career in the bullpen. Meanwhile, left-hander David Holmberg, who was acquired from the Diamondbacks during the offseason, provides the organization with rotational depth at the Triple-A and major league levels.

Here’s a look at the Cincinnati Reds’ top 10 prospects for 2014.

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