Don’t forget about me!

These guys used to be hyped as top prospects, but when they didn’t perform right away they were somewhat forgotten. Now they are posting solid skills, or at least showing some reason for hope. Their performances should not be ignored.

The #7 pick in the 2006 draft, can Miller turn things around?

Andrew Miller, SP, Florida - Miller, a first round pick in the 2006 draft, reached the big leagues early, but coming into this season had a career ERA of 5.8. But he has posted consistently solid underlying numbers. His career K rate is a very nice 7.4, and has been above the 7 mark in each of his past 2 seasons. It currently stands at 7.3 this year. He’s also given up well under a homerun per 9 innings, with a good groundball rate (48.6% career). This year he is putting up his best numbers yet, with a 7.3 k rate, 4.5 bb rate, 1.62 K/BB rate, .3 HR/9, and a 50% groundball rate. His K/GB combination shows a lot of upside, and his control is getting better. He also has a 3.39 FIP and a 4.17 ERA. I certainly wouldn’t put much trust into a guy with a K/BB rate well under 2, but he has plenty of upside and his downside is somewhat limited by his groundball tendencies and ballpark.

Brad Lincoln, SP, Pittsburgh – Lincoln was taken with a 4th overall pick in 2006, before the likes of Clayton Kershaw, Tim Lincecum, and the above Andrew miller. But he had Tommy John surgery early in 2007, missing the entire year and the first part of 2008 leaving some to label him a bust and his prospect status to be almost completely ignored. He did however come bag strong to finish off 2008 with a 75/17 K/BB rate. His strikeouts weren’t back, but he was demonstrating great control. This season he has been even better. Through 75 innings at AA, he has a 65/18 K/BB rate, giving him more than 7 ks per nine innings, and a FIP under 3. He has reemerged as a solid prospect and should be in Pittsburgh soon.

Homer Bailey, SP, Cincinnati - Bailey was just about the best pitching prospect in the world back in 2007, but after a couple of seasons of major league struggles Bailey was back in AAA to start the 2009 season. All he did was put up his best numbers since his great 2006 season. In 89 2/3 innings, he had a 8.23 k rate, a 3.04 K/BB rate, and a FIP in the mid 3′s. His major league numbers again this year have been horrible but it’s impossible to ignore the success he had in the minor leagues. He’s a legitimate prospect again, and he’s still only 24.

Gio Gonzalez, SP, Oakland – It seems as though he could be on this list for any number of years. Gonzalez has always had the talent – good fastball, amazing curveball, strikeout potential – to be a top of the line big league starter, as can been seen from his minor league numbers (71 ks in 61 innings, 3.76 FIP). But his control is shaky and he hasn’t translated to the big leagues. His stuff is so good though you just can’t forget about the possibility that he will turn things around.