Prospect Stock Watch: Fried, Thompson, Hawkins

Today at the Prospect Watch, we’re taking a look at a former first rounder who looks like a bust… and two talented (formerly traded) arms that look like they’ll develop into solid big league hurlers.

Max Fried | LHP | Braves
ETA: 2018
Value: Rising

The opportunity to acquire Fried in late 2014 was too tempting to pass up and the Braves acquired the young lefty from the Padres even though he was dealing with the aftermath of Tommy John surgery. After missing much of 2014 and all of ’15, he’s back on the mound and flashing three potentially-plus pitches. Pitching in low-A, he’s struck out 81 batters in 80.1 innings. His control has been understandably inconsistent — due to the long layoff. Fried, 22, is probably still two to three years away from Atlanta but he should be well worth the wait.

Jake Thompson | RHP | Phillies
ETA: late-2016
Value: Rising

The Phillies rotation is full of good, young talent with the likes of Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff and Vince Velasquez but there are more arms on the way. A mid-season trade of Jeremy Hellickson could free up a spot for Thompson, who was acquired in last year’s Cole Hamels deal. The young righty has a chance to be a No. 2 starter thanks to his outstanding fastball and slider. The development of his change-up or curveball, though, will be key for him as a change-of-pace weapon. It should also help him strike out more batters. Currently in triple-A as a 22-year-old, Thompson has struck out just 72 batters in 104.2 innings. As long as he can stay healthy, the worse case scenario for Thompson appears to be innings-eating, mid-rotation guy.

Courtney Hawkins | OF | White Sox
ETA: Never?
Value: Limited

With the possible exception of Tim Anderson (and the jury is still out with a 1-36 BB-K rate), the White Sox have yet to prove that they can develop impact hitters. The development of Hawkins, a former first round pick, seemed doomed from (almost) the start when the organization chose to jump him to high-A ball in his first full season for really no good reason. He proceeded to hit .178 with 160 strikeouts in 103 games and never found his footing again. This season, Hawkins is repeating double-A but has a .219 average and a BB-K rate of 14-72 in 54 games. You can’t give up on this young outfielder altogether since he’s just 22 years old but after five pro seasons there just isn’t much upside left with his lack of consistent contact.