Yeudy Garcia, Cole Tucker among SAL's top 20 prospects

Two members of the West Virginia Power placed among Baseball America's list of the top 20 prospects (sub req'd) in the South Atlantic League.  RHP Yeudy Garcia ranked 9th and SS Cole Tucker ranked 15th.

Garcia came out of nowhere this year.  He signed at age 20 and played just one pro season, in the Dominican Summer League, before skipping three levels to open in full season ball.  He showed off a mid-90s fastball that reached the upper-90s, and led the league in ERA at 2.10.  Just as importantly, despite a very limited workload as a pro, the Pirates got him through a full year without mishap.

Tucker, the team's 2014 top draft pick, was improving rapidly as one of the league's youngest players when he went out in late July with a shoulder injury that required labrum surgery.  He'll miss, at best, most of 2016.  He finished with a 293/332/377 line (316/343/439 in 24 second half games prior to the injury) and BA seems optimistic that he'll stay at short despite his 6'3" frame.

The Power had a number of college draftees turn in solid to good performances, the best coming from Jordan Luplow, but they'll have to impress scouts at higher levels before turning up on prospect lists.  The one surprising omission was Stephen Tarpley, who posted a 2.48 ERA with excellent peripherals.