[USML Announce] Dylan Who?

[Jeffrey Winick]

Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus was asked to rank the top 5 
future #1 starters among minor league prospects.  Dylan Bundy is the 
obvious answer, right?  Wrongo dongo.

The good news is that he'll be available in but a few short weeks.  His 
name....Taijuan Walker.

1. Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle Mariners (Double-A Jackson)
For many in the industry, Bundy's performance hasn't even been the most 
impressive by a pitcher in the minors. Consider Walker, who has a 1.64 
ERA in four starts while striking out 26 in 22 innings and limiting the 
Southern League to a .203 batting average. Those numbers certainly 
aren't as gaudy as Bundy's, but Walker is doing it at Double-A, and 
he's just three months older than the Orioles' prize pitcher.

With a 92-97 mph fastball, mid-70s curveball and impressive changeup, 
Walker certainly has the stuff to be a No. 1 starter, and his ability 
to dominate at such a young age says something about his makeup as well.

"Every pitch he throws comes out of the same slot, and it's just 
impossible to pick up," a National League scout said. "He's like a poor 
man's Doc Gooden -- he's really out of that mold."