The Follow List: Madison Bumgarner Returning to Form

Pro scouts have a follow list they work from to decide which prospects to evaluate and keep tabs on. The most impressive players are usually high on what it, so which prospects have been opening the most eyes in the minor leagues?

Each week, The Follow List will take a look at the prospects who have been performing at a high level, or perhaps at not such a high level. Here's the latest from the world of prospects:

• Remember in spring training when Madison Bumgarner looked like a shell of his former self? Well, apparently Bumgarner is back in top form, not only statistically, but in terms of his raw stuff as well. Bumgarner has been sitting at 90-93 mph in recent starts for Fresno, a far cry from the 87-89 he showed me back in spring training. In his last two outings, the swings and misses have return as well. In those two starts, he struck 13 batters in 13 innings of work, while allowing just three hits and three walks. The Giants have to be thrilled with his progress after a disappointing spring.

• You could make the argument that Hector Noesi has been the Yankees' most consistently impressive pitching prospect this season. What you love to see with Noesi is the strikeout numbers. His curveball came a long way last year, and that was the difference-maker for Noesi, who sits 90-93 mph with the fastball. He seems to be refining that hook even more this season as the strikeouts continue to rise. As I said last week, a promotion was in order soon enough. That promotion came, and Noesi will start for Double-A Trenton on Thursday.

• It's been somewhat of a rough go of it for some of the high school arms taken atop the 2009 draft early on in 2010, and that includes Orioles right-hander Matt Hobgood. Command has been an issue for the 19-year-old in the early months of the season for low Single-A Delmarva; he has walked 20 batters in 41 2/3 innings of work.

• The results for Tigers 2009 first-rounder Jacob Turner have been solid this year. But, the more important news in recent weeks has been the health of the 18-year-old righty. Turner has come back healthy from some arm trouble that the Tigers chose to be cautious with and has pitched well in his two starts back. He has a 3.68 ERA for low Single-A West Michigan and has 24 strikeouts in 22 innings of work. Even more impressive -- he has just 4 walks.

• It's been a good year in general so far for the Royals' top prospects unless your name is Aaron Crow. It's been a disappointing year thus far for the Kansas City's top selection from the 2009 draft. Pitching for Double-A Northwest Arkansas, Crow has a 4.75 ERA. Perhaps the most startling statistic is that Crow has allowed 71 base runners in 47 1/3 innings pitched, including 20 walks. Crow has plus stuff when he's right, so you have to figure this is something he can turn around, but right now it's tough going for the former Missouri standout.

• I like to mention Jhan Marinez quite a bit, and it's hard not to given his performance. Marinez is still pitching for the Marlins' high Single-A affiliate in Jupiter, but at some point soon you have to imagine he'll be headed for Double-A. For the season, the hard throwing righty has a 1.10 ERA and has struck out 27 in just 16 1/3 innings of work. What's been encouraging of late, however, is that his walk rate has slowed down somewhat. The walks are the only cause for concern with Marinez, but in his last 7 1/3 innings, a span of 6 outings, he has walked just three. It's not fantastic, but it's a big improvement.

• This is another note that's more a sigh of relief than anything else for an organization. Christian Friedrich came back healthy this week from some elbow trouble and pitched pretty effectively for Double-A Tulsa. The Rockies' first-round selection in 2008, Friedrich pitched 4 2/3 innings on May 14, allowing just one run on three hits.

• The one thing you have to like about the Texas Rangers at the big-league level right now is the fact that they have the ability to bring up reinforcements from the minors. Tanner Scheppers may be the next in line. The flame-throwing righty made a mockery of Double-A hitters to start the season and is now doing the same at Triple-A. He has allowed just eight hits in 19 innings work out of the bullpen this season and has fanned 30. It might be only a matter of time before we see Scheppers at the next level.

Frankie Piliere spent the last three seasons working as a scout, most recently in the professional scouting department for the Texas Rangers in 2009. He now serves as the National Baseball Analyst here at FanHouse.