Going in to Season 9, here is my view on the top 30 prospects in Gleeman world. Positional value is considered as is durability, health and makeup when determining the rankings. Though I generally give the benefit of the doubt with 19-21 year olds when it comes to ratings with an assumption they'll get within 3-4 of the rating, I am not so generous with 23-24 year olds who are not close to the projected ratings. For further discussion of the players, I can not recommend reading Base's positional ranking series strongly enough though we obviously disagree on some players. Without further ado, here are the top 30 rankings:
1. Livan Guzman-C-Philadelphia-The rare up the middle player who excels at both offense and defense. While this catcher has a little lower durability than desirable, his positional scarcity and excellence both at and behind the plate make him the top prospect in the game
2. Jack Leslie-P-Salem- Jack Leslie is the ideal non-glitch pitcher. However, his ~60 health rating makes him fall below Guzman as the top prospect in the game.
3. Phil Walbeck-CF-Washington-Given the lack of even replacement level offensive players at the CF position in general, Walbeck is the rare breed of player who will excel at offense and be good at defense in addition to good ratings in durability, health, and makeup
4. Garret Lorraine-P-Washington-Definitely a step down from Leslie in talent, Lorraine's stuff is a clear #2 from all other pitching prospects in Gleeman world. Health is a concern though.
5. Chili Easley-C-Washington-If his pitch calling were 20 points higher, he'd be the number 1 prospect in the game. However, he is excellent at every other facet of the game and has the ability to play every game of the year.
6. Taylor Turner-2B-Monterrey-Second baseman with his offensive repetoire do not exist in Gleeman world and questions about his defensive potential at 2B are the only thing preventing him from being in the top 3 in prospects in the game.
7. Alex Bravo-LF/2B-Las Vegas-Even though he is a LF or a butcher at 2B, Bravo still has a ton of value and justifies a ranking in the top 10 as he is one of the most dominant sluggers in the game with no obvious questions in durability, health, or makeup.
8. Juan Arroyo-P-Chicago-While a split against below 80 RHB keeps him from being in the top two tiers, Arroyo is top notch everywhere else and has no obvious health risks though his low durability also lowers total value.
9. Ozzie Hawkins-SS-Minnesota-Your first question may be, is he still a prospect? And the answer is yes. A week from now he'll be a fully developed shortstop with below average D but plus plus offense in the majors but for now he is still a prospect.
10. Paul Lorin-2B/3B-Tacoma-If you think Lorin is a shortstop, he is a top 3 prospect. However, I don't think he will be a reasonable defensive shortstop which reduces his value. Even as a 2B or 3B with plus defense, he is still tremendously valuable and a top 10 prospect.
11. Jimmie Peters-2B-NY Mets-He is definitely a slugger at the position but Turner's superb contact and more impressive "Other Three" (Dur/Health/Makeup) ratings put him a notch above Peters.
12. Jeff Stein-RF-Florida- Stein is the second most talented pure hitter next to Cliff Hawkins but his extra defensive value and better durability and health ratings outweigh his poor makeup rating.
13. Cliff Hawkins-1B-Tacoma-As a pure hitter, he is the most talented prospect in the game. However, his defensive utility is next to non-existant and his less than ideal durability rating further decreases his value below the top 10 in the game.
14. Vic Martinez-CF-Richmond-Martinez is a lesser version of Walbeck whose defense will be very good for the position and his offense will be great for the position. He should be a great building block for Richmond.
15. Max Moehler-SP-Monterrey-He also suffers from relatively poor splits against RHB but he is solid everywhere else including a wide variety of pitches. A higher stamina would be appreciated as well.
16.Raul Blasco-3B-San Antonio-Blasco will be a plus defensive and plus plus offensive player with tremendous hitting ability.
17. Albie Cruz-SP-Washington-His relatively low versus left rating does keep him from being a top tier pitcher and his control is below elite. However, his versus RHB rating is the second highest projected in the world amongst SP and pitchers with RHB splits in the 90 are almost always among the best in the league.
18. Shannon Perez-CF/LF-Los Angeles-He'll be one of the best offensive CF's in the game but a lot of his value will depend on if he becomes a competent CF. I think it will happen in a relative sense due to the poor CF crops coming up the pike but he will always be below average.
19. Jin-Chin Choi-RF-Anaheim-Choi will be a plus defensive player with great offense at the position. Though his offense is definitively below Stein's caliber. He'll still be a tremendous building block for the next generation of Anteaters.
20. Albert Brooks-RF-Washington-Very similar offensive player to Choi with a slightly different skill set but his defense is worse defense puts him a notch below Choi
21. Dave Worrell-2B-Washington-Although he will never be a 30-40 HR threat, Worrell will be an on base and doubles machine and will actually have good range at the postition unlike some other of the top 2B prospects along with being solid elsewhere on defense. His poor makeup is certainly a concern and drops him about 5 spots.
22. Woody Hume-3B-San Fransisco-Although his eye and contact could be better and there are some questions as to how much further he'll develop as he is already quite old for a prospect, his power potential is top notch and his defensive floor at the position is probably average. If he manages to continue developing at 25 and 26, he'd be about 10 spots higher on the list.
23. Chris Mason-RF-Salem-Mason is a slightly worse version of Brooks and Choi but he is still incredibly solid in his own right...pun very much intended.
24. Stuart Stahl-LF-San Antonio-Although his offensive potential is slightly lower than Guerrero's, he is a durable player that can probably go 162 games a season and his makeup and health are both plus which puts his overall value above Guerrero's
25. Tony Guerrero-LF-Philadelphia-He is definitely one of the better offensive players in the game but his limited defensive utility and poor health rating push him below the top tier of players.
26. Jimmie Estrella-RP-Chicago-A relief pitcher with zero weaknesses and strong durability, Estrella is the best RP in the game though his value would be slightly dimished as a closer since he has the ability to pitch 100+ innings a year.
27. Shigetoshi Itou-RP-Vancouver-His dur/stm ratings are ideal for a closer and the only question is his tendency to give up flyballs. However, his splits are the best in the game next to Jack Leslie and his first pitch is a knockout.
28. Chris Martin-SP-Los Angeles-A starting pitcher with very good ability against RHB and solid ratings elsewhere, Martin has no real weaknesses elsewhere and should be a solid pitcher for LA to build around
29. Robert Fikac-SP-Tacoma-Fikac is a top notch pitcher against lefties though his ability against RHB leaves one slightly wanting for increased skill. Otherwise, he is a durable pitcher with strong pitches and control who should be able to pitch north of 200 innings annually.
30. Dimitri Henderson-LF- Cheyenne- He'll be a strong LF though his hitting ability will be below Guerrero's and his overall durability will be below Stahl's.
Showing posts with label prospects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prospects. Show all posts
Friday, November 21, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
SP Prospects: #25-1
25. Jose Guerrero
Chicago Jayhawks
Throws: L
21 years old, AAA
Signed as an international FA ($12.1 million, Season 5)
The Good: While he's hardly a flamethrower, Guerrero's fastball is rated as an excellent pitch. He locates it as well as anyone, and gets tremendous tailing action on the pitch. Both his curveball and slider are fine offerings as well. Very tough on lefties. Ideal pitcher's body; takes plenty of abuse, goes deep into games, and yet never ends up hurt.
The Bad: Good righties torch Guerrero; his breaking stuff is plenty effective against lefties, but just doesn't have the same effect on right-handed hitters. A fly-ball pitcher, which could end up burning him against teams with good power.
Comments: Unimportant, but despite his athletic frame, Guerrero is among the slowest players in organized baseball. Once challenged to a footrace (100m) by Kevin McDonald. Guerrero, oblivious to his own lack of speed, wagered his Corvette. McDonald won handily, running the last 20 meters of the race backwards, taunting Guerrero. McDonald is 5'9'' and 254 lbs. When a reporter asked Guerrero about the incident, he replied with a "No hablo ingles" and disappeared in a hurry.
24. Wilfredo Suarez
Minnesota Fatboys
Throws: L
22 years old, High A
Signed as an international FA ($8.9 million, Season 4)
The Good: Suarez's 4-seamer isn't very fast, but gets bumped up a grade due to his deceptive delivery. He also has a good sweeping slider that makes left-handed hitters look foolish. He also holds his own against righties. His changeup and slider are decent offerings when used sparingly. Suarez already has major league control, and it only projects to get better. He doesn't have any health issues of significance.
The Bad: Suarez is an extreme fly ball pitcher. While he holds his own against righties, he hardly scares them. Some scouts wonder how much growth he has left in him as a player.
Comments: Acquired in a controversial deal for Dennis James. Several executives have wildly differing opinions as to how much success Suarez will have at the major league level.
23. Adrian Henderson
Oklahoma City Twins
Throws: L
20 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (19th overall, Season 6)
The Good: Henderson hides the ball very well, using a high leg kick to conceal the ball for as long as possible. Lefties find it impossible to pick up the ball, as do righties (though less so). He spots the ball well within the strike zone, painting the corners and staying away from the middle of the plate.
The Bad: Henderson's stuff is questionable. His slider, while a decent major league pitch, is poor for a #1 offering, and his curveball and changeup aren't really anything special, either. A pitcher can only do so much with deception and placement.
Comments: The Twins have rushed him through the farm system, and may use him in the rotation as soon as next year. It remains to be seen if he's really ready.
22. Benny Bell
Pittsburgh Pug Dogs
Throws: L
19 years old, Low A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (10th overall, Season 7)
The Good: Throws an excellent screwball that neutralizes righties, and a good slider that takes care of lefties. Has no trouble throwing strikes. Capable of throwing his fair share of innings. Despite the fact that he throws the screwball, a pitch synonymous with arm trouble, Bell has no medical issues to speak of.
The Bad: Bell doesn't really have a third pitch; his curveball tends to hang up in the zone and doesn't have the tight rotation that his screwball or slider has. It remains to be seen how successful he can be as an ML starter with just 2 legitimate pitches.
Comments: Bell is an interesting case, in that he doesn't throw a fastball of any sort. Every pitch he has is a type of breaking ball. When his HS coaches tried to get him to use a 4-seamer and changeup, he ended up walking 23 men in the span of 3 starts, including 9 HBPs and 18 wild pitches. No one understands why he can only find the plate with his breaking stuff. Even Bell seems bewildered by this.
21. B.C. Mota
Philadelphia Phenomenauts
Throws: L
25 years old, AAA
Drafted (College JR) in the 1st round (3rd overall, Season 4)
The Good: Mota has excellent control and command. He doesn't walk guys, and he spots the ball on the corners with amazing consistency. He keeps lefties completely off-balance, while still nailing rightes down without much problem. He's a workhorse, able to pitch on short rest, and also able to throw 7, 8, or even 9 innings at a time.
The Bad: Mota has 4 pitches, none of which can be classified as "out" pitches. His 4-seamer has velocity, but not much movement, and his slider and change are decent as secondary offerings, but don't stand out. He relies heavily on getting pop-ups and fly balls, which may not translate well against the big boppers in the majors. He's already been on the DL twice with arm injuries. At 25 years old, it's hard to see all that much improvement. His mediocre to terrible numbers in the minors are puzzling; he's yet to put up a season with an ERA under 4.
Comments: Mota may very well be the most difficult pitching prospect in Gleeman World to evaluate. One thing that is amusing: he's huge, at 6'6'' and 244 lbs, but he actually runs fairly well. He's not a bad bunter either, and it would be highly entertaining to watch him beat out a drag bunt in an interleague game.
20. Joe Bacsik
Philadelphia Phenomenauts
Throws: L
23 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 2nd round (49th overall, Season 3)
The Good: Bacsik throws a 4-seamer that tops out at 97 mph and has plenty of tail to it. He also throws a changeup that's 10 mph slower and has good sink, and a cutter that jams righties, forcing a ton of weak grounders to the left side of the infield. He also throws a slider and curveball that he mixes in when necessary. Bacsik is death to lefties, and very tough against righties as well, mimicing Dontrelle Willis' delivery to mask the ball (he's quite flexible). Unlike Dontrelle, though, he's made the delivery very repeatable, and has never had any injury issues in his career.
The Bad: Any issue with Bacsik starts and ends with his control. He's walked way too many hitters in the past 2 seasons in AAA, and was completely hammered both seasons, putting up ERAs of 7.55 and 6.14. The hit rates are ridiculous as well; it's not clear how much of that is the fault of Philly's porous AAA defense. He also managed to give up 41 unearned runs this season, making his RA/9 this year close to 9.
Comments: As bad as he's looked the past two seasons, scouts claim that he should end up as a similar pitcher to Roy Gold, but with better control. Gold's had his rough patches, but has ended up as a solid mid-rotation starter on a playoff team. Bacsik might end up as something more.
19. Theo Marquis
Milwaukee Twindyans
Throws: L
20 years old, High A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (3oth overall, Season 6)
The Good: Throws 4 pitches that all project as major-league average or better, the best of which are a 4-seamer and curveball. Never has trouble throwing strikes, and keeps the ball on the ground. A well-conditioned athlete; his offseason training has kept him in excellent shape. Bounces back quickly between starts, and has never had any injury problems.
The Bad: Somewhat vulnerable against top-flight righties. His stamina is a mild concern, though nothing serious. Not much here to complain about.
Comments: Marquis dropped this far in the draft primarily because he went to Templeton Independent Study High School, not exactly known for their athletic programs. Marquis slipped under the radar a bit, falling all the way to 30th despite his talent (and being openly signable as well).
18. Kevin Morris
Tacoma Downpour
Throws: R
19 years old, Low A
Drafted (HS) in the 2nd round (50th overall, Season 7)
The Good: His 4-seam fastball sits in the mid-80's, but his command with it is jaw-droppingly good, and it has outstanding late life to it. His changeup is an excellent pitch as well, one that he throws with the exact same arm motion as his fastball, but 10 miles per hour slower, with good movement. Throws 3 other pitches, all of which are serviceable. Has no trouble finding the strike zone. No major platoon split.
The Bad: If Morris doesn't improve his stamina drastically, he'll have to settle for being an elite relief prospect. There's still plenty of time for him, as he's still just 19, and the Downpour were employing him as a reliever until the end of the season, where he made a pair of 4-inning starts. Still, there's reason to be worried here, especially if he gets hurt.
Comments: In his freshman year of high school, Morris tried out for the team as a pitcher. During warmups, his first fastball squarely hit the catcher's mitt at 73 mph. The coaches yawned. He then proceeded to hit the same spot with said pitch 20 times in a row, mixing in his changeup on every fourth pitch. He was immediately assigned to the varsity team.
17. Julian Santos
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Throws: R
20 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (20th overall, Season 6)
The Good: Santos has excellent control, and is always around the strike zone. His sinker gets great downwards action, causing opposing hitters to get on top of it. His cutter, slider, and changeup are all legitimate offerings. No platoon split.
The Bad: While he does do a great job of working in or around the strike zone, he will catch too much plate with a pitch from time to time; when he does that to a good hitter, he usually pays the price. Doesn't have great stamina.
Comments: Once pitched a scoreless inning of relief in HS...left-handed. He actually threw strikes, too, getting through the inning without walking a batter.
16. Juan Bonilla
Buffalo Europeans
Throws: R
18 years old, Low A
Signed as an international FA ($20 million, Season 8)
The Good: His fastball already sits in the low 90's as a teenager. Scouts think he could touch triple digits by his prime. His slider is a solid pitch, and his changeup rounds out his arsenal nicely. Very good control for a kid his age. But what really sets him apart is his ability to throw inning after inning without tiring or getting hurt. His rubber-armedness (not a word, but who cares) is reminiscent of Gerald Tomlinson. Bonilla's work ethic is excellent as well.
The Bad: Can occasionally struggle against elite left-handed competition. He could stand to learn another pitch, but that's just nit-picking.
Comments: His older brother is rubber-armed Anteater lefty Louie Bonilla. Louie calls Juan "a much better player than [he] was at the same age."
15. Hideki Martin
St. Louis Greys
Throws: R
19 years old, Low A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (23rd overall, Season 7)
The Good: Projects to have good control of his 4 pitch arsenal. His 4-seamer is his bread-and-butter pitch, which he spots with surgical precision. Gets deep into games time and time again. Very tough against righties.
The Bad: Martin does let opposing hitters hit their share of fly balls. He's also very undersized, at 5'9''; there are concerns that he might break down over the course of a 200 inning season.
Comments: The scouting reports are strong, but his performance has actually been even better. He threw 191.3 innings this season, going 20-4 with a 2.02 ERA. The heavy favorite to win the Cy Young award at the Low A level.
14. Robert Reilly
Albuquerque Isotopes
Throws: L
18 years old, Low A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (41st overall, Season 8)
The Good: Projects to have fantastic control. His slider projects to be an ML out pitch, and his fastball should be a pretty good weapon as well. His sinker isn't bad, either. Capable of completely shutting down same-handed hitters. Healthy as an ox.
The Bad: Reilly isn't quite as intimidating to righties. The biggest issue, though, is how raw Reilly is, even for a high schooler. Scouts project great things for him, but there's no guarantee he progresses at the rate predicted.
Comments: A terrible fielder. Occasionally even drops the throw back from the catcher. Teammates call him "Dr. Strangeglove II," even though he's a pitcher (for those of you who don't know, look up Dick Stuart).
13. Marlon Rose
Ottawa Otters
Throws: R
18 years old, Low A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (10th overall, Season 8)
The Good: Rose's 4-seamer and slider are already ML pitches right now, and project to be excellent offerings. His curve and change are underrated, and very good pitches in their own right. Rose might be one of the toughest pitchers to make solid contact off of in the minors. His feel for pitching is absolutely fantastic, throwing all hitters for a loop by changing speeds and locations with aplomb. He's never had any problems with injuries, and he understands how much work it takes to become an elite pitcher.
The Bad: Rose would be one of the best pitching prospects in baseball with just average control. However, his ability to hit the strike zone comes and goes with alarming inconsistency; you'll see him locate everything perfectly for an inning, and see everything unravel the next. Whether he can overcome his control issues will determine if he's a quality starter, or just rotation filler.
Comments: Threw 6 no-hit innings in a start while in HS where he struck out 17 batters...and walked 12. Walked in 3 runs.
12. Wilfredo Trajano
Anaheim Anteaters
Throws: R
23 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 2nd round (65th overall, Season 3)
The Good: ML-ready right now. Already has good control for a major league starter. Trajano tends to come in at a low 3/4 arm slot against righties, making it difficult for them to spot the ball early. Keeps the ball on the ground. Has yet to suffer any injuries.
The Bad: His stuff is questionable. Trajano's 4-seamer isn't bad, but it's not a very good go-to pitch, and his sinker, curveball, and changeup are only effective when used sparingly.
Comments: A very good bunter. Trajano once laid down a sacrifice bunt...using the handle of the bat.
11. Francisco Tatis
Washington D.C. Bureaucrats
Throws: L
21 years old, AA
Signed as an international FA ($20.8 million, Season 7)
The Good: Armed with 4 pitches, 3 which project to become above-average offerings. Excellent velocity. Uses his splitter to get grounders when needed. Throws strikes, and kills lefties while still tough on righties. A hard worker.
The Bad: Tatis suffered an arm injury earlier this season, one that seems to have hurt his development a little. It shouldn't matter too much in the long run, though. He'll need to improve his stamina; he can be a bit of a burden on the 'pen.
Comments: Tatis was given the most lucrative international FA bonus of all-time, besting Marino "I Make Rickey Henderson Look Like Mo Vaughn" Reyes ($20.4 million).
10. Al Guzman
Tacoma Downpour
Throws: R
21 years old, AA
Signed as an international FA ($15.9 million, Season 7)
The Good: Throws an excellent sinker, which he deals in the mid 90's. Not surprisingly, he's a ground-ball pitcher. His curveball, changeup, and cutter should all be solid major league pitches as well. A difficult pitcher for either lefties or righties to square up solidly; Guzman keeps hitters off-balanced, and doesn't leave mistakes over the plate very often. No health problems to report.
The Bad: His control right now is solid for a 21 year old, but scouts don't see a whole lot of improvement there. It could become an issue at the highest level.
Comments: Guzman played catcher for a few games in the Dominican as an experiment, until the manager found out that Guzman's pitch-calling was brutal enough to make the pitching staff mutinous. Guzman was immediately returned to the rotation.
9. Bartolo Estrada
Chicago Jayhawks
Throws: L
20 years old, AA
Signed as an international FA ($20 million, Season 6)
The Good: The rare lefty that brings it regularly into the mid to high 90's with his 4 seamer. His slider and curve aren't half bad. Estrada throws strikes and has excellent command within the strike zone. Lefties especially have a tough time facing him.
The Bad: He could stand to gain more stamina; a starter that goes 5 to 6 innings per start is nice, but more is expected from a pitcher with this kind of talent.
Comments: The best pitching prospect received from the Masato/Beckett blockbuster at the beginning of Season 7. Also among the most expensive international FAs of all-time. Expectations are high.
8. Albie Cruz
Washington D.C. Bureaucrats
Throws: R
20 years old, AA
Drafted (College FR) in the 1st round (2nd overall, Season 7)
The Good: Projects to be death on righties, while still very good against lefties. Should have solid major league control. Self-motivated player that never slacks off. Always ready to pitch, even on short rest.
The Bad: He has 3 solid pitches, but none of them can really be classified as an "out" pitch. He also suffered an injury this season that hindered some of his growth; like fellow Bureaucrat Francisco Tatis, he wasn't placed on the DL, leading some to believe that there might be something fishy going on here.
Comments: This was the 2nd season in a row that the Bureaucrats had the 2nd overall pick, and also the 2nd year that they selected the top pitcher on the board. Scroll down a few more slots to find the other one.
7. Chris Martin
Los Angeles Hangars
Throws: R
20 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (26th overall, Season 6)
The Good: Martin is a sidearmer; righties have trouble seeing the ball against him. He still does have success against lefties as well, though, making him much more than just a ROOGY. Throws an outstanding changeup that seems to come to a stop on the way to home plate. Works deep into games every time.
The Bad: Makeup is a bit of a concern; Martin is a brash, arrogant kid that's fully aware of his talent, and isn't what you'd call coachable.
Comments: Martin's demeanor and reluctance to commit to the pros dropped him all the way to the 26th overall pick. Ultimately decided to sign, which was great news for Hangar fans.
6. Coco Ferrell
Vancouver Vigilantes
Throws: R
23 years old, AA
Drafted (College SR) in the 1st round (6th overall, Season 7)
The Good: Projects to have excellent control, and is great against both lefties and righties (even has a slight reverse platoon split). Throws an excellent slider and solid changeup. Ferrell is a workhorse that can survive inning after inning of abuse, and still be fresh the next time his spot in the rotation is up. Healthy arm.
The Bad: Ferrell only throws 3 pitches, and his third, a splitter, doesn't get very high marks. His stuff is iffy for a prospect with top-tier billing. For a 23 year old, he's pretty raw, and has a long ways to go before realizing his potential.
Comments: Given a jaw-dropping $14,091,000 signing bonus after a long contract negotiation. Agent Nick Brown did one hell of a job.
5. Robert Fikac
Tacoma Downpour
Throws: L
21 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (38th overall, Season 5)
The Good: Already has solid major league control, and still has room for improvement. Death to lefties. Has a nice 5-pitch arsenal, with a quality 4-seamer as his best offering. Also twirls a good curveball and deceptive changeup. Seems to thrive on short rest, and can even throw on extra-short rest if needed. One of the most durable starters in baseball.
The Bad: He could stand to get a bit better against righties, but that's just nitpicking; there's very little here to actually criticize.
Comments: He has to be the best player picked in the supplemental rounds in Gleeman World history. An absolute steal at #38.
4. Max Moehler
Monterrey Conquistadores
Throws: L
21 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (5th overall, Season 5)
The Good: Attacks the strike zone relentlessly. Lefties don't stand a chance against him, and he's still strong against righties, too. Has a varied arsenal that includes a fastball, sinker, slider, curveball, and changeup, none of them just for show. No injury history.
The Bad: Has less than ideal stamina. While he does have plenty of major-league quality pitches, none of them qualify as a legitimately excellent offering.
Comments: If you look closely, you'll notice that the black spot under his bottom lip isn't a patch of hair. It's actually smudged dark chocolate from the Hershey's bar he messily devoured 10 minutes before his picture was taken. A month later, he lost a bet to his teammates, forcing him to keep this picture on his "profile" until he retires from baseball.
3. Juan Arroyo
Chicago Jayhawks
Throws: L
20 years old, High A
Drafted (College SO) in the 1st round (4th overall, Season 8)
The Good: Pinpoint command and control; neither lefty nor righty can square up his pitches. Throws an excellent knuckleball that flutters unpredictably to the plate, a good 4-seamer with solid velocity and movement, and a pretty good curve. Very coachable.
The Bad: Doesn't work as deep into games as you'd like. A bit further from reaching his potential than your average 20-year old.
Comments: Has a pronounced follow-through at the end of his delivery that renders him completely immobile as a fielder. Often doesn't get to 1B in time to cover, and is vulnerable to good bunters. Quite amusing to watch, really.
2. Garrett Lorraine
Washington D.C. Bureaucrats
Throws: L
20 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (2nd overall, Season 6)
The Good: An unconventional arsenal with two very good pitches; a knuckleball that is unhittable on a good day, and a forkball that divebombs towards the ground at the last second. Throws strikes, and is exceptionally tough on hitters from either side of the plate. Capable of finishing what he started.
The Bad: A fairly fragile pitcher; he'll likely see the DL at some point in the next few years or so.
Comments: Lorraine tops the NL Cy Young list at the AA level. The next 3 players on the ballot are Bartolo Estrada (#9 on this list), Coco Ferrell (#6), and Max Moehler (#4). A very impressive group.
1. Jack Leslie
Colorado Springs Silver Stars
Throws: R
18 years old, High A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (1st overall, Season 8)
The Good: Leslie's control and command are impeccable for his age, and these skills project to be among the best in baseball when he reaches his peak. His 4-seamer and curve are both plus pitches, and his changeup and cutter are solid as well. Doesn't have much stamina now, but should have plenty as he matures.
The Bad: His talent is undeniable, but he's a serious injury risk. Keeping him healthy will be a challenge for any medical/training staff.
Comments: An absolute godsend for a franchise that desperately needed hope for the future. Leslie considered college, but decided to go pro when Colorado Springs offered him a contract worth $3 million over slot.
Chicago Jayhawks
Throws: L
21 years old, AAA
Signed as an international FA ($12.1 million, Season 5)
The Good: While he's hardly a flamethrower, Guerrero's fastball is rated as an excellent pitch. He locates it as well as anyone, and gets tremendous tailing action on the pitch. Both his curveball and slider are fine offerings as well. Very tough on lefties. Ideal pitcher's body; takes plenty of abuse, goes deep into games, and yet never ends up hurt.
The Bad: Good righties torch Guerrero; his breaking stuff is plenty effective against lefties, but just doesn't have the same effect on right-handed hitters. A fly-ball pitcher, which could end up burning him against teams with good power.
Comments: Unimportant, but despite his athletic frame, Guerrero is among the slowest players in organized baseball. Once challenged to a footrace (100m) by Kevin McDonald. Guerrero, oblivious to his own lack of speed, wagered his Corvette. McDonald won handily, running the last 20 meters of the race backwards, taunting Guerrero. McDonald is 5'9'' and 254 lbs. When a reporter asked Guerrero about the incident, he replied with a "No hablo ingles" and disappeared in a hurry.
24. Wilfredo Suarez
Minnesota Fatboys
Throws: L
22 years old, High A
Signed as an international FA ($8.9 million, Season 4)
The Good: Suarez's 4-seamer isn't very fast, but gets bumped up a grade due to his deceptive delivery. He also has a good sweeping slider that makes left-handed hitters look foolish. He also holds his own against righties. His changeup and slider are decent offerings when used sparingly. Suarez already has major league control, and it only projects to get better. He doesn't have any health issues of significance.
The Bad: Suarez is an extreme fly ball pitcher. While he holds his own against righties, he hardly scares them. Some scouts wonder how much growth he has left in him as a player.
Comments: Acquired in a controversial deal for Dennis James. Several executives have wildly differing opinions as to how much success Suarez will have at the major league level.
23. Adrian Henderson
Oklahoma City Twins
Throws: L
20 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (19th overall, Season 6)
The Good: Henderson hides the ball very well, using a high leg kick to conceal the ball for as long as possible. Lefties find it impossible to pick up the ball, as do righties (though less so). He spots the ball well within the strike zone, painting the corners and staying away from the middle of the plate.
The Bad: Henderson's stuff is questionable. His slider, while a decent major league pitch, is poor for a #1 offering, and his curveball and changeup aren't really anything special, either. A pitcher can only do so much with deception and placement.
Comments: The Twins have rushed him through the farm system, and may use him in the rotation as soon as next year. It remains to be seen if he's really ready.
22. Benny Bell
Pittsburgh Pug Dogs
Throws: L
19 years old, Low A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (10th overall, Season 7)
The Good: Throws an excellent screwball that neutralizes righties, and a good slider that takes care of lefties. Has no trouble throwing strikes. Capable of throwing his fair share of innings. Despite the fact that he throws the screwball, a pitch synonymous with arm trouble, Bell has no medical issues to speak of.
The Bad: Bell doesn't really have a third pitch; his curveball tends to hang up in the zone and doesn't have the tight rotation that his screwball or slider has. It remains to be seen how successful he can be as an ML starter with just 2 legitimate pitches.
Comments: Bell is an interesting case, in that he doesn't throw a fastball of any sort. Every pitch he has is a type of breaking ball. When his HS coaches tried to get him to use a 4-seamer and changeup, he ended up walking 23 men in the span of 3 starts, including 9 HBPs and 18 wild pitches. No one understands why he can only find the plate with his breaking stuff. Even Bell seems bewildered by this.
21. B.C. Mota
Philadelphia Phenomenauts
Throws: L
25 years old, AAA
Drafted (College JR) in the 1st round (3rd overall, Season 4)
The Good: Mota has excellent control and command. He doesn't walk guys, and he spots the ball on the corners with amazing consistency. He keeps lefties completely off-balance, while still nailing rightes down without much problem. He's a workhorse, able to pitch on short rest, and also able to throw 7, 8, or even 9 innings at a time.
The Bad: Mota has 4 pitches, none of which can be classified as "out" pitches. His 4-seamer has velocity, but not much movement, and his slider and change are decent as secondary offerings, but don't stand out. He relies heavily on getting pop-ups and fly balls, which may not translate well against the big boppers in the majors. He's already been on the DL twice with arm injuries. At 25 years old, it's hard to see all that much improvement. His mediocre to terrible numbers in the minors are puzzling; he's yet to put up a season with an ERA under 4.
Comments: Mota may very well be the most difficult pitching prospect in Gleeman World to evaluate. One thing that is amusing: he's huge, at 6'6'' and 244 lbs, but he actually runs fairly well. He's not a bad bunter either, and it would be highly entertaining to watch him beat out a drag bunt in an interleague game.
20. Joe Bacsik
Philadelphia Phenomenauts
Throws: L
23 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 2nd round (49th overall, Season 3)
The Good: Bacsik throws a 4-seamer that tops out at 97 mph and has plenty of tail to it. He also throws a changeup that's 10 mph slower and has good sink, and a cutter that jams righties, forcing a ton of weak grounders to the left side of the infield. He also throws a slider and curveball that he mixes in when necessary. Bacsik is death to lefties, and very tough against righties as well, mimicing Dontrelle Willis' delivery to mask the ball (he's quite flexible). Unlike Dontrelle, though, he's made the delivery very repeatable, and has never had any injury issues in his career.
The Bad: Any issue with Bacsik starts and ends with his control. He's walked way too many hitters in the past 2 seasons in AAA, and was completely hammered both seasons, putting up ERAs of 7.55 and 6.14. The hit rates are ridiculous as well; it's not clear how much of that is the fault of Philly's porous AAA defense. He also managed to give up 41 unearned runs this season, making his RA/9 this year close to 9.
Comments: As bad as he's looked the past two seasons, scouts claim that he should end up as a similar pitcher to Roy Gold, but with better control. Gold's had his rough patches, but has ended up as a solid mid-rotation starter on a playoff team. Bacsik might end up as something more.
19. Theo Marquis
Milwaukee Twindyans
Throws: L
20 years old, High A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (3oth overall, Season 6)
The Good: Throws 4 pitches that all project as major-league average or better, the best of which are a 4-seamer and curveball. Never has trouble throwing strikes, and keeps the ball on the ground. A well-conditioned athlete; his offseason training has kept him in excellent shape. Bounces back quickly between starts, and has never had any injury problems.
The Bad: Somewhat vulnerable against top-flight righties. His stamina is a mild concern, though nothing serious. Not much here to complain about.
Comments: Marquis dropped this far in the draft primarily because he went to Templeton Independent Study High School, not exactly known for their athletic programs. Marquis slipped under the radar a bit, falling all the way to 30th despite his talent (and being openly signable as well).
18. Kevin Morris
Tacoma Downpour
Throws: R
19 years old, Low A
Drafted (HS) in the 2nd round (50th overall, Season 7)
The Good: His 4-seam fastball sits in the mid-80's, but his command with it is jaw-droppingly good, and it has outstanding late life to it. His changeup is an excellent pitch as well, one that he throws with the exact same arm motion as his fastball, but 10 miles per hour slower, with good movement. Throws 3 other pitches, all of which are serviceable. Has no trouble finding the strike zone. No major platoon split.
The Bad: If Morris doesn't improve his stamina drastically, he'll have to settle for being an elite relief prospect. There's still plenty of time for him, as he's still just 19, and the Downpour were employing him as a reliever until the end of the season, where he made a pair of 4-inning starts. Still, there's reason to be worried here, especially if he gets hurt.
Comments: In his freshman year of high school, Morris tried out for the team as a pitcher. During warmups, his first fastball squarely hit the catcher's mitt at 73 mph. The coaches yawned. He then proceeded to hit the same spot with said pitch 20 times in a row, mixing in his changeup on every fourth pitch. He was immediately assigned to the varsity team.
17. Julian Santos
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Throws: R
20 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (20th overall, Season 6)
The Good: Santos has excellent control, and is always around the strike zone. His sinker gets great downwards action, causing opposing hitters to get on top of it. His cutter, slider, and changeup are all legitimate offerings. No platoon split.
The Bad: While he does do a great job of working in or around the strike zone, he will catch too much plate with a pitch from time to time; when he does that to a good hitter, he usually pays the price. Doesn't have great stamina.
Comments: Once pitched a scoreless inning of relief in HS...left-handed. He actually threw strikes, too, getting through the inning without walking a batter.
16. Juan Bonilla
Buffalo Europeans
Throws: R
18 years old, Low A
Signed as an international FA ($20 million, Season 8)
The Good: His fastball already sits in the low 90's as a teenager. Scouts think he could touch triple digits by his prime. His slider is a solid pitch, and his changeup rounds out his arsenal nicely. Very good control for a kid his age. But what really sets him apart is his ability to throw inning after inning without tiring or getting hurt. His rubber-armedness (not a word, but who cares) is reminiscent of Gerald Tomlinson. Bonilla's work ethic is excellent as well.
The Bad: Can occasionally struggle against elite left-handed competition. He could stand to learn another pitch, but that's just nit-picking.
Comments: His older brother is rubber-armed Anteater lefty Louie Bonilla. Louie calls Juan "a much better player than [he] was at the same age."
15. Hideki Martin
St. Louis Greys
Throws: R
19 years old, Low A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (23rd overall, Season 7)
The Good: Projects to have good control of his 4 pitch arsenal. His 4-seamer is his bread-and-butter pitch, which he spots with surgical precision. Gets deep into games time and time again. Very tough against righties.
The Bad: Martin does let opposing hitters hit their share of fly balls. He's also very undersized, at 5'9''; there are concerns that he might break down over the course of a 200 inning season.
Comments: The scouting reports are strong, but his performance has actually been even better. He threw 191.3 innings this season, going 20-4 with a 2.02 ERA. The heavy favorite to win the Cy Young award at the Low A level.
14. Robert Reilly
Albuquerque Isotopes
Throws: L
18 years old, Low A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (41st overall, Season 8)
The Good: Projects to have fantastic control. His slider projects to be an ML out pitch, and his fastball should be a pretty good weapon as well. His sinker isn't bad, either. Capable of completely shutting down same-handed hitters. Healthy as an ox.
The Bad: Reilly isn't quite as intimidating to righties. The biggest issue, though, is how raw Reilly is, even for a high schooler. Scouts project great things for him, but there's no guarantee he progresses at the rate predicted.
Comments: A terrible fielder. Occasionally even drops the throw back from the catcher. Teammates call him "Dr. Strangeglove II," even though he's a pitcher (for those of you who don't know, look up Dick Stuart).
13. Marlon Rose
Ottawa Otters
Throws: R
18 years old, Low A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (10th overall, Season 8)
The Good: Rose's 4-seamer and slider are already ML pitches right now, and project to be excellent offerings. His curve and change are underrated, and very good pitches in their own right. Rose might be one of the toughest pitchers to make solid contact off of in the minors. His feel for pitching is absolutely fantastic, throwing all hitters for a loop by changing speeds and locations with aplomb. He's never had any problems with injuries, and he understands how much work it takes to become an elite pitcher.
The Bad: Rose would be one of the best pitching prospects in baseball with just average control. However, his ability to hit the strike zone comes and goes with alarming inconsistency; you'll see him locate everything perfectly for an inning, and see everything unravel the next. Whether he can overcome his control issues will determine if he's a quality starter, or just rotation filler.
Comments: Threw 6 no-hit innings in a start while in HS where he struck out 17 batters...and walked 12. Walked in 3 runs.
12. Wilfredo Trajano
Anaheim Anteaters
Throws: R
23 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 2nd round (65th overall, Season 3)
The Good: ML-ready right now. Already has good control for a major league starter. Trajano tends to come in at a low 3/4 arm slot against righties, making it difficult for them to spot the ball early. Keeps the ball on the ground. Has yet to suffer any injuries.
The Bad: His stuff is questionable. Trajano's 4-seamer isn't bad, but it's not a very good go-to pitch, and his sinker, curveball, and changeup are only effective when used sparingly.
Comments: A very good bunter. Trajano once laid down a sacrifice bunt...using the handle of the bat.
11. Francisco Tatis
Washington D.C. Bureaucrats
Throws: L
21 years old, AA
Signed as an international FA ($20.8 million, Season 7)
The Good: Armed with 4 pitches, 3 which project to become above-average offerings. Excellent velocity. Uses his splitter to get grounders when needed. Throws strikes, and kills lefties while still tough on righties. A hard worker.
The Bad: Tatis suffered an arm injury earlier this season, one that seems to have hurt his development a little. It shouldn't matter too much in the long run, though. He'll need to improve his stamina; he can be a bit of a burden on the 'pen.
Comments: Tatis was given the most lucrative international FA bonus of all-time, besting Marino "I Make Rickey Henderson Look Like Mo Vaughn" Reyes ($20.4 million).
10. Al Guzman
Tacoma Downpour
Throws: R
21 years old, AA
Signed as an international FA ($15.9 million, Season 7)
The Good: Throws an excellent sinker, which he deals in the mid 90's. Not surprisingly, he's a ground-ball pitcher. His curveball, changeup, and cutter should all be solid major league pitches as well. A difficult pitcher for either lefties or righties to square up solidly; Guzman keeps hitters off-balanced, and doesn't leave mistakes over the plate very often. No health problems to report.
The Bad: His control right now is solid for a 21 year old, but scouts don't see a whole lot of improvement there. It could become an issue at the highest level.
Comments: Guzman played catcher for a few games in the Dominican as an experiment, until the manager found out that Guzman's pitch-calling was brutal enough to make the pitching staff mutinous. Guzman was immediately returned to the rotation.
9. Bartolo Estrada
Chicago Jayhawks
Throws: L
20 years old, AA
Signed as an international FA ($20 million, Season 6)
The Good: The rare lefty that brings it regularly into the mid to high 90's with his 4 seamer. His slider and curve aren't half bad. Estrada throws strikes and has excellent command within the strike zone. Lefties especially have a tough time facing him.
The Bad: He could stand to gain more stamina; a starter that goes 5 to 6 innings per start is nice, but more is expected from a pitcher with this kind of talent.
Comments: The best pitching prospect received from the Masato/Beckett blockbuster at the beginning of Season 7. Also among the most expensive international FAs of all-time. Expectations are high.
8. Albie Cruz
Washington D.C. Bureaucrats
Throws: R
20 years old, AA
Drafted (College FR) in the 1st round (2nd overall, Season 7)
The Good: Projects to be death on righties, while still very good against lefties. Should have solid major league control. Self-motivated player that never slacks off. Always ready to pitch, even on short rest.
The Bad: He has 3 solid pitches, but none of them can really be classified as an "out" pitch. He also suffered an injury this season that hindered some of his growth; like fellow Bureaucrat Francisco Tatis, he wasn't placed on the DL, leading some to believe that there might be something fishy going on here.
Comments: This was the 2nd season in a row that the Bureaucrats had the 2nd overall pick, and also the 2nd year that they selected the top pitcher on the board. Scroll down a few more slots to find the other one.
7. Chris Martin
Los Angeles Hangars
Throws: R
20 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (26th overall, Season 6)
The Good: Martin is a sidearmer; righties have trouble seeing the ball against him. He still does have success against lefties as well, though, making him much more than just a ROOGY. Throws an outstanding changeup that seems to come to a stop on the way to home plate. Works deep into games every time.
The Bad: Makeup is a bit of a concern; Martin is a brash, arrogant kid that's fully aware of his talent, and isn't what you'd call coachable.
Comments: Martin's demeanor and reluctance to commit to the pros dropped him all the way to the 26th overall pick. Ultimately decided to sign, which was great news for Hangar fans.
6. Coco Ferrell
Vancouver Vigilantes
Throws: R
23 years old, AA
Drafted (College SR) in the 1st round (6th overall, Season 7)
The Good: Projects to have excellent control, and is great against both lefties and righties (even has a slight reverse platoon split). Throws an excellent slider and solid changeup. Ferrell is a workhorse that can survive inning after inning of abuse, and still be fresh the next time his spot in the rotation is up. Healthy arm.
The Bad: Ferrell only throws 3 pitches, and his third, a splitter, doesn't get very high marks. His stuff is iffy for a prospect with top-tier billing. For a 23 year old, he's pretty raw, and has a long ways to go before realizing his potential.
Comments: Given a jaw-dropping $14,091,000 signing bonus after a long contract negotiation. Agent Nick Brown did one hell of a job.
5. Robert Fikac
Tacoma Downpour
Throws: L
21 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (38th overall, Season 5)
The Good: Already has solid major league control, and still has room for improvement. Death to lefties. Has a nice 5-pitch arsenal, with a quality 4-seamer as his best offering. Also twirls a good curveball and deceptive changeup. Seems to thrive on short rest, and can even throw on extra-short rest if needed. One of the most durable starters in baseball.
The Bad: He could stand to get a bit better against righties, but that's just nitpicking; there's very little here to actually criticize.
Comments: He has to be the best player picked in the supplemental rounds in Gleeman World history. An absolute steal at #38.
4. Max Moehler
Monterrey Conquistadores
Throws: L
21 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (5th overall, Season 5)
The Good: Attacks the strike zone relentlessly. Lefties don't stand a chance against him, and he's still strong against righties, too. Has a varied arsenal that includes a fastball, sinker, slider, curveball, and changeup, none of them just for show. No injury history.
The Bad: Has less than ideal stamina. While he does have plenty of major-league quality pitches, none of them qualify as a legitimately excellent offering.
Comments: If you look closely, you'll notice that the black spot under his bottom lip isn't a patch of hair. It's actually smudged dark chocolate from the Hershey's bar he messily devoured 10 minutes before his picture was taken. A month later, he lost a bet to his teammates, forcing him to keep this picture on his "profile" until he retires from baseball.
3. Juan Arroyo
Chicago Jayhawks
Throws: L
20 years old, High A
Drafted (College SO) in the 1st round (4th overall, Season 8)
The Good: Pinpoint command and control; neither lefty nor righty can square up his pitches. Throws an excellent knuckleball that flutters unpredictably to the plate, a good 4-seamer with solid velocity and movement, and a pretty good curve. Very coachable.
The Bad: Doesn't work as deep into games as you'd like. A bit further from reaching his potential than your average 20-year old.
Comments: Has a pronounced follow-through at the end of his delivery that renders him completely immobile as a fielder. Often doesn't get to 1B in time to cover, and is vulnerable to good bunters. Quite amusing to watch, really.
2. Garrett Lorraine
Washington D.C. Bureaucrats
Throws: L
20 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (2nd overall, Season 6)
The Good: An unconventional arsenal with two very good pitches; a knuckleball that is unhittable on a good day, and a forkball that divebombs towards the ground at the last second. Throws strikes, and is exceptionally tough on hitters from either side of the plate. Capable of finishing what he started.
The Bad: A fairly fragile pitcher; he'll likely see the DL at some point in the next few years or so.
Comments: Lorraine tops the NL Cy Young list at the AA level. The next 3 players on the ballot are Bartolo Estrada (#9 on this list), Coco Ferrell (#6), and Max Moehler (#4). A very impressive group.
1. Jack Leslie
Colorado Springs Silver Stars
Throws: R
18 years old, High A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (1st overall, Season 8)
The Good: Leslie's control and command are impeccable for his age, and these skills project to be among the best in baseball when he reaches his peak. His 4-seamer and curve are both plus pitches, and his changeup and cutter are solid as well. Doesn't have much stamina now, but should have plenty as he matures.
The Bad: His talent is undeniable, but he's a serious injury risk. Keeping him healthy will be a challenge for any medical/training staff.
Comments: An absolute godsend for a franchise that desperately needed hope for the future. Leslie considered college, but decided to go pro when Colorado Springs offered him a contract worth $3 million over slot.
Monday, October 20, 2008
SP Prospects: #50-26
50. Phillip Zinter
Iowa City Comics
Throws: L
23 years old, AAA
Drafted (College SO) in the 1st round (27th overall, Season 5)
The Good: 5 major-league quality pitches that he can throw for strikes, including a high 80's 4-seamer with excellent late life, and a plus curveball with plenty of vertical break. Good against lefties.
The Bad: Stamina/durability is questionable for an ML starter. He may need to shift to the bullpen at some point in his career. Right-handed hitters see the ball very well out of his hand, due to his low-3/4 arm slot. Very injury-prone (see below). His commitment to the game isn't always clear.
Comments: Zinter has already seen the DL twice in his career, and was shut down for most of Season 7 with a sore shoulder. Had he been more durable, he'd easily be in the top 40.
49. Bennie Taylor
Montreal Grand Orange Throws: L 19 years old, AA Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (5th overall, Season 7)
The Good: Taylor doesn't make very many mistakes down the heart of the plate. His stuff is also electric; his slider is about as sharp as they come, and his curveball has very good break as well. His cutter and circle change should both end up as good secondary offerings at the ML level. Players tend to get on top of Taylor's pitches; despite the fact that he doesn't throw a sinker, he's a heavy ground ball pitcher. Has a strict self-imposed workout regimen that requires an incredible amount of self-discipline to practice.
The Bad: With ML-average control, Taylor becomes a star. Unfortunately, that's not the case; Taylor does avoid the middle of the plate, but misses out of the zone way too much, leading to way too many walks. He also has very little stamina for a starter; if he doesn't find a way to become more efficient with his pitches, he may have to convert to relief.
Comments: He dominated Low A, but couldn't throw strikes at High A, and his season unraveled. The Grand Orange elected to promote him anyways, a bold move to say the least.
48. Jorge Marquez
New York Yankees Throws: R 21 years old, AA Drafted (HS) in the 2nd round (72nd overall, Season 5)
The Good: Marquez attacks the strike zone with three different breaking/off-speed pitches that all grade out as ML average or better, the best of them being a changeup that drops straight down. Health isn't a concern.
The Bad: Left-handed hitters feast on Marquez; his breaking stuff isn't effective against them, and his sinker doesn't really have much movement. Many of them sit on his changeup and blast it into orbit. Marquez needs to develop a bit more stamina; he's a bit of a strain on a bullpen as a 5-6 inning guy. Not self-motivated.
Comments: Marquez is a huge Elvis fan, and doesn't plan on shaving his sideburns until "he comes back." Something tells me he'll be donning those for a while.
47. Charles Baez
Albuquerque Isotopes
Throws: R
20 years old, Low A
Drafted (College SO) in the 1st round (26th overall, Season 8)
The Good: 4 pitches that project to be at least major-league average, including a heavy sinker that he throws at 88-91 mph that generates a ton of grounders. Capable of getting both lefties and righties out at the highest level. A true student of the game that creates his own scouting reports on off-days. Smart kid.
The Bad: Occasionally struggles with his control. He's also a bit of a health risk (herniated disk in his back during HS).
Comments: He struggled badly in his first season in Rookie ball, allowing 58 runs (46 earned) in just over 73 innings. We'll call it a fluke for now, but another bad season of performance will cause Baez's stock to drop.
46. Pablo Martin
Sioux Falls Gunslingers
Throws: R
23 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (40th overall, Season 3)
The Good: Throws his sinker in the mid-90's with plenty of dip. His changeup comes in a full 10 mph slower with the same delivery and arm action. He also throws a decent curveball. But his best pitch is a high 80's slider that eats righties alive. Keeps the ball on the ground. An excellent bunter.
The Bad: He doesn't have the stamina to go deep into games, a problem compounded by his inability to consistenty attack the strike zone. Looks like a 5-6 inning pitcher, which will tax the bullpen. His 4-seamer comes in at the same velocity as his sinker, but has absolutely no movement.
Comments: An elbow injury this season cost him some development time, and his control doesn't appear to be progressing as much as expected. He can still become an effective ML starter, but he's far from a sure thing.
45. Happy Magadan
Tacoma Downpour
Throws: L
21 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (22nd overall, Season 5)
The Good: Has a very good forkball that dives right before reaching the plate, and an above-average slider with good tilt. His changeup and cutter are both serviceable. Has great velocity for a lefty. Throws plenty of strikes. A difficult read for lefty hitters; he's a side-armer.
The Bad: Of course, his arm slot leaves him vulnerable against righties, although it's not a big enough problem to keep him from becoming an ML starter. What might prove to be his undoing, though, is his stamina; he'll have trouble getting past the 6th inning in most of his starts.
Comments: The soul patch on his chin is a tribute to Howie Mandel; he's currently engaged to one of the models on "Deal Or No Deal."
44. Marty Reilly
Las Vegas Armijos
Throws: R
18 years old, Rookie League
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (25th overall, Season 8)
The Good: Probably the best 4-seam fastball you'll see in the low minors. It sits in the low 90's, touching 96, and projects better than that. It also has a ton of "rise," exploding towards the plate. His slider looks like an effective secondary pitch, and his change and curve should be at least serviceable. He's a workhorse who can easily top the 100 pitch mark regularly without effect. A hard worker who's serious about his conditioning. Not an injury risk.
The Bad: He has trouble getting good lefties out; none of his secondary pitches really fool them. He's also a fly-ball pitcher, which comes with the inherent risk of more homers.
Comments: His velocity, already good, does project to get better, as mentioned above. That's because at the age of 18, he still has the potential to grow more. He's 6'1'' and 184 pounds right now, but projects to grow 2 inches and put on 24 pounds by his mid-20's.
43. Artie Bergeron
Richmond Roustabouts
Throws: L
22 years old, High A
Drafted (College SR) in the 1st round (18th overall, Season 8)
The Good: Throws a plus sinker and 3 other major league-quality pitches, along with a show-me curve he mixes in from time to time. Gets plenty of ground balls from his go-to pitch. Doesn't have a significant platoon split. Bergeron works deep into games, and is just as effective in the 7th as he is in the 1st. At 6'4'' and 216 lbs, has the classic pitcher's body; should be able to take the abuse of throwing every 5th day without succumbing to injury. Very coachable.
The Bad: He's had trouble with his release point from time to time, suffering from bouts of wildness. There's no other significant issue, but control is usually a make-or-break attribute, and Bergeron's other tools are just pretty good, not great.
Comments: Leaves Kent State as their all-time leader in innings pitched, wins, and ERA.
42. Dale Borowski
Washington D.C. Bureaucrats
Throws: R
21 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (34th overall, Season 5)
The Good: Throws 3 different kinds of fastballs that all project as plus pitches at the major league level, due to their velocity (4-seam, cutter, sinker). He cooks with mid to high 90's heat, touching 100 on a good day. No major platoon split. Health record is clean.
The Bad: He's still working on his location; despite his velocity, he's prone to leaving his array of fastballs over the heart of the plate. Major leaguers can hit that. He doesn't throw enough strikes, either. His curveball is just there to upset timing; it's very slurvy, and doesn't get much break at all.
Comments: On a bet, a 17-year old Borowski threw a baseball that cleared a 10-story building. The ball landed on the hood of a parked Beamer. His parents were furious.
41. Javy Gomez
Ottawa Otters
Throws: L
20 years old, High A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (40th overall, Season 6)
The Good: Works off of a high 80's 4-seamer with great movement, a decent curveball, and a solid changeup. He has pinpoint control of all of his pitches. Generates plenty of grounders. He has solid stamina, but also bounces back well between starts, and is able to throw on short rest regularly. Tough against lefties.
The Bad: He doesn't hide the ball well, something that becomes painfully obvious against righties, who seem to pick up on the ball even before he releases it. He should probably scrap the curveball in favor of the slider.
Comments: He's a decent-hitting pitcher, but oddly enough, has no ability to go the other way. Teams actually put on a lefty shift against him, which amuses his coaches to no end.
40. Bucky Reed
Albuquerque Isotopes
Throws: R
24 years old, AAA
Drafted (College JR) in the 1st round (30th overall, Season 5)
The Good: His changeup, sinker, slider, and curveball are all at least projected as major-league average offerings (he also throws a cutter, but it's not very good). Has yet to suffer an injury in his career. Smart pitcher that keeps hitters off balance by changing speeds.
The Bad: His control isn't great, but it's not a huge issue. However, he's a converted reliever that still hasn't adjusted to throwing a lot of innings at a time. He might need to shift back to the bullpen.
Comments: He's actually a decent hitter against lefties; while playing for Cal, he'd hit in the #2 hole against southpaws. He also runs surprisingly well.
39. Shane Barkett
Chicago Jayhawks
Throws: R
21 years old, AA
Drafted (College FR) in the 1st round (25th overall, Season 6)
The Good: Throws a very good curveball, and works well with the changeup. His sinker sits around 90 mph, and is a workable offering, but he pitches "backwards," often leading with his off-speed stuff and mixing in the sinker or forkball when ahead in the count. Very good control of all of his pitches. Hard worker and good kid that left college early to support his family.
The Bad: Barkett throws across his body somewhat; it hasn't affected him adversely yet, but it could take a toll on his arm sooner rather than later. He doesn't really have an out pitch against lefties. Could stand to work deeper into games.
Comments: Barkett is actually Robert Carter's cousin; you have to squint a little to see the resemblance, though.
38. Shayne Rice
Oklahoma City Twins
Throws: L
21 years old, Low A
Drafted (College JR) in the 3rd round (85th overall, Season 8)
The Good: Throws a good slider and decent curveball, both which make him difficult for left-handers to hit. Also features a changeup with a bit of sink. Capable of throwing on short rest. Clean, consistent mechanics ensure that he not only throws strikes, but avoids injuries as well. Pretty good hitter for a pitcher (switch-hits as well).
The Bad: Rice actually doesn't throw a 4-seam fastball, and his repertoire leaves him vulnerable to right-handers. He also doesn't have a ton of stamina.
Comments: The Twins took a chance when they drafted him in the 3rd round; Rice was reported to be "determined to finish out his college career" at the University of Virginia, but reconsidered after Oklahoma City offered him a jaw-dropping $9.1 million to sign. Bold move by the Twins.
37. Ray Payton
Milwaukee Twindyans
Throws: R
21 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (21st overall, Season 5)
The Good: His 4-seamer, while only clocked around 86-88 mph, has great natural movement, tailing away from left-handed hitters. Also throws 3 other pitches that should also be usable at the ML level. Projects to have solid command for a big-league starter. He'll gladly take the ball every 4th day if need be.
The Bad: He's prone to leaving pitches out over the heart of the plate; his control is fine, but his command within the strike zone has been called into question in the past.
Comments: Payton used to throw a knuckleball, but scrapped it after Season 6, when his pitching coach challenged him to strike the team's bat boy out with it. The bat boy promptly stung the first pitch up the middle, over Payton's head. The bat boy is 11 years old.
36. Mateo Baez
San Antonio Sting
Throws: L
21 years old, AAA
Signed as an international FA ($8.5 million, Season 5)
The Good: He's rubber-armed; he'll throw you 100 pitches, and be ready on short rest if needed. He has a remarkably clean injury history, considering how hard he was worked in the Dominican Republic; the team's doctors did an extensive check on his left arm to find damage, but found absolutely nothing. Throws 5 pitches, 4 which should be at least league-average pitches in the majors. While he doesn't throw it very hard, his sinker still has plenty of movement, creating a fairly large number of grounders. Very good against lefties. One of the hardest working young men you'll see in the minors; dedicates every start he makes to his late mother.
The Bad: While he's made great strides, Baez still doesn't have very good control for a major leaguer. Righties don't seem to have too much of a problem figuring out his assortment of off-speed pitches, and stand in well against his sinker and knuckle-curve.
Comments: Somehow managed to give up just five (5!) home runs at High A during Season 7 over the course of 190 1/3 innings.
35. Otis Combs
Los Angeles Hangars
Throws: R
21 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (15th overall, Season 5)
The Good: 4 of his 5 pitches project to be very good major league offerings. His sinker has excellent velocity and movement, his curveball has a tight spiral and good downwards action, his changeup is deceptive, and his forkball drops off the table. Even his 5th pitch, a slider, is more than just a show-me decoy pitch. Hitters have trouble lifting his pitches, as all of them dive straight down. Health hasn't been an issue for him.
The Bad: Effective against righties, but seems to be uncomfortable going inside against lefties, often missing over the middle instead. He could stand to throw more strikes.
Comments: Also played QB for the varsity team in high school, but was benched for the rest of his senior season after throwing 7 picks in his first 3 games. Not surprisingly, D-1 scouts weren't exactly knocking on his front door to offer him a scholarship.
34. Fernando Cruz
Chicago Jayhawks
Throws: R
18 years old, Low A
Signed as an international FA ($12.5 million, Season 8)
The Good: Throws 4 pitches for strikes, including a sharp slider with good velocity. His cut fastball is a decent secondary offering, and his changeup and sinker are both workable. Adept against both righties and lefties, and locates well within the strike zone. Keeps hitters guessing.
The Bad: He'll never approach the 200 inning mark, for several reasons: Cruz doesn't work deep into games, is terrible on short rest, and has had shoulder issues in the past that have resurfaced every now and then.
Comments: Good friends with reliever Jesus Lopez; the two of them currently share an apartment nearby the Low A stadium.
33. Alfonso Aquino
Washington D.C. Bureaucrats
Throws: R
23 years old, AA
Drafted (College SR) in the 1st round (24th overall, Season 7)
The Good: Much of Aquino's value comes from his stamina; he prides himself on being able to throw all 9 innings if needed. He's also able to throw on short rest should the situation arise. No platoon split of consequence. His bread-and-butter is a low 90's 4-seamer with good explosive action at the end.
The Bad: Aquino's secondary stuff is questionable; his slider, curveball, and changeup are all usable, but none of them are particularly good. His makeup is a bit of a concern.
Comments: Threw 147 pitches in a 6 walk, 11 strikeout complete game against SEC rival Florida in a 3-2 victory, then threw another 131 pitches in his next start in a 4-1 loss to Kentucky. The media decided to nickname Georgia's manager "Dusty."
32. Gary Clifton
New York Yankees
Throws: R
18 years old, Low A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (28th overall, Season 8)
The Good: Throws a 4-seamer that touches 95 and has late life, complemented by a curve, change, and slider, all considered solid pitches. Keeps the ball down in the zone, and creates plenty of grounders.
The Bad: Doesn't hide the ball as well from lefties as he does for righties, and serves up the occasional cookie. Raw as hell; we'll see if he actually reaches his projections.
Comments: In his last regular-season start, Clifton walked the leadoff hitter, then did not allow another Rincon to reach base by either hit or walk for the duration of his 6 innings. However, an error, ground ball, and sac fly led to a run anyways. He was pulled with the game knotted at 1; the Yankee pen proceeded to implode for 7 runs in the final 3 frames en route to an 8-3 loss.
31. Del Martin
St. Louis Greys
Throws: R
21 years old, Low A
Drafted (College JR) in the 1st round (24th overall, Season 8)
The Good: Blazing fastball tops out at 96, and projects to get better as he fills out. Solid slider is a reasonable secondary offering. Also throws a changeup and curveball. Not a health risk. Projects to have very good control.
The Bad: His only real issue is his inability to get lefty hitters out; Low A lefties hit an appalling .342/.369/.513 against him this year. He'll have to change that to survive at the highest level.
Comments: An unnamed NL executive claims that he saw Martin engage in a cannibalistic ritual with Willis "Baby Eater" Smith. The executive was granted anonymity for fear that "he would be next, even though they usually eat babies."
30. Ted Roberts
New York Yankees
Throws: L
20 years old, High A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (36th overall, Season 6)
The Good: Roberts has a vast arsenal of off-speed stuff. While primarily working off of his mid-80's fastball (which has excellent movement, despite its lack of velocity), Roberts also throws a changeup, curveball, and forkball, all considered to be acceptable major league offerings. He also mixes in a slider every now and then. Roberts also has good command of his pitches, and soaks up innings. No significant platoon split.
The Bad: Honestly, there's not much to say here. Roberts doesn't quite have the command within the strike zone that you'd want from a top-tier pitcher, leading to more hard-hit balls than you'd like. There's also nothing about him that really "wows" you; he just profiles as a mid-rotation pitcher. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but he's not a stud.
Comments: After making just 2 deals in the first 7 seasons, and just 1 since Season 2, the Jayhawks and Yankees have made 3 this year, including a blockbuster that included Roberts, top relief prospect Jimmy Estrella, and fading big-name pitcher Andres Silva.
29. Ricardo Fuentes
Chicago Jayhawks
Throws: R
23 years old, AA
Signed as an international FA ($14.2 million, Season 7)
The Good: Blows the opposition away with an electric mid-90's fastball. Both his slider and curveball should grade out as at least ML-average. Has pinpoint control. No platoon split. An international free agent that was near ML ready when he signed, and didn't require a ton of development.
The Bad: He's a strike-thrower, but he does have a habit of catching too much plate at times, or not getting as much movement as he'd like on a certain pitch. Talent-wise, he'd certainly rank a bit higher, but his mechanics are so violent, scouts think he'll hurt himself any day now. He's very talented, but has gotten somewhat complacent after inking his $14.2 million contract; he has to be goaded into keeping himself in playing condition.
Comments: He's a fine player, but he really needs to get rid of that mustache. That "thing" might be the creepiest thing I've ever seen; he looks like a remorseless, insane child molester.
28. Carl Winn
Florida Cottonmouths
Throws: L
19 years old, Low A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (19th overall, Season 7)
The Good: Winn has a "classic" repertoire (4-seam fastball, curve, slider, changeup), but throws each of them well, generating plenty of movement with each pitch. He throws strikes, locates well within the strike zone, and has the ability to effectively drop down against lefties to provide another level of deception.
The Bad: Winn doesn't have starter stamina right now, and it's debatable whether he ever will. He spent his junior year of HS rehabbing from TJ surgery, and has already picked up a reputation for fragility.
Comments: Despite a lifetime minor league ERA of 4.09, Winn has a 2-11 record. Talk about bad run support...
27. Felipe Gabriel
Chicago Jayhawks
Throws: L
19 years old, High A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (18th overall, Season 7)
The Good: A plus curveball and 4-seamer, and a changeup and slider that both grade out as average pitches in the future. Gabriel has excellent control as well, attacking the strike zone with his varied arsenal. He's tough against lefties; he's made several of them buckle with his curve. Capable of going deep into ballgames.
The Bad: He's a flyball pitcher, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but he may be vulnerable against right-handed bats with good pop. Health is definitely a concern.
Comments: He received a $6.4 million signing bonus, roughly $4 million more than this year's 18th pick, Artie Bergeron (ranked 43rd on this list).
26. Toby LeCroy
Washington D.C. Bureaucrats
Throws: L
18 years old, Low A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (37th overall, Season 8)
The Good: LeCroy features a 5 pitch assortment, headlined by his 4-seamer and slider, both projected to be solid ML pitches. His control projects to be solid, if not spectacular. A heavy ground ball pitcher that should rack up double plays by the truckload. He's as low risk (injury-wise) as any 18 year old pitcher you'll ever find.
The Bad: LeCroy is as vanilla as a pitching prospect can get. His control and command are solid, his stuff is decent, and he'll throw a fair number of innings. Other than his propensity to generate grounders, nothing about him stands out.
Comments: Absolutely lit up in 10 starts in Rookie ball and Low A, giving up 22 earned runs in just 33 innings. The Bureaucrats aren't worried, claiming that LeCroy just needs to loosen up and "let it fly." Given his injury-free past, and the small sample size, we'll just call it a blip on the radar.
Iowa City Comics
Throws: L
23 years old, AAA
Drafted (College SO) in the 1st round (27th overall, Season 5)
The Good: 5 major-league quality pitches that he can throw for strikes, including a high 80's 4-seamer with excellent late life, and a plus curveball with plenty of vertical break. Good against lefties.
The Bad: Stamina/durability is questionable for an ML starter. He may need to shift to the bullpen at some point in his career. Right-handed hitters see the ball very well out of his hand, due to his low-3/4 arm slot. Very injury-prone (see below). His commitment to the game isn't always clear.
Comments: Zinter has already seen the DL twice in his career, and was shut down for most of Season 7 with a sore shoulder. Had he been more durable, he'd easily be in the top 40.
49. Bennie Taylor
Montreal Grand Orange Throws: L 19 years old, AA Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (5th overall, Season 7)
The Good: Taylor doesn't make very many mistakes down the heart of the plate. His stuff is also electric; his slider is about as sharp as they come, and his curveball has very good break as well. His cutter and circle change should both end up as good secondary offerings at the ML level. Players tend to get on top of Taylor's pitches; despite the fact that he doesn't throw a sinker, he's a heavy ground ball pitcher. Has a strict self-imposed workout regimen that requires an incredible amount of self-discipline to practice.
The Bad: With ML-average control, Taylor becomes a star. Unfortunately, that's not the case; Taylor does avoid the middle of the plate, but misses out of the zone way too much, leading to way too many walks. He also has very little stamina for a starter; if he doesn't find a way to become more efficient with his pitches, he may have to convert to relief.
Comments: He dominated Low A, but couldn't throw strikes at High A, and his season unraveled. The Grand Orange elected to promote him anyways, a bold move to say the least.
48. Jorge Marquez
New York Yankees Throws: R 21 years old, AA Drafted (HS) in the 2nd round (72nd overall, Season 5)
The Good: Marquez attacks the strike zone with three different breaking/off-speed pitches that all grade out as ML average or better, the best of them being a changeup that drops straight down. Health isn't a concern.
The Bad: Left-handed hitters feast on Marquez; his breaking stuff isn't effective against them, and his sinker doesn't really have much movement. Many of them sit on his changeup and blast it into orbit. Marquez needs to develop a bit more stamina; he's a bit of a strain on a bullpen as a 5-6 inning guy. Not self-motivated.
Comments: Marquez is a huge Elvis fan, and doesn't plan on shaving his sideburns until "he comes back." Something tells me he'll be donning those for a while.
47. Charles Baez
Albuquerque Isotopes
Throws: R
20 years old, Low A
Drafted (College SO) in the 1st round (26th overall, Season 8)
The Good: 4 pitches that project to be at least major-league average, including a heavy sinker that he throws at 88-91 mph that generates a ton of grounders. Capable of getting both lefties and righties out at the highest level. A true student of the game that creates his own scouting reports on off-days. Smart kid.
The Bad: Occasionally struggles with his control. He's also a bit of a health risk (herniated disk in his back during HS).
Comments: He struggled badly in his first season in Rookie ball, allowing 58 runs (46 earned) in just over 73 innings. We'll call it a fluke for now, but another bad season of performance will cause Baez's stock to drop.
46. Pablo Martin
Sioux Falls Gunslingers
Throws: R
23 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (40th overall, Season 3)
The Good: Throws his sinker in the mid-90's with plenty of dip. His changeup comes in a full 10 mph slower with the same delivery and arm action. He also throws a decent curveball. But his best pitch is a high 80's slider that eats righties alive. Keeps the ball on the ground. An excellent bunter.
The Bad: He doesn't have the stamina to go deep into games, a problem compounded by his inability to consistenty attack the strike zone. Looks like a 5-6 inning pitcher, which will tax the bullpen. His 4-seamer comes in at the same velocity as his sinker, but has absolutely no movement.
Comments: An elbow injury this season cost him some development time, and his control doesn't appear to be progressing as much as expected. He can still become an effective ML starter, but he's far from a sure thing.
45. Happy Magadan
Tacoma Downpour
Throws: L
21 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (22nd overall, Season 5)
The Good: Has a very good forkball that dives right before reaching the plate, and an above-average slider with good tilt. His changeup and cutter are both serviceable. Has great velocity for a lefty. Throws plenty of strikes. A difficult read for lefty hitters; he's a side-armer.
The Bad: Of course, his arm slot leaves him vulnerable against righties, although it's not a big enough problem to keep him from becoming an ML starter. What might prove to be his undoing, though, is his stamina; he'll have trouble getting past the 6th inning in most of his starts.
Comments: The soul patch on his chin is a tribute to Howie Mandel; he's currently engaged to one of the models on "Deal Or No Deal."
44. Marty Reilly
Las Vegas Armijos
Throws: R
18 years old, Rookie League
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (25th overall, Season 8)
The Good: Probably the best 4-seam fastball you'll see in the low minors. It sits in the low 90's, touching 96, and projects better than that. It also has a ton of "rise," exploding towards the plate. His slider looks like an effective secondary pitch, and his change and curve should be at least serviceable. He's a workhorse who can easily top the 100 pitch mark regularly without effect. A hard worker who's serious about his conditioning. Not an injury risk.
The Bad: He has trouble getting good lefties out; none of his secondary pitches really fool them. He's also a fly-ball pitcher, which comes with the inherent risk of more homers.
Comments: His velocity, already good, does project to get better, as mentioned above. That's because at the age of 18, he still has the potential to grow more. He's 6'1'' and 184 pounds right now, but projects to grow 2 inches and put on 24 pounds by his mid-20's.
43. Artie Bergeron
Richmond Roustabouts
Throws: L
22 years old, High A
Drafted (College SR) in the 1st round (18th overall, Season 8)
The Good: Throws a plus sinker and 3 other major league-quality pitches, along with a show-me curve he mixes in from time to time. Gets plenty of ground balls from his go-to pitch. Doesn't have a significant platoon split. Bergeron works deep into games, and is just as effective in the 7th as he is in the 1st. At 6'4'' and 216 lbs, has the classic pitcher's body; should be able to take the abuse of throwing every 5th day without succumbing to injury. Very coachable.
The Bad: He's had trouble with his release point from time to time, suffering from bouts of wildness. There's no other significant issue, but control is usually a make-or-break attribute, and Bergeron's other tools are just pretty good, not great.
Comments: Leaves Kent State as their all-time leader in innings pitched, wins, and ERA.
42. Dale Borowski
Washington D.C. Bureaucrats
Throws: R
21 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (34th overall, Season 5)
The Good: Throws 3 different kinds of fastballs that all project as plus pitches at the major league level, due to their velocity (4-seam, cutter, sinker). He cooks with mid to high 90's heat, touching 100 on a good day. No major platoon split. Health record is clean.
The Bad: He's still working on his location; despite his velocity, he's prone to leaving his array of fastballs over the heart of the plate. Major leaguers can hit that. He doesn't throw enough strikes, either. His curveball is just there to upset timing; it's very slurvy, and doesn't get much break at all.
Comments: On a bet, a 17-year old Borowski threw a baseball that cleared a 10-story building. The ball landed on the hood of a parked Beamer. His parents were furious.
41. Javy Gomez
Ottawa Otters
Throws: L
20 years old, High A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (40th overall, Season 6)
The Good: Works off of a high 80's 4-seamer with great movement, a decent curveball, and a solid changeup. He has pinpoint control of all of his pitches. Generates plenty of grounders. He has solid stamina, but also bounces back well between starts, and is able to throw on short rest regularly. Tough against lefties.
The Bad: He doesn't hide the ball well, something that becomes painfully obvious against righties, who seem to pick up on the ball even before he releases it. He should probably scrap the curveball in favor of the slider.
Comments: He's a decent-hitting pitcher, but oddly enough, has no ability to go the other way. Teams actually put on a lefty shift against him, which amuses his coaches to no end.
40. Bucky Reed
Albuquerque Isotopes
Throws: R
24 years old, AAA
Drafted (College JR) in the 1st round (30th overall, Season 5)
The Good: His changeup, sinker, slider, and curveball are all at least projected as major-league average offerings (he also throws a cutter, but it's not very good). Has yet to suffer an injury in his career. Smart pitcher that keeps hitters off balance by changing speeds.
The Bad: His control isn't great, but it's not a huge issue. However, he's a converted reliever that still hasn't adjusted to throwing a lot of innings at a time. He might need to shift back to the bullpen.
Comments: He's actually a decent hitter against lefties; while playing for Cal, he'd hit in the #2 hole against southpaws. He also runs surprisingly well.
39. Shane Barkett
Chicago Jayhawks
Throws: R
21 years old, AA
Drafted (College FR) in the 1st round (25th overall, Season 6)
The Good: Throws a very good curveball, and works well with the changeup. His sinker sits around 90 mph, and is a workable offering, but he pitches "backwards," often leading with his off-speed stuff and mixing in the sinker or forkball when ahead in the count. Very good control of all of his pitches. Hard worker and good kid that left college early to support his family.
The Bad: Barkett throws across his body somewhat; it hasn't affected him adversely yet, but it could take a toll on his arm sooner rather than later. He doesn't really have an out pitch against lefties. Could stand to work deeper into games.
Comments: Barkett is actually Robert Carter's cousin; you have to squint a little to see the resemblance, though.
38. Shayne Rice
Oklahoma City Twins
Throws: L
21 years old, Low A
Drafted (College JR) in the 3rd round (85th overall, Season 8)
The Good: Throws a good slider and decent curveball, both which make him difficult for left-handers to hit. Also features a changeup with a bit of sink. Capable of throwing on short rest. Clean, consistent mechanics ensure that he not only throws strikes, but avoids injuries as well. Pretty good hitter for a pitcher (switch-hits as well).
The Bad: Rice actually doesn't throw a 4-seam fastball, and his repertoire leaves him vulnerable to right-handers. He also doesn't have a ton of stamina.
Comments: The Twins took a chance when they drafted him in the 3rd round; Rice was reported to be "determined to finish out his college career" at the University of Virginia, but reconsidered after Oklahoma City offered him a jaw-dropping $9.1 million to sign. Bold move by the Twins.
37. Ray Payton
Milwaukee Twindyans
Throws: R
21 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (21st overall, Season 5)
The Good: His 4-seamer, while only clocked around 86-88 mph, has great natural movement, tailing away from left-handed hitters. Also throws 3 other pitches that should also be usable at the ML level. Projects to have solid command for a big-league starter. He'll gladly take the ball every 4th day if need be.
The Bad: He's prone to leaving pitches out over the heart of the plate; his control is fine, but his command within the strike zone has been called into question in the past.
Comments: Payton used to throw a knuckleball, but scrapped it after Season 6, when his pitching coach challenged him to strike the team's bat boy out with it. The bat boy promptly stung the first pitch up the middle, over Payton's head. The bat boy is 11 years old.
36. Mateo Baez
San Antonio Sting
Throws: L
21 years old, AAA
Signed as an international FA ($8.5 million, Season 5)
The Good: He's rubber-armed; he'll throw you 100 pitches, and be ready on short rest if needed. He has a remarkably clean injury history, considering how hard he was worked in the Dominican Republic; the team's doctors did an extensive check on his left arm to find damage, but found absolutely nothing. Throws 5 pitches, 4 which should be at least league-average pitches in the majors. While he doesn't throw it very hard, his sinker still has plenty of movement, creating a fairly large number of grounders. Very good against lefties. One of the hardest working young men you'll see in the minors; dedicates every start he makes to his late mother.
The Bad: While he's made great strides, Baez still doesn't have very good control for a major leaguer. Righties don't seem to have too much of a problem figuring out his assortment of off-speed pitches, and stand in well against his sinker and knuckle-curve.
Comments: Somehow managed to give up just five (5!) home runs at High A during Season 7 over the course of 190 1/3 innings.
35. Otis Combs
Los Angeles Hangars
Throws: R
21 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (15th overall, Season 5)
The Good: 4 of his 5 pitches project to be very good major league offerings. His sinker has excellent velocity and movement, his curveball has a tight spiral and good downwards action, his changeup is deceptive, and his forkball drops off the table. Even his 5th pitch, a slider, is more than just a show-me decoy pitch. Hitters have trouble lifting his pitches, as all of them dive straight down. Health hasn't been an issue for him.
The Bad: Effective against righties, but seems to be uncomfortable going inside against lefties, often missing over the middle instead. He could stand to throw more strikes.
Comments: Also played QB for the varsity team in high school, but was benched for the rest of his senior season after throwing 7 picks in his first 3 games. Not surprisingly, D-1 scouts weren't exactly knocking on his front door to offer him a scholarship.
34. Fernando Cruz
Chicago Jayhawks
Throws: R
18 years old, Low A
Signed as an international FA ($12.5 million, Season 8)
The Good: Throws 4 pitches for strikes, including a sharp slider with good velocity. His cut fastball is a decent secondary offering, and his changeup and sinker are both workable. Adept against both righties and lefties, and locates well within the strike zone. Keeps hitters guessing.
The Bad: He'll never approach the 200 inning mark, for several reasons: Cruz doesn't work deep into games, is terrible on short rest, and has had shoulder issues in the past that have resurfaced every now and then.
Comments: Good friends with reliever Jesus Lopez; the two of them currently share an apartment nearby the Low A stadium.
33. Alfonso Aquino
Washington D.C. Bureaucrats
Throws: R
23 years old, AA
Drafted (College SR) in the 1st round (24th overall, Season 7)
The Good: Much of Aquino's value comes from his stamina; he prides himself on being able to throw all 9 innings if needed. He's also able to throw on short rest should the situation arise. No platoon split of consequence. His bread-and-butter is a low 90's 4-seamer with good explosive action at the end.
The Bad: Aquino's secondary stuff is questionable; his slider, curveball, and changeup are all usable, but none of them are particularly good. His makeup is a bit of a concern.
Comments: Threw 147 pitches in a 6 walk, 11 strikeout complete game against SEC rival Florida in a 3-2 victory, then threw another 131 pitches in his next start in a 4-1 loss to Kentucky. The media decided to nickname Georgia's manager "Dusty."
32. Gary Clifton
New York Yankees
Throws: R
18 years old, Low A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (28th overall, Season 8)
The Good: Throws a 4-seamer that touches 95 and has late life, complemented by a curve, change, and slider, all considered solid pitches. Keeps the ball down in the zone, and creates plenty of grounders.
The Bad: Doesn't hide the ball as well from lefties as he does for righties, and serves up the occasional cookie. Raw as hell; we'll see if he actually reaches his projections.
Comments: In his last regular-season start, Clifton walked the leadoff hitter, then did not allow another Rincon to reach base by either hit or walk for the duration of his 6 innings. However, an error, ground ball, and sac fly led to a run anyways. He was pulled with the game knotted at 1; the Yankee pen proceeded to implode for 7 runs in the final 3 frames en route to an 8-3 loss.
31. Del Martin
St. Louis Greys
Throws: R
21 years old, Low A
Drafted (College JR) in the 1st round (24th overall, Season 8)
The Good: Blazing fastball tops out at 96, and projects to get better as he fills out. Solid slider is a reasonable secondary offering. Also throws a changeup and curveball. Not a health risk. Projects to have very good control.
The Bad: His only real issue is his inability to get lefty hitters out; Low A lefties hit an appalling .342/.369/.513 against him this year. He'll have to change that to survive at the highest level.
Comments: An unnamed NL executive claims that he saw Martin engage in a cannibalistic ritual with Willis "Baby Eater" Smith. The executive was granted anonymity for fear that "he would be next, even though they usually eat babies."
30. Ted Roberts
New York Yankees
Throws: L
20 years old, High A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (36th overall, Season 6)
The Good: Roberts has a vast arsenal of off-speed stuff. While primarily working off of his mid-80's fastball (which has excellent movement, despite its lack of velocity), Roberts also throws a changeup, curveball, and forkball, all considered to be acceptable major league offerings. He also mixes in a slider every now and then. Roberts also has good command of his pitches, and soaks up innings. No significant platoon split.
The Bad: Honestly, there's not much to say here. Roberts doesn't quite have the command within the strike zone that you'd want from a top-tier pitcher, leading to more hard-hit balls than you'd like. There's also nothing about him that really "wows" you; he just profiles as a mid-rotation pitcher. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but he's not a stud.
Comments: After making just 2 deals in the first 7 seasons, and just 1 since Season 2, the Jayhawks and Yankees have made 3 this year, including a blockbuster that included Roberts, top relief prospect Jimmy Estrella, and fading big-name pitcher Andres Silva.
29. Ricardo Fuentes
Chicago Jayhawks
Throws: R
23 years old, AA
Signed as an international FA ($14.2 million, Season 7)
The Good: Blows the opposition away with an electric mid-90's fastball. Both his slider and curveball should grade out as at least ML-average. Has pinpoint control. No platoon split. An international free agent that was near ML ready when he signed, and didn't require a ton of development.
The Bad: He's a strike-thrower, but he does have a habit of catching too much plate at times, or not getting as much movement as he'd like on a certain pitch. Talent-wise, he'd certainly rank a bit higher, but his mechanics are so violent, scouts think he'll hurt himself any day now. He's very talented, but has gotten somewhat complacent after inking his $14.2 million contract; he has to be goaded into keeping himself in playing condition.
Comments: He's a fine player, but he really needs to get rid of that mustache. That "thing" might be the creepiest thing I've ever seen; he looks like a remorseless, insane child molester.
28. Carl Winn
Florida Cottonmouths
Throws: L
19 years old, Low A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (19th overall, Season 7)
The Good: Winn has a "classic" repertoire (4-seam fastball, curve, slider, changeup), but throws each of them well, generating plenty of movement with each pitch. He throws strikes, locates well within the strike zone, and has the ability to effectively drop down against lefties to provide another level of deception.
The Bad: Winn doesn't have starter stamina right now, and it's debatable whether he ever will. He spent his junior year of HS rehabbing from TJ surgery, and has already picked up a reputation for fragility.
Comments: Despite a lifetime minor league ERA of 4.09, Winn has a 2-11 record. Talk about bad run support...
27. Felipe Gabriel
Chicago Jayhawks
Throws: L
19 years old, High A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (18th overall, Season 7)
The Good: A plus curveball and 4-seamer, and a changeup and slider that both grade out as average pitches in the future. Gabriel has excellent control as well, attacking the strike zone with his varied arsenal. He's tough against lefties; he's made several of them buckle with his curve. Capable of going deep into ballgames.
The Bad: He's a flyball pitcher, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but he may be vulnerable against right-handed bats with good pop. Health is definitely a concern.
Comments: He received a $6.4 million signing bonus, roughly $4 million more than this year's 18th pick, Artie Bergeron (ranked 43rd on this list).
26. Toby LeCroy
Washington D.C. Bureaucrats
Throws: L
18 years old, Low A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (37th overall, Season 8)
The Good: LeCroy features a 5 pitch assortment, headlined by his 4-seamer and slider, both projected to be solid ML pitches. His control projects to be solid, if not spectacular. A heavy ground ball pitcher that should rack up double plays by the truckload. He's as low risk (injury-wise) as any 18 year old pitcher you'll ever find.
The Bad: LeCroy is as vanilla as a pitching prospect can get. His control and command are solid, his stuff is decent, and he'll throw a fair number of innings. Other than his propensity to generate grounders, nothing about him stands out.
Comments: Absolutely lit up in 10 starts in Rookie ball and Low A, giving up 22 earned runs in just 33 innings. The Bureaucrats aren't worried, claiming that LeCroy just needs to loosen up and "let it fly." Given his injury-free past, and the small sample size, we'll just call it a blip on the radar.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Top Ten RF Prospects
*Reminder: Right Fielders must project within 10 points of each defensive rating's recommendations:
RNG of at least 55
GLV of at least 40
AS of at least 60
AA of at least 55
10. Al Baez
Sioux Falls Gunslingers
Bats: R
18 years old, Rookie League
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (20th overall, Season 8)
Baez was heavily courted by the Oklahoma Sooners, but chose to go pro after the Gunslingers offered him a hefty $7.5 million signing bonus. He projects to only have moderate power, and doesn't have the best swing, but he always seems to get the bat on the ball, to the point where he ends up frustrating opposing pitchers. Legend has it that he once engaged in a 21 pitch at-bat that ended in a walk; the pitcher subsequently threw down his glove and hurled a steady stream of expletives at the umpire before being ejected and earning a suspension for the rest of the season. Not fast, but he covers plenty of ground in right, and has a fantastic arm; he makes the throw from shallow right to 3rd base with the best of them. Arrogant to a fault; he's butted heads with his HS coach several times.
9. Kurt Anderson
Ottawa Otters
Bats: S
21 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (12th overall, Season 5)
A professional hitter with no weakness. Anderson has good power to all fields, and doesn't strike out much. He's a good hitter from the left side, but prefers to hit right-handed, explaining that he sees the ball better from that side. Anderson has average speed, but has good instincts for his position. He has the arm strength to make runners think twice about going 1st to 3rd on a single. However, Anderson occasionally seems to have concentration lapses, resulting in a few WTF errors that will undoubtedly show up on sports blooper reels everywhere.
8. Ugueth Mendoza
Monterrey Conquistadores
Bats: L
21 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 3rd round (81st overall, Season 5)
A classic take-em and rake-em slugger, Mendoza has plus power and very good plate discipline. He's no Luis Castillo, but he's a better contact hitter than most other players of his ilk, and should be able to sustain a passable batting average. No platoon split of note. A fair defensive player that won't win any awards, but gets the job done. Mendoza is slow-footed, and is strictly a station-to-station guy; not the most aware player on the bases. He does pack on weight easily, and has yet to meet a steak he didn't like. Hire a good dietician. A notably good late-round steal by the Conquistadores; he was picked 69 slots later than the guy ranked behind him, and is the only non-first rounder on this list.
7. Hector Bell
Sioux Falls Gunslingers
Bats: R
20 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (14th overall, Season 6)
Bell's calling card is his raw power. Short in stature, but built like a tank, Bell has the strength to hit the ball out of any park in baseball, and in bunches. For a guy who swings as hard as he does, he also hits his fair share of line drives, and doesn't strike out an inordinate amount. He could stand to draw more walks, but he gets hack-happy early in the count, especially if he sees a fastball to his liking. Not fast, but he's one of the smartest baserunners you will ever see. His defense in RF is adequate. Plays every day, and has yet to suffer an injury in his career. Bell doesn't take his conditioning seriously; he seems to prefer to goof off rather than train, drawing the ire of the coaching and training staff.
6. Al Rapp
Sioux Falls Gunslingers
Bats: R
19 years old, Rookie League
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (14th overall, Season 7)
Rapp is a tough out, and a guy pitchers can't seem to put away. He has outstanding bat control, while still flashing excellent power that comes from fantastic lower body torque. He hits well against both lefties and righties, and hasn't had any major plate discipline concerns yet. He's played every game of his high school career with chronic back pain; Rapp's a tough kid, but you have to think that he'll go down sooner rather than later. Projects to be a solid defender; he shouldn't have any problems handling RF at the major league level. The 3rd Gunslinger on the RF list, and a clear position of strength for Sioux Falls. Oddly, he's still in Rookie ball for the 2nd consecutive season; it's not like he struggled the first time, either, posting an OPS north of 1.100. Not sure what to make of that.
5. Sherry MacFarlane
Richmond Roustabouts
Bats: L
23 years old, AA
Drafted (College SR) in the 1st round (7th overall, Season 7)
MacFarlane is one of the most unique prospects you'll see. He projects to true plus-plus power, yet displays the bat control, speed, and base-running abilities of a leadoff hitter. In fact, he has almost as many doubles (103) as strikeouts (108). Should be able to steal 60-70 bases a season at a high success rate in his prime; it would be higher if so many of his hits weren't for extra bases. MacFarlane also has a reverse platoon split, hitting better against lefties than against righties. What's truly weird, though, is the way he hits; Macfarlane almost never pulls the ball. He prefers to let the ball travel as deep into the zone as possible, then slams it over the left-field fence with his majestic uppercut swing. Not surprisingly, he does generate a ton of loft with his swing, resulting in a ton of easy flyballs and popups. Macfarlane has poor natural instincts for an outfielder; as a result, he's not nearly as rangy as you might expect. He does have a good arm, and his throws are very accurate; not a guy you want to test, if possible.
4. Chris Mason
Colorado Spring Silver Stars
Bats: S
22 years old, AAA
Drafted (College JR) in the 1st round (3rd overall, Season 7)
Mason has Bunyan-esque power, and should regularly rank among the league's best in homers during his prime. A switch hitter, he's an absolute monster against southpaws. He's still good against righties as well, but he doesn't appear to drive the ball quite as consistently. A slow runner, but he's still sneakily effective, lulling defenses to sleep before snatching the extra base unexpectedly. While he doesn't cover a ton of ground in right, it's hardly a problem, and his arm does help compensate for any shortcomings defensively.
3. Albert Brooks
Washington D.C. Bureaucrats
Bats: S
20 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (4th overall, Season 6)
Brooks projects to have tremendous, game-changing power. He hits very well from both sides of the plate, doesn't strike out, and should have no problems getting on base as well; he's the rare hitter that's not just without weaknesses, but is actually good at everything. He crowds the plate and has tremendous bat speed, able to pull any pitch down the line. Scouts see a lot of Gary Sheffield in his bat. Brooks is a good baserunner with enough speed to keep the battery honest. His defense isn't spectacular, but no one's ever suggested that he'd have to move. This ranking might seem a bit low at first, but it's hard to justify ranking Brooks over either of the next two players (although it's certainly close).
2. Jin-Chi Choi
Anaheim Anteaters
Bats: S
21 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (1st overall, Season 5)
Choi doesn't have Brooks' contact skills at the plate, although he doesn't whiff enough for it to be a real concern. What he does have is elite power, a terrific swing (especially from the right side), very good plate discipline, and solid baserunning/speed. This alone wouldn't rank Choi over Brooks, as Brooks has all of this, too. However, while Brooks is durable, Choi is a true ironman, one that should be able to play in every game of the season. He also has a completely clean bill of health. Furthermore, Choi is a very good defender in right field. He's also a good enough athlete to merit a tryout at 3B; however, he's had trouble fielding sharp grounders and choppers in the past. It wouldn't surprise anyone if the infield ended up eating Choi up. Still, stuff like this is small potatoes and ultimately irrelevant; he's a perennial All-Star candidate waiting to happen, and a prospect worthy of the #1 overall draft pick.
1. Jeff Stein
Philadelphia Phenomenauts
Bats: R
19 years old, Low A
Drafted (College FR) in the 1st round (2nd overall, Season 8)
Guys like Albert Brooks and Jin-Chi Choi might have more raw power than Stein (though not by much), but Stein is the only one of the trio that has a legitimate chance of winning a batting crown. He'd probably be able to start for most teams in the league right now. As a 19 year old. Stein's swing is almost perfect, and it shows; watch him hit for just 2 minutes, and you'll understand why he's among the best prospects in baseball. At the plate, the man excels at everything. Everything. His defense is just average, and he's painfully aware of how talented he is (I mean, just look at the shit-eating grin on his face. Seriously.), so he can be difficult at times. But Stein's bat could very well carry him to the Hall of Fame.
RNG of at least 55
GLV of at least 40
AS of at least 60
AA of at least 55
10. Al Baez
Sioux Falls Gunslingers
Bats: R
18 years old, Rookie League
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (20th overall, Season 8)
Baez was heavily courted by the Oklahoma Sooners, but chose to go pro after the Gunslingers offered him a hefty $7.5 million signing bonus. He projects to only have moderate power, and doesn't have the best swing, but he always seems to get the bat on the ball, to the point where he ends up frustrating opposing pitchers. Legend has it that he once engaged in a 21 pitch at-bat that ended in a walk; the pitcher subsequently threw down his glove and hurled a steady stream of expletives at the umpire before being ejected and earning a suspension for the rest of the season. Not fast, but he covers plenty of ground in right, and has a fantastic arm; he makes the throw from shallow right to 3rd base with the best of them. Arrogant to a fault; he's butted heads with his HS coach several times.
9. Kurt Anderson
Ottawa Otters
Bats: S
21 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (12th overall, Season 5)
A professional hitter with no weakness. Anderson has good power to all fields, and doesn't strike out much. He's a good hitter from the left side, but prefers to hit right-handed, explaining that he sees the ball better from that side. Anderson has average speed, but has good instincts for his position. He has the arm strength to make runners think twice about going 1st to 3rd on a single. However, Anderson occasionally seems to have concentration lapses, resulting in a few WTF errors that will undoubtedly show up on sports blooper reels everywhere.
8. Ugueth Mendoza
Monterrey Conquistadores
Bats: L
21 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 3rd round (81st overall, Season 5)
A classic take-em and rake-em slugger, Mendoza has plus power and very good plate discipline. He's no Luis Castillo, but he's a better contact hitter than most other players of his ilk, and should be able to sustain a passable batting average. No platoon split of note. A fair defensive player that won't win any awards, but gets the job done. Mendoza is slow-footed, and is strictly a station-to-station guy; not the most aware player on the bases. He does pack on weight easily, and has yet to meet a steak he didn't like. Hire a good dietician. A notably good late-round steal by the Conquistadores; he was picked 69 slots later than the guy ranked behind him, and is the only non-first rounder on this list.
7. Hector Bell
Sioux Falls Gunslingers
Bats: R
20 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (14th overall, Season 6)
Bell's calling card is his raw power. Short in stature, but built like a tank, Bell has the strength to hit the ball out of any park in baseball, and in bunches. For a guy who swings as hard as he does, he also hits his fair share of line drives, and doesn't strike out an inordinate amount. He could stand to draw more walks, but he gets hack-happy early in the count, especially if he sees a fastball to his liking. Not fast, but he's one of the smartest baserunners you will ever see. His defense in RF is adequate. Plays every day, and has yet to suffer an injury in his career. Bell doesn't take his conditioning seriously; he seems to prefer to goof off rather than train, drawing the ire of the coaching and training staff.
6. Al Rapp
Sioux Falls Gunslingers
Bats: R
19 years old, Rookie League
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (14th overall, Season 7)
Rapp is a tough out, and a guy pitchers can't seem to put away. He has outstanding bat control, while still flashing excellent power that comes from fantastic lower body torque. He hits well against both lefties and righties, and hasn't had any major plate discipline concerns yet. He's played every game of his high school career with chronic back pain; Rapp's a tough kid, but you have to think that he'll go down sooner rather than later. Projects to be a solid defender; he shouldn't have any problems handling RF at the major league level. The 3rd Gunslinger on the RF list, and a clear position of strength for Sioux Falls. Oddly, he's still in Rookie ball for the 2nd consecutive season; it's not like he struggled the first time, either, posting an OPS north of 1.100. Not sure what to make of that.
5. Sherry MacFarlane
Richmond Roustabouts
Bats: L
23 years old, AA
Drafted (College SR) in the 1st round (7th overall, Season 7)
MacFarlane is one of the most unique prospects you'll see. He projects to true plus-plus power, yet displays the bat control, speed, and base-running abilities of a leadoff hitter. In fact, he has almost as many doubles (103) as strikeouts (108). Should be able to steal 60-70 bases a season at a high success rate in his prime; it would be higher if so many of his hits weren't for extra bases. MacFarlane also has a reverse platoon split, hitting better against lefties than against righties. What's truly weird, though, is the way he hits; Macfarlane almost never pulls the ball. He prefers to let the ball travel as deep into the zone as possible, then slams it over the left-field fence with his majestic uppercut swing. Not surprisingly, he does generate a ton of loft with his swing, resulting in a ton of easy flyballs and popups. Macfarlane has poor natural instincts for an outfielder; as a result, he's not nearly as rangy as you might expect. He does have a good arm, and his throws are very accurate; not a guy you want to test, if possible.
4. Chris Mason
Colorado Spring Silver Stars
Bats: S
22 years old, AAA
Drafted (College JR) in the 1st round (3rd overall, Season 7)
Mason has Bunyan-esque power, and should regularly rank among the league's best in homers during his prime. A switch hitter, he's an absolute monster against southpaws. He's still good against righties as well, but he doesn't appear to drive the ball quite as consistently. A slow runner, but he's still sneakily effective, lulling defenses to sleep before snatching the extra base unexpectedly. While he doesn't cover a ton of ground in right, it's hardly a problem, and his arm does help compensate for any shortcomings defensively.
3. Albert Brooks
Washington D.C. Bureaucrats
Bats: S
20 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (4th overall, Season 6)
Brooks projects to have tremendous, game-changing power. He hits very well from both sides of the plate, doesn't strike out, and should have no problems getting on base as well; he's the rare hitter that's not just without weaknesses, but is actually good at everything. He crowds the plate and has tremendous bat speed, able to pull any pitch down the line. Scouts see a lot of Gary Sheffield in his bat. Brooks is a good baserunner with enough speed to keep the battery honest. His defense isn't spectacular, but no one's ever suggested that he'd have to move. This ranking might seem a bit low at first, but it's hard to justify ranking Brooks over either of the next two players (although it's certainly close).
2. Jin-Chi Choi
Anaheim Anteaters
Bats: S
21 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (1st overall, Season 5)
Choi doesn't have Brooks' contact skills at the plate, although he doesn't whiff enough for it to be a real concern. What he does have is elite power, a terrific swing (especially from the right side), very good plate discipline, and solid baserunning/speed. This alone wouldn't rank Choi over Brooks, as Brooks has all of this, too. However, while Brooks is durable, Choi is a true ironman, one that should be able to play in every game of the season. He also has a completely clean bill of health. Furthermore, Choi is a very good defender in right field. He's also a good enough athlete to merit a tryout at 3B; however, he's had trouble fielding sharp grounders and choppers in the past. It wouldn't surprise anyone if the infield ended up eating Choi up. Still, stuff like this is small potatoes and ultimately irrelevant; he's a perennial All-Star candidate waiting to happen, and a prospect worthy of the #1 overall draft pick.
1. Jeff Stein
Philadelphia Phenomenauts
Bats: R
19 years old, Low A
Drafted (College FR) in the 1st round (2nd overall, Season 8)
Guys like Albert Brooks and Jin-Chi Choi might have more raw power than Stein (though not by much), but Stein is the only one of the trio that has a legitimate chance of winning a batting crown. He'd probably be able to start for most teams in the league right now. As a 19 year old. Stein's swing is almost perfect, and it shows; watch him hit for just 2 minutes, and you'll understand why he's among the best prospects in baseball. At the plate, the man excels at everything. Everything. His defense is just average, and he's painfully aware of how talented he is (I mean, just look at the shit-eating grin on his face. Seriously.), so he can be difficult at times. But Stein's bat could very well carry him to the Hall of Fame.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Top Ten CF Prospects
*Reminder: Right-handed CFs: Range + Glove must equal at least 165.
Left handed CFs: Range + Glove must equal at least 160 (accounting for the fact that defensively challenged RH CFs may move over to 2B. Left-handed CFs do not have that option, so playing a weaker defensive player at CF makes more sense should that player be left-handed).
No base for arm accuracy/strength.
10. Pablo Nieves
Colorado Springs Silver Stars
Bats: R
21 years old, AA
Signed as an international FA ($4.3 million, Season 6)
A fairly nondescript prospect at first glance, Nieves should nonetheless be at least a championship-caliber backup, or a fringy starter. Nieves' offensive game is fairly well-rounded; he has some pop, hits well against southpaws (while struggling against righties), and displays pretty good patience at the plate. He doesn't run well for a CF, but makes the most of his abilities; defensively, he gets good jumps to compensate for his lack of speed, and on the bases, he'll exercise good judgment. He'll be a fine 2B should the Silver Stars decide to leave him there, but can certainly handle CF well enough to merit a move.
9. Marvin Stern
Colorado Springs Silver Stars
Bats: R
19 years old, High A
Drafted (HS) in the 2nd round (52nd overall, Season 7)
Stern's bat is fairly unimpressive. He's not a terrible hitter, but has trouble driving good pitching, especially against southpaws. A pitcher with a good fastball can knock the bat out of Stern's hands on an inside heater. He also doesn't have much raw power; expect him to put up a sub-.400 SLG with regularity at the ML level. He does do the little things well, though; he's an exciting defender with outstanding speed and athleticism. With some work, he could become a threat on the bases as well. A solid bunter, which should come in handy. He'll be there to play every day, but he does have character issues, and doesn't seem to respond well to criticism.
8. Ray Lyons
Oklahoma City Twins
Bats: L
20 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (15th overall, Season 6)
Lyons doesn't profile as an intimidating hitter. He's yet to hit double digits in homers in any given season in the minors. Still, he does have excellent bat control, no platoon split, decent patience, and good speed. His instincts on the bases are top-notch, and he bunts very well, making him an ideal tactical player for "small-ball" managers. Ron Gardenhire would love him. He covers a lot of real estate in center, getting great reads off the bat and taking direct routes to the ball. Never hurt, and doesn't take days off. He's an extreme pull-hitter, despite his lack of power; this is because he crowds the plate enough to pull anything within the strike zone, and has quick hands that get through the hitting zone fast enough to catch up with the inside pitch.
7. Vic Martinez
Richmond Roustabouts
Bats: R
23 years old, AAA
Drafted (College JR) in the 1st round (3rd overall, Season 6)
Another hitter who doesn't excel at anything, but has no weaknesses, Martinez should hit for fairly good averages, draw some walks, and hit his share of homers. He runs fairly well, but is probably slower than your average CF. While he's a good baserunner, he doesn't quite have the top-end speed to become a weapon as a base thief. He should be fast enough to use his excellent bunting ability to produce a fair number of infield singles, however. As I just mentioned, Martinez is a step slower than your typical CF, but he's very sure-handed, with a flair for the spectacular; he'll make his share of wall-climbing grabs and sprawling catches. He sprained his left ankle 3 times in high school, and once in college, and has complained of shoulder stiffness several times in the past. If he's not hurt, though, he'll play every day.
6. Harry Navarre
Minnesota Fatboys
Bats: S
21 years old, High A
International FA, signed to a $16 million contract (Season 5)
Navarre's hitting approach is similar to Howie Kendrick. He doesn't have a whole lot of raw power, but seems to hit the ball on the nose every time he swings. Also like Kendrick, Navarre doesn't walk very often. Expect him to be in the batting title race several times in his career. Despite being fast, Navarre isn't a good baserunner, making a ton of aggressive (read: ill-advised) outs by trying to take the extra base. He's also one of the worst bunters in the organization. Navarre projects as a plus defender with excellent range. However, he suffered a severe hamstring tear last year, an injury that seems to have some serious long-term effects. Some scouts think that the injury may change Navarre's defensive outlook from excellent to merely good. He's still an excellent prospect, but one that comes with a few question marks.
5. Nicholas Helms
Iowa City Comics
Bats: R
20 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (28th overall, Season 6)
Helms has very good power, but struggles a bit against right-handed pitching and still can't lay off of a good slider when behind in the count. Of course, he's earned this ranking by way of defense. Like Curtis Granderson, Helms lacks top-end speed for a CF (in fact, he's downright slow for the position), but makes up for it with excellent instincts and positioning. He has tremendous range and the ability to make dazzling catches, a combination that should make him a staple of Sportscenter's Webgems for the next dozen years.
4. Tony Pascual
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Bats: L
20 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (10th overall, Season 6)
Pascual is close to being a perfect lead-off man. He's a very good contact hitter, has a solid swing, has fantastic plate discipline (with enough power to keep pitchers honest), and is a fast, intelligent baserunner with the ability to bunt for hits and steal bases. He does hit considerably better against righties than lefties, although the difference probably isn't enough to justify a platooning or anything. Defensively, he projects to be solid; while he'll make his share of miscues, he covers enough ground to make up for his faults. The only real issue with Pascual is his injury history; he's extremely fragile, having visited the DL 4 times as a professional already. If the injuries keep piling up, they may end up stunting his growth as a ballplayer.
3. Bip Reagan
New York Metropolitans
Bats: S
22 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (8th overall, Season 4)
No, he's not the top CF prospect in baseball, much less the top prospect in baseball. He's still a damn good player. His range at the position is ordinary, but his glovework is very strong. The Metropolitans haven't made it known whether he'll be playing 2B (where he'll be an annual GG candidate) or CF (where he'll be pretty good, but nothing special). Offensively, Reagan's trademark is a looping uppercut swing that generates a ton of power. He makes surprisingly good contact with said swing, but he hits a ton of routine flyballs and popups. A better hitter from the left-hand side. Reagan's plate discipline projects to be no better than average; as a result, he'll probably struggle to put up something resembling a league-average OBP most years. He doesn't take the team's conditioning program very seriously, and can be a bit of an attitude problem. He'll also see his share of ejections. Still, how many players with plus-plus power have the ability to play CF in the majors? (Hint: Look at the next two players on this list)
2. Shannon Perez
Los Angeles Hangars
Bats: L
18 years old, Rookie League
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (7th overall, Season 8)
Scouts love Perez. His power projects as an 80 on the scouting scale, and his plate discipline and swing both look to be solid. He has trouble picking up lefties at times, but seems to do very well for himself against righties. He'll whiff a lot, but it shouldn't become a major concern. His defense in CF projects to reach around league average, and his baserunning should become pretty good with time; coupled with his speed, Perez should be able to steal quite a few bases in the majors. Of course, the scary thing about prospects this young is the gap between what he is and what he can be; Perez doesn't get very high marks for his work ethic, and while Perez is notably durable, injuries can happen to anyone. There's a lot here to dream on, but it'll be a while before the Hangars can cash in.
1. Phil Walbeck
Vancouver Vigilantes
Bats: R
18 years old, Rookie League
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (11th overall, Season 8)
Like the two hitters ranked just below him, Walbeck projects to plus-plus power. Unlike them, however, Walbeck's swing projects as excellent; despite his struggles to make contact, Walbeck should still be able to hit for a respectable average against both lefties and righties, and should also hit his share of screamers in the gaps. Walbeck's speed is pretty average for the position. He's a very smart baserunner that knows when to take advantage of a weaker defense, and when to play it safe. He projects to be about average defensively in CF, maybe a bit better. The comment referring to Shannon Perez's youth works with Walbeck as well, although Walbeck's work ethic hasn't been called into question yet. If he reaches his ceiling, he'll be a superstar.
Left handed CFs: Range + Glove must equal at least 160 (accounting for the fact that defensively challenged RH CFs may move over to 2B. Left-handed CFs do not have that option, so playing a weaker defensive player at CF makes more sense should that player be left-handed).
No base for arm accuracy/strength.
10. Pablo Nieves
Colorado Springs Silver Stars
Bats: R
21 years old, AA
Signed as an international FA ($4.3 million, Season 6)
A fairly nondescript prospect at first glance, Nieves should nonetheless be at least a championship-caliber backup, or a fringy starter. Nieves' offensive game is fairly well-rounded; he has some pop, hits well against southpaws (while struggling against righties), and displays pretty good patience at the plate. He doesn't run well for a CF, but makes the most of his abilities; defensively, he gets good jumps to compensate for his lack of speed, and on the bases, he'll exercise good judgment. He'll be a fine 2B should the Silver Stars decide to leave him there, but can certainly handle CF well enough to merit a move.
9. Marvin Stern
Colorado Springs Silver Stars
Bats: R
19 years old, High A
Drafted (HS) in the 2nd round (52nd overall, Season 7)
Stern's bat is fairly unimpressive. He's not a terrible hitter, but has trouble driving good pitching, especially against southpaws. A pitcher with a good fastball can knock the bat out of Stern's hands on an inside heater. He also doesn't have much raw power; expect him to put up a sub-.400 SLG with regularity at the ML level. He does do the little things well, though; he's an exciting defender with outstanding speed and athleticism. With some work, he could become a threat on the bases as well. A solid bunter, which should come in handy. He'll be there to play every day, but he does have character issues, and doesn't seem to respond well to criticism.
8. Ray Lyons
Oklahoma City Twins
Bats: L
20 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (15th overall, Season 6)
Lyons doesn't profile as an intimidating hitter. He's yet to hit double digits in homers in any given season in the minors. Still, he does have excellent bat control, no platoon split, decent patience, and good speed. His instincts on the bases are top-notch, and he bunts very well, making him an ideal tactical player for "small-ball" managers. Ron Gardenhire would love him. He covers a lot of real estate in center, getting great reads off the bat and taking direct routes to the ball. Never hurt, and doesn't take days off. He's an extreme pull-hitter, despite his lack of power; this is because he crowds the plate enough to pull anything within the strike zone, and has quick hands that get through the hitting zone fast enough to catch up with the inside pitch.
7. Vic Martinez
Richmond Roustabouts
Bats: R
23 years old, AAA
Drafted (College JR) in the 1st round (3rd overall, Season 6)
Another hitter who doesn't excel at anything, but has no weaknesses, Martinez should hit for fairly good averages, draw some walks, and hit his share of homers. He runs fairly well, but is probably slower than your average CF. While he's a good baserunner, he doesn't quite have the top-end speed to become a weapon as a base thief. He should be fast enough to use his excellent bunting ability to produce a fair number of infield singles, however. As I just mentioned, Martinez is a step slower than your typical CF, but he's very sure-handed, with a flair for the spectacular; he'll make his share of wall-climbing grabs and sprawling catches. He sprained his left ankle 3 times in high school, and once in college, and has complained of shoulder stiffness several times in the past. If he's not hurt, though, he'll play every day.
6. Harry Navarre
Minnesota Fatboys
Bats: S
21 years old, High A
International FA, signed to a $16 million contract (Season 5)
Navarre's hitting approach is similar to Howie Kendrick. He doesn't have a whole lot of raw power, but seems to hit the ball on the nose every time he swings. Also like Kendrick, Navarre doesn't walk very often. Expect him to be in the batting title race several times in his career. Despite being fast, Navarre isn't a good baserunner, making a ton of aggressive (read: ill-advised) outs by trying to take the extra base. He's also one of the worst bunters in the organization. Navarre projects as a plus defender with excellent range. However, he suffered a severe hamstring tear last year, an injury that seems to have some serious long-term effects. Some scouts think that the injury may change Navarre's defensive outlook from excellent to merely good. He's still an excellent prospect, but one that comes with a few question marks.
5. Nicholas Helms
Iowa City Comics
Bats: R
20 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (28th overall, Season 6)
Helms has very good power, but struggles a bit against right-handed pitching and still can't lay off of a good slider when behind in the count. Of course, he's earned this ranking by way of defense. Like Curtis Granderson, Helms lacks top-end speed for a CF (in fact, he's downright slow for the position), but makes up for it with excellent instincts and positioning. He has tremendous range and the ability to make dazzling catches, a combination that should make him a staple of Sportscenter's Webgems for the next dozen years.
4. Tony Pascual
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Bats: L
20 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (10th overall, Season 6)
Pascual is close to being a perfect lead-off man. He's a very good contact hitter, has a solid swing, has fantastic plate discipline (with enough power to keep pitchers honest), and is a fast, intelligent baserunner with the ability to bunt for hits and steal bases. He does hit considerably better against righties than lefties, although the difference probably isn't enough to justify a platooning or anything. Defensively, he projects to be solid; while he'll make his share of miscues, he covers enough ground to make up for his faults. The only real issue with Pascual is his injury history; he's extremely fragile, having visited the DL 4 times as a professional already. If the injuries keep piling up, they may end up stunting his growth as a ballplayer.
3. Bip Reagan
New York Metropolitans
Bats: S
22 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (8th overall, Season 4)
No, he's not the top CF prospect in baseball, much less the top prospect in baseball. He's still a damn good player. His range at the position is ordinary, but his glovework is very strong. The Metropolitans haven't made it known whether he'll be playing 2B (where he'll be an annual GG candidate) or CF (where he'll be pretty good, but nothing special). Offensively, Reagan's trademark is a looping uppercut swing that generates a ton of power. He makes surprisingly good contact with said swing, but he hits a ton of routine flyballs and popups. A better hitter from the left-hand side. Reagan's plate discipline projects to be no better than average; as a result, he'll probably struggle to put up something resembling a league-average OBP most years. He doesn't take the team's conditioning program very seriously, and can be a bit of an attitude problem. He'll also see his share of ejections. Still, how many players with plus-plus power have the ability to play CF in the majors? (Hint: Look at the next two players on this list)
2. Shannon Perez
Los Angeles Hangars
Bats: L
18 years old, Rookie League
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (7th overall, Season 8)
Scouts love Perez. His power projects as an 80 on the scouting scale, and his plate discipline and swing both look to be solid. He has trouble picking up lefties at times, but seems to do very well for himself against righties. He'll whiff a lot, but it shouldn't become a major concern. His defense in CF projects to reach around league average, and his baserunning should become pretty good with time; coupled with his speed, Perez should be able to steal quite a few bases in the majors. Of course, the scary thing about prospects this young is the gap between what he is and what he can be; Perez doesn't get very high marks for his work ethic, and while Perez is notably durable, injuries can happen to anyone. There's a lot here to dream on, but it'll be a while before the Hangars can cash in.
1. Phil Walbeck
Vancouver Vigilantes
Bats: R
18 years old, Rookie League
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (11th overall, Season 8)
Like the two hitters ranked just below him, Walbeck projects to plus-plus power. Unlike them, however, Walbeck's swing projects as excellent; despite his struggles to make contact, Walbeck should still be able to hit for a respectable average against both lefties and righties, and should also hit his share of screamers in the gaps. Walbeck's speed is pretty average for the position. He's a very smart baserunner that knows when to take advantage of a weaker defense, and when to play it safe. He projects to be about average defensively in CF, maybe a bit better. The comment referring to Shannon Perez's youth works with Walbeck as well, although Walbeck's work ethic hasn't been called into question yet. If he reaches his ceiling, he'll be a superstar.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Top Ten LF Prospects
*Reminder: Left fielders must project within 10 points of each defensive rating's recommendations:
RNG of at least 45
GLV of at least 45
AS of at least 40
AA of at least 40
10. Benito Belliard
Washington D.C. Bureaucrats
Bats: R
23 years old, AAA
Drafted (College FR) in the 1st round (45th overall, Season 4)
Belliard's power is his calling card. He's in his 5th minor league season, blasting 172 homers along the way, including 47 (and counting) this season. He makes solid contact and is fairly disciplined at the plate. Belliard shouldn't have any problems hitting for average, although he does have a fair platoon split (hitting better against LHP). Belliard is very fast, but a mediocre baserunner. He's also a bit slow in reacting to fly balls. His arm and glovework out there are both adequate. Currently sporting a gaudy 1.107 OPS in AAA, it's a bit of a mystery as to why he's not on the ML roster right now. The Bureaucrats were in the thick of the Wildcard race until recently (and still have an outside shot), and Belliard is probably better than incumbent LF Preston Grieve right now.
9. Lazy Rigney
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Bats: R
21 years old, Low A
Drafted (College JR) in the 1st round (17th overall, Season 8)
Among the best contact hitters in the low minors, Rigney is also Wichita State's all-time leader in single-season batting average. The man can flat-out rake. He has an excellent swing, one that's very effective against righties, but almost otherworldly against lefties. His raw power only rates as a hair above average, but his swing makes that power play up a full grade. He will chase bad pitches, but his hand-eye coordination is so good that he can still line a good fastball at the shoulders into the gaps, or golf an ankle-high curveball down the left-field line. He's a solid LF, but doesn't have the athleticism or arm to play in right. Lazy isn't his birthname, but a nickname he earned in middle school that's stuck with him ever since. Not surprisingly, he's difficult to motivate, and looked terribly out of shape during training sessions. It'll take a hell of a coach to get the best of him.
8. Denny Abercrombie
Buffalo Europeans
Bats: R
20 years old, High A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (17th overall, Season 6)
Abercrombie is a natural left fielder. He's very fluid out there, with little wasted motion, and makes a beeline for the ball every time. He's also very sure-handed, already establishing himself as a playmaker that makes even the most difficult catches look easy. At the plate, Abercrombie profiles as a middle-of-the-order bat. He has very good power and patience, and should be able to maintain a reasonable batting average against both lefties and righties. Strangely though, Abercrombie isn't a very good pull hitter, preferring to drive the ball to right field. He's not very big, but has a lot of lean muscle; scouts swear they've seen him hit the ball 450 feet the other way in batting practice.
7. Enrique Melendez
Ottawa Otters
Bats: L
20 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (16th overall, Season 6)
Melendez has no weaknesses as a hitter, unless you count his complete inability to lay down a bunt. He has no platoon split, plus power, excellent contact skills, a mechanically sound swing, and solid patience at the plate. He accelerates surprisingly well, allowing him to cover a lot of ground in left with just average speed. Melendez is also one of the more intelligent players in the minors; he carries a copy of Ted Williams' The Science of Hitting whereever he goes, and diligently studies videos breaking down his swing and approach against opposing pitchers.
6. Jesus Benitez
Philadelphia Phenomenauts
Bats: S
21 years old, AAA
International FA, signed to a $20.1 million deal (Season 8)
Just signed out of Nicaragua. Benitez is probably the best contact hitter in minor league baseball, and would rank among the best in the majors as well. He has good power and patience, and is equally skilled from each side of the plate. Continuing the theme, he's another top LF prospect that has absolutely no idea how to bunt. In Benitez's case, he didn't even know what "bunting" was (coaches had to ask other players "Como se dice "bunt?" and Benitez still didn't understand the translation, either). Benitez has good speed, which translates over to his defense; he could play LF in the bigs today, and has room for growth. Benitez was given a very substantial signing bonus, but hasn't let the money spoil him; coaches call him "tireless" in his pursuit to become a better ballplayer.
5. Stuart Stahl
San Antonio Sting
Bats: R
21 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (16th overall, Season 5)
Stahl is easily a major-league caliber hitter right now. He doesn't strike out, hits the ball with authority against all pitchers, and has very good raw power. A converted 1B from his high school days; it shows in the field. Stahl is fairly fast, but never takes the shortest route to the ball, and occasionally muffs a few plays when he's near the fence. He throws like you'd expect a 1B to. An asset offensively, but like Benitez and Melendez, an atrocious bunter. During drills, he managed to completely miss on half of his pitches, and either popped up or fouled off the rest. Just awful, although not really important.
4. Marc Collier
Los Angeles Hangars
Bats: R
23 years old, AA
Drafted (College SR) in the 1st round (9th overall, Season 7)
Collier gives opposing right-handed pitchers nightmares. He has tremendous power, and seems to use every ounce of that power on every swing he makes against same-handed pitchers, sending ball after ball into the stratosphere. He's not nearly the same force of nature against southpaws, but can certainly hold his own. He does chase bad pitches, and will strike out occassionally, so he's certainly not without flaws. His defense in left is iffy at best. He's not fast enough to cover the LCF gap or balls hit down the line, and will botch plays that should be fairly routine for an ML defender. The bat will definitely play, though.
3. Felix McDowell
Cheyenne Tackleberries
Bats: L
20 years old, High A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (13th overall, Season 6)
McDowell is one of the best opposite-field hitters you will see. He has outstanding bat control, and has a fantastic inside-out swing that results in a ton of singles and doubles to right field, a la Joe Mauer. And yet, he still manages to have plus power; he projects to hit 30 homers per year in his prime, opposite-field swing and all. A terror against RHP, but he's easily good enough against southpaws to merit everyday playing time. He's a tremendously hard worker, but he's a long shot to stick at 2nd base, lacking the quickness or hands to play in the infield. A shift to LF should be imminent, where he projects as a plus defender with plenty of range.
2. Dmitri Henderson
Cheyenne Tackleberries
Bats: R
21 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (2nd overall, Season 5)
The other of Cheyenne's two prized corner outfield prospects, assuming McDowell counts as a left fielder. Henderson rates as an above average major league hitter across the board; he doesn't strike out, has an excellent swing that should result in some gaudy batting averages, and displays fantastic patience and power. Don't be surprised to see him put up several .300/.400/.500 seasons at his peak. He also has good speed and awareness on the basepaths; while he's not a major threat to steal, he does a great job of picking his battles when taking the extra base. He's classified as a right fielder, where his glove would play, but his arm is a bit weak for the position.
1. Tony Guerrero
Phildelphia Phenomenauts
Bats: R
22 years old, AA
Drafted (College SO) in the 1st round (1st overall, Season 6)
Guerrero has outstanding power, but has struck out in just 11.6% of his at-bats in the minors. In addition, he absolutely destroys lefties, while doing plenty of damage against righties. He has solid patience; while he could stand to walk a bit more, that's just nitpicking. Guerrero's a future .300 hitter with legitimate 45-50 homer pop, and should be an annual All-Star candidate. The Sting and Phenomenauts have both toyed with the idea of playing him at 2B; he's responded by letting countless 4-hoppers dribble by him as he lumbers over helplessly, sometimes attempting a last-ditch lunge at the ball as it rolls past his outstretched glove. Needless to say, he's just not mobile enough for the position. His defense in LF, on the other hand, gets high marks; he's masterful at positioning himself, and plays the fence very well.
RNG of at least 45
GLV of at least 45
AS of at least 40
AA of at least 40
10. Benito Belliard
Washington D.C. Bureaucrats
Bats: R
23 years old, AAA
Drafted (College FR) in the 1st round (45th overall, Season 4)
Belliard's power is his calling card. He's in his 5th minor league season, blasting 172 homers along the way, including 47 (and counting) this season. He makes solid contact and is fairly disciplined at the plate. Belliard shouldn't have any problems hitting for average, although he does have a fair platoon split (hitting better against LHP). Belliard is very fast, but a mediocre baserunner. He's also a bit slow in reacting to fly balls. His arm and glovework out there are both adequate. Currently sporting a gaudy 1.107 OPS in AAA, it's a bit of a mystery as to why he's not on the ML roster right now. The Bureaucrats were in the thick of the Wildcard race until recently (and still have an outside shot), and Belliard is probably better than incumbent LF Preston Grieve right now.
9. Lazy Rigney
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Bats: R
21 years old, Low A
Drafted (College JR) in the 1st round (17th overall, Season 8)
Among the best contact hitters in the low minors, Rigney is also Wichita State's all-time leader in single-season batting average. The man can flat-out rake. He has an excellent swing, one that's very effective against righties, but almost otherworldly against lefties. His raw power only rates as a hair above average, but his swing makes that power play up a full grade. He will chase bad pitches, but his hand-eye coordination is so good that he can still line a good fastball at the shoulders into the gaps, or golf an ankle-high curveball down the left-field line. He's a solid LF, but doesn't have the athleticism or arm to play in right. Lazy isn't his birthname, but a nickname he earned in middle school that's stuck with him ever since. Not surprisingly, he's difficult to motivate, and looked terribly out of shape during training sessions. It'll take a hell of a coach to get the best of him.
8. Denny Abercrombie
Buffalo Europeans
Bats: R
20 years old, High A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (17th overall, Season 6)
Abercrombie is a natural left fielder. He's very fluid out there, with little wasted motion, and makes a beeline for the ball every time. He's also very sure-handed, already establishing himself as a playmaker that makes even the most difficult catches look easy. At the plate, Abercrombie profiles as a middle-of-the-order bat. He has very good power and patience, and should be able to maintain a reasonable batting average against both lefties and righties. Strangely though, Abercrombie isn't a very good pull hitter, preferring to drive the ball to right field. He's not very big, but has a lot of lean muscle; scouts swear they've seen him hit the ball 450 feet the other way in batting practice.
7. Enrique Melendez
Ottawa Otters
Bats: L
20 years old, AA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (16th overall, Season 6)
Melendez has no weaknesses as a hitter, unless you count his complete inability to lay down a bunt. He has no platoon split, plus power, excellent contact skills, a mechanically sound swing, and solid patience at the plate. He accelerates surprisingly well, allowing him to cover a lot of ground in left with just average speed. Melendez is also one of the more intelligent players in the minors; he carries a copy of Ted Williams' The Science of Hitting whereever he goes, and diligently studies videos breaking down his swing and approach against opposing pitchers.
6. Jesus Benitez
Philadelphia Phenomenauts
Bats: S
21 years old, AAA
International FA, signed to a $20.1 million deal (Season 8)
Just signed out of Nicaragua. Benitez is probably the best contact hitter in minor league baseball, and would rank among the best in the majors as well. He has good power and patience, and is equally skilled from each side of the plate. Continuing the theme, he's another top LF prospect that has absolutely no idea how to bunt. In Benitez's case, he didn't even know what "bunting" was (coaches had to ask other players "Como se dice "bunt?" and Benitez still didn't understand the translation, either). Benitez has good speed, which translates over to his defense; he could play LF in the bigs today, and has room for growth. Benitez was given a very substantial signing bonus, but hasn't let the money spoil him; coaches call him "tireless" in his pursuit to become a better ballplayer.
5. Stuart Stahl
San Antonio Sting
Bats: R
21 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (16th overall, Season 5)
Stahl is easily a major-league caliber hitter right now. He doesn't strike out, hits the ball with authority against all pitchers, and has very good raw power. A converted 1B from his high school days; it shows in the field. Stahl is fairly fast, but never takes the shortest route to the ball, and occasionally muffs a few plays when he's near the fence. He throws like you'd expect a 1B to. An asset offensively, but like Benitez and Melendez, an atrocious bunter. During drills, he managed to completely miss on half of his pitches, and either popped up or fouled off the rest. Just awful, although not really important.
4. Marc Collier
Los Angeles Hangars
Bats: R
23 years old, AA
Drafted (College SR) in the 1st round (9th overall, Season 7)
Collier gives opposing right-handed pitchers nightmares. He has tremendous power, and seems to use every ounce of that power on every swing he makes against same-handed pitchers, sending ball after ball into the stratosphere. He's not nearly the same force of nature against southpaws, but can certainly hold his own. He does chase bad pitches, and will strike out occassionally, so he's certainly not without flaws. His defense in left is iffy at best. He's not fast enough to cover the LCF gap or balls hit down the line, and will botch plays that should be fairly routine for an ML defender. The bat will definitely play, though.
3. Felix McDowell
Cheyenne Tackleberries
Bats: L
20 years old, High A
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (13th overall, Season 6)
McDowell is one of the best opposite-field hitters you will see. He has outstanding bat control, and has a fantastic inside-out swing that results in a ton of singles and doubles to right field, a la Joe Mauer. And yet, he still manages to have plus power; he projects to hit 30 homers per year in his prime, opposite-field swing and all. A terror against RHP, but he's easily good enough against southpaws to merit everyday playing time. He's a tremendously hard worker, but he's a long shot to stick at 2nd base, lacking the quickness or hands to play in the infield. A shift to LF should be imminent, where he projects as a plus defender with plenty of range.
2. Dmitri Henderson
Cheyenne Tackleberries
Bats: R
21 years old, AAA
Drafted (HS) in the 1st round (2nd overall, Season 5)
The other of Cheyenne's two prized corner outfield prospects, assuming McDowell counts as a left fielder. Henderson rates as an above average major league hitter across the board; he doesn't strike out, has an excellent swing that should result in some gaudy batting averages, and displays fantastic patience and power. Don't be surprised to see him put up several .300/.400/.500 seasons at his peak. He also has good speed and awareness on the basepaths; while he's not a major threat to steal, he does a great job of picking his battles when taking the extra base. He's classified as a right fielder, where his glove would play, but his arm is a bit weak for the position.
1. Tony Guerrero
Phildelphia Phenomenauts
Bats: R
22 years old, AA
Drafted (College SO) in the 1st round (1st overall, Season 6)
Guerrero has outstanding power, but has struck out in just 11.6% of his at-bats in the minors. In addition, he absolutely destroys lefties, while doing plenty of damage against righties. He has solid patience; while he could stand to walk a bit more, that's just nitpicking. Guerrero's a future .300 hitter with legitimate 45-50 homer pop, and should be an annual All-Star candidate. The Sting and Phenomenauts have both toyed with the idea of playing him at 2B; he's responded by letting countless 4-hoppers dribble by him as he lumbers over helplessly, sometimes attempting a last-ditch lunge at the ball as it rolls past his outstretched glove. Needless to say, he's just not mobile enough for the position. His defense in LF, on the other hand, gets high marks; he's masterful at positioning himself, and plays the fence very well.
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