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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2015 20:36:20 GMT -5
TOP PROSPECTS
Scouting Scale (20-80):  * - On 25-man roster
Orange - Top-200 Prospect
Top Prospects:
C - Jorge Alfaro (TEX) - #53 - (55) - ETA: 2017
C - Chance Sisco (BAL) - #78 - (55) - ETA: 2017
C - Grayson Greiner (DET) - #NR - (40) - ETA: N/A
C - Tom Murphy (COL) - #NR - (40) - ETA: 2016
1B - Dominic Smith (NYM) - #NR - (45) - ETA: 2017
1B - Christian Walker (BAL) - #NR - (45) - ETA: 2016
1B - Jake Bauers (TB) - #NR - (40) - ETA: 2018
1B - Ryon Healy (OAK) - #NR - (40) - ETA: N/A
1B - Keon Barnum (CWS) - #NR - (40) - ETA: 2018
1B - Jayce Boyd (NYM) - #NR - (40) - ETA: N/A
2B - Dilson Herrera (NYM) - #109 - (50) *
2B - Travis Demeritte (TEX) - #127 - (50) - ETA: 2017
2B - Brian Anderson (MIA) - #NR - (45) - ETA: 2017
2B - Domingo Leyba (ARI) - #NR - (40) - ETA: 2018
SS - Tim Anderson (CWS) - #45 - (55) - ETA: 2017
SS - Amed Rosario (NYM) - #60 - (55) - ETA: 2018
SS - Franklin Barreto (OAK) - #79 - (50) - ETA: 2018
SS - Andrew Velazquez (TB) - #NR - (45) - ETA: 2018
SS - Matt Reynolds (NYM) - #NR - (45) - ETA: 2016
SS - Joshua Morgan (TEX) - #NR - (45) - ETA: 2019
SS - Adrian Rondon (TB) - #NR - (40) - ETA: N/A
SS - Isan Diaz (ARI) - #NR - (40) - ETA: 2019
SS - Hak-Ju Lee (TB) - #NR - (40) - ETA: 2016
3B - Rio Ruiz (ATL) - #43 - (55) - ETA: 2017
3B - Ryan McMahon (COL) - #63 - (55) - ETA: 2018
3B - Alex Blandino (CIN) - #122 - (50) - ETA: 2017
3B - Michael Chavis (BOS) - #NR - (45) - ETA: 2019
3B - Nelson Gomez (NYY) - #NR - (40) - ETA: N/A
3B - Seth Mejias-Brean (CIN) - #NR - (40) - ETA: 2016
OF - Alex Jackson - OF - #20 - (60) - ETA: 2019
OF - Nomar Mazara (TEX) - #46 - (55) - ETA: 2017
OF - Michael Conforto (NYM) - #77 - (55) - ETA: 2017
OF - Phillip Ervin (CIN) - #NR - (50) - ETA: 2018
OF - Tyler Naquin (CLE) - #NR - (45) - ETA: N/A
OF - Magneuris Sierra (STL) - #NR - (45) - ETA: N/A
OF - Elier Hernandez (KC) - #NR - (40) - ETA: N/A
OF - Mike Yastrzemski (BAL) - #NR - (40) - ETA: N/A
OF - Rafael Bautista (WAS) - #NR - (40) - ETA: 2018
OF - Amaurys Minier (MIN) - #NR - (40) - ETA: 2019
OF - Chuckie Jones (SF) - #NR - (40) - ETA: N/A
OF - Michael Reed (MIL) - #NR - (40) - ETA: N/A
OF - Mikie Mahtook (TB) - #NR - (40) - ETA: 2015
OF - Anthony Santander (CLE) - #NR - (40) - ETA: N/A
OF - Dorssys Paulino (CLE) - #NR - (40) - ETA: N/A
OF - Anfernee Seymour (MIA) - #NR - (40) - ETA: N/A
P - Robert Stephenson (CIN) - #25 - (60) - ETA: 2016
P - Jon Gray (COL) - #28 - (60) - ETA: 2016
P - Hunter Harvey (BAL) - #36 - (55) - ETA: 2017
P - Max Fried (ATL) - #68 - (55) - ETA: 2018
P - Marco Gonzales - #82 - (50) - ETA: 2015
P - Touki Toussaint - #114 - (50) - ETA: 2019
P - Ricardo Sanchez (ATL) - #138 - (50) - ETA: 2018
P - Tyler Danish (CWS) - #142 - (50) - ETA: 2017 P - Tyler Anderson (COL) - #NR - (50) - ETA: 2016
P - Zach Davies (BAL) - #NR - (45) - ETA: 2016 P - Heath Fillmyer (OAK) - #NR - (45) - ETA: 2019 P - Amir Garrett (CIN) - #NR - (45) - ETA: 2018 P - Adalberto Mejia (SF) - #NR - (45) - ETA: N/A P - Alberto Tirado (TOR) - #NR - (45) - ETA: N/A
P - Jerad Eickhoff (TEX) - #NR - (45) - ETA: 2016
P - Shae Simmons (ATL) - #NR - (45) *
P - Carson Sands (CHC) - #NR - (45) - ETA: 2019
P - J.T. Chargois (MIN) - #NR - (45) - ETA: 2017
P - Stephen Gonsalves (MIN) - #NR - (40) - ETA: 2018
P - Nicholas Pivetta (WAS) - #NR - (40) - ETA: 2018 P - Matthew Andriese (TB) - #NR - (40) * P - Edwin Escobar (BOS) - #NR - (40) - ETA: 2015 P - Andrew Thurman (ATL) - #NR - (40) - ETA: 2018 P - Dillon Peters (MIA) - #NR - (40) - ETA: N/A P - Kendry Flores (MIA) - #NR - (40) - ETA: 2017 P - Zach Reininger (DET) - #NR - (40) - ETA: N/A P - Chase DeJong (TOR) - #NR - (40) - ETA: N/A P - Mark Armstrong (CIN) -#NR - (40) - ETA: N/A P - Ty Hensley (NYY) - #NR - (40) - ETA: N/A P - Thomas Robson (TOR) - #NR - (40) - ETA: N/A
P - Huascar Ynoa (MIN) - #NR - (40) - ETA: N/A
P - Spencer Turnbull (DET) - #NR - (40) - ETA: N/A
Prospect Spotlight:
1. Alex Jackson - OF - SEA
- Jackson was known as a sophomore in high school as he showed and advanced feel to hit, big raw power and a huge arm behind the plate. He held that lofty perch until his draft year, as a legitimate contender to go #1 overall, but ultimately slipped to the Mariners at 6th overall. Jackson has easy plus raw power and arm strength, but the separator here is his advanced feel to hit to all fields and get to his power in games. Like Wil Myers and Bryce Harper before him and Kyle Schwarber (#21 on this list) from his draft class, Jackson’s bat is too advanced to wait on his glove to develop behind the plate, so the Mariners will just stick him in right field and let him hit his way to the big leagues.
- Age 19, 2014 first-rounder, hit .280/.344/.476 in 82 at-bats in rookie ball. Almost everyone loves Jackson’s bat and projects that he will hit for both power and average, though of course we need to see exactly what shape his production takes. If he hits as anticipated he can move into the A-territory next year
2. Robert Stephenson - P - CIN
- Stephenson surprisingly slipped to the end of the 1st round out of high school and has done what most scouts thought he would, turning a crazy loose arm into premium stuff in short order. This year was a struggle for Stephenson as he hadn’t really failed before, but at age-21 as more of a thrower than pitcher in Double-A, even plus stuff and a heater that hits 100 mph wouldn’t allow him to carve hitters up as he was accustomed. Stephenson will need to make that adjustment next season, but there are more than enough ingredients here for a mid-rotation starter, with a decent chance for even more. One scout compared Stephenson’s developmental path and possible eventual outcome to Homer Bailey. The command isn’t really the issue, so much as it is usage of his pitches, getting into good counts and challenging hitters in the right way, not always with a flat upper-90?s fastball up in the zone.
- Age 21, posted 4.74 ERA with 140/74 K/BB in 137 innings in Double-A, 114 hits. Strong K/IP and H/IP marks intact but command failed him too often last year. Top-of-rotation-stuff up to 99 MPH and a big breaking curve, change-up still needs work and command showed rough edges for Pensacola. Upside remains very high but needs more development work than it looked a year ago.
3. Jon Gray - P - COL
- Gray created tons of buzz midway through the 2013 spring with Oklahoma, coming from out of nowhere to hit 100 mph often, with a plus slider and usable changeup. He was in the mix for the #1 overall pick but ended up going 3rd overall to Colorado. Since signing, Gray’s velocity has been down some, mostly sitting 91-94 and hitting 95 mph, but Rockies sources say this is intentional and he’s working on some things (they already smoothed out his delivery), which scouts assumed after Gray hit 98 mph in a short Texas League All-Star Game appearance. I think he’ll settle at 92-94 with more movement and command, with the slider still plus and the changeup having it’s moments. Scouts are a little concerned that Gray is a below average athlete and the command still isn’t quite there yet, but it’s hard to walk away from this stuff.
- Age 23, posted 3.91 ERA with 113/41 K/BB in 124 innings in Double-A, 107 hits. Not as dominant as he was in college, velocity down some but stuff still fine overall, low-to-mid-90s with strong slider and improved changeup. Still top-of-the-rotation upside. Possible parallel: Sonny Gray (no relation) who was less than dominant in his first Double-A season but adjusted and thrived.
4. Hunter Harvey - P - BAL
- Harvey is the son of former big league reliever Bryan Harvey and wasn’t well known until his draft spring as he opted to play Legion ball instead of hitting the showcase circuit. He went from sitting around 90 with a skinny, lanky frame to hitting the mid-to-upper-90?s in his draft spring, attracting first round attention. Harvey’s 90-93 mph fastball that had hit 96 mph in high school was suddenly sitting 93-97 mph in the summer after he signed, when most prep pitchers are battling sore arms. Expectation adjusted upward and Harvey delivered this year in his full-season debut, with ground balls and strikeouts in bunches. Some elbow soreness sent him to the DL in July and Baltimore shut him down as he’d already reached his innings limit for the season. Scouts are a little wary of a young pitcher with limited innings getting shut down with elbow soreness, so they’d like to see him throw a couple solid starts before totally buying back in, but there’s frontline potential here.
- Borderline B. Rated as a strong B entering 2014, would be a firm B+ now if not for forearm injury that ended season early. "Flexor mass strain" supposedly not a big deal but there has been pre-injury concern about his delivery, so we’ll see. When right, looks like a future number two starter with three quality pitches and plus makeup.
5. Rio Ruiz - 3B - ATL
- Ruiz signed with the Astros for an over slot $1.85 million with the money they saved going under slot on SS Carlos Correa as the #1 overall pick in 2012. Ruiz slipped to the 4th round after being in the top 50 pick discussion early in the spring, due to a blood clot in his neck that prematurely ended his season. He was also a standout quarterback in high school, which shows with his above average arm strength, but the 6-foot-2/215 lefty hitter isn’t a traditionally great athlete. He was acquired earlier this month by Atlanta in the Evan Gattis deal. Ruiz is a below average runner with fringy range that limits his defensive upside, though it looks right now like he’ll be able to stay at the hot corner, with the above average raw power to profile. The carrying tool is the bat and Ruiz took a step forward in 2014, but some scouts would like to see him do it outside of the Cal League before throwing a 60 on his hit tool. With a solid year for Atlanta in Double-A in 2015, he’ll be on the fast track for a big league look and is already their third baseman of the future.
- Age 20, hit .293/.387/.436 with 11 homers, 82 walks, 91 strikeouts in 516 at-bats in High-A. Acquired over the winter from Astros in Evan Gattis deal, Ruiz has a clean swing and sharp strike zone judgment but has not fully tapped his power yet. Double-A transition will be illuminating but still projects as a regular.
6. Tim Anderson - SS - CWS
- Anderson was almost completely unknown entering his draft year, as he went undrafted in 2012 at the same junior college where he went in the 1st round in 2013. He came out late in spring 2012 after basketball season ended and was often hidden in left field, so it wasn’t easy for scouts to pick up on the raw tools at a rural junior college game with their pref lists mostly set. Anderson is the loose athlete every scout is looking for, with easy plus speed, a plus arm and, despite some issues he’s working on with fundamentals and footwork, he has the tools to stick at shortstop. He has plus bat speed, above average bat control and surprising pop, flashing average raw power. Anderson’s feel to hit can sometimes get in his way: he isn’t as patient at the plate as he should be, with his ability to square up most pitches he’s facing now holding back his long-term interests. That said, he’s still hasn’t played much high level baseball, he’s already in Double-A at age 21 and the talent is ridiculous.
- Age 21, first round pick in 2013, hit .301/.327/.481 in 83 games at three levels, mostly in High-A. Outstanding physical tools, has stolen 34 bases in 43 attempts in 151 career games, unusual speed/power combination for a shortstop. Significant flaw is very impatient approach, posted a terrible 9/82 BB/K ratio in 345 at-bats last year. Defense is also very erratic and led Carolina League in errors. All-Star upside is clear but questions about long-term defensive home and over-aggressive offensive approach argue against over-hype at this time.
7. Nomar Mazara - OF - TEX
- Mazara’s all-time record-smashing $4.95 million bonus in the last year before international bonus pools opened some eyes, both for the amount and the player. Some pointed to a hitchy swing with timing issues and that was still a concern after last year’s just okay full-season debut at age 18, where Mazara hit .236 with 131 Ks in Low-A. This year, the 19-year-old Mazara made the necessary adjustments, getting his foot down faster which unlocked his bat speed and strength while giving him more time to make a decision on the pitch. He jumped all the way to Double-A, where he’ll start this year and it now on the fast track with a classic power/power right field profile.
- Age 19, hit .264/.358/.470 in Low-A then .306/.381/.518 after moving up to Double-A for 24 games. Made real progress turning raw power into game power, defense also sharper. Downside would be Karim Garcia-like stagnation at higher levels, upside is .280, 30-homer hitter. This ranking is more aggressive than typical but Mazara was really impressive.
8. Jorge Alfaro - C - TEX
- Alfaro’s easy plus raw power may never fully play at the big league level, but since he can stick behind the plate, it won’t have to. Alfaro has the tools to be an above average defender and his plus-plus arm is a huge weapon, but he still needs some work on the finer points of catching, as his arm strength allows him to get away with stuff in the minors that he won’t be able to do in the majors. Like catchers below like O’Conner, Betancourt and Hedges, Alfaro has some trouble with his approach and reaching his offensive upside, but his raw tools are the best of that bunch and he’ll head to Double-A to start 2015 as Texas’ catcher of the future.
- Age 21, ranks ahead of Mazara on most lists but he is two years older and a less effective hitter. Despite all of his superb defensive tools, he remains a rough defender prone to excessive mistakes and receiving miscues with little sign of improvement. If he can’t sharpen his catching skills, his attractiveness goes way down. Can’t rate him higher until his defensive results improve, but B/B+ is still a high grade all things considered.
9. Amed Rosario - SS - NYM
- Rosario got the biggest international bonus in club history two years ago and has done nothing but impress since then. Scouts have called him special and the most athletic player in the Mets system. He has the live body, quick hands, instincts and ability to adjust to challenges along with the broad shoulders to project more strength to come. Rosario skipped the DSL and adjusted as older competition came at him; this is the high ceiling guy with feel for the game that you can dream on. Rosario has feel to stay inside the ball and works the middle of the field in games, with a surprising amount of homers to right-center field already. Scouts have mentioned Addison Russell, Hanley Ramirez and Adrian Beltre as possible comps and each has some things in common with Rosario, but his full-season debut will tell us more about the kind of player he’s becoming.
- Age 19, hit .289/.337/.380 in NY-P. Scouting reports and defense are ahead of his offensive production at this point, hardly atypical for his age of course. High ceiling with both bat and glove, needs work with the strike zone and defensive reliability. Like Molina, could shoot to the top of the list next year.
10. Ryan McMahon - 3B - COL
- Some teams were skeptical before the draft of McMahon’s ability to corral his long limbs to make enough contact long-term, but some scouts I talked to were all-in after an impressive full-season debut. One scout argued McMahon could be the Rockies #1 prospect right now and with Gray/Butler possibly graduating next year and McMahon heading to the hitter-friendly Cal League in 2015, that may happen next year. He strikes out more than you’d like to see, but McMahon is just 19 and was also a star quarterback in high school (another example of a Rockies draft pick with that on his resume), so there’s still a need for reps. McMahon projects for plus raw power and, while he isn’t there right now, most believe with some work he will be able to stick at third base long-term.
- Age 20, hit .282/.358/.502 with 18 homers, 46 doubles, 54 walks, 143 strikeouts in 482 at-bats for Asheville. Power is genuine but home park boosted other hitting stats, hit .308/.368/.508 at home but .256/.349/.496 on road. Scouts well, glove should be solid with more experience, could be the player that Ian Stewart was supposed to be.
11. Max Fried - P - ATL
- The 6-foot-4/185 lefty was half of what may have been the best 1-2 punch in high school baseball history, with Nationals top prospect RHP Lucas Giolito at Harvard Westlake High School in 2012. Unfortunately, Giolito’s senior season ended prematurely with soreness that led to Tommy John surgery and Fried himself also had the surgery performed on him this past August; the Braves acquired him from San Diego this winter as the headliner in the Justin Upton deal. He’s due back on the mound sometime around fall instructional league in 2015. Even in those few starts before his elbow popped in 2014, Fried’s stuff was still pretty close to his peak stuff: 90-93, hitting 96 mph with a plus curveball and improving above average changeup. His stuff will vary start to start and his changeup flashes 60 for some scouts, but not often and never when at the same time as his curveball. Fried’s clean mechanics aren’t a concern and he has lots of projection to his frame, so these future grades could be conservative; the upside is huge, with one scout mentioning Cole Hamels, but it’s still very early.
- Age 21, part of the Upton deal, missed almost all of 2014 with a bad elbow that eventually required Tommy John surgery. Will miss 2015 in recovery, when healthy features good command of low-90s fastball, good curve and change, number three starter upside.
12. Michael Conforto - OF - NYM
- Conforto was a well-known as an elite hitting prospect early in his career at Oregon State but kicked it into another gear in his draft year. His plus raw power and bat speed from the left side to go with a patient and power-focused approach appealed to a lot of scouts, with the Mets taking Conforto off the board at 10th overall. He earned a shaky defensive reputation in college and when I saw him in the summer after his sophomore year for Team USA, his arm was a 40 or 45 and he was still having some difficulty getting good jumps. He took a step forward in his draft spring, looking about average defensively with his arm suddenly playing average to slightly above. The idea that he was a first baseman was gone and the coaches in Brooklyn raved about Conforto’s defense after he signed. The bat is the carrying tool for Conforto and he’s the same age as Nimmo, so it’ll be interesting to compare their development over the next few years as advanced corner bats.
- Age 21. Very advanced college hitter with above-average power and good strike zone judgment, should not need very long in the minors. Hit .331/.403/.448 in New York-Penn League. Athleticism may be underrated but his defense still needs polish, which is OK if he hits as expected.
13. Chance Sisco - C - BAL
- Sisco was an under-the-radar draft prospect that didn’t go to the big showcases and only started catching in his senior year, because he pitched and played multiple positions. He’s still rough at times behind the plate, but it’s more due to a lack of experience with the little things than a lack of ability. The tools are there to stick behind the plate and be average defensively, with enough arm for the position, though Sisco needs to work on quickening his release. The carrying tool here is the bat and scouts grade it anywhere from 55 to 70, despite Sisco’s highest pro experience coming at Low-A. One scout said Sisco’s approach and offensive tools are similar to former Orioles RF Nick Markakis.
- At this point, an outstanding hitter for average, hit .371 in rookie ball in ’13 and .340 in Low-A in ’14. Not much home run power yet but that may come; defense also needs polish but tools seem reasonable enough. Upside: All-Star catcher. Risk: turns out like Bryan Anderson. Age 19. The Orioles think Sisco is their third best prospect and is their catcher of the future. He’ll head to High-A next year and with some defensive progress, Sisco could find himself on the fast track.
14. Franklin Barreto - SS - OAK
- Barreto was known to international scouts for years before he signed for $1.45 million on July 2nd, 2012 from Venezuela. There’s something to be said for smaller kids reaching their potential sooner than the more projectable, higher upside prospects, but don’t mistake Barreto for a low upside prospect just due to his size. He’s a plus runner that very well could end up sticking at shortstop, where he plays now and has made improvements, though most scouts see his actions and size and assume he slides over to second base or out to center field. At the least, he’ll offer the ability to play all three positions in the big leagues if needed. He’s so advanced at the plate that he may play both A-Ball levels in 2015 and zoom through the system, which is why the A’s made him a key part of the Josh Donaldson trade.
- Age 19, hit .311/.384/.481 with 29 steals in the Northwest League in Blue Jays system, acquired in Josh Donaldson trade. Fast, athletic, has some pop, strike zone judgment decent for his age, needs polish on defense but has the tools to stick in my view with more experience. Projects as a regular.
15. Marco Gonzales - P - STL
- In the 2013 draft, Gonzales was seen as a quick-moving college lefty with above average command and a plus changeup, but probably just #4 starter upside. He shot through the minors and had his first speed bump in his big league audition, but some minor adjustments should unlock a steady, league-average starter in short order.
- Age 23, posted 2.43 ERA with 117/27 K/BB in 122 innings at three levels, then 4.15 ERA with 31/21 K/BB in 35 big league innings. Rapid advancement for former Gonzaga ace, key pitch is excellent change-up along with low-90s fastball, decent curve, strong sense of his craft. Could relieve at first but number three starter in the long run.
16. Dilson Herrera - 2B - NYM
- Herrera follows in the footsteps of Rangers 2B Rougned Odor as a smallish Latin second baseman that was a known quantity on July 2nd, but had to settle for a low six figure bonus due to a lack of flashy tools. Both raked their way to the big leagues as potential everyday players, so maybe teams should change how they look at this kind of guy, but even now scouts find it hard to go all-in on Herrera. His swing is funny, he doesn’t project to hit for a lot of game power and he can only play second base, but he also raked his way to the big leagues at age 20 and there’s enough here for an everyday player.
- Age 20. He’s just 20. Hit .323/.379/.479 with 13 homers, 23 steals, 47/96 BB/K in 524 at-bats in High-A/Double-A. His reputation is growing but if anything he may still be under-estimated.
17. Touki Toussaint - P - ARI
- I saw Toussaint pitch in his sophomore year of high school and he was very athletic, sitting 88-91 mph with a plus curveball at age 16. He blew up the following fall before his junior year, when he hit 97 mph and flashed a 70 curveball in front of hundreds of scouts at a high profile tournament. He stalled a bit in the summer before his senior year and early in his draft spring, scuffling in the low-90’s with diminished stuff and little command. He broke out later in the spring, flashing the same power stuff from before, but choosing to dial it down a notch and working in a new changeup, so he could successfully command it and get hitters out. This adjustment got Toussaint drafted in the middle of the first round, but there’s still a long way to go.
- Age 18, posted 8.48 ERA with 32/18 K/BB in first 29 pro innings. 2014 first-rounder, amazing athlete with mid-90s heat and one of the best curveballs to come out of the high school ranks since Bert Blyleven. He’s raw and could develop into anything from a number one starter to a Double-A burnout, but an awful lot of fun to watch.
18. Alex Blandino - 2B - CIN - Blandino hit two straight summers on the Cape but struggled during the spring with the short-sighted hitting philosophy at Stanford. He broke out in his draft year and showed more raw power, hitting his way into the first round. The Reds think he might be able to stick at shortstop and he played third base at Stanford, but most scouts have thought for years that Blandino’s best fit is at second base.
- Age 22, first round pick out of Stanford, hit .283/.367/.480 between Pioneer and Midwest Leagues with better-than-expected defense at shortstop, though second base may still be the long-term position. Solid all-around bat with pop, seems like he might be able to avoid the problematic record of Stanford hitters in pro ball.
19. Travis Demeritte - 2B - TEX
- Demeritte drew Brandon Phillips comparisons as an offensive standout Atlanta-area prep shortstop that projected to move to second base. He hit for power in his full-season debut, but didn’t make as much contact as you’d like to see. Demeritte has feel to hit and above average bat speed, so it’s more a matter of striking a contact/power balance. He has solid everyday tools and could move quick, but probably won’t be a star.
- Age 20, hit .211/.310/.450 with 25 homers, 50 walks, 171 strikeouts in 398 at-bats in Low-A. Tremendous bat speed and power, but another very aggressive young Texas hitter with contact issues.
20. Ricardo Sanchez - P - ATL
- Sanchez had a lot of good buzz in 2014 as an advanced 17-year-old pitcher in Rookie ball and he was surprisingly traded this offseason by the Angels to the Braves. Atlanta was surprised and thrilled that Sanchez was available and his solid average stuff and feel with a knockout curveball should move quickly through the minors, with his full-season debut coming in 2015 at Low-A.
- Age 17, acquired from Angels in off-season trade, posted 3.49 ERA with 43/22 K/BB in 39 innings in rookie ball. Low-90s fastball with improving curveball and change-up, command still needs work but he is very young. Mid-rotation upside if he proves he has stamina.
21. Tyler Danish - P - CWS
- I didn’t believe in Danish as a high schooler in the 2012 draft class because his arm action and delivery were, to be kind, unconventional. Chris Sale‘s mechanics were supposed to lead to his arm exploding, too, and that hasn’t happened, so maybe the White Sox just have a knack for finding the guys that can make this work. Danish is as competitive as they come and I think he’ll stick as a starter, but the stuff ticks up in relief, so don’t be surprised if he finds his way into the big league bullpen in late 2015 if there’s a need and a pennant race.
- Age 20, second round pick in 2013, posted 2.08 ERA with 103/33 K/BB in 130 innings between Low-A and High-A, 2.24 GO/AO. Outstanding pitchability with heavy sinker and slider, low arm angle, rapidly-improving change-up. Doesn’t have the physical upside of Francellis Montas but is more polished, more likely to remain a starter.
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Post by Das (Former Giants GM) on Jul 5, 2015 1:44:14 GMT -5
1. Franklin Barreto, SS OAK
Current Level/Age: SS/19.0, 5’9/175, R/R
Signed: IFA at age 16 on July 2, 2012 out of Venezuela by TOR for $1.45 million bonus
Hit: 20/55, Raw Power: 45/45, Game Power: 20/45, Run: 65/65, Field: 50/55, Throw: 60/60
Scouting Report: Barreto was known to international scouts for years before he signed for $1.45 million on July 2nd, 2012 from Venezuela. There’s something to be said for smaller kids reaching their potential sooner than the more projectable, higher upside prospects, but don’t mistake Barreto for a low upside prospect just due to his size. He’s a plus runner that very well could end up sticking at shortstop, where he plays now and has made improvements, though most scouts see his actions and size and assume he slides over to second base or out to center field. At the least, he’ll offer the ability to play all three positions in the big leagues if needed.
Barreto is well-built for 5’9/175 and his swing does a good job staying balanced for contact while also transferring his weight and giving him a chance to hit 10-15 homers per year at maturity. That said, the carrying tool here is the bat and more than a few scouts told me they have a 60 on it, even though Barreto is still 18 and hasn’t played in a full-season league yet. He has an innate feel for the bat head, above average bat speed and the speed to play small ball if he chooses and run out ground balls in the infield.
Oakland has an extensive career scouting Barreto as an amateur, going back to his days on the Venezuelan national teams when the A’s were signing fellow countryman Renato Nunez. One A’s exec compared Barreto to Rafael Furcal and doesn’t have reservations about him eventually figuring out how to stick at shortstop.
Summation: Barreto is about as polished as a kid his age can be, with his position the only question, so if Oakland wants to move him quickly. If he responds well to shortstop, that could mean he gets to High-A later in his age-19 season and being a possible call-up to the big leagues late in his age-20 season if everything continues at this rate: think Rougned Odor. More realistically, he’ll spend almost all of 2015 in Low-A and arrive in 2017 or 2018.
Upside: .280/.350/.420, 12-15 homers
FV/Risk: 55, Medium (3 on a 1-5 scale)
Projected Path: 2015: Low-A/High-A, 2016: High-A/AA, 2017: AA/AAA, 2018: AAA/MLB
1. Robert Stephenson, RHP CIN
Current Level/Age: AA/21.7, 6’2/190, R/R
Drafted: 27th overall (1st round) in 2011 out of a California HS by CIN for $2.0 million bonus
Fastball: 65/70, Curveball: 50/60, Changeup: 45/50+, Command: 40/45+
Scouting Report: Stephenson slipped surprisingly to the end of the 1st round out of high school and has done what most scouts thought he would, turning a crazy loose arm into premium stuff in short order. This year was a struggle for Stephenson as he hadn’t really failed before, but at age 21 as more of a thrower than pitcher in Double-A, even plus stuff and a heater that hits 100 mph couldn’t allow him to continue as is.
Stephenson is still very young and very talented: he sits 93-96 mph and regularly hits 98-100 mph with a plus curveball at a changeup that flashes at least average, with some scouts hanging high future grades on it. If you assume a smart kid will learn from his tough 2014 season and the stuff will play, then you’re looking at a potential #2/3 starter that will be 22 next year sitting in the upper level, waiting for a chance.
Summation: One scout compared Stephenson’s developmental path and possible eventual outcome to Homer Bailey. The command isn’t really the issue, so much as it is usage of his pitches, getting into good counts and challenging hitters in the right way, not always with a flat upper-90’s fastball up in the zone.
FV/Role/Risk: 60, #3 starter, Medium (3 on 1-5 scale)
Projected Path: 2015: AAA, 2016: MLB
2. Tim Anderson, SS CWS
Current Level/Age: AA/21.4, 6’1/180, R/R
Drafted: 17th overall (1st round) in 2013 out of Mississippi JC by CHW for $2.164 million bonus
Hit: 30/50+, Raw Power: 50/50, Game Power: 20/45+, Run: 65/65, Field: 50/55, Throw: 60/60
Scouting Report: Anderson was almost completely unknown entering his draft year, as he went undrafted in 2012 at the same junior college. He came out late in spring 2012 after basketball season ended to play baseball and was often hidden in left field, so it wasn’t easy for scouts to pick up on the raw tools at a rural junior college game with their pref lists mostly set. Anderson had a big summer in the lower-tier Jayhawk League, stood out in a fall JC showcase, then had first round hype by March 2013. Scouts are still baffled how they all missed on this kid out of high school and his freshman year of junior college, with basketball and limited reps an obvious excuse, but Anderson went to high school miles from the University of Alabama and the Tide completely missed on him as well.
Anderson is the loose athlete every scout is looking for, with 65-70 speed, a plus arm and, despite some issues he’s working on (fundamentals/footwork), he has all the tools to stick at shortstop. He has plus bat speed, above average bat control and surprising pop, flashing average raw power. Anderson’s feel to hit can sometimes get in his way: he isn’t as patient at the plate as he should be, with his ability to square up most pitches holding him back. That said, he’s still hasn’t played much high level baseball, he’s already in Double-A at age 21 and he has above average tools across the board; working on some plate discipline/contact issues and finer points of defensive consistency is a shockingly short list of problems at this stage.
Summation: Anderson should head to Double-A Birmingham next year for his age 21/22 season and if he can make the necessary adjustments, should be on track for a big league debut in 2016.
Upside: .280/.330/.450, 15-18 homers, solid average defense, plus baserunning value
FV/Risk: 60, High (4 on a 1-5 scale)
Projected Path: 2015: AA, 2016: AAA/MLB, 2017: MLB
3. Amed Rosario, SS NYM
Current Level/Age: Low-A/19.1, 6’2/170, R/R
Signed: IFA at age 16 on July 2, 2012 out of Dominican Republic by NYM for $1.75 million bonus
Hit: 20/50, Raw Power: 45/55, Game Power: 20/50, Run: 55/50, Field: 50/55, Throw: 60/60
Scouting Report: Rosario got the biggest international bonus in club history two years ago and has done nothing but impress since then. Scouts have called him special and the most athletic player in the Mets system. He has the live body, quick hands, instincts and ability to adjust to challenges along with the broad shoulders to project more strength to come. Rosario skipped the DSL and adjusted as older competition came at him; this is the high ceiling guy with feel for the game that you can dream on.
Rosario has feel to stay inside the ball and works the middle of the field in games, with a surprising amount of homers to right-center field already. In 2014, he reduced the amount of times he got himself out compared to 2013 and this is helped by his plus bat speed that gives him margin for error in his timing and should create above average raw power in time.
He has good base running and defensive instincts, which should help him to stick at shortstop long-term. Some scouts assume given his frame and solid but ordinary speed that he would shift over to third base, but his easy plus arm helps make up for whatever quickness he may lose. Rosario is the type that will play deeper and rely on his arm in the hole, with some Mets personnel expecting the arm to play as a 65 or more down the road when he’s done adding strength.
Summation: I fully expect Rosario to be #1 on this list next year after his full-season debut and Syndergaard’s graduation, ranking Rosario alongside his age peers that were top prep prospects in the 2014 draft. Scouts have mentioned Addison Russell, Hanley Ramirez and Adrian Beltre with him and each has some things in common with Rosario, but his full-season debut will tell us more about the kind of player he’s becoming.
Upside: .280/.330/.460, 19-22 homers
FV/Risk: 55, High (4 on a 1-5 scale)
Projected Path: 2015: Low-A, 2016: High-A/AA, 2017: AA/AAA, 2018: MLB
3. Chance Sisco, C BAL
Current Level/Age: Lo-A/19.9, 6’2/195, L/R
Drafted: 61st overall (2nd round) in 2013 out of California HS by BAL for $785,000 bonus
Hit: 20/55, Raw Power: 45/50, Game Power: 20/45, Run: 40/35, Field: 40/50, Throw: 55/55
Scouting Report: Sisco was an under-the-radar draft prospect that didn’t go to the big showcases and only started catching in his senior year as he pitched and played multiple positions. He’s still rough at times behind the plate, but it’s more due to a lack of experience with the little things than a lack of ability. The tools are there to stick behind the plate and be average, with enough arm for the position, though Sisco needs to work on quickening his release.
The carrying tool here is the bat and scouts grade it anywhere from 55 to 70 despite Sisco’s highest pro experience coming at Low-A. He’s got a handsy, loose leftt swing and advanced feel for the strike zone. His power is fringy now and should eventually be average, but that’ll likely play down a notch in games at maturity due to his level plane in games. One scout said Sisco’s approach and offensive tools are similar to former Orioles RF Nick Markakis.
Summation: The Orioles think Sisco is their third best prospect and is their catcher of the future. He’ll head to High-A next year and with some defensive progress, Sisco could find himself on the fast track.
Upside: .285/.350/.440, 12-15 homers
FV/Risk: 50, Medium (3 on a 1-5 scale)
Projected Path: 2015: High-A, 2016: AA/AAA, 2017: AAA/MLB
5. Nomar Mazara, RF TEX
Current Level/Age: AA/19.3, 6’4/195, L/L
Signed: International Free Agent, signed for $4.95 million out of Dominican Republic on 7/2/11
Hit: 20/50+, Game Power: 50/65, Raw Power: 65/65, Speed: 40/40, Field: 45/45+, Throw: 60/60
Scouting Report: Mazara’s all-time record-smashing bonus in the last year before international bonus pools opened some eyes, both for the amount and the player. Some pointed to a hitchy swing with timing issues and that was still a concern after last year’s decent full-season debut at age 18 where Mazara hit .236 with 131 Ks in Low-A. This year, the 19-year-old Mazara made the necessary adjustments, getting his foot down faster which unlocked his bat speed and strength while giving him more time to make a decision on the pitch.
He has a classic right field profile with a plus arm and plus raw power and scouts now think he’ll get to all that power in games. Texas is showing a lot of confidence in him by skipping him over High-A earlier this month, promoting him from Low-A to AA at age 19. Speed and defense aren’t a big part of Mazara’s game but he’s got solid instincts and gives some effort on defense, though he can get out of the batter’s box a little slow.
Summation: The Rangers saw something in 15-year-old Mazara that other teams didn’t see and now they’re being rewarded with a fast-track power bat that may meet or even beat the big expectations brought on by his huge bonus. The projected hit tool could still go up another notch with a strong 2015.
Upside: .270/.350/.490 (25-30 HR), fringy defense & below average speed
FV/Risk: 55, Medium (3 on a 1-5 scale)
Projected Path: 2014: AA, 2015: AA/AAA, 2016: AAA/MLB, 2017: MLB
6. Adrian Rondon, SS TB: Rondon was arguably the top prospect this past July 2nd and was paid $2.95 million, just a couple hundred thousand below the top bonus in the class. He was already shut down with a verbal deal by January when I was in the Dominican to see the top players in the class, but I did see him for a game in instructs and the linked video shows you why the Rays went over their spending pool to get him. There’s plus bat speed, fluidity, direct path and the advanced feel to hit, that had Rondon fighting off 90+ mph fastballs from pitchers 5-7 years older than him in the game I saw; scouts said that’s a common occurrence and the Rays said seeing that for dozens of at bats is what caused them to buy in.
The thing to monitor with Rondon is his body, which is more filled out than most elite July 2nd shortstops. He could put on a good bit of weight, develop above average power and move to third base, or he could stay around this size, play shortstop and have more fringy to average power. Some young Latin players take time to develop physically after signings and tire easily, getting limited reps, but Rondon has already added muscle, allowing him to play in domestic and Dominican instructs and his arm already improved from 55 to 60 in the process. The hands and actions are there to play shortstop now and he’ll play there until he can’t anymore, either in the GCL or short-season Princeton in 2015.
6. Alex Blandino, 2B CIN
Current Level/Age: Lo-A/22.0, 6’0/190, R/R
Drafted: 29th overall (1st round) in 2014 out of Stanford by CIN for $1.778 million bonus
Hit: 20/50+, Raw Power: 55/55, Game Power: 20/50+, Run: 50/50, Field: 45/50, Throw: 55/55
Scouting Report: Blandino was a scout’s favorite in the 2014 draft that ended up being one of those guys that was the 2nd option for multiple teams in a row and ended up sliding a few picks from his expected slot around 20th overall. He threw off the shackles of the constraining Stanford Swing in his draft year, swinging with authority that he only showed in his standout summers with a wood bat on the Cape. His raw power is above average to plus, but his line drive approach means it’ll play down a notch.
Blandino is an intelligent player as you’d expect from Stanford, surprisingly is bilingual and he’s at least average across the board with the track record to give scouts confidence. The Reds will start him at shortstops after three years at third for Stanford, but most scouts think second base is his best eventual fit. Some scouts think he might be a 60 bat, so there’s obviously more ceiling here than just a boring college guy.
Summation: Blandino could move quickly and put himself on the fast track to the big leagues with a strong first full season, likely starting in High-A.
Upside: .280/.345/.460, 18-22 homers
FV/Risk: 50, Medium (3 on a 1-5 scale)
Projected Path: 2015: High-A, 2016: AA, 2017: AAA/MLB, 2018: MLB
6. Adalberto Mejia, LHP SF: The 6’3/200 Dominican signed for $350,000 in 2011 and has moved a level per year, performing well and with his left-handedness and/or slightly more stuff helping his rank ahead of a similar pitchers like Ty Blachand Clayton Blackburn. Mejia will be in Triple-A most of 2015 and a over a year young for the level, turning 22 in late June. He has a sturdy starter’s frame, flashes average command, sits 91-94 and hits 95 mph, working in an above average slider and a solid average changeup. That projects as a #4 starter, with the size, handedness and age all positives for the projection, though his K rate falling in Double-A does raise some concerns.
7. Phil Ervin, CF CIN
Current Level/Age: Low-A/22.3, 5’10/205, R/R
Drafted: 27th overall (1st round) in 2013 out of Samford by CIN for $1.812 million bonus
Hit: 20/50, Raw Power: 55/55, Game Power: 20/50, Run: 60/60, Field: 50/55, Throw: 60/60
Scouting Report: Ervin was a tough evaluation in his draft year, battling a nagging leg injury while also relieving for Samford, where he worked in the low-90’s. In addition, Ervin is the kind of guy that doesn’t really show you all his raw power in batting practice, so the tools may not wow you at first glance. He demonstrated his above average to plus raw power in a great summer on the Cape, he’s battled through injuries and has the arm for right but the speed for center field.
This all sounds great, but Ervin had a pretty terrible full-season debut this year; his peripherals and counting numbers weren’t bad but he just didn’t make enough hard contact. Coming off of offseason wrist injury, Ervin got into some bad habit at the plate early in 2014, getting too pull-conscious and was forced to deal with the first failure of his career. Reds officials say he continued to work hard but didn’t handle the adversity well, taking most of the season to learn some lessons and make adjustments. They still like his makeup and expect a bounce back season, but pro scouts seeing him in 2014 for the first time are wondering when they’ll see some production.
Summation: Ervin will head back to A-Ball in 2015, hope to build on some late-season adjustments and deliver on his substantial promise.
Upside: .270/.335/.440, 15-18 homers
FV/Risk: 50, High (4 on a 1-5 scale)
Projected Path: 2015: High-A, 2016: AA, 2017: AAA, 2018: MLB
7. Brian Anderson, 2B MIA: I was the high guy on Anderson all spring, grading him as a sandwich to 2nd round pick; the Arkansas second baseman ended up slipping all the way to the 3rd round at 76th overall, and the Marlins were surprised he fell to them. He’s played all over the field and will continue at second base, but likely ends up at third base or center field. Anderson is a 6’3/175 athlete that’s probably too tall for the middle infield but is a plus runner with a plus arm (hit 95 mph on the mound in high school) and present average raw power that projects for a tick more.
His only struggles at the plate came on the Cape last summer when he tinkered with his high leg kick, but once he went back to the high kick, he raked at Arkansas and raked in pro ball. Anderson has feel to hit and a fluid swing that could move quickly if he keeps hitting. I think teams will regret passing on Anderson; I had trouble separating him and Ti’Quan Forbes all spring and Forbes is a less proven high school prospect that got double the bonus of Anderson ($1.2 million vs. $600,000).
9. Dominic Smith, 1B NYM: Smith is unique as he was a 6’0/185 high school first baseman that went 11th overall in 2013, signing for $2.6 million. He has above average raw power, but is noted more for his advanced lefty bat, feel to hit and his plus glove, drawing comparisons to Adrian Gonzalez. Smith’s full-season debut came this year as an 18/19 year old and many saw it as a disappointment because he only hit one homer, but his home park in Savannah has hilariously huge grounds and past Mets prep 1st round bats Nimmo and Cecchini didn’t go to Low-A until their second pro season because of that mental challenge. The Mets thought Smith could handle the challenge and the bat performed as expected. Smith had some troubles beyond power, putting on what one scout called a “freshman 15″ during the season, he’s already lost it during the off-season. He seems to have responded well to a tough season, but some scouts are slower to get on board as Smith is a slower tempo guy on the field and his all fields approach means his consistent game power will show up years down the road.
10. Luiz Gohara, LHP SEA: Gohara is 18 and has an enormous upside, signing out of Brazil in 2012 for $800,000. He’s listed at 6’3/210 but he’s been body comped to C.C. Sabathia and has weighed as much as 250 lbs at times. He’s a good athlete with an easy, deliberate delivery and has run his fastball up to 97 mph already, but sits 90-93 mph. Gohara has an above average changeup, but an inconsistent breaking ball that morphs from slider to curveball and back again, flashing solid average at times with the curveball type the best version.
His command and focus vary a good bit, with flashes of brilliance and immature indifference, but some scouts anticipate a breakout coming any day. Some sources really question Gohara’s attitude and dedication to getting better, with his work ethic a question mark, though he’s just turned 18, so it’s early to write him off. He’ll need to keep his weight in check and both of his parents are pretty big, meaning Gohara may be destined to have a workhorse type frame as well. The ceiling is mid-rotation starter, he’s aged like a high school senior and he’ll head to Low-A next year, so we’ll learn a lot about him with a full year in a full-season league; he could be a 50 FV by midseason.
10. Grayson Greiner, C DET: I first saw Greiner as a freshman as South Carolina and I almost laughed when I saw a 6’6/220 catcher taking infield with the gear on. Scouts ask questions if a guy is too big to catch at 6’3 or 6’4, so how could a 6’6 guy possibly stick back there? A good start is a 70 arm, uncanny accuracy and a quick release, but Greiner is actually a pretty solid receiver with the tools to stick back there. He has 55 raw power and some feel for the bat head and the strike zone, though he predictably strikes out a bit and doesn’t always get to the power in games.
The questions boil down to his size hindering his defense and contact and the position causing health/durability issues down the line, but the tools and performance are hard to ignore. His summer was ended early by a broken hamate bone, but he’ll play in High-A in 2015 and everyone I’ve talked to about Greiner raves about his makeup. The Tigers have a nice recent history with SEC catchers, including Alex Avila (Alabama) and James McCann (Arkansas).
11. Michael Chavis, 3B BOS: Chavis was the Red Sox first 2014 first rounder and the stout third baseman has a plus arm and surprising above average speed that could allow him to play second base. His calling card is his plus raw power and if he can tone down his busy swing to let his natural bat control take over, he could shoot up this list. Chavis was universally praised as one of the top performers at instructs.
11. Amir Garrett, LHP CIN: The 6’6 lefty signed for $1 million out of high school in 2011 after not pitching in his senior year, then only playing baseball at times while the Reds let him play hoops for St. John’s. Garrett has since given up basketballand in his first full season playing baseball, he flashed the enormous upside the Reds gambled on in 2011. Garrett sat 91-94 and hit 96 mph with a 55 slider and a fringy changeup that’s coming along; that’s #4 starter projection in his first full season on the mound. In a baseball sense, Garrett is still a teenager (he’s actually 22), with multiple scouts calling him a ridiculous athlete and we don’t even know what his upside is when he focuses on baseball full-time for a few years.
NOTE: There’s a good case to be made to put Rodriguez, Aquino and Garrett in the 50 FV group; spots 7-11 are all pretty close, with each player having the upside to take off in 2015.
13. Michael Reed, RF MIL: Reed signed for $500,000 out of a Texas high school in 2011 and the question then was if there was enough impact with his tools to be an everyday player. Almost four years later, Reed has proven his tools play, but there’s still a question about how much impact he’ll have. At both A-Ball levels, he’s drawn a lot of walks, not struck out too much, put the ball in play, but shown limited game power. Reed has fringy raw power to all fields and that bodes well for it showing up in games later, but that’s still 15 homers per year at best.
Reed is an average runner with a solid average arm that profiles as a 4th outfielder that can play center in a pinch. It’s worth noting that Reed is similar to Tyrone Taylor, with a notch more power and a notch less speed, so there’s some reasonable outcomes where Reed is a better player, assuming Taylor can’t stick in center field. There’s still a chance Reed could be a 55 bat with a high OBP and below average power type starting corner outfielder like former Brewer Nori Aoki, but more reasonably he’s a very good reserve outfielder.
15. Stephen Gonsalves, LHP MIN: The lean lefty is up to 6’5/205 and sits 88-92 touching 94 mph now, but could add a tick or two to that in time. He should scrap the below average curveball and is developing a slider that could be average, to go with his above average changeup and advanced command for his age. There’s the plane and physical projection to dream that more is coming to fit as a back-end starter, but there’s still work to be done here.
16. Josh Morgan, SS TEX: A personal favorite from last year’s draft class got $800,000 out of a SoCal high school; he’s just good enough defensively to stick at short and doesn’t have much power or a beautiful swing, but makes a ton of hard contact. He has no margin for error but has performed everywhere, including in a short taste of pro ball (.456 OBP, 23 BB, 21 K).
17. Keon Barnum, 1B CWS: Barnum is a huge 6’5/225 lefty bat with easy plus power that went in the sandwich round out of a Tampa-area high school in 2012 and drew Ryan Howard comparisons at the time. Barnum was very good as a prep junior and over the subsequent summer, then had an up-and-down draft spring with many teams moving him down to the 3rd-4th round over contact concerns, in addition to him turning 19 before his senior season started. Those contact concerns were well-founded as Barnum has struck out about 30% of the time in full-season ball, including 163 this season in High-A as a 21-year-old. He’s a good athlete that could play an outfield corner if needed and the White Sox actually want him to be more aggressive at the plate, as his gentle giant type persona doesn’t play well with his imposing skill set. The swing is pretty simple and the adjustments needed are mostly mental, especially after the Sox moved him closer to the plate to enhance his plate coverage. Scouts need to see some production before they buy in, but there’s still something here worth monitoring.
17. Jerad Eickhoff, RHP TEX: 6’4/240 righty that was 15th rounder from Illinois Juco has forced his way into prospect status at AA with 90-94 mph heater that’s hit 97. His curveball is a 55 and he flashes average command and starter traits with a fringy changeup and slider.
17. Mike Yastrzemski, LF BAL: Little Yaz was seen as a double digit round org guy senior sign, which is what he ended up being in 2013. He turned down $300,000 from Seattle as a junior at Vanderbilt, then signed the next year with Baltimore for $25,000 in the 14th round, just before Seattle was set to draft him again. Yastrzemski has far outpaced all expectations Baltimore has had for him, hitting his way to Double-A in his second pro season. He’s in the top 10 for some in the org as a 50 FV left fielder, though most have him somewhere around this area.
The tools aren’t great but he gets the most out of them, with an average arm that plays up due to plus plus accuracy and a quick release and solid average speed with good enough instincts to allow him to play all three outfield positions. He’s lengthened his swing since college (where Vandy emphasized a contact approach) and is now an aggressive, fastball-attack hitter with fringy to average raw power. If he can keep this up, Yaz will be a very solid 4th outfielder or more, but when the tools are short, scouts tend to be cautious.
17. Alberto Tirado, RHP TOR: Tirado signed for $300,000 in 2011 out of the Dominican and has progressed into an intriguing power arm. The 6’0/180 righty has effort to his delivery that leads to command inconsistency and those two things make most scouts project him in the bullpen. If that’s the case, Tirado has plenty of stuff to profile in the back end of the pen: he sits 93-95 and hits 98 mph with life and a wipeout, easy plus slider. The changeup flashes average but is far behind the other two pitches. The fastball command is the next hurdle for Tirado to clear and if he can conquer that, then he’s still got a chance to work into a starting role. He just turned 20 and will get another shot at Low-A in 2015.
17. Carson Sands, LHP ChC: The 6’3/195 lefty was the Cubs 2014 4th round picks and signed for an over-slot $1.1 million. Sands was a well-known prospect that was old for his 2014 prep class, but his stuff ticked up in the spring, flashing three above average pitches and at least average command, projecting as a 3/4 starter.
17. Nick Pivetta, RHP WSH: Pivetta was an arm strength 4th rounder out of a Juco in 2013 that showed some idea of how to pitch, but has made strides in that area since signing. He sits 92-94 and hits 96 mph with a slider that’s slurvy but above average at times, along with a curveball and changeup that are fringy. Pivetta has a durable workhorse frame and low miles on his arm as a Canadian that’s become a legit prospect in the last couple years. He’s a control over command guy that has a chance to stick as a back-end starter if he can be more consistent; Pivetta will head to High-A in 2015.
18. Seth Mejias-Brean, 3B CIN: Mejias-Brean isn’t a big tools guy, evidenced by going in the 8th round out of Arizona in 2012. He’s surprisingly solid at third base with an above average arm, he has fringy raw power that’s just enough to play on the corner, and at 6’2/215 he isn’t and impressive athlete but has enough feel to make the most of his tools. He’s a below average runner with fringe to average other tools that profiles as a corner utility guy that plays all four positions.
19. Jen-Ho Tseng, RHP ChC: The Taiwanese righty signed for $1.625 million in the 2013 July 2nd spending spree; the 6’1/210 righty is developed physically and has advanced feel to pitch. Tseng sits 89-91 and hits 93 mph with a curveball and changeup that are both 50’s and command that average to above; he just turned 20 but he’s pretty maxed-out and this looks like a high probability back-end starter.
21. Rafael Bautista, CF WSH: Bautista wasn’t hyped, signing in 2012 just before he turned 19 and hitting well in the DSL, GCL and Sally League in his three pro seasons. He’s a plus-plus runner that knows how to use his speed at the plate, on the bases and on defense. There are some questions about his game power, bat speed and his feel to hit in general, with one scout saying he could see Bautista turning into a 4th outfielder Jarrod Dyson type.
21. Andrew Thurman, RHP HOU: Thurman’s velocity is a moving target that dictates his prospect status: 88-91 until a spike late in a summer on the Cape to 91-94, tailing off before the Astros took him at the top of the 2nd round in 2013 as a pitchability back-end starter type. Then, in 2014 Spring Training, he hit 97 mph and sat 91-95 during the season, but the new-found velocity caused command issues for his 50 slider and 55 changeup. If he can get back to throwing strikes with solid-average stuff, he could move quickly, but adjustments are needed.
22. Joe Musgrove, RHP HOU: Musgrove was a sandwich round pick of the Jays in 2011 and still hasn’t been to full-season ball yet but made a lot of progress in 2014. The 6’5/230 righty sits 90-95 and touches 97 mph with downhill plane and a slider that’s above average at times to go with an inconsistent changeup that’s average at times.
22. Isan Diaz, 2B AZ: Diaz was a 2nd rounder in June from a Massachusetts high school, but he’s more polished than the background would suggest. He’s just 5’10/185 and a below average runner, but will be at least an average defender at second base and Diaz has a very advanced lefty bat. There’s a chance for a 60 bat and 50 power along the lines of Orlando Hudson, despite the mediocre pro debut.
23. Amaurys Minier, RF MIN: He signed for $1.4 million in the 2012 July 2nd class and the carrying tools of raw power and arm strength are both above average to plus, but there’s still some concerns. Scouts have some reservations about his ability to make contact outside of rookie ball and while Minier’s arm fits in right field, he’s so rough in the outfield, some have suggested he might end up in left field or even as a DH if that doesn’t improve soon.
24. Huascar Ynoa, RHP NYM: The 6’2/180 Dominican righty is the younger brother of A’s Michael Ynoa (who shattered the bonus record signing for $4.25 million in 2008) and hasn’t pitched since signing for $800,000 in this year’s July 2nd class. At his best, the younger Ynoa looked like a mid-rotation type that pitched 90-92 and hit 93 mph with a curveball and changeup that flashed above average but, as July 2nd neared, his velo dipped into the high 80’s and his command backed up.
26. Elier Hernandez, RF KC: The Dominican got $3 million in the 2011 class that also netted the Royals Raul Mondesi. Hernandez was seen a a right fielder with solid average raw power projection and an advanced bat, but hasn’t hit as much as hoped early in his career. He’s too aggressive at the plate, chasing pitches out of the zone that undermines his offensive potential. Hernandez is an average runner that has an above average arm. He’ll return to Low-A this year for his age-20 season, so he’s still got lots of time to make offensive adjustments.
28. Jonathan Amundaray, RF NYY: The Venezuelan-born Amundaray got varying takes from scouts before July 2nd (he signed for $1.5 million) as some saw him perform well in games and others just saw workouts and weren’t overly impressed with the raw tools. He showed a frame that should add some muscle and power potential, but inconsistent swing mechanics. The good version showed up at instructs, with his speed, raw power and arm strength all flashing above average, including surprisingly good play in center field in a limited look. Amundaray still needs more consistency at the plate and he doesn’t have the big flashy carrying tool of some of his July 2nd peers, but his feel to hit, physical projection and 50-55 tools across the board are a nice ball of clay for the development staff.
32. Ty Hensley, RHP NYY: Hensley’s career began with a rocky start, having his bonus adjusted down from $1.6 million to $1.2 million due to a shoulder abnormality. He pitched 12 innings after signing late in 2012, then missed the 2013 season with hip surgery. He looked to be back on track with a solid 2014 in the short-season leagues, then was hospitalized after being attacked this off-season; all indications are that he’ll be ready for 2015 and should head to Low-A. Hensley finally found some consistency this year, hitting 95 mph once again and flashing the plus curveball that made him a first round pick. He’s still learning to use the changeup and the stuff is inconsistent, but he’s showing signs of turning from a thrower into a pitcher; hopefully he’ll be 100% for Spring Training.
36. Nelson Gomez, 3B NYY: Gomez signed for $2.25 million and was a known prospect to domestic scouts as he participated in the Under Armour All-American Game in Chicago in August of 2013 with members of the 2014 draft prep class. Gomez isn’t your classic big bonus Dominican player as he’s very mature framed: he looks like a catcher or first baseman physically at age 16. He’s surprisingly nimble on his feet in short areas, despite below average speed, and his above average arm and hands play at the hot corner for now. Gomez is a hit over power prospect with solid average raw power and advanced feel for the bat head. Gomez will need to hit and probably slim up to continue projecting as a potential everyday player, but it’s still very early. Gomez also has ridiculous hair.
Jake Bauers, 1B, TB
Hit: 20/55, Raw Power: 45/45+, Game Power: 20/45, Run: 35/35, Field: 45/50+, Throw: 50/50, FV: 40
Bauers was a low profile name who was overshadowed on his high school travel team, which featured future first rounders Phillies SS J.P. Crawford and Mets 1BDominic Smith. Bauers is maxed-out physically at 6’1/200, plays first base and only has fringy raw power, but he does just about everything else well. He is at least average defensively at first base (some scouts suggest he could play a passable left field) and has great makeup to go with one of the most advanced bats in the low minors. Bauers was young for his draft class and hit .296/376/.414 as an 18-year-old all year in Low-A (128 wRC+), delivering on a common comparison to another first baseman from his same high school, Daric Barton. Bauers has advanced feel for the strike zone and a super smooth stroke from the left side, but he may only top out around 10-12 homers per year with lots of doubles. If his bat really plays at higher levels, he could run into more game power and become a James Loney type, but that’s an optimistic outcome.
LF Dorssys Paulino CLE (signed for $1.1 million in 2011 out of the Dominican and had positive early returns as an advanced bat that could play a middle infield position; Cleveland moved him to left field to take pressure off the bat and he’ll stay there until he regains form, with a chance to return to second base)
RF Chuckie Jones SF (6’3/235 righty has plus raw power, above average speed and a solid average arm, but has lots of trouble with a consistent approach at the plate and laying off the slider off the plate; he’s still 22 and has a huge upside, so don’t give up just yet). Currently serving a 50 game suspension.
RHP Pedro Fernandez KC (Video 20-year-old Dominican has an easy plus fastball, but limited projection and fringy off-speed, though there’s enough here that he could still turn into a starter long term)
RF Anthony Santander CLE (Venezuelan switch hitter is still only 20 and has five average tools, but has had trouble staying on the field)
1B Ryon Healy OAK (plays some third base but fits more at first base, 55 raw power plays down in games, but he has some feel to hit and corner utility upside)
RHP Heath Fillmyer OAK (two-way junior college prospect emerged in 2014 as a pitcher, sitting 91-95 and hitting 96 mph with an above average breaking ball and good athleticism; command/changeup still needs to come along but the elements are here and the arm is fresh)
RHP Mark Armstrong CIN (6’2/215 righty is big kid, sits 88-93 mph with above average curveball and was cold weather high school draftee that could come on late)
RHP Chase DeJong TOR(6’4/200 righty was prep 2nd rounder in 2012 and has fringy to average fastball but a clean arm and projectable frame that means there could be more coming; his above average to plus curveball is his best pitch now, his changeup is fringy and his overhand slot can cause command issues),
SS Anfernee Seymour MIA (true 80 runner has some feel for the bat head and is easy to project in center field, but Marlins tried him in the infield for the first time ever at the pre-draft workout; they think he has a plus arm and fluid hands and will stick at one of the middle infield positions)
RHP Zac Reininger DET (6’3/170 righty is aggressive with 91-93 mph heater and solid average slider; he could move quickly as a middle relief type),
Dillon Peters, LHP MIA: Plenty of big league potential in the his left arm, Peters, however, will likely have to slide into a bullpen role to help realize that ceiling. Another of these Tim Collins-type lefties – solid control and the strikeout rate will spike to close to where it was as a freshman when he split time between the rotation and pen (9.76 K/9).
Jayce Boyd, 1B NYM is a professional hitter, but he was never a candidate for the home run title and now, after they have rebuilt his shoulder, he has a very strange and awkward delivery that, in my opinion, will prevent him from being a Keith Hernandez-type backup first baseman and a potentially a pretty good DH candidate.
Ricardo Pinto, SP PHI
Wuilmer Becerra, OF NYM
AJ Reed, 1B HOU
Gary Sanchez, C NYY
Rangel Ravelo, 1B/3B Oak
Brian Goodwin, CF WSH
Anderson Franco, 3B WSH
Jon Harris, RHP TOR
Justin Maese, RHP TOR
Michael Kopech, RHP BOS
Milb Classification
AAA
RHP - David Paulino Hou MLB
RHP - Amir Garrett Cin
RHP - Alec Mills KC MLB
LHP - Nate Smith LAA
RHP - Chase De Jong LAD
LHP - Adalberto Mejia Min MLB
RHP - Jacob Faria TB
RHP - Joe Jimenez (RP) Det
RHP - Nick Pivetta Phi
RHP - Phil Maton (RP) SD
C - Chance Sisco Bal
C - Grayson Greiner Det
1B - Trey Mancini Bal
1B - Rangel Ravelo Oak
2B - Dilson Herrera Cin
3B - Jeimer Candelario ChC MLB
3B - Yandy Diaz Cle
3B - Seth Mejias-Brean Cin
SS - Franklin Barreto Oak
OF - Brian Goodwin Wsh MLB
AA
LHP - Stephen Gonsalves Min
RHP - Andrew Moore Sea
RHP - Patrick Weigel Atl
RHP - Ricardo Pinto Phi
RHP - Tom Eshelman Phi
RHP - Felix Jorge Min
RHP - Pedro Fernandez KC
RHP - Heath Fillmyer Oak
LHP - Dillon Peters Mia
RHP - Jen-Ho Tseng ChC
C - Willians Astudillo Atl
1B - Dominic Smith NYM
1B - Keon Barnum CWS
2B - Alex Blandino Cin
3B - Brian Anderson Mia
SS - Amed Rosario NYM
OF - Harrison Bader Stl
OF - Steven Duggar SF
OF - Rafael Bautista Wsh
OF - Phillip Ervin Cin
OF - Joyce Boyd NYM
A+
RHP - Michael Kopech Bos
RHP - Domingo Acevedo NYY
RHP - Jon Harris Tor
RHP - Mitchell White LAD
RHP - Yeudy Garcia Pit
RHP - Cody Ponce Mil
RHP - Zac Reininger Det (RP)
SS - Michael Chavis Bos
OF - Wuilmer Bucerra NYM
OF - Anthony Santander Cle
OF - Jorge Ona SD
A
RHP - Mike Soroka Atl
RHP - Triston McKenzie Cle
RHP - Alec Hansen CWS
LHP - Luiz Gohara Sea
RHP - Justin Maese Tor
RHP - Touki Toussaint Atl
RHP - Ty Hensley NYY
RHP - Mark Armstrong Cin (RP)
2B - Omar Estevez LAD
3B - Nick Senzel Cin
3B - Ke'Bryan Hayes Pit
SS - Isan Diaz Mil
SS - Anfernee Seymour Atl
OF - Jameson Fisher CWS
OF - Estevan Florial NYY
A-
RHP - Wei-Chieh Huang AZ
RK/DSL
LHP - Kyle Muller Atl
RHP - Sixto Sanchez Phi
RHP - Huascar Ynoa Min
1B - Amaurys Minier Min
3B - Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Tor
3B - Anderson Franco Wsh
3B - Nelson Gomez NYY
SS - Allen Cordoba Stl
SS - Adrian Rondon TB
SS - Chris Torres Sea
OF - Juan Soto Wsh
OF - Demi Orimoloye Mil
OF - Jonathan Amundaray NYY
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Post by Das (Former Giants GM) on Sept 5, 2015 4:22:01 GMT -5
2017 Milb Draft 1.12 Jorge Ona Position: OF Age: 20 DOB: 12/31/1996 Bats: R Throws: R Height: 6'1'' Weight: 200 lb. Watch Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 45 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 2.12 Phil Maton Position: RHP (RP) Age: 23 DOB: 03/25/1993 Bats: R Throws: R Height: 6' 3" Weight: 220 lb. Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Cutter: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50 3.12 Jared Miller Position: LHP Age: 23 DOB: 08/21/1993 Bats: L Throws: L Height: 6' 7" Weight: 240 lb. Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 55 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45 4.12 Jose Martinez Position: CI/OF Age:28 DOB: 07/25/1988 Bats: R Throws: R Height: 6'6" Weight:215 lb. Jose Martinez is an example of why minor leaguers chase the dream www.baseballamerica.com/majors/jose-martinezs-incredible-journey-gets-payoff/#2wBFpg4Kr4f1OfK5.975.12 Isaac Paredes Position: SS Age: 18 DOB: 02/18/1999 Bats: R Throws: R Height: 5' 11" Weight: 175 lb. Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 45 | Arm: 55 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45 6.12 Luis Escobar Position: RHP Age: 20 DOB: 05/30/1996 Bats: R Throws: R Height: 6' 1" Weight: 155 lb. Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45 2015 DRAFT CLASS (19) 3.21 Jorge Lopez, RHP, AA milb, MIL Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50
3.26 Wei-Chieh Huang, RHP, A, milb, ARI Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 60 | Overall: 50
1.29 Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B, Concordia Lutheran HS (TX), PIT Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 35 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50
2.02 Mike Soroka, RHP, Bishop Carroll HS (CN), ATL Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
2.03 Triston McKenzie, RHP, Royal Palm HS (FL), CLE Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
5.01 Trey Mancini, 1B, AA milb, Bal Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 40 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45
5.09 Yandy Diaz, 3B, AA milb, CLE Hit: 55 | Power: 35 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45
4.21 Jacob Faria, RHP, AA milb, TB W/L 17-4 1.92 ERA 149.2 INN 159 K .197 BAA 1.04 WHIP
5.13 Domingo Acevedo, RHP, A- milb, NYY Fastball: 70 | Slider: 40 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45
4.10 Yeudy Garcia, RHP, A milb, PIT Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45
2.25 Cody Ponce, RHP, Cal Poly Pomona, MIL Fastball: 60 | Cutter: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45
2.30 Thomas Eshelman, RHP, Cal State Fullerton, HOU Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 70 | Overall: 45
3.29 Andrew Moore, RHP, Oregon St, SEA Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 45
4.01 Bryan Hudson, LHP, Alton HS (IL), ChC Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45
4.09 Harrison Bader, OF, University of Florida, STL Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45
4.13 David Paulino, RHP, A+ milb, HOU Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45
5.10 Oscar De La Cruz, RHP, A milb, CHC Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45
3.12 Demi Orimoloye, OF, St. Matthew Catholic HS Ottawa (CN), MIL Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 60 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45
5.29 Willians Astudillo, C, A+ milb, PHI - When he swings, he rarely misses. It's uncanny. He can hit any pitch. This draft is a step in the winning direction for this franchise, the San Francisco Giants loaded up on pitching, highlighted by RHP Jorge Lopez MIL(AA). Selecting 5 players with a current FV of 50 (Lopez, Huang, Hayes, Soroka, and McKenzie), this draft was a success. I really wanted to roster Demi Orimoloye as I think Africa is about to the next prospect hot bed in International baseball and see Orimoloye as being a pioneer. Willians Astudillo might only be a utility player, his days of flying under the radar are just about over, Astudillo has fantastic bat control, he just doesn't look like much of a player, but he can hit a thrown baseball regularly. There are about a dozen or so more players I would love to roster that were in the current draft class, but found myself trying to balance between drafted players and available MiLB players. Jacob Faria is another prospect that will be climbing the prospect lists, he led MiLB with 17 wins this season. Yandy Diaz, with a strong performance in the AFL should find himself ready to prove himself in Spring Training and could find himself playing time in the MLB's as soon as 2016. Domingo Acevedo represents the best value on my draft board, he joins the deepest MiLB system in the Base Knock Dynasty League. The draft sets the Giants up very well for the next draft, allowing the focus to be on talent rather than need. Overall, the San Francisco Giants are in the beginning stages of being able to show some pride, filling out a MLB roster, accumulating points, and generating more wins will be the focus in 2016. The pieces are starting to come together. |
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