Colorado Rockies Top 20 Prospects for 2008

by John Sickels on Jan 14, 2008 3:48 PM EST in News

Franklin Morales, LHP, Grade A-
Casey Weathers, RHP, Grade B+
Ian Stewart, 3B, Grade B
Hector Gomez, SS, Grade B
Christopher Nelson, SS, Grade B
Dexter Fowler, OF, Grade B-
Greg Reynolds, RHP, Grade B- (Would rank higher but worried about health)
Juan Morillo, RHP, Grade B-
Brandon Hynick, RHP, Grade B-
Seth Smith, OF, Grade B-
Eric Young Jr, 2B, Grade B-
Dan Mayora, INF, Grade B-
Brian Rike, OF, Grade B-
Pedro Strop, RHP, Grade C+ (tough grade, could be B-)
Chaz Roe, RHP, Grade C+ (arm to rank higher but command??)
Joe Koshansky, 1B, Grade C+
Will Harris, RHP, Grade C+
Aneury Rodriguez, RHP, Grade C+
Connor Graham, RHP, Grade C+
Jhoulys Chacin, RHP, Grade C+

Others included are Tommy Baumgardner, Bruce Billings, Darren Clarke, Christian Colonel, Jeff Cunningham, Lars Davis, Sam Deduno, Robison Fabian, Jon Herrera, Darin Holcomb, Alan Johnson, Cory Riordan, Helder Velazquez, and Keith Weiser.

Several borderline B-/C+ cases that are difficult to grade in the 10-16 range. I remain partial to Seth Smith.

Again, don't get all pissy about exact placement on this list. The grades are more important than someone being ranked 15th instead of 13th.

Of course, full statistics and reports on over 1,000 other players will be in the 2008 Baseball Prospect Book, now available for pre-order. Ships the first Monday in February! The Top 50/50 list will be sent out to all orders with a valid email address later this week.

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chris nelson or sean rodriguez?

which one has the better career?

ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH REPORTS (Astros: better than you thought)

variables don't; constants aren't

by overlord on Jan 14, 2008 3:53 PM EST reply actions

Weathers

He gets a B+ but he's realistically nowheres near the prospect than other B+ guys like Wade Davis and Homer Bailey. Nothing is less projectable than a future reliever.

by rdf8585 on Jan 14, 2008 3:54 PM EST reply actions

francisco cordero

how much money will he make over the next 5 years? does it really matter if weathers is as projectable as wade davis if he profiles as being worth even half of what cordero was worth in free agency?

ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH REPORTS (Astros: better than you thought)

variables don't; constants aren't

by overlord on Jan 14, 2008 4:02 PM EST up reply actions

re

Weathers needs to close first, which looked like a good bet at first, but the unexpected emergence of Corpas has Weathers looking like a middle reliever at best for awhile.

For every Huston Street and Chad Cordero (who many argue isn't that good to begin with) there's washouts like R.Wagner, Devine, Aardsma, Hansen etc.

by rdf8585 on Jan 14, 2008 4:20 PM EST up reply actions

you think devine and hansen are washouts?

both were 23 this past season and you're already washing your hands of them?

and what is the difference in weathers' performance if he's only pitching the 8th inning, instead of the 9th? 3 outs is 3 outs. except when it's 4 outs.

ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH REPORTS (Astros: better than you thought)

variables don't; constants aren't

by overlord on Jan 14, 2008 4:27 PM EST up reply actions

A's need chris nelson

all their trades they hgave yet to add a SS, if they cany pry him away with a street/blanton/ellis

by rayver723 on Jan 14, 2008 4:15 PM EST reply actions

sort of....

there are questions whether Nelson would stick at SS in an organization that doesn't have Tulo already there.

The Rockies have every intention of keeping him around as their 2B of the future.....

by sg8335aa on Jan 14, 2008 4:51 PM EST up reply actions

then what happens to...

stewart
gomez

nix
barmes
quintanilla

by rayver723 on Jan 14, 2008 5:12 PM EST up reply actions

it all depends.....

Stewart was given the chance to learn 2B this off-season. If he fails to turn himself into at least an adequate ML 2B (likely) then he'll go back to AAA. His future would then be linked to Matt Holliday signing long-term or departing as a free agent. If Matty signs long-term....it would be tough to also sign Atkins/Hawpe. If he doesn't...its likely that Atkins/Hawpe are kept. Either way would open a spot at their 3B or LF.

Gomez is 3-4 years off. A lot can happen between now and then. I think that "bridge" is crossed when it becomes an issue (and you see how Gomez develops).

Nix is probably more of a short-term fix at this point. Barmes and Q are more of bench players/temp fill-ins at this point.

Wimberly and EY Jr. have enough questions about their ability that they need to prove first.

Nelson is in line for a September callup in 2008 and could be the Opening Day 2B in 2009.

by sg8335aa on Jan 14, 2008 5:19 PM EST up reply actions

nelson D at SS

this is from the chat kevin goldstein did on the 9th at baseballprospectus.com:

"cjbuet (madison, wi): Do you think Chris Nelson moves to 2bOF this season? How close is he to the bigs?

Kevin Goldstein: No, becasue they don't need to. Beyond the offensive breakout, he made huge improvements with the glove as well. I realize that blocks him, but as a basic rule, you don't move a prospect the wrong way on the spectrum until absolutely necessary."

by FRANCHISEv2 on Jan 14, 2008 10:21 PM EST up reply actions

I think Nelson

to the Orioles makes a lot of sense. I'd rather have Barmes that Hernandez there in Baltimore too. Make a trade for Nelson and Barmes. Barmes for 2008 and Nelson for the future. The Orioles have a lot of young talented arms.

by Havok1517 on Jan 15, 2008 11:51 AM EST up reply actions

agreed

i wish crosby would turn into something but it just doenst seem like its going to happen. Do the Rockies need a Blanton, Street or Eliis? I can see them taking Ellis but would they give up Nelson for Eliis?

by tmt85 on Jan 14, 2008 5:45 PM EST up reply actions

is young jr. going to open in double A

what exactly is his story as a prospect?

by znyfan on Jan 14, 2008 4:18 PM EST reply actions

Shane Lindsay

What do people hear about his health? I know he pitched adequately in Hawaii. Can he regain his prospect status? Also what level in the minors will he start in?

The Dodgers won't win a playoff series until the Cool-a-Coo returns.

by mckeeno on Jan 14, 2008 5:39 PM EST reply actions

Would you rather have...

Franklin Morales or Ian Kennedy?

by Sox Puppet on Jan 14, 2008 6:12 PM EST reply actions

Morales

by a long shot. But then I would take Morales over Hughes.

And just to show Im not being bias, I would take him over Buchholz and Lester too.

Elite stuff, big time K and ground ball generating arm. He's going to be a stud.

Even at Coors.

by grozzy on Jan 14, 2008 7:50 PM EST up reply actions

RE: Would you rather have....

I wouldn't be surprised if Kennedy has a better year in 2008, but Morales has true ace potential. The guy is going to have an amazing career if he gets through the injury nexus.

by illegalblues on Jan 15, 2008 9:45 AM EST up reply actions

aneury and jhoulys

these guys are sneaking onto the list because of their names, aren't they. not that i blame you - i run my team the same way. alan johnson vs. the guy named 'aneury', i'm taking aneury, no contest.

by wily mo on Jan 14, 2008 6:26 PM EST reply actions

seth smith career batting statistics

regular season: 625/625/875 (1500 OPS)
postseason: 500/500/667 (1167 OPS)

greatest player ever? or just greatest hitter ever?

by jpahk on Jan 14, 2008 6:54 PM EST reply actions

lol

I love it.

by drob320 on Jan 14, 2008 9:18 PM EST up reply actions

Strop

I would stick with the C+ until he puts up another good season; too many one-year Arredondos have popped through prospectdom the last couple years to bump another one to B range based on one good pitch and one good season.

Nick Weglarz, on the other hand . . .

by gogotabata on Jan 14, 2008 9:03 PM EST reply actions

Rockies have a history though

Well, at least Manny Corpas, as precedent for strong arm relievers suddenly showing up statistically in high A. It's hard to overlook him.

by Rox Girl on Jan 15, 2008 6:55 AM EST up reply actions

Stewart

Its tough to see him ranked so high. He may perform in Colorado, but if any of these guys are shipped off to say, Florida, there is no way they have the numbers they do or are rated the way they are.

The internet's latest attempt at understanding what is going on inside baseball

by bheikoop on Jan 16, 2008 8:24 PM EST reply actions