Future Hall of Famers

by OldProspects on Dec 15, 2008 6:06 PM EST Comment 46 comments

One of the fun games many of us like to play is to bash the Hall of Fame comps for prospects - Tim Alderson is the next Greg Maddux, Pedro Alvarez is the next Mike Schmidt, etc - and of course in 99% of cases, we will be right. That being said, considering that about 3 or so players get selected to the Hall of Fame each year, and most outstanding players spend in the area of 3 or so years in the minors (top college players closer to 1, high school players 3 or more, and players from Latin America closer to 5), there are probably in the area of 10 or so future Hall of Famers in the minor leagues today. They aren't necessarily the top 10 rated prospects - in fact they are almost certainly not - and some might not even be in top 100s. But they are probably somewhere in the minor leagues. Who do you think they might be?

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Hmm

Okay. Sounds like a fun game but what exactly are you asking for? The 10 prospects we think have HoF potential, or the 10 prospects most likely to one day be in the HoF?

by mrkupe on Dec 15, 2008 6:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well

Presumably if 10 players will make the HoF, then much more have the potential to be HoFers, so I guess the latter

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by OldProspects on Dec 15, 2008 6:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Brian Bocock

I see the future, and it is Pablo

by CB30 on Dec 15, 2008 6:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

ha, fantastic joke

by gore51 on Dec 15, 2008 11:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Rowdy Hardy

Founder of the Johnny Giavotella fan club.

by doublestix on Dec 15, 2008 6:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Elvis

Andrus that is.

by rwperu34 on Dec 15, 2008 6:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Reasonable

If Andrus is Omar Vizquel Part Deux, and you think that Omar is at least a fringe HoFer, then sure, his name’s got to be up there.

Let’s work on a list of candidates here. I’m going to put forth the obvious Matt Wieters nomination. I’d also throw in Colby Rasmus.

Things to keep in mind with these candidates:

1) Pitchers are a much more volatile commodity than hitters, and thus are less “certain” with regard to any outcome.
2) Counting stats ARE important . . .so Neftali Feliz could be awesome and still not make it if he spends the first 6+ years of his career in Texas Rangers purgatory.
3) Related to #2, age is important for counting stats. Tommy Hanson is really good and so is Rick Porcello, but if one makes it to the majors at age 23-24 and the other at age 20, that’s a big difference in counting stats.
4) College players aren’t excluded from the discussion . . .but generally college guys who make it to the HoF move through the minors VERY quickly.

by mrkupe on Dec 15, 2008 7:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Justin Smoak

Accidentally not thedude925 anymore. I do hate this new name.

by wildthang on Dec 15, 2008 7:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

yea

id think of all the best ranger prospects, Justin Smoak has the most likely career path to becoming a HoF type player. He’s got the very obvious projection of being a mark texieria/chipper jones type, one of the best switch hitters in the game.

by blalock84 on Dec 15, 2008 7:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jason Heyward

I see many .300 35 110 seasons in his future.

by Bravesin07 on Dec 15, 2008 7:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'll buy that

So for me, and I’ll do 5 hitters and 5 pitcher, Heyward, Smoak, Wieters, and let’s say Chris Coghlan and Jesus Montero. For pitchers, Bumgarner, Price, Randall Delgado, Martin Perez and Brett Anderson

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by OldProspects on Dec 15, 2008 8:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Heyward

Reminds me a young Cliff Floyd without the speed.

by LCT on Dec 16, 2008 7:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Of course

Floyd was a better prospect because he was an excellent centerfielder.

by LCT on Dec 16, 2008 7:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

my list

Here’s my guess. For pitchers, I looked for dominance, a fast rise and gentle handling. For position players, I looked for a great “hook” and a well-rounded package of complementary skills. Others may have higher peaks, but I think these guys are the most likely to have long careers at a high level.

Yonder Alonso
Brett Anderson
Lars Anderson
Elvis Andrus
David Price
Ben Revere
Chris Tillman
Matt Wieters

by whichthat on Dec 15, 2008 7:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

What do you see for Revere?

Tony Gwynn?

by Bravesin07 on Dec 15, 2008 8:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

admittedly a reach

But I think his speed will play and he’ll develop the contact skills. Out of everyone currently in the minors, I think he will become the best leadoff hitter, assuming he stays in the AL and out of Jose Reyes’ way. It would be unusual for the HOF not to reward a “best leadoff hitter” (with this pick, I’m clearly doubling down on Tim Raines).

by whichthat on Dec 15, 2008 8:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Doubling Down...

I think the house would take your money if you do that… and give it to Rickey Henderson, who in my mind was at least the best lead-off hitter of the past 50 or 60 years. I am only 32, so I can’t comment much about old school players. I bet Ty Cobb would have made a helluva lead-off hitter too.

"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile

by Boxkutter on Dec 16, 2008 2:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i'll give it a try

David Price
Matt Weiters
Rick Porcello
Yonder Alonso
Jordan Danks
Brian Matusz
Mike Moustakas
Todd Frazier
Shooter Hunt
Wilmer Flores

by Kazmir2657 on Dec 15, 2008 8:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Huh?

I understand Price and Wieters, maybe Porcello and Mooose, but the others…not even close.

--Pablo Zevallos of yankeesfuture.wordpress.com

by Pablo Zevallos on Dec 15, 2008 8:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Obviously threw out some guys who arent the superstar type but interest me. Danks and Shooter Hunt are crazy shots in the dark but this list wouldnt be very fun if we listed a bunch of top 10 prospects so i threw in some lesser, but interesting guys.

To me, Alonso and Matusz definitly have a shot. Im a big Alonso believer and in that park he could easily be a perrenial all-star. Matusz has 3 plus pitches and locates his his fastball at 93 with natural sink. There’s absolutley no reason why hes “not even close” when it comes to making this prediction.

by Kazmir2657 on Dec 15, 2008 8:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mine would be, just on hunches

Wieters
Price
Heyward
Porcello
Alvarez
Smoak
J. Montero
Aumont
E. Beltre
Jeffress

by brok515 on Dec 15, 2008 8:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

if

beltre makes it, i’ve got a feeling its gonna be as a super star type player, but the likelihood of him making it is very low

by blalock84 on Dec 15, 2008 8:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mine

Wieters
Jesus Montero
Price
Smoak
Alvarez
Heyward
Brackman (low probability, but he could start off well by pitching excellently next year)
LaPorta
Villalona

--Pablo Zevallos of yankeesfuture.wordpress.com

by Pablo Zevallos on Dec 15, 2008 8:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Brackman is the next Randy Johnson!

by schmosterballs92 on Dec 15, 2008 11:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My List with some interesting choices

1) Wieters
2) Heyward
3) Bumgarner
4) Montero
5) Andrus
6)Stolmy Pimental
7)Lars Anderson
8)Nick Barnese(Yup over Price, Davis, and Hellickson)
9)Alvarez
10)Jason Knapp(Crazy pick but he might be the next Schilling)

by Bravesin07 on Dec 15, 2008 8:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Geez

On the bright side, we now know why you keep asking “What do you think Barnese’s upside is?” and “What do you think of Nick Barnese?” all the time.

by mrkupe on Dec 15, 2008 9:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Jason knapp is sort of interesting

It could work – he’s sort of a high-upside high risk guy

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by OldProspects on Dec 15, 2008 11:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm very high on pitchers who have great movement in their fastball

Prevents hard contact, plus Barnese has a good curveball and a developing changeup. I really see him as another Cahill with a Ceiling of Brandon Webb but getting to the majors at a younger age. Price I see him being good but not a HOF ace 15-17 game winner a year guy. Davis will be a lot like Brett Myers, and hellickson will be like Kyle Loshe. Heck some of the D-Rays writers already said Barnese has that arrogant personality that Matt Garza has on the mound.

by Bravesin07 on Dec 15, 2008 9:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I see why you like him

It sounds like he still needs work on his secondary stuff, but he seems like he’s got the work ethic. This isn’t the most off the wall pick I’ve seen on this thread.

by demondeaconsbaseball on Dec 15, 2008 10:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Eh

Cahill’s stuff is a grade better and Barnese hasn’t done it at the higher levels. The difference between “succeeding in the Cal League and AA” and “succeeding in short-season ball” is huge.

Those other comps aren’t horrible . . .I wonder where you got them from.

by mrkupe on Dec 15, 2008 11:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

http://rays.scout.com/2/819171.html

by Bravesin07 on Dec 15, 2008 9:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

My list...

Matt Wieters
David Price
Pedro Alvarez
Ethan Martin
Nick Hagadone
Yorman Rodriguez
Tim Beckham
Mike Moustakas
Kyle Skipworth
Steve Strasburg

by joegonzo on Dec 15, 2008 10:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ethan Martin Only Once?

I thought you’d list him 20 times.

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a noob could be simply a level 100 running round shouting ‘’WTF DO I GO!?’’ or someone calling someone else a noob and then getting hit with a brick, anyone can call anyone a noob, but normally they are noobs themselves
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by cwhitman412 on Dec 16, 2008 3:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wawa

Inoa
Weiters
Porcello
F-Mart
Villalona
Price
Revere
Alvarez
Smoak
Cahill

Bonus : Darvish.

by GuyinNY on Dec 16, 2008 12:20 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Second thought

Remove one of Smoak and Cahill in favor of Andrus. I’ll post another tomorrow having given it more thought.

by GuyinNY on Dec 16, 2008 12:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Im surprised no one has said Triunfel

I think Weiters is the best bet by far.

I see a lot of college pitchers being named that would be extremely hard pressed to do it. I dont like those choices

Weirdo boom or bust types like Aumont seem like good choices. Michael Almanzar. I also would probably go Tim Beckham and the two high school 1B – Smoak and Hosmer.

by alskor on Dec 16, 2008 12:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

isnt smoak a college guy?

TPJ...you're dead to me

by billybeingbilly on Dec 16, 2008 12:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes he was, my mistake. South Carolina.

by alskor on Dec 16, 2008 1:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good Thread

There has to be 1 or 2 or more future Hall of Famers in the minor leagues right now. That is usually how it works.

My 5:
-Matt Wieters: Mike Piazza like offense

-Jason Heyward: 2500 hits, 500 HR (Outfield Fred McGriff + 7 HR)

-Jeremy Jeffress: 400 saves

-Matt Dominguez: the next Scott Rolen without the shoulder problems

-Brett Wallace: career .300 hitter, 2500 hits, 350 HR, 1500 RBI (Kirby Puckett without the speed or Edgar Martinez but he plays a few more years in the field before going to the DH spot….with the Cardinals ;)

by UncleBuck44 on Dec 16, 2008 1:20 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

sooo...what you're saying...is that brett wallace wont be a HOFer....

puckett shouldnt be in the hall and martinez wont be in the hall…

TPJ...you're dead to me

by billybeingbilly on Dec 16, 2008 2:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

UHHHH

No matter what your opinions of Kirby Puckett are, he is indeed in the Hall of Fame. More than likely voters wisely noticed he still had a few more years of .300, 20 HR in him when he lost sight in his eye and was forced to retire. Had he stayed healthy, he probably would have come close to 3000 hits which pretty much means automatic induction(every 3000 hit club member is in the Hall except Rose).

And if Edgar Martinez played a few more years in the field like I’m saying Brett Wallace will, then he’d probably be in the hall. As it is now, no one believes a guy who played 70% of his games on the bench should be in the hall. But also notice the career numbers I gave for Wallace are all better than Martinez’s.

by UncleBuck44 on Dec 16, 2008 9:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

For fun...

There are the obvious “Weiters, Price, Smoak, Heyward…” guesses, so I want to throw some names out that aren’t as easily guessable (I would have said Jeffress here, but UncleBuck beat me to it… great dark horse candidate there!)

Buster Posey (not a big fan of him, but I think he has potential)
Greg Halman (Possible 400-400 career if he can start to manage the strike zone better)
Jeremy Hellickson (a dark horse with all the Rays SPs out there. Love the High K and high GB)
Taylor Teagarden (Won’t be as good as Wieters, but you don’t have to be if you stick at catcher)
Jordan Zimmermann (Nice K’s, Good GB in a pitcher’s park. If he keeps a good D behind him he could be great)
Porcello (Good is good, and he is good)
Jeff Smardjia (I can’t spell his name, but I think he stumbles some as an SP and moves back to the pen. Next Mo Rivera)

"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile

by Boxkutter on Dec 16, 2008 2:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

After careful consideration

I’ve winnowed it down to the following players:

1) Neftali Feliz
2) Blake Beavan
3) Michael Main
4) Michael Main’s mom
5) Michael Main’s mom’s mom
6) Taylor Teagarden
7) Neil Ramirez
8) A guy the Texas Rangers are scouting in Venezuala right now
9) Koby Clemens
10) Any offspring of Nolan Ryan

by siddfynch on Dec 16, 2008 2:58 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I thought that guy in Venezuela WAS an offspring of Nolan Ryan?

by alskor on Dec 16, 2008 3:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe it's just me but I'm pretty confident about HOF chances for these guys:

Dayan Viciedo, Gordon Beckham, Aaron Poreda,Chris Getz,Josh Fields,Clayton Richard,Jeff Marquez,Brandon Allen,John Shelby, Brent Liilibridge and Tyler Flowers.

And, Homer Bailey. Once, the Sox acquire him ofcourse.

by NLaloosh on Dec 16, 2008 9:00 AM EST reply actions 0 recs