This years breakout players?

by nyy601 on Aug 20, 2008 3:43 PM EDT

I haven't really been following the minors and prospects as much this year as I had the last few. Which players have had a huge rise in there stock so far this season? Who are the guys outside the top 100 that have moved up, top 100 guys that made their way into the top 50, or even guys that made an unexpected rise to become one of the elite prospects in the game (top 20 or so)?

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I'd say

Logan Morrison and Michael Stanton from the Marlins org for sure

FutureFish

by Ramp on Aug 20, 2008 4:17 PM EDT 0 recs

Feliz and Holland for sure

Max Ramirez also from the Rangers. Holland came from no where and is now, according to some a top 3 to 5 prospect in the deep ranger’s farm system. Feliz was already highly regarded, but his performance this year probably takes him into the top 15 or so prospects in all of baseball.

by blalock84 on Aug 20, 2008 4:32 PM EDT 0 recs

...

Mike Saunders – OF Mariners - top 40 prospect no doubt right now…wasn’t even in most peoples top 100 at the beginning of the season

Jhoulys Chacin – SP Rockies - borderline top 25 prospect right now

by smk1363 on Aug 20, 2008 4:50 PM EDT 0 recs

Carlos Santana

by LogicRules on Aug 20, 2008 5:01 PM EDT 0 recs

some braves

Tommy Hanson
Tyler Flowers
Freddy Freeman

by bravitos5122 on Aug 20, 2008 5:06 PM EDT 0 recs

Ben Revere

Hovered around .400 all year with 40+ steals. I still wonder why he’s stuck in low A.

"Ninety percent I'll spend on good times, women and Irish Whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."

by strums on Aug 20, 2008 6:24 PM EDT 0 recs

There are a number of Indian prospects

who have had breakout years and might be considered for a big improvement in their ratings and might well crack the top 100. David Huff will likely move into the top 50 as will Beau Mills. Carlos Santana should break into the top 100 easily. There are also a number of young prospects that might be considered. Nick Weglarz has followed up a breakout season with another very good year. Hector Rondon and Chris De La Cruz have had breakout years. Carlos Rivero is a physically gifted player who is outstanding with men on base. Lonnie Chisenhall may make some lists based on his early performance. And who could forget the legendary PTBNL from the Brewers organization.

by sdtribefan on Aug 20, 2008 6:30 PM EDT 0 recs

there’s been a neverending discussion going on over Let’s Go Tribe since the trade — Brantley vs. Green

You’re right on though with your picks. Hodges looked like a breakout candidate before his slump, and i was hoping Josh Rodriguez would do the same. I also think guys like Ryan Miller, Chris Jones and Cord Phelps could become solid prospects based on this year’s performance.

by JP_Frost on Aug 20, 2008 8:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

I understand about Brantley vs. Green.

I don’t read LGT anymore and miss my old buddy, indiansfan. I did not mention Hodges because I recall he was already top 100 and expected him to stay the same. Same for LaPorta. Give those guys, and Weglarz, a break. They have been turned everyway but loose for the last 30-45 days. I thought J-Rod would be higher but Ks way too much. Miller got close to breakout and has my eye. I believe that 3 pitchers from this year’s draft, Haley, Putnam, and House have the most upside after Chisenhall.

by sdtribefan on Aug 21, 2008 1:02 AM EDT up 0 recs

Kila Kaaihue is an obvious choice

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on Aug 20, 2008 8:06 PM EDT 0 recs

Hasn't he broken out before though?

Seems like one of those ‘every other year’ types.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Aug 20, 2008 10:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

His only other good season was in the Cal league

Three years ago.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Aug 20, 2008 10:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

Mike aviles! well.. he was in the minors, he just broke out in the majors.

by cfizzle on Aug 21, 2008 12:35 AM EDT up 0 recs

haha

No kidding. Man he’s been good.

Scouts really dropped the ball there!

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Aug 21, 2008 1:01 AM EDT up 0 recs

On the Mike Aviles track

would also include Denard Span.

by Diggity Dino on Aug 21, 2008 8:52 AM EDT up 0 recs

yah i agree, mike aviles and denard spann are both have spectacular seasons.

by cfizzle on Aug 23, 2008 2:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

Brewers Bloomers

Mat Gamel for sure, trying to take off the rose-colored glasses I’d say he’s top 50 for sure, was nowhere near that earlier this year.

Alcides Escobar has had some serious helium as well, top 100 for sure this year, but some were high on his glove before the year.

Others, who have had significant stock raises:
Angel Salome, Jon Lucroy, Michael Brantley, Taylor Green

I'll warm up with you anytime

by ufoboy90 on Aug 20, 2008 8:18 PM EDT 0 recs

Doolittle has to be there

EOM

Mike Newman
baseballhandyman.blogspot.com

by Baseball Handyman on Aug 20, 2008 8:28 PM EDT 0 recs

Zach Daeges

Hitting very well in AA. Yes maybe a tad old, but he is crushing the ball compared to other top prospects who are playing AA, and although his HR’s are kinda low he gets on base and does have 31 doubles. Could very well be in the Kevin Youkilis mold

by dlpme77 on Aug 20, 2008 9:15 PM EDT 0 recs

I'd think about a lot of other Sox prospects before him

Lars Anderson and Michael Bowden are going to be going up significantly in the rankings. Lars probably to top 10-15 level and Bowden top 25-40. Josh Reddick is definitely gonna be a new guy in the top 100 rankings, and I could easily see Che-Hsuan Lin there from the Sox too, just because of the sheer amount of tools he has. Other guys potentially there would be Michael Almanzar (17 year old in Low A, HUGE potential) and Daniel Bard (reliever with 100 mph fastball). Daeges really isn’t a typical prospect, he’s got one real good tool (hitting for contact), and can play all three outfield positions, but has no speed which you’d like from a centerfielder, and hasn’t displayed any power, which you really want from your corner outfielders. I can see the Youk comparison because of the plate discipline thing, but I don’t think he warrants top 100 possibility.

by aspeninthewindow on Aug 20, 2008 9:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

Twins prospects

I suspect some of these won’t be in the top 100, but they’ve had some nice break out years:

Luke Hughes
Angel Morales
Ben Revere
Wilson Ramos

by diehardtwinsfan on Aug 20, 2008 10:01 PM EDT 0 recs

chris valaika

certainly wasn’t a top level guy, but has definitely produced

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.

by biggentleben on Aug 20, 2008 10:01 PM EDT 0 recs

Daryl Jones, STL system

Daryl Jones’ value should really have soared….toolsy player who never could put it together suddenly put it together in A+ (.879 OPS), then has improved on his numbers in a callup to AA (.981 OPS).

by siddfynch on Aug 20, 2008 10:11 PM EDT 0 recs

Dexter Fowler, too

by siddfynch on Aug 20, 2008 11:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

Rays Breakouts

Jeremy Hellickson
Nick Barnese
Possibly Alex Cobb
Possibly Matt Moore

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Aug 20, 2008 10:19 PM EDT 0 recs

Zach McAllister

by Dfarth on Aug 20, 2008 11:54 PM EDT 0 recs

Wilkin Ramirez, of, Tigers

Tools guy whose putting it together a bit this year.

.300/.366/.532 in Erie. His discipline still kinda sucks, but he’s a pretty good prospect.

by demondeaconsbaseball on Aug 21, 2008 12:59 AM EDT 0 recs

Wilmer Flores and Jon Niese

A much needed pair of guys for the Mets. Credit to John for tabbing Niese as a guy to watch last year.

by aap212 on Aug 21, 2008 1:42 AM EDT 0 recs

My Movers

Cahill
Hellickson
Bowden
Saunders
Halman
Golson (don’t laugh, fantasy purposes only)
CDavis…probably not eligible, but a helluva breakout
Feliz
Andrus(fantasy purposes only)

by killa on Aug 21, 2008 2:36 AM EDT 0 recs

Why is Golson valuable in fantasy

baseball? He has decent power and decent speed, but he’s simply not that good

www.loftylantern.com

by OldProspects on Aug 21, 2008 1:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

Chris Tillman

Jhoulys Chacin (fuck is it hard to find how his name is spelled)
Daryl Thompson
Brett Cecil

www.loftylantern.com

by OldProspects on Aug 21, 2008 8:49 AM EDT 0 recs

Neftali Soto Cincinnati
Greg Halman Seattle
J.P. Arencibia Toronto
Chris Carter Oakland
Josh Reddick Boston
Lars Anderson Boston
Jesus Montero NYY
Matt Wieters Baltimore

Fake Teams - a proud member of the SB Nation

by faketeams on Aug 21, 2008 11:23 AM EDT 0 recs

Not Weiters

I like the rest of your list, but I don’t think Wieters counts as a breakout. He’s doing exactly what was expected of him. I feel like a breakout entails some level of surprise—or at least not so much inevitability.

by aap212 on Aug 21, 2008 12:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

+.77

Wieters is likely going to be the #1 overall prospect in the game. I don’t think that was expected

Fake Teams - a proud member of the SB Nation

by faketeams on Aug 21, 2008 1:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

Hi

I’m David Price, have we met?

by bushe on Aug 21, 2008 2:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

They were the best pitcher and hitter in last year’s draft, they’re the best pitching and hitting prospects in the minors, and I wouldn’t call either of them breakout players, because there’s nothing for them to break out of.

by aap212 on Aug 21, 2008 2:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

From BP's Ultimate Fantasy team

Price is honorable mention. here is what is said about Wieters:

32. Matt Wieters, C, Orioles, Age 22 (—). Here is the other Oriole—and the only current minor leaguer to make our Top 50. Since last season, we have significantly revised our minor league forecasts to make them more conservative, but Wieters still blows the system out of the park, with a 1038 OPS thus far on the season in spite of playing in some pitcher-friendly environments. Wieters might be in the upper quartile of major league catchers if he put on an Orioles uniform right now—and he’s only 22.

When price began the year having his elbow nursed, I certainly wasn’t thinking he’d rocket through two levels and hold his own in two AAA starts. Nor did I think Wieters would carry a 1.000+ OPS in AA with more walks than Ks.

While one can easily cliam I was incompentent not to see that before either played professionally, I’ll always be able to say I’m not as dumb as Dave littlefield was for passing on Wieters and taking Moskos.

Fake Teams - a proud member of the SB Nation

by faketeams on Aug 21, 2008 3:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

The world would be in a better mood...

…if six billion people woke up in the morning, took a deep breath, and remembered that they weren’t Dave Littlefield before they approached the day.

by aap212 on Aug 21, 2008 3:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

He's still exceeding expectations

No one expected him to mash like this.

If he’d hit .280/.350/.500 this year, he’d still be considered one of the top prospects in the game with his defensive abilities and pedigree.

But he’s been arguably the best hitter in the minor leagues this year while playing a premium position. His stock has gone up significantly, and I think that qualifies as a breakout.

by dkdc on Aug 21, 2008 6:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

Quick Hits

No Madison Bumgarner? Top 80-100 to one of the best pitching prospects in the game, that’s pretty good.

Pete Kozma and Matt Dominguez come to mind as young 2007 draftees who should make nice showings on top prospect lists next year.

Brett Cecil and Derek Holland are good names to remember.

Drew Stubbs should make a big jump this year and deservingly so.

by mrkupe on Aug 21, 2008 12:37 PM EDT 0 recs

prediction: Flores won't flounder in 2009

Wilmer Flores is my candidate. Huge offensive potential and plays SS. Since Flores is a Mets farmhand , he’s got the added benefit of getting big market attention. Flores’s stay in Low-A may be a short one if he repeats this year’s performance.

Flores ends 2009 as the Top Prospect in the Mets farm. F-Mart is going to repeat Double-A which would be best for him.

by BxCitizen on Aug 21, 2008 2:34 PM EDT 0 recs

p.s., Flores is the Mets version of Jesus Montero.

Both are kids. Flores is 18 right now. Montero is 19.

Both are Venezuelans.

Both play premium positions. Flores is a SS. Montero is a Catcher.

Both have special bats. Flores is absolutely tearing up Appalachia (rookie ball??). Montero is the best offensive catcher in the entire Sally League and top 5 prospect (imo).

by BxCitizen on Aug 21, 2008 2:37 PM EDT 0 recs

Enough with the Montero at catcher nonsense

Let’s not call Montero a catcher. It will only encourage the Yankees to keep doing so. He’s a great hitting prospect, and projects for enough bat for 1B, which is a huge compliment. The kid is no catcher, though.

Wilmer Flores probably isn’t a SS either, but at least it’s remotely possible.

by aap212 on Aug 21, 2008 3:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

Montero is 18. His bat is good enough to be a top prospect at 1B.

by bobe420 on Aug 21, 2008 3:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

That’s what I said. I think he’s a nifty prospect, even while not being a catcher.

by aap212 on Aug 21, 2008 8:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

Just turned 17

Flores is a young, young prospect.

by gogotabata on Aug 21, 2008 6:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

For the Giants...

Pablo Sandoval and Travis Ishikawa.

MinorGiants

by RougeGorrila on Aug 21, 2008 2:59 PM EDT 0 recs

Id put Madison Bumgarner in for the Giants also.

I hate Baron Davis.

by Tchli on Aug 21, 2008 7:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

Travis Ishikawa

is, at the very best, Brian Daubach. Which isn’t bad, but isn’t great, either.

by Flynn Blake on Aug 24, 2008 2:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yankees

Montero and Jackson have both improved their stock. BA had Jackson at #15 recently. He’s not perfect – needs to show more power, cut down on strikeouts, etc… but has a big ceiling. Montero already covered.

Mark Melancon has had a ridiculous year and is one of the best relievers in baseball. Dellin Betances was having control issues earlier, but is back to top form lately. Zach McAllister has seen a velocity uptick and has a nice sinker, needs to find an out pitch though.

Others worth watching: Chris Garcia, Wilkins De La Rosa

by number_twentyone on Aug 21, 2008 9:47 PM EDT 0 recs