Who is the best corner outfield prospect in baseball? My top 15

by the pinstripes on Sep 5, 2008 4:37 PM EDT Comment 105 comments

Please find a list below of my top 25 corner outfield prospects. For the purpose of this exercise I have left out 08' draftees (which you can feel free to opine as to where they should rank on this list) as well as players that look to have graduated to the bigs seemingly to stay.

Also, bear in mind that my rankings are based solely on fantasy value where I use the following categories: OPS, HR, SB, RBI, R

If I've left anyone off the list whether by mistake or otherwise I apologize. Please feel free to let me know it.

Travis Snider - Toronto (20 yrs old) - .275/.358/.480 total minors - currently with mlb toronto - travis was recently called up and is holding his own thus far. after a very slow start to the year travis has really come on strong. he's hammered 23 long balls plus 1 in the majors along w/ posting a 61/154 bb/k ratio. the k's are a concern but at age 20 he certainly has time to improve.

Jason Heyward - Atlanta (18/19 yrs old) - .316/.381/.473 total minors - currently playing for A+ myrtle beach - jason was voted the sally league's most outstanding prospect after playing most of the year as an 18 yr old. he's also shown advanced pd with a 51/78 bb/k ratio, has banged out 11 homers and swiped 15 of 18 bags. one of my favorite prozi's.

Matt Laporta - Cleveland (23 yrs old) - .279/.386/.539 total minors - currently playing for AA akron - matt has monster power potential hitting 22 homers on the yr. he's also shown a keen eye as evidenced by a 49/75 bb/k ratio. he hasn't really found his groove since being traded but i'm not worried at all.

Michael Stanton - Florida (18 yrs old) - .293/.381/.611 for class A greensboro - talk about exploding onto the prospect scene. i'd really like to see him hit for a little more power as the 39 homers he mashed really wasn't enough. on a serious note, he definitely needs to work on cutting down on the k's as evidenced by his 58/153 bb/k ratio.

Michael Burgess - Washington (19 yrs old) - .246/.333/.477 total minors - currently playing for A+ potomac - major power prospect belting 24 homers on the season, 6 of them in his last 19 games since being promoted. needs to improve on his plate discipline 55/162 bb/k ratio. strikeout totals are a big concern although he has time on his side.

Nicholas Weglarz - Cleveland (20 yrs old) - .272/.396/.432 for A+ kinston - insanely good plate discipline especially for a 20 yr old. 71/78 bb/k ratio to go along with 10 homers. i definitely expected more power production but at 6'3", 245 i certainly expect this to change. huge ceiling imo.

Dominic Brown - Philadelphia (20 yrs old) - .291/.382/.417 for class A lakewood - dominic has terrific plate discipline as evidenced by a 64/72 bb/k ratio, at 6'4", 205/lbs one would assume his power output would spike from the 9 homers he's hit this yr. dominic also swiped 22 of 29 bags this yr. but i would think given his size this will not be sustainable once he reaches the majors. overall, i like him and his home park quite a bit!

Andrew Lambo - Los Angeles (19/20 yrs old) - .295/.351/.482 total minors - currently with AA jacksonville - although andrew is not well liked on this site it seems, he happens to be one of personal favs. 18 homers on the yr to go along w/ a 43/119 bb/k ratio. his pd certainly needs improving but all i've read is that this guy can hit. good thing for the dodgers because they'll certainly need it.

Aaron Cunningham - Oakland (22 yrs old) - .329/.400/.532 total minors - aaron is currently with mlb oakland and had posted a very solid minor league season with 17 homers, 15 steals in 20 attempts along with a 49/108 bb/k ratio.

Nate Schierholtz - San Francisco (24 yrs old) - .320/.363/.594 for AAA fresno - nate definitely deserved a chance to play in san fran from the outset imo. however, much to his credit he went to the minors and slammed 18 homers in 350 ab's. his 21/51 bb/k ratio could use some improvement but he looks like a solid bet to turn his recent callup into something permanent.

Wladimir Balentien - Seattle (24 yrs old) - .266/.354/.584 for AAA tacoma - wladimir had a solid season overall with 18 homers plus another 7 for seattle. his 32/49 bb/k ratio was very respectable but didn't translate to the major league level. the jury's still out.

Nolan Reimold - Baltimore (24 yrs old) - .284/.367/.501 for AA bowie - nolan has put together a very nice season for bowie albeit at age 24. he's shown some nice power numbers in smoking 25 long balls as well as put up a very good 63/82 bb/k ratio. he could definitely push for a job in spring training.

Josh Reddick - Boston (21 yrs old) - .311/.356/.544 total minors - currently with AA portland - josh played most of the yr in lancaster where he absolutely raked. since moving up to portland the power production hasn't suffered but the average certainly has. overall he's hit 23 homers, swiped 14 of 17 bags and compiled a 34/82 bb/k ratio. an interesting prospect to watch going forward.

Ryan Kalish - Boston (20 yrs old) - .273/.365/.363 total minors - currently with A+ lancaster - ryan had a very underwhelming season to say the least but makes this list due to pedigree. his 61/99 bb/k ratio is very respectable along with 19 steals in 23 attempts but the lack of power is of concern as he only hit 5 homers on the season. needless to say next yr is very important for him.

Kellen Kulbacki - San Diego (22 yrs old) - .304/.400/.540 total minors - currently with A+ lake elsinore - kellen had a pretty strong season albeit in the hitter friendly cal league. he posted 22 homers with a solid 56/71 bb/k ratio. the plate discipline improved markedly which is very promising as he definitely has power potential.

HM - Michael Saunders, John Mayberry, Wilkin Ramirez, Gerardo Parra, Cody Johnson, John Raynor

NOTE: I will be posting my centerfield list on Monday of next week. The players listed below are all being considered for the list. If there is strong public opinion that any of these will be moved from center I will make a revision and include them on this list.

Daryl Jones, Colby Rasmus, Dexter Fowler, Jordan Schafer, Felix Pie, Cameron Maybin, Gorkys Hernandez, Andrew McCutchen, Che-Hsuan Lin, Desmond Jennings, Austin Jackson, Ben Revere, Fernando Martinez, Gregory Halman, Engel Beltre, Peter Bourjos, Angel Morales, Jose Tabata, Michael Brantley, Cedric Hunter, Corey Brown, Julio Borbon & Tyler Colvin

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I might throw in....

Nick Evans. Great numbers at AA.

by Lunkwill Fook on Sep 5, 2008 4:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i honestly thought he had exceeded the ab limit for true prospectdom. having said that, i’ll certainly take a look at him when i get a chance.

I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?

by the pinstripes on Sep 5, 2008 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Prospectdom

I figured it was ROY cut off. If he’s out, he’s out but he’s still under 100 MLB at bats.

by Lunkwill Fook on Sep 5, 2008 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Evans

Nick Evans is a first baseman.

by BobbyMac on Sep 6, 2008 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Watch the Mets

He’s been playing left field in the majors.

by aap212 on Sep 6, 2008 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Evans

And he’s played a ton of LF in AA. Mike Carp took most of the turns at 1st.

by Lunkwill Fook on Sep 8, 2008 1:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Give me a break!

He played 22 games in LF in AA, due to Carp’s presense. He made 34 putouts, and 3 errors. He has played 24 games in LF for the Mets, and made 34 putouts. When the team moved him from 3b, they didn’t move him to LF… they moved him to 1b. An organization wouldn’t do that if they thought he could be even an above-average LF.

No, he’s a 1b who has played LF in duress this year for 46 games (the entirety of his pro experience in the outfield). Even with the need-based attempt to make him into a LF, he’s played more games at 1b this year (58), than in LF.

by BobbyMac on Sep 8, 2008 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jesus. Chill out.

He may not have been a left fielder all his minor league life but he is one now and he’s playing there in the majors which is more than almost any of the corner outfielders on this list can say.

He’s a first baseman that was, in full effort, turned into a left fielder. I’m sorry if that’s not good enough for you but it’s good enough for the rest of us.

by Lunkwill Fook on Sep 8, 2008 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The bottom line is

He probably shouldn’t be on this list at all anyway. He is currently only a leftfielder (just like Matt LaPorta, Jack Cust, or anyone else who’s an outfielder whether people on here like it or not), so he qualifies for it. But his bat was never good enough to make him a serious first base prospect, so good for the Mets seeing if he can be of any use out there. Right now, he and Murphy make a perfectly good platoon.

And BobbyMac, given some of the players called shortstops, catchers, and third basemen on these lists, having a young first baseman who’s been playing left on this list is not a big leap.

by aap212 on Sep 8, 2008 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, that's arguable....

If someone like Nolan Reimhold can be on this list, certain Nick Evans belongs on it.

by Lunkwill Fook on Sep 8, 2008 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reimold's better

Reimold’s got more power, better plate discipline, and is substantially better outfielder. Evans is younger, but I don’t think he’s got a whole lot of upside. I’m confident that Reimold can at least carve out a career as a decent starter in a corner for a few years. I’m not so sure about Evans. And I say that as a Mets fan.

by aap212 on Sep 8, 2008 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Power

I dunno. Look at the pace Evans was at, he really turned the corner on the power department (as evidenced by the comparitive slugging percentages). Honestly, if they kept him at AA all season, he’s probably somewhere between 20-25 homeruns.

Also remember Evans had a great eye at the plate last season (evidenced by walks). Assuming this was a consolidation season, I except the eye to combine with the power assuming he plays in AAA.

by Lunkwill Fook on Sep 8, 2008 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough

I hope you’re right, of course, too.

by aap212 on Sep 8, 2008 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can anyone comment on Snider's defense?

Throwing arm, instincts, speed, etc.?

Is he limited to left field exclusively, or can he play right too? Is he a future DH, and if so, at what age do you see that happening?

"Innings eater? Depends on whether you want delicious innings or burnt, moldy innings. Kirk Saarloos is the Hot Pockets of inning eaters." - Gallagher's Watermelons

by notsellingjeans on Sep 5, 2008 4:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

snider

Has below average speed, a solid arm, but he doesn’t run well in the outfield. Hense the Giles comparisons by BA.

by Bravesin07 on Sep 5, 2008 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

suanders

I think you are seriously undervaluing Michael Saunders. He is 21 (maybe 22) at AAA and has the potential to hit for .300 avg with 20+ hr’s. And he has the speed to steal bases and play CF on a limited basis

by VanillaGorilla on Sep 5, 2008 5:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i honestly don’t think he belongs in AAA right now but he certainly could develop into what you say. he showed no improvement in pd this year and was caught stealing 8 times in 20 attempts. at age 21, he does have plenty of time to develop. they should have left him in AA but we all know seattle likes to move their prospects quickly.

I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?

by the pinstripes on Sep 5, 2008 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Suanders is a better prospect than you give him credit for

An .858 OPS in AA as a 21 year old tells you a lot about what type of player he is. Coming from British Columbia he also has not had the same baseball exposure as a lot of other position players. I think his AA performance is for real.

by Birdfan01 on Sep 5, 2008 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Raynor

is playing LF/RF in AA right now due to Maybin but if he has an MLB career it will probably be as a CF.

by nms on Sep 5, 2008 5:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

matt sulentic

any consideration for him? maybe in the next tier or 3rd tier of OF’s?

Matt Sulentic – Oakland (20 yrs old) – .309/.368/.481 total minors – currently with A+ stockton- Matt had a solid season after a down season in kane county in 2007. Rather then have him repeat another season in kane county, A’s sent him to the cal league. his season was cut short in the last month of august due to a broken wrist/forearm after being hit by a pitch.. But during that time OF’s Corey Brown and Matt Spencer filled in well. Matt should be in AA Midland in 09 for his full age 21 season. His lack of power is of concern for a corner OF but has a good combo of avg/obp ability. could he end up a 4th OF type like a ryan sweeney eventually or good enough to jump ahead of a cunningham/brown/buck etc? Has he regained some of the prospect status he lost that considered him a fringe top 100 prospect from a couple yrs ago?

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Matthew%20Sulentic&pos=CF&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=501991</a>

by Asfan4ever723 on Sep 5, 2008 5:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

did you cut & paste that?

just messing w/ ya .. :-)

I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?

by the pinstripes on Sep 5, 2008 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well played

I used to like him a lot. Has been slow to develop…

by benzalman on Sep 5, 2008 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can't agree

Unless he develops power that he didn’t have before, he’s Dustin Pedroia as a corner outfielder. The typical corner OF is about 10 runs better than the typical 2B, meaning that a good hitting 2B like Pedroia is an average corner OF.

I think he’s a fine player, and rumors of his demise were obviously exaggerated, but I don’t think he really belongs on this list.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 5, 2008 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can't believe no one else has challenged this post...

Dustin Pedroia’s line…

597 AB 112 R 17 HR 78 RBI 45 BB 48 K’s 17 SB .328 AVG.

Two things:

1) Those are not typical 2B numbers
2) What team would turn that line down from an outfielder. The RBI’s are a bit low, but he hit 2nd most of the year.

If Dustin Pedroia is his comp he should be a top 5 OF prospect.

by tt68 on Sep 12, 2008 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget....

the 50 doubles.

"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 Sep 13, 2008 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Keep in mind that Pedroia plays (and plays to) Fenway

and Sulentic is, hypothetically, at least starting his career in the Coliseum.

The park effect is definitely a big, big deal in Pedroia’s case, because he pulls a lot of not-that-long-distance fly balls and gets singles and doubles out of them instead of outs like someone in a normal park. Playing in the Coliseum would probably knock his average and OBP down 30 or 40 points and his slugging down 50 to 100. At that point you’re looking at a corner OF with an OPS of a bit over 800 in the Coliseum, which is undoubtedly a nice player but surely not a top 5 OF prospect.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 14, 2008 3:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Borbon

belongs on the CF list, not the corner list.

O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!
Sondern laßt uns angenehmere anstimmen,
und freudenvollere.

by t ball on Sep 5, 2008 5:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

by groundingout on Sep 5, 2008 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah kinda suprised about Borbon

being placed in the COF group. Kid is considered a GG caliber CF that in his first full season is already in AA, OPSing over 800 with 50+ SB

by laxtonto on Sep 5, 2008 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it was a mistake, i accidentally placed him in the wrong list. i’ll make the change.

I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?

by the pinstripes on Sep 6, 2008 8:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No to Schierholtz

The guy has abysmal plate discipline and plays poor defense. He’s really a one dimensional player and that one dimension isn’t great enough to put him in the top 15, I think.

by aap212 on Sep 5, 2008 5:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

?

I’ve always heard he plays pretty decent defense and I know for sure he has a great arm?

by Mr. Pleasant on Sep 5, 2008 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Think Brad Hawpe upside

Clunky outfielder with solid arm. He’d have more power and many fewer walks than Hawpe if he worked out well, but that’s the level of player I think he could be.

I guess I’m under-selling his power, and he doesn’t strike out as often as one might think, but his walk rates are so hideous that I wonder how he’ll hold up in the majors, when pitchers are told to never throw him strikes.

by aap212 on Sep 5, 2008 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

‘Solid’ arm? You obviously haven’t actually watched him throw. Schierholtz has one of the top 5 arms I’ve ever seen on an outfielder. He can hit the plate from the fence in right center with no more than two bounces, and does it with accuracy, too. There’s a reason he’s regularly one of the league-leaders in outfield assists, and it has only a little to do with people underestimating his arm.

I’d still rather take a hit over a walk, especially an extra-base hit, and frankly, after seeing Schierholtz turn a pitch at the shoelaces into an RBI double or a pitch at the shoulders into a deep right home run, I’d much rather take either of those hits than a walk that wouldn’t score a run.

SFDugout.com is BACK! See the Top 50 Giants Prospects!

by BruteSentiment on Sep 6, 2008 5:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd rather have a walk than a hit too, but...

Guys with no plate discipline more often than not get exposed in the majors, even guys with huge power. I look at Schierholtz and see a big chance that he only turns out to be Daryle Ward or Glenallen Hill. That’s a major leaguer to be sure, but it doesn’t seem like a top 15 guy to me.

by aap212 on Sep 6, 2008 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Discipline may not be as much an issue as the numbers seem to indicate: he does have very good plate coverage, and does lay off the stuff that is clearly not hittable. (Sort of the same story as Sandoval, except his plate coverage is just silly). Pitchers won’t just be able to not throw strikes.

Adoptive Parent of Francisco Peguero. He can throw, he can run, he can hit(fastballs), and he's Dominican. What else do you need to know?

by haverecords on Sep 7, 2008 6:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not necessarily

Be careful about the conclusions you reach about his plate coverage based on those numbers. Again, if you look at what Glenallen Hill did in Triple-A at 24, or what Daryle Ward did in Triple-A at 23 and 24, but might have reached similar conclusions. Both had poor plate discipline, but kept high averages in the minors to go with tremendous power. But once they got to the majors, they were terrific bench players, but rarely more. Like them, I would project Schierholtz to be a fringe starter or good bench player.

by aap212 on Sep 7, 2008 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

considering how many prospects burn out every year, I wouldn’t be surprised if you could find a couple of former prospects with similar minor league stats that didn’t make it. all this list is saying is that he would be top 15 in corner outfielders, that’s probably about the equivalent of top top 100 or 120 overall. Considering how solid his last couple years in AAA were and how well he’s done in the majors this year and last I don’t think that is out of the question at all.

by zeisenbe on Sep 8, 2008 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not on numbers, on visuals.

Adoptive Parent of Francisco Peguero. He can throw, he can run, he can hit(fastballs), and he's Dominican. What else do you need to know?

by haverecords on Sep 8, 2008 7:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, we'll see

Again, part of what I was getting at is that plate coverage doesn’t necessarily hold up in the big leagues. After two years of watching Delmon Young in the majors, I’m certainly not buying into the Vlad-like plate coverage people had ascribed to him in the minors. Guys who actually succeed like that are flukes, and I’d rather bet on the guy who can let a ball go by without swinging every single time.

by aap212 on Sep 8, 2008 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

‘Fluke’ would be putting it two strongly, even in the case of Vlad. Vlad’s case would be relatively rare, but it happens (more often with players from the Carribean, likely because of how the game is initially learned there. Vlad still stands out, of course, but he’s not alone: Clemente was much the same, and one could add a few others.).

None of this is to say that Schierholtz has Vlad like coverage—he certainly does not. But it is very good. He’ll still need to be more selective—as many of you note—and take more walks in the majors, but his having very good plate coverage does lesson the concern about the low walks.

(by the way, another SF prospect, Pablo Sandoval, really might Vlad like coverage. He was reported to have crazy coverage, and since he’s been called up, that has been proven true to the eyes. Some of the pitches he squares up causes laughter. Not as much power as Vlad, but some real power too..)

Adoptive Parent of Francisco Peguero. He can throw, he can run, he can hit(fastballs), and he's Dominican. What else do you need to know?

by haverecords on Sep 9, 2008 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, that really isn't true

Vlad is sui generis. There is no hitter like him in the major leagues. Go look at his numbers on the fangraphs.com leaderboards— he swings at 6% more pitches outside the strike zone than any other hitter. He swings at more pitches IN the zone than any other hitter. He swings at more pitches, period, than any other hitter— in spite of the fact that he sees 4% fewer strikes than any other hitter.

He is an extreme outlier. Expecting anyone to be like him is setting yourself up for a major disappointment, because most of the people who are similar to him are similar in the “he does the same thing, but much worse” way.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 10, 2008 2:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

To be sui generis (and I assume you mean it in the legal sense), Vlad would need to be the only hitter like that, ever. And we don’t have such stats as you reference for many players past. Instead of sui generis, it is as I said it: rare, and in Vlad’s particular version, quite rare.

(and note that I said that his abilities—what I mean by Vlad’s case: great plate coverage, with pop, being a free swinger—are of a genus of player—rare, but not as much as one might think. However, I also said ‘he still stands out’, and to be more exact, I take him to be an archetype of the genus (along with others such as Clemente).

Still, I agree about your point of expecting anyone to be like him. I generally dislike the use of analogies from known and very good to great players, to describe a given prospect (I don’t mind it as much once that player is well established, though). Also, as you may note, I limited the use of Vlad to be ‘vlad like plate coverage’—the ‘like’ being approximate, and limited to that skill alone.

Adoptive Parent of Francisco Peguero. He can throw, he can run, he can hit(fastballs), and he's Dominican. What else do you need to know?

by haverecords on Sep 10, 2008 4:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also

Looking at body types, scouting reports, and minor league numbers, I’m still not talked out of my Daryle Ward/Glenallen Hill comp for Schierholz.

by aap212 on Sep 10, 2008 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm…I’ve only seen ward play on occasion, and that some time ago. I never really gave him enough thought as to why he didn’t turn out to be much (though something).

I can say the Glanallen Hill comparison isn’t a good one. Hill was the proverbial ‘slider speed’ bat, who hit mistakes well. As I recall, he was not particularly adept at making consistent hard contact. Schierholtz doesn’t struggle with hard stuff, and is more consistent with making hard contact (at least in the minors, and so far in the majors). They may end up with similar numbers, but they won’t get there the same way.

Adoptive Parent of Francisco Peguero. He can throw, he can run, he can hit(fastballs), and he's Dominican. What else do you need to know?

by haverecords on Sep 10, 2008 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No F'n way

Schierholz could do this:

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/glenallen-hill-rooftop-shot/885953604

by slurve on Sep 10, 2008 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My point exactly, though

It’s easy to say now that Schierholz has way more power than those guys had in the minors, but it simply doesn’t match what people saw then.

by aap212 on Sep 10, 2008 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't have a video to counter with...

but I’ve seen Schierholtz put one over the kids zone at Chukchansi Park (that’s about 340-45 deep in the part he hit, 15 rows of seats or so, and then a patio about as wide as an average street).

He doesn’t do it often, maybe just that once, but I think he ‘could’ do it.

Will he ever do it? I don’t know…he needs a chance, first.

SFDugout.com is BACK! See the Top 50 Giants Prospects!

by BruteSentiment on Sep 11, 2008 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not arguing

I’m the one saying that Schierholz is comparable to Hill and Ward. For both the good and bad.

by aap212 on Sep 11, 2008 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've looked for that clip for several years and could never find it. Thank you

Tools Whore

Sign Bonds!

by Tyler on Sep 11, 2008 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Paul and I talked about sui generis once before.

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Sep 10, 2008 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Everyone would rather have a hit than a walk

The question is, rather, how many walks you’re willing to give up for that hit, and in Schierholtz’s case, the answer appears to be “a lot.”

He has some chance of being a good player, but it depends on him developing either plate discipline or power that he doesn’t have right now. I think he’s a reasonable choice for the list, but if his approach stays the same as it’s been he’ll never be even an average major leaguer.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 6, 2008 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1 Schierholtz is garbage

I remember DrB being REALLY high on this guy and I still just don’t get it. Can’t take a walk to save his life and it’s not like he ever possed another trait that would off-set that what so ever.

by slurve on Sep 7, 2008 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tabata should be on the corner list, not the CF list.

by aap212 on Sep 5, 2008 5:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not sure

Ther Pirates are developing Tabata as a CF. It even came up in Dejean’s chat in today’s Post-Gazette.

by Robinson Checo on Sep 5, 2008 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does that mean McCutchen moves to LF? He doesn’t have the arm for RF. This sort of surprises me.

by jfish26101 on Sep 6, 2008 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think

what the Pirates are doing is letting Tabata play CF until he plays himself out of the position. If he can play CF, then let him play because that makes him that much more valuable of a player. I don’t think that they are even looking at the fact that McCutchen also plays CF. If a player can play adequate defense at every position in the OF, then he is most valuable (if defense stays the same) in CF because it’s tougher to get the same offensive production in CF as it is at a corner OF position.

by parnz on Sep 6, 2008 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm a believer in Wladimir Balentien

During the offseason, there were brief rumors about the A’s and Mariners talking trade for one of the A’s starters (as it happened, they traded for Bedard instead) and he was the second guy I wanted most after Adam Jones. Worst case, he’s Marcus Thames, and I think he’s got considerably higher potential than that.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 5, 2008 6:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I would love for Wlad to turn into Thames, but I just don't see it.

J.K.L.

by acblue on Sep 10, 2008 4:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wlad is better than Thames.

I don’t get why the only people who like Wlad AREN’T M’s fans (except for me).

Wlad is raw as hell, but he has a great approach to learning; you could see him getting better week-by-week in Tacoma, and it’s happening now too (more on D than at the plate so far, but still).
He’ll be a league average player either next year or 2010, and from there, I have no idea.

by marc w on Sep 11, 2008 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gamel?

by fartballs on Sep 5, 2008 6:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, I thought you said corner infielder.

by fartballs on Sep 5, 2008 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I believe you have put up a real good list.

It is quibbling to say that would consider moving some names at the bottom of the list. I think Reimold will keep his power but he has a long swing which I don’t think will translate well to the ML. I am a little surprised that Kulbacki was behind both Reddick and Kalish. Kalish’s pedigree might be great but his performance sucks. I believe that Reddick has been rushed which is the tendency in the AL east. For what it is worth, I agree with aap on Tabata and would place him in the lower third on this list. I actually would not have Snider at the top but that is really quibbling. Nice job!

by sdtribefan on Sep 5, 2008 8:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Michael Taylor . . .

Huge numbers in his break out year across A/A+, 22 years old drafted in the 5th round by the Phils last year. He’s 6’6 250, with surprising speed for a guy his size. Supposedly has a cannon of an arm as well. He’s a freakish athlete.

A .361/.441/.554
A+ .329/.380/.560

39 doubles, 19 home runs, 15 steals.

by Southwest on Sep 5, 2008 11:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

Love him

Touch em all Joe...

by FisherCat on Sep 14, 2008 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kulbacki

Glad to see Kulbacki on the list!

Yes, he plays in a hitters’ league, but his home park is a pitchers’ park (425’ to RC)…

Kulbacki might be one of the most unheralded top prospects in baseball…

by pffriberg on Sep 5, 2008 11:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Matt LaPorta

He didn’t struggle at all in AA, since he played there the entire season … he has struggled since being traded to the Indians (although he had a multi-homer night a couple of days ago).

by JP_Frost on Sep 6, 2008 7:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't care what "position" he "plays"

LaPorta should still be on the “who is the best DH prospect…” list.

If your defensive value is so poor that a team would put you at DH if the spot wasn’t already taken (or doesn’t exist, in the case of NL teams), you’re a DH. Jack Cust is a DH, regardless of whether he happens to be wearing a glove on any given night or not.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 6, 2008 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LaPorta will be a first baseman, not a DH

Especially considering the Indians have Hafner for awhile longer.

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Sep 6, 2008 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Since you appear not to have read my post

I’ll just re-post it.

If your defensive value is so poor that a team would put you at DH if the spot wasn’t already taken (or doesn’t exist, in the case of NL teams), you’re a DH.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 6, 2008 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The word "especially" is an intensifier

Perhaps you missed the subject of my post? I don’t see why LaPorta can’t stick at 1B; he was supposedly a fine first baseman at Florida.

Oh and Paul, quick being such a fucking dick.

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Sep 7, 2008 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

not sure why this was a reply to my post, but he has played most of his games in the OF, so untill he officially moves I think he should be considered a corner outfielder. There are probably more players listed that will move eventually.

by JP_Frost on Sep 6, 2008 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

weird

I’ve never heard anything about LaPorta’s defense that would indicate that he couldn’t handle a corner OF or at least 1B.

by mraver on Sep 6, 2008 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well, he’s supposedly not very good, but in BA’s handbook a scout said he was better than Carlos Lee, so perhaps he can turn into a Pat Burrell type of fielder. If he keeps hitting for power, then it doesn’t really matter where he plays.

by JP_Frost on Sep 6, 2008 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's my point

Pat Burrell is a DH.

If you’re a -10 run fielder in left field, and Burrell most assuredly is, you’re a DH.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 6, 2008 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

so therefore you eliminate the likes of Burrell, Lee, Dunn etc when naming the top LF’ers?

by JP_Frost on Sep 6, 2008 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

btw … do you consider Hanley Ramirez to be a SS?

by JP_Frost on Sep 6, 2008 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No...

though he probably could play a passable corner OF, so I wouldn’t call him a DH either.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 6, 2008 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pat Burrell should be a 1B

The idea that guys like LaPorta and Burrell can’t even play a passable 1B is ridiculous. By your standards, only guys like Adrian Gonzalez, Mark Teixeira, and Albert Pujols are first basemen, while everyone else who plays the position is secretly a DH. Some guys like Billy Butler, David Ortiz, and Jack Cust are begging for huge trouble at any position, but most guys can play a passable 1B. Burrell could; he just never got to play there because of Travis Lee (who seemed like a good idea at the time), then Jim Thome, and then Howard. The man’s played out of position his whole career—that doesn’t make him a DH.

by aap212 on Sep 6, 2008 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Everyone can't be below average at first base...

In fact, pretty much by definition, close to half the first basemen have to be above average.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 6, 2008 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ha ha

But you still didn’t respond to my actual point, which is that you’re overstating the defensive limitations of people like LaPorta and Burrell. They could both be perfectly adequate at 1B.

by aap212 on Sep 6, 2008 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We have to make some concessions to expediency...

I’m not going to sit around trying to estimate the exact position on the defensive spectrum where everybody would be best suited… nor could I, in any case, because there’s no guarantee that those guys would be adequate at all at 1B. Some guys just can’t handle ground balls.

If I’m going to sit around snarking some guy’s defense, I’m damn well going all the way.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 7, 2008 4:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brandon Jones

I know he’s struggled this year, but I’d have Brandon Jones on the list. He’ll reach the ROY AB limit with another 40-50 ABs, which he very well might get this next month, but for now he hasn’t.

Brandon Jones had an awful 2008, much like a lot of the Braves’ AAA (and “real”, for that matter) roster. But he’ll still be competing for a job this Spring on the big club, and has solid-average LF upside. Something like an annual line sitting around .280/.360/.480 line, combined with average-to-good defense. His 2008 may not have been as good as some of the guys on this list, but taken as a whole career, I think he’s as good if not better a prospect than Nate Schierholtz, Mike Saunders, Cody Johnson, etc.

by mraver on Sep 6, 2008 11:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This crop

This crop is surprisingly weak.

I don’t think F-Mart is destined to stay in CF. And I have to say, you should give Saunders another look. He was doing pretty dang well before going down for the season, and BA had him just missing the top 25 overall in their mid-season update. Nevertheless, he should probably go in the CF group. He stills plays and projects there, at least for now.

by aCone419 on Sep 6, 2008 12:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Power down in general?

Is it just me or are good power prospects down in general. I may be out of my mind, but it really seems like they are down. How many legit (non-AAAA) prospects hit more than 25 homers this year?

"God, I'm from Cleveland. When is it going to be our time?"

by BStal11 on Sep 6, 2008 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Prospects are down in general

A lot of people have been saying this lately, and it’s true. Top prospect lists this year are going to be a little down in quality this year.

by aap212 on Sep 6, 2008 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Michael Saunders

didn’t finish the season because of an injury but because he play in the Olympics for Canada. For me he is easy top 10 and he has better tools than almost averybody on this list. Big strong fast guy.

by LCT on Sep 6, 2008 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Michael Brantley pulled out of the AFL for some reason

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Sep 6, 2008 1:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

he could be the PTBNL in the Sabathia trade, so perhaps that has something to do with it

by JP_Frost on Sep 6, 2008 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kalish does not belong in the top 15

Production wise, Kalish has only managed to hit for a decent average and show good plate discipline. Any sort of power production or doubles that might indicate future power production are absent. While Kalish might be projectable for the future, he has not done nearly enough to consider him a top 15 corner outfield prospect, even warranting an honourable mention is based on dubious grounds.

Michael Saunders on the other hand should be on the list. He has turned his considerable toolset into very solid results. Besides his time in the minors this year, he preformed pretty well for the Canadian baseball team in the Olympics. Also, since he was in Canada as an amateur, he is not as refined as other players, leaving room for further improvement. He still has a long swing, but he has managed to cut down the strikeouts as he progressed and improved his power numbers.

Statistically speaking Kalish’s age 20 season in A ball is not that different than Saunders age 19 season in A ball(Kalish did show better plate discipline but is a year older and had been in affiliated ball for a year longer). The thing is Saunders did not even get anywhere near consideration as top 15 corner outfield prospect let alone as a top prospect with the mariners, in his age 19 season. I have nothing against Kalish but I do not see any justification for him being this high right now.

Aaron Cunnigham I can see developing like Andre Ethier, with his power production starting at a 4th outfielder/platoon player level then increasing as he gets more ABs.

by tdot mariner fan on Sep 6, 2008 5:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Kalish

While I won’t disagree that Kalish hasn’t put up great numbers or for the matter good numbers thus far I think that he does belong in the discussion. As you said, power is the last tool to develop so he does have that going for him (as most prospects do), but Kalish is coming off a broken hamate bone. He broke it last year after having a great start in Lowell in the NYPL. Granted it has been a year since the surgery, but that has likely altered his swing, his mindset, and his power in some way. Even if his wrist is fully healed from a physical standpoint, he may not be fully confident that it is healed yet that it is hurting him. I can see Kalish coming back in a big way next year when that wrist is fully healed and he is confident.

Also, I’d like to mention that I think that Andrew Lambo is a heck of a player. I think that he is someone that really flies under the radar. He had 15 HR this year in the Midwest League which is a notoriously tough hitters league. I think that he is someone to watch next year. If he has a good year he could really vault himself up these lists.

by parnz on Sep 6, 2008 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lambo

I really like what Lambo has done so far. As you mentioned he has hit well in a league with a difficult hitting environment. He has also maintained a very good batting avg/Iso against left handers(although the BAIP does point to regression) which I think is a great sign for a young left handed hitter.

As I stated earlier with Kalish, I want to see his potential turn into some notable results before I will start believing in him as a future everyday outfielder. I understand that wrist injuries can inhibit a players power production, but I still want to see some significant results above short-season ball before I consider him to be a top outfield prospect.

by tdot mariner fan on Sep 7, 2008 2:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Only problem with that for Cunningham is, he's right handed

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 6, 2008 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Projection

For me, when it comes to projecting hitters purely statistically, I see what side they hit from as inconsequential.

by tdot mariner fan on Sep 7, 2008 2:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not eligible

Pie and Balentien each have > 130 MLB ABs and thus should be ineligible.

by rhd on Sep 7, 2008 10:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Saunders

Have to agree there is no reason Michael Saunders shouldn’t be on this list. Guys like Dominic Brown are? Saunders would still have been one of the younger guys listed, and one of the most successful, and he did it a tough level (AA). No real reason to justify guys like Kalish or even D Brown (same age as Saunders, worse #‘s, and 2 levels lower!) ahead of Saunders. If you want to punish him for a weak start in AAA, you should also be discounting Reddick for an equally poor start in AA (not to mention most of his production being in the Cally league … in Lancaster no less!). You make a solid argument for Saunders being as high as 5th, and that’s if he can’t stick it as a CFer. After Snider, Heyward, Laporta, Stanton it really opens up. You have some older guys, some guys with 1 or 2 major holes in their game (Burgess’ K’s, many guys lack of power). I’m not saying Saunders is def. #5 of the guys you listed, but he’s probably as good a choice as anyone, and is absolutely top 10.

by jayjay on Sep 8, 2008 12:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If Pie is still

the CFer of the future for the Cubs than I foresee Colvin becoming a corner OFer

Clever signature line

by CHCOWNTHECENTRAL on Sep 8, 2008 7:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Colvin wouldn't make this list

Pie probably isn’t in the Cubs’ future plans, because they refuse to give him more than a ten-day audition. Colvin, though, hasn’t been any good in the minors. He’s 23 and not hitting in Double-A. I think he’s only a 4th outfielder prospect, so no way he belongs among the top corner prospects.

by aap212 on Sep 8, 2008 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pie

Pie is most definately still in the Cubs future – at least for now. He’s been up for some extended stretches. It’s his fault for not performing, the Cubs gave him a few good long looks.

by slurve on Sep 8, 2008 1:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good long looks?

He has 63 AB this year in 30 games. That’s a good long look? What about 177 AB in 87 games last year? That’s hardly a few good long looks for a legit CF who was putting up a 973 OPS in the PCL last year. That number is inflated by an unsustainable BABiP, but the Cubs have never started him in CF without him being ten bad at bats away from the bench or the minors.

by aap212 on Sep 8, 2008 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rasmus

After a down year, the #2 prospect in baseball last year doesn’t even make your top 15 or 21 with HM’s…?

by team name deleted on Sep 8, 2008 10:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He's a centerfielder

He’s the second name mentioned on the “don’t get up in arms, these guys will be on the CF list” list.

by aap212 on Sep 8, 2008 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Morales, Revere and Hicks

Three Twins prospects ought to deserve some consideration, even though they each played in center this year. Ben Revere was the Midwest League MVP. He has center field speed but a left fielder’s arm. Angel Morales hit 15 dingers as an 18 year old in the short Appy League season with a .300 average. Hicks was one of the two or three best players in the FSL. He could end up in center, but he projects as a right fielder.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Sep 9, 2008 12:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs