Texas League Top 20 Prospects

by Asfan4ever723 on Oct 13, 2009 12:59 PM EDT

1. Mat Latos, rhp, San Antonio (Padres)
2. Justin Smoak, 1b, Frisco (Rangers)
3. Chris Carter, 1b, Midland (Athletics)
4. Jhoulys Chacin, rhp, Tulsa (Rockies)
5. Brett Wallace, 3b, Springfield (Cardinals)
6. Jason Castro, c, Corpus Christi (Astros)
7. Esmil Rogers, rhp, Tulsa (Rockies)
8. Trevor Reckling, lhp, Arkansas (Angels)
9. Peter Bourjos, of, Arkansas (Angels)
10. Hank Conger, c, Arkansas (Angels)
11. Kasey Kiker, lhp, Frisco (Rangers)
12. Lance Lynn, rhp, Springfield (Cardinals)
13. Daniel Descalso, 2b, Springfield (Cardinals)
14. Michael McKenry, c, Tulsa (Midland)
15. Adrian Cardenas, 2b/3b, Midland (Athletics)
16. Jeff Bianchi, 2b/ss, Northwest Arkansas (Royals)
17. Logan Forsythe, 3b, San Antonio (Padres)
18. Dan Cortes, rhp, Northwest Arkansas (Royals)
19. Corey Brown, of, Midland (Athletics)
20. Samuel Deduno, rhp, Tulsa (Rockies)

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/league-top-20-prospects/2009/268990.html

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Comments

wow

Cardenas only gets in at 15? I’ve lost a lot of excitement for him … but I really thought he’d be a bit higher. Also, wasn’t Cortes a mess in NWA?

by toonsterwu on Oct 13, 2009 2:11 PM EDT reply actions

yes he was, and then some

baseball rules.

by doublestix on Oct 13, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

+ 1..and Donaldson

I was kinda suprised about Cardenas..and that Donaldson didnt make the list at all.

by NYSOX on Oct 13, 2009 2:37 PM EDT reply actions

Yup

Donaldson’s absence and Cardenas’ ranking is almost insane.

Logan Forsythe also looks low to me.

"Chicks dig the long ball, although fat chicks will settle for warning track power" - Nick Diamond

by hero66 on Oct 13, 2009 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Forsythe

Hmm, not sure if it is low, although the list isn’t all that strong. He had power issues in AA and also the k rate went up some. About right, maybe a couple of spots.

by wobatus on Oct 14, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Forsythe

He is a guy I am torn on. He reminds me of Kevin Youkilis when Youk was a minor leaguer. Youks power developed late. If Forsythe stays as a 3B and his power doesnt improve it could be iffy..if he moves to 2nd base that I heard was possible..his numbers could make him a pretty good 2B If he can field the position decent enough.I love his discipline . I really couldnt put him below anyone ranked 7-16 or so on this list

by NYSOX on Oct 14, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

love the plate discipline

and you’re right that none of the guys 7-16 make me say much better than him, although I think cardenas and Descalso both out-performed him in the league, but whther that makes them better prospects I don’t know. I may like cardenas more although he doesn’t walk as much and has even less power.

by wobatus on Oct 14, 2009 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Weeks

I’m hoping that he addresses him in the chat and where he would have ranked had he accumulated enough PAs.

by Jeff Reese on Oct 13, 2009 2:45 PM EDT reply actions

weak league

This year they didn’t quite have the star power after some of the top names like carter and Latos and Smoak.

Cardenas below Descalso surprises me a little, even though descalso had a very good eyar and has a little bit more pop. I just don’t see that as in line with his typical performance whereas cardenas’s line seems of a piece with the rest of his career and expectations.

I also am surprised not to see Daryl Jones, who had a disappointing year but mainly due to injuries. Before his quad started acting up in June or so he was having a pretty good year along the lines of last year (his April and may numbers were fine, he slumped in June then went on the DL), and still only turned 22 in June.

by wobatus on Oct 13, 2009 3:03 PM EDT reply actions

Carter and Wallace = <3

by METSMETSMETS on Oct 13, 2009 7:25 PM EDT reply actions

Reckling?

What do we expect from this guy?

100 years would have been nice, but 101 years still has a nice ring to it.

by airweino on Oct 14, 2009 12:01 AM EDT reply actions

I really wonder

if this list might surprise us, say, 10 years down the line. Seems like the general reaction was that the league was weak, and I don’t disagree. But I really like some of these guys based on … uh … gut feeling.

by toonsterwu on Oct 14, 2009 12:33 PM EDT reply actions

Sure

These are bold lists (again, what project prospect was getting killed for on here).

The difference between lots of similar guy seems to be not based on tools, performance or scouting reports… but more on some sort of gut feeling, as you say. That’s not particularly inspiring to me, but often can result in the best results, given the fluky nature of player development. I just personally prefer something more tangible. Im not opposed to going with my gut on occasion, but there are some decisions here that I cant reconcile.

by alskor on Oct 14, 2009 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

could be

After the top 5 or 6…I think there are alotta good players..maybe a few of those guys will suprise us and a good % of the top guys will work out. Could be a league with alotta big league players though

by NYSOX on Oct 14, 2009 3:20 PM EDT reply actions