Prospect Smack Down: Westmoreland v. Hicks
by cubsfan1 on Dec 24, 2009 8:56 PM EST
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PrintWesty is getting mad love from the community and deservedly so. Hicks, not so much. Hicks got rated in John Manuel's top 20, a fact that annoyed many on this site. I will admit I was surprised to see Hicks in a top 20. I could see an argument for at least a half dozen players to take that spot. Personally I think Hicks is rated a bit low if that list was made w/ future value in mind. Hicks is easily a top 20 talent based on tools. I think by July/August of 2010 ppl on this site will be rushing to put him in their top 10. I'm not gonna post the stats as I'm sure everyone here can look them up. I will, however take a look at each players tools and how they will play from here on out:
AGE:Westy 04/27/90 Hicks 10/02/89. Westy by 8 months. Hicks will be 20 all year in 2010 probably at High A. West will Turn 20 at the start of the year in Low A.
EDGE: Draw--Westy's younger but Hicks is a Full level ahead.
Body/Athletism: Westy 6'2 195...Hicks 6'2 180.
EDGE-- Draw.. Body's are very similar and both are extremely athletic.
ARM:-- Hicks threw 94mph off the mound and many teams liked him better as a P. Hicks has at least a plus arm from the OF, possibly plus-plus and can play from any OF position. Westy has an above average arm that could also play in any OF spot(although not as well as Hicks).
EDGE-- Hicks.
DEFENSE-- Both are plus athletes w/ plus plus speed able to cover a lot of ground. Either could play at any position in the OF.
Edge-- Hicks by a hair because of pure arm strength.
SPEED-- Both rate as plus plus.
EDGE-- Westy as he seems more savvy on the base paths.
HIT TOOL-- Both got quick bats and hand eye-cordnation.
EDGE-- Westy by a hair because he seems to be able to hit the curve better currently.
POWER-- Hicks projects to hit 20-25. Westy 20-30.
EDGE-- Westy because of more curent power. I think in the end they both end up about the same.
P.D.-- Both are extremely advanced for H.S. bats. Hicks truly seems to undestand the strike zone while I think Westy is good also, I think Hicks get's the nod for the level of pitching he's faced.
EDGE-- Hicks although Westy is not far behind.
Overall I think both are phenomenal players. I think it was an overreaction by many to cry foul because of Hicks placement on Manuel's top 20. I don't think you can go wrong w/ either and as of right now I probably like Westy more but in the long run I think Hicks could be the better player. It's so close I can't make the call. Tell me who you like more and why (please explain why you like 1 better then the other).
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….ummm only one thing to comment. most if not all prospect rankings are based with the future in mind, as the ranking is usually based on who will have the best career.
but i agree with you that if you rank purely on upside than hicks is up there.
Rankings
If they were all based purley on future rankings then I would think year by year lists would look vastly diffrent. Some scouts will give an edge to player who has suceeded at a higher level even though another player might have better tools. Do you not agree?
On upside
Id take Westmoreland. Hicks also has great upside, but Westmoreland’s is just a notch higher IMO.
I think Westy has more upside
but I’m bullish on Hicks and I took him
Hoping for BowkerMania to hit AT&T Park in 2010
I think Hicks has got more upside
But I’m bullish on ‘Westy’ And I’d take him if I was picking between the two right now.
I'd rather have Nick Punto playing 3B and Felipe Lopez playing 2B
than Punto playing 2B and Kouzy, Crede, DeRosa or Glaus playing 3B.
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Dec 25, 2009 11:59 PM EST up reply actions
For some reason I like Twins prospects
I really like Hicks and I think Revere & Ramos are 2 of the most underrated prospects in the game
Hoping for BowkerMania to hit AT&T Park in 2010
upside
Aren’t prospect lists about upside? So, you think Hicks has more upside, then wouldn’t you want to pick Hicks?
hicks and westmoerland
their age difference is only 6 months.. not the 8 stated..
I would still take Westmoreland...
I think he is going to be special while I think Hicks will only be very good. Westmoreland could be a 300-30-30 guy with gold glove caliber defense. That kind of player is just amazing.
Hicks has every bit of .300 30-30 tools
I think this is a case of ppl jumping on a players hype. Now I’m not saying Westy isn’t deserving but I am saying Hicks is every bit Westmoreland. Typical for this site.
Oh and....
Hicks is probabl better bet 2 be a G.G.
I don't think Hicks has the power...
to go 30-30. I can’t really see him hitting more than 25 in a single season. I like him, just not as much as Westmorland.
What are you basing this on?
Westmoreland is one of the fastest players in the game. Sounds like you’re jumping on hype.
Westmoreland barely
I believe in R.W.’s bat a tad more, but there is a fair case for Hicks.
Hicks and Westmoreland
I like both. I would be happy w/ either player. Don’t take me the worng way I’m not knocking Westmoreland in the least. I said I think westmoreland is currently the better player and I also don’t see any of either guy’s tools being superior to the others.
+1
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by OldProspects on Dec 25, 2009 1:45 PM EST up reply actions
I'm a Twins fan
and while I think Aaron Hicks will be the better player in the long-run
I would take Ryan Westmoreland right now, If I had to take 1 of these two Right Now……
Hicks has too much to prove to live up to this hype all in 1 season in a tough tough league…. IMHO
(But I still don’t feel Manual’s ranking was excessive but rather, its just a weaker year in terms of top 20 – top 50 prospects…..
I'd rather have Nick Punto playing 3B and Felipe Lopez playing 2B
than Punto playing 2B and Kouzy, Crede, DeRosa or Glaus playing 3B.
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Dec 25, 2009 8:12 PM EST up reply actions
I dont think its that weak a year
Hicks is a really good prospect. Id take Westmoreland by a hair just b/c I think his bat ceiling is a little bit higher, but theyre both awesome – both 5 tool, best tools in the minors stud OF prospects who have shown in small samples that they’re awesome. Theyre probably both going to become the type of ballplayers who are super fun to watch. Theyre virtually indistinguishable, too.
something to be considered here
Westmoreland had a fine season, but there’s definitely a significant difference in competition between what a guy sees in short-season ball and Low A ball.
Really close between these two, which probably isn’t surprising . . .both would have to rate in the top 25-30 prospects.
NYPA is mostly a college league
Also is one of the hardest leagues for hitting, which makes Westmoreland more impressive.
not necessarily
Even the lowest level of full season leagues have an average age of 21-22, so it’s not like players in the Midwest League see inexperienced opposition. And obviously, if somebody in the Midwest League is below the average age, they’re typically there because their level of raw talent makes them appropriate for that level of competition.
Ballpark guess would be that Westmoreland’s .286 BA would be equal to .240-.250 in the Midwest League . . .not that he’d actually hit at that level, just saying that there IS a pretty considerable difference in the level of competition that few seem to dispute.
+1 to mrkupe
I live in Lansing and you don’t see many hitters put up great numbers no matter their age.
Hicks
As much as I love Westmoreland, I voted Hicks given that right now Westmoreland looks in some ways to be that extremely talented guy that just can’t stay healthy.
That's silly. He's had two "injuries"
Neither is a sign of a guy who “can’t stay healthy.” One was a preexisting shoulder issue due to pitching in high school that wasnt a pressing issue but they decided to clean it up and start him in short season ball. The second was a freak accident where he ran into an OF wall and broke his collarbone making a tough catch. Neither is evidence of any sort of recurring injury issue nor is their any chance of either injury recurring by itself. In fact, he’s started swinging a bat about a month ago and is already working out again IIRC.
+1
That’s why I did not use it as a factor in the comparison. I totally agree Alskor, t’s negligile at this point. Not for nothing though (and don’t flip out) but injury’s seem to follow players. i’m not sticking that label on RW but I’m a tad weary.
I don't really knock him for it
I honestly like both players, I saw it as pretty much a push between the two talentwise and found the health thing to be the one trait that tipped my decision.
VERY Close
But I probably go with Hicks because he did not fall on his face in one of the most difficult hitting environments in the minors.
What If...
What if Aaron Hicks would have played at Elizabethton (Appalachian League) as a 19 year old against 20-21 year olds instead of Beloit (Midwest League) against 21-23 year olds. His numbers may have looked different.
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