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Melotticus' Top 20 NL West Rankings

Hello everyone. Welcome back to my personal Top 20 rankings of each team. I kicked things off with the NL East back in September with the NL Central also done in October. Here's a quick recap of the top prospects for each team -

Braves - Lucas Sims, Marlins - Andrew Heaney, Mets - Noah Syndergaard, Phillies - Maikel Franco, Nationals - Lucas Giolito, Cubs - Javier Baez, Reds - Robert Stephenson, Brewers - Jimmy Nelson, Pirates - Gregory Polanco, Cardinals - Oscar Taveras

Now that we have that out of the way, here are the Top 20 Prospects for each NL West team.

Arizona Diamondbacks

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Starting pitcher Archie Bradley finished the year with a 1.84 ERA and 14 wins for the Diamondbacks A+ and AA affiliates.
via chrisharrismlb.files.wordpress.com

RANK PLAYER AGE POS LEVEL
1 Archie Bradley 20 RHSP A+/AA
2 Tyler Skaggs 21 LHSP A+/AAA/MLB
3 Braden Shipley 21 RHSP A-/A
4 Chris Owings 21 SS AAA
5 Aaron Blair 21 RHSP A-/A
6 Matt Davidson 22 3B AAA
7 Justin Williams 17 LF R/R+/A
8 Brandon Drury 20 3B A
9 David Holmberg 21 LHSP AA
10 Andrew Chafin 23 LHSP A+/AA
11 Stryker Trahan 19 C R
12 Daniel Palka 21 1B R+/A-
13 Matt McPhearson 18 CF R
14 Jake Lamb 22 3B R/A+
15 Jake Barrett 21 RHRP A+/AA
16 Brad Keller 17 RHSP R/R+
17 Rudy Flores 22 1B A
18 Gerson Montilla 23 2B A+
19 Geordy Parra 19 RHRP R+/A
20 Jimmie Sherfy 21 RHRP A-/A
HM Luis Ramirez 20 RHRP DSL/R/R+
HM Gabriel Moya 18 LHRP DSL

Notes: Geordy Parra, younger brother of current D-Backs outfielder Gerardo Parra, Geordy only threw 27 innings between Missoula of the offensive-minded Pioneer League and Low A South Bend, but he dominated in those innings with a 0.33 ERA, 13 K/9, 3.25 K/BB and a .170 batting average. Parra came in at #18 in the Pioneer League by Baseball America. He features a 93-95 mph fastball with a mid 80's split and a curve.17 year old short stop turned left fielder Justin Williams blew away both rookie leagues and earned a three game stint at Low A South Bend to end the year. He finished the year with a .351/.397/.452 line with 18 doubles and 37 RBI in 51 games.

Colorado Rockies

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The third overall pick in the 2013 draft, Jonathan Gray absolutely dominated after signing with a 1.93 ERA, 12.29 K/9 and 6.38 K/BB.

via cdn.baseballamerica.com

RANK PLAYER AGE POS LEVEL
1 Jonathan Gray 21 RHSP R+/A+
2 Eddie Butler 22 RHSP A/A+/AA
3 David Dahl 19 CF A
4 Ryan McMahon 18 3B R+
5 Kyle Parker 23 LF/1B AA
6 Rosell Herrera 20 SS A
7 Tom Murphy 22 C A/AA
8 Tyler Anderson 23 LHSP A-/A+
9 Trevor Story 20 SS A+
10 Daniel Winkler 23 RHSP A+/AA
11 Sam Moll 21 LHSP A-
12 Jordan Patterson 21 RF R+
13 Raimel Tapia 19 CF R+
14 Ryan Casteel 22 C A+
15 Tyler Matzek 22 LHSP AA
16 Francisco Sosa 23 LF A
17 Matt Flemer 22 RHSP A
18 Jayson Aquino 20 LHSP A-/A
19 Jose Briceno 20 C R+/A
20 Alex Balog 20 RHSP R+
HM Emerson Jimenez 18 SS DSL/R+
HM Raul Fernandez 23 RHP A

Notes: 19 year old center fielder Raimel Tapia proved the Pioneer League to be not enough competition for him, tearing the league's pitching apart with a .357/.399/.562 line with 20 doubles, 6 triples and 7 home runs. He drove in 47 and stole 10 bases with a decent 15/31 walks to strike outs. He was ranked as the 3rd best prospect in the league by Baseball America, noting 20-20 potential with a high average. Catcher Jose Briceno dominated the Pioneer League as well for 36 games with a .333/.356/.614 line, 9 home runs, and 16 doubles but was not anywhere close to that with his promotion to Low A Asheville. In his time there, the 20 year old Venezuelan only hit .264/.302/.363 with 6 doubles and 1 home run in 27 games. Briceno came in at #10 in the League by BA.

Los Angeles Dodgers

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The 19 year old short stop Corey Seager hit 18 homers, 23 doubles and drove in 82 for Low A Great Lakes (A) and High A Rancho Cucamonga (A+).

via www.dodgersnation.com

RANK PLAYER AGE POS LEVEL
1 Corey Seager 19 SS A/A+
2 Joc Pederson 21 CF AA
3 Julio Urias 16 LHSP A
4 Zach Lee 21 RHSP AA
5 Chris Anderson 20 RHSP A
6 Tom Windle 21 LHSP A
7 Chris Reed 23 LHSP AA
8 Jose Dominguez 22 RHP AA/AAA/MLB
9 Scott Schebler 22 RF A+
10 Jacob Scavuzzo 19 LF R+
11 Ross Stripling 23 RHSP A+/AA
12 Jesmuel Valentin 19 2B R+/A
13 Darnell Sweeney 22 SS A+
14 Lindsey Caughel 22 RHSP A/A+
15 Noel Cuevas 21 CF A+
16 Alex Santana 19 3B R+
17 Yimi Garcia 22 RHP A/A+/AA
18 Jharel Cotton 21 RHSP A/A+/AA
19 Victor Gonzalez 17 LHSP R
20 Jairo Pacheco 16 LHP DSL
HM JD Underwood 20 RHSP R/R+
HM Adam Law 23 3B R/R+

Notes: Jacob Scavuzzo showcased some monster power as a 19 year old, hitting 14 homers, 18 doubles, and a .307/.350/.578 line for Ogden of the Pioneer League. The 21st round pick in 2012 split time between CF and LF making 6 errors. His 6'4 195 pound frame has room for even more power and was ranked as the 9th best prospect in the Pioneer League by BA. Right handed starting pitcher Lindsey Caughel spent a month in Low A before getting the bump to High A Rancho Cucamonga for the rest of the year, posting a combined 3.63 ERA with 8.65 K/9 and 6.0 K/BB with a 3.11 FIP. He only walked 23 batters in 143.2 innings, good for an amazing 1.44 BB/9.

San Diego Padres

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Austin Hedges is arguably the best defensive catcher in the game with gold glove potential and he also hit .262 with 30 doubles and 8 stolen bases.

via cdn.baseballamerica.com

RANK PLAYER AGE POS LEVEL
1 Austin Hedges 20 C A+/AA
2 Matt Wisler 20 RHSP A+/AA
3 Hunter Renfroe 21 RF A-/A
4 Max Fried 19 LHSP A
5 Burch Smith 23 RHSP AA/AAA/MLB
6 Rymer Liriano 22 RF INJ
7 Keyvius Sampson 22 RHSP AA/AAA
8 Franchy Cordero 18 SS R
9 Matt Andriese 23 RHSP AA/AAA
10 Reymond Fuentes 22 CF AA/AAA
11 Cory Spangenberg 22 2B A+/AA
12 Jace Peterson 23 SS A+
13 Zach Eflin 19 RHSP A
14 Joe Ross 20 RHSP A
15 Jose Urena 18 RF R
16 Dustin Peterson 18 3B R
17 Adrian De Horta 18 RHSP R
18 Travis Jankowski 22 CF A+
19 Walker Weickel 19 RHSP A
20 Pete Kelich 22 RHSP R
HM Franmil Reyes 17 RF R/A-
HM Juan Oramas 23 LHSP R/AA

Notes: The San Diego Padres should be the envy of every system because of one thing. Pitching depth. Any pitcher in the top 15 could peak as a #3 starter minimum with back of the rotation floors. The surprise name on this list could be an impact short stop in 18 year old Franchy Cordero. He's got a strong frame at 6'3, 175 lb that has plenty of projection and could develop into a beast with above average power/hit/arm/range and great instincts. He posted a .333/.381/.511 line in the rookie AZL complex league with 4 doubles, 6 triples, 3 home runs, and 11 steals without getting caught. He ranked 3rd in the BA Top 20 AZL prospect list. Pete Kelich anchored that same pitching staff and showed impeccable control on the mound. The 38th round senior sign out of Bryant College in Smithfield, Rhode Island, has a low 90's fastball and a cutter, change and slider. He dominated younger competition obviously but anytime a guy posts a 69/1 K/BB ratio, I take notice; especially when he's only been concentrating on pitching for three years. He also had a 1.40 ERA, 10.71 K/9 and a 1.15 FIP in 58 innings.

Note - Rymer Liriano added at #6. Adys Portillo dropped.

San Francisco Giants

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Right hander Kyle Crick dominated California League hitters with a 1.81 ERA, 12.7 K/9 and held them to a .192 batting average.

via cdn.fansided.com

RANK PLAYER AGE POS LEVEL
1 Kyle Crick 20 RHSP A+
2 Christian Arroyo 18 SS R
3 Edwin Escobar 21 LHSP A+/AA
4 Clayton Blackburn 20 RHSP A+
5 Andrew Susac 23 C AA
6 Kendry Flores 21 RHSP A
7 Adalberto Mejia 20 LHSP A+/AAA
8 Martin Agosta 22 RHSP A
9 Gustavo Cabrera 17 CF DSL
10 Ryder Jones 19 3B R
11 Gary Brown 24 CF AAA
12 Ty Blach 22 LHSP A+
13 Keury Mella 19 RHSP R
14 Mac Williamson 22 RF A+
15 Joan Gregorio 21 RHSP A
16 Chris Stratton 22 RHSP A
17 Joe Panik 22 2B AA
18 Derek Law 22 RHP R/A/A+
19 Heath Hembree 24 RHP AAA
20 Chris Johnson 21 RHSP A-
HM Bryce Bandilla 23 LHP A+
HM Nicol Parra 18 CF DSL

Notes: One of the top international free agents from 2012 signing period, Gustavo Cabrera debuted in the DSL with a .247/.379/.360 line with 21 stolen bases, 30 walks and 38 runs scored in just 54 games. The 6'2 190 lb center fielder signed for $1.3 million and he suffered a very serious hand/wrist injury this offseason which could put his 2014 stateside debut on hold. Bryce Bandilla is good at one thing and that is sending the batter back to the bench with a K. The 6'4 235 lb southpaw struck out 72 batters in just 44.1 innings, good for 14.62 K/9 and a .166 opponents batting average. He posted a 3.65 ERA, 5.08 BB/9 and 2,88 K/BB with 5 saves in 38 appearances. He was a 4th round pick in 2011 spending this past year, his age 23 season, at High A San Jose in the California league.

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