San Francisco Giants Top 20 Prospects for 2008

San Francisco Giants Top 20 Prospects for 2008

1. Angel Villalona, 3B, Grade B+
   
2. Henry Sosa, RHP, Grade B
   
3. Tim Alderson, RHP, Grade B
   
4. Madison Bumgarner, LHP, Grade B- (lack of breaking ball is a caution flag for me)
   
5. Nate Schierholtz, OF, Grade B-
   
6. Nick Noonan, 2B, Grade B-
   
7. Clayton Tanner, LHP, Grade B-
   
8. Eugenio Velez, UT, Grade B- (I probably like him more than I should but he is fun to watch)
   
9. Wendell Fairley, OF, Grade C+ (Grade A tools, Grade D refinement, very risky but possible high reward)
   
10. John Bowker, OF, Grade C+ (sleeper bat)
    
11. Charlie Culberson, INF, Grade C+
    
12. Osiris Matos, RHP, Grade C+
    
13. Wilber Bucardo, RHP, Grade C+
    
14. Jose Capellan, LHP, Grade C+
    
15. Sergio Romo, RHP, Grade C+
    
16. Travis Denker, 2B, Grade C+
    
17. Emmanuel Burriss, SS, Grade C (I have massive doubts about his bat)
    
18. Nick Pereira, RHP, Grade C
    
19. Ben Copeland, OF, Grade C
    
20. Benjamin Snider, LHP, Grade C

Other guys include Adam Cowart, Andy D'Allessio, Justin Hedrick, Travis Ishikawa, Joseph Martinez, Pat Misch, Paul Oseguera, Danny Otero, Kelvin Pichardo, Kevin Pucetas, Pablo Sandoval, Clay Timpner, Juan Trinidad, and Jackson Williams.

This system has improved. I have to admit I have a lot of doubts about Fairley, who has tools galore but is very unrefined. I'm not sure that the Giants have a very good track record recent helping players like him develop, and he could easily flame out in A-ball. We will see.

Of course, full statistics and reports on over 1,000 other players will be in the 2008 Baseball Prospect Book, now available for pre-order. Ships the first Monday in February! The Top 50/50 list will be sent out to all orders with a valid email address later this week.