More Book Excerpts

by John Sickels on Jan 18, 2026 12:58 PM EST in News

More excerpts from the 2008 Baseball Prospect Book.

Mitch Talbot, RHP, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Bats: R Throws: R HT: 6-2 WT: 175 DOB: October 17, 2025

Mitch Talbot had a rough introduction to Triple-A, posting a 6.48 ERA last April and a 5.48 ERA in May. He pitched better after that point, posting a 7-2 record and a 3.50 ERA in his final 11 starts, and ended up winning 13 games, tied for the league lead. Talbot has a low-90s sinker and a very good changeup. His slider is erratic but promising, and problems with his command of the pitch were a big part of his problem early last year. I still like him as a future number three or four starter, probably more than I should, but given his erratic season I have to reduce his rating to Grade C+. Monitor his ratios. If you see improvement in his K/IP or K/BB, he could be taking a step forward.

Clayton Tanner, LHP, San Francisco Giants
Bats: L Throws: L HT: 6-2 WT: 190 DOB: December 5, 2025

A third round pick out of Concord, California, in 2006, Tanner has an average fastball right now at 87-90 MPH, but it should pick up more velocity as he gets older. His curveball, slider and changeup are all solid, and he has a good feel for pitching, doing well in the Sally League at age 19. He needs to improve his command within the strike zone, but Giants officials praise his competitiveness, work ethic and intelligence, meaning they expect him to pick up what he needs to know. He keeps the ball low in the strike zone and gets plenty of grounders, which should help him as he moves up. I like Tanner and I think he has a chance to develop into a very good pitcher. Grade B-, an aggressive grade.

Michael Tarsi, LHP, Minnesota Twins
Bats: L Throws: R HT: 6-8 WT: 190 DOB: August 11, 2025

SLEEPER ALERT. Tarsi was drafted in the 12th round last year, from the University of Connecticut. His pro debut in the Appy League was very successful, and I think he's a major sleeper. Tarsi's velocity can be erratic, at times in the lower 90s but more often in the 85-88 range last year. But he sinks the ball and picks up plenty of grounders, and his curveball and changeup are promising. He's deadly on left-handed hitters, holding them to a .130 mark for Elizabethton. If he keeps that up he's got LOOGY potential certainly, but if his command is sharp enough he could start at higher levels. We need to see more, but keep an eye out. Grade C but highly intriguing

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Comments

you got the wrong clayton.

you were supposed to give richard the B, and tanner the C.

ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH REPORTS (Astros: better than you thought)

variables don't; constants aren't

by overlord on Jan 18, 2026 1:08 PM EST 0 recs

Tarsi - Loogy?

A right-handed Loogy?

Baseball Instructor - www.frozenropes.com

by HuskerBob on Jan 18, 2026 1:32 PM EST 0 recs

LHP

B-R, T-L according to Tarsi's milb.com profile.

by DrBGiantsfan on Jan 18, 2026 1:36 PM EST up 0 recs

According to John

Michael Tarsi, LHP, Minnesota Twins
Bats: L Throws: R

Baseball Instructor - www.frozenropes.com

by HuskerBob on Jan 18, 2026 1:38 PM EST up 0 recs

typo

Supposed to be throws left. Typo. Too late to change in the book, alas.

by John Sickels on Jan 18, 2026 2:42 PM EST up 0 recs

Tanner

Not saying he should get a higher grade, but Tanner pitched a lot of innings like all the Augusta starters last year. Everybody agrees he was fatigued at the end of the season. His ERA was 2.90 going into his last two starts, which I think makes his record better than at first glance. I think he profiles as a future #3 at best unless he gains more in velocity. I've seen some reports that had him up to 92-93 MPH in the first half of the season, so he may have some upside on velocity.

by DrBGiantsfan on Jan 18, 2026 1:33 PM EST 0 recs

Tanner = Anderson LOL

by rayver723 on Jan 18, 2026 5:25 PM EST up 0 recs

Yes

I believe that is true.

by DrBGiantsfan on Jan 18, 2026 6:56 PM EST up 0 recs

so do the giants even have enough

prospects to make a top 50?

congrats Schoop, Sadler, Cowart made it on the legendery BA 31st team

by rayver723 on Jan 18, 2026 5:29 PM EST up 0 recs

With Many To Spare

http://www.forums.mlb.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ml-giants&tid=96839

by DrBGiantsfan on Jan 18, 2026 7:00 PM EST up 0 recs

now, now..

..and I say this as a Giants fan: he said "prospects". To round out a Giants top 50 (heck, top 15) you have to dip deep into the projects and suspects.

Now, Tanner I like, though I don't have the highest hopes for him. I've read he works at 88-90 (and I bet that congrues with someone who looks at a stadium gun that reads 92 once or twice), but that's enough. If he keeps throwing ground balls, cuts the walks and continues to handle older hitters, he'd got a real shot at being a major-league regular.

B- is an aggressive grade for a 19-year-old pitcher in A ball who was considered an overdraft and lacks lights-out stuff, but I think John's basically right here: he's a very interesting arm who has a chance to make Dick Tidrow look good for drafting him.

by wcw on Jan 18, 2026 9:31 PM EST up 0 recs

Prospects

By that definition, no team has 50 prospects. Personally, I like delving into projects and suspects. Brian Wilson, Jonathan Sanchez, Eliezer Alfonzo, Guillermo Rodriguez, and even Dan Ortmeier fit that description once upon a time. Not that any of those are stars or ever will be, but they have contributed at the MLB level.

by DrBGiantsfan on Jan 18, 2026 9:39 PM EST up 0 recs

Brian Wilson?

That late-rpund pick was a well-liked, high-risk, high-return gamble. Viz http://groups.google.com/group/alt.sports.baseball.sf-giants/msg/9de6559b55affa09?dmode=source&o utput=gplain

Alfonzo, Rodriguez, and even Ortmeier probably still rank as suspect in my book.

Sanchez -- now that was a great, out-of-the-blue, pure scouting pick. Hats off for that one.

by wcw on Jan 19, 2026 2:40 AM EST 0 recs

Wilson

You might want to go back and look up stats from his first few years in the minors and where he was ranked on prospect lists.

by DrBGiantsfan on Jan 19, 2026 9:10 AM EST up 0 recs

er.. what?

Er, what?

On stats, his walk rates have been an issue now and again, but his K rates never have. I don't know at what else you want me to look. The main critique I had of him is that he was a minor-league reliever. I generally mistrust minor-league relievers, but that's hardly a 'stat'.

As for what prospect watchers though, did you click through my link? Grant "McCovey Chronicles" Brisbee liked the Wilson pick in 2003. Heck, I liked it, but I don't run the single highest-traffic Giants fan site out there.

Baseball America's John Manuel said at the time, "[a] real assessment of him won't be possible, really, until 2005." However, by 2004, Manuel was writing, "Brian Wilson also merits mention here, he really had a breakthrough season as he stayed healthy, moved to the bullpen and showed two plus pitches at times, mid-90s heat and a power breaking ball. It's hard to rank a reliever in a 16-team low A league... This year, Wilson came close.."

Lessee.. ranked high before surgery, liked by Giants watchers on draft day, closely watched by the biggest name in the business and recognized for his performance. Sounds like a prospect to me.

by wcw on Jan 19, 2026 4:45 PM EST up 0 recs