My Top 20 Eastern League Prospects

by Bravesin07 on Sep 7, 2025 10:40 AM EDT Comment 52 comments

This was a league that started out with average talent, but exploded as the season went on. There is arguably 5 of the top 15 prospects in baseball in this league. Not sure if Brian Matsuz would count based on 46 IP, but i'll include him. I'm also going to include Domonic Brown despite only 144 AB's.

1) Jesus Montero

2) Carlos Santana

3) Pedro Alvarez

4) Brian Matsuz

5) Madison Bumgarner

6) Domonic Brown

7) Jenrry Mejia

8) Kyle Drabek

9) Michael Taylor

10) Josh Reddick

11) Hector Rondon

12) Wilson Ramos

13) Ike Davis

14) Nick Weglarz

15) Ryan Kalish

16) Zach McAllister

17) Ruban Tejada

18) Lars Anderson

19) Jose Tabata

20) Alex Avila

Near misses: Tim Alderson, Brad Holt, Jose Thole, Jennmer Gomez, and Brandon Erbe.

1 recs | Comment 52 comments

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Read More: Jesus Montero (C - NYY), Carlos Santana (C - CLE)

Comments

Great League for Prospects this Year

I think nearly everyone on the list has a chance at top 100 - including the honorable mentions.

by Dfarth on Sep 7, 2025 11:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think...

they are all going to be in the top 100 for sure.

by joegonzo on Sep 7, 2025 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll be shocked if Thole ends up in the top 100

by Fanon on Sep 7, 2025 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jose or Josh?

by JayWise on Sep 7, 2025 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Timothy

Brett Anderson is the Truth. Brett Anderson is divine presence. Brett Anderson is eternal life. Brett Anderson is within you. Brett Anderson is here. Brett Anderson is Now.

by Frederick0220 on Sep 7, 2025 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Omar only likes Latinos

Remember?

by Fanon on Sep 7, 2025 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good league.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Sep 7, 2025 11:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This might be the first Top _ list that’s been posted that I agree with almost completely. Bumgarner has slipped hard for me to the point that I think I’d take Drabek in his place. If you switched those two I’d be perfectly fine with this.

And god, what a deep league.

My uncle says you've got a screw loose.
Your uncle molests collies.

by gorilla_baller on Sep 7, 2025 11:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd just move Bumgarner down a few spots, maybe to #8.

Because I’d still take Mejia over Drabek.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Sep 7, 2025 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

WOW did I just forgot someone in the top 10

Josh Reddick would be in the top 8

by Bravesin07 on Sep 7, 2025 12:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I put Reddick at 10

by Bravesin07 on Sep 7, 2025 12:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Where is

Chris Marrero, Brad Meyers, and Drew Storen

Be real with yourself.

by Daggerrrrrr on Sep 7, 2025 12:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

marrero's probably on the bench

sucking. which is where i’d have lars as well

by daveh33 on Sep 7, 2025 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is a really good list

I’m piqued by Wilson Ramos’ high placement; he’s a guy I’ve liked for quite awhile, and you may have him four or so spots higher than I would.

Is this based on personal observation (to go along with his tools and performance)?

by gogotabata on Sep 7, 2025 12:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

he's a catcher and that holds some merit

by Bravesin07 on Sep 7, 2025 1:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I would move Tabata up a few spots.

by byronlhsdrmr on Sep 7, 2025 3:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

pedro

is too low in my opinion. the bat is that good.

i don’t care about youth or position in regards to jesus and carlos (both of whom should be very good). pedro’s bat is going to be a big time, middle of the order producer.

by FRANCHISEv2 on Sep 7, 2025 5:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He has a major K-issue IMO

by Bravesin07 on Sep 7, 2025 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i can see the argument being made about his k’s. his post all star numbers are so strong in every hitting category that i don’t see them as much of an issue.

time will tell, and nice list btw. it’s not like you are dissing pedro having him at 3.

by FRANCHISEv2 on Sep 7, 2025 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So do most power hitters...

Ryan Howard, Adam Dunn, Mark Reynolds, Carlos Pena, Jayson Werth, Jason Bay

Power hitters are going to strike out, if he hits the ball hard and for big time power #‘s he’s going to be ok. Guys with high K% that generally fail are guys with outrageous 40% K rate or speedsters with little power who strike out 25-30% of the time.

by Southwest on Sep 8, 2025 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I normally consider myself objective

because I’m wondering why Matusz isn’t #1?

by wickedwitch on Sep 7, 2025 6:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Dom
Matusz

for me. no disrespect to the others. this is a loaded league.

baseball rules.

by doublestix on Sep 7, 2025 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it may

have something to do with a 19 year old posting a .900+ OPS in not only a bad league for hitters but a very poor park for hitters

by skiinginNJ on Sep 7, 2025 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bumgarner

It really shows the danger and, confusion caused in ranking, a prospect who has been rushed. If Bumgarner could have just pitched all year in the Cal League most likely the numbers would be better- the K’s would be up- and for what? Who is EVER really ready to help a big league team when he is 21 anyways?

That being said it is amazing what he has done this year considering a guy like Matusz has had 2 and 1/2 years to grow- go to college- legally have a drink etc.

by casejud on Sep 7, 2025 8:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Andruw Jones
Neftali Feliz
Hank Aaron
Dwight Gooden
Justin Upton
Ivan Rodriguez

by yondaime4 on Sep 7, 2025 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

pwned

Doc was ROY, 2nd in Cy Young voting, and an All Star in his age 19 season. At least he didn’t ask about the age 20 season.

by JayWise on Sep 7, 2025 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

U missed the point

My point was that NOBODY - except the rare, great players like the one you mentioned can actually help a team at 20 or 19 for that matter. So Bumgarner is either a) one of those or B) No need to rush him to the big leagues.

by casejud on Sep 9, 2025 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So your point was...

…that he’s either special or he’s not? Please clarify this. I’m not really arguing with you, but I did enjoy talking about Doc. I met him when I was still in elementary school, and shook his hand. He seemed really nice.

by JayWise on Sep 10, 2025 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No argument then

What I was saying is that only an awesome talent like Dwight Gooden is capable of helping a team when they are that young- even many, many Hall Of Fame Pitchers weren’t any good in the big leagues when they were 19, 20, 21. So I think they should take it slower with Bumgarner.

As far as The Doc- that’s cool Man! Doc was one of my favorites and I got to see his no-hitter with the Yankees after he had been through so much. He always seemes like a good person - and a soft spoken one- so it was surprising that he got into so much trouble there for a while. He was AMAZING though. One of my favorites of all-time and a hero of my childhood. It’s cool you got to meet him JW.

by casejud on Sep 10, 2025 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also some more big names....

Ken Griffey Jr.
Al Kaline (MVP runner up in his year 20 season)
Mickey Mantle
Don Drysdale
Bert Blyleven
Wally Bunker

by ADLC on Sep 8, 2025 3:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pretty lofty

Pretty lofty names that are mentioned as 19-20-year-old phenoms from the past. Bumgarner - along with Fernando Martinez - probably is one of the most interesting prospects in Baseball right now. Much younger than his competition, pretty good numbers for the level but not the total dominance of some older peers at a similar level.

Some see him as a future superstar / # 1 starter, others are turned off by his declining K-rate and questions regarding the quality of his overall stuff.

Considering the pretty large sample size of ERAs below 2.00 at any pro level he has pitched at, I´d give him the benefit of the doubt for now. And even if he´s not a groundball out machine, considering his likely future home park in SF, that may not be much of an issue either.

So, what should the Giants do with him besides handling him with care ? Let him repeat Double A in spite of the sub 2,00 ERA and hope for more dominance in terms of secondary numbers and let him work on his secondary pitches with less pressure ?
Or bring him up for spring 2010 and let him start out as the # 5 starter or as a middle reliever initially to possibly learn to handle adversity (which he really hasn´t had yet besides April 2008 and a short stretch in July 2009) at the major league level ?
Or send him to the PCL and see how he handles that hitter-friendly league to begin 2010 ?

by Doob on Sep 8, 2025 4:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Those guys really are pure phenoms, I love how at 20 years old people are knocking a guy despite having an ERA around 2.00 his ENTIRE professional career despite playing against people 2-3 years older! Bums done nothing to prove that he won’t be a successful pitcher at the major league level. That being said, the lack of K’s is going to concern EVERYONE. Strikeouts are considered to be the most telling of future success because it is the one thing entirely in the pitcher’s control. However he’s 20! You figure he should be able to add maybe 1-2 mph more on his fastball, and continuing working on his curve which he’s only been throwing for 2 years! My wonder is how many of those phenom pitchers didn’t start throwing a curve until they reached professional baseball? The scouting reports seem to indicate that his curve is improving. All these people need to be patient!

As for what to do with Bum this is a pickle. Fresno is where pitchers seem to go to die, and the lack of K’s indicate he hasn’t master the AA level while the ERA indicates that he’s still able to easily get outs. My suggestion? Start the kid for a month in AA and then bump him to AAA…that way he’s able to reassert his ability to get guys out, while hopefully striking guys out, while still getting challenged. It’d be similar to their treatment of him this year, so I see it as reasonable.

by lincecum and cain then pray for rain on Sep 8, 2025 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The only thing that matters is how a prospect performs in the bigs

Dominating the minors is completely meaningless if it doesn’t translate to the majors. Not saying that MadBum won’t, but proving you can get minor leaguers out doesn’t mean you will be able to get major leaguers out, which is all that matters when evaluating a prospect.

by T Pac on Sep 8, 2025 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

However

There is a pretty high correlation in getting out hitters in the high minors and getting them out in the majors.

by Ophidian on Sep 9, 2025 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll add Migs Cabrera to that list

Age 20 against the Cubs in 2003 NLCS: .333/.394/.633 with 9 R and 6 RBI.

Small sample size or not, that is pretty helpful.

During that regular season, he was .793 OPS in 346 PA so not a worldbeater or recordholder but still fantastic for a rookie. His age 21 year OPS was .879.

by two fishsticks on Sep 7, 2025 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What the Giants do well

is develop pitchers, not just throwers. MadBum is obviously able to get OUTS and to keep the opponent from scoring. And his stats suggest command, control and poise well beyond his age and experience. I expect that as his secondary pitches improve, his K rates will increase, since his arsenal will be more varied. That said, let’s give the kid some credit for being one of the best pitchers in the minors with just purportedly one pitch.

by baseballjunkie on Sep 8, 2025 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why is Lars Anderson on this list?

What did he do this year to justify his placement on this list? Statistically-speaking, David Cooper had a better season.

by royshowell on Sep 8, 2025 12:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jeez

So, by one bad year, you discount entirely the prospect status he had before? Its not the top-20 based on a vaccuum, but the top 20 based on everything. Lars is still a top 20 prospect in that league.

by thudean on Sep 8, 2025 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I'm sorry...

Let’s all get excited about a guy who finished the season at a blistering .105 clip in his last thirty-nine at-bats.

by royshowell on Sep 8, 2025 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

39 at bats?

Sweet sample size, bro.

Brett Anderson is the Truth. Brett Anderson is divine presence. Brett Anderson is eternal life. Brett Anderson is within you. Brett Anderson is here. Brett Anderson is Now.

by Frederick0220 on Sep 8, 2025 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's not just the last 39 ABs

He really did not hit all year long. A lack of production coupled with scouts proclaiming he has “old man skills” means I highly doubt he’ll be making my top 100 next year.

by guru4u on Sep 9, 2025 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Old man skills"?

Sounds like Logan Morrison and Matt Moore.

Brett Anderson is the Truth. Brett Anderson is divine presence. Brett Anderson is eternal life. Brett Anderson is within you. Brett Anderson is here. Brett Anderson is Now.

by Frederick0220 on Sep 9, 2025 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Striking out an ungodly amount of hitters per 9, while giving up very few hits, is an old man skill?

by gogotabata on Sep 10, 2025 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Morrison

Continues to be underrated by the pundits. And no, he does NOT have old man skills. He actually can run, steal a few bases, and the Marlins actually thought of moving him to the OF.

by guru4u on Sep 10, 2025 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When you consider that a huge part of Lars’ prospect hype came from 133 ABs last year then yes, one bad year is enough to heavily, heavily dent his prospect status.

by T Pac on Sep 8, 2025 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd have put Strieby as at least an HM

He looked like the real deal (worked the count, drove the ball with authority and extremely “loud” contact, didn’t embarrass himself in LF) when I saw him in person, and the stats are hard to ignore.

by jibs on Sep 8, 2025 12:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Anybody out there think...

that Ruben Tejada would be ahead of Jose Tabata or Ike Davis over Lars Anderson?
I think I would put Lars at #13 ahead of Davis and the others

http://milbprospects.blogspot.com/

by garrioch13 on Sep 9, 2025 6:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

based on what

Lars sucks*

*hyperbole

by T Pac on Sep 10, 2025 2:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Davis/Anderson

Just a year ago it would have seemed crazy. Which goes to show how quickly things can change. Perhaps they could again.

Davis: .309/386/.565 in Eastern league. wOBA .426

Anderson: .233/.328/.345 this year in EL. wOBA .315.

Davis has a high babip, Anderson low. last year Anderson had the freakishly high babip.

Anderson has some componetnts where he did better:

Anderson: BB% 12.4% K 25.5%

Davis: BB 11.2% k rate 29%.

Davis’s half season in AA is similar to Anderson’s partial last year.

Anderson is 6 months younger, not all that much.

Even correcting for Davis’s high babip and Anderson’s low babip somewhat, Davis has a decided advantage this year, per minorleaguesplits:

Davis: .290/.369/.535
Anderson: .242/.335/.351.

And Ike’s ISO is a very impressive .256. Anderson at .112 and even last year, .211.

Against lefties in the EL:

Davis .268/.342/.465 (less than 100 PA)
Anderson: .221/.336/.287.

Does Anderson have an injury, back issue? Not sure if I heard that. And I thought, although didn’t hear much about it, that Davis hasd a lingering wrist isue last year.

Whatever the reason for Anderson’s woes, I think right now there is no way you can rank him ahead of Davis. But of course Anderson was head and shoulders above Ike coming into this year.

As for tejada, a 19 eyar old who can hold his own with the stick in EL and plays a good ss, swipe 20 bases or so without getting caught much? Hmm, what’s not to like?

by wobatus on Sep 10, 2025 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tejada

I love Tejada. I have been on his bandwagon since the Mets signed him. As for Lars, if he is healthy he should slide, but one bad year is not enough for me to ignore him. He
still has a high ceiling if he can get right again. I know I’m in the minority and am fine with that.

http://milbprospects.blogspot.com/

by garrioch13 on Sep 10, 2025 1:26 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Anderson

I shouldn’t have said no way you can rank him higher than Davis. But at this stage, if not injured, it is more than just a bad year. It’s pretty awful. Antonelli-esque. :) But Ike looked even worse last year.

by wobatus on Sep 10, 2025 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs