I find this guy fascinating; an ex-pitcher who just tore the cover off the ball after being out of baseball since 2006.

Sam Deduno is another older guy who I like.

Wondering if he’ll be in top 40?

Huge year in the Sally League in a hitter’s park, and was just added to the 40 man roster. Hoping he’s a C+ candidate, or at least a sleeper.

Also curious to see how you evaluate Tim Wheeler.

I say Hi-A otherwise I think you might lose him confidence wise.

Nolan Arenado: 2nd rounder, high school draftee (18), ripped rookie ball upon entering. Has lots of raw talent.

Chris Balcom-Miller: 6th rounder in 2009, 20 years old, pitched the best out of anyone in the Pioneer League last year. I’ve heard Aaron Cook comparisons with sinker and high groundball rates.

Chris Nelson: He was great in Tulsa, but got injured once again. However, the Rockies are pushing him to Triple A, and he’s a first rounder, so he has still has upside left. I like his chances at reaching the majors should Barmes fails.

Michael McKenry: Possibly one of the most underrated catcher prospects out there. Great defensive catcher with power, concerns about contact rates though.

Kiel Roling: Tons of raw power, but K rates might turn him into another Koshansky, who never was able to get a shot anyways.

Shane Lindsay and Casey Weathers: Tremendous arms, ravaged by injuries, but both have the dominant stuff to be a set up man.

Darin Holcomb: Not a lot of raw skill, but a very good technical hitter with some power, BB/K rates make me believe that he can be a nice role guy at the corners.

Possible bust:

Hector Gomez: Can’t walk, hasn’t translated lots of raw skill to results yet. Still 21 and had an injury, so he’ll pass for now, but I doubt him.

Matt Miller: He’s already 27, but hit well in AAA and could be a useful backup OF.

Cole Garner: Sleeper prospect with nice tools, has refined his skills somewhat but still needs to learn to draw a walk.

Matt Reynolds: Big (6’5", 240) LHP with good numbers and average stuff; there’s no reason he can’t be a decent LOOGY.

Joey Williamson: Like Reynolds, strong numbers in the low minors despite average stuff. Wait to see what he does in AA.

Scott Beerer: He’s already 27 after failing as a pitcher, but has shown that he can hit in the low minors. Unclear what position he’ll play.

Bruce Billings: Another prospect with strong numbers but average stuff. Again, wait and see how he handles the transition to AA.

Mike Zuanich: Strong numbers at Tri-City and Asheville, but small sample size and probably limited to 1B.

Scott Robinson: Hits for average, good speed, but needs to learn to draw a walk. Still just 21.

(Not repeating any of bballrox’s suggestions. I mostly agree with them, although I wouldn’t consider Nelson a sleeper because of his former draft position.)

but back in September, I got to talk with Rockies director of player development Marc Gustafson, and he gave me a pile of information about our farm

http://www.purplerow.com/2009/9/4/1015071/purple-row-interviews-marc
http://www.purplerow.com/2009/9/11/1025441/purple-row-interviews-marc
http://www.purplerow.com/2009/9/13/1028059/purple-row-interviews-marc