The 51st Man
by John Sickels on Jan 26, 2026 12:54 PM EST
42 comments
Grant Desme's retirement opens up a spot on the 2010 Top 50 hitters list. Desme was 47.
I had narrowed the 51st spot to seven candidates but never made a decision, since there didn't seem to be a need to do so, so I just had a list of "guys in the 51-57 spots." With Desme gone, I need to make a decision now. Here are the candidates.
David Espinosa, SS, Nationals
Tyler Flowers, C, White Sox
Brett Jackson, OF, Cubs
Thomas Neal, OF, Giants
Ben Revere, OF, Twins
Tony Sanchez, C, Pirates
Scott Sizemore, 2B, Tigers
I'm not taking a vote, but I figured you'd like to know who the candidates were.
I decided that Flowers is the guy to go with. I love Flowers' bat, and he's closer to the majors than the other power guys, and it sounds like he can stay at catcher. Sizemore is the other "close to the majors" guy, and if he gets to play this year he could be a Rookie of the Year candidate. His ultimate upside is less than some of the others.
Revere was under consideration due to his speed. Jackson has the best toolset in the group, but i'm still worried about his contact rates against better pitching. Neal had the great season in A-ball and looked good in Arizona, but I'd like to see some Double-A numbers. Sanchez looks solid to me but again I'd like to see some Double-A numbers. Espinosa is often overlooked and as a shortstop with a solid bat he has extra positional value, but again there are no higher-level numbers to look at.
See how it's all a balancing act? It comes down to a matter of philosophy. If I went with pure tools, I'd go with Jackson, but my lists try to balance tools, skills, long-term outlook, short-term opportunity, fantasy interest, real-world interest, and position.
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Still don't think he stays at catcher long-term
and it has nothing to do with his catching skills. He’s a 24 year old, 245 pound catcher with a history of knee problems already. If I was a betting man, I’d wager quite a bit that those knee problems aren’t over.
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by was385 on Jan 26, 2026 1:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Sizemore
Simply cuz of the name… just kidding. I do think Jackson is the winner here.
by kershaw_equals_stud on Jan 26, 2026 1:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I would go Espinosa
But all seven guys are pretty similar.
by BrosbeforeShaincoes on Jan 26, 2026 1:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
And when I say "similar"
I mean in prospect status, not in toolset, skill-set, ect…
by BrosbeforeShaincoes on Jan 26, 2026 1:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Patient hitter, has pop in his bat and he’s a heck of a fielder…
by Berndaddy on Jan 26, 2026 2:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Got to be Espinoza. Slick-fielding SS with the tools for an above average bat.
by Kirkie on Jan 27, 2026 11:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
As a ceiling/tools favorer, I'd go Brett Jackson
But Flowers probably fits better into yr perspective.
by gogotabata on Jan 26, 2026 1:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Top 50 lists
John, when and where can we find your top 50 lists for hitters and pitchers? Are you going to post them here? Thank you.
by ncassman on Jan 26, 2026 2:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
50/50
The 50/50 lists are sent to people who pre-order the book within 24 hours of receiving their order. I don’t post them here until after most of the books are sold, for obvious reasons.
by John Sickels on Jan 26, 2026 2:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Are the lists out yet?
I pre-ordered the book last week and did not see a 50/50 list.
Thanks.
by Looney4baseball on Jan 26, 2026 6:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
you should have received it via email by now.
Contact jeri at JSBN01@aol.com
by John Sickels on Jan 26, 2026 6:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
My knee jerk reaction was Flowers as well
For pretty much the reasons you listed.
Congrats John, you’ve brainwashed another one!
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Jan 26, 2026 2:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Bretty Jackson
highest ceiling at a good position. Flowers wouldn’t be bad either.
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by JDSussman on Jan 26, 2026 2:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
No takers on Sanchez? (not that I'd go with him, I am just asking.)
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by 306008 on Jan 26, 2026 3:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
ME!!!
very good defensive catcher with good power potential and he tore apart Low A.
by joegonzo on Jan 26, 2026 3:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Thomas neal
for me. I think he’s got a guaranteed position in the Giants 2011 lineup if he repeats in 2010 what he did in 2009. Maybe he even gets a September call up.
I think they are all good/great prospects in their own rights but Flowers doesn’t have a position unless he is a DH for life. Espinosa is still a little far away and I don’t think Washington is in a hurry to rush him as with Ben Revere. Brett Jackson has too small a sample for me to rate him above Neal. I’d like to see Sanchez at higher levels and Sizemore will be a decent 2B but I think Neal is still better.
by hrv1978 on Jan 26, 2026 3:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Brett Jackson
Love his ceiling, loved his approach when I saw him, and I think he has a very good chance of being a very good player some day.
by Outshined_One on Jan 26, 2026 4:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I don’t disagree but I’d just like to see more before I think he’s rated above Neal.
by hrv1978 on Jan 26, 2026 4:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
tough choices
I’d probably go with either Flowers, Jackson or Revere. Revere isn’t the highest ceiling guy, but looks a pretty safe bet to be something useful. On the other hand Flowers is a pretty good bet to have a useful bat. While I do think guys with Flowers skillset sometimes get over rated on these lists, it’s really hard to argue against him at this spot.
But my choice would be Revere. I just like the overall game too much. Love the defensive value, love the rare combination of plus plus speed with plus plus pure hitting ability. The lack of much pop hinders his value some, but I think he belongs at this spot, and might give th list a bit more diversity. He’s just a very heady player who can beat you in so many ways which don’t all show up in the box score.
by acerimusdux on Jan 26, 2026 4:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
24 hours
you should have it within 24 hours. thanks for the order!
by John Sickels on Jan 26, 2026 6:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
24 hours
Damn that’s good service. I am from the Toronto area.
by hrv1978 on Jan 26, 2026 10:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
clarification
CLARIFICATION: you should have the 50/50 list within 24 hours. The book itself won’t be there until next week. Sorry if there is any confusion
by John Sickels on Jan 27, 2026 12:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Flowers
Good choice. I saw Flowers and instantly chose him. Definitely in my Top 5 Favorite Catcher Prospects. When will he see him? This year for sure, I’m thinking, whether it’s a September Call-Up, or before that.
by MattGaul on Jan 26, 2026 6:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Gotta be Ben Revere or Tlyer Flowres
if they’re not in
that means they are not top 100 guys overall….. soo 1 of those 2 IMO.
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by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Jan 26, 2026 6:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Not really
you could easily have 60 hitters and 40 pitchers on a top 100 list.
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by designatedforassignment on Jan 27, 2026 12:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
This year Im almost inclined to go the other way and favor more pitchers
There are not a lot of top notch position prospects and I find the middle class of pitching position fairly underwhelming.
As for the pitching prospects, there are a ton of similar quality guys.
by alskor on Jan 27, 2026 12:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Midnight Ride
Ben Revere should slip onto the list…
by DodgersBacktoBrooklyn2011 on Jan 26, 2026 6:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Revere +1
A bit of intuition but I think that Revere’s skill set matches very well with the Twins philosophy. He’s going to have a major impact when he gets to Minny.
by Melonville Sports on Jan 27, 2026 7:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Twin Philosophy
I think there is going to be a rude awakening in Minnesota. This Twin’s baseball is not going to play in this new park nearly as well.
by NMUWildcat027 on Jan 27, 2026 7:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
if the twins tank in the new stadium they will look foolish for giving up the greatest homefield advantage in professional sports
by ScottAZ on Jan 27, 2026 1:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
New home
Not really. New home = dramatically enhanced revenue. At the end of the day it’s a business. And a rather large one.
by Melonville Sports on Jan 27, 2026 7:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
re
from an ownership perspective you are right, but how much of that $$$ will be put back into the team? Will they resign Mauer? Make a push for someone in the big 2010 class? If they sellout every home game and then cry they don’t have the resources to resign Mauer they will look like liars.
From a manager/player perspective, over the past five years they won nearly 70% of home games and are under .500 on the road.
IMO, about the best chance they have to beat a Yankee or Red Sox team in the postseason is by taking all 3 home games in the Dome. Now they neutralized that advantage, they better spend $$$ or they won’t even have the Yankees or Sox to worry about
by ScottAZ on Jan 28, 2026 9:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Midnight Ride in new Stadium
Yes Scott, the home field pays for Mauer, and small ball should play anywhere.
I agree though that home field advantage in the dome was strong, but the fans will still go crazy and the team looks strong, and Revere will fit in nicely.
by DodgersBacktoBrooklyn2011 on Jan 29, 2026 1:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The shift away from Twin's baseball
The Bill Smith front office has definitely shifted away from the Terry Ryan style of player. e.g. trading a guy like Carlos Gomez (skill set is made better by the dome) for JJ Hardy.
by bgkrenz on Jan 31, 2026 6:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Scott Sizemore
I’d put him on because unlike the others, Sizemore is going to make a direct impact this year, so he is less of a question mark than the others. I think it’s easier to project Sizemore than it is some of these other guys. Smaller ceiling, but higher floor.
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^^ check it out
by Preston Barclay on Jan 26, 2026 7:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Not sure where to ask this, we'll try it here
John, I know you say you can’t compare the pitching and hitting grades, and by that I assume you as direct comparison, i.e. A- to A-, etc. Is there a “conversion” of sorts that would allow one to compare the two at all? Is it as simple as saying all B+ pitchers would rank ahead of all B hitters on a combined top 100 list? Or would some of the B grade hitters rank higher than some of the B+ pitchers?
I’m just curious if there is a way at all to compare them/sort them, for comparison sake with my own personal top 100 list as well as seeing how it compares to BP and BA. Thanks in advance if you have the time to answer this/see this.
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 26, 2026 10:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Sanchez or Espinosa are my picks.
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by Blicks on Jan 26, 2026 11:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I usually go tools...
so Jackson is my huckleberry.
by Havok1517 on Jan 27, 2026 3:53 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Jackson is the clear Choice
So much upside offensively and defensive value… personally he is a top 60 prospect for me.
by novaoakland on Jan 28, 2026 10:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
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