Community Prospect #39
by gatling on Jan 27, 2026 5:49 PM EST
162 comments
'With 27.5% of the vote, Starlin Castro is elected Community Prospect #38
1. Jason Heyward - 51%
2. Stephen Strasburg - 76%
3. Buster Posey - 20% (43% runoff)
4. Michael Stanton - 20% (54% runoff)
5. Jesus Montero - 20% (45% runoff)
6. Brian Matusz - 21%
7. Pedro Alvarez - 23%
8. Desmond Jennings - 29%
9. Carlos Santana -37% (50% runoff)
10. Neftali Feliz -37% (50% runoff)
11. Justin Smoak - 46%
12. Domonic Brown - 23% (59% runoff)
13. Madison Bumgarner - 30%
14. Martin Perez - 28%
15. Dustin Ackley - 31%
16. Chris Carter - 33.6%
17. Jeremy Hellickson - 29.4%
18. Michael Taylor - 36.9%
19. Alcides Escobar - 37.0%
20. Christian Friedrich - 29.0%(53.2% runoff)
21. Logan Morrison - 45.6%
22. Ryan Westmoreland - 24.7%
23. Aroldis Chapman - 32.0%
24. Wade Davis - 40.8%
25. Fernando Martinez - 30.5%
26. Aaron Hicks - 33.3%
27. Kyle Drabek - 34.0%
28. Lonnie Chisenhall - 24.5%
29. Jenrry Mejia - 18.8%(51.6% runoff)
30. Yonder Alonso - 25.5%
31. Matt Moore - 19.0%(70.7% runoff)
32. Brett Wallace - 24.3%
33. Dan Hudson - 20.2%
34. Freddie Freeman - 17.4%
35. Jhoulys Chacin - 21.2%
36. Casey Kelly - 27.8%
37. Casey Crosby - 29.8%
Players will get 1 round on the poll as a tester, if they fail to draw 5% they will then be removed and sit out up to 3 rounds.
Players off the poll(will sit out up to 3 rounds): Jarrod Parker(#38-2.0%), Jiovanni Mier(#38-0%), Donovan Tate(#38-2.9%), Jake Arrieta(#38-2.9%), Tanner Scheppers(#38-0%), Jason Castro(#37-2.9%), Hector Rondon(#37-2.9%), Michael Saunders(#37-3.8%), Chris Withrow(#37-0%), Matt Dominguez(#36-0%)
Tester pool: Ryan Kalish, Josh Reddick, Zach Stewart, Simon Castro, Ike Davis, Zach Britton, Tanner Scheppers, Arodys Vizcaino, Julio Teheran
The candidates with previous round vote %:
Tyler Matzek 6.9%
Zach Britton
Todd Frazier
Jacob Turner 11.8%
Grant Green
Tyler Flowers 15.7%
Josh Bell 7.8%
Jordan Lyles
Derek Norris
Brett Lawrie 12.7%
Michael Montgomery
Over 130 AB/50 IP cutoff for eligibility
Please vote using the +1 system, not the rec system. Rec'd votes will not be counted in this poll, only actual posts with +1.
3 recs |
162 comments
| Add comment
Email
Print
Comments
Vote with a +1 here for Tyler Matzek
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 27, 2026 5:52 PM EST reply actions 5 recs
Vote with a +1 here for Zach Britton
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 27, 2026 5:53 PM EST reply actions 5 recs
Vote with a +1 here for Todd Frazier
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 27, 2026 5:53 PM EST reply actions 5 recs
Vote with a +1 here for Jacob Turner
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 27, 2026 5:53 PM EST reply actions 5 recs
+1
Sitcking with my guy.
I think Ive voted for about 6 different players so far. Seems like 15 times for Chapman and 15+ for Turner
by alskor on Jan 27, 2026 6:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hah.
Just realized I never even got to vote for either Westmoreland OR Kelly.
by alskor on Jan 27, 2026 6:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I know the feeling
I’ve been voting Matzek/Turner since Chapman got on.
by jar75 on Jan 27, 2026 6:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I checked
I voted Chapman from around 12 (when we were still doing polls) to around 23. Then Hicks 3 times. Then Turner since.
Exciting stuff.
by alskor on Jan 27, 2026 6:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I forgot about Hicks
I voted for him as well.
by jar75 on Jan 27, 2026 6:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
by demondeaconsbaseball on Jan 27, 2026 6:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Past time.
Freude, schoener Goetterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische dein Heiligtum.
by t ball on Jan 27, 2026 10:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.
by biggentleben on Jan 27, 2026 11:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Follow me at http://twitter.com/JDSussman
Remember: baseball guys... baseball...
by JDSussman on Jan 28, 2026 12:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Vote with a +1 here for Grant Green
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 27, 2026 5:53 PM EST reply actions 5 recs
Vote with a +1 here for Tyler Flowers
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 27, 2026 5:54 PM EST reply actions 5 recs
+1
WordUpThome: WILL I BE REQUIRED TO PLAY INSIDE OF THE TRASH BAGS OR SIMPLY AMONGST THEM
by e-gus on Jan 28, 2026 9:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Vote with a +1 here for Josh Bell
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 27, 2026 5:54 PM EST reply actions 5 recs
+1
www.oriolesprospects.com | twitter @orioleprospects
by ravensfan3 on Jan 27, 2026 6:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Vote with a +1 here for Jordan Lyles
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 27, 2026 5:54 PM EST reply actions 5 recs
+1
"Ninety percent I'll spend on good times, women and Irish Whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
by strums on Jan 28, 2026 1:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Vote with a +1 here for Derek Norris
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 27, 2026 5:55 PM EST reply actions 5 recs
+100
You’re name has 2k9 in it — what are you some 8 year-old who makes Pillsbury Doughboy cookies and jerks off to that bullshit video game with Tim Lincecum on the cover--
Frederick0220
by Mets2k9 on Jan 27, 2026 5:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
for hopefully the last time.
"I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it" ~ Mae West
by Blicks on Jan 27, 2026 9:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Vote with a +1 here for Brett Lawrie
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 27, 2026 5:55 PM EST reply actions 5 recs
+1
"mark kotsay for $1.5 million. or jim thome for $1.5 million.
gosh. i’m going to have to think about this one for a bit." larry
"We're gonna do this f*ucking thing over again cuz I just f*cked it up.....oh, we're live, I didn't know that" Bert Blyleven
by smoooooth on Jan 27, 2026 7:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
I'm the first person to admit that I'm wrong about a lot of things, but I'm going to be the last person to admit I'm wrong about what we're currently talking about.
Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't
by Wonko on Jan 27, 2026 7:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."
by Hyatt on Jan 28, 2026 10:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Vote with a +1 here for Michael Montgomery
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 27, 2026 5:55 PM EST reply actions 5 recs
+1
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Jan 27, 2026 10:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Kevin Frandsen: The best SS on the Giants roster
Hoping for BowkerMania to hit AT&T; Park in 2010
by Gobroks on Jan 28, 2026 2:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Vote with a +1 and name here for anyone not listed
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 27, 2026 5:56 PM EST reply actions 5 recs
+1
Travis Wood. He had a record breaking year and was AA and Southern League pitcher of the year.
"This has got to hurt"
by Da.aron on Jan 28, 2026 2:00 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
I voted for Lawrie
but he’s actually behind two other players on my list. Mat Gamel is next on my list, but I don’t want to end up voting for him for the next 40 polls or so, I know I’m the outlier on him and I’m ok with that. Hector Rondon is between Gamel and Lawrie for me, but I don’t think he’s going to get support for quite some time either, unfortunately.
Lawrie has a very good bat, good enough that if he ends up in RF like I expect he’ll still be very valuable. If he can make improvements defensively and play 2B, it’s a big bonus. After Lawrie it’s Montgomery, Saunders, Kalish, and Jake Arrieta for me. I’m curious to see if Lawrie or Turner keep increasing their vote total here or if Flowers makes it on.
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 27, 2026 6:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I'm scared he could be Brad Hawpe
he needs to show some semblance of defense ability SOMEWHERE before I start considering him this high.
by Navi's_Navy on Jan 27, 2026 7:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Derek Norris
I believe he has a shot to be average defensively as a catcher, and the bat could be really special. I can understand folks being apprehensive on this because of level and defense, but I’m a fan. Tbh, I changed my vote in b/w to go with Castro before Norris, but I think they are about equal in overall value for me.
by toonsterwu on Jan 27, 2026 6:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Norris
I’ll go with Flowers, the version that’s already major league ready. I can’t get behind the method of prospect evaluation that hopes on best-case-scenarios for low minors players.
by PissedMick on Jan 27, 2026 7:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
ya
just look at the guy named Jeter and his numbers in the low minors.
by MightyMoose on Jan 27, 2026 8:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yes, because the most valuable players are always the MLB-ready ones
by daveh33 on Jan 27, 2026 11:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed.
Flowers is essentially a more advanced version of Norris with a higher floor, and perhaps a slightly lower ceiling. I like Norris quite a bit, but given the choice between the two, I’m going with the guy who’s already torn up Double-A.
by PhillyFriar on Jan 28, 2026 12:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
well
Norris, at age 20, put up better numbers compared to Flowers at age 21 in A-Ball. Given Norris’ better season and a full year younger, I think it’s pre-mature to call Flowers a more advanced version of Norris. I think Norris floor is Flowers, while his ceiling is considerably higher.
by MightyMoose on Jan 28, 2026 12:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think that's mainly the point being made is
He technically is a more advanced version based on his showing in the high minors. Yes he was a year younger, but I’m not sure what numbers you expect him to put up that Flowers hasn’t already. At this point he is likely likely flame out cause he has improved his defense and performed at higher levels. Something Norris still has to do and I don’t think it’s a given.
If you think Norris will improve his defense and improve/keep his contact rate from getting worse as he faces more advanced pitching, I have no problem with someone liking Norris more. He just has more hurdles to jump is all, and most prospects don’t go that smoothly.
by hybrid on Jan 28, 2026 3:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
crap meant flowers is less likely - really need an edit button
by hybrid on Jan 28, 2026 3:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Flowers
had many ppl questioning his dee. Obviously he improved. Norris has only been catching for a short period of time. He had one of the better arms and caughtstealing percentages. If he works on his receiving, which the Nats are going to allow him time to do, I don’t see why he can’t stick at catcher too.
Also, I don’t think it’s fair to say he’s technically more advanced. The only reason he is more advanced is because he’s older and played at a higher level given his age. I’m not trying to take anything away from him, but I feel the only way you can really compare the two is to look at their tools and how each performed versus one another at the same level. In this case, Norris at age 20 performed better at a younger age versus Flowers.
by MightyMoose on Jan 28, 2026 7:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not saying Norris can’t improve his defense, but the fact is he does need too. Just cause someone is new to catching doesn’t automatically mean they will pick it up and become good. Just like it also means he couldn’t develope and turn out to be good, but he still has to do it which is a question mark. Thus, why he might not stick at catcher … if you don’t see why someone new to the position who isn’t a “natural” might not stick, well it seems pretty logical to me why he might not.
I already explained why I felt the more “advanced” term was used. If you want to say who was more advanced at the exact same age, Norris was. Though like I said Flowers improved a bunch over the next few years and it’s hard for me seeing Norris doing that much better. If he improves on his defense and doesn’t have his contact rate get out of hand, I will gladly believe at both of their developmental curves he came out on top.
At last that’s neither here or there, it’s a combo of seeing where they are at this precise moment and making an educated guess on what the future holds. I prefer the progression and the closeness of Flowers to Norris who I have a few more questions about even though he could surpass Flowers in the end.
by hybrid on Jan 28, 2026 8:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Using your reasoning Christian Bethancourt should be ahead of both
Bethancourt is already considered a great defensive catcher and compare what he did in rookie ball as a 17 year old in rookie ball (.282/.346/.453) to what Norris did (.203/.344/.382) at the same level as an 18 year old. So in this case Bethancourt performed better at a younger age versus Norris and is light years ahead of him defensively. I assume this means you’ll be voting for Bethancourt from here on out?
by nixa37 on Jan 28, 2026 9:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
no
why don’t you try re-reading. I said tools and performance. Norris’ hit tool is head and shoulders above Betancourt. It’s the dee that needs work.
Also, despite his poor avg. in rookie ball, he still had a .205 ISOP, OBP .351 and SLG .415.
by MightyMoose on Jan 28, 2026 10:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Right now it may be, but your whole point was comparing guys at the same age
And at a younger age in rooke ball Bethancourt posted a better strikeout rate and a similar ISO. Honestly the only tool/skill that Norris showed an advantage in at the time was his ability to draw walks.
Anyway, you seem to have missed the point of my post. Just blindly comparing what prospects did at the same age and completely disregarding subsequent improvement by the older player in the discussion is not a good way to go about things. I wouldn’t take Bethancourt over Norris because of the developments Norris has made since 2007. The same goes with taking Flowers over Norris because of the strides he’s made in his game since 2007.
by nixa37 on Jan 28, 2026 10:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
no
my point was comparing Flowers and Norris at the same age, not players generally. And again, comparing their hit tool.
Your post presumes that Norris, even though you admit he’s improved over the past couple years, won’t continue to do so. If he does, his hit tool has a higher ceiling than Flowers, imo.
Anyway, I’m not looking to debate this, but thought I should clarify where I’m coming from.
by MightyMoose on Jan 28, 2026 11:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You still seem to miss the point
At no time do I presume that Norris won’t continue to develop. The point is that Flowers has already developed since the season you’re using for comparison, so Norris must continue to improve at the same rate that Flowers already has to keep the advantage you’re attributing to him. Considering the huge strides Flowers has made since 2007 in terms of his BB rate and defense, along with some power development, I don’t its nearly the given you seem to think that Norris will be able to match those developments.
by nixa37 on Jan 28, 2026 1:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
fair enough
but not really at the same rate, since Norris will be in High-A almost two years younger than Flowers.
by MightyMoose on Jan 28, 2026 2:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Check your math, its less than 13 months
Norris will turn 21 on 2/14 before he plays in A+ ball this spring. Flowers turned 22 on 1/24/08 before making his A+ ball debut that spring.
by nixa37 on Jan 28, 2026 2:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Actually
The biggest thing for Norris is to keep his K% under control and not let it balloon 11% from A ball to AA/AAA like happened to Flowers. His walk rate could stay at 16% and his ISO could stay in the .220 range and I wouldn’t care at all if they didn’t improve if he could cut his K% down to 23% or less.
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 28, 2026 2:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well...
Maintaining the same rates while moving up to tougher leagues implies some improvement in the underlying, skills does it not?
As for Flowers, the 11% increase in K rate was coupled with a 7% increase in BB rate, so its not like he was suddenly being dominated he just changed his approach.
by nixa37 on Jan 28, 2026 2:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I didn't say he was
I never said anything remotely close to Flowers being dominated as he moved up. I didn’t see the point to rehash the walk rate as it had been covered, Norris has already posted a walk rate close to what Flowers did at the upper levels. Yes, maintaining your rates as you move up does indicate some improvement, but it’s much smaller improvements than the near huge improvement Flowers showed in walk rate.
All I’m saying is, if Norris can just maintain the walk rate and ISO he’ll be fine, they don’t have to take big steps forward if he can keep his K rate at a reasonable level. I’d be more interested in seeing the K rate decrease to the 20-23% range than the BB rate increase a little bit to the 18% range. I’m not trying to knock Flowers in the least.
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 28, 2026 2:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry
Clearly I misunderstood what you were getting at and I generally agree. If he just manages to maintain similar rates and a similar ISO as he moves up, he’s a very good offensive prospect. One that’s elite if he can manage at C, though he needs to improve that part of his game, as Flowers has done over the past season or two, for that to happen.
by nixa37 on Jan 28, 2026 3:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No problem
I agree with you on the defense, I’m not comfortable saying that Norris will be a catcher when he reaches the bigs. There are reports he wants to stay there and is willing to put in the time to work on his defense and that he realizes he needs to work on it. Those are positive things in my mind, but they only go so far until we see the results. If I was sure he would stay at catcher for a long period of time, he’d probably move up my list a good bit. He’s in the 40-50 range right now, ahead of Flowers because he has the time to improve his defense and keep the bat strong. The better BB% at the younger age plays into ranking him ahead of Flowers along with the fact he’s shown a bit more power at this stage than Flowers did. That said, Flowers is in the 50-60 range for me, not a big difference between them on my list. I’m worried that Flowers time behind the plate could be cut shorter not due to his defense per se, but to physical issues(knee problems in the past, size). Both good prospects to be sure though.
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 28, 2026 4:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Harper
What happens when the Nats take Harper and he’s the catcher of the future? Good prospect but if he’s not traded I wouldn’t be surprised to see an 18 year old “block” him.
by TarHeel921 on Jan 28, 2026 11:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Blocked
A prospect being blocked does not make him less of a prospect, it actually has no bearing on his value.
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 28, 2026 11:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
This assuming both reach the point of Major League ready
and don’t move positions. Both big leaps.
by Daniel Berlyn on Jan 29, 2026 11:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Moose
Making another request for Moustakas as a tester. Getting into the place in the rankings where I think he should be seriously considered. Been out of the country for a while and didnt see what the response was to my last request for him.
BTW, I think Hudson at #33 is a real headscratcher.
by rhd on Jan 27, 2026 7:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
This means nothing about nothing, but
I didn’t want to post its own fanpost about it, since it’s subscriber content. Jim Callis just ranked Dustin Ackley #6 on his personal top 50.
by slamcactus on Jan 27, 2026 7:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Updates
So people really were upset with the updates? I miss them. Sometimes I don’t have much time to spend on here while at work and just like to check in and get an update real quick. Looks like a close one though right now.
by discndat on Jan 28, 2026 9:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
It wasn't really the updates themselves
it was the additional and unneccessary commentary that came with them most of the time. You are right though, close one this round, 2 guys tied at 15(Lawrie and Norris), Flowers is a vote behind them, Turner two behind Flowers.
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 28, 2026 10:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yeah
saying “it looks like so-and-so is running away with it, we should call it soon probably” or “this one is so close, we are probably going to need a run-off.” those comments are as unnecessary as the update itself. none of it is necessary. none of it should have been considered a problem. but whatever.
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 28, 2026 12:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Disagree
The vote tally actually saves people time and provides useful information. The comments serve no such purpose.
by nixa37 on Jan 28, 2026 1:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
and that is why you have no updates.
lol
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 28, 2026 1:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
on the unnceccessary commentary - damn, too many double letters in that word, now that’s unneccessary.
by discndat on Jan 28, 2026 1:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
too many double letters
especially when you toss in that extra c.
by wobatus on Jan 28, 2026 2:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Runoff poll posted
Lawrie, Norris, and Flowers are all within 2 votes of each of other, and the voting for the each over the last 4 hours has been pretty even.
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Jan 28, 2026 2:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Join the community and dive in!
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
MLB -- FanHouse
- Mario Lemieux Offered to Buy the Pirates, Pirates Not for Sale
- With Renewed Passion, Byrnes Could Boost Mariners
- From the Windup: Projection Perspective
- Toronto Considering Damon and Delgado
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
