Update and Suggestions

by John Sickels on Oct 26, 2025 8:37 PM EDT

I ran into some roadblocks while working on the Phillies Top 20 list, but they have been resolved and things are moving forward. Thanks for your patience.

I want to mix in some Prospect Retros, so feel free to suggest topics. I will also have a Guess the Prospect! feature for you tomorrow morning.

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Prospect Retro

I would love to see a Joey Votto one.

www.redsminorleagues.com

by dougdirt on Oct 26, 2025 8:59 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Retro

I know a current Ranger was just written about, but I think Nelson Cruz would be an interesting case to look at considering the fact he was DFA’d a few years back.

by JMcGee on Oct 26, 2025 9:10 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

yeah I would love to read one on him as well.

Pretty much underdog guys who struggled and became good/great players

by Sniderlover on Oct 27, 2025 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions

This would be awesome.

kling klang king of the rim ram room

by dustym on Oct 27, 2025 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Prospect Retro

How about Bartolo Colon?

by SeanP on Oct 26, 2025 9:38 PM EDT reply actions

retro

Maybe Ricky Romero? High draft pick, seen as a bust, now a top pitcher?

by shully23 on Oct 26, 2025 10:07 PM EDT via SB Nation iPhone app reply actions 3 recs

Agreed… I couldn’t believe how much he struggled in AA… repeatedly! Looking at his stuff, you wonder how or why it happened because his change-up is absolutely devastating.

by Sniderlover on Oct 27, 2025 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Franklin Gutierrez might interesting. Quite the rise and fall story with a peak as a 6 WAR centerfielder

by Aesop on Oct 26, 2025 10:44 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Jose Bautista?

I’m not sure if you have done any prospect retro on him in the past but I would love to see one on him.

by Sniderlover on Oct 27, 2025 12:14 AM EDT reply actions

Hong Chih Kuo

retro. going to go in for 5th elbow procedure soon

by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Oct 27, 2025 12:14 AM EDT reply actions

Derek Holland?

by Lucretius on Oct 27, 2025 12:24 AM EDT reply actions

+1

by BenB on Oct 27, 2025 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Question

Is there a change in your grading scale? I noticed that you are more eager to
give B or above. Almost all teams so far have more than 10 B- or above prospects,
easily reaches more than 15. I thought B- ~ A prospects were roughly 270 in total
last year but it looks like it will be well above 350.

by Patrick Relano Kim on Oct 27, 2025 1:57 AM EDT reply actions

not really

remember all the grades are preliminary and some of those B- will likely end up as C+ in the end

by John Sickels on Oct 27, 2025 8:16 AM EDT up reply actions

something on Adam Eaton

I’d like to get your thoughts on him. Puny outfielder drafted in the 19th round just last year, and he went on to post a .400+ OBP in AA this year while hitting for respectable power. Is he a viable starting option or just a 4th OF?

"If you find a man or woman who sticks around after you tell them "I may be a demented horse, but I know CPR," you marry them. No questions asked." - kishi

by CaptainCanuck on Oct 27, 2025 2:07 AM EDT via SB Nation iPhone app reply actions

Retro Prospect

How ’bout the strangest one in baseball today - Rick Ankiel?

"You can't make a foul ball fair by moving the bases." -- Mickey Mantle in "Safe at Home"

by PEFACommish on Oct 27, 2025 2:27 AM EDT reply actions

From last year:

https://www.minorleagueball.com/2010/4/21/1433316/prospect-retro-redux-rick-ankiel

by dbreer23 on Oct 27, 2025 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Prospect Retro

CJ Wilson or Brandon Beachy

by Governator on Oct 27, 2025 6:58 AM EDT reply actions

Nolan Ryan

Not sure how accessable his MiLB stats are……..

by TheGrinch on Oct 27, 2025 7:31 AM EDT reply actions

+1

One of my all-time favorite players, and I love what he’s done as an executive. MiLB stats here but they look incomplete: http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=ryan—001lyn

by rlwhite on Oct 27, 2025 7:48 AM EDT up reply actions

+1

Even if the analysis was more qualitative than quantitative, I think this would be a fantastic article to do. Many minor league stats from that era (even up until the early 1980’s) can be tough to collect.

by dbreer23 on Oct 27, 2025 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

In light

of Andrus and Kinsler putting on a fielding clinic during the WS, how about something along the lines of Best Middle Infields of All Time?

by BlueVol03 on Oct 27, 2025 9:12 AM EDT reply actions

in general

more on the defensive side with OF prospects. I think defense is mentioned for IFers far more often than for OFers, but as OF defense has become a much bigger consideration in the game in general, I think it bears more scrutiny and I often feel in the dark on the defensive side for OF prospects.

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Oct 27, 2025 10:09 AM EDT reply actions