Oakland Athletics 2011 Top 20 PRE-SEASON Prospects in Review
I am reviewing my PRE-SEASON list of Top 20 prospects for 2011 for each organization, continuing today with the Oakland Athletics. This list was originally published December 29, 2010. We will look at the Houston Astros on Wednesday, the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, and the Cleveland Indians to finish things off Saturday.
This is a review of the 2011 Pre-Season Top 20 list. IT IS NOT A NEW LIST. THESE ARE NOT NEW GRADES
The 2012 list and new grades won't be ready until the season is over and I start writing the book.
1) Grant Green, SS, Grade B: Hitting .303/.357/.428 with 30 doubles, eight homers, 35 walks, 99 strikeouts in 446 at-bats for Double-A Midland. Converted to center field earlier this month after failing to ease doubts about his glove at shortstop.
2) Chris Carter, 1B-OF, Grade B: Hitting .252/.340/.487 with 14 homers, 29 walks, 72 strikeouts in 230 at-bats between Triple-A Sacramento and six games of injury rehab (thumb) for High-A Stockton. 4-for-30 in the majors with 14 strikeouts. I have been pro-Carter but his stock is dropping with me. Of course, that means he'll explode next year.
3) Michael Choice, OF, Grade B: .287/.381/.561 with 28 homers, 54 walks, 118 strikeouts in 401 at-bats for Stockton. Lots of power, as expected, and will draw walks, but strikeout rate is high enough to be concerning.
4) Tyson Ross, RHP, Grade B-: Has missed time with an oblique strain, a shoulder problem, and personal issues. 2.75 ERA with 24/13 K/BB in 36 major league innings, but an 8.02 ERA with 26/15 K/BB in 21 minor league innings between Sacramento and Stockton. His potential, when healthy, is obvious.
5) Fautino De Los Santos, RHP, Grade B-: 2.17 ERA with 36/16 K/BB in 29 innings between Midland and Sacramento. 2.66 ERA with 26/12 K/BB in 20 major league innings, 15 hits. Could take a larger role next year.
6) Steve Parker, 3B, Grade B-: .289/.372/.415 with nine homers, 58 walks, 100 strikeouts in 453 at-bats for Midland. Not as much power as in the Cal League last year, but still gets on base at a solid clip. Some improvement with the glove.
7) Max Stassi, C, Grade B-: .231/.331/.331 with 16 walks, 22 strikeouts in 121 at-bats for Stockton. Out since May with shoulder problems and was confined to DH role before that.
8) Ian Krol, LHP, Grade B-: Was working his way back from a spring elbow injury when he was suspended for using an anti-gay slur while tweeting. Ian Krol the Twittering Twit.
9) Michael Taylor, OF, Grade C+: .286/.376/.473 with 13 homers, 39 walks, 62 strikeouts, 10 steals in 283 at-bats for Sacramento. Better than last year but still not equivalent to what he was doing before the trade.
10) Jemile Weeks, 2B, Grade C+: .321/.417/.446 with 29 walks, 32 strikeouts, 10 steals in 184 at-bats for Sacramento. .292/.319/.403 with 10 walks, 38 strikeouts, 13 steals in 243 at-bats for Oakland. A successful debut overall and I think he'll draw more walks as he settles in.
11) Yordy Cabrera, SS, Grade C+: Hitting .242/.309/.387 with six homers, 30 walks, 92 strikeouts, 19 steals in 310 at-bats for Low-A Burlington. Defense at shortstop needs a lot of work and he faces positional switch without rapid improvement.
12) Adrian Cardenas, 2B, Grade C+: Hitting .299/.367/.407 with 43 walks, 45 strikeouts in 405 at-bats for Sacramento. I am still trying to figure out how he fits on major league roster.
13) Josh Donaldson, C, Grade C+: .260/.334/.459 with 16 homers, 40 walks, 86 strikeouts in 377 at-bats for Sacramento, 38% of runners caught but also 13 errors in 67 defensive games.
14) Eric Sogard, 2B, Grade C+: .298/.381/.410 with 40 walks, 34 strikeouts, 13 steals in 315 at-bats for Sacramento. 6-for-31 with three doubles in 11 major league games. Blocked here but I think he could help some teams.
15) Connor Hoehn, RHP, Grade C+: 6.13 ERA with 50/12 K/BB in 40 innings for Stockton, 36 hits. ERA is elevated by 10 homers, but other numbers demonstrate his potential.
16) Aaron Shipman, OF, Grade C+: .233/.358/.289 with 14 steals, 31 walks, 31 strikeouts in 159 at-bats for Vermont in the New York-Penn League. Excellent tools, especially speed, and he draws walks. No power yet.
17) Matt Thomson, RHP, Grade C+: Injured.
18) Danny Farquhar, RHP, Grade C+: Traded back to Toronto in April. Overall a 4.39 ERA with 48/21 K/BB in 53 innings between Sacramento and Las Vegas, 61 hits, 11 saves. Overrated with this grade but he can be a useful shortman for someone.
19) Chad Lewis, 3B, Grade C: Hitting .257/.295/.356 with 10 walks, 49 strikeouts in 202 at-bats for Vermont. I received flak for rating him this low, but he hasn't lived up to the high school scouting reports at this point and might end up at first base.
20) Rashun Dixon, OF, Grade C: .250/.327/.398 with 11 homers, 43 walks, 109 strikeouts in 392 at-bats with Stockton. Still has the amazing tools, but still doesn't really know what to do with them.
A lot of "blah" on this list. It is good to see what Weeks can do when healthy, and if Green is more comfortable in the outfield than at shortstop, his bat could take off next year.
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