Top 10 Position Players who Progressed

[Deleted]

It is September 1st and you know what that means. The 25-man roster expands to 40 through the end of the regular season. Any player on the 40-man roster is eligible to play in an official regular season game, without the General Manager having to worry about sending down other players to make room for the call-up. Many young players make their debut this way as well, allowing for teams, particularly those no longer in playoff contention, to evaluate their young talent.

However, given that the "clock" starts as soon as the player is called up in the BBSBL, players are often held down in AAA even though certain prospects are ready now. It is obvious why some teams have the philosophy of "why waste an entire year of control for just one month of play when it does not matter?" but that is not the topic of discussion.

It is not difficult to ascertain which players are ready for the that special call-up, whether it be today or during next season's Spring Training. Just look at the Top 100 list and any such player who are generally performing well in AAA are probably ready now.

But, where did they come from? How did they start the season? Who truly has made the most progress in 1999?

I have that answer.

After hours of tedious research and number-crunching. I hereby present the top 10 position players who have gained the most traction this past season, relative to their actual ratings, not their potential ratings. Generally, these are young prospects who have jumped one or two levels already. Some are sophomores who had struggled in their rookie year and have exploded this season. Some are established players who somehow just took it to another level. And some just have made great strides but still don't stand a chance to make it.



Top 10 Position Players who Progressed
the most since Spring Training


10. Brandon Inge
Catcher, 22 yrs, Los Angeles Dodgers
Ratings: Avg: 6, 2B: 4, HR: 1, BB: 2
Stats: Majors: .284/.323/.357 in 359 AB
Potential: Everyday Starter / Possible Multiple All-Star Appearances
ETA: Now



9. Ken Harvey
First Base, 21 yrs, Seattle Mariners
Ratings: Avg: 4, 2B: 3, HR: 1, BB: 1
Stats: AAA: .241/.288/.279 in 394 AB
Potential: Bench Player in Majors
ETA: 2003



8. Billy McMillon
Centerfield, 27 yrs, Florida Marlins
Ratings: Avg: 4, 2B: 4, HR: 2, BB: 3
Stats: Majors: .429/.429/.429 in 7 AB
Potential: Platoon Player / Everyday Starter at bottom of order
ETA: 2000



7. Juan Castro
Shortstop, 27 yrs, Los Angeles Dodgers
Ratings: Avg: 3, 2B: 4, HR: 2, BB: 4
Stats: AAA: .284/.327/.403 in 489 AB
Potential: Platoon Player / Everyday Starter at bottom of order
ETA: 2000


6. Charles Peterson
Rightfield, 25 yrs, Pittsburgh Pirates
Ratings: Avg: 3, 2B: 4, HR: 2, BB: 3
Stats: AA: .225 /.296/.296 in 463 AB
Potential: Everyday Starter near middle of order
ETA: 2001



5. Endy Chavez
Centerfield, 21 yrs, New York (N) Mets
Ratings: Avg: 5, 2B: 4, HR: 2, BB: 3
Stats: AAA: .286/.310/.421 in 399 AB
Potential: Everyday Starter / Possible All-Star Appearance
ETA: 2000



4. Jody Gerut
Rightfield, 21 yrs, Pittsburgh Pirates
Ratings: Avg: 2, 2B: 6, HR: 3, BB: 2
Stats: A: .277/.319/.417 in 448 AB
Potential: Everyday Starter at bottom of order
ETA: 2002


lol
3. Endy A Chavez
Centerfield, 21 yrs, Chicago (N) Cubs
Ratings: Avg: 5, 2B: 4, HR: 3, BB: 3
Stats: AAA: .300/.333/.411 in 523 AB
Potential: Every Starter at top of order / Possible Multiple All-Star Appearances
ETA: 2000



2. Joe Crede
Third Base, 21 yrs, Detroit Tigers
Ratings: Avg: 5, 2B: 4, HR: 4, BB: 2
Stats: AAA: .198/.250/.356 in 247 AB
Potential: Every Starter in middle of order / Possible All-Star Appearance
ETA: 2000



1. Corey Patterson
Centerfield, 20 yrs, San Diego Padres
Ratings: Avg: 6, 2B: 5, HR: 4, BB: 2
Stats: AAA: .320/.366/.430 in 535 AB
Potential: Every Starter in middle of order / Possible Multiple All-Star Appearances / Possible HOF
ETA: Now


As you can tell, there is a whole range of player types, from potential bench warmer, at best, to a potential hall-of-famer in Corey Patterson. However, there is one thing they all have in common: 1999 was "their" year and they have made tremendous strides to get to the Big Show. Their potential may or may not have changed, but their current ratings blossomed. Of course, this makes Corey Patterson even scarier, being that he is a top prospect and has made so much progress, that he is ready to play now, at all of 20 years of age.



Other notables:

Top three "established" players (those in the top 100 in actual ratings at the time of Spring Training) who have progressed the most:
3. Wil Cordero
2. Rich Aurilia
1. Andruw Jones

Top five players who have regressed the most:
5. Chris Jones
4. Tony Gwynn
3. Cal Ripken Jr.
2. Devon White
1. Rex Hudler

Top three "established" players (those in the top 100 in actual ratings at the time of Spring Training) who have regressed the most:
3. Craig Biggio
2. Mark Grace
1. Kevin Mitchell



Coming up next week: the Pitchers

[Saitama]

Trot Nixon went from backup to solid starter since the year started.

[Deleted]

May 11, 2013 19:49:29 GMT -5 Saitama said:

Trot Nixon went from backup to solid starter since the year started.

Indeed he did. According to my numbers, out of nearly 1300 position players, he is in the top 30 of all players who made the most progress. All I did was post the top 10. Gotta have a special year to make the top 10. But in terms of name-recognition, Shane Victorino, Victor Martinez, Brandon Phillips and Trot Nixon round out the top of the list.

[Ashes]

Lol wait what billy McMillon is here why

[Erbes]

This is a fun article.

[Deleted]

May 11, 2013 20:05:37 GMT -5 Ashes said:

Lol wait what billy McMillon is here why

Billy has made a lot of progress to his actual ratings. Whether that means he's actually going to be useful remains to be seen. Perhaps an IRI or TIA and he's good to go. But for whatever reason, yes, he's in the top 10 of players who have ... made the most of the year, so to speak.

[Ashes]

Cabrera is performing well in the minors, I don't think he's quite ready

[Ashes]

May 11, 2013 20:08:17 GMT -5 @csc5782 said:

May 11, 2013 20:05:37 GMT -5 Ashes said:

Lol wait what billy McMillon is here why

Billy has made a lot of progress to his actual ratings. Whether that means he's actually going to be useful remains to be seen. Perhaps an IRI or TIA and he's good to go. But for whatever reason, yes, he's in the top 10 of players who have ... made the most of the year, so to speak.

Interesting!

[Deleted]

May 11, 2013 20:08:19 GMT -5 Ashes said:

Cabrera is performing well in the minors, I don't think he's quite ready

Yea, he's a ways away. According to my list, his progress (in actual ratings, mind you) has been average. He has made as much progress as Ruben Rivera, as an example. Perhaps next season, he'll be up on this list. In the end though, as long as he continues to add, you'll be fine. I think this list just shows the outliers.

I actually like my top 3 of the established players who went up and down the most. I should have focused on that.

Next season i'll do that.

[Ashes]

Awesome stuff

[Deleted]

I actually like my top 3 of the established players who went up and down the most. I should have focused on that.

Even though it's just a title and 3 names. By itself, it would not be much of an article, lol, but those are cool fun facts nonetheless I suppose!

[Free Stutter!]

Endy Chavez!!!!

[Broph]

May 11, 2013 20:12:01 GMT -5 @csc5782 said:

May 11, 2013 20:08:19 GMT -5 Ashes said:

Cabrera is performing well in the minors, I don't think he's quite ready

Yea, he's a ways away. According to my list, his progress (in actual ratings, mind you) has been average. He has made as much progress as Ruben Rivera, as an example. Perhaps next season, he'll be up on this list. In the end though, as long as he continues to add, you'll be fine. I think this list just shows the outliers.

I actually like my top 3 of the established players who went up and down the most. I should have focused on that.

Next season i'll do that.

once you finish, you should post the entire list, if its feasible...

[Ashes]

May 11, 2013 20:14:03 GMT -5 Free Stutter! said:

Endy Chavez!!!!

Fakey Chavez

[Deleted]

I'm sure Matt is kicking himself. Andruw Jones went beast-mode this season, which is hard to do when you're already established. That's why he's #1 of that "established" list.

[Ashes]

May 11, 2013 20:13:46 GMT -5 @csc5782 said:

I actually like my top 3 of the established players who went up and down the most. I should have focused on that.

Even though it's just a title and 3 names. By itself, it would not be much of an article, lol, but those are cool fun facts nonetheless I suppose!

I'd give you a 5 for a giant list. The time would be worth it

[Free Stutter!]

May 11, 2013 20:05:58 GMT -5 Erbes said:

This is a fun article.

[Deleted]

well I made a spreadsheet from beginning to now. Posting a giant list would take just a few seconds. Whether it makes sense though....not sure.

Wait until you see the pitchers (i'll do that tomorrow or Monday). Apparently pitcher progression (up or down) seems to be so much more volatile lol. All I can say is: Bob Tewksbury lol

[Ashes]

May 11, 2013 20:15:01 GMT -5 @csc5782 said:

I'm sure Matt is kicking himself. Andruw Jones went beast-mode this season, which is hard to do when you're already established. That's why he's #1 of that "established" list.

His ratings got a lot better for sure but man his production still seems mediocre at best, especially for a guy that was almost franchised

[Free Stutter!]

we need bosi

[Free Stutter!]

upload the spreadsheet to google drive!

[Free Stutter!]

great article. I love having my players mentioned

[Free Stutter!]

May 11, 2013 20:14:29 GMT -5 Ashes said:

May 11, 2013 20:14:03 GMT -5 Free Stutter! said:

Endy Chavez!!!!

Fakey Chavez

Endy A Chavez!

[Deleted]

May 11, 2013 20:17:09 GMT -5 Ashes said:

May 11, 2013 20:15:01 GMT -5 @csc5782 said:

I'm sure Matt is kicking himself. Andruw Jones went beast-mode this season, which is hard to do when you're already established. That's why he's #1 of that "established" list.

His ratings got a lot better for sure but man his production still seems mediocre at best, especially for a guy that was almost franchised

the first part of your sentence is exactly what I am trying to say, but in terms of number-crunching. So what seems to be happening is actually happening, yes. As for actual production.....well. Sometimes a player as talented as Roy Halladay will have a 9 ERA.......

[Ashes]

May 11, 2013 20:19:03 GMT -5 @csc5782 said:

May 11, 2013 20:17:09 GMT -5 Ashes said:

His ratings got a lot better for sure but man his production still seems mediocre at best, especially for a guy that was almost franchised

the first part of your sentence is exactly what I am trying to say, but in terms of number-crunching. So what seems to be happening is actually happening, yes. As for actual production.....well. Sometimes a player as talented as Roy Halladay will have a 9 ERA.......

Yeah, it's definitely interesting