Post by Steve on Jun 19, 2014 19:45:47 GMT -5
With this article, I factor in overall value. Some future stars in the making. Here we go:
Top 10 Minor League Hitting Prospects
1. RF Giancarlo Stanton- ATL- Age 18- Tough call here, but I think him being so young makes me go Stanton here. He’s nearly Major league ready at the age of 18. He’ll be on the roster at some point during next season, and his power is tantalizing stuff. Might not be the best rated guy in terms of overall talent, but he’s so young. Future 40 Home Run guy perhaps. Atlanta has some excellent bats in the system, and he’ll be their best potentially.
2. C Dayton Buller- ANA- Age 24- His age hurts him or otherwise I’d probably put him in the number one spot…can play multiple positions. He can catch; plays First Base or Third Base…so his versatility is extremely nice. Can still be TIAd unlike Stanton. He has been called up, but got sent down quickly…he should be playing in the Majors right now. He’ll have elite power along with a good K:BB ratio…anyway, this is a player Greg needs to build around. He’ll likely move to 1B or 3B with Posey in the fold. Speaking of which…
3. C Buster Posey- ANA- Age 21- To me, this is their future Catcher…stud hitter here. He’ll hit for an extremely high average with some pop. I’m assuming he’ll get his HRs TIAd…then again, who the hell knows. Great defense…has the ability to play 1B, too. Love Posey. Posey and Buller provide a nice core, but Greg really doesn’t have too much pitching. Anyway, enjoy this player…he’s going to be a guy that will hit 50+ doubles with a plus average.
4. CF Carlos Gomez- CHI(A)- Age 22- Does Gomez have the making to be the next Corey Patterson? I think so. Only negative to Gomez is that he has already used one of his PD reversals. Otherwise, he looks like a clone of Patterson. Love this guy, and I might have him too low. I value walks a ton in this league just because when your not hitting, you have that to fall back on…but Gomez is going to be an elite defender with the ability to swipe 50+ bags a year to subside that. How great his power develops will decide how amazing he can be. He’s going to play in a great park, and he’ll be able to hit with Prince Fielder. Fun combo right there. He’s ready for the show now, but CrazyMike is being smart here and just waiting until next year. No point now…once the power explodes, watch out folks.
5. 2B Jason Kipnis- CHI(N)- Age 21- Really intriguing talent here. Solid D, but has the ability to be A/B in stealing…plus, with his ability to get on base and have some good pop along with it, makes him a really good future piece for Play. Really like this player so Play hit me up! Anyway, he could possibly project to hit for 30 2Bs, 20 HRs, 80 BBs, and steal 50+ bags. Potentially a five-tool stud.
6. 3B Pedro Alvarez- NYY- Age 21- Alavarez’s power will be a difference maker. As great as his power will be, his defense at Third is going to be a serious question mark for Erbes. Don’t think you can stick him there, but at least there’s the DH, or you could put him at 1st. Potentially could hit 40+ bombs…this is a core piece for Erbes…he doesn’t have many of them.
7. LF Carlos Gonzalez- CHI(N)- Age 22- Back-to-back Cub players...I didn’t realize how good Cargo was until I started looking at this list. Man, if he can develop properly, he’s going to be a force for the Cubbies…the real concern is his ability to develop his power. At least he has all of his PD reversals left so that’s key because I think he might need them…just been doing this too long. Someone stalls with their power, and it usually will take a hit soon enough. Anyway, he’s going to be a super, well rounded player with the ability to do everything. Solid defender with the ability to play all 3 spots…could possibly steal some bases if Play bumps him up there. Regardless, it will be at least another season before we see him debut…but boy is he going to be a tough out in this league.
8. C Matt Wieters- CHI(N)- Age 22- The next two candidates are catching prospects, and I had a hard time deciding who I wanted to go here…as you can see, I went with Wieters…he’s older, but I do like that he hasn’t been touched yet where as d’Anaurd has…I’m sure I’ll get an argument from Broph here…I think you can honestly go either way. Anyway, let’s talk about the player. Wieters will most likely get a TIA to his walks which is what I was essentially looking at when making this decision. I think Wieters defensive game is better, and he’s nearly ready. He’ll just need another year down in the system. Having said that, Play has a really nice nucleus in Kipnis, Wieters, Cargo, and Joey Bats.
9. C Travis d’Anaurd- OAK- Age 19- So here’s d’Anaurd…he’s going to have a ton of power once it develops…lots of doubles and homers from this guy. He won’t have a very good BB:K ratio, but I don’t think Broph won’t mind…defense isn’t an absolute hindrance as he should get the job done back there. 40+ doubles and 25+ homers from your catch? I’m taking that…also, remember when Kobe said there were a ton of very good Catchers out there? He was right…4 of the top 10 hitting prospects reflect his statement along with the likes of David Ross, Corey Hart, Edwin Bellorin, among others in the big leagues.
10. 1B Jacob Klos- NYY- Age 22- Recently received some excellent PD to make him a top 10 prospect…he’ll have solid pop, but will be an on-base guy for Jeffrey. Erbes is no where close to competing right now so I think he’ll be down in the farm system for another 2 more seasons perhaps. Still, not a big deal. Right now he has to make sure he develops any type of substantial talent he has properly. Can’t screw up on those guys.
Honorable Mentions: 1B Logan Morrison (ANA), 1B Eric Hosmer (MIL), RF Jason Heyward (TOR), 1B Freddie Freeman (LAD), 3B Mike Moustakas (OAK), RF Desmond Jennings (PITT), C Carlos Santana (SD), and 2B Gordon Beckham (CHI)
Bash away!
Top 10 Minor League Hitting Prospects
1. RF Giancarlo Stanton- ATL- Age 18- Tough call here, but I think him being so young makes me go Stanton here. He’s nearly Major league ready at the age of 18. He’ll be on the roster at some point during next season, and his power is tantalizing stuff. Might not be the best rated guy in terms of overall talent, but he’s so young. Future 40 Home Run guy perhaps. Atlanta has some excellent bats in the system, and he’ll be their best potentially.
2. C Dayton Buller- ANA- Age 24- His age hurts him or otherwise I’d probably put him in the number one spot…can play multiple positions. He can catch; plays First Base or Third Base…so his versatility is extremely nice. Can still be TIAd unlike Stanton. He has been called up, but got sent down quickly…he should be playing in the Majors right now. He’ll have elite power along with a good K:BB ratio…anyway, this is a player Greg needs to build around. He’ll likely move to 1B or 3B with Posey in the fold. Speaking of which…
3. C Buster Posey- ANA- Age 21- To me, this is their future Catcher…stud hitter here. He’ll hit for an extremely high average with some pop. I’m assuming he’ll get his HRs TIAd…then again, who the hell knows. Great defense…has the ability to play 1B, too. Love Posey. Posey and Buller provide a nice core, but Greg really doesn’t have too much pitching. Anyway, enjoy this player…he’s going to be a guy that will hit 50+ doubles with a plus average.
4. CF Carlos Gomez- CHI(A)- Age 22- Does Gomez have the making to be the next Corey Patterson? I think so. Only negative to Gomez is that he has already used one of his PD reversals. Otherwise, he looks like a clone of Patterson. Love this guy, and I might have him too low. I value walks a ton in this league just because when your not hitting, you have that to fall back on…but Gomez is going to be an elite defender with the ability to swipe 50+ bags a year to subside that. How great his power develops will decide how amazing he can be. He’s going to play in a great park, and he’ll be able to hit with Prince Fielder. Fun combo right there. He’s ready for the show now, but CrazyMike is being smart here and just waiting until next year. No point now…once the power explodes, watch out folks.
5. 2B Jason Kipnis- CHI(N)- Age 21- Really intriguing talent here. Solid D, but has the ability to be A/B in stealing…plus, with his ability to get on base and have some good pop along with it, makes him a really good future piece for Play. Really like this player so Play hit me up! Anyway, he could possibly project to hit for 30 2Bs, 20 HRs, 80 BBs, and steal 50+ bags. Potentially a five-tool stud.
6. 3B Pedro Alvarez- NYY- Age 21- Alavarez’s power will be a difference maker. As great as his power will be, his defense at Third is going to be a serious question mark for Erbes. Don’t think you can stick him there, but at least there’s the DH, or you could put him at 1st. Potentially could hit 40+ bombs…this is a core piece for Erbes…he doesn’t have many of them.
7. LF Carlos Gonzalez- CHI(N)- Age 22- Back-to-back Cub players...I didn’t realize how good Cargo was until I started looking at this list. Man, if he can develop properly, he’s going to be a force for the Cubbies…the real concern is his ability to develop his power. At least he has all of his PD reversals left so that’s key because I think he might need them…just been doing this too long. Someone stalls with their power, and it usually will take a hit soon enough. Anyway, he’s going to be a super, well rounded player with the ability to do everything. Solid defender with the ability to play all 3 spots…could possibly steal some bases if Play bumps him up there. Regardless, it will be at least another season before we see him debut…but boy is he going to be a tough out in this league.
8. C Matt Wieters- CHI(N)- Age 22- The next two candidates are catching prospects, and I had a hard time deciding who I wanted to go here…as you can see, I went with Wieters…he’s older, but I do like that he hasn’t been touched yet where as d’Anaurd has…I’m sure I’ll get an argument from Broph here…I think you can honestly go either way. Anyway, let’s talk about the player. Wieters will most likely get a TIA to his walks which is what I was essentially looking at when making this decision. I think Wieters defensive game is better, and he’s nearly ready. He’ll just need another year down in the system. Having said that, Play has a really nice nucleus in Kipnis, Wieters, Cargo, and Joey Bats.
9. C Travis d’Anaurd- OAK- Age 19- So here’s d’Anaurd…he’s going to have a ton of power once it develops…lots of doubles and homers from this guy. He won’t have a very good BB:K ratio, but I don’t think Broph won’t mind…defense isn’t an absolute hindrance as he should get the job done back there. 40+ doubles and 25+ homers from your catch? I’m taking that…also, remember when Kobe said there were a ton of very good Catchers out there? He was right…4 of the top 10 hitting prospects reflect his statement along with the likes of David Ross, Corey Hart, Edwin Bellorin, among others in the big leagues.
10. 1B Jacob Klos- NYY- Age 22- Recently received some excellent PD to make him a top 10 prospect…he’ll have solid pop, but will be an on-base guy for Jeffrey. Erbes is no where close to competing right now so I think he’ll be down in the farm system for another 2 more seasons perhaps. Still, not a big deal. Right now he has to make sure he develops any type of substantial talent he has properly. Can’t screw up on those guys.
Honorable Mentions: 1B Logan Morrison (ANA), 1B Eric Hosmer (MIL), RF Jason Heyward (TOR), 1B Freddie Freeman (LAD), 3B Mike Moustakas (OAK), RF Desmond Jennings (PITT), C Carlos Santana (SD), and 2B Gordon Beckham (CHI)
Bash away!
