The Prospect Lists/Rankings Thread

[gdn]

It is the off-season and there will be lots of prospect lists and rankings coming out in the next few months. Let's use this thread to report them all.

I'm going to start out with my own Yankees Top 50.

I'm not satisfied with it, so I might tinker on and off.

1. Phil Hughes
2. Jose Tabata
3. Tyler Clippard
4. Eric Duncan
5. Christian Garcia
6. Brett Gardner
7. Austin Jackson
8. Dellin Betances
9. Jeff Marquez
10. George Kontos

11. J. Brent Cox
12. Steven White
13. TJ Beam
14. Justin Christian
15. Marcos Vechionacci
16. Colin Curtis
17. Mark Melancon
18. Eduardo Nunez
19. Alan Horne
20. Tim Norton

21. Mitch Hilligoss
22. Francisco Cervelli
23. Francisco Castillo
24. Gerardo Rodriguez
25. Tim Battle
26. Jeff Karstens
27. Zach McAllister
28. Angel Reyes
29. Erik Abreu
30. Bronson Sardinha

31. Brett Smith
32. Sean Henn
33. Cody Ehlers
34. Angel Fermin
35. Reegie Corona
36. Ben Jones
37. Josh Schmidt
38. Jason Jones
39. Jason Stephens
40. Matt DeSalvo

41. Omir Santos
42. Ramiro Pena
43. Jonathan Poterson
44. Kyle Larsen
45. Rolando Japa
46. Domingo Cabrera
47. Mario Holmann
48. Kevin Howard
49. Abel Gomez
50. Seth Fortenberry



McCutchen
Montero
Kennedy
Chamberlain

What do you guys think? Who's too high, who's too low? Who did I forget?

[keithf1]

Thanks for the list...this isn't really my area so I will wait to see everyone's evaluation.

[Jace]

What about Chase Wright

[Iknowcool]

Pretty good list, but no Jesus Montero? Or Ian Kennedy/Joba Chamberlain?

Plus Jeff Marquez should not be that high.

[IrishYankee]

I normally hate lists, but I do like to see this one. There is a lot more depth to it than in years past. Hopefully the cream will continue to rise. Let me be the first to nominate Vechi as breakout offensive player of the year next year. 15 is a good spot for him. Jackson might be a bit high, but I think that he is another candidate to have a huge year now that he has acclimatised himself to year round baseball.
Corona and Fortenberry should be a little higher, Battle a little lower. No major complaints though, this is really good work

[gdn]

Jace - I totally forgot about Chase Wright. Thanks for pointing that out.

Iknowcool - I stayed away from including Montero because he hasn't played yet. Kennedy pitched very little and Chamberlain hasn't pitched either at all. If they were to be included, they'd be in the 15-25 range for me.

Marquez has tremendous upside, IMO and pitched quite well before and after his injury this year. You could make the case for moving him down a few spots and inserting either Beam or Cox in his stead.

[Iknowcool]

I can do my top 25.
1. Hughes
2. Tabata
3. Clippard
4. Duncan
5. Jackson
6. Montero
7. JB Cox
8. Garcia
9. Kennedy
10. Gardner
11. Chamberlain
12. Betances
13. Melancon
14. McAllister
15. Chase Wright
16. Steven White
17. Colin Curtis
18. Kontos
19. Norton
20. Marquez
21. A. Reyes
22. Vechionacci
23 F. Castillo
24 Abreu
25 Horne
26. Ehlers
27. Rodriguez
28. Henn
29. Corona
30. Karstens
15

[Iknowcool]

I don't mean to be so argumentative, but Kennedy and Chamberlain have proven track records in college and that really trumps their lack of pro experience. If they were fresh out of HS and hadn't pitched this year, I could see your point, but thats not the case.
As goes for Montero, he does have a lack of experience, but he plays a premium position and has a great bat. (Arguably the most power potential in the system.)
Of course, this is all my opinion, and I could be just talking out my ass here.

[Mark19]

Poterson is still a prospect?

[mbn007]

Jace - I totally forgot about Chase Wright. Thanks for pointing that out.

Iknowcool - I stayed away from including Montero because he hasn't played yet. Kennedy pitched very little and Chamberlain hasn't pitched either at all. If they were to be included, they'd be in the 15-25 range for me.

Marquez has tremendous upside, IMO and pitched quite well before and after his injury this year. You could make the case for moving him down a few spots and inserting either Beam or Cox in his stead.

The only guys on your list who do not belong there, IMO, are Santos, Poterson, and Larsen. I would also add Wright, and he would be somewhere in the 20-25 range.

I agree with you not adding the Kennedy, Chamberlains et al of the draft who did not pitch at all, or very little. You have to play somewhat to deserve to be ranked.

You ar so right about Marquez. He may not have ACE potential like a Phil Hughes, but he is at worst, a #3 in the future. If he stays healthy, and continues to progress. He has all the tools.

Bottom line - good job. Some guys should be lower, and other higher, but that's quibbling.

[gdn]

If I were to add Chamberlain, Wright, Kennedy and Montero to the list, that would knock off Poterson, Holmann, Gomez and Fortenberry.

Chamberlain would slot in at 13, Kennedy at 21, Wright at 25 and Montero at 12.

[gdn]

The only guys on your list who do not belong there, IMO, are Santos, Poterson, and Larsen. I would also add Wright, and he would be somewhere in the 20-25 range.

I agree with you not adding the Kennedy, Chamberlains et al of the draft who did not pitch at all, or very little. You have to play somewhat to deserve to be ranked.

You ar so right about Marquez. He may not have ACE potential like a Phil Hughes, but he is at worst, a #3 in the future. If he stays healthy, and continues to progress. He has all the tools.

Bottom line - good job. Some guys should be lower, and other higher, but that's quibbling.

The reason I put Santos on there is that he is a great defensive catcher and worked wonders with the Trenton staff this year (albeit he was given a fantastic rotation). PP had at him in the mid-40s last year and his bat did come around to the end of the season, so that warranted a low spot from me. In my updated list, I took Poterson and Larsen off.

[gdn]

A list for those that would include Kennedy, Chamberlain and Montero.

1. Phil Hughes
2. Jose Tabata
3. Tyler Clippard
4. Eric Duncan
5. Christian Garcia
6. Brett Gardner
7. Austin Jackson
8. Dellin Betances
9. Jeff Marquez
10. George Kontos

11. J. Brent Cox
12. Jesus Montero
13. Steven White
14. Joba Chamberlain
15. TJ Beam
16. Justin Christian
17. Colin Curtis
18. Mark Melancon
19. Alan Horne
20. Tim Norton

21. Ian Kennedy
22. Marcos Vechionacci
23. Eduardo Nunez
24. Mitch Hilligoss
25. Francisco Cervelli
26. Francisco Castillo
27. Gerardo Rodriguez
28. Chase Wright
29. Tim Battle
30. Jeff Karstens

31. Zach McAllister
32. Angel Reyes
33. Erik Abreu
34. Bronson Sardinha
35. Brett Smith
36. Sean Henn
37. Cody Ehlers
38. Angel Fermin
39. Reegie Corona
40. Ben Jones

41. Josh Schmidt
42. Jason Jones
43. Jason Stephens
44. Matt DeSalvo
45. Omir Santos
46. Ramiro Pena
47. Rolando Japa
48. Domingo Cabrera
49. Kevin Howard
50. Abel Gomez

[mbn007]

The reason I put Santos on there is that he is a great defensive catcher and worked wonders with the Trenton staff this year (albeit he was given a fantastic rotation). PP had at him in the mid-40s last year and his bat did come around to the end of the season, so that warranted a low spot from me. In my updated list, I took Poterson and Larsen off.

Fair enough.

To me though, Pilitterre and Irwin Rojas may be better prospects. But that's a personal preference. I am not yet sold on Greenwood, although he had surprising power this season. I need to see him in person for a better analysis. Maybe he gets to Trenton sometime this year.

[gdn]

Missing the cut: Daniel McCutchen, Ivan Nova, Nick Peterson, RJ Swindle, Corey Stuart, Shelley Duncan, Fortenberry, Gabe Lopez, Vince Faison, PJ Pilitterre.

[gdn]

Fair enough.

To me though, Pilitterre and Irwin Rojas may be better prospects. But that's a personal preference. I am not yet sold on Greenwood, although he had surprising power this season. I need to see him in person for a better analysis. Maybe he gets to Trenton sometime this year.

I forgot about PJ too, but even if I had remembered, I don't think he would have made my list (well, maybe in the 45-50 range). I think he needs to show more as does Greenwood.

[gdn]

Geez, a few others I forgot: Josue Calzado, Melky Mesa. I love it!

[mbn007]

I forgot about PJ too, but even if I had remembered, I don't think he would have made my list (well, maybe in the 45-50 range). I think he needs to show more as does Greenwood.

I saw PJ a few times the past 2 seasons in SI. This year, he moved up, so I missed him, and can't judge how he has progresses. His bat definitely improved, as his season stats testify. His defensive skills were OK, IMO. Nothing special, but solid enough.

Yes, he does need to show more. And he is closing in on 25 years of age, so he needs to show more NOW.

[gdn]

I saw PJ a few times the past 2 seasons in SI. This year, he moved up, so I missed him, and can't judge how he has progresses. His bat definitely improved, as his season stats testify. His defensive skills were OK, IMO. Nothing special, but solid enough.

Yes, he does need to show more. And he is closing in on 25 years of age, so he needs to show more NOW.

Another one: Jose Gil. Wasn't he more touted than Cervelli coming into this year?

[mbn007]

Another one: Jose Gil. Wasn't he more touted than Cervelli coming into this year?

Yes he was.

He took a step backwards in the beginning of the season, although he picked it up later on. Needs to show me again if he can hit. His power is very limited though.

[geodork]

Also Wilmer Pino should be there somewhere, especially if you are going to rank Fermin so high (wow did he suck this year). Also, some of the DSL guys have a track record that is good enough to place them in the 35-50 range, like A. Almonte and Andres Dionicio.

[gdn]

Also Wilmer Pino should be there somewhere, especially if you are going to rank Fermin so high (wow did he suck this year). Also, some of the DSL guys have a track record that is good enough to place them in the 35-50 range, like A. Almonte and Andres Dionicio.

Good points. I thought about Pino, but ultimately thought that some others had more of a track record than him. He did have the highest BA (I think) on his team, but not much else. Fermin was very well thought of last year, but you're right - he stunk it up this year. However, so did Vech and Nunez and I think their potential is high. I'm going to give them another year and didn't see too much regression to take them off the list or drop them any further.

As far as the DSL guys are concerned, I know nothing about them other than their stats. There are the Almonte boys and Dionicio. I guess as I read more about them after Instructs, I'll have a better idea of where to place them, but at this point I have no idea how they rate or compare to others, which is why I left them off the list.

[destiNY]

Good points. I thought about Pino, but ultimately thought that some others had more of a track record than him. He did have the highest BA (I think) on his team, but not much else. Fermin was very well thought of last year, but you're right - he stunk it up this year. However, so did Vech and Nunez and I think their potential is high. I'm going to give them another year and didn't see too much regression to take them off the list or drop them any further.

As far as the DSL guys are concerned, I know nothing about them other than their stats. There are the Almonte boys and Dionicio. I guess as I read more about them after Instructs, I'll have a better idea of where to place them, but at this point I have no idea how they rate or compare to others, which is why I left them off the list.

I think Pino needs to be on there because at one point his average was consistently hovering around .340 on SI throughout the year and I think we should not include Montero yet until he's played a baseball game, other than that I think the list will definately change over the next few months because of such players we have not seen much yet as you just stated.

Overall a great job on the list.

[Steph19]

Don't forget about Dave Robertson.

I think Duncan and Kontos are a little high but it's more personal preference then any mistake on your part.

[destiNY]

Don't forget about Dave Robertson.

I think Duncan and Kontos are a little high but it's more personal preference then any mistake on your part.

I agree with Duncan but Kontos deserves that ranking, he had a hell of year and proved he can pitch in playoff atmosphere.