Baseball America Top 30

by Killer G's on Feb 1, 2008 2:15 PM EST

I just received my copy of Baseball America Prospect Handbook in the mail yesterday. Here is their top 30....(Buckner still included)

1-Mike Moustakas-SS
2-Daniel Cortes-RHP
3-Luke Hochevar-RHP
4-Billy Buckner-RHP
5-Blake Wood-RHP
6-Danny Duffy-LHP
7-Carlos Rosa-RHP
8-Julio Pimintel-RHP
9-Matt Mitchell-RHP
10-Yasuhiko Yabuta-RHP
11-Derrick Robinson-OF
12-Sam Runion-RHP
13-Tyler Lumsden-LHP
14-Blake Johnson-RHP
15-Ryan Braun-RHP
16-Chris Lubanski-OF
17-Justin Huber-OF/1B
18-Jeff Bianchi-SS
19-Brent Fisher-LHP
20-Neal Musser-LHP
21-Fernando Cruz-3B
22-David Lough-OF
23-Mitch Maier-OF
24-Chris McConnell-SS/2B
25-Jose Duarte-OF
26-Joe Dickerson-OF
27-Keaton Hayenga-RHP
28-Dusty Hughes-LHP
29-Mike Aviles-INF
30-Rowdy Hardy-LHP

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Nice to see Rowdy.

crack the list. I'm surprised they put him on there at all. I noticed there is good pitching depth but sorely lacking in middle infield and not 1 catcher. Hopefully nothing happens to the Buck or his back up b/c that could be a problem. Check that its lacking in all infield positions.

by TXroyal on Jan 27, 2008 2:17 PM EST reply actions

Non-pitchers on the list:

1-Mike Moustakas-SS (maybe will be shifted to OF?)
11-Derrick Robinson-OF
16-Chris Lubanski-OF
17-Justin Huber-OF/1B
18-Jeff Bianchi-SS
21-Fernando Cruz-3B
22-David Lough-OF
23-Mitch Maier-OF
24-Chris McConnell-SS/2B
25-Jose Duarte-OF
26-Joe Dickerson-OF
29-Mike Aviles-INF

Not much here. Why no Tuppman? Oversight or is he really not that good?

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU College Baseball Coverage

by James Quinn on Jan 27, 2008 2:41 PM EST up reply actions

Not that good

He can walk, but he has absolutely no power. He's 28 years old, hardly a prospect. Doesn't mean he can't be a useful backup catcher for years and years.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 27, 2008 3:14 PM EST up reply actions

I think he's 29 now

He's a minor league journeyman with decent defensive skills and no bat. I don't know if he'd crack the Royals top 50.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Jan 27, 2008 3:20 PM EST up reply actions

Tupman

He's good but is getting too old to be considered a prospect. For me, all a backup needs to do is play good defense and either get on base or hit for power. He can do that.

by doublestix on Jan 27, 2008 4:09 PM EST up reply actions

since Buckner's still on the R's list

I'd be interested knowing where Callaspo falls on the Arizona list. He's almost certainly top 10 or even top 5, yes?

by marbotty on Jan 27, 2008 3:42 PM EST reply actions

I would bet

He's not on the list at all since he spent so much of the year in Arizona.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 27, 2008 3:45 PM EST up reply actions

Here is Arizona's Top Ten

Arizona Top Ten

No Callaspo. Man, that is a stacked organization.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 27, 2008 3:46 PM EST up reply actions

that's the outdated one

They re-ran it recently and have Buckner at 4 for the DBacks.

Anyway, both you and NY are right that Callaspo exceeded the games played. I think it's safe to say he would have been top 5, as that's where he landed last year. I can't wait to see that guy take the field.

by marbotty on Jan 27, 2008 4:00 PM EST up reply actions

He's not eligible anymore

The prospect rankers almost always go by the ROY rule. If a prospect has played so little that he's still eligible for the ROY award, then he's eligible to be ranked on prospect lists. Callaspo has had too many MLB at bats and is not eligible for that award anymore, so he won't be on prospect lists.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Jan 27, 2008 3:48 PM EST up reply actions

Callaspo

Was ranked #4 last year behind Justin Upton, Chris Young, and Carlos Gonzalez, and ahead of Miguel Montero, Micah Owings, and Mark Reynolds.

by doublestix on Jan 27, 2008 4:08 PM EST up reply actions

Mario Lisson

I am really surprised to see Lisson left off this list......any thoughts on him?

by Killer G's on Jan 27, 2008 5:53 PM EST reply actions

Lisson

He might be worthy of top 30 status, but I don't know who I would bump in favor of him. I think Lisson projects as a utility IFer in the majors, but with subpar fielding skills for either middle IF position. And after his very mediocre showing in Wilmington in 2007, I don't think he'll hit well enough to be an everyday 3B. So I see a decent minor leaguer with limited upside.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Jan 27, 2008 5:58 PM EST up reply actions

While that's all true

There are a few guys on that list with much more limited upside who are coming off mediocre seasons. Guys like Mitch Maier and Mike Aviles are coming off mediocre seasons and I don't see them having all that much upside. At least Lisson has the benefit of still being pretty young, whereas I think we've seen what we have with these guys.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 27, 2008 9:20 PM EST up reply actions

Aviles had a good season

Although you are right.

Lisson is a guy that still has pretty good tools but hasn't broken out yet. He may never break out, but as long as he's still relatively young, he has the chance to do so.

by doublestix on Jan 27, 2008 9:35 PM EST up reply actions

wow

That is very surprising. Leventhal and Manuel said he was an intriguing sleeper, so I thought for sure he was just outside the top 10.

He still has a lot of upside so we will see how he does in NWA.

by doublestix on Jan 27, 2008 6:33 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed

Has decent power, decent walk totals, is a tremendous athlete who plays several positions. He should definitely be on there. Guys like Mike Aviles, Dusty Hughes, Chris McConnell, and Fernando Cortez aren't better prospects than Lisson IMO.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 27, 2008 9:13 PM EST up reply actions

Fernando Cortez

Don't know why I thought of him. Obviously Fernando Cruz is a prospect.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 27, 2008 9:20 PM EST up reply actions

Hayenga

Interesting that they included him. Obviously very highly thought of before his injury, hopefully he can fully recover. Perhaps they got some good reports on him before his inclusion.

by doublestix on Jan 27, 2008 9:37 PM EST reply actions

Re: Hayenga

Hasn't thrown a ball since signing. He won't be ready to compete until after the draft. He looks more like an early '08 draft. Hopefully the shoulder holds up, if it does he's as projectable as any pitcher in the Royals system. My guess is this list = Sign Bonus/(years in org) + last years performance. Hayenga has a bonus and very little time in the org so the equation rates him high.

by RoyalPops on Jan 28, 2008 6:25 PM EST up reply actions