Baseball America Top 32
by higs on Feb 9, 2010 12:15 PM EST
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PrintI just received my annual copy of the Baseball America Prospect Handbook. Here are the top 32.
1) Mike Montgomery-LHP
2) Aaron Crow-RHP
3) Noel Arguelles-LHP
4) Wil Myers-C
5) Mike Moustakas-3B
6) Eric Hosmer-1B
7) Tim Melville-RHP
8) John Lamb-LHP
9) Danny Duffy-LHP
10) Chris Dwyer-LHP
11) David Lough-OF
12) Jeff Bianchi-SS
13) Louis Coleman-RHP
14) Carlos Rosa-RHP
15) Tyler Sample-RHP
16) Kila Ka'aihue-1B
17) Johnny Giavotella-2B
18) Cheslor Cuthbert-3B
19) Kelvin Herrera-RHP
20) Jordan Parraz-OF
21) Salvador Perez-C
22) Jose Bonilla-C
23) Derrick Robinson-OF
24) Keaton Hayenga-RHP
25) Blake Wood-RHP
26) Patrick Keating-RHP
27) Crawford Simmons-LHP
28) Edgar Osuna-LHP
29) Matt Mitchell-RHP
30) Cole White-RHP
31) Hilton Richardson-OF
32) Justin Trapp-SS
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i think they go with longshot upside with those last picks
hilton richardson being an example. i don’t see how yowill espinal doesn’t edge them out though.
by 9il on Feb 9, 2010 4:05 PM EST up reply actions
was rated the 75th best all-purpose athlete in the nation
I didn’t see who did that, but I think it was Rivals. Was a high school QB.
He’s like the third african-american in the organization. Jason Taylor, Derrick Robinson, Justin Trapp… is that it?
by 9il on Feb 9, 2010 2:47 PM EST up reply actions
how dare you forget our south african
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Feb 9, 2010 3:53 PM EST up reply actions
Jarrod Dyson, Devon Lowery, Ivor Hodgson (sleeper pitcher), Pat Norris, Josh Johnson, Jamar Walton, Malcom Culver, Derek Rodriguez, Anthony Howard
baseball rules.
yeah, i didn't think that was all.
i didn’t know some of these players were still in the organization and never would have guessed with Ivor Hodgson. i guess i didn’t look very deep into the system last year.
by 9il on Feb 9, 2010 4:04 PM EST up reply actions
be surprised if some made it past spring cuts
Norris, Johnson, and Walton specifically.
baseball rules.
Myers is way up there
high on potential, low on proof. (or maybe we just have enough proof on the other position players — in the wrong direction)
Zapp Brannigan/Dayton Moore quote of the day: "In the game of chess you can never let your opponent see your pieces"
by SagehenMacGyver47 on Feb 9, 2010 2:34 PM EST reply actions
Trapp
Is a guy that some projected to be a top 5 round guy…he had a 2 sport commitment to Coastal Carolina to play infield and WR. Was a very good high school QB and DB that represented his state in the shrine bowl. He was a fantastic middle infielder and pitcher…the Royals took a flier on him and it paid off as he signed.
He had football visits to Clemson and Vandy…I asked about him and I have heard he has great leadership qualities and is a very gifted athlete but RAW and made some great strides already….
Sounds like he has immeasurable Grit
Pitchers and Catchers report February 17th... And so begins my masochistic addiction.
by averagegatsby on Feb 9, 2010 3:34 PM EST up reply actions
It's All About
The tools.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Feb 9, 2010 3:35 PM EST up reply actions
he was going to play WR
so there you go…he was extremely talented at football but it sounded like baseball was his first love
BINGO!
We have the Tyler Thigpen of high school football playing SS for Burlington this season…Regardless, did some research on him and he sounds like a athlete with nice upside
Just making sure
I assume that’s Burlington NC, not Burlington IA. Two months in the ASL (he signed after the season started) doesn’t seem enough to prep that young a kid for A ball. He could also wind up at Idaho Falls depending on how his spring goes.
That seems like a more appropriate name.
by CentralChamps20?? on Feb 9, 2010 5:20 PM EST up reply actions
Why do you all think black people aren't drawn to baseball any more?
A lot of it has to be urbanization, since baseball’s a suburban/rural sport, and literally millions of black people moved up to the Northern industrial cities between World War I and the ’60s. Basketball is definitely an urban sport. Some more of it might be due to the instant rewards given football/basketball players picked high in the draft, while to make big money in baseball you have to put in a few years.
Another factor might be that black kids consider baseball to be white bread and uncool. I doubt there’s any organized racism in the system, since each team wants to win games and doesn’t care who the players are as long as they stay out of prison.
It's pronounced Poo-ZHOLS in Catalan.
If you look at the percentage of black players among US born players
The numbers are smaller, but not as bad as many stories have you believe. The fact is there are just less US born players in the pros than there used to be thanks to more countries playing ball and contributing talent (Venezuela, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Panama, Nicaragua)
I also think the rise of the NBA, a league that in the 60s still wasn’t considered quite a major league, has contributed into leeching some black talent away from MLB. And the NFL becoming more more racially welcoming than it had been.
Baseball has also become a very difficult sport to become good at if you’re poor in the US. Access to free available baseball fields is shrinking more and more, and it has become a sport that is dependent on organized leagues, whereas back in the day kids would just play stick ball or form pickup games. Nowadays kids only play pickup games of basketball or football.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
It boils down to economics and star appeal
Cities provide inner city asphalt basketball courts, while we have R.B.I. trying to Revive Baseball in the Inner City. You need a glove to play the game, while you only need a basketball for the other. It’s no wonder poor, young black kids choose basketball. Plus, where is the equivalent to Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan in baseball? The NFL straddles the line very well, but then again, football is a sport where kids come out of college somewhat ready for the pros. Baseball is still a struggle to get paid for years until you reach the majors and stick. Even then, you don’t get rich until arbitration. Sounds like the best choice for a poor kid is not baseball. The structure of baseball may eventually kill it because of talent leeching to other sports. Then again, what sport could Billy Butler be in if not for baseball? Bowling? So basically, baseball is slated to become bowling over the next 50 years or so. Obviously, I’m exaggerating a bit, as baseball has other things that make you fall in love with it, but love doesn’t pay the bills.
i really wonder what baseball would be like
if the game had never caught on in the carribean
I think without the negative salary pressures created by latin american academies and prospects, we’d have higher minor league salaries and possibly a different structure altogether
this saves me a trip to barnes and noble
love the inclusion of matt mitchell. sleeper for next year.
baseball rules.
i'll probably end up going at some point
to read about the lesser known guys. that’s about it though.
baseball rules.
How does going to Barnes and Noble
and reading books for free equal supporting BA?
Err… I mean… damnit.
This space for rent.
I like seeing Arguellas ranked so highly
From what I’ve heard, he’s got serious tools. Of course his age is a wildcard.
The immoderate moderator
Its like we got a second first round pick for 2009
I like that signing very much and hope its a sign of how aggressive this team will be in amateur FA signings.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Feb 10, 2010 11:20 AM EST up reply actions
I knew it was a bottom heavy system
but none of the Top 10 have played above A ball yet. Lough is the first AA guy at 11, and then the first AAA guy is Rosa at 14.
Drafting and development philosophy
Moore went after a lot of HS in those first two drafts. You don’t even get a full minor league season out of most of them until their third year. Almost all of the college guys taken in 2007 were lower round MiLB roster filler who are already gone (Joe Billick, Dane Secott, Kyle Martin, Ben Norton) or are still pretty low in the system for their age and may have topped out already (Adrian Ortiz, Ryan Eigsti, and the still somewhat intriguing Clint Robinson, who should play 1B at AA this year). Only Lough (11th round) and 10th round pick RP Greg Holland are anywhere near ready to contribute at the ML level, and they both still need time at AAA due to an early developmental philosophy of not rushing players (don’t know if that’s still the philosophy).
The upside is that there is still a bit of the 2007 HS talent on this list (due to BA’s love of tools?): Moose, Duffy, Richardson, Hayenga, Mitchell were all 2007 HS picks, and three of those were taken in the top 7 rounds. Others not on the list still have some upside: C Sean McCauley and C Fernando Cruz (16 when drafted—a good athlete who just started catching last year), and the aforementioned Hodgson. It just takes more time for those guys to develop, but, so far, that’s 9 guys still showing upside in the system. Add that to Lough, Holland, and maybe Clint Robinson, and that’s a dozen players still contributing at a level to give hope of a MLB future. That’s a darn good draft, even if it’s taking what seems like forever to see any MLB results from it.
That seems like a more appropriate name.
by CentralChamps20?? on Feb 9, 2010 5:49 PM EST up reply actions
Okay, I can't count
That’s a total of 8 HS and 11 total players from the draft who still look good (and hey, maybe Runion and Mitch Hodge start moving up if converted to relief pitchers).
That seems like a more appropriate name.
by CentralChamps20?? on Feb 9, 2010 5:51 PM EST up reply actions
I would love to see KC put some of their struggling starters in the pen
Blake Wood is another who comes to mind.
Will Runion move up to Wilmington since he was so terrible with the Bees rotation in 2009?
I have no idea what they're doing with him
My understanding is that he’s really struggling to put together more than 2 good pitches (fastball and change)—he still hasn’t got an effective breaking pitch. He did not have a second plus pitch when he was drafted. He has the body for a starter, and so I don’t know if the organization will give up on that. But he’s shown no ability to put it together as a starter, and I believe he still projects to put some more speed on his fastball. If they’d convert him, he could amp up the fastball, develop the change, and work off of those two pitches for an inning or two. If he goes to Wilmington, I’d hope it’s in the pen.
That seems like a more appropriate name.
by CentralChamps20?? on Feb 10, 2010 1:02 AM EST up reply actions
i’m strongly against Wood moving to the bullpen just yet. i’d give him another chance as a starter because of the three pitch arsenal. he just needs to learn how to become more of a pitcher and less of a thrower.
with Runion, yeah i’d move him to the pen. when he was drafted, they thought they could mold him into a pitcher because he had a great frame and a good fastball, but he’s made literally no progress with his secondary stuff. i’d give him his slider back and throw him in the pen.
baseball rules.
The Royals seem to hate the slider
I have no idea why—maybe its just reactionary because the Baird-era Royals loved it. Or it’s a Braves thing.
That seems like a more appropriate name.
by CentralChamps20?? on Feb 11, 2010 3:30 PM EST up reply actions
Why haven't they let him use his slider?
He used it in HS and I read it was one of his better pitches then. If a kid can’t develop a feel for a curve why not let him develop a pitch he has a feel for. Not every player can be tossed into the same mold. Also why do you want every pitcher in your system throwing the same repetoire of pitches anyway.
I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal.
i can see why they're doing this
zack’s slider has been his downfall
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Feb 11, 2010 4:12 PM EST up reply actions
Hey guys, off topic, but I was wondering if you could tell me anything about Teahen.
I would like opinions now and not UZR. Can he play an defensively adequate 3b? Is he a decent hitter? Anything else you could tell me about this guy? He was our big splash in the offseason yaknow!
"I don’t know how you guys measure worth…but I do know you idiots need a graph to show you that Josh Fields sucks…"
by Where Triples Go to Die on Feb 9, 2010 5:47 PM EST reply actions
Define "adequate" and "decent"
He’s not a good defensive 3b, but if “adequate” means “won’t completely and maddening kill us with his glove,” then you might like him. It might help that he actually just gets to play 3B this spring, instead of trying to learn a new position again like in 2007 (RF), 2008 (LF) and 2009 (2B). He strikes out too much for a contact hitter with not great on-base skills, and doesn’t have the power he once flashed promise of, but .270 with a dozen HR (maybe more in Chicago) is doable. Away from KC, I like the chances of his absolutely great baserunning skills (not base-stealing, base running) returning—KC’s good base runners all had terrible seasons last year (think it might be the coaching?). He’s immanently likeable, being a “face of the team” guy (pregame scoreboard show, weekly talk radio interviews), and I was still sad to see him go even though he had no real position on the team anymore.
That seems like a more appropriate name.
by CentralChamps20?? on Feb 9, 2010 6:01 PM EST up reply actions
I'm feeling slightly less love for him since he dissed Boulevard Beer while drunk-tweeting the other day.
But he tweet-apologized the next day, FWIW. It’s just better when he lets Espy handle those things. Nothing good can come from drunken tweets.
That was a humorous tweet
but I have to agree with him. I’ve had 312 and Boulevard Wheat and 312 is superior even though Boulevard is good. 312 is a legitimately excellent beer.
Now I feel slightly less love for you, too. :P
Or maybe I just need to try 312 next time I go to Chicago?
He Is Unusually
Good at the barehanded pickup and throw when charging a bunt/dribbler.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Feb 9, 2010 11:10 PM EST up reply actions
Solid arm
Not great range.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Feb 10, 2010 11:21 AM EST up reply actions
and a general inconsistency throughout
O and D. Shines through at times but has odd lapses that frustrated us over the years.
Zapp Brannigan/Dayton Moore quote of the day: "In the game of chess you can never let your opponent see your pieces"
by SagehenMacGyver47 on Feb 10, 2010 2:15 PM EST up reply actions
Where does everyone start the season?
1) Mike Montgomery-LHP- NW Arkansas
2) Aaron Crow-RHP = NW Arka
3) Noel Arguelles-LHP Wilmington
4) Wil Myers-C Burlington (IA)
5) Mike Moustakas-3B) NW Arkansas
Eric Hosmer-1B Wilmington
7) Tim Melville-RHP Wilmington
8) John Lamb-LHP Burlington (IA)
9) Danny Duffy-LHP NW Arkansas
10) Chris Dwyer-LHP Wilmington
11) David Lough-OF Omaha
12) Jeff Bianchi-SS NW Arkansas
13) Louis Coleman-RHP NW Arkansas
14) Carlos Rosa-RHP KC
15) Tyler Sample-RHP Burlington (IA)
16) Kila Ka’aihue-1B Omaha
17) Johnny Giavotella-2B NW Arkansas
18) Cheslor Cuthbert-3B Dominican or Burlington (NC)
19) Kelvin Herrera-RHP Wilmington
20) Jordan Parraz-OF Omaha
21) Salvador Perez-C Burlington (IA)
22) Jose Bonilla-C Wilmington
23) Derrick Robinson-OF NW Arkansas
24) Keaton Hayenga-RHP Burlington (IA)
25) Blake Wood-RHP Omaha
26) Patrick Keating-RHP Wilmington
27) Crawford Simmons-LHP Burlington (NC)
28) Edgar Osuna-LHP Waiver Wire
29) Matt Mitchell-RHP Wilmington
30) Cole White-RHP Wilmington
31) Hilton Richardson-OF Burlington (IA)
32) Justin Trapp-SS Burlington (IA)
I’m excited to see if any of the future stars start to make rounds thru Omaha. GMDM has said that Omaha will be used more than it has in the past for development and I’m hoping he is true to his word. The last season of Rosenblatt Royals baseball could lead to some exciting young players coming thru.
I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal.
I was thinking the same thing
The other thing is Duffy might start at Wilmington and move halfway through the year like Montgomery did last year.
Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.
why though?
Duffy just pitched 125 innings at high-A. and he just got a ML spring training invite. he got it because there’s at least a slight chance he’ll be in the majors this year (according to the GM). pretty much a lock to start at NWA.
baseball rules.
By that Logic
D-Rob has a chance too. In which case we should probably just go to the fallout bunker now, because the wrld has officially gone fucking nuts.
It was just a thought that they might do.
Not saying they will or won’t… but they do weird things sometimes…
Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.
Ya Bianchi needs to start in NW Arkansas,
I wouldn’t be shocked if Lough started their too I just figured he had so much success they might move him up.
I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal.
Thoughts
I agree with many of these. Some thoughts on those that might be different.
1) I don’t know that Montgomery’s a lock to start at NW Ark.—he only had 12 starts there last year (albeit they were great). I could see them doing something like they did to him last year—start a few at Wilmington then move up after a month. The fact that he’s the universal #1 guy in the system now makes me think they’d be wary of moving him “too fast,” especially starting him in a hitter’s league like the Texas League.
10) Dwyer did not pitch a lot at all last year, and although he’s a college guy, he only had one year of college ball. Burlington IA seems more likely
11 & 12) I don’t see them treating Lough and Bianchi differently—they both had essentially the same season last year (half season at each level with better performance at AA), so they both would likely start at the same level.
18) Cuthbert—too advanced for the Dominican academy, not advanced enough for Burlington NC—I’d think he’d be in the Arizona League.
28) I don’t think the MLB bullpen will be deep enough not to stick Osuna there.
29) Coming off TJ surgery, I wouldn’t put Mitchell up to Wilmington yet—he’ll start in Burlington or in extended spring training with a short warm-up stint at short season ball before moving up.
32) Trapp is too young and raw for full season ball after a short short season in the ASL. Idaho Falls or Burlington NC seem far more likely.
That seems like a more appropriate name.
by CentralChamps20?? on Feb 10, 2010 1:24 AM EST up reply actions
i'd give Dwyer a 95% chance at being in Wilmington
college pitcher, great stuff. baseball america says he’ll start there, and where’d they get that info from? can’t imagine. he could simply blow low-a hitters away with fastball/curve.
i’d also be surprised if Mitchell isn’t there either. he’ll be 18 months removed from surgery this April. so long he’s healthy, i love his chances at having a good season. he flashed low-90’s in high school and the surgery might put his fastball back up closer to that mark.
agree 100% on Montgomery though. i think he’s back in Wilmington to start the year.
baseball rules.
Dwyer pitched a little last year
at Idaho Falls. Small sample size, but the stuff was great and the control was not (15 K and 8 BB in 8 innings). He’s 22 in April, so its not as if the Carolina League is too advanced for him, and home is a pitcher’s park in a pitcher’s league, so I’m not necessarily disagreeing.
That seems like a more appropriate name.
by CentralChamps20?? on Feb 11, 2010 3:40 PM EST up reply actions
I feel like BA mailed it in again
The top 20 or so looks pretty good to me, and then it starts getting ridiculous. DRob is garbage, but according to BA he’s still our third best outfield prospect. BS. Mitchell on the list at all is a joke especially when considering the other guys they left off who were healthy last year, have better stuff, and throw harder than 88, starting with Fortuna. I don’t get the love for Keating either. The guy was dogshit at Florida, but he puts together a few good weeks in Idaho and all of a sudden he’s our third best reliever and a better prospect than the 18 year old lefty starter we signed for half a million? Trapp over Espinal? What’s the thinking there? That he’s also a good quarterback? It doesn’t make any sense.
If DRob can hit, he's got potential
He showed some signs of life in that department towards the end of the season. Though if he shows none of that this year, I’d say he’s done. How many guys above #20 actually make the MLB club at some point though? I would assume after 20, you’ve got a bunch of minor league lifers if they are lucky.
Rosa still has options
I found that out today…I think he pitches at Omaha to start out the year…as he is still learning to be a RP
AMAZING!
THE ROYALS HAVE THE 32 BEST PROSPECTS IN BASEBALL 162-0 WOOOOOO!!!!
Oh… wait… this is probably just a list of the Royals 32 best prospects. Sorry. Need to get my coffee.
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