The Camp post opens it's prospect rankings with the top 5 position player and pitching prospects across Low A. The Low A prospects were dominated by season 24 first round draft picks, however, the position player top prospects were slightly diminished due to aggressive promotions with some season 24 first round picks. On to the picks....
Low A Position Prospects:
# 5 Tony Nunez (LF),
Portland – Nunez, an international prospect, signed for a $11.7M bonus last
season. Nunez is a power switch hitting
left fielder who is willing to take a walk and hits right handed pitching well. He is above average at taking a walk, but can
be susceptible to left handed pitching limiting his value. Defensively he is a plus left fielder with
tremendous range. Nunez only has an
average arm, but that shouldn’t have much impact on his value, being that he
plays LF.
Ratings:
Positional Value
(0-3) – 1
Offense (1-5) – 3
Defense (1-3) – 3
Makeup/Durability (1-2)
– 1.5
Total Prospect rating
(Max 13) – 8.5
# 4 Zip Beltre (SS),
Memphis - Another SS drafted in the first round of the season 24 amateur draft,
Beltre is a wiz with the glove.
Defensively, Beltre combines excellent range with a great glove and plus
arm. He has all the makings of a gold
glove caliber SS. Offensively, Beltre
doesn’t swing a toothpick but also doesn’t have the hitting potential that our
#1 low A prospects has. He has average
power mixed with a below average ability to make contact and average, at best,
batting eye. Much of Beltre’s value
comes from is excellent defensive ability, however, it’s rare to find a SS with
this type of defensive potential who is a completely useless offensively. Beltre should provide gold glove caliber
defense with a .250 average and 15 hrs annually.
Ratings:
Positional Value
(0-3) – 3
Offense (1-5) – 2
Defense (1-3) – 3
Makeup/Durability (1-2)
– 0.5
Total Prospect rating
(Max 13) – 8.5
# 3 Gerald Kim (1B),
Chicago Cubs – A first round draft pick, Kim projects to be a solid all
around 1b. Offensively, Kim combines a
contact approach with excellent patience.
A right handed batter, Kim hammers left handed pitching and handles
right handed pitching as well. Kim lacks
the big time power that is typically expected from a first baseman, with that said;
Kim should be able to contribute 20 homeruns annually. Defensively, Kim is the very definition of
average. He has good range but his hands
are below average. Kim may not project
to be your typical power focused 1b, but his ability to get on base and hit for
high average while playing average defense makes him an everyday regular on a
championship caliber club.
Ratings:
Positional Value
(0-3) – 1
Offense (1-5) – 4
Defense (1-3) – 2
Makeup/Durability (1-2)
– 1.5
Total Prospect rating
(Max 13) – 8.5
# 2 Bryan Walker ( C
), Arizona – Drafted 16th
overall in seasons 24 draft, Walker is an offensive minded catcher with plus
rankings across the board, with the exception of his batting eye that ranks as
above average. Walker’s ranking here
hinges on the expectation that he can at least hold down the catching position,
a move DH would move him well down the list.
His defense at best would be considered average. Also, there are questions around Walkers
durability, and his ability to handle being a big league catcher for 120 +
games a season. Regardless, an average
defensive catcher with this kind of offensive ability is extremely valuable.
Ratings:
Positional Value
(0-3) – 3
Offense (1-5) – 4.5
Defense (1-3) – 1
Makeup/Durability (1-2)
– 0.5
Total Prospect rating
(Max 13) – 9
# 1 Tris Grudzilanek
(SS), Cleveland – Another season 24 first round pick, Tris was drafted in
the supplemental round at 36th overall. Tris, an all around SS, projects to be an
average defensive SS with above average offense. Tris biggest defensive question mark is his
range, while it will always be below average for a SS if he can meet his
potential he can hold down SS providing plus offense for the position. His offense his built on having plus power
with above average ability to hit for average and above average batting
eye. Tris will strike out as he is only
average at making contact. Tris’ offense
is enough to warrant a move to 3b if his range doesn’t pan out, however, at
this stage I project him as a SS.
Ratings:
Positional Value
(0-3) – 2.5 (Risk of moving off of SS)
Offense (1-5) – 3.5
Defense (1-3) – 1.5
(this rating would improve if he moved to 3B)
Makeup/Durability
(1-2) – 1.5
Total Prospect rating
(Max 13) – 9
Low A Pitching Prospects
# 5 Greg Stephens
(SP), Florida – A junior drafted out of Augusta State University as the 21st
pick last year, Stephens projects to be a middle rotation starter. Stephens combines plus control with 4 average
to plus pitches to overcome average velocity and ability to generate ground
balls. Stephens doesn’t dominate lefties
or righties but is consistent at getting hitters from both sides of the plate
out. While Stephens won’t dominate, he
should be a consistent middle of the order SP who can provide 180 quality
innings a year.
Ratings:
Positional Value
(0-3) – 2
Control (1-5) – 4.5
Vs. L & R (1-5) –
3
Pitches (1-3) – 2.5
Stamina/Durability
(1-3) – 1
Total Prospect rating
(Max 13) – 13
# 4 Steve Clayton
(SP), Cheyenne – Drafted out of the Community College power house South
Mountain in Phoenix, AZ, Clayton is a left-handed middle of the rotation
starter. Clayton has a 5 pitch mix,
sporting a plus curveball with two more above average pitches. Clayton sports plus control and can dominate
left handed hitters. Two things keep
Clayton from being a potential Ace, he is susceptible to right handed hitting
and is unlikely to be able to pitch 200 innings consistently. Clayton should, in a worst case scenario, be
a # 3 with #2 starter upside.
Ratings:
Positional Value
(0-3) – 2
Control (1-5) – 4.5
Vs. L & R (1-5) –
3.5
Pitches (1-3) – 2.5
Stamina/Durability
(1-3) – 1.5
Total Prospect rating
(Max 13) – 14
# 3 Archie Robbins
(SP), Fresno – Another Supplemental round selection to make a top prospect
list, Robbins was selected with the 37th overall selection in season
24. Robbins profiles as a true middle
rotation starter who relies on his plus control and a plus sinker/curve
combo. Archie, doesn’t dominate either
lefties or righties, rather he has the ability to induce a lot of groundballs. Archie should be able to consistently throw
200 innings, which provide Fresno with a team controlled innings eater.
Ratings:
Positional Value
(0-3) – 2
Control (1-5) – 5
Vs. L & R (1-5) –
3
Pitches (1-3) – 2.5
Stamina/Durability
(1-3) – 2.5
Total Prospect rating
(Max 13) – 15
# 2 Monte Choo (SP),
El Paso – Choo was the 6th SP selected in the first 10 picks in
season 24, and El Paso did well to get this potential ace at the 10 spot. Choo, a lefty, has plus control and big time
velocity. Choo can dominate both lefties
and righties with his 4 pitches, which all grade out as average or better, his
fastball and changeup show above average potential. Assuming he stays healthy Choo should
consistently throw 200 innings at the front of El Paso’s rotation within a few
seasons.
Positional Value
(0-3) – 2
Control (1-5) – 4.5
Vs. L & R (1-5) –
5
Pitches (1-3) – 2
Stamina/Durability
(1-3) – 2
Total Prospect rating
(Max 13) – 15.5
# 1 Andy Cousins
(SP), Salem – Selected third overall, Cousins ranks as the top Pitching
prospect in low A. Cousins is a flame
throwing lefty with above average control to go with 5 pitches, 4 or which
grade out as average to above average.
He has the ability to induce groundballs and dominate both lefties and
righties. He is also relatively advanced
for 19 and could move quick if he stays healthy. His combination of power and control should
make him a legitimate Ace within a few seasons.
Positional Value
(0-3) – 2
Control (1-5) – 4
Vs. L & R (1-5) –
5
Pitches (1-3) – 2.5
Stamina/Durability
(1-3) – 2.5
Total Prospect rating
(Max 13) – 16
Next up High A rankings......
Next up High A rankings......
Nicely done...thanks for adding some flavor to Camp!
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