Post by Los Angeles Lakers on Jan 31, 2008 19:36:40 GMT -5
21
Jose Tabata
RF
New York Yankees
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Tampa)
19
Tabata was in the top 10 last year, but a nagging hamate injury ended his 2007 season early, requiring surgery in August. Tabata has a quick bat and great hand-eye coordination, and he squares up balls as well as anyone on this list. He also has good pitch recognition, although that can manifest itself in working the count to get to a fastball he can drive. His raw power hasn't shown up in games, which could be explained by the hamate injury; hand and wrist injuries sap power, and full recovery from a broken hamate bone can take up to a year. Tabata can play center but has been bumped to right field by fellow Yankee prospect Austin Jackson (No. 24), and Tabata should be plus there with an above-average arm. He'd rank higher if the hamate problem was fully behind him, but until that becomes clear, there's still some risk here.
22
Rick Porcello
RHP
Detroit Tigers
TOP '07 LEVEL: H.S. (New Jersey)
19
The top prep pitcher in the 2007 draft, Porcello has outstanding stuff and just looks the part of a big league ace. Porcello is already sitting at 92-94 mph and will touch 97 a few times an outing with two curveballs, both 12-to-6, one a late-breaker near 80 mph and the other a slower version in the upper 60s. His changeup shows promise; he turns the pitch over well, but slows his arm enough for hitters to notice. He has a very quick arm and a projectable frame, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him sitting at 95-plus mph in a few years, working his way toward the top of the Tigers' rotation.
23
Nick Adenhart
RHP
Los Angeles Angels
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Arkansas)
21
Adenhart was a first-round talent until he blew out his elbow during his senior spring in high school, but got first-round money from the Angels and has become their best prospect and a potential No. 2 starter. Adenhart's best attributes are his command and his feel for pitching, both of which are already plus, but that doesn't mean his stuff isn't strong. His fastball is solid-average at 90-93 mph, flashing better than that, and his curve already grades out as plus, with an almost 12-to-6 break that has just a little tilt to it. His changeup projects as above-average as well, with a late downward action and good arm speed. He can drop his arm slot slightly at times, causing his stuff to flatten out, and he lands just a little hard with his front foot. The Angels have moved him aggressively, so his indicators haven't matched his stuff, but he's just two years or so off from contributing to a big league rotation.
24
Austin Jackson
CF
New York Yankees
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Tampa)
21
Jackson is my favorite kind of hitting prospect -- the athlete with a clue. Jackson was a top basketball prospect in high school, but the Yankees flexed their financial muscles and gave him first-round money in the eighth round, a move that looks brilliant in hindsight because of how advanced Jackson is for a multi-sport prospect. Jackson has good speed, a solid-average arm in center and good instincts on fly balls, but still has some work to do at the plate. His setup is excellent and his path to the ball is short, but he needs to continue working on keeping his weight back to get more power from the contact he makes, and he's too eager to chase the ball up. He's a potential middle-of-the-order bat because of his power and improving plate discipline.
25
Andy LaRoche
3B
Los Angeles Dodgers
TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors
24
Big league teams can do funny things. The Dodgers liked LaRoche enough to give him a seven-figure bonus after taking him as a summer follow in the 39th round in 2003. They moved him up aggressively, gave him a shot at the big league job and decided a month later that he couldn't hit, instead accepting mediocre production from known quantities until they started to fall out of the playoff race in September. Now, after several abortive attempts to acquire a third baseman, the Dodgers are going to give LaRoche a chance to "win" the job over Nomar Garciaparra (who can't field a lick at third and isn't much with the bat) in spring training. Here's the scoop: LaRoche can, in fact, hit, and he'll hit for average with excellent on-base percentages, with middle-of-the-road power. He can play third, but doesn't project as a plus glove. He should be handed the everyday job right now.
RANK PLAYER POS. ORGANIZATION #AGE
26
Jake McGee
LHP
Tampa Bay Rays
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Montgomery)
21
McGee is not as polished or advanced as teammate Wade Davis, but he is not far behind in reality or in the rankings. At the moment, his only plus pitch is his fastball, 92-96 mph (a 60 on the scouting scale) and coming out of his hand late to left-handed hitters. He still has some room to fill out, and it wouldn't be shocking to see him sitting at 95 mph in a few years. His curve and change both are below average, so while he has blown away hitters with his fastball to date, that's not going to continue to work in Double-A or Triple-A. He holds his velocity deep into games, so he projects as a starter down the road, but he won't get there as quickly as Davis or David Price.
27
Jordan Schafer
CF
Atlanta Braves
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Myrtle Beach)
21
Schafer isn't Grady Sizemore, but not many players are. He is an excellent athlete and has the strength in his arms to hit for average and power, but he has some mechanical issues. His load at the plate is a little too deep, and he doesn't have the bat speed to overcome it, so he commits early and often ends up way out in front. He also gets too pull-conscious in games, despite showing a good whole-field approach in batting practice. On the plus side, the ball comes off his bat well, and if he can shorten up his swing, he should see improvement in his contact and long-term in his power output. He plays a strong center field with an above-average arm. I don't project him as a top-shelf center fielder right now, but he is ranked this high because he has the physical tools to become one with some work on his swing.
28
Lars Anderson
1B
Boston Red Sox
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Lancaster)
20
The Sox ponied up for Anderson late in the 2006 draft, and he already is a better prospect than either of their first-round picks from that year. He is a left-handed hitter who projects to hit for average and power with great OBPs. His plate discipline and pitch recognition are outstanding for a prospect of any age, much less a soon-to-be 20-year-old in high Class A ball. He has a simple swing and takes a direct path to the ball, so he can let it travel and use the entire field. He shows plus raw power in batting practice, and he has room to fill out and become a 30-plus home run hitter once he changes his approach to pull balls middle-in, but that might not come for another year or two. He also is a good defensive first baseman and a fringe-average runner. A big year at Double-A would push him up to the top 10 for next offseason.
29
Adam Miller
RHP
Cleveland Indians
TOP '07 LEVEL: AAA (Buffalo)
23
Miller is a potential No. 1 starter if he can keep his arm attached at all its various joints. Last year, he strained a flexor tendon in his finger and then had a sore elbow, limiting him to just 65 innings in the regular season and 13 unsuccessful innings in the Arizona Fall League. He also has had shoulder trouble in the past. When healthy, Miller has a four-seamer that sits in the mid-90s and a two-seamer in the low 90s, and he holds his velocity through 90-100 pitches. His slider already is a big league out pitch, up to 88 mph with a hard, late break, and his command has been good in the past. That No. 1 starter is somewhere under the medical dossier, screaming to get out.
30
Johnny Cueto
RHP
Cincinnati Reds
TOP '07 LEVEL: AAA (Louisville)
22
Cueto doesn't get the hype of Homer Bailey because he doesn't have the same big pitcher's build, but his stuff is almost as good as Bailey's, and he might be more advanced as a pitcher. Cueto is small and squatty but strong, and he has a smooth, easy arm action that produces fastballs anywhere from 91 to 96 mph with good life up in the zone. His changeup is his best secondary pitch, with good sink and tail and excellent arm speed, while his slider flashes plus with a hard tilt but still is inconsistent. He works quickly and aggressively but does not yet have the command to succeed in the majors, especially since his fastball is somewhat true and he could be homer-prone if he doesn't work on the margins of the strike zone. If his command doesn't improve, he will be a potentially dominant closer down the road, but he also could end up a solid No. 2 starter.
31
Elvis Andrus
SS
Texas Rangers
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Myrtle Beach)
19
Atlanta pushed Andrus very aggressively while he was in its system, moving him to high Class A ball at an age when most prospects are still in short-season ball. His baseball skills are slowly catching up to his tremendous athletic ability, and if Texas manages him carefully, the Rangers have a potential star on their hands. Andrus has a very easy, almost effortless swing, and the ball flies off his bat. He has an advanced approach for such a young hitter, working the count, making the pitcher throw strikes and using the entire field. There is average power to come, and he is a plus runner who needs some work reading pitchers. He is an excellent defensive shortstop with quick reactions and good range in both directions, as well as a strong and accurate arm. He should be hitting at or near the top of the Rangers' order by 2011.
32
Geovany Soto
C
Chicago Cubs
TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors
25
It might not have made any difference in the playoffs, but the Cubs would have clinched their division a few days sooner had they handed Soto the catcher's job after they shipped Michael Barrett (parcel post, no less) to San Diego. Instead, they gave the remains of Jason Kendall the job, costing themselves on offense and defense. Soto has plus raw power, keeping his weight back extremely well, and he has the upper-body strength to take pitches middle-out and pull them out to left-center. He can get too pull-happy, but he has shown the ability to shorten up and go the other way, and his pitch recognition is solid. He has a strong arm and average receiving skills. There was no justification for playing Kendall over Soto, and now Soto's path is clear to play every day and make a run at the NL rookie of the year award.
33
Jason Heyward
CF/RF
Atlanta Braves
TOP '07 LEVEL: Rookie (Danville)
18
Atlanta loves to take local high school products in the draft, but the Braves had no business getting Heyward, a top-10 talent, at No. 14. He is a strong 6-foot-4 outfielder with room to add even more strength, and he has a solid approach and huge power in his future. He is a good athlete who projects as a plus right fielder with a strong arm, but Atlanta should consider giving him one full year in center before moving him. He has good plate coverage, especially down, but because he sets up with the bat out from his body, he has to work on covering the ball in. Don't be surprised if he goes all Jay Bruce on the minors over the next two years.
34
Brandon Wood
3B
Los Angeles Angels
TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors
23
Wood's star is steadily dimming as his numbers drop and the strikeouts mount. What we know for certain about Wood is he has raw power, projecting as a 70 on the 20-80 scale; he has excellent bat speed and accelerates through the ball with good extension, producing huge pull power. On the other hand, his aggressiveness at the plate and a tendency to fly open with his front shoulder (thus getting him under the ball too much) have led to declining averages and OBPs as he has moved up the system, and those weaknesses will only be further exploited in the majors. He also needs to improve his two-strike approach and learn to use the whole field. On defense, he has soft, quick hands and good footwork with a plus arm; he should be a well-above-average defender at third, and it's not out of the question that he could play short, although he probably will outgrow the position.
35
Carlos Gomez
OF
Minnesota Twins
TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors
22
Gomez can fly and will be one of the fastest players in the majors once he is there for good. The rest of his game needs work, as his substantial tools don't translate into immediate major league success. He has a very quick bat but relies on his wrists and hands, hitting off his front foot too often and never getting his weight back to drive balls, so he makes contact but right now doesn't project to hit for power. In the field, he is more advanced, running down balls in all directions in center field and showing a 60-65 arm on the 20-80 scale. He missed most of the second half of the 2007 season due to a broken hamate bone in his hand, an injury that can linger into the following season, so his short-term projection isn't bright, but he has star potential if he is given time and instruction.
36
Jarrod Parker
RHP
Arizona Diamondbacks
TOP '07 LEVEL: H.S. (Indiana)
19
Parker offered the best package of any high school pitcher in this draft. A 6-foot right-hander from rural Indiana, he sports a 92-97 mph fastball and a hard 83-86 mph slider with outstanding tilt. He worked primarily as a two-pitch pitcher in high school, but he has an average changeup with decent fading action and flashes a curveball with good depth, giving reason to believe he will have a repertoire at least three pitches deep in the majors. He has a very quick arm and a clean delivery, and his only problem is his height, or lack thereof, which means he struggles to work down with his fastball and can get under his slider at times. Of course, Roy Oswalt is shorter than Parker, and he has done all right for himself, so there's plenty of cause for optimism in Arizona.
37
Matt LaPorta
LF/1B
Milwaukee Brewers
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (West Virginia)
23
LaPorta had more raw power than any other bat in the 2007 draft, so despite his other limitations, Milwaukee took him with the seventh overall pick. The Brewers sent him to the Sally League, where he smoked 10 homers in just 102 plate appearances. LaPorta has light-tower pull power, getting good extension through the ball, but he can get too pull-conscious and roll over on soft stuff away. He projects as a classic "three true outcomes" player -- drawing walks, hitting homers and striking out often -- but not as someone who will hit for a great average. The Brewers talked about LaPorta as a left fielder, but his future is at first base, where he should be an above-average defender.
38
Daric Barton
1B
Oakland A's
TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors
22
People who didn't read or didn't understand Moneyball would refer to Barton as a Moneyball player, because he gets on base and isn't a great athlete. He was a first-round pick by St. Louis, which traded him to Oakland in the Mark Mulder deal, so it's hard to argue that the market undervalued his skills (which was the real point of the book). Now, Barton would be highly coveted by a number of clubs because he is big league ready and has a very advanced approach at the plate. The question is his power, which projects in only the 15-20 homer range, light for a first baseman. That increases the pressure on Barton to put up OBPs in the low .400s to provide sufficient offensive value. He has a good enough eye and good enough plate coverage to do it.
39
Nolan Reimold
OF
Baltimore Orioles
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Bowie)
24
Reimold's biggest problem as a pro has been staying on the field. He suffered foot and back injuries tied to weightlifting in 2006, then missed half of 2007 with a strained oblique. When he has been on the field and at full strength, however, he has hit for average and power and shown good patience. He has a simple swing and stays back well on the ball, hitting hard line drives to all fields. He doesn't have huge raw power like Matt LaPorta, but he should hit 20-plus homers consistently because he makes so much hard contact and has good loft in his swing. He has plenty of range to be plus in left or right field and has an average arm. He should be an above-average regular in the majors, posting consistently strong OBPs.
40
Taylor Teagarden
C
Texas Rangers
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Frisco)
24
Teagarden was drafted out of the University of Texas as a plus defensive catcher who might hit a little. He blew out his elbow after signing and required Tommy John surgery, but he has developed into a better offensive player than the Rangers could have hoped for. He has a strong base at the plate and centers the ball extremely well, peppering the middle of the field with line drives, staying back well on breaking balls and showing a good two-strike approach. His main remaining question mark is his arm, which finally showed signs of a full recovery in Arizona. It's not a swing or hitting plan that is going to produce more than doubles power, but a catcher who works the count, hits lots of singles and doubles, and has a plus arm and good receiving skills will be one of the top 10, maybe top five, catchers in the game.
Jose Tabata
RF
New York Yankees
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Tampa)
19
Tabata was in the top 10 last year, but a nagging hamate injury ended his 2007 season early, requiring surgery in August. Tabata has a quick bat and great hand-eye coordination, and he squares up balls as well as anyone on this list. He also has good pitch recognition, although that can manifest itself in working the count to get to a fastball he can drive. His raw power hasn't shown up in games, which could be explained by the hamate injury; hand and wrist injuries sap power, and full recovery from a broken hamate bone can take up to a year. Tabata can play center but has been bumped to right field by fellow Yankee prospect Austin Jackson (No. 24), and Tabata should be plus there with an above-average arm. He'd rank higher if the hamate problem was fully behind him, but until that becomes clear, there's still some risk here.
22
Rick Porcello
RHP
Detroit Tigers
TOP '07 LEVEL: H.S. (New Jersey)
19
The top prep pitcher in the 2007 draft, Porcello has outstanding stuff and just looks the part of a big league ace. Porcello is already sitting at 92-94 mph and will touch 97 a few times an outing with two curveballs, both 12-to-6, one a late-breaker near 80 mph and the other a slower version in the upper 60s. His changeup shows promise; he turns the pitch over well, but slows his arm enough for hitters to notice. He has a very quick arm and a projectable frame, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him sitting at 95-plus mph in a few years, working his way toward the top of the Tigers' rotation.
23
Nick Adenhart
RHP
Los Angeles Angels
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Arkansas)
21
Adenhart was a first-round talent until he blew out his elbow during his senior spring in high school, but got first-round money from the Angels and has become their best prospect and a potential No. 2 starter. Adenhart's best attributes are his command and his feel for pitching, both of which are already plus, but that doesn't mean his stuff isn't strong. His fastball is solid-average at 90-93 mph, flashing better than that, and his curve already grades out as plus, with an almost 12-to-6 break that has just a little tilt to it. His changeup projects as above-average as well, with a late downward action and good arm speed. He can drop his arm slot slightly at times, causing his stuff to flatten out, and he lands just a little hard with his front foot. The Angels have moved him aggressively, so his indicators haven't matched his stuff, but he's just two years or so off from contributing to a big league rotation.
24
Austin Jackson
CF
New York Yankees
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Tampa)
21
Jackson is my favorite kind of hitting prospect -- the athlete with a clue. Jackson was a top basketball prospect in high school, but the Yankees flexed their financial muscles and gave him first-round money in the eighth round, a move that looks brilliant in hindsight because of how advanced Jackson is for a multi-sport prospect. Jackson has good speed, a solid-average arm in center and good instincts on fly balls, but still has some work to do at the plate. His setup is excellent and his path to the ball is short, but he needs to continue working on keeping his weight back to get more power from the contact he makes, and he's too eager to chase the ball up. He's a potential middle-of-the-order bat because of his power and improving plate discipline.
25
Andy LaRoche
3B
Los Angeles Dodgers
TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors
24
Big league teams can do funny things. The Dodgers liked LaRoche enough to give him a seven-figure bonus after taking him as a summer follow in the 39th round in 2003. They moved him up aggressively, gave him a shot at the big league job and decided a month later that he couldn't hit, instead accepting mediocre production from known quantities until they started to fall out of the playoff race in September. Now, after several abortive attempts to acquire a third baseman, the Dodgers are going to give LaRoche a chance to "win" the job over Nomar Garciaparra (who can't field a lick at third and isn't much with the bat) in spring training. Here's the scoop: LaRoche can, in fact, hit, and he'll hit for average with excellent on-base percentages, with middle-of-the-road power. He can play third, but doesn't project as a plus glove. He should be handed the everyday job right now.
RANK PLAYER POS. ORGANIZATION #AGE
26
Jake McGee
LHP
Tampa Bay Rays
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Montgomery)
21
McGee is not as polished or advanced as teammate Wade Davis, but he is not far behind in reality or in the rankings. At the moment, his only plus pitch is his fastball, 92-96 mph (a 60 on the scouting scale) and coming out of his hand late to left-handed hitters. He still has some room to fill out, and it wouldn't be shocking to see him sitting at 95 mph in a few years. His curve and change both are below average, so while he has blown away hitters with his fastball to date, that's not going to continue to work in Double-A or Triple-A. He holds his velocity deep into games, so he projects as a starter down the road, but he won't get there as quickly as Davis or David Price.
27
Jordan Schafer
CF
Atlanta Braves
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Myrtle Beach)
21
Schafer isn't Grady Sizemore, but not many players are. He is an excellent athlete and has the strength in his arms to hit for average and power, but he has some mechanical issues. His load at the plate is a little too deep, and he doesn't have the bat speed to overcome it, so he commits early and often ends up way out in front. He also gets too pull-conscious in games, despite showing a good whole-field approach in batting practice. On the plus side, the ball comes off his bat well, and if he can shorten up his swing, he should see improvement in his contact and long-term in his power output. He plays a strong center field with an above-average arm. I don't project him as a top-shelf center fielder right now, but he is ranked this high because he has the physical tools to become one with some work on his swing.
28
Lars Anderson
1B
Boston Red Sox
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Lancaster)
20
The Sox ponied up for Anderson late in the 2006 draft, and he already is a better prospect than either of their first-round picks from that year. He is a left-handed hitter who projects to hit for average and power with great OBPs. His plate discipline and pitch recognition are outstanding for a prospect of any age, much less a soon-to-be 20-year-old in high Class A ball. He has a simple swing and takes a direct path to the ball, so he can let it travel and use the entire field. He shows plus raw power in batting practice, and he has room to fill out and become a 30-plus home run hitter once he changes his approach to pull balls middle-in, but that might not come for another year or two. He also is a good defensive first baseman and a fringe-average runner. A big year at Double-A would push him up to the top 10 for next offseason.
29
Adam Miller
RHP
Cleveland Indians
TOP '07 LEVEL: AAA (Buffalo)
23
Miller is a potential No. 1 starter if he can keep his arm attached at all its various joints. Last year, he strained a flexor tendon in his finger and then had a sore elbow, limiting him to just 65 innings in the regular season and 13 unsuccessful innings in the Arizona Fall League. He also has had shoulder trouble in the past. When healthy, Miller has a four-seamer that sits in the mid-90s and a two-seamer in the low 90s, and he holds his velocity through 90-100 pitches. His slider already is a big league out pitch, up to 88 mph with a hard, late break, and his command has been good in the past. That No. 1 starter is somewhere under the medical dossier, screaming to get out.
30
Johnny Cueto
RHP
Cincinnati Reds
TOP '07 LEVEL: AAA (Louisville)
22
Cueto doesn't get the hype of Homer Bailey because he doesn't have the same big pitcher's build, but his stuff is almost as good as Bailey's, and he might be more advanced as a pitcher. Cueto is small and squatty but strong, and he has a smooth, easy arm action that produces fastballs anywhere from 91 to 96 mph with good life up in the zone. His changeup is his best secondary pitch, with good sink and tail and excellent arm speed, while his slider flashes plus with a hard tilt but still is inconsistent. He works quickly and aggressively but does not yet have the command to succeed in the majors, especially since his fastball is somewhat true and he could be homer-prone if he doesn't work on the margins of the strike zone. If his command doesn't improve, he will be a potentially dominant closer down the road, but he also could end up a solid No. 2 starter.
31
Elvis Andrus
SS
Texas Rangers
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Myrtle Beach)
19
Atlanta pushed Andrus very aggressively while he was in its system, moving him to high Class A ball at an age when most prospects are still in short-season ball. His baseball skills are slowly catching up to his tremendous athletic ability, and if Texas manages him carefully, the Rangers have a potential star on their hands. Andrus has a very easy, almost effortless swing, and the ball flies off his bat. He has an advanced approach for such a young hitter, working the count, making the pitcher throw strikes and using the entire field. There is average power to come, and he is a plus runner who needs some work reading pitchers. He is an excellent defensive shortstop with quick reactions and good range in both directions, as well as a strong and accurate arm. He should be hitting at or near the top of the Rangers' order by 2011.
32
Geovany Soto
C
Chicago Cubs
TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors
25
It might not have made any difference in the playoffs, but the Cubs would have clinched their division a few days sooner had they handed Soto the catcher's job after they shipped Michael Barrett (parcel post, no less) to San Diego. Instead, they gave the remains of Jason Kendall the job, costing themselves on offense and defense. Soto has plus raw power, keeping his weight back extremely well, and he has the upper-body strength to take pitches middle-out and pull them out to left-center. He can get too pull-happy, but he has shown the ability to shorten up and go the other way, and his pitch recognition is solid. He has a strong arm and average receiving skills. There was no justification for playing Kendall over Soto, and now Soto's path is clear to play every day and make a run at the NL rookie of the year award.
33
Jason Heyward
CF/RF
Atlanta Braves
TOP '07 LEVEL: Rookie (Danville)
18
Atlanta loves to take local high school products in the draft, but the Braves had no business getting Heyward, a top-10 talent, at No. 14. He is a strong 6-foot-4 outfielder with room to add even more strength, and he has a solid approach and huge power in his future. He is a good athlete who projects as a plus right fielder with a strong arm, but Atlanta should consider giving him one full year in center before moving him. He has good plate coverage, especially down, but because he sets up with the bat out from his body, he has to work on covering the ball in. Don't be surprised if he goes all Jay Bruce on the minors over the next two years.
34
Brandon Wood
3B
Los Angeles Angels
TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors
23
Wood's star is steadily dimming as his numbers drop and the strikeouts mount. What we know for certain about Wood is he has raw power, projecting as a 70 on the 20-80 scale; he has excellent bat speed and accelerates through the ball with good extension, producing huge pull power. On the other hand, his aggressiveness at the plate and a tendency to fly open with his front shoulder (thus getting him under the ball too much) have led to declining averages and OBPs as he has moved up the system, and those weaknesses will only be further exploited in the majors. He also needs to improve his two-strike approach and learn to use the whole field. On defense, he has soft, quick hands and good footwork with a plus arm; he should be a well-above-average defender at third, and it's not out of the question that he could play short, although he probably will outgrow the position.
35
Carlos Gomez
OF
Minnesota Twins
TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors
22
Gomez can fly and will be one of the fastest players in the majors once he is there for good. The rest of his game needs work, as his substantial tools don't translate into immediate major league success. He has a very quick bat but relies on his wrists and hands, hitting off his front foot too often and never getting his weight back to drive balls, so he makes contact but right now doesn't project to hit for power. In the field, he is more advanced, running down balls in all directions in center field and showing a 60-65 arm on the 20-80 scale. He missed most of the second half of the 2007 season due to a broken hamate bone in his hand, an injury that can linger into the following season, so his short-term projection isn't bright, but he has star potential if he is given time and instruction.
36
Jarrod Parker
RHP
Arizona Diamondbacks
TOP '07 LEVEL: H.S. (Indiana)
19
Parker offered the best package of any high school pitcher in this draft. A 6-foot right-hander from rural Indiana, he sports a 92-97 mph fastball and a hard 83-86 mph slider with outstanding tilt. He worked primarily as a two-pitch pitcher in high school, but he has an average changeup with decent fading action and flashes a curveball with good depth, giving reason to believe he will have a repertoire at least three pitches deep in the majors. He has a very quick arm and a clean delivery, and his only problem is his height, or lack thereof, which means he struggles to work down with his fastball and can get under his slider at times. Of course, Roy Oswalt is shorter than Parker, and he has done all right for himself, so there's plenty of cause for optimism in Arizona.
37
Matt LaPorta
LF/1B
Milwaukee Brewers
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (West Virginia)
23
LaPorta had more raw power than any other bat in the 2007 draft, so despite his other limitations, Milwaukee took him with the seventh overall pick. The Brewers sent him to the Sally League, where he smoked 10 homers in just 102 plate appearances. LaPorta has light-tower pull power, getting good extension through the ball, but he can get too pull-conscious and roll over on soft stuff away. He projects as a classic "three true outcomes" player -- drawing walks, hitting homers and striking out often -- but not as someone who will hit for a great average. The Brewers talked about LaPorta as a left fielder, but his future is at first base, where he should be an above-average defender.
38
Daric Barton
1B
Oakland A's
TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors
22
People who didn't read or didn't understand Moneyball would refer to Barton as a Moneyball player, because he gets on base and isn't a great athlete. He was a first-round pick by St. Louis, which traded him to Oakland in the Mark Mulder deal, so it's hard to argue that the market undervalued his skills (which was the real point of the book). Now, Barton would be highly coveted by a number of clubs because he is big league ready and has a very advanced approach at the plate. The question is his power, which projects in only the 15-20 homer range, light for a first baseman. That increases the pressure on Barton to put up OBPs in the low .400s to provide sufficient offensive value. He has a good enough eye and good enough plate coverage to do it.
39
Nolan Reimold
OF
Baltimore Orioles
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Bowie)
24
Reimold's biggest problem as a pro has been staying on the field. He suffered foot and back injuries tied to weightlifting in 2006, then missed half of 2007 with a strained oblique. When he has been on the field and at full strength, however, he has hit for average and power and shown good patience. He has a simple swing and stays back well on the ball, hitting hard line drives to all fields. He doesn't have huge raw power like Matt LaPorta, but he should hit 20-plus homers consistently because he makes so much hard contact and has good loft in his swing. He has plenty of range to be plus in left or right field and has an average arm. He should be an above-average regular in the majors, posting consistently strong OBPs.
40
Taylor Teagarden
C
Texas Rangers
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Frisco)
24
Teagarden was drafted out of the University of Texas as a plus defensive catcher who might hit a little. He blew out his elbow after signing and required Tommy John surgery, but he has developed into a better offensive player than the Rangers could have hoped for. He has a strong base at the plate and centers the ball extremely well, peppering the middle of the field with line drives, staying back well on breaking balls and showing a good two-strike approach. His main remaining question mark is his arm, which finally showed signs of a full recovery in Arizona. It's not a swing or hitting plan that is going to produce more than doubles power, but a catcher who works the count, hits lots of singles and doubles, and has a plus arm and good receiving skills will be one of the top 10, maybe top five, catchers in the game.