Post by Los Angeles Lakers on Jan 31, 2008 19:38:26 GMT -5
71
Sean Gallagher
RHP
Chicago Cubs
TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors
22
Gallagher could step in as the fifth starter right now for most noncontending clubs, and has a good chance to end up a solid No. 4 in the majors. He works with a three-pitch mix: a 92-94 mph four-seamer that's a little too true, a tight 12-to-6 curve that gets swings and misses for him and a solid-average changeup with some fading action. His control is above average but his command is below, and despite having a quick arm there's some effort in his delivery that may hold his command back long term.
72
Fernando Perez
CF
Tampa Bay Rays
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Montgomery)
24
Perez has a heck of a story -- a high school soccer star and Columbia grad who had limited baseball experience when he signed, but who has shown very rapid improvement in some of the most difficult areas of the game, including pitch recognition (where he's already plus) and reading balls off the bat (still needs work, but getting better). Perez has a quick bat and something of an inside-out swing geared toward contact over power, and he's a 70 runner who still needs to learn the art of base stealing. Because he gets on base and can play a passable center field already, he projects as a solid leadoff guy, but despite his age there's a chance he could improve beyond that.
73
Mitch Boggs
RHP
St. Louis Cardinals
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Springfield)
24
Boggs could pitch in the majors right now as a reliever, although the Cardinals have been developing him as a starter due to his durable frame and ability to hold his stuff through 90-plus pitches. Boggs has a plus pitch in his 93-96 mph fastball and a future-plus pitch in his sharp downer breaking ball at 82-84 mph. His fastball command, especially to his glove side, needs work and may just result from a little herky-jerky movement early in his delivery. More troubling is that for some reason he has struggled to miss bats despite his solid stuff, which would portend a move to the bullpen long term unless he finds a way to finish hitters off.
74
Henry Sosa
RHP
San Francisco Giants
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (San Jose)
22
Sosa has a live arm in a system that now has more than its share of live arms. He has a promising three-pitch mix, sitting at 92-94 and touching 97 on his fastball and sporting a power curveball in the mid-80s and a solid-average changeup with good arm speed. His control is poor and his feel for pitching is weak. He's too happy to try to overpower guys with heat rather than use his secondary stuff to put guys away. His delivery is odd with a dice-roller arm action and problems rushing his arm through, neither of which is conducive to good fastball command. He shouldn't move up quickly, but if he's given time he has a chance to be a No. 2 or 3 starter.
75
Jeremy Hellickson
RHP
Tampa Bay Rays
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Columbus)
20
Hellickson has outstanding command of a solid-average fastball at 90-94 mph, but lacks a plus secondary pitch to allow him to continue to rack up strikeouts at higher levels. He comes at hitters from a low three-quarter slot that makes the ball appear very late to right-handed hitters. Hellickson was effective against lefties in 2007, but he'll have to improve his changeup (which he turns over well but which comes in too hard) to keep that up at higher levels. His breaking ball is slurvy and inconsistent, but he will throw some with a sharper, two-plane break. Right-handers with good command of average fastballs pitch in the big leagues in the backs of rotations, so for Hellickson to be more than a No. 4 or 5 starter, he'll have to dial up one of those secondary pitches.
RANK PLAYER POS. ORGANIZATION #AGE
76
Josh Donaldson
C
Chicago Cubs
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Boise)
22
Donaldson's huge pro debut may be setting unrealistic expectations, but he could end up a steal at the 48th overall pick. Primarily a third baseman in college, he's playable already behind the plate with soft hands, good footwork and a solid-average arm. He centers balls well and has above-average raw power, but he tends to lunge for the ball too often instead of staying back.
77
Chris Nelson
SS
Colorado Rockies
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Modesto)
22
Nelson's career had been a disappointment before 2007 due to injuries and poor performance, but he re-established some value with a big year in the hitter-friendly California League. He does several things well but lacks a single outstanding tool; he should hit for some average and some power; he's an above-average runner but not a burner; he's adequate at short but not a Gold Glover. This doesn't affect his rating, but he is also hopelessly blocked in Colorado behind Troy Tulowitzki.
78
John Jaso
C
Tampa Bay Rays
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Montgomery)
24
If it was a certainty that Jaso could catch, he'd be in the top 40. He's a pull-oriented hitter with good power and a quick bat, although his swing gets long and he can hook balls slightly. He's fringy behind the plate in all aspects, including a below-average arm.
79
Jordan Walden
RHP
Los Angeles Angels
TOP '07 LEVEL: Rookie (Orem)
20
Walden was one of the last-ever draft-and-follows before the process was eliminated, receiving a seven-figure bonus in May of 2007. He has a plus fastball, pitching at 94-96 and running it up to 99 on occasion, with a slider that projects as an out pitch and excellent control. He'll be in big-league camp for the Angels in March.
80
Deolis Guerra
RHP
Minnesota Twins
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (St. Lucie)
18
Guerra is almost all projection, but there's a lot on which a scout can dream. His velocity is fringe-average, but he'll flash low 90s out of nowhere, and his curveball is inconsistent at best. He has a plus changeup with good fading action. But the appeal here is that he turns 19 in April and is very projectable, with the broad-shouldered frame we look for when forecasting velocity increases and durability. His probability is low, but there's a chance he'll be up in the top 20-30 in a year or two.
81
Max Scherzer
RHP
Arizona Diamondbacks
TOP '07 LEVEL: AAA (Fort Worth)
23
Scherzer has a high-effort delivery with a fair amount of violence to it, and isn't going to have the command or the durability to work as a starter in the majors, so his future is as a two-pitch reliever. His fastball velocity varies, but he'll typically sit 90-92 mph with good sink and run, and his slider has a tight two-plane break and should be an out pitch when he's only going once through the order.
82
Gerardo Parra
CF
Arizona Diamondbacks
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Visalia)
20
Parra is still raw, but has the bat speed to survive in full-season ball as he learns other aspects of his game. He's very willing to take balls the other way, but doesn't project to have much pull power. He may not be able to stay in center, and his power and OBP don't profile in a corner.
83
Jordan Zimmerman
RHP
Washington Nationals
TOP '07 LEVEL:
College (Wisconsin-Stevens Point)
21
Zimmerman has a chance for four solid-average pitches and excellent control, projecting as a No. 3 starter if his command improves. He's very athletic and has a loose, fluid arm action, and wasn't worked as hard as most college pitchers due to a broken jaw in his final spring in school.
84
Casey Weathers
RHP
Colorado Rockies
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Modesto)
22
Weathers should move very quickly through the Rockies' system and could be setting up for Manny Corpas by the end of the year if the Rox decide to trade Brian Fuentes. Weathers goes right after hitters, working heavily off his 93-96 mph four-seamer, finishing off lefties with a straight change and righties with a late-breaking slider, throwing strikes with all three pitches.
85
Jaime Garcia
LHP
St. Louis Cardinals
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Springfield)
21
When healthy, Garcia has a low-90s fastball with good sink and a near-12-to-6 curveball that could be an out pitch. However, he missed most of 2007 with a sprained ligament in his elbow, and while it hasn't required surgery yet, elbow injuries often end up with the pitcher on the operating table.
86
Chris Withrow
RHP
Los Angeles Dodgers
TOP '07 LEVEL: Rookie (GCL Dodgers)
19
Keep an eye on this one. Withrow pitched all spring with an average fastball (88-91 mph) and a fringe-average curve with good depth but an early break, but his velocity rose after his move to pro ball. He has some projection left and has a great delivery with a quick, explosive move toward the plate. And after the success of Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw to date, the Dodgers get a little extra credit on first-round arms.
87
Hank Conger
C
Los Angeles Angels
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Cedar Rapids)
20
Conger has big power potential from both sides of the plate, uncoiling his body as he makes contact and getting good extension. His swing can get long and he'll need to show he can shorten up with two strikes. He has the tools to be a good receiver but will have to keep his body in shape, and has had both of his pro seasons marred by injuries.
88
Chris Volstad
RHP
Florida Marlins
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Carolina)
21
Volstad looks the part, with an effortless delivery and great pitchers' frame, and he has an average fastball and a sharp-breaking curve. So why doesn't he strike more hitters out? There's so much potential here if he can find a way to finish hitters off.
89
Neil Walker
3B
Pittsburgh Pirates
TOP '07 LEVEL: AAA (Indianapolis)
22
Walker's plate discipline took a 180 for the better this year, to the point where he's now clearly going to play in the big leagues. He wears down every season even now that he's no longer a catcher, and his defense at third remains unacceptable, so he may end up a 'tweener who doesn't hit enough to play first and can't handle any tougher position on defense.
90
Josh Smoker
LHP
Washington Nationals
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Vermont)
19
Smoker is an aggressive lefty with solid-average velocity, projecting to plus, and outstanding sink. His curve has very tight rotation and a sharp two-plane break. He'll have to show he can command his stuff and hold his velocity deep into games.
91
Tyler Robertson
LHP
Minnesota Twins
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Beloit)
20
Robertson is 6-foot-5 and gets good downhill plane on his average fastball, with a slider that should be plus by the time he reaches the majors. He'll need to add some muscle to hold his velocity deeper into games, and his changeup is well below-average.
92
Cole Rohrbough
LHP
Atlanta Braves
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Rome)
20
Another 2006 draft-and-follow signed in May, Rohrbough is a big lefty with an above-average fastball and a hard curveball that's death on left-handed hitters, so at worst, Atlanta knows it has a future left-handed reliever here. He'll need to improve his changeup and fastball command.
93
Matt Antonelli
2B/CF
San Diego Padres
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (San Antonio)
22
Antonelli is a patient hitter with good hand-eye coordination and plus speed. He has struggled to find a position, playing second base in 2006 after moving off shortstop; a switch to center field is his best route to an everyday major league role.
94
Trevor Cahill
RHP
Oakland A's
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Kane County)
20
Cahill gets good sink on a solid-average fastball and flashes a plus curveball with very good depth. His arm is quick, but he needs to work on keeping his front shoulder closed, and his control is still below-average.
95
Wladimir Balentien
RF
Seattle Mariners
TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors
23
Balentien's swing is long and he doesn't take a consistent path to the ball, but he's strong and hasn't had trouble making contact. He plays a solid right field with an above-average arm.
96
Chorye Spoone
RHP
Baltimore Orioles
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Frederick)
22
Spoone has the potential for three plus pitches, with an explosive fastball with good bore that generates a lot of groundballs. Definite sleeper.
97
Brad Lincoln
RHP
Pittsburgh Pirates
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Hickory)
22
Lincoln missed 2007 after Tommy John surgery, but is expected to be ready to go in March. He has an above-average fastball and power curve with some feel for a changeup and is a good athlete who can swing the bat a little bit. It remains to be seen whether his stuff still measures up after the operation.
98
Engel Beltre
RF
Texas Rangers
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Spokane)
18
Beltre was the key guy going back to Texas in the Eric Gagne trade. He has a clean swing with some loft in it, a plus arm, and should be an above-average glove in right. Beltre hit nine home runs in just over 200 at-bats in rookie ball, despite the fact that he played the whole season at age 17.
99
Gorkys Hernandez
CF
Atlanta Braves
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (West Michigan)
20
Hernandez is extremely fast and covers a ton of ground in center, showing an above-average arm as well. At the plate, however, he's a slap hitter who makes contact but doesn't hit for any power or show good on-base skills, and he'll have to improve in one of those areas to be more than a fringe regular.
100
Andrew Brackman
RHP
New York Yankees
TOP '07 LEVEL: College (N.C. State)
22
Brackman is out for 2008 after elbow surgery, but he was one of the best amateur prospects in the country heading into last spring. He gets great downhill plane on a 91-97 mph fastball and shows signs of a plus breaking ball, with clean mechanics for someone so tall. His major league contract works against him.
Sean Gallagher
RHP
Chicago Cubs
TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors
22
Gallagher could step in as the fifth starter right now for most noncontending clubs, and has a good chance to end up a solid No. 4 in the majors. He works with a three-pitch mix: a 92-94 mph four-seamer that's a little too true, a tight 12-to-6 curve that gets swings and misses for him and a solid-average changeup with some fading action. His control is above average but his command is below, and despite having a quick arm there's some effort in his delivery that may hold his command back long term.
72
Fernando Perez
CF
Tampa Bay Rays
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Montgomery)
24
Perez has a heck of a story -- a high school soccer star and Columbia grad who had limited baseball experience when he signed, but who has shown very rapid improvement in some of the most difficult areas of the game, including pitch recognition (where he's already plus) and reading balls off the bat (still needs work, but getting better). Perez has a quick bat and something of an inside-out swing geared toward contact over power, and he's a 70 runner who still needs to learn the art of base stealing. Because he gets on base and can play a passable center field already, he projects as a solid leadoff guy, but despite his age there's a chance he could improve beyond that.
73
Mitch Boggs
RHP
St. Louis Cardinals
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Springfield)
24
Boggs could pitch in the majors right now as a reliever, although the Cardinals have been developing him as a starter due to his durable frame and ability to hold his stuff through 90-plus pitches. Boggs has a plus pitch in his 93-96 mph fastball and a future-plus pitch in his sharp downer breaking ball at 82-84 mph. His fastball command, especially to his glove side, needs work and may just result from a little herky-jerky movement early in his delivery. More troubling is that for some reason he has struggled to miss bats despite his solid stuff, which would portend a move to the bullpen long term unless he finds a way to finish hitters off.
74
Henry Sosa
RHP
San Francisco Giants
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (San Jose)
22
Sosa has a live arm in a system that now has more than its share of live arms. He has a promising three-pitch mix, sitting at 92-94 and touching 97 on his fastball and sporting a power curveball in the mid-80s and a solid-average changeup with good arm speed. His control is poor and his feel for pitching is weak. He's too happy to try to overpower guys with heat rather than use his secondary stuff to put guys away. His delivery is odd with a dice-roller arm action and problems rushing his arm through, neither of which is conducive to good fastball command. He shouldn't move up quickly, but if he's given time he has a chance to be a No. 2 or 3 starter.
75
Jeremy Hellickson
RHP
Tampa Bay Rays
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Columbus)
20
Hellickson has outstanding command of a solid-average fastball at 90-94 mph, but lacks a plus secondary pitch to allow him to continue to rack up strikeouts at higher levels. He comes at hitters from a low three-quarter slot that makes the ball appear very late to right-handed hitters. Hellickson was effective against lefties in 2007, but he'll have to improve his changeup (which he turns over well but which comes in too hard) to keep that up at higher levels. His breaking ball is slurvy and inconsistent, but he will throw some with a sharper, two-plane break. Right-handers with good command of average fastballs pitch in the big leagues in the backs of rotations, so for Hellickson to be more than a No. 4 or 5 starter, he'll have to dial up one of those secondary pitches.
RANK PLAYER POS. ORGANIZATION #AGE
76
Josh Donaldson
C
Chicago Cubs
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Boise)
22
Donaldson's huge pro debut may be setting unrealistic expectations, but he could end up a steal at the 48th overall pick. Primarily a third baseman in college, he's playable already behind the plate with soft hands, good footwork and a solid-average arm. He centers balls well and has above-average raw power, but he tends to lunge for the ball too often instead of staying back.
77
Chris Nelson
SS
Colorado Rockies
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Modesto)
22
Nelson's career had been a disappointment before 2007 due to injuries and poor performance, but he re-established some value with a big year in the hitter-friendly California League. He does several things well but lacks a single outstanding tool; he should hit for some average and some power; he's an above-average runner but not a burner; he's adequate at short but not a Gold Glover. This doesn't affect his rating, but he is also hopelessly blocked in Colorado behind Troy Tulowitzki.
78
John Jaso
C
Tampa Bay Rays
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Montgomery)
24
If it was a certainty that Jaso could catch, he'd be in the top 40. He's a pull-oriented hitter with good power and a quick bat, although his swing gets long and he can hook balls slightly. He's fringy behind the plate in all aspects, including a below-average arm.
79
Jordan Walden
RHP
Los Angeles Angels
TOP '07 LEVEL: Rookie (Orem)
20
Walden was one of the last-ever draft-and-follows before the process was eliminated, receiving a seven-figure bonus in May of 2007. He has a plus fastball, pitching at 94-96 and running it up to 99 on occasion, with a slider that projects as an out pitch and excellent control. He'll be in big-league camp for the Angels in March.
80
Deolis Guerra
RHP
Minnesota Twins
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (St. Lucie)
18
Guerra is almost all projection, but there's a lot on which a scout can dream. His velocity is fringe-average, but he'll flash low 90s out of nowhere, and his curveball is inconsistent at best. He has a plus changeup with good fading action. But the appeal here is that he turns 19 in April and is very projectable, with the broad-shouldered frame we look for when forecasting velocity increases and durability. His probability is low, but there's a chance he'll be up in the top 20-30 in a year or two.
81
Max Scherzer
RHP
Arizona Diamondbacks
TOP '07 LEVEL: AAA (Fort Worth)
23
Scherzer has a high-effort delivery with a fair amount of violence to it, and isn't going to have the command or the durability to work as a starter in the majors, so his future is as a two-pitch reliever. His fastball velocity varies, but he'll typically sit 90-92 mph with good sink and run, and his slider has a tight two-plane break and should be an out pitch when he's only going once through the order.
82
Gerardo Parra
CF
Arizona Diamondbacks
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Visalia)
20
Parra is still raw, but has the bat speed to survive in full-season ball as he learns other aspects of his game. He's very willing to take balls the other way, but doesn't project to have much pull power. He may not be able to stay in center, and his power and OBP don't profile in a corner.
83
Jordan Zimmerman
RHP
Washington Nationals
TOP '07 LEVEL:
College (Wisconsin-Stevens Point)
21
Zimmerman has a chance for four solid-average pitches and excellent control, projecting as a No. 3 starter if his command improves. He's very athletic and has a loose, fluid arm action, and wasn't worked as hard as most college pitchers due to a broken jaw in his final spring in school.
84
Casey Weathers
RHP
Colorado Rockies
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Modesto)
22
Weathers should move very quickly through the Rockies' system and could be setting up for Manny Corpas by the end of the year if the Rox decide to trade Brian Fuentes. Weathers goes right after hitters, working heavily off his 93-96 mph four-seamer, finishing off lefties with a straight change and righties with a late-breaking slider, throwing strikes with all three pitches.
85
Jaime Garcia
LHP
St. Louis Cardinals
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Springfield)
21
When healthy, Garcia has a low-90s fastball with good sink and a near-12-to-6 curveball that could be an out pitch. However, he missed most of 2007 with a sprained ligament in his elbow, and while it hasn't required surgery yet, elbow injuries often end up with the pitcher on the operating table.
86
Chris Withrow
RHP
Los Angeles Dodgers
TOP '07 LEVEL: Rookie (GCL Dodgers)
19
Keep an eye on this one. Withrow pitched all spring with an average fastball (88-91 mph) and a fringe-average curve with good depth but an early break, but his velocity rose after his move to pro ball. He has some projection left and has a great delivery with a quick, explosive move toward the plate. And after the success of Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw to date, the Dodgers get a little extra credit on first-round arms.
87
Hank Conger
C
Los Angeles Angels
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Cedar Rapids)
20
Conger has big power potential from both sides of the plate, uncoiling his body as he makes contact and getting good extension. His swing can get long and he'll need to show he can shorten up with two strikes. He has the tools to be a good receiver but will have to keep his body in shape, and has had both of his pro seasons marred by injuries.
88
Chris Volstad
RHP
Florida Marlins
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Carolina)
21
Volstad looks the part, with an effortless delivery and great pitchers' frame, and he has an average fastball and a sharp-breaking curve. So why doesn't he strike more hitters out? There's so much potential here if he can find a way to finish hitters off.
89
Neil Walker
3B
Pittsburgh Pirates
TOP '07 LEVEL: AAA (Indianapolis)
22
Walker's plate discipline took a 180 for the better this year, to the point where he's now clearly going to play in the big leagues. He wears down every season even now that he's no longer a catcher, and his defense at third remains unacceptable, so he may end up a 'tweener who doesn't hit enough to play first and can't handle any tougher position on defense.
90
Josh Smoker
LHP
Washington Nationals
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Vermont)
19
Smoker is an aggressive lefty with solid-average velocity, projecting to plus, and outstanding sink. His curve has very tight rotation and a sharp two-plane break. He'll have to show he can command his stuff and hold his velocity deep into games.
91
Tyler Robertson
LHP
Minnesota Twins
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Beloit)
20
Robertson is 6-foot-5 and gets good downhill plane on his average fastball, with a slider that should be plus by the time he reaches the majors. He'll need to add some muscle to hold his velocity deeper into games, and his changeup is well below-average.
92
Cole Rohrbough
LHP
Atlanta Braves
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Rome)
20
Another 2006 draft-and-follow signed in May, Rohrbough is a big lefty with an above-average fastball and a hard curveball that's death on left-handed hitters, so at worst, Atlanta knows it has a future left-handed reliever here. He'll need to improve his changeup and fastball command.
93
Matt Antonelli
2B/CF
San Diego Padres
TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (San Antonio)
22
Antonelli is a patient hitter with good hand-eye coordination and plus speed. He has struggled to find a position, playing second base in 2006 after moving off shortstop; a switch to center field is his best route to an everyday major league role.
94
Trevor Cahill
RHP
Oakland A's
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Kane County)
20
Cahill gets good sink on a solid-average fastball and flashes a plus curveball with very good depth. His arm is quick, but he needs to work on keeping his front shoulder closed, and his control is still below-average.
95
Wladimir Balentien
RF
Seattle Mariners
TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors
23
Balentien's swing is long and he doesn't take a consistent path to the ball, but he's strong and hasn't had trouble making contact. He plays a solid right field with an above-average arm.
96
Chorye Spoone
RHP
Baltimore Orioles
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Frederick)
22
Spoone has the potential for three plus pitches, with an explosive fastball with good bore that generates a lot of groundballs. Definite sleeper.
97
Brad Lincoln
RHP
Pittsburgh Pirates
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Hickory)
22
Lincoln missed 2007 after Tommy John surgery, but is expected to be ready to go in March. He has an above-average fastball and power curve with some feel for a changeup and is a good athlete who can swing the bat a little bit. It remains to be seen whether his stuff still measures up after the operation.
98
Engel Beltre
RF
Texas Rangers
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Spokane)
18
Beltre was the key guy going back to Texas in the Eric Gagne trade. He has a clean swing with some loft in it, a plus arm, and should be an above-average glove in right. Beltre hit nine home runs in just over 200 at-bats in rookie ball, despite the fact that he played the whole season at age 17.
99
Gorkys Hernandez
CF
Atlanta Braves
TOP '07 LEVEL: A (West Michigan)
20
Hernandez is extremely fast and covers a ton of ground in center, showing an above-average arm as well. At the plate, however, he's a slap hitter who makes contact but doesn't hit for any power or show good on-base skills, and he'll have to improve in one of those areas to be more than a fringe regular.
100
Andrew Brackman
RHP
New York Yankees
TOP '07 LEVEL: College (N.C. State)
22
Brackman is out for 2008 after elbow surgery, but he was one of the best amateur prospects in the country heading into last spring. He gets great downhill plane on a 91-97 mph fastball and shows signs of a plus breaking ball, with clean mechanics for someone so tall. His major league contract works against him.