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Some real shakeup at the top of my season end prospects list. There's some legit talent coming up the pipeline with most of it being pitching, though a few position players are worth noting. I've moved Chris Owings all the way up to the #2 spot behind Archie Bradley. I just feel he has the most major league talent of anyone else on the list. He showed he can handle the shortstop position at the highest level and even demonstrated some plate discipline in his short sample size, something he didn't always do in the minors.
Jake Barrett climbs all the way to the #3 spot as he had a dominating year and should be ready for a prominent spot in the bullpen next year, something the team desperately needs. Skaggs drops to number 4 on the list and I didn't drop him further because he could easily fix a few mechanical issues in the off-season and put himself right back in the conversation for a rotation spot next spring.
Braden Shipley really came on in the final month and flashed some of the talent everyone saw in him when he was drafted in the first round. His arrival in Visalia next year will be the true test of his ability. Holmberg holds onto the #6 spot and everyone will be watching him to see if he can take one more step to go from his very good AA season to the show. Jake Lamb gets the #7 rating and had he not missed half the season with a wrist injury might be even higher. He'll get to Mobile next year and another .900+ OPS season and he'll be in the 2015 third base conversation.
I have Davidson at #8 and some might argue with him being placed below Lamb since he's already in the show at roughly the same age. I just feel Lamb has more all-around hitting ability (if a little less power) and a better glove than Davidson. Aaron Blair and Andrew Chafin round out the Top 10, two pitchers who both could climb higher on the list with steps forward in 2014.
Big fallers include our top catchers Stryker Trahan and Michael Perez. Trahan didn't impress in Missoula like I thought he should, though he wasn't exactly terrible. And Perez was aggressively placed in Visalia to start the year and was completely overwhelmed before eventually being sent back to South Bend. But his psyche must have been damaged and we'll see where he's placed next year and how he responds.
Rank | Prospect | Pos | 2013 Level | Age* | JB Rating | Comments |
1 | Archie Bradley | LHP | AA | 21 | 95 | Rotation spot for 2014 |
2 | Chris Owings | SS | Majors | 22 | 88 | Super sub or trade bait? |
3 | Jake Barrett | RHP | AA | 22 | 88 | Ready for bullpen spot |
4 | Tyler Skaggs | LHP | AAA | 22 | 87 | Needs to find his fastball |
5 | Braden Shipley | RHP | A | 21 | 87 | Showed he has talent |
6 | David Holmberg | LHP | AA | 22 | 86 | Can he take one more step? |
7 | Jake Lamb | 3B | A+ | 22 | 86 | If healthy best 3B in system |
8 | Matt Davidson | 3B | Majors | 22 | 82 | Getting his chance now |
9 | Aaron Blair | RHP | A | 21 | 82 | Solid start to pro career |
10 | Andrew Chafin | LHP | AA | 23 | 81 | Still going forward |
11 | Justin Williams | OF | A | 18 | 80 | Dude can hit |
12 | Jimmy Sherfy | RHP | A | 21 | 80 | Could be on Barrett's heels |
13 | Joe Munoz | SS | Rookie | 19 | 78 | Showed high pick might be legit |
14 | Daniel Palka | 1B | A- | 21 | 78 | Looks like a pro hitter |
15 | Stryker Trahan | C | Rookie | 19 | 77 | Flattened out a bit this year |
16 | Matt Stites | RHP | AA | 23 | 76 | Ready to see what the fuss is |
17 | Brandon Drury | 3B | A | 21 | 76 | Looking like a good one |
18 | Jose Herrera | C | DSL | 16 | 75 | Top Int'l catcher signed |
19 | Michael Perez | C | A | 21 | 74 | Couldn't handle A+ |
20 | Daniel Gibson | P | A | 21 | 74 | Solid reliever, could move fast |
21 | Andrew Velasquez | SS/2B | A | 19 | 72 | Still holding his own for age |
22 | Chuck Taylor | OF | Rookie | 20 | 70 | Came on some this year |
23 | Jamie Westbrook | SS | AZL | 18 | 70 | Good start to career |
24 | Zeke Spruill | RHP | AAA | 24 | 69 | Behind other top prospects |
25 | Kevin Munson | RHP | AAA | 24 | 68 | Hot and cold |
26 | Ender Inciarte | OF | AA | 22 | 65 | Flattened out this year |
27 | Nick Ahmed | SS | AA | 23 | 65 | Rebounded from slow start |
28 | Ben Eckels | RHP | A- | 19 | 64 | Still has a chance |
29 | Felipe Perez | RHP | Rookie | 19 | 62 | Maybe doesn't miss enough bats |
30 | Eury De La Rosa | LHP | AAA | 23 | 62 | Fringe majors reliever |
31 | Anthony Meo | RHP | A+ | 23 | 61 | Struggled all year |
32 | Sean Jamieson | SS | A+ | 24 | 60 | Good season but older |
33 | Gerson Montilla | 2B | A+ | 23 | 59 | Flashed some power this year |
34 | Brad Keller | RHP | Rookie | 18 | 59 | Good first pro season |
35 | Fidel Pena | 2B | A | 22 | 58 | Solid not spectacular |
36 | Michael Bolsinger | RHP | AAA | 25 | 56 | Opened a few eyes in AAA |
37 | Evan Marshall | RHP | AAA | 23 | 56 | Took a small step forward |
38 | Andrew Barbosa | LHP | A+ | 25 | 55 | Flashed some talent |
39 | Zach Esquerra | OF | A- | 22 | 54 | Showed power but injured |
40 | Evan Marzilli | OF | A+ | 22 | 53 | More glove than bat |
41 | Patrick Schuster | LHP | A+ | 22 | 52 | Should hit AA next year |
42 | Cesar Carrasco | OF | A | 19 | 51 | Has some tools |
43 | Colin Bray | OF | Rookie | 20 | 51 | Athletic CF |
44 | Seth Simmons | RHP | A+ | 24 | 50 | Solid but old for level |
45 | Socrates Brito | OF | A | 21 | 50 | Still looking for breakout |
46 | R.J. Hively | RHP | A+ | 24 | 48 | Solid reliever |
47 | Chase Anderson | RHP | AAA | 25 | 47 | Hit his ceiling |
48 | Alfredo Marte | OF | AAA | 24 | 46 | Power disappeared |
49 | Alex Glenn | OF | A | 22 | 45 | Steady but no breakout |
50 | Jose Martinez | RHP | A- | 19 | 45 | Scouts like his power arm |
51 | Matt McPhearson | OF | AZL | 18 | 44 | Struggled in AZL |
52 | Blake Perry | RHP | A | 21 | 43 | Flashed but not enough |
53 | Sergio Alcantara | SS | AZL | 17 | 42 | They like his glove |
54 | Jose Queliz | C | Rookie | 21 | 40 | Breakout season |
55 | Fernery Ozuna | 2B | AZL | 17 | 40 | Made it off the island |
56 | Kevin Medrano | 2B | A | 23 | 39 | Just keeps hitting |
57 | Cody Wheeler | LHP | A+ | 24 | 38 | Erratic but lots of Ks |
58 | Bradin Hagens | RHP | AA | 24 | 37 | Far as he can go? |
59 | Charles Brewer | RHP | AAA | 25 | 36 | Got his 15 minutes |
60 | Breland Almadova | OF | A | 22 | 35 | Can he keep going |
61 | Ryan Doran | RHP | A- | 23 | 35 | Showed some talent |
62 | Jacob Cordero | SS | AZL | 19 | 34 | Scouts like his tools |
63 | Dane McFarland | OF | AZL | 18 | 33 | Extremely raw athlete |
64 | Michael Freeman | SS | AA | 26 | 32 | Found his ceiling |
65 | Jesse Darrah | RHP | A | 23 | 32 | Too inconsistent |
66 | Rudy Flores | 1B | A | 22 | 31 | Big power, big Ks |
67 | Henry Garcia | LHP | A | 23 | 20 | Huge K/BB numbers |
68 | Ryan Court | 3B | AA | 25 | 30 | Jumped 2 levels but old |
69 | Tom Belza | OF/3B | A+ | 24 | 30 | Steady eddy |
70 | Brandon Sinnery | RHP | A+ | 23 | 30 | A+ was a little tough |
71 | George Roberts | 1B | A- | 23 | 30 | Had some good games |
72 | Rossmel Perez | C | AA | 24 | 30 | Not enough stick |
73 | Jose Jose | LHP | A | 23 | 30 | Level jump was rough |
74 | Brad Allen | RHP | A+ | 24 | 30 | Had some good starts |
75 | Yeisson Rosario | OF | AZL | 21 | 30 | Next year will be his chance |
76 | Daniel Watts | LHP | A+ | 23 | 30 | Could not handle A+ at all |
77 | Kaleb Fleck | RHP | A+ | 24 | 30 | Solid relief season |
78 | Keon Broxton | OF | AA | 23 | 30 | AA was a bridge too far |
79 | Tyler Green | RHP | A+ | 21 | 30 | Injured most of the year |
80 | Jonathan Griffin | 1B | A+ | 24 | 25 | Couldn't hit AA pitching |
81 | Raul Garcia | SS | DSL | 18 | 25 | Coming stateside soon? |
82 | Brian Billigen | OF | Rookie | 23 | 25 | Needs to take a step |
83 | Derek Eitel | RHP | AA | 25 | 25 | Solid AA arm |
84 | Taylor Siemens | LHP | A+ | 24 | 25 | Missed entire season |
85 | Garrett Webber | INF | AA | 24 | 25 | Solid AA player |
86 | Silvino Bracho | RHP | Rookie | 21 | 25 | Showed some closing skills |
87 | Willy Paredes | RHP | A+ | 24 | 25 | Not done just yet |
88 | Jake Mayers | 3B | Rookie | 23 | 25 | Old for the level |
89 | Alexander Carreras | LHP | A+ | 23 | 25 | Missed entire season |
90 | Chase Stevens | RHP | Rookie | 23 | 20 | Very up and down |
91 | Kyle Winkler | RHP | A | 23 | 20 | Got demoted to A |
92 | Ronnie Freeman | C | A+ | 22 | 20 | Nothing special here |
93 | Justin Van Grouw | RHP | Rookie | 23 | 20 | Okay start to pros |
94 | David Nick | 2B | AA | 23 | 20 | Found his ceiling |
95 | Keith Hessler | LHP | A+ | 24 | 20 | A+ might be his ceiling |
96 | Ryan Kinsella | 1B | A- | 21 | 20 | Maybe something there |
97 | Justin Bianco | OF | Rookie | 21 | 20 | Hanging on by a thread |
98 | John Pedrotty | RHP | A | 22 | 20 | Out with arm injury |
99 | Michael Lang | OF | A | 24 | 20 | Hanging around |
100 | Matt Helm | 1B/3B | A+ | 22 | 20 | Mr. Irrelevant |
Rating System
90-100 | Outstanding prospect. All-Star potential. | ||||
80-89 | Very good prospect. Potential feature player with above-average production. | ||||
70-79 | Solid prospect. Has a chance of becoming a starting ML player. | ||||
60-69 | Good prospect. Has a chance of making it to the majors. | ||||
50-59 | Average prospect. Could still make it with further development. | ||||
40-49 | Borderline prospect. Can’t be written off yet but odds are against. | ||||
30-39 | Long shot prospect but has some talent. |