Saturday, August 15, 2009

Top 15 Bullpen Prospects

Again, my opinion. Guys must project to be a reliever (LR/Setup/Closer) and may not have appeared in an ML game. Enjoy!
1. Guillermo Sivilla New Orleans – DraftRd1Sea12 - Proj: 86 – ETA: Season 16 - The top relief prospect in the game. Nasty two-pitch combo.
2. Trever Stratton Buffalo – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 76 – ETA: Season 15 – Best closer prospect in the game. Will be an all-star and perennial contender for the Fireman of the Year
3. Tom Holmes Helena – DraftSea12Rd1 – Proj: 83 – ETA: Season 15 – Versitile enough to fulfill any relief duty. One of the top relief prospects in the game.
4. Geraldo Sanchez Florida – IFASea11 – Proj: 79 – ETA – Season 15 – One of the top closer prospects in the game. Should compete for multiple Fireman of the Year awards.
5. Daniel Poppell Cleveland – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 78 – ETA: Season 15 – AAA prospect that could use one more year to hone his craft. Dominant vs. righties.
6. Reid Bagwell Monterrey – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 78 – ETA: Season 15 – Control specialist with the stuff to be dominant. Should make an all-star team or two.
7. Gordon Allensworth Vancouver – DraftSea12Rd1 – Proj: 78 – ETA: Season 15 – Fireballer that will dominant lefties and hold his own against righties. Solid with all-star potential.
8. Rex Sweeney Louisville – DraftSea12Rd1* - Proj: 77 – ETA: Season 17 – Talented rookie destined to be one of the top long relievers in
the game. A little weak vs. righties.
9. Jim Mathews Honolulu – DraftSea9Rd1 – Proj: 76 – ETA: Season 13 - The LuauDawgs closer of the future should make the ML roster next season and compete for a couple of Fireman of the Year awards.
10. Greg Shelley Syracuse – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 78 – ETA: Season 16 – Saved 24 games for the High A Orange. Will be a nice closer for many years.
11. Willie Alarcon Vancouver – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 76 – ETA: Season 14 – Fireballer that should win the closing job by Season 14. Great control and extremely tough on lefties.
12. Quinn Ruebel Boise – DraftSea10Rd14 - Proj: 73 – ETA: Season 15 – This draft day gem has a chance to make an impact at the ML level in a setup role.
13. Willie Martinez Durham – IFASea9 – Proj: 73 – ETA: Season 14 – He saved 23 games for the AA Bears and has a chance to be the closer of the future for Durham.
14. Justin Cedeno Minnesota – DraftSea12Rd1 – Proj: 74 – ETA: Season 17 – Talented rookie with great control and vs. RH. Will be a quality Setup man at the worst.
15. Hod Boudreau Durham – DraftSea11Rd2 – Proj: 74 – ETA: Season 16 – Lefty with one of the top change-ups in the game. Trouble with righties may keep him from closing at the ML level.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Top 25 SP Prospects

Based on my opinion. Players qualify if they project as a starter and have never played in the ML. Top bullpen prospects are next.......

1. Phil Corino San Jose – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 87 – ETA: Season 14 – ML ready SP that will need at least one more season in AAA in order to reach his potential. In the argument for best pitching prospect in the game.
2. Felipe Reyes San Diego – DraftSea10Rd1 – Proj: 86 – ETA: Season 15 – A future ace, and one of the top SP prospects in the game.
3. Santos Quixote Durham – DraftSea10Rd1 – Proj:84 – ETA: Season 14 – Maybe the top SP prospect in the game. Should be a multiple all-star and candidate for the Cy Young.
4. Malcolm Rowe Syracuse – IFASea12 – Proj: 87 – ETA: Season 15 – Surefire #1 SP prospect with excellent control and stamina. Injury in rookie year shouldn’t slow him down, but effectiveness vs. righties might.
5. Junior Valdivia San Diego – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 85 – ETA: Season 15 – A future ace that, combined with Reyes, will give San Diego the top 1-2 rotation in the game. May not walk a batter his entire career.
6. Edgar Gonzalez Wichita – DraftRd1Sea12 - Proj: 84 – ETA: Season 15 – Should be a #1 SP. Great control and a beast against righties.
7. Steve Hoffman Milwaukee – DraftRd1Sea12 – Proj: 82 – ETA – Season 17 – Excellent #1SP prospect with great splits and two + pitches. Must stay healthy to fulfill his promise.
8. Edgar Gonzalez Wichita – DraftSea12Rd1 – Proj:84 – ETA: Season 15 – Solid #2 SP prospect with great control and vs. RH. Low stamina and vs. LH might prevent him from becoming a star.
9. Domingo Santos Helena – IFASea12 - Proj: 83 – ETA: Season 15 – Solid #2 SP prospect with great control. Can only throw three pitches.
10. Ronnie Patrick Wichita – DraftSea12Rd1 – Proj: 81 – ETA: Season 16 – Solid #2 SP prospect slowed down by elbow surgery in his rookie year. Good control and vs. RHP.
11. Al Iglesias Florida – IFASea12 – Proj: 83 – ETA: Season 16 – Should have a long career as a #2 or #3 SP. Might struggle due to lack of speed and number of pitches.
12. Donaldo Moreno Durham – IFASea10 – Proj: 80 – ETA: Season 15 – Flamethrower destined to be a #2 or #3 SP. Good pitches, good splits, no holes in his game.
13. Bob Kelly Florida – DraftSea8Rd1 – Proj:83 – ETA: Season 13 – Hampered by a labrum tear early in his career, Kelly should make the big squad next season as a #3 SP.
14. Stuffy Lombardi New Orleans – DraftSea10Rd1 – Proj:82 – ETA: Season 13 – He should make his debut for the Freebeads next season in the middle of the rotation. A little weak vs. lefties.
15. Jarrett Stechschulte Boise – DraftSea9Rd1 – Proj:81 – ETA: Season 13 – Solid #3 SP prospect limited by his stamina. Should have a long ML career.
16. Clarence Wood Durham – DraftSea12Rd1 – Proj: 81 – ETA: Season 15 – Solid #3 SP prospect slowed by a brief stint on the DL this season. Good control and vs RH.
17. Milt Blake New York – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 80 – ETA – Season 14 – Better than his projected overall rating, Blake has the stuff to anchor the Torrones staff for years to come – just don’t ask him to face righties.
18. Roberto Acosta Syracuse – IFASea11 – Proj: 80 – ETA – Season 14 – ML Ready pitcher with questionable stamina for SP. May end up being the best LRA in the game.
19. Jamie Martin Burlington – IFASea10 – Proj: 80 – ETA: Season 13 – Japanese fireballer prone to the long ball. Should be a solid #3 as long as he stays in a pitcher’s park.
20. Daniel Fitzgerald Florida – DraftSea9Rd1 – Proj: 80 – ETA: Season 14 – Solid but not spectacular. Destined for the middle of the rotation and should contribute for many seasons.
21. Willie Valdivia Buffalo – IFASea11 – Proj:79 – ETA: Season 15 - #3 OR #4 SP Prospect with dominant stuff vs. righties. May struggle with LH dominant line-ups.
22. Esteban Alomar San Jose – IFASea12 – Proj: 79 – ETA: Season 16 – Solid contributer that will spend his career in the middle of a rotation. Will struggle at times vs righties.
23. Pokey Hudson New Orleans – DraftSea11Rd1* - Proj: 78 – ETA: Season 14 – Solid 5 pitch SP with good control and splits. Should peak as a #3 SP.
24. Lee Helling Florida – DraftSea12Rd1 – Proj:79 – ETA: - Season 17 – Groundballer that will struggle vs. righties. Destined for the back of the rotation.
25. Emmanuel Nunez Milwaukee – IFASea12 – Proj: 78 – ETA: Season 14 – AAA SP that could use one more year in the minors. Contol and vs. RH issues will keep him towards the back of the rotation.