There’s a lot of annual movement along the Top 100 landscape. By early-2008, fans will be acquainted with dozens of newly crowned Top 100 prospects. Or you can get ahead by reading about them now.
More than a third of last year’s Top 100 prospects will not make 2008 lists due to injuries and big league graduations alone. I covered most of the pitchers from 2007 Top 100 lists who have already suffered severe injuries in my May 11th column. And I’ll continue to note the elite prospects who graduate to the big leagues in my weekly Top 25 rankings.
So far, the following Top 100 players have graduated to the big leagues (more than 130 career at-bats or 50.0 innings pitched): Delmon Young (1), Alex Gordon (2), Daisuke Matsuzaka (3), Mike Pelfrey (10), Troy Tulowitzki (11), Chris Young (13), Adam Lind (32), Jason Hirsh (33), Elijah Dukes (45), Chris Iannetta (57), Erick Aybar (64), Kevin Kouzmanoff (70), Dustin Pedroia (74), Alberto Callaspo (80), and Jonathan Sanchez (97).
I also identified ten young bucks from Low-A who are 2008 Top 100 material in my May 4th column. So who else is worth noting before we start getting into the 2008 draft class? How about some of the players who just missed the honorable mentions section of this week’s Top 50 Rankings Update?
Note: I’m ignoring 2007 Top 100 guys for the sake of introducing fresh faces.
Wladimir Balentien, OF, SEA, AAA (7/2/84) – For an organization that didn’t seem to be booming with talent when we assessed it last offseason, Seattle has its share of emerging prospects – see Carlos Triunfel and Chris Tillman. While Balentien had a forgettable stint in Double-A last year (.230/.337/.435), he’s making that a distant memory with his excellent start in Triple-A. Hitting .326/.397/.554, Balentien is also easily on pace for an efficient 20/20 season – already 10/10.
Collin Balester, RHP, WAS, AA (6/6/86) – Much has been made in our forums about how Collin Balester is having a much better season than Jaime Garcia, who at about the same age level as Balester made our Top 50. So why didn’t we pull the trigger on the 2004 4th rounder? He doesn’t have a large enough sample of impressive work. The 6-foot-5, 190-pounder is less than a year removed from putting up a 1.52 WHIP in High-A. But if Balester keeps up his Double-A success (3.33 K/BB rate, 1.32 WHIP), he’ll at least make the tail end of our 2008 Top 100 list.
Francisco Cervelli, C, NYY, A+ (3/6/86) – Cervelli could be within months of getting a HUGE boost from the same Yankee hype machine that made Humbeto Sanchez a future top-of-the-rotation starter. So grab him now and enjoy the ride. He’s hitting .347/.439/.466 through 118 High-A at-bats – leads all Yankees’ minor leaguers in batting average. If you've been wondering who could replace Jorge Posada in two or three years, Cervelli is definitely someone to follow.
Jared Goedert, 3B, CLE, A (5/25/85) – Goedert entered Thursday with the second-most home runs in the minors (15). He has 35 BB vs. 26 K and is batting .349/.471/.704. Sure, we’re talking about a college guy who’s in Low-A, but odds are Goedert will carry his success over to High-A later this season. When you’re a 9throunder coming out of a college, you have to earn your way to the majors. Goedert is doing that.
Chase Headley, 3B, SD, AA (5/9/85) – When I went to the Arizona Fall League last November, fans were heckling Headley by calling him “Deadly Headley.” And though Headley did struggle in the AFL (.257/.380/.406), the former Tennessee standout is absolutely dominating the Texas League (.344/.434/.581). Headley has the potential to be a solid big leaguer. The switch-hitter could wrestle San Diego’s third base job away from Kevin Kouzmanoff next season.
Gorkys Hernandez, OF, DET, A (9/7/87) – There’s a lot more to Gorkys than a first name that never gets old. He’s swiping bags at an amazing rate (20-for-23). He’s a teenager with a .750+ OPS in a full-season league. And he puts the ball in play. If you don’t mind taking a gamble on a high-risk, high-upside guy, Hernandez has a chance to eventually become an elite prospect.
Desmond Jennings, OF, TB, A (10/30/86) – Perhaps just another toolsy teaser, Jennings is producing in Low-A. He’s batting .317/.400/.443 with three home runs through his first 167 at-bats in Columbus and has also stolen 18 bases in 27 attempts. That success rate (66.7%) won’t cut it in the upper minors, but it gives you an idea of how fast he is.
Kevin Mulvey, RHP, NYM, AA (5/26/85) – Last year’s 67th overall pick, Mulvey has only struck out 17.96% of the 245 pro batters he’s faced. But he isn’t walking anyone and he’s keeping the ball in the yard. The 21-year-old is being moved through the minors relatively aggressively, so his WHIP (1.19) and BB/K ratio (3.39) may be better indicators of his potential than his strikeout rate right now.
Wade Townsend, RHP, TB, A (2/22/83) – He’s baaaaack! While Jeff Niemann and Phil Humber – Townsend’s Rice teammates and fellow 2004 1st rounders – both made our quarter-season Top 50 Rankings Update, Townsend is proving healthy and dominant in Low-A (44 K vs. 15 BB with a 1.10 WHIP in 36.1 IP). The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder will likely be promoted through the minors aggressively. So keep a close watch on what he does against more advanced competition.
Sean Watson, RHP, CIN, A (7/24/85) – The former Tennessee closer entered Thursday tied for 4th in the minors in strikeouts with 64. I usually bet against closers who are converted to starters, but Watson is starting to prove that he has the stuff to start – after being drafted 52nd overall last June. Now he just needs to spend some time building up his arm strength.
Who am I missing? Email me at adamwfoster@gmail.com with other players who you think should be on the '08 Top 100 radar.