Youngest Players by Level

June 2, 2007
Editor's Note: While we give numbers quite a bit of attention here at Project Prospect, you won't see us writing about tools too often. Details about tools are interesting and valuable when it comes to a prospect's ceiling, but there are other signs of advanced skills that we reference all the time.


One of those signs is age compared to level. Large samples of age and levels have a lot to do with how we rank players. Sean has spent hours combing through every major and minor league roster in baseball for the youngest players. We talked him into letting us publish his work.


Major Leagues
Phil Hughes, RHP, NYY (6/24/86): Moved quickly with Yankee injuries; had a no-no in his second start until coming out with a pulled hamstring.

Felix Hernandez, RHP, SEA (4/8/86): Amazing that he's still on a list like this through 50 GS; easily the most dominant young starter in the game.

Carlos Gomez, OF, NYM (12/4/85): Might only be up for a few more weeks but Gomez has a very high ceiling, despite not having great minor league numbers.

Delmon Young, OF, TB (9/14/85): The man with the bat; consensus Top 3 prospect to start the season has disappointed some, but others knew he was going to have an adjustment period.

Ryan Feierabend, LHP, SEA (8/22/85): You should eventually notice a trend: The Mets and Mariners love to push there prospects; either way this is one promising lefty.

Honorable Mentions: Jarrod Saltalamacchia (5/2/85), John Danks (4/15/85), Tyler Clippard (2/14/85), and Eric O' Flaherty (2/5/85).


Triple-A
Homer Bailey, RHP, CIN (5/3/86): A seemingly consensus Top 3 pitching prospect coming into the season; has disappointed some so far, but last three starts have been impressive.

Billy Butler, OF/1B, KC (4/18/86): The man with no position, not that he needs one because he can rake all day long.

Yovani Gallardo, RHP, MIL (2/27/86): Has absolutely dominated AAA this year, should soon be dominating the NL Central.

Daric Barton, 1B, OAK (8/16/85): Seems like the past two years have been down years for him, but he is still young and therefore there is time to regain his old form.

Adam Jones, OF, SEA (8/1/85): Has been killing the ball in AAA so far this year; some scouts say he has all the tools to be like a Carlos Beltran.

Honorable Mentions: Lastings Milledge (4/5/85), Ian Stewart (4/5/85), Brandon Wood (3/2/85), Matt Moses (2/20/85), Ryan Sweeney (2/20/85), and Felix Pie (2/8/85).


Double-A
Fernando Martinez, OF, NYM (10/10/88): Began the season 22 months younger than anyone else in AA; his .743 OPS is staggering for his age/level.

Justin Upton, OF, ARI (8/25/87): An early favorite for the No. 1 spot on ’08 Top 100 lists; after a down-year Upton has shown people why he was so highly regarded coming out of HS.

Bryan Anderson, C, STL (12/16/86): Not really highly known coming into this year but he’s making a name for himself this year.

Andrew McCutchen, OF, PIT (10/10/86): After a fast start to his career, McCutchen has disappointed this year.

Michael Bowden, RHP, BOS (9/9/86): After dominating High-A got the promotion to AA; has walked 11 in 14 IP, but he should come around.

Honorable Mentions: Nick Adenhart (8/24/86), Colby Rasmus (8/11/86), Jaime Garcia (7/8/86), Mike Carp (6/30/86), Trevor Plouffe (6/15/86), Collin Balester (6/6/86), Gaby Hernandez (5/21/86), Matt Tuiasosopo (5/10/86), and Jose Coronado (4/13/86).


High-A
Deolis Guerra, RHP, NYM (4/17/89)
: Some say he already has the best changeup in the Mets’ system and he touched 96 MPH earlier in the year with his fastball.

Elvis Andrus, SS, ATL (8/26/88): Some are growing impatient with him, saying he needs to put up better numbers, but he is still very young and performing well for his age/level.

Jose Tabata, OF, NYY (8/12/88): The Yankees undisputed best position prospect, if all goes well will be an all-star player for many years.

Brandon Erbe, RHP, BAL (12/25/87): So far Erbe has disappointed many in High-A; many thought his dominating stuff would make him very effective early on, give him time.

Jose Guzman, RHP, OAK (11/5/87): Pitcher out of the Dominican Republic has gotten off to a very rough start in High-A despite pitching fairly well last year.

Honorable Mentions: Luis Sanchez (5/27/87), Ivan De Jesus (5/1/87), Cameron Maybin (4/4/87), Jay Bruce (4/3/87), Shairon Martis (3/30/87), Carlos Carrasco (3/21/87), Daniel Cortes (3/4/87), Aaron Thompson (2/28/87), Will Inman (2/6/87), and Travis Wood (2/6/87).


Low-A
Carlos Triunfel, SS, SEA (2/27/90)
: Has impressed many so far this year, and will likely continuing to impress; possible Top 50 prospect by the end of the year.

Francisco Pena, C, NYM (10/12/89): The son of Tony Pena, only time will tell if he was so highly regarded for his name or talent, but so far so good for Francisco.

Hancer Vargas, SS, CHW (12/5/88): The shortstop out of the Dominican Republic has gotten off to a terrible start this year and may be overmatched, but should turn it around.

Jeanmar Gomez, RHP, CLE (10/2/88): Venezuelan starting pitcher hasn't gotten off to a great start, but had a perfect game into the 6th earlier this year.

Billy Rowell, 3B, BAL (9/10/88): The first position player selected out of high school in last years draft returned from an oblique injury in late-May.

Honorable Mentions : Alex Liddi (8/14/88), Christopher Marrero (7/2/88), Greg Veloz (6/3/88), Marcus Lemon (6/3/88), Carlos Rivero (5/20/88), Jason Place (5/8/88), and Luis Ramirez (5/3/88).

 

Sean Halloran can be reached at bigboy1234@sbcglobal.net.