Top 25 Non-Top 100 Prospects

May 6, 2008

With 139 of the games best prospects unavailable for me to choose from, creating a Top 25 list of players not on any of the five main industry Top 100's was a difficult task. Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, ESPN, Project Prospect, and Mound Talk all built very strong, yet very different Top 100 lists. My job is to find the best of the rest.

As the season matures, the Top 25 Non-Top 100 Prospect list will take it's shape. Early on, however, it will be volatile as we separate the real from the fake. Something that appears not to be fake are the skills that Michael Saunders brings to the table. With Jordan Schafer suspended, Saunders may take his place as one of the premier center field prospects in the game.

 

Remember to check back in two weeks for another updated Top 25 Non-Top 100 Prospect list!
No.   Player   Pos.   Comments   Age   Org   Lvl   Pre.
1   Michael Saunders   CF   Huge OPS increase in AA (.809 in '07, .949 in '08); K% much improved (33.3% to 22.4%)   21.4   SEA   AA   1 ↑
2   Henry Rodriguez   RHP   Poor command in '07 (16.2 BB%); Great in A+ in '08 (7.4 BB%); Disturbing in AA (22.2 BB%)   21.1   OAK   AA   2 ↓
3   Todd Frazier   SS   Has done nothing but hit since being a pro (.943 OPS in '07, 1.000 in '08) -- Move him up!   22.2   CIN   A   3 ↔
4   Cedric Hunter   CF   Showing superb contact skills (11.4 BB%, 9.3 K%); Handling A+ very well despite his age   20.1   SD   A+   6 ↑
5   Sean Rodriguez   SS   Missed a week due to injury, 3-for-29 since returning (including MLB), still having big season   23.0   LAA   MLB   10 ↑
6   Ivan De Jesus   SS   Breakout season continues -- (15.6 BB%, .810 OPS); 21-year-old SS is young for the level   20.9   LAD   AA   24 ↑
7   Brandon Erbe   RHP   Dramatic decline in BB% (4.2% in '08); Move to AA is imminent -- will walks increase there?   20.3   BAL   A+   7 ↔
8   Jonathon Niese   LHP   Solid in all statistical areas, not particularly strong in any (10.1 BB%, 19.6 K%, 59 GB%)   21.4   NYM   AA   8 ↓
9   Clayton Tanner   LHP   Handling CAL league respectfully (7.4 BB%, 15.4 K%, 56 GB%, 3.51 FIP); AA soon enough   20.3   SF   A+   9 ↓
10   Justin Jackson   SS   Teen SS having huge bounce back from pro debut, .410 wOBA, 13.8 BB% .939 OPS in '08   19.3   TOR   A   13 ↑
11   Julio Teheran   RHP   Anticipating what this kid does is excrutiating, have absurdly high hopes for the 17 y/o   17.2   ATL   SS   11 ↔
12   Peter Kozma   SS   Projected slap hitter showing suprising power (.486 SLG%) along with discipline (11.3 BB%) 20.0   STL   A   26 ↑
13   Max Ramirez   C   Mashing all season long (.492 wOBA, 1.175 OPS, 7 HR); Can he surpass Salty and Tea?   23.5   TEX   AA   28 ↑
14   Daniel Moskos   LHP   Half of him being this high is draft position (4th overall in '07); 3.78 FIP is okay, K-rates aren't   20.6   PIT   A+   9 ↓
15   Nick Noonan   2B   3 BB on the season (2 came in one game) is a problem; 19-year-old still has solid upside   18.9   SF   A   4 ↓
16   Nick Evans   1B   BB and K% improving (8.0%, 17.6% overall); .398 wOBA and .267 isoP, look out Delgado   22.2   NYM   AA   14 ↓
17   Pablo Sandoval   C   Was solid in A+ in '07, amazing in '08 through 40 AB…60 AB…100 AB… Breakout for real?   21.7   SF   A+   NR ↑
18   Josh Outman   LHP   Needs to bring BB% down in '08 (12.7%); Besides that looking strong (25.4 K%, 3.10 FIP)   23.6   PHI   AA   17 ↓
19   Josh Reddick   RF   Missed beginning of season, looks like consistant upper .800 OPS hitter, good contact hitter   21.1   BOS   A+   27 ↑
20   Brett Gardner   CF   Showing solid to strong tools across the board (11.2 BB%, 18.4 K%, .464 slugging, 5 SB)   22.6   NYY   AAA   15 ↓
21 a
 Antonio Bastardo   LHP   Short lefty dominated High-A (8.3 BB%, 39.2 K%), will fly ball tendencies catch up in AA?   22.5   PHI   AA   NR ↑
22   Wilmer Font   RHP   Another all about anticipation, although Teheran has more hype, '07 gives us taste (28.5 K%) 17.9   TEX   SS   22 ↔
23   Andrew Lambo   LF   Good discipline (9.3 BB% in '08), with strong power potential (.485 SLG%) is a nice combo   19.6   LAD   A   23 ↔
24   Dae-Eun Rhee   RHP   Hasn't pitched since April 22nd, rates across the board are great (7.5 BB, 23.9 K, 63 GB)   19.0   CHC   A   19 ↓
25   Bud Norris   RHP   Jumped on scene in Winter ball (32.6 K%), similar results in '08 (8.7 BB%, 31.5 K%, 3.03 FIP)   23.1   HOU   AA   NR ↑
Honorables: Chris Coghlan (FLA), Charlie Morton (ATL), Zach McCallister (NYY), Jhoulys Chacin (COL), Logan Morrison, (FLA) Sean Doolittle (OAK)
Graduated (final ranking): None                
Dropped out of Top 25 (previous ranking): Omar Poveda (12), Chris Coghlan (16), Cale Iorg (18), J.P. Arencibia (20), Justin Maxwell (21), and Nick
Hagadone (25).                        
* Our rankings combine a player's ceiling with the odds that he'll reach it and favor recent production                
*** Ages are as of May 7th, 2008                
**** Level is the highest level the player has reached                
                             
<<< Our April 30th 25 non Top 100                
<<< Discuss these rankings                    
                             

 

Brett Sullivan can be reached at sullivan10x@yahoo.com.