Top 25 Under 25

June 30, 2008
Jose Reyes' graduation is the first part of a Top-5 shakeup, but it isn't the last. Prince Fielder has been dethroned by Hanley Ramirez for the No. 1 spot on our big board. Evan Longoria has been mashing as of late, so it's no surprise that he's the week's highest riser. Andrew Miller, Billy Butler, and David Price sneak into the Top 25 this week, rounding things out at No. 23, 24, and 25, respectively.

 

We're gearing up for the Futures Game!
No.   Player   Pos.   Comments   Age   Org   Lvl   Pre.
1   Hanley Ramirez   SS   Back to old self: After posting .320 wOBA in May, he’s at .420 in June; chance for 35+ HR   24.5   FLA   MLB   2 ↑
2   Prince Fielder   1B   Here’s the meat: Fielder’s .574 SLG much closer to ’07 (.618) than it is to April, May (.450)   24.1   MIL   MLB   1 ↓
3   Tim Lincecum   RHP   Giants are 27-45 (.375) in games in which he doesn’t get a decision; he’s 9-1, 25.2% K rate   23.8   SF   MLB   3 ↔
4   Felix Hernandez   RHP   The King has been dominant all June: 24.5% K, 5.1% BB, 63% GB rates; 3.36 FIP in 108 IP   22.2   SEA   MLB   6 ↑
5   Scott Kazmir   LHP   Anti-Felix holds 33% GB rate in ’08, but having plenty of success: 27.0% K rate, 2.85 FIP   23.8   TB   MLB   9 ↑
6   Justin Upton   RF   Has fallen off significantly each month: .405 wOBA in April, .339 in May, just .264 in June   20.8   ARI   MLB   5 ↓
7   Ryan Braun   LF   Power, but little else: Braun’s slugging .552 (on pace for 40 HR), but has 5.2% BB rate   24.6   MIL   MLB   7 ↔
8   Brian McCann   C   Having his worst month of the year (.244/.320/.456), still .295/.365/.536 overall; .382 wOBA 24.3   ATL   MLB   8 ↔
9   Jay Bruce   CF   Cold as ice: Since .579/.680/.895 (25 PA) May, he’s .230/.282/.350 (111 PA) in June   21.2   CIN   MLB   9 ↑
10   Edinson Volquez   RHP   Allowed 3+ ER for 1st time in last start: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 7 R (5 ER), 3 BB; still, 2.95 FIP overall   24.9   CIN   MLB   12 ↑
11   Evan Longoria   3B   Evan Almighty, indeed: He's reached base 20 times in last 11 games; .312/.377/.688 in June   22.6   TB   MLB   17 ↑
12   Cole Hamels   LHP   After going combined 11.2 IP in previous 2 starts, Hamels has gone at least 7 IP in his last 5   24.5   PHI   MLB   10 ↓
13   B.J. Upton   CF   Power for patience: .508 SLG, 12.5% BB, 27.9% K in ’07 vs. .415, 16.8%, 19.7% in ‘08   23.8   TB   MLB   15 ↑
14   Clayton Kershaw   LHP   Hey, rookie: 2.16 FIP, 26.9% K, 8.6% BB in Double-A vs. 4.44, 19.6%, 14.9% in the bigs   20.2   LAD   MLB   14 ↔
15   Nick Markakis   RF   May flowers bring June domination: .343/.449/.535 this month after a .231/.304/.442 May   24.6   BAL   MLB   18 ↑
16   Clay Buchholz   RHP   Buck stops here: Clay having his way with Triple-A hitters this month: 26% K, 7.7% BB   23.8   BOS   MLB   13 ↓
17   Yovani Gallardo   RHP   6-2, 220-pounder will miss remainder of 2008 season following surgery on torn right ACL   22.3   MIL   MLB   16 ↓
18   Joba Chamberlain   RHP   Joba has been on a role as of late: 18.1 IP, 16 H, 2 R (2 ER), 8 BB, 18 K in last 3 starts   22.7   NYY   MLB   20 ↑
19   Alex Gordon   3B   Having his slowest month of the year: .213/.309/.426; .334 wOBA in ’08 up 23 pts. from ‘07   24.3   KC   MLB   19 ↔
20   Matt LaPorta   LF   Plenty of power (.592 SLG), patience (12.8% BB) this year; ridiculous .441 wOBA in June   23.4   MIL   AA   24 ↑
21   Matt Wieters   C   He’s .300/.364/.400 in 1st 11 Double-A PA; .418 wOBA, 17.2% BB rate in High-A (285 PA)   22.1   BAL   AA   24 ↑
22   Chad Billingsley   RHP   Needs to lower his walk rate (10.8%) to be an ace, but 24.5% K rate, 3.42 FIP a good start   23.9   LAD   MLB   25 ↑
23   Andrew Miller   LHP   Don't let the 5.05 ERA fool you: Opponents have a .358 BABIP off the lefty; solid 3.59 FIP   23.1   FLA   MLB   26 ↑
24   Billy Butler   1B   Enjoying his old stomping grounds: He's .333/.423/.578 in Triple-A this month; .430 wOBA   22.2   KC   MLB   29 ↑
25   David Price   LHP   Price's line from his AA debut: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 7 K; 1.77 FIP in High-A (34.2 IP)   22.8   TB   AA   NR ↑
Honorables: Colby Rasmus (STL), Chris Young (ARI), Jeremy Hermida (FLA), Zack Greinke (KC), Johnny Cueto (CIN), and Cameron Maybin (FLA).
Graduated (final ranking): Jose Reyes (4).                
Dropped out of Top 25 (previous ranking): Chris Young (21) and Zack Greinke (22).                
* Our rankings combine a player's ceiling with the odds that he'll reach it and favor recent production                
*** Ages are as of June 30th, 2008                
**** Level is the highest level the player has reached                
                             
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Adam Loberstein can be reached at aloberstein@projectprospect.com. Adam Foster can be reached at adamf@projectprospect.com.