Community Top 25 Prospects

September 22, 2008

Our 2007 Community Top 25 only had 12 participants. This year, 23 got involved. We try to post a steady flow of articles, but really our community is what makes this site. Researching prospects 365 days a year and openly sharing what they come across, they're a A-class task force of minor league fans and college fanatics with a touch of Indy ball. Make sure to check out their work in our forums. Now without further adieu, the 2008 Project Prospect Community End of the Season Top 25:

 

Our second annual community Top 25 prospect list
No.   Player   Pos   Comments   Age   Org   Lvl   Pts
1   Matt Wieters   C   Obliterated High-A and Double-A competition in his pro debut: .355/.454/.600; AFL bound   22   Bal   AA   681
2   David Price   LHP   Reached the bigs in first full season; 25.5% K, 7.0% BB in 102.2 MiLB IP (A+/AA/AAA)   23   TB   MLB   648
3   Jason Heyward   RF   7th high schooler taken in '07; No. 1 high school product here; .375 wOBA in Low-A   19   ATL   A+   575
4   Colby Rasmus   CF   His '08 vital line is nearly identical to '06 A+ line; growing pains or sign of things to come?   22   STL   AAA   564
5   Matt LaPorta   1B   Tore apart AA Huntsville (369 PA), slowed at AA Akron (68 PA); .279/.386/.539 overall   23   CLE   AA   551
6   Rick Porcello   RHP   If his K% was higher, he'd probably be Top 5 on this list: 6.3% BB, 13.7% K, 65% GB   19   DET   A+   526
7   Cameron Maybin   CF   Strikeouts continue to be a problem (26.8% this year in AA), but his power is for real   21   FLA   MLB   499
8   Trevor Cahill   RHP   Rare combo of strikeout arsenal and ground-ball tedencies; 27.5% K, 10.1% BB, 63% GB 20   OAK   AA   488
9   Mike Moustakas   3B   Monster 2nd half fueled youngster to 22 HR year; .321/.392/.557 after the All-Star break   20   KC   A   475
10   Travis Snider   RF   Approach will lead to Ks; has enough power to make up for it; potential MLB starter in '09 20   TOR   MLB   457
11   Madison Bumgarner   LHP   Too good for Low-A: 29.4% K, 4.0% BB, 44% GB, 2.14 FIP; can he do the same in A+?   19   SF   A   437
12   Andrew McCutchen   CF   Solid AAA season: .283/.371/.398 still didn't provide evidence that he can hit for power   21   PIT   AAA   405
13   Neftali Feliz   LHP   Owned Low-A; was great in AA, though BB% rose almost 4% and K% dropped 7.3%   20   TEX   AA   375
14   Chris Tillman   RHP   In 135.2 AA innings: 26.6% K, 11.2% BB, 40% GB, 3.46 FIP; may have an arm injury   20   BAL   AA   361
15   Dexter Fowler   CF   Stellar AA season prompted Sept. call-up: .335/.424/.515 w/ .409 BABIP (23% LD) in AA   22   COL   MLB   340
16   Brett Anderson   LHP   Went from A+ to AA to AAA with stops at Futures Game and the Olympics in between   20   OAK   AAA   330
17   Tim Beckham   SS   2008's No. 1 overall pick has highest prep upside since J. Upton; .287 wOBA (189 PA)   18   TB   R   220
18   Tim Alderson   RHP   As if numbers weren't impressive enough (3.23 FIP, 5.9% BB), he did it in the Cal League   19   SF   A+   217
19   Lars Anderson   1B   Quieted critics by going .316/.436/.526 (164 PA) in AA; .412 wOBA vs. .397 in A+   20   BOS   AA   208
20   Jarrod Parker   RHP   Consistent all season, finished with 3.22 FIP, 23.3% K, 6.6% BB in 117.2 IP   19   ARI   A   205
21   Mat Gamel   3B   After .375/.433/.612 start, went just .189/.283/.315 (127 AB) in AA post All-Star break   23   MIL   AAA   185
22   Justin Smoak   1B   2008's No. 11 pick is excellent combo of power, patience; .304/.355/.518 in 62 A PA   21   TEX   A   158
23   Pedro Alvarez   3B   No. 2 pick's talents have been overshadowed by contract woes; looking for $6+ million   21   PIT   NCAA   128
24   Brandon Wood   3B   AAA wOBA of .409 his highest since 43-HR showing (.432 wOBA) in A+ in 2005   23   LAA   MLB   123
25   Jesus Montero   C   6-foot-4, 225-pounder may not stick behind plate, but bat (.371 wOBA) plays anywhere   18   NYY   A   103
Honorables: Austin Jackson (NYY), Jhoulys Chacin (COL), Derek Holland (TEX), Fernando Martinez (NYM), and Elvis Andrus (ATL).      

 

Frederick played an instrumental role in organizing this list. Please contact him at nicholasfrederickcody@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments.