My Top 30 Prospects

[Skars]

I can't say for sure that I would pick each player over the one directly beneath them, but i certainly put a lot of thought into the way they are ordered. If you have any questions as to how/why i ranked certain guys a certain way feel free to ask

01. RHP Philip Hughes
02. RF Jose Tabata
03. RHP Humberto Sanchez (taking a chance on his ability to stay healthy, he's got easy #1-2 stuff
04. RHP Joba Chamberlain
05. RHP Dellin Betances
06. RHP Tyler Clippard
07. RHP Jeff Marquez (continues to make improvements, underrated by many, hes got sick stuff)
08. C Jesus Montero (he's going to be okay, dont get upset about the rumors, hes only 16 after all)
09. 3B Marcos Vechionacci (30+ HR potential, gold glover, more walks than Ks, the kid is going to take some time, but give it to him)
10. LHP Angel Reyes (so underrated its ridiculous)
11. RHP Ian Kennedy
12. RHP Kevin Whelan (outside of a poor stretch early in the season, control was fine. Elite closer-type stuff, neck and neck with Melancon but better health obviously)
13. 1B Eric Duncan (showed he could hit when he was healthy, taking a big flier on him here, hoping he can find a way to stabilize that back)
14. RHP Zach McAllister (already on the Hughes-diet, has the frame, pitched great after mechanical reworking, big sleeper)
15. RHP J.B Cox (should be ready soon, groundball machine but changeup should keep lefties shot)
16. RHP Ross Ohrendorf (i actually don't like him as much as some of the guys below him, and im split on picking between him and Jackson, but i'm gonna go with the more optimistic reports about his velocity and secondary stuff)
17. SS Eduardo Nunez (i hate putting him this low because hes got incredible talent but that's a function of the improvements in the system). he was pushed way too hard)
18. RHP Alan Horne (for a 23 year old he's raw in a sense, but hes got a big ceiling)
19. RHP Christian Garcia (he's easy top 10 for me but TJ will knock him out for a year, don't forget about him)
20. RHP George Kontos (mmmm more power arms)
21. 1B Gerardo Rodriguez (Pat Teale from scout loves him, and i'm gonna trust him on this one)
22. CF Brett Gardner (not really high on him, but his elite defense and small ball abilities make him very valuable)
23. RHP Tim Norton (see Kontos)
24. RHP Anthony Claggett (Wouldnt be surprised to see him in the top 15 after 07, he's got a great arm and already showing plus velocity and a dominating slider)
25. RHP Mark Melancon (TJ knocks him down about 10 rungs)
26. CF Austin Jackson (gonna need plenty of time, he's got elite tools but insanely raw)
27. RHP Steven Jackson (see Ohlendorf)
28. SS Alberto Gonzalez (nice guy to have in the system)
29. CF Tim Battle (07 is a big year for him, he'll be in estee harris-land soon if he cant figure out how to stop guessing on everything)
30. LHP Chase Wright (probably underrated here, but he's a question mark leaving the friendly FSL and with his new breaking ball)

On the outside (limited upside guys)
RHP Steven White
RHP Jeff Karstens
RHP Brett Smith
SS Mitch Hilligoss
OF Colin Curtis
OF Bronson Sardinha

To Watch for 07:
RHP Ivan Nova
RHP Francisco Castillo
LHP Andres Santos
RHP Hairo Heredia
RHP David Robertson
RHP Ferdin Tejeda
RHP Jesse Hoover
RHP Erick Abreu/Antigua
RHP Lance Pendleton
RHP Jason Stephens
LHP Francisco Daniel Gil
LHP Wilkins De La Rossa
1B Juan Miranda
OF Melky Mesa
2B Prilys Cuello
OF Josue Calzado
OF Andres Dionicio Tineo
OF Carlos Urena
SS Jose Pirela
2B Abraham Almonte
OF Zolio Almonte
C Francisco Cervelli

[CallOfTheCrow]

Are you basing these on tools, ceilings/what they're capable of at their peak, how they've performed thus far.......etc etc?

[Skars]

I'm trying to find a middle ground between tools and performance, probably more emphasis on ceiling than performance (Montero, Betances, Chamberlain, McAllister benefit from this). I've seen a good number of these players play one way or another so i think i got a decent grip on it. I'm excited about the crop of International players coming next year. This system is going to be an absolute powerhouse.

Basically i'm saying that I would trade Betances before Tabata, Duncan before Nacci, Kontos before Horne, and Battle before Jackson

[BomberBrian]

i'm fairly certain mine would be considerably different.

[Skars]

any hints as to how it would be different specifically?

I'm guessing most would have a problem with Jackson being so low, and Nacci being so high, but Nacci is a much better baseball player now and likely going forward. Jackson is an athlete (like Battle) who we hope will learn to play baseball well at some point. He's a poor defender, he's a poor contact hitter, and he's just a line drive hitter without much loft in his swing. This could change in time, but Nacci has already rounded out much of his game and hes the same age as Jackson

[BomberBrian]

#'s 7-10 are all a little high for my liking.

duncan and nunez i think are too high.

i'd bump gardner up considerably.

i'd take curtis over battle.

[Skars]

Regarding Gardner, how good of a cut and slash guy can he be if he can't make consistent contact?

Regarding Curtis, he's as much of a guess on promise as any, at least Battle has more tools. Curtis has a nice swing, but its all line drives, he doesnt have a real projectable frame for power, and he's already just an average CF relying on instincts. He's like Melky but he's the same age and in short season ball. He was a nice prospect out of high school but he hasnt developed that power yet.

[philleotardo]

Regarding Gardner, how good of a cut and slash guy can he be if he can't make consistent contact?

Regarding Curtis, he's as much of a guess on promise as any, at least Battle has more tools. Curtis has a nice swing, but its all line drives, he doesnt have a real projectable frame for power, and he's already just an average CF relying on instincts. He's like Melky but he's the same age and in short season ball. He was a nice prospect out of high school but he hasnt developed that power yet.

What kind of throwing arm does Curtis have?

[mbn007]

I saw Curtis and Hilligos last year.

You are short-changing them. They really look like the real goods, although Hilligos needs to find a position.

[budstinks]

Marquez has talent, his performance just hasn't matched up.

I like your list for the most part. Pretty solid list.

Getting deeper and deeper each year. Angel Reyes is my pick for break out player of the year.

David Robertson will be top 20 by June.

[gdn]

Bumped the thread with our individual lists

http://forums.nyyfans.com/showthread...82#post3842482

reworked mine to include the new acquisitions.

[destiNY]

I'm high on Curtis, more than Hilligoss. I'm surprised Sickels gave him more props, maybe because Hilligoss can play multiple infield positions?

[mbn007]

I'm high on Curtis, more than Hilligoss. I'm surprised Sickels gave him more props, maybe because Hilligoss can play multiple infield positions?

Maybe because Hilligos projects to have more pop?

[destiNY]

Maybe because Hilligos projects to have more pop?

Does anyone else have Hilligoss higher on their list than Curtis?

[gdn]

I don't. I think Scout might, I don't remember.

[shroud]

What happened to the talk regarding Hiligoss' move to C? I think I recall him being opposed to to it initially.

[gdn]

What happened to the talk regarding Hiligoss' move to C? I think I recall him being opposed to to it initially.

I think it was just that - talk. There hasn't been any more talk of that. It's not ruled out, but it hasn't happened yet.