Prospect Lists 2012-13

[Edgy MD]

Time for you to adopt Sally League Sexpot Michael Fulmer.

[Frayed Knot]

The best explanation is: opinions vary.

Fulmer (spelled with one L) is a RHP out of an Oklanhoma HS who was the 44th overall draft pick the same year Nimmo was 13th (2011).
That he was a compensation pick from the Yanquis in exchange for their signing of Pedro Feliciano makes his progress a win-win-win situation so far.

But once you get to that part of the list you're really just hair-splitting anyway. I'm sure someone else could make the argument that Nimmo deserves to be on the inside of the top-100 and Fulmer outside and it's not like it's going to make any difference.

[Frayed Knot]

John Sickels pre-season prospects list.
d'Arnaud = 13th
Wheeler = 15
Syndergaard = 22
Fulmer = 86
Flores = 118

[Frayed Knot]

A composite list of best overall prospects headed into this season based on five different ones I followed this winter: BA, BP, MLB.com (J. Mayo), ESPN (K. Law), Sickels

1 - Jurickson Profar - SS, Rangers -- Saw ML action late last year and will probably be starting SS from opening day

2 - Oscar Tavares - OF, Cardinals -- Played in AA in 2012; will probably see the big club before the year is out even though he doesn't turn 21 until June.

3 - Dylan Bundy - RHP, Orioles -- 4th overall draft pick in 2011 out of HS in Oklahoma, pitched in low-A, high-A, AA last season plus 5 late season innings for the O's

4 - Wil Myers - OF, Rays -- 3rd round pick (as a catcher) by KC in 2009. Strictly an OF now, was dealt to the Rays over the winter after being briefly linked in rumors to Dickey deals. Either starts the year in Tampa or gets there as soon as they can delay his arb & FA

5 - Gerrit Cole - RHP, Pirates -- #1 overall pick out of UCLA in 2011 (3 years after spurning the Yanx' late 1st-round pick out of HS), will probably start the year in AAA

6 - Jose Fernandez - RHP, Marlins -- 14th overall pick in 2011 (1 slot after B. Nimmo) out of a Tampa-area HS, reached high-A last season and won't turn 21 until late in the year

7 - Xander Bogaerts - SS, Red Sox -- Signed out of Aruba, reached AA as a 19 y/o in 2012

8 - Zack Wheeler - RHP, Mets

9 - Taijuan Walker - RHP, Mariners -- 1st round Supp (43rd overall) pick in 2010 out of Calif HS; played in AA at age 19 and then was fake traded this winter before Justin Upton nixed the deal.

10 - Miguel Sano - 3B, Twins -- 19 y/o (20 in May) Dominican prospect with big power projections. Probably slated for high-A to start 2013

11 - Tyler Scaggs - LHP, DBacks -- No, not a country music star, but the 1st round supp pick (#40) in 2009 by the Angels who was then dealt to Arizona for Dan Haren just a year later. Made six ML starts at the end of 2012 and one would assume he's there for good now

12 - Christian Yelich, OF, Marlins -- 21 y/o; 1st round HS pick in 2010 (23rd); looks to be headed to AA this year

13 - Travis d'Arnaud - C, Mets

14 - Shelby Miller - RHP, Cards -- 1st round HS pick in 2009, got two ML starts at the end of last season

15 - Jameson Taillon - RHP, Pirates -- 2nd overall pick out of HS in 2010; pitched most of last season in high-A at age 20

16 - Billy Hamilton - OF, Reds -- Record-breaking speedster is being converted from 2B to CF. Split 2012 between high-A & AA

17 - Francisco Lindor - SS, Indians -- 8th overall pick from Florida HS in 2011; pitched in low-A last season

18 - Trevor Bauer - RHP, Indians -- 3rd overall pick in 2011 by Arizona out of UCLA, was (to the surprise of many) dealt away this winter to Cleveland where he could start the season

19 - Byron Buxton - OF, Twins -- #2 overall pick just last June, then got 165 ABs in Rookie ball (GCL & Appy)

20 - Mike Zunino - C, Mariners -- 3rd round pick from U-Florida last June. Looks to begin 2013 in AA
------------------------------
21 - Javier Baez - SS, Cubs
22 - Carlos Correa - SS, Astros
23 - Kevin Gausman - RHP, Orioles
24 - Archie Bradley - RHP, DBacks
25 - Anthony Rendon - 3B, Nationals
26 - Addison Russell - SS, A's
27 - Albert Almora - OF, Cubs
28 - Jonathan Singleton - 1B, Astros
29 - Kyle Zimmer - RHP, Royals
30 - Carlos Martinez - RHP, Cardinals
31 - Jackie Bradley - OF, Red Sox
32 - Mike Olt - 3B, Rangers
33 - Jorge Soler - OF, Cubs
34 - Nick Castellanos - 3B, Tigers
35 - Julio Teheran - RHP, Braves
36 - Danny Hultzen - LHP, Mariners
37 - Aaron Sanchez - RHP, Blue Jays
38 - Chris Archer - RHP, Rays
39 - Gary Sanchez - C, Yankees
40 - Noah Syndergaard - RHP, Mets

[Frayed Knot]

John Sickels updates his pre-season Top-150 prospects list with a mid-season Top-75

Wheeler (15th pre-season) is eliminated from the list on the basis of being on his way to losing his eligibility status.
Syndergaard, Montero and Flores move up while d'Arnaud loses ground on account of not playing enough this year.

Syndergaard (22nd pre-season to 11th) -- JS: His breaking ball looks good enough to me. The stats are there, the stuff is there, the body is there.

Montero (previously unranked to 50th) -- has boosted his stock by maintaining command in Double-A and not getting killed after moving up to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Flores (118th to 71st) -- Las Vegas inflates his numbers to some extent, but I think he continues to make steady progress.

d'Arnaud (13th to 22nd) -- Staying healthy is a tool (or a skill); either way it is a factor, especially for a player in a demanding defensive position.

[Edgy MD]

Pickles wrote: d'Arnaud (13th to 22nd) -- Staying healthy is a tool (or a skill); either way it is a factor, especially for a player in a demanding defensive position.

I think the word he's looking for is "trait."

[Frayed Knot]

John Sickels does his Prospects in Review for the Mets.
This is not a new list or even a new order, it's his pre-season list with progress/updates noted with a half+ season's worth of new info.

[ashie62]

Not Exactly bullish on #1's Nimmo and Cecchini....

[Frayed Knot]

Ashie62 wrote: Not Exactly bullish on #1's Nimmo and Cecchini....

At the moment there's no reason for him to be.
But remember that they are 20 & 19 years old; that he does have some good things to say about Nimmo; that they both play in pitchers parks (Nimmo is hitting nearly 100 pts higher on the road); and that their roads have many journeys yet to go.