BA's Prospect Hot Sheet

[jersey cubs fan]

Does anyone else have high hopes for Tyer Colvin?

 

Hope? Yes.

High hopes? Not realistic ones.

 

Sure I hope like heck he turns into a Jonny Damon circa 98-06 (although he'll never match that K/BB ratio), but I fear he might be no better than Mark Kotsay at the top end, pretty good for 3-4 years but largely unimpressive the rest of the time. And even that is a stretch at this point. Kotsay spent less than 1.5 years in the minors and blew away what Colvin is doing right now.

 

As a largely unproductive nearly 22 year old minor leaguer with an atrocious K/BB ratio, my realistic hope is that he gives the Cubs 6 cost effective, but mediocre years in CF (or helps them acquire an impact bat via trade). But as a still young guy, I do maintain some far reaching hope that he can do more than that.

[Skyballer]

Does anyone else have high hopes for Tyer Colvin?

 

Hope? Yes.

High hopes? Not realistic ones.

 

Sure I hope like heck he turns into a Jonny Damon circa 98-06 (although he'll never match that K/BB ratio), but I fear he might be no better than Mark Kotsay at the top end, pretty good for 3-4 years but largely unimpressive the rest of the time. And even that is a stretch at this point. Kotsay spent less than 1.5 years in the minors and blew away what Colvin is doing right now.

 

As a largely unproductive nearly 22 year old minor leaguer with an atrocious K/BB ratio, my realistic hope is that he gives the Cubs 6 cost effective, but mediocre years in CF (or helps them acquire an impact bat via trade). But as a still young guy, I do maintain some far reaching hope that he can do more than that.

Thanks, I don't know much about him.

[NCCubFan]

As a largely unproductive nearly 22 year old minor leaguer with an atrocious K/BB ratio, my realistic hope is that he gives the Cubs 6 cost effective, but mediocre years in CF (or helps them acquire an impact bat via trade). But as a still young guy, I do maintain some far reaching hope that he can do more than that.

Do you see Pie being moved to RF, then?

[jersey cubs fan]

As a largely unproductive nearly 22 year old minor leaguer with an atrocious K/BB ratio, my realistic hope is that he gives the Cubs 6 cost effective, but mediocre years in CF (or helps them acquire an impact bat via trade). But as a still young guy, I do maintain some far reaching hope that he can do more than that.

Do you see Pie being moved to RF, then?

 

Actually I see one being traded, or Pie sticking in CF and Colvin not making it. I can't imagine Colvin putting up the numbers that would make him a productive corner OF, that's why I was saying my realistic hope is 6 years of cost effective (but far from great) production out of CF.

 

Pie would really have to reach his full ceiling in the next 3-4 years as a 900+ OPS guy to think you'd be doing the right thing having both out there.

[UK1679666180]

Maybin is #1. After being promoted to AA he has gone...

 

8/17 4HRs 6BBs 4Ks

 

.471/.609/1.235/1.844

 

I still like him more than Bruce and Upton.

[TruffleShuffle]

yeah maybin is a beast... tigers really turned that minor league system around in a hurry

[Guest]

August 20 Hot Sheet[/url]"]15. Tony Thomas, 2b, short-season Boise (Cubs)

 

Despite being one of the most productive hitters in the country this spring at Florida State, scouts generally were not overwhelmed with his tools. He hit .430/.522/.733 for the Seminoles and was a first-team All-American, so the Cubs grabbed him in the third round. Thomas has so far rewarded the Cubs by becoming one of the best hitters in the Northwest League, hitting .308/.388/.566 on the year, including .368/.443/.627 in August. He also has 19 steals in 20 attempts as a professional after stealing 31 in 36 tries at Florida State. A big concern for Thomas, however, is his defense, as scouts felt it was below average in college, and he has already made seven errors in 24 games at second base. If Thomas does not improve enough defensively to stay at second base, his value would be significantly reduced.

 

BLAST FROM THE PAST

 

Brian Dopirak, 1b, high Class A Daytona

 

After crushing the Midwest League three years ago, nothing has gone right for Dopirak since then. His stock has plummeted, both in the system and on the prospect scene in general. Dopirak broke his foot on Opening Day last year and his swing was never right at Double-A West Tenn when he returned. After hitting just .218 in Double-A this season, the Cubs sent him back to Daytona where he's steadily progressed over the last two months. Last week, Dopirak hit .391 to improve his overall numbers to .279/.327/.503 in 298 at-bats, and he's showing the power of old--with 16 homers, 19 doubles and 55 RBIs.

[questionmarkgrace]

Hope? Yes.

High hopes? Not realistic ones.

 

Sure I hope like heck he turns into a Jonny Damon circa 98-06 (although he'll never match that K/BB ratio), but I fear he might be no better than Mark Kotsay at the top end, pretty good for 3-4 years but largely unimpressive the rest of the time. And even that is a stretch at this point. Kotsay spent less than 1.5 years in the minors and blew away what Colvin is doing right now.

 

As a largely unproductive nearly 22 year old minor leaguer with an atrocious K/BB ratio, my realistic hope is that he gives the Cubs 6 cost effective, but mediocre years in CF (or helps them acquire an impact bat via trade). But as a still young guy, I do maintain some far reaching hope that he can do more than that.

 

Dont forget to take into consideration his defense. He has a cannon for an arm and is a very good defender. And I think he is still young and it is encouraging that he has hit for a pretty good average at each level. I think he can have 20 -25 home run power eventually. What worries me the most is that his stats look alot like Pie's. Lots of k's, low walk totals, and cant hit lefties very well. On the other hand how many guys from last years draft are in double a already? If he stayed at daytona he was probably on his way to posting a .900+ ops And like you said he is just going to turn 22. If he can hit 20-25 hr's and play a stellar defense in center I can live with the k's. But I think he'll eventually start being more patient.

[badnews]

First off, Baseball America's Prospect Hot Sheet kind of crapped on Tony Thomas. "Yeah he hits well, but what an awful defender." What's the phrase for that? A left-handed compliment or something? I can't remember. Anyway we'll have to wait on Thomas until he hits the higher levels, the last "All numbers, bad scouting" guy I remember being talked up was Jim Negrych and he has really junked out.

 

As for Colvin, to the guy above me, I don't know, we must be seeing and reading different things. I always read him projected as a major league left fielder, really, I saw the "tweener" label attached to him frequently, and now you're saying "stellar center field defense" and "a cannon for an arm" and all of a sudden it sounds like we're talking about Drew Stubbs in the field. I'm not going to argue about it beyond this post but this board isn't exactly objective.

[SouthSideRyan]

Colvin's isn't very well-regarded around these parts, so argue away.

 

Back handed compliment was the phrase.

[Guest]

First off, Baseball America's Prospect Hot Sheet kind of crapped on Tony Thomas. "Yeah he hits well, but what an awful defender." What's the phrase for that? A left-handed compliment or something? I can't remember. Anyway we'll have to wait on Thomas until he hits the higher levels, the last "All numbers, bad scouting" guy I remember being talked up was Jim Negrych and he has really junked out.

 

As for Colvin, to the guy above me, I don't know, we must be seeing and reading different things. I always read him projected as a major league left fielder, really, I saw the "tweener" label attached to him frequently, and now you're saying "stellar center field defense" and "a cannon for an arm" and all of a sudden it sounds like we're talking about Drew Stubbs in the field. I'm not going to argue about it beyond this post but this board isn't exactly objective.

 

There were a few questions about Colvin's defense when he was drafted mainly because he didn't play CF with Clemson (though some scouting reports said that he'd be able to switch to CF with ease, which he has). He's definitely a superb defensive center fielder, he does have a good arm with good range. He's definitely a big league CF - and he'll be a good defensive one - the only reason he might move to RF would be because Felix Pie is a better defensive CF.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

That quote conflicts with some reports I'd read about Thomas' defensive capabilities.

[Guest]

Really, TT? A majority of the reports I've seen have said he's a below average defender and his showing at Boise is doing nothing to disspell that.

[Guest]

Aust 27 BA Hot Sheet[/url]"]10. Geovany Soto, c, Triple-A Iowa (Cubs)

 

It's unclear why Soto is still in Triple-A, where the 24-year-old has proven to be one of the best hitters in the Pacific Coast League and the Cubs have shifted through multiple bodies behind the plate. Soto is hitting .358/.427/.653 on the year, and has hit .417/.465/.771 in August after a .367/.450/.735 July. Although Jason Kendall has hit well beyond any reasonable expectation (.298/.392/.404 in 104 at-bats) since joining the Cubs, Soto is likely the better near- and long-term option for the franchise.

 

NOT-SO HOT

 

Josh Vitters, 3b, Rookie-level AZL Cubs

 

It may be harsh to hit the No. 3 overall pick in 2007 so early, but the hype he received as a hitter has not proven anything yet. In his first five games he is hitting .095/.091/.095 in 21 at-bats. He has also struck out five times and hasn't drawn a walk yet. It's hard to have a higher average than on-base percentage, but he's done it so far.

 

Talk about jumping the gun with Vitters.

[UBlink]

Aust 27 BA Hot Sheet[/url]"]

NOT-SO HOT

 

Josh Vitters, 3b, Rookie-level AZL Cubs

 

It may be harsh to hit the No. 3 overall pick in 2007 so early, but the hype he received as a hitter has not proven anything yet. In his first five games he is hitting .095/.091/.095 in 21 at-bats. He has also struck out five times and hasn't drawn a walk yet. It's hard to have a higher average than on-base percentage, but he's done it so far.

 

Talk about jumping the gun with Vitters.

 

[Apologizing for the mixed metaphor] It's not like Vitters isn't providing the ammunition.

[andrew9991]

Quick Question: How can you have a higher average than OBP?

[Guest]

Quick Question: How can you have a higher average than OBP?

 

Vitters had a sac fly - they don't count for batting average but do count as a plate appearance in your OBP.

[Balsa]

Quick Question: How can you have a higher average than OBP?

Neifi! had that once.

[Shavo]

Quick Question: How can you have a higher average than OBP?

Neifi! had that once.

 

So did Hank White.

[Guest]

The last Hot Sheet of the year was basically the top 20 biggest seasons for 2007.

 

September 4 Hot Sheet[/url]"]19. Geovany Soto, c, Triple-A Iowa (Cubs)

 

Few players elicit as many mixed opinions in the Baseball America office as Soto does. In his third year at Triple-A, the 24-year-old Soto put up monster numbers for the first time in his career. A career .262/.344/.371 hitter in 1,574 minor league at-bats, Soto's batting and slugging averages skyrocketed this year. Soto finished the year hitting .353/.424/.652 in 110 games with Iowa. The question going forward with Soto is whether this season was a breakout year or simply a fluke. Given Chicago's lack of talent at catcher, Soto would seem to have a great shot at a big-league starting job next season with Jason Kendall out of the pictures.

[TruffleShuffle]

The last Hot Sheet of the year was basically the top 20 biggest seasons for 2007.

 

September 4 Hot Sheet[/url]"]19. Geovany Soto, c, Triple-A Iowa (Cubs)

 

Few players elicit as many mixed opinions in the Baseball America office as Soto does. In his third year at Triple-A, the 24-year-old Soto put up monster numbers for the first time in his career. A career .262/.344/.371 hitter in 1,574 minor league at-bats, Soto's batting and slugging averages skyrocketed this year. Soto finished the year hitting .353/.424/.652 in 110 games with Iowa. The question going forward with Soto is whether this season was a breakout year or simply a fluke. Given Chicago's lack of talent at catcher, Soto would seem to have a great shot at a big-league starting job next season with Jason Kendall out of the pictures.

 

I'd like to sit in on those debates.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Geovany Soto.

[sethuel1]

Geovany Soto.

[Post Count Padder]

Geovany Soto.

[jersey cubs fan]

The last Hot Sheet of the year was basically the top 20 biggest seasons for 2007.

 

September 4 Hot Sheet[/url]"]19. Geovany Soto, c, Triple-A Iowa (Cubs)

 

Few players elicit as many mixed opinions in the Baseball America office as Soto does. In his third year at Triple-A, the 24-year-old Soto put up monster numbers for the first time in his career. A career .262/.344/.371 hitter in 1,574 minor league at-bats, Soto's batting and slugging averages skyrocketed this year. Soto finished the year hitting .353/.424/.652 in 110 games with Iowa. The question going forward with Soto is whether this season was a breakout year or simply a fluke. Given Chicago's lack of talent at catcher, Soto would seem to have a great shot at a big-league starting job next season with Jason Kendall out of the pictures.

 

I'd like to sit in on those debates.

 

I wonder what the mixed opinions could be. Are they debating whether he's a future All Star or AAAA player, or is it a case of debating starter or career back-up?