2013 BA NWL Top 20 Prospects

[CaliforniaRaisin]

1. Kris Bryant

The Golden Spikes Award winner and BA College Player of the Year easily led the nation with 31 home runs in the spring, then dazzled in a 77 plate-appearance stretch in the NWL. Fans and even opposing players and staffs would stop everything to watch him take batting practice, and he often showed the same power in games.

 

“He killed us. You can see why the Cubs took him (second overall),” Vancouver’s McCullough said. “He’s just a monster—the best looking hitter we saw all year. With Peterson and Renfroe, you could make good pitches and have a chance, but Bryant hit everything.”

 

Much of Bryant’s power is to right-center field. Boise manager Gary Van Tol said Bryant, who signed for more than $6.7 million, is “still a puppy” and has room to get stronger and the makeup to succeed in the big leagues.

 

On offense, Bryant was lauded for having excellent leverage and a body frame that will only bring more power. Defensively, Bryant showed plus arm strength and good range with an understanding of how to make his throws.

7. Paul Blackburn

Though Blackburn is just 19, he already has a nice mix of pitches with a 91-93 mph fastball, a curveball and a changeup. He has projection along with some pitchability, though he struggled at times with commanding his fastball.

 

“For a young guy, he pitched like he’d been here before,” Boise’s Van Tol said. “His competitiveness and mound presence are pretty impressive. He has good sink on his fastball and keeps everything down in the zone. To me, he’s a three-pitch starter-type guy who could become a No. 3 or 4 starter in the big leagues.”

 

Blackburn, the 56th pick in the 2012 draft, signed with the Cubs for $911,700 instead of going to Arizona State. He shined for Boise in two playoff starts, striking out 17 while yielding only one run and one walk in 12 innings.

9. Yasiel Balaguert

One of the NWL’s premium power sources, Balaguert used the whole field to lead the league in RBIs (48), rank second with 24 extra-base hits and third with a .433 slugging percentage. He projects as a corner outfielder and has an arm worthy of a right fielder. He doesn’t run well, but he was adequate otherwise defensively.

 

“He kind of reminds me of Pedro Guerrero,” Salem-Keizer manager Gary Davenport said. “He’s a good fastball hitter and when he’s hot, he’s hot.”

 

At times, Balaguert will chase pitches, leading to high strikeout totals, but he has good hands and was one of the most dangerous hitters in the league.

 

“He’s a young kid with power,” Eugene’s Gabella said. “We have some guys with power arms, and he wasn’t intimidated at all.”

10. Dillon Maples

The Cubs have taken it slow with Maples, streamlining his mechanics since signing him for $2.5 million to lure him away from a North Carolina football-baseball scholarship. He tweaked his elbow in 2012 and threw just 10 innings.

 

While the velocity on Maples’ fastball sits in the low 90s and peaks at 95 mph, what sets it apart is its natural movement. His two-seamer sinks, and he can cut his four-seamer as well. He also has a plus breaking ball that he’s working on commanding, though there hasn’t been much tinkering with his changeup yet. He struggled in the low Class A Midwest League this spring (8.31 ERA with 31 walks and 33 hits allowed in 35 innings) but found his footing with Boise, inducing plenty of groundballs.

 

“He has command in and out with two plus pitches,” Vancouver’s McCullough said. “I know he struggled in the Midwest League this year, but his stuff is more than good enough to pitch in that league and certainly higher.”

12. Shawon Dunston Jr

Dunston started to tap into the potential the Cubs saw when they signed him for $1.275 million in 2011. A late-July outfield collision led to a leg injury that cost him nearly a month, and he wasn’t as productive after he returned.

 

When Dunston was healthy, however, he handled the bat well, played solid defense in left and center field and made a difference on the bases. He was one of the toughest players in the league to strike out, ranked sixth in the batting race (.290) and fits the leadoff-hitter profile.

 

Though he doesn’t have nearly the arm his father Shawon displayed as a shortstop during an 18-year major league career, Junior’s bat gives him a chance to make the big leagues. He’ll have a better chance to be a regular if he can polish his play in center field.

17. Kevin Encarnacion

After spending three years in the Dominican Summer League because of visa issues, Encarnacion crushed NWL pitching, leading the league in batting (.355) and slugging (.566). He can run and has a quick bat.

 

Encarnacion didn’t technically qualify for NWL batting title, but he came out on top even after docking him the 17 hitless at-bats he would need to get there. He primarily played center field for the league runner-up, though he slid to right when Shawn Dunston Jr. was healthy. Encarnacion has enough arm and athleticism to play all three spots.

 

Promoted to the low Class A Midwest League for most of July, he hit just .217/.314/.333 with 14 strikeouts in 16 games, but the NWL managers who saw him say he’ll succeed at higher levels. “He can hurt you if you make a mistake, and he uses the whole field,” Spokane’s Hulett said.

[Tedward]

Thanks Raisin, appreciate the info !

[davell]

Interesting about the visa issues for Encarnacion. Underwood not making the list was a bummer. No info on Skulina or Zastryzny, I asked in the chat, not much of an answer.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

From looking at his game long, Underwood didn't have a single start where he showed any of the potential people were talking about before the season. I hope it's just because he's raw and not that his stuff wasn't all it was hyped up to be.

[Guest]

From looking at his game long, Underwood didn't have a single start where he showed any of the potential people were talking about before the season. I hope it's just because he's raw and not that his stuff wasn't all it was hyped up to be.

 

The eyewitness accounts of his stuff were good. I was pretty surprised he didn't make a top 20 list for an 8-team league despite the results.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

From looking at his game long, Underwood didn't have a single start where he showed any of the potential people were talking about before the season. I hope it's just because he's raw and not that his stuff wasn't all it was hyped up to be.

 

The eyewitness accounts of his stuff were good.

 

That's good to hear.

[Quakers]

I liked what I saw of Underwood. A little behind Blackburn in the developmental scale, but his stuff is as good, or better.

 

I really liked Penalver at SS. I can see why he missed the top 20 list, but I definitely think that he is a good prospect. I hope he proves me right at KC next year.

 

Not as high on Balaguert as others. Maybe it is because of the games I saw. I saw too much of the player who was chasing after bad pitches. He is a big man, but athletic. As he matures he will definitely be limited to the corners. His bat will carry him.

 

I liked Lockwood at 2b. Very good glove and an excellent contact hitter.

 

I think that the core of pitchers from this year's draft did not make the list because of innings pitched. The Cubs were very conservative with them. I think we definitely had some good looking prospects, but it will be next year before anyone knows how good.

 

Bote has some pop in his bat.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

League top-20 sounds kind of exciting until you stop and think that 380 prospects will make these lists.

[Quakers]

League top-20 sounds kind of exciting until you stop and think that 380 prospects will make these lists.

 

I know that in the AZL thread someone typed up a list of top twenty prospects from previous years and showed how many made it to MLB.

[Quakers]

League top-20 sounds kind of exciting until you stop and think that 380 prospects will make these lists.

 

I know that in the AZL thread someone typed up a list of top twenty prospects from previous years and showed how many made it to MLB.

[Guest]

League top-20 sounds kind of exciting until you stop and think that 380 prospects will make these lists.

 

Right. And in cases like the NWL, there are only 7 other teams to compete with.

 

Once you get to A+ and AA, the lists are far more valuable.

[Guest]

Tony (Ireland): Although Boise had 6 prospects on the list, are there any other prospects that intrigue you. (Underwood/Hoffner)

 

Lacy Lusk: Sure. Underwood has the kind of stuff that gives him a chance to make the big leagues. His manager, Gary Van Tol, says’s he’s just inexperienced and raw at this point. Did a lot better at minimizing damage as the season wore on. Hoffner’s a 6-5 righty who had great numbers and has a chance to advance pretty far, too.

 

Brendan (Denver, CO): How likely is it that Bryant sticks at 3b? He's getting some reps in the OF in the AFL, is that likely to be his eventual home?

 

Lacy Lusk: I think it is. The managers and scouts seem to think he’s quite capable of sticking at third, but the Cubs may have more need in the outfield and that might help him arrive even faster.

 

Bob Sacamento (Ft. Myers, FL): On the 80 scouting scale where would you put Kris Bryant's defense? Unquestionably, he has a strong arm but his footwork and range looked average at best.

 

Lacy Lusk: 40-50

 

David (Malibu): Lacey, thanks for the chat. What did you hear about Zastryzny and Skulina this year?

 

Lacy Lusk: Skulina was mentioned more out of those two, which surprised me a bit. Good arm out of Kent State. Just didn't quite have the innings in the NWL.

 

Oliver (Boston): Do you envision the Cubs grooming Trey Masek as a late-inning reliever or something more? After Rowdy Tellez, he slipped farther in the draft than just about anyone, relative to where BA had him ranked.

 

Lacy Lusk: My computer kicked me off there for a minute. ... Masek wasn't in the back end of the bullpen at Boise, but I don't see why he can't succeed in that role, too.

 

Ryan B (Chicago): Surprised to see Yasiel Balaguert come in so high. What can you tell us about him?

 

Lacy Lusk: His bat just stood out that much. Managers were more afraid of dealing with him than most of the other hitters.

 

Bob Sacamento (Ft. Myers, FL): Where does Kris Bryant start next year and how long before his MLB debut?

 

Lacy Lusk: That's Cubs insight I don't have, but I would think Daytona could certainly be a good starting point. Big leagues could even come by the end of next season, but maybe more likely 2015.

 

Jack jones (Sacramento ca): How good is Dunston jr? Do you see him having a breakout year in Kane county in 2014? Were you impressed by him this season?

 

Lacy Lusk: He did have a nice year. He doesn't have nearly the arm that his dad did, but I think he should have another good season in the Midwest League.

 

Bob Sacamento (Ft. Myers, FL): Any love for Hawks' Jake Hannemann? The was alot of talk of the Cubs overreaching for him as the 3rd pick.

 

Lacy Lusk: He didn't really stand out, especially for a guy who signed for $1 million. Considering his football/baseball background, it's certainly too early to judge after 71 overall at-bats. He did hit .290 in his 62 at-bats at Boise and showed that plus speed.

 

Ryan (Indianapolis): From what I've read, Paul Blackburn came out way better than advertised this season. Do you think he'll be in the Cubs' top 10 prospects going into 2014? And how high is his ceiling?

 

Lacy Lusk: I'm not in charge of the Cubs' top 10 and I know their farm system is getting deeper, but I would think he'd be a solid candidate. The ceiling might be No. 2 starter, but he has a good chance of at least cracking a rotation.