BA's 2013 SL Top 20 Prospects

[CaliforniaRaisin]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2013-southern-league-top-20-prospects-with-scouting-reports/

 

3. Javier Baez

In the words of SL observers, Baez’s bat speed is “ridiculous,” and he knows he can “hit just about anything hard.” He can, and often did, crushing 20 homers in 54 games at Tennessee to give him 37 for the year, which tied him with the Astros’ George Springer for second in the minors. However, no minor leaguer topped Baez’s totals for extra-base hits (75) or RBIs (111), though some pitchers found success by expanding the zone and exploiting his over-aggressiveness.

 

Baez has impact potential on offense. If he reduces the frequency at which he gets himself out, Baez can be a 60 hitter with easy 70 power and the ability to take the ball out to any field. “When he’s in swing mode it’s not hard to get him out,” Jacksonville manager Andy Barkett said, “but when he’s zoned in, you had better make a mistake down in the zone.”

 

Baez’s future position is more unsettled. He has plus arm strength and the capacity to make difficult plays at shortstop, though many scouts see him as a future third baseman because he struggles to slow the game down. He improved his defensive efficiency at Tennessee (.948 fielding percentage, compared to .922 at high Class A Daytona), though in total he committed 44 errors in 123 games this season.

9. Arismendy Alcantara

 

Yasiel Puig and Archie Bradley were ahead of Baez.

 

Alcantara packs surprising pop, efficient base thievery and strong defensive instincts into a smallish 5-foot-10 frame, eliciting comparisons from multiple scouts to a watered-down version of Jose Reyes. SL managers bestowed best infield arm honors on Alcantara and his 60 cannon, and while he could play a passable major league shortstop, most scouts like him at second base, where timing issues with regard to footwork and hands won’t hamper him to the same extent.

 

The switch-hitting Alcantara hits for more power from the left side but makes use of a slashing approach with a short stroke from both sides of the plate. He ranked second in the SL with 36 doubles and 55 extra-base hits, showing a good blend of gap power and plus speed required to carry over those long hits to the big leagues. He could probably go deep a dozen times at his peak, while hitting about .275 with a modest on-base percentage. Much of Alcantara’s value will come from his defensive versatility and his legs, for he’s an accomplished baserunner who has been caught just 10 times in 66 steal attempts the past two seasons.

[jersey cubs fan]

Puig is considered a prospect still?

[Guest]

Puig is considered a prospect still?

 

These rankings are for any player who passed through the league in 2013 while still being a prospect. Puig was still a prospect when he was in the SL in April and May; obviously now he isn't a prospect.

[BeerHere]

Has it been confirmed that both will start the year in Iowa?

[Guest]

Has it been confirmed that both will start the year in Iowa?

 

No, but it's been hinted at. I would be surprised if either one didn't start at Iowa (barring injury or trade).

[Guest]

Grant (NYC): Matt Szczur - prospect or suspect at this point?

 

Matt Eddy: Cubs CF Matt Szczur is a definite prospect. Some scouts like him as an extra OF because he has plus range in center and plus wheels. He can grind out at-bats, take a walk and put the bat to the ball. He’s probably a 30 hitter for power, but if he can hit more line drives and groundballs he’ll have a long big league career as a tablesetter type or fourth OF.

 

Karen (Chicago, IL): Did Christian Villanueva get any list consideration? What's the skinny on him?

 

Matt Eddy: For a player who led the SL with 62 extra-base hits and played a terrific third base, Cubs 3B Christian Villanueva did not receive much support from talent evaluators. That surprised me. Scouts don’t like his over-aggressive approach or think his power is up to grade as a corner player. Villanueva is a strong defender with a 60 arm, so maybe he has a career along the lines of Matt Dominguez or Jack Hannahan.

 

Patrick (Fort Wayne, IN): Matt, besides J. Baez and Alacantara, are there any other Tennessee Smokies players get consideration for the top 20 or might be seen in Chicago in the next year or two?

 

Matt Eddy: We’ve touched on Szczur and Villanueva, and each has his virtues, but the Tennessee player with the highest floor might be Kyle Hendricks, a pitchability RH starter who joined the Cubs in the same trade with the Rangers as Villanueva. Hendricks can pitch backwards with a MLB-average curveball and changeup, though he’s going to get hit when he’s not locating his secondary because he sits 86-90 mph with a fringe fastball. His competitiveness will help his repertoire play up, so that he’s a probably a No. 5 in the mold of the Mets’ Dillon Gee. Also, look for some of the Smokies relievers to make pop-ins in Chicago, including RH Trey McNutt, LH Zach Rosscup (whom you saw a bit of in September) and RH Tony Zych.

 

Bob Sacamento (Ft. Myers, FL): After tearing up the FSL and SL offensively, who do you think Javier Baez best compares to on the MLB level?

 

Matt Eddy: The pie-in-the-sky comp continues to be Gary Sheffield. Baez has that kind of bat speed and ability to impact the ball.

[SouthSideRyan]

am I being a huge homer when I think that the "pie-in-the-sky" projection should be better than Sheffield?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

am I being a huge homer when I think that the "pie-in-the-sky" projection should be better than Sheffield?

 

Yes.

[Gilby]

As a hitter (not counting defense) Javy's pie-in-the-sky comparison is definitely not as good as Sheffield. I love Baez and the bat speed comparisons sound legit, but Sheffield's plate discipline was other-worldly.

[rawaction]

Well, the "BAT" is compared to Sheffield's not the approach. And if you think Javy's upside is better than Sheffield, reminder that Sheff hit 500+ HRs with a .290 average. That's basically projecting a HoF bat for Javy.

[SouthSideRyan]

Well, the "BAT" is compared to Sheffield's not the approach. And if you think Javy's upside is better than Sheffield, reminder that Sheff hit 500+ HRs with a .290 average. That's basically projecting a HoF bat for Javy.

 

No, it isn't projecting a HOF bat for Javy. It's saying if he hits his insane ceiling he'll have a HOF bat.

[rawaction]

Well, the "BAT" is compared to Sheffield's not the approach. And if you think Javy's upside is better than Sheffield, reminder that Sheff hit 500+ HRs with a .290 average. That's basically projecting a HoF bat for Javy.

 

No, it isn't projecting a HOF bat for Javy. It's saying if he hits his insane ceiling he'll have a HOF bat.

 

You know what I meant. Point is, I can't see taking any minor leaguer and saying, "if he hits his ceiling, he's a Hall of Famer". That's what you're saying by "Sheffield is too low".

[SouthSideRyan]

Well, the "BAT" is compared to Sheffield's not the approach. And if you think Javy's upside is better than Sheffield, reminder that Sheff hit 500+ HRs with a .290 average. That's basically projecting a HoF bat for Javy.

 

No, it isn't projecting a HOF bat for Javy. It's saying if he hits his insane ceiling he'll have a HOF bat.

 

You know what I meant. Point is, I can't see taking any minor leaguer and saying, "if he hits his ceiling, he's a Hall of Famer". That's what you're saying by "Sheffield is too low".

 

Well that's just silly. In any given year there are minor leaguers whose ceiling is that of a hall of famer. Otherwise nobody would ever be a hall of famer.

[SouthSideRyan]

What's Buxton's pie-in-the-sky projection? Kenny Lofton?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Gary Sheffield is 25th all-time in Runs Created. It's not exactly an insult.

[Guest]

am I being a huge homer when I think that the "pie-in-the-sky" projection should be better than Sheffield?

 

Gary Sheffield the career infielder is basically A-Rod/Chipper territory.

[SouthSideRyan]

am I being a huge homer when I think that the "pie-in-the-sky" projection should be better than Sheffield?

 

Gary Sheffield the career infielder is basically A-Rod/Chipper territory.

 

But...he wasn't a career infielder

[Outshined_One]

am I being a huge homer when I think that the "pie-in-the-sky" projection should be better than Sheffield?

 

Gary Sheffield the career infielder is basically A-Rod/Chipper territory.

 

[SABR Gamer]

am I being a huge homer when I think that the "pie-in-the-sky" projection should be better than Sheffield?

 

Gary Sheffield the career infielder is basically A-Rod/Chipper territory.

 

But...he wasn't a career infielder

 

But Baez should be. That's the point.

[rawaction]

Well, the "BAT" is compared to Sheffield's not the approach. And if you think Javy's upside is better than Sheffield, reminder that Sheff hit 500+ HRs with a .290 average. That's basically projecting a HoF bat for Javy.

 

No, it isn't projecting a HOF bat for Javy. It's saying if he hits his insane ceiling he'll have a HOF bat.

 

You know what I meant. Point is, I can't see taking any minor leaguer and saying, "if he hits his ceiling, he's a Hall of Famer". That's what you're saying by "Sheffield is too low".

 

Well that's just silly. In any given year there are minor leaguers whose ceiling is that of a hall of famer. Otherwise nobody would ever be a hall of famer.

 

No. There are minor leaguers whose ceiling is an elite player. Longevity is what makes them HoF. Nobody can project a minor leauger to be elite for upwards of 12-15 years.

[rawaction]

am I being a huge homer when I think that the "pie-in-the-sky" projection should be better than Sheffield?

 

Gary Sheffield the career infielder is basically A-Rod/Chipper territory.

 

But...he wasn't a career infielder

 

But Javy can be is the point. Sheffield's bat (Javy's upside) is ARod/Chipper esque if Javy stays at SS/3B/2B (which all indications are that he will, unlike young Sheff). "Better than Sheffield" at any of those positions is among the best non-1B IFs to ever play baseball.

[SouthSideRyan]

I guess I misinterpreted that it was simply Sheffield's bat they were looking at.

[SouthSideRyan]

Well, the "BAT" is compared to Sheffield's not the approach. And if you think Javy's upside is better than Sheffield, reminder that Sheff hit 500+ HRs with a .290 average. That's basically projecting a HoF bat for Javy.

 

No, it isn't projecting a HOF bat for Javy. It's saying if he hits his insane ceiling he'll have a HOF bat.

 

You know what I meant. Point is, I can't see taking any minor leaguer and saying, "if he hits his ceiling, he's a Hall of Famer". That's what you're saying by "Sheffield is too low".

 

Well that's just silly. In any given year there are minor leaguers whose ceiling is that of a hall of famer. Otherwise nobody would ever be a hall of famer.

 

No. There are minor leaguers whose ceiling is an elite player. Longevity is what makes them HoF. Nobody can project a minor leauger to be elite for upwards of 12-15 years.

 

Projection is not = ceiling.