BA Top 20s by league

[OregonStrosFan]

BAs Appy league top 20 prospects (with scouting reports) published today.  3 Astros prospects in the top 20.

#2: Jio Mier

#10: Juri Perez: "needs only to refine his below-average curveball, which he resists throwing at this stage, to profile as a mid-rotation starter."

#18 Jonathan Meyer

[juliogotay]

Thanks for sharing.

[moriartp]

Very good stuff. They make no mention of Perez's injury at the end of the season, so I guess they're either not in the know or it's not a big concern. Considering they're usually on the ball with injury reports, I'm encouraged.

[Duman]

But Perez is not on the instructional roster.  So I am concerned he is not in pitching shape.  Either been shut down or had to go under the knife.

ETA: He is on the rehab portion of the roster so there was an injury.

[OregonStrosFan]

Thanks for sharing.

You're welcome.  Some more info from the BA Appy League Prospects Chat with Matthew Eddy: LINK

KaneCoKeith (Chicago, IL): Was there any consideration given to the Twins Josmil Pinto or the Astros dimunitive Jose Altuve? They were both APY All-stars, both relatively young for the league and both posted impressive offensive numbers.

Matthew Eddy: Altuve is a fascinating case. Listed at an incredible 5-foot-5, he hit for surprising power in the Appy this season (20 doubles) in his second go-round with Greeneville. He'll be a fun player to track because he's so unique, but nobody used the word prospect to describe him. Altuve has strong baseball instincts — in the field, in the batter's box, on the bases — but you just don't see a lot of players of his stature in the high minors, let alone the big leagues.

[Reuben]

Cool, my thanks also, OSF. Good to hear such glowing reports about Mier, Perez, and especially Meyer despite his hitting struggles.

[OregonStrosFan]

Cool, my thanks also, OSF. Good to hear such glowing reports about Mier, Perez, and especially Meyer despite his hitting struggles.

Eddy commented on that (or at least production) in his chat as well and I'm interested to hear what the folks around here think about them as well (or have anything to add):  LINK

DG (Texas): It appears at the lower level on the minors that "potential" wins out over "production" most of the time. *** at what level does "production" actually start to be more important?

Matthew Eddy: Particularly in Rookie ball, we don't zero in so much on a player's final production. For many of them, they're running low on energy by the time the season winds down in August. That's because they've been playing as amateurs (or in extended spring training) all spring, and many have dealt with the pressures of being scrutinized for the draft. Really, what we DO like to see at this level is spurts of production, because as the scouting adage goes, If a player shows you a tool even once, then he owns it. It's just a matter of repeating and becoming consistent with that skill or tool. At to when production begins to matter . . . I look to Double-A as the separator. It's the level where the quality of competition begins to become more uniform. You find fewer truly lousy teams chock full of undeveloped, inexperienced players (the average Double-A player is 24). And because of that consistency in competition, the numbers begin to take on added meaning.

***

Matthew Eddy: It's important at this level not to get to swept up in a player's performance, great or poor. For the young first-year players, especially, they have so much development left in front of them that what they do over the course of their first 60-70 pro games is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. 

[Russe]

The NY-P league was up today. No ValleyCats in the top 20, but here's what Aaron Fitt had to say about Keuchel and Martinez.

On Keuchel's future:

Keuchel is similar to Cohoon — both are lefties without overpowering stuff who rely on their moxie. Keuchel worked in the 84-88 range this summer but moved his fastball in and out, up and down. It does play up because of its life, and he's got a great changeup, but his breaking ball is fringy. I love his competitiveness, however, and I think he could find a home in the bullpen because of his aggressive mentality if he doesn't stick as a starter.

On why Martinez missed the top 20:

Martinez can really hit — he has a good short stroke, plenty of bat speed and an aggressive approach. But he was a 22-year-old DH/left fielder (and not a good left fielder) in the NY-P. He just doesn't profile very well, so he's going to have to hit like crazy at every level. Of course, I left Adam Lind off this list for similar reasons five years ago, and he's hit his way to the big leagues and become a valuable player for the Blue Jays. But I don't think Martinez has the kind of impact bat that Lind has.

Also, I noticed we missed the GCL top 20 from a week ago. Tanner Bushue came in at #9, and Enrique Hernandez came up in the chat:

Hernandez did get some consideration. There are lot of questions in the queue about why a certain player didn't make it. Mostly, it comes down to there are 16 teams in the league and only 20 spots. A lot of talented players were left off the list. Hernandez is one of them. Overall he's raw but he's a high-energy guy. He projects as an offensive middle infielder. He can handle short but lacks the range to play there every day. He has an above average arm and would be a good defender at second base. He's more of a doubles guy than home run power but can make good, hard contact.

[OregonStrosFan]

BAs SAL top 20 prospects came out today, and only Lyles was the only Lexington arm that made the cut (coming in at #6).  LINK

[Russe]

BA's Matt Forman on Seaton:

On my original Sally list, I ranked Seaton somewhere in or around the 15th spot. After seeing him pitch in Greensboro and talking to several scouts, I was very underwhelmed with what I saw. His velocity was lower than the reported 92-94 when I saw him. He didn't overpower hitters, just pitched to contact and left the ball over the plate. One manager went as far to say this: "I'm shocked that his name keeps coming up. It's one of those things where you don't say anything if you can't say anything nice about him. He plays with 20-foot high grass and gets a lot of ground balls." Though I wouldn't go that far, I'm on the same wavelength. He's more of a control, sinker-slider guy who commands the zone and throws strikes. If you're looking for something positive to take away about Seaton, I did get two Orel Hershiser comps on him, for what they're worth. Seaton's got the chance to throw a lot of innings and be an innings eater in the rotation.

[OregonStrosFan]

CAL top 20 out.  LINK

Castro at #3.  No love for Gaston or Clemens.

[Russe]

I put in a question about them for the chat, we'll see if it gets answered.

ETA: Here's what BA's Dave Perkin had to say about Gaston and Clemens:

Jon Gaston was on all of my intitial lists, but missed the cut at the end by a whisper. I don't care if you play in a little league park, the numbers he and Clemens put up can't be ignored. Gaston had power at home then on the road--18 at Lancaster, 17 on the road, but hit .308 at home, .248 away from home. Clemens hit everywhere--14 and .352 at home, 8 and .338 on the road. The knock on Gaston is K's, on Clemens is the lack of a clear defensive position. But no doubt--they can both rake.

[jbm]

BA's Matt Forman on Seaton:

On my original Sally list, I ranked Seaton somewhere in or around the 15th spot. After seeing him pitch in Greensboro and talking to several scouts, I was very underwhelmed with what I saw. His velocity was lower than the reported 92-94 when I saw him. He didn't overpower hitters, just pitched to contact and left the ball over the plate. One manager went as far to say this: "I'm shocked that his name keeps coming up. It's one of those things where you don't say anything if you can't say anything nice about him. He plays with 20-foot high grass and gets a lot of ground balls." Though I wouldn't go that far, I'm on the same wavelength. He's more of a control, sinker-slider guy who commands the zone and throws strikes. If you're looking for something positive to take away about Seaton, I did get two Orel Hershiser comps on him, for what they're worth. Seaton's got the chance to throw a lot of innings and be an innings eater in the rotation.

Based on what I saw, this seems like fair observations, although some might value "commanding the zone" more than this report does.  It seems lots of people look for raw talent and just assume command will come - "As soon as he learns to pitch."  Others view the ability to locate a sinking fastball as a strong foundation, to be further complimented by off speed offerings as the pitcher develops.  It will be interesting to watch his progress. 

[Reuben]

Based on what I saw, this seems like fair observations, although some might value "commanding the zone" more than this report does.  It seems lots of people look for raw talent and just assume command will come - "As soon as he learns to pitch."  Others view the ability to locate a sinking fastball as a strong foundation, to be further complimented by off speed offerings as the pitcher develops.  It will be interesting to watch his progress. 

Pshaw, if he doesn't strike out loads of guys and throw 96, who needs him? I mean, who would you rather have, a real pitcher, like Brad Penny, or some paintywaist sinkerball control pitcher like that Brandon Webb guy??

[OregonStrosFan]

I put in a question about them for the chat, we'll see if it gets answered.

I've appreciated the additional info.  Thank you!

[OregonStrosFan]

Texas League top 20 out. LINK

Castro on this one also, in at #6.  No love for Drew Locke or Chia-Jen Lo.

[Russe]

I asked about Lo in the chat, and it wasn't answered. One interesting nugget though, after someone asked about former farmhand Jordan Parraz:

Sorry, not a lot of love for Parraz in the TL. If you're looking for an older guy who got love from managers, Drew Locke is probably the choice. Scouts don't see a big league role for him, though. I think I got a Collin Delome question somewhere too. He's an extra outfielder at best, nothing plus.

[OregonStrosFan]

PCL top 20 out. LINK

Bud Norris is the lone Astro on the list, coming in at #11.

[VirtualBob]

PCL top 20 out. LINK

Bud Norris is the lone Astro on the list, coming in at #11.

It would have been a shocker if anyone else made it.