BA's Top Prospect List

by Roberto on Jan 21, 2009 12:10 PM EST

Baseball America has just posted its top prospect list for the PBC. None of the names are new or unexpected, but what strikes me is that there's some depth here. For example, Daniel McCutchen is listed as the #9 prospect, and BA comments that he has good control of three pitches, of which the fastball and hard curve are pretty good. He needs to improve command, but that's hardly unusual among young pitchers.

The comments about these 10 are pretty positive, and the negatives are not very damning. Even more positive, in my view, is the fact that there are some promising players who don't make the top 10.

John Perrotto also voices a thought that I've been mulling over: Neil Walker is a terrific athlete with a strong arm. He could certainly be a candidate for right field if need be.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

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Daniel McCutchen

Sadly, McCutchen is already 26 which kind of limits his ceiling. He’s had good, but not spectacular numbers, numbers in the minors. I think he would beat his ZiPS projections.

by wickethewok on Jan 21, 2009 12:44 PM EST reply actions

My guess:

ZiPS is freaked out about the big spike in his HR rate after the trade last year.

by Vlad on Jan 21, 2009 1:30 PM EST up reply actions

Kind of surprised to see Ford so high.

I think he’s a UT IF on a good team, and it’s not like he’s ready to step in right away.

by Vlad on Jan 21, 2009 1:31 PM EST reply actions

There have been flashes

There have been flashes of pretty high level offensive performance, but there have been enough injuries to raise concern. The analogy might be Doumit. Have the injuries just been bad luck, or does this signal a player who can’t stay on the field?

Viva Clemente!

by Roberto on Jan 21, 2009 3:59 PM EST up reply actions

I like....

that he has Cunningham as our shortstop of the future. Also, I am not sure how good it is that he has Brad Lincoln as our number 1 guy for 2012. Does that show that he still has a lot of potential or does it show how thin our pitching is?

by joegonzo on Jan 21, 2009 3:41 PM EST reply actions

More A than B

But a little of both.

by Vlad on Jan 21, 2009 3:46 PM EST up reply actions

joegonzo

I wouldn’t get too worked up about such a small sample from Cunningham.

I can remember Baseball America having Mark Merchant as our CF in ’92 and Van Slyke at 1B.

by patthatt on Jan 21, 2009 5:51 PM EST up reply actions

BA has always made it clear that the projected lineups are just for fun.

by WTM on Jan 21, 2009 6:42 PM EST up reply actions

Well, I got one question in on the Q&A.

Asked about five or so, and the one that he picked (whether Uviedo could start, in that he’s got three good pitches) got a pretty worthless response.

Kind of disappointing.

by Vlad on Jan 21, 2009 3:48 PM EST reply actions

Keith Law posted a top 100 prospects list.

First 25 are free, the rest are behind a pay wall. Link.

McCutchen is on the list, at #18. Interestingly, Alvarez is not.

by Vlad on Jan 21, 2009 4:15 PM EST reply actions

Law’s dislike of Alvarez scares me a little. He knocked him on draft day and he probably puts Alvarez as the 5th or 6th best player from the 2008 draft. I’m guessing it started with Pedro’s high K rate from college and only cemented KLaw’s doubts by showing up out of shape.

by Chad Bahamas on Jan 21, 2009 7:06 PM EST up reply actions