Andrew McCutchen #3, Jose Tabata #13 on BA International League Top Prospects List

Matt Wieters is #1, and Tommy Hanson is #2. Strange to see so many players who played a bunch in the majors still described as prospects.

By the way, it's definitely apples to oranges, but I'd take McCutchen over Hanson every day and twice on Sunday. Hanson had a great year and is likely to be very good going forward, but I think his tendency to leave the ball up in the zone will hold him back somewhat. I don't see much of anything to dislike about McCutchen.

over 2 years ago Charlie Wilmoth 5 comments 0 recs |

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2008 IL Top 20

Last year, McCutchen was #2 behind Jay Bruce. Neil Walker was #7, Charlie Morton was #9 and Brandon Moss was #14.

by Traco Bucco on Oct 14, 2009 3:22 PM EDT reply actions

Not meaning to disparage those guys, but it sounds like the prospect crop was weaker last year.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Oct 14, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I like...

McCutchen ,ore than Bruce and Hanson. Wieters gets the nod because of the position he plays, but McCutchen gives him a run for his moey because he is more rounded as a player. Even if Bruce goes something like 275-40-15, I would still take a McCutchen that will give you something like 290-25-35 with above average defense. We are talking potentially MVP type numbers in a few years(except he won’t win because Pujols is so amazing).

by joegonzo on Oct 14, 2009 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with McCutchen over Hanson, because while the upside is similar there is much more variability with a pitching prospect. Hanson, though, is extremely strong, and the best from here of a very talented rookie pitching class with David Price, Brett Anderson, and Rick Porcello right behind him. He has the stuff to be #1, but like you said there are control issues.

by Adam Reynolds on Oct 14, 2009 9:52 PM EDT reply actions

I’ve never seen Anderson pitch, but I think Price is eventually going to be the best pitcher among the other three. There’s nothing I don’t like about his stuff. Hanson’s is very good but I feel like the league is going to figure him out to a degree, so he’s going to be a guy who has very impressive peripherals in every area except homers.

I have no idea what to make of Porcello. His stuff is great and he’s obviously going to rack up grounders, but in an ideal world he probably wouldn’t have been in the majors this year. His peripherals were really bad. And he’s only 20, so there’s a ton of time for things to go wrong.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Oct 14, 2009 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions