2014 Regular Season Divisional Prospect News

[TheCrew07]

An awesome read.

 

The Ever-Evolving Process Of Prospect-Ranking

September 24, 2014 by John Manuel

[TheCrew07]

The lists started today with the GCL, the Cardinals and Pirates have players on the list. Additional links to the subscriber articles for each league are/will be provided.

 

2014 League Top 20 Prospects Index

September 24, 2014 by Staff Report

 

AZL is up: Monte Harrison at 7 and Miguel Diaz at 18, lots of Cubs' prospects... bastards.

 

Less refined than the AZL outfielders ranked ahead of him, Harrison possesses the loudest tools of anyone. He has plus bat speed but needs reps to refine his approach, though he drew a league-leading 31 walks in 50 games.

 

Harrison already is a plus baserunner, leading the league in stolen bases with 32 while being caught just twice. His plus speed would allow him to stay in center field with more experience there, and a plus-plus arm gives him the ability to handle right. Harrison has perhaps the most upside of anyone in the league.

 

“I see him as a big leaguer when he figures it out and puts it together,” Brewers manager Nestor Corredor said.

 

 

The buzz on Diaz’s lightning arm started early and his appearances were heavily scouted throughout the summer. The key for his development was added strength in his arm and lower half, which allowed his velocity to bump to the 94-96 mph range. He maintained a live, loose arm.

 

Diaz’s breaking ball, which has slider action, is a quality pitch that comes in around 75-78 mph, but his mid-80s changeup is too firm at this point. His spotty control indicates he needs to repeat this high three-quarters delivery more frequently.

 

If Diaz develops his changeup, he can stay in the rotation and develop into perhaps a mid-rotation starter. If not, he will become a power reliever.

[TheCrew07]

1 Cardinal prospect makes the list.

 

2014 Appalachian League Top 20 Prospects With Scouting Reports

September 26, 2014 by Clint Longenecker

[TheCrew07]

Aristides Aquino of the Reds at #1, in fact Reds' players were scattered over the entire list. Devin Williams checked in at #16 as the only Brewer prospect.

 

2014 Pioneer League Top 20 Prospects With Scouting Reports

September 29, 2014 by Bill Mitchell

 

No PL pitcher drew as diverse a range of opinions as Williams, who signed for $1.35 million as the Brewers’ top pick in 2013. After a dreadful start to the season—his ERA stood at 5.94 through eight appearances—he pulled things together to go 2-2, 2.70 in his final seven outings, with 33 strikeouts and six walks in 30 innings.Williams is an athletic upside prospect who does a good job of controlling his offspeed pitches. He needs to improve the command of his fastball, which ranges from 90-91 mph and touches 94. He throws the pitch with a good arm path and deception, factors that help his changeup play up. His low-80s slider improved with more frequent use as the season progressed.”He got to a point where he started to understand the professional game this year,” Helena manager Tony Diggs said. “It showed not only in his lifting and workout regimen, but it showed in his day-to-day regimen as well.”

[TheCrew07]

Rowan Wick of the Cards the only divisional prospect here checking in at #17.

 

2014 New York-Penn League Top 20 Prospects With Scouting Reports

September 30, 2014 by Aaron Fitt

[TheCrew07]

A hand full of Cubs' prospects make the list here.

 

2014 Northwest League Top 20 Prospects With Scouting Reports

October 1, 2014 by Brian Murphy

[TheCrew07]

Reese McGuire and Austin Meadows of the Pirates back to back at 5 & 6 on the list.

 

2014 South Atlantic League Top 20 Prospects With Scouting Reports

October 2, 2014 by J.J. Cooper

[TheCrew07]

All 3 young Brewer SSs make the playmaker section, a testament to their excellent range as a group. Hector Gomez made the AAA list and Orlando Arcia made the High A list.

 

Getting Defensive: Shortstop Prospects Worth Loving For Their Gloves

October 2, 2014 by Matt Eddy

[TheCrew07]

As MH linked to Mehring's blog earlier this week, Clint Coulter comes in at #7, lots of divisional prospects make this list. I agree with Chris in that I was surprised Taylor Williams didn't make the list but there's quite a bit of interesting divisional pitching regardless.

 

2014 Midwest League Top 20 Prospects With Scouting Reports

October 3, 2014 by J.J. Cooper

 

The scouting report on his arm doesn't make any sense. It's like when we read Gindl had a poor arm even though he could run the ball up 90+ on the mound and had a chance to be drafted as a pitcher if he would have been taller. I suppose I could biased towards Clint but obviously I feel he has a plus arm, that was the only attribute which allowed him to gun baserunners.

 

After struggling in the MWL last year, Coulter had a much more successful encore as he led the league with 22 home runs and a .410 on-base percentage. He showcased a rare combination of above-average power production with the ability to lay off pitches out of the zone.

 

While Coulter does have a great batting eye, his swing isn’t picture-perfect, as it involves a large load and a powerful cut that makes it hard to always control the barrel. That leads to swings and misses on pitches in the zone, but when he does connect, Coulter drives the ball.

 

Coulter’s power ability leads to more questions about his defense. He’s a below-average receiver with an average arm, so there are scouts who think he’d be best off moving to first base or right field and concentrating on his offensive production.

 

edit. And of course I read the article on MLB.com which MH linked that mentions Coulter's strong arm as well. I wonder which opposing scouts put the arm thing out there.

[TheCrew07]

Tyler Glasnow of the Pirates leads off this list heavy with divisional prospects at #1. Orlando Arcia and Tyrone Taylor check in at 9 and 16 respectively.

 

2014 Florida State League Top 20 Prospects With Scouting Reports

October 6, 2014 by John Manuel

 

9. Orlando Arcia, ss/2b, Brevard County (Brewers)

 

Age: 20. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 165. Signed: Venezuela, 2010.

 

Arcia began the year splitting time at second base and shortstop in deference to Yadiel Rivera, who was repeating the league. He moved to short full-time when Rivera moved to Double-A in July and continued to make an impression as a toolsy, well-rounded player.

 

The younger brother of Twins outfielder Oswaldo, Arcia is a completely different player. His excellent hand-eye coordination and fine pitch recognition helps him avoid strikeouts. He adds plus speed to makes him a dangerous basestealer and enough pop in his gap-to-gap approach to keep pitchers honest. All four of his homers came away from Space Coast Stadium, which mutes righthanded power.

 

Defensively, Arcia has plus arm strength, first-step quickness and above-average range, with the actions to make all the plays at short.

16. Tyrone Taylor, of, Brevard County (Brewers)

 

Age: 20. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 185. Drafted: HS—Torrance, Calif., 2012 (2).

 

Taylor has spent the past two seasons in stifling offensive environments and has continued to impress scouts and managers with his all-around tools. A Southern California product, he has added more polish than expected when he was a two-sport standout in high school noted more for his athleticism.

 

Taylor fits the center-field profile athletically, with plus speed, a solid-average arm and improving baserunning instincts. He doesn’t draw a ton of walks but also makes a ton of contact (he was the second-toughest regular in the FSL to strike out) thanks to a fairly balanced swing.

 

He has gap power (he led the league with 36 doubles) and is developing more as he matures. He’s a fine defender in center field as well who may wind up profiling as a top-of-the-lineup option.

[TheCrew07]

Jesse Winkler and Ben Lively of the Reds check in at #12 and #16 respectively on this list.

 

2014 California League Top 20 Prospects With Scouting Reports

October 7, 2014 by Jim Shonerd

[TheCrew07]

Subscriber content.

 

Taillon Takes Steps Toward Return

October 7, 2014 by John Perrotto

[TheCrew07]

Albert Almora of the Cubs and our own Tyrone Taylor make the A+ list. Intriguing Johnny Davis makes the A list and the Playmaker section.

 

Getting Defensive: Center Field Prospects Worth Loving For Their Gloves

October 8, 2014 by Matt Eddy

[TheCrew07]

Lefty Holmberg projects as back-of-rotation starter for Reds

Bernie Pleskoff

[TheCrew07]

Cubs' prospects Kris Bryant and Addison Russell are 1 & 2 followed by CJ Edwards at 5 and Albert Almora at 18. Reds' Robert Stephenson at 4, Michael Lorenzen at 12, and Ben Lively at 20. No Brewer prospects from Huntsville on this list which shouldn't be surprising given this wasn't a prospect laden team.

 

2014 Southern League Top 20 Prospects With Scouting Reports

October 13, 2014 by Matt Eddy

[TheCrew07]

The Pirates are the only divisional opponent with a team in this league. Elias Diaz of the Pirates hits this list at #10, Willy Garcia at #17, and Nick Kingham closes out the list at #20.

 

2014 Eastern League Top 20 Prospects With Scouting Reports

October 14, 2014 by Josh Norris

[TheCrew07]

Gregory Polanco of the Pirates tops this list at #1. Pittsburgh RHP Casey Sadler checks in at #11 and RHP Nick Kingham also makes this list at #20 (he was on the EL list as well).

 

2014 International League Top 20 Scouting Reports

October 15, 2014 by Everett Merrill

[TheCrew07]

Cubs' Kris Bryant heads off the PCL list followed by Javier Baez at #3, Arismendy Alcantara at #10, and Kyle Hendricks at #17. The Cardinals are also well represented with Oscar Taveras #4, Stephen Piscotty #13, and Tim Looney #15. The lone Brewer representative was Jimmy Nelson who was the 8th ranked prospect in the league.

 

2014 Pacific Coast League Top 20 Scouting Reports

October 15, 2014 by Vince Lara-Cinisomo

 

8. Jimmy Nelson, rhp, Nashville (Brewers)

 

Age: 25. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-6. Wt.: 245. Drafted: Alabama, 2010 (2).

 

Nelson lived up to his billing as the Brewers’ top prospect—and then some—ranking among the most effective pitchers in the minors and earning PCL pitcher of the year honors.

 

The jumbo-sized righty used power stuff and a power approach to produce a minors-best 0.92 WHIP. Nelson runs his four-seamer up to 95 mph, but it’s the two-seamer with sink at 90-91 that makes him a groundball pitcher and helps him keep the ball in the park. Two of the three PCL homers he allowed came in a start at hitter-friendly Salt Lake.

 

“He was the best pitcher I saw in terms of now ability,” one scout said. “He’s a power guy. He could be a No. 2 starter, and he was mean—he just attacked.”

 

Nelson struck out a career-high rate of 26.5 percent of batters faced in 2014, which can be attributed to a slider that flashes plus with true lateral tilt when right. He also worked on a changeup in an effort to neutralize lefthanders, and one scout who saw him early said it is a potential plus pitch.

[TheCrew07]

Interesting read for subscribers... I hope we can get this feature on a Brewers' prospect some day.

 

Scout’s View: Cubs SS Addison Russell

October 16, 2014 by Therron Brockish

[TheCrew07]

Lots of information on a ColbyJack pre-draft favorite Nick Howard who was taken by Reds before the Brewers 2nd selection came back around. Old friend Frank Kremblas (now with the Pirates organization) also gets a mention. Kremblas was far and away my favorite MiLB manager in the Brewer system prior to Matt Erickson.

 

AFL Caps Exhilarating Season For Howard

October 21, 2014 by Bill Mitchell

[TheCrew07]

Bryant's big season earns offensive MiLBY

Top Cubs prospect led baseball in homers, batted .325, stole 15 bags

By Josh Jackson / MiLB.com

[TheCrew07]

Glasnow captures Starting Pitcher MiLBY

Top Pirates prospect puts polish on raw profile in another big year

By Sam Dykstra / MiLB.com

[nate82]

Bryant's big season earns offensive MiLBY

Top Cubs prospect led baseball in homers, batted .325, stole 15 bags

By Josh Jackson / MiLB.com

 

Bryant is the scariest Cubs prospect scratch that he is the scariest prospect in all of baseball. Should be a .300+ with a lot of power kind of reminds me of Braun when he first came up.

[nate82]

Not a recent prospect but former Cubs top prospect Josh Vitters has been outrighted.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/10/orioles-outright-evan-meek-2.html