Ranking our young (25 and under) position players

[adambr2]

In terms of....how good can they be? Not what have they done so far. Young players in this example being the ones 25 and under.

Going with position players only here:

#1 - Ryan Braun

I'm going with Braun here simply because the sky seems to be the limit with him. Braun has done things since his callup that maybe 1 or 2 other rookies EVER have done. He has all the tools offensively. He can hit for tremendous power. He's fast and can steal bases. He can hit for as high of an average as anyone in the league. He's pretty patient for a rookie. He's just an unbelievable player. He has the athleticism to play good defense -- he has good range and most of his errors are simply poor throws. If he figures this out and becomes a solid defensive player in the next couple years, which is very much possible, he may be the most complete player in the league.

#2 - Prince Fielder

Really says something about your team when your 2nd best young player is an MVP candidate. Obviously, power is Prince's main catch, but he's more than that, he's a true hitter. He's no Cecil Fielder -- he's better. And he's only in his second full season of his long career. When people are asking when, not if, Prince will hit 500 HR's in his career, that about tells you how good he's going to be.

#3 - Rickie Weeks

Say what you want about Weeks' average, I still have no question that he has talent enough to be very very good, maybe as good as Braun and Fielder. I think he demonstrated a lot of that in August. Despite some recent defensive struggles, he showed in August exactly what he can do at full health, despite not being full healthy yet. Great bat speed. Power. Outstanding baserunner. Tremendous eye at the plate. Dramatically improved defense. He's an athlete.

#4 - Corey Hart

I thought maybe 20/20 and .280 was about the ceiling for Hart. I was wrong. He can play the corners or CF, solid defense. He's possibly headed for a 25/25 year in his first season of starting, despite not being a fulltime starter at several points in the year. Good power, good speed, and an average near .300. Just an all-around great player. Very versatile, can bat anywhere the in lineup; leadoff, cleanup, you name it.

#5 - J.J. Hardy

Looked to be an MVP candidate in the first two months of the season before coming back down to earth. Defensive is slightly overrated, but solid. Good clutch hitter, also a 20 HR+ year guy. Hammers the fastball on the inner half of the plate. Everyday player who contributes both offensively and defensively. Voted to his first All-Star game this season.

That's my take. So our 5th best player under 25 was an All-Star this year, and our 2nd best player under 25 is an MVP candidate. I just don't see how any other team would not take the core of young players that we have over their own.

Hopefully LaPorta can add his name to this list soon.

[iluvlamp]

I like the rankings although we have not seen a Braun slump yet. We have seen Prince so I would put him number 1. I feel Hart has no limit just like you think Braun does. If Hart plays a full year he could go 35/30. JJ? I thought he sucked and he changed my attitude but he will have to be more consistent. Weeks? I really have no idea so I rank him last. He has shown he is better than Hardy but is he? I thought he was going to be our rock, instead he has been a relative (and I mean relative) disappointment. He has so much talent though he could turn it around. This whole post is wishy-washy and I stand by that:)

[sbrylski]

Fielder - Power, and now the free passes are starting to come along with him maintaining a solid average.

Braun - Defense! And he'll regress BA-wise, so say the statistics...

Hart - He is what Rickie Weeks should become.

Weeks - Wrist problems bump his power potential down, but great plate discipline this season gives me hope he becomes a monster leadoff man next year. (400OBP, 20/30)

Hardy - Solid for a SS, not great anywhere else.

[adambr2]

Seems like people really love Hart. Don't get me wrong, I love Hart too, I just don't think his ceiling is the superstar that some people seem to think.

 

Potential-wise, I think any scout a few years ago would have told you that Weeks had a much greater deal of potential than Hart. He was unreal in college, put up great numbers in the minors, and was fasttracked to MLB. Keep in mind he's only 24. I think he's just come out of the gates a little slower. I think fully healthy, he will really be special.

 

The general consensus that I heard was that Hart would likely be a quality player early in his career, but he was more of a finished product with not likely a great deal of development ahead. That's why I just don't see him having a "potential" level like Weeks even though his current results have been better. Even if Hart is only a 25/25 player that hits .290, that's a heck of a player. Could he be more? Maybe, I could be wrong, I was before.

 

For the most part, I agree, he has been everything that we wanted out of Weeks, although Weeks has more of the ideal "leadoff" man AB's with a great ability to draw walks.

 

Braun may regress to .300 or so, but I think his defense will improve in time as well.

[Ennder]

I like Hart more than Weeks too, mostly because I don't think Weeks will ever be even average at 2B and Hart will eventually be in CF full time which is just as premium a position.