By Jordan Gluck (Prospects/Baseball Operations Correspondent) Follow @JGluck777
Before I show you my top 100 prospects – I want to get you familiar with my grading tactics and styles and what I value most. All prospects have ceilings and very few players reach that ceiling. First lets go through the tools of what I personally value most and where.
Tools:
Bat:1 Power:2 Speed:3 Glove:4 Arm:5 Makeup:?
Those are the 5(6) tools that scouts use and the scale goes from 20-80. 80 being HOF rare like Giancarlo Stanton Power and 20 being absolutely terrible like Bengie Molina has 20 speed. Most people reading this will probably have more than 20 speed so that’s how pathetic it is.
Jurickson Profar Prospect Highlights:
Justin Verlander is one of about 10 True Pitching Aces in the game right now that are starters.
In the scale graded on the “average Major League Player”
20 is brutal 30 is way below average 40 is below average 50 is average 60 is above average 70 is ALL- Star 80 is Hall Of Fame
As far as the tools I value the bat the most as I believe that is the most important tool to be successful. Power is next because of the current rarity and not only the slugging percentage boost that it provides but it also makes matchups more difficult for the opposing sabermetrics staff. Speed is third because in today’s game I feel that it is common where power has really disappeared since the steroid era and it is used on both offense and defense. Defense is becoming more and more recognizable to front offices but I believe defense is something that can be easily improved. The arm is last because it is only important for some positions and is not a major contributor to WAR. Makeup is the big ? And in my rankings good or average makeup won’t help you but bad makeup will hurt you.
Pitchers are graded on stuff, control, injury history, injury probability, and defense. I do prefer a bat over an arm because it is less of an injury risk. Number 1 pitchers are really rare as in there are about 10 of them in the WORLD right now – think Justin Verlander. 2 starters are more common and very valuable – think Matt Cain. 3 Starters are common but moderately expensive on the open market – think Jason Hammel. 4 Starters can be easily found and most of the time cheaply – think Ricky Nolasco. 5 Starters are back-end and found cheap – think Jeff Francis. 6 and lower starters are found as swing guys or in the Minors and are inexpensive think – Aaron Cook. Here is my preference of defensive positions. I believe that hitting is a far and away #1 before defense and you can “hide” some bad gloves.
1. Center Field 2. Shortstop 3. Catcher 4. Second Base 5. Third Base 6. Left field 7. Right field 8. First base
I would take a first baseman with a 7 bat and 6 power with a 4 glove and 35 arm any day over the opposite comparison. There are certain positions which in my view hold more value than others. First I don’t value relievers high they will be lower on my list than on others because of the availability of them. I also have a huge gap in between 3-4 starters because of the ease to acquire 4&5 starters cheaply. I value center fielders and Shortstops with OFFENSIVE abilities most. ” Defensive specialists receive a rather low ranking on my list than on others. Left Handed starters have an advantage over Righties – and the more pitches a pitcher has especially a 95mph 4seamer – and a good curve receive big bonuses. A small factor is the club the player is with and their history in developing that type of player for example the Rays with starting pitching and the Royals with bats.
If a player has been suspended for PED use a big fall in my rankings will ensue. If a pitcher has Tommy John for the FIRST time, the rank will fall a little, but not terribly as the recent success of TJ surgery has proven reliability. Shoulder, labrum and rotator cuff injuries to pitchers are killers and their ranking will fall drastically. Concussions won’t have that big of an effect as they are much rarer in baseball than most sports. ACL injuries will have a small negative effect but aren’t a killer because of the success rate of returning from that injury. Hamstring and oblique strains will most likely have little to no effect in the ranking and any unusual or serious injury may cause the ranking to fluctuate.
Here is what you’ve been waiting for and the top 100 prospects in baseball!
Myers ascended onto the PCL scene last year and ripped out 24 HRs in just 99 Games at Omaha. The Rays will be counting on him for their offensive future.
It has been 25 years since a Major League baseball player stole 100 bases in one year. Will Billy Hamilton accomplish the feat in the future?Photo Courtesy of Giants fan: Crystal Ramos
Prospect Kyle Gibson probably won’t be ready for the start of the year.
*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com or their partners.***
A big thank-you goes out to our ‘Prospects/Baseball Operations Correspondent’ Jordan Gluck for preparing today’s featured article. Jordan wants to be a MLB President of baseball operations one day. He has grown up in south Florida all of his life after moving there when he was two months old. Jordan grew up a FLORIDA Marlins fan but lost his devoting allegiance when they moved to Miami. He is a senior in high school and will be going to college next year. He will have a heavy focus on roster evaluations, prospects, and the business of baseball! You can follow Jordan on twitter Follow @JGluck777
Please e-mail me at: mlbreports@gmail.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook. To subscribe to our website and have the Daily Reports sent directly to your inbox, click here and follow the link at the top of our homepage.
I am extremely low on Martinez and I think he will be a set- up man at best. Has the electric fastball but I have many other concerns especially with control.
Mason Williams #13 and Manny Banuelos #100.. come on man, I can’t take this list seriously. The yankee’s farm system now is like the Met’s system was in the 90’s. All hype and no performance. Banuelos isn’t even going to pitch this year. Mason Williams is 150 pounds. I could step on him like an ant. He’s going to be Endy Chavez in the majors.
I’m a met fan so I’m biased but I’d say Wilmer Flores is much more deserving of being #100 then Banuelos but… what about Yordano Ventura, Jarred Cosart, henry owens, Cody Buckel??? Atleast these guys aren’t going to spend 2013 rehabing from Tommy John.
And I’d soooo bet Jackie Bradley jr winds up the better major leaguer when compared to Mason Williams. I think Bradley needs to be in the top 50 and Mason Williams right behind him.
I would put this top 100 over any other list….The two players I am looking forward to seeing is Billy Hamilton and Trevor Bauer……..Thanks for sharing.
Thanks I appreciate it! Bauer should start right away while Billy will probably come up around mid June.
How is Carlos Martinez from the Cards not on this list? He should be ranked in at least the top 50 of any list….
I am extremely low on Martinez and I think he will be a set- up man at best. Has the electric fastball but I have many other concerns especially with control.
Yea, I didn’t even realize Martinez didn’t make this list… And even if you’re extremly low on Martinez.. He still has to be higher then Banuelos.
It would be nice to take this list seriously, except… that’s not Billy Hamilton.
what the baseball reference link? there was a Billy Hamilton that played in the late 1800’s
Mason Williams #13 and Manny Banuelos #100.. come on man, I can’t take this list seriously. The yankee’s farm system now is like the Met’s system was in the 90’s. All hype and no performance. Banuelos isn’t even going to pitch this year. Mason Williams is 150 pounds. I could step on him like an ant. He’s going to be Endy Chavez in the majors.
I’m a met fan so I’m biased but I’d say Wilmer Flores is much more deserving of being #100 then Banuelos but… what about Yordano Ventura, Jarred Cosart, henry owens, Cody Buckel??? Atleast these guys aren’t going to spend 2013 rehabing from Tommy John.
And I’d soooo bet Jackie Bradley jr winds up the better major leaguer when compared to Mason Williams. I think Bradley needs to be in the top 50 and Mason Williams right behind him.