November | 2011 | The Golden Sombrero Baseball Blog | MLB, Fantasy, College & High School Baseball News

Articles from November 2011



Top 50 Prospects: #37 – Will Middlebrooks

#37 Will Middlebrooks

Boston Red Sox

DOB: 9/9/1988

Previous Rank: NR

ETA: 2012

Middlebrooks collected most of his at-bats for Double-A Portland in 2011.  As a 22-year-old across three levels, including 16 games in the International League, Middlebrooks slashed .285/.328/.506.  Obviously from those numbers, plate discipline is a big issue with Middlebrooks because he does not really have any.  He only walked 26 times in over 450 plate appearances, and that kind of reckless use of his time at the dish makes predicting offensive success in the AL East pretty tough.

Year Age Tm Lg Lev G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BA
2008 19 Lowell NYPL A- 59 226 209 21 53 17 2 1 21 10 0 .254
2009 20 Greenville SALL A 103 427 374 53 99 25 3 7 57 7 4 .265
2010 21 Salem CARL A+ 114 481 435 69 120 31 2 12 70 5 3 .276
2011 22 3 Teams 3 Lgs AA-AAA-A- 116 472 439 62 125 26 1 23 94 10 1 .285
2011 22 Lowell NYPL A- 4 15 12 4 4 1 0 3 6 1 0 .333
2011 22 Portland EL AA 96 397 371 54 112 25 1 18 80 6 0 .302
2011 22 Pawtucket IL AAA 16 60 56 4 9 0 0 2 8 3 1 .161
4 Seasons 392 1606 1457 205 397 99 8 43 242 32 8 .272
A- (2 seasons) A- 63 241 221 25 57 18 2 4 27 11 0 .258
A (1 season) A 103 427 374 53 99 25 3 7 57 7 4 .265
AA (1 season) AA 96 397 371 54 112 25 1 18 80 6 0 .302
AAA (1 season) AAA 16 60 56 4 9 0 0 2 8 3 1 .161
A+ (1 season) A+ 114 481 435 69 120 31 2 12 70 5 3 .276
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/25/2011.
Year Age Tm Lg Lev G PA AB HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2008 19 Lowell NYPL A- 59 226 209 1 21 12 73 .254 .298 .368 .666 77
2009 20 Greenville SALL A 103 427 374 7 57 48 123 .265 .349 .404 .753 151
2010 21 Salem CARL A+ 114 481 435 12 70 35 121 .276 .331 .439 .770 191
2011 22 3 Teams 3 Lgs AA-AAA-A- 116 472 439 23 94 26 114 .285 .328 .506 .834 222
2011 22 Lowell NYPL A- 4 15 12 3 6 2 1 .333 .400 1.167 1.567 14
2011 22 Portland EL AA 96 397 371 18 80 21 95 .302 .345 .520 .865 193
2011 22 Pawtucket IL AAA 16 60 56 2 8 3 18 .161 .200 .268 .468 15
4 Seasons 392 1606 1457 43 242 121 431 .272 .330 .440 .770 641
A- (2 seasons) A- 63 241 221 4 27 14 74 .258 .304 .412 .716 91
A (1 season) A 103 427 374 7 57 48 123 .265 .349 .404 .753 151
AA (1 season) AA 96 397 371 18 80 21 95 .302 .345 .520 .865 193
AAA (1 season) AAA 16 60 56 2 8 3 18 .161 .200 .268 .468 15
A+ (1 season) A+ 114 481 435 12 70 35 121 .276 .331 .439 .770 191
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/25/2011.
Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff G Ch PO A E DP Fld% RF/G
2008 19 Lowell NYPL A- BOS 3B 55 123 32 82 9 4 .927 2.07
2009 20 Greenville SALL A BOS 3B 91 211 53 144 14 11 .934 2.16
2010 21 Salem CARL A+ BOS 3B 106 345 73 253 19 29 .945 3.08
2011 22 2 Teams 2 Lgs AA-AAA BOS 3B 99 240 65 159 16 8 .933 2.26
2011 22 3 Teams 3 Lgs AA-A–AAA BOS DH 17 0.00
2011 22 Lowell NYPL A- BOS DH 4 0.00
2011 22 Portland EL AA BOS 3B 85 204 55 136 13 8 .936 2.25
2011 22 Portland EL AA BOS DH 11 0.00
2011 22 Pawtucket IL AAA BOS 3B 14 36 10 23 3 0 .917 2.36
2011 22 Pawtucket IL AAA BOS DH 2 0.00
4 Seasons 368 919 223 638 58 52 .937 2.34
3B (4 seasons) 3B 351 919 223 638 58 52 .937 2.45
DH (1 season) DH 17 0.00
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/25/2011.

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Top 50 Prospects: #38 – Wil Myers

#38 Wil Myers

Kansas City Royals

DOB: 12/10/1990

Previous Rank: 15

ETA: 2013

Myers was ranked considerably higher last year, but a tough season in the Texas League as a 20-year-old has knocked him back a bit.  A triple slash line of .254/.353/.393 wouldn’t look nearly as bad if he was still behind the dish, but those numbers from a corner guy are far less impressive.  Nevertheless, he was a 20-year old in a very advanced league for someone that age, and all of the tools are still present.  Additionally he missed about a month of the first half due to a freak knee injury.

Year Age Tm Lg Lev G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BA
2009 18 2 Teams 2 Lgs Rk 22 96 84 19 31 7 2 5 18 2 0 .369
2009 18 Idaho Falls PION Rk 18 80 68 18 29 7 1 4 14 2 0 .426
2009 18 Burlington APPY Rk 4 16 16 1 2 0 1 1 4 0 0 .125
2010 19 2 Teams 2 Lgs A-A+ 126 541 447 70 141 37 3 14 83 12 6 .315
2010 19 Burlington MIDW A 68 294 242 42 70 19 1 10 45 10 3 .289
2010 19 Wilmington CARL A+ 58 247 205 28 71 18 2 4 38 2 3 .346
2011 20 Northwest Arkansas TL AA 99 416 354 50 90 23 1 8 49 9 2 .254
3 Seasons 247 1053 885 139 262 67 6 27 150 23 8 .296
Rk (1 season) Rk 22 96 84 19 31 7 2 5 18 2 0 .369
A (1 season) A 68 294 242 42 70 19 1 10 45 10 3 .289
AA (1 season) AA 99 416 354 50 90 23 1 8 49 9 2 .254
A+ (1 season) A+ 58 247 205 28 71 18 2 4 38 2 3 .346
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/24/2011.
Year Age Tm Lg Lev G PA AB HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2009 18 2 Teams 2 Lgs Rk 22 96 84 5 18 9 18 .369 .427 .679 1.106 57
2009 18 Idaho Falls PION Rk 18 80 68 4 14 9 15 .426 .488 .735 1.223 50
2009 18 Burlington APPY Rk 4 16 16 1 4 0 3 .125 .125 .438 .563 7
2010 19 2 Teams 2 Lgs A-A+ 126 541 447 14 83 85 94 .315 .429 .506 .934 226
2010 19 Burlington MIDW A 68 294 242 10 45 48 55 .289 .408 .500 .908 121
2010 19 Wilmington CARL A+ 58 247 205 4 38 37 39 .346 .453 .512 .966 105
2011 20 Northwest Arkansas TL AA 99 416 354 8 49 52 87 .254 .353 .393 .745 139
3 Seasons 247 1053 885 27 150 146 199 .296 .399 .477 .876 422
Rk (1 season) Rk 22 96 84 5 18 9 18 .369 .427 .679 1.106 57
A (1 season) A 68 294 242 10 45 48 55 .289 .408 .500 .908 121
AA (1 season) AA 99 416 354 8 49 52 87 .254 .353 .393 .745 139
A+ (1 season) A+ 58 247 205 4 38 37 39 .346 .453 .512 .966 105
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/24/2011.
Year Age Tm Lg Lev G Ch PO A E DP Fld% RF/G CS%
2009 18 2 Teams 2 Lgs Rk C 11 109 94 14 1 1 .991 9.82 42%
2009 18 Idaho Falls PION Rk C 9 92 78 13 1 1 .989 10.11 45%
2009 18 Burlington APPY Rk C 2 17 16 1 0 0 1.000 8.50 0%
2010 19 2 Teams 2 Lgs A-A+ C 75 574 503 66 5 2 .991 7.59 32%
2010 19 Burlington MIDW A C 47 365 318 43 4 2 .989 7.68 34%
2010 19 Wilmington CARL A+ C 28 209 185 23 1 0 .995 7.43 26%
2011 20 Northwest Arkansas TL AA LF 6 14 14 0 0 0 1.000 2.33
2011 20 Northwest Arkansas TL AA CF 13 30 29 0 1 0 .967 2.23
2011 20 Northwest Arkansas TL AA RF 75 158 148 4 6 1 .962 2.03
2011 20 Northwest Arkansas TL AA DH 4 0.00
2011 20 Northwest Arkansas TL AA OF 94 202 191 4 7 1 .965 2.07
3 Seasons 184 885 788 84 13 4 .985 4.74 33%
C (2 seasons) C 86 683 597 80 6 3 .991 7.87 33%
CF (1 season) CF 13 30 29 0 1 0 .967 2.23
RF (1 season) RF 75 158 148 4 6 1 .962 2.03
DH (1 season) DH 4 0.00
LF (1 season) LF 6 14 14 0 0 0 1.000 2.33
OF (1 season) OF 94 202 191 4 7 1 .965 2.07
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/24/2011.

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Top 50 Prospects: #39 – Taijuan Walker

#39 Taijuan Walker

Seattle Mariners

DOB: 8/13/1992

Previoius Rank: N/R

ETA: 2014

Walker was Seattle’s first pick in the 2010 draft, and the 6-foot-4 right-hander had a terrific first professional season in the Midwest League (A).  He threw up a sub-3.00 ERA with 113 strikeouts against 39 walks.  He only allowed four jacks in nearly 100 innings of work and has a chance to be a very fast mover in hopes of reaching the Bigs in time to join Felix Hernandez, Michael Pineda, and Danny Hultzen at Safeco.

Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff W L W-L% ERA G GS CG IP BB SO
2010 17 Mariners ARIZ Rk SEA 1 1 .500 1.29 4 0 0 7.0 3 9
2011 18 Clinton MIDW A SEA 6 5 .545 2.89 18 18 1 96.2 39 113
2 Seasons 7 6 .538 2.78 22 18 1 103.2 42 122
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/22/2011.
Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff W L ERA IP WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB
2010 17 Mariners ARIZ Rk SEA 1 1 1.29 7.0 0.714 2.6 0.0 3.9 11.6 3.00
2011 18 Clinton MIDW A SEA 6 5 2.89 96.2 1.117 6.4 0.4 3.6 10.5 2.90
2 Seasons 7 6 2.78 103.2 1.090 6.2 0.3 3.6 10.6 2.90
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/22/2011.

Walker is extremely athletic with loads of projection and a fastball that reaches the high-90s.  With a big downer curve that receives consistent plus to double-plus gradings, Walker already has at least two plus pitches.  His changeup is way behind the other two pitches, but Walker is already making huge strides in terms of command and clearly seems to understand what it means to pitch.  The addition of an average or better changeup could see Walker land in the Show by 2013 so long as he breezes through the high Minors like he has with Class A.

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Video: Bryce Harper adjusts stride, load at the plate

 

As you can see, Bryce Harper has fine-tuned his swing since making his professional debut in the Arizona Fall League in 2010.  Gone is the last minute, inward-foot-turn load.  Now, Harper has a more traditional stride and load that I would assume allows him to drive more off-speed and outer-half offerings.  But just because he’s made adjustments doesn’t mean he’s sacrificed any of his robust power.  From what I can see, and from what his Minor League and Arizona Fall League stats indicate, his power is just as ridiculous, if not more ridiculous – if that’s even possible.  All I know is that I can’t wait for Spring Training to roll around so that the “is Bryce Harper ready for the Major Leagues?” debate once again consumes the baseball world.

Top 50 Prospects: #40 – Hak-Ju Lee

#40 Hak-Ju Lee

Tampa Bay Rays

DOB: 11/4/1990

Previous Rank: N/R

ETA: 2013

Lee was signed as an 18-year-old out of South Korea and was sent to Tampa from the Cubs in the Matt Garza deal.  He likely will prove to be the most valuable chip that was traded in that deal except for maybe Garza himself.  Lee is an exceptional fielder, arguably the best shortstop in the Minors today in terms of what he is capable of in the field.  He has phenomenal range and a plus arm with outstanding instincts and feel for the position.  His bat is behind and he will never provide the thump to be the consistent all-star that some other shortstop prospects likely will.

Lee is going to approach a .300 average in at least a season or two.  In 2011 across two stops including 100 at-bats in the Southern League with Montgomery, Lee posted a .292/.365/.416 slash line with 33 swipes and 37 XBH’s.  He will probably never approach a 20-bomb Major League season, but he runs well and can stretch for a handful of extra bags each year beyond a replacement level guy.

Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BA
2009 18 Boise NORW A- CHC 68 304 264 56 87 14 2 2 33 25 8 .330
2010 19 Peoria MIDW A CHC 122 551 485 85 137 22 4 1 40 32 7 .282
2011 20 2 Teams 2 Lgs A+-AA TBR 121 568 500 98 146 17 15 5 30 33 16 .292
2011 20 Charlotte FLOR A+ TBR 97 454 400 82 127 16 11 4 23 28 14 .318
2011 20 Montgomery SOUL AA TBR 24 114 100 16 19 1 4 1 7 5 2 .190
3 Seasons 311 1423 1249 239 370 53 21 8 103 90 31 .296
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/21/2011.
Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff G PA AB HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2009 18 Boise NORW A- CHC 68 304 264 2 33 31 50 .330 .399 .420 .820 111
2010 19 Peoria MIDW A CHC 122 551 485 1 40 49 86 .282 .354 .351 .704 170
2011 20 2 Teams 2 Lgs A+-AA TBR 121 568 500 5 30 53 94 .292 .365 .416 .781 208
2011 20 Charlotte FLOR A+ TBR 97 454 400 4 23 42 72 .318 .389 .443 .832 177
2011 20 Montgomery SOUL AA TBR 24 114 100 1 7 11 22 .190 .272 .310 .582 31
3 Seasons 311 1423 1249 8 103 133 230 .296 .368 .392 .760 489
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/21/2011.
Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff G Ch PO A E DP Fld% RF/G
2009 18 Boise NORW A- CHC SS 61 334 92 215 27 35 .919 5.03
2010 19 Peoria MIDW A CHC SS 118 561 178 349 34 73 .939 4.47
2011 20 2 Teams 2 Lgs A+-AA TBR SS 118 542 172 352 18 62 .967 4.44
2011 20 Charlotte FLOR A+ TBR SS 94 444 141 287 16 55 .964 4.55
2011 20 Charlotte FLOR A+ TBR DH 3 0.00
2011 20 Montgomery SOUL AA TBR SS 24 98 31 65 2 7 .980 4.00
3 Seasons 300 1437 442 916 79 170 .945 4.53
SS (3 seasons) SS 297 1437 442 916 79 170 .945 4.57
DH (1 season) DH 3 0.00
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/21/2011.

We expect Lee to begin 2012 as a 21-year-old shortstop in Double-A with a chance to reach the Show later in the season or open the 2013 season as the starter at Tropicana.  If we’ve learned anything, though, it’s that Tampa is more than willing to be aggressive with promotions especially in years in which they are in contention.  We expect Tampa to be very competitive in 2012 too.