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Articles from December 2011



Top 50 Prospects: #18 – Tyler Skaggs

#18 Tyler Skaggs

Arizona Diamondbacks

DOB: 7/13/1991

Previous Rank: N/R

ETA: 2012

Skaggs really has nothing left to prove in the Minors in our opinion, even though he has never thrown a Triple-A pitch.  His 10 starts in the Southern League were as convincing as any collected by any southpaw not named Matt Moore this season.  He posted a 2.50 ERA for Mobile, striking out 73 guys and only issuing 15 walks in under 60 innings.  While Arizona will undoubtedly send Skaggs back to the farm for more polishing, it’s no secret that he’s ready and should find himself among the Show’s youngest starting pitchers within the next year or two.

Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff W L ERA G GS IP BB SO
2009 17 2 Teams 2 Lgs Rk LAA 0 0 1.80 5 2 10.0 2 13
2009 17 Orem PION Rk LAA 0 0 4.50 2 0 4.0 1 6
2009 17 Angels ARIZ Rk LAA 0 0 0.00 3 2 6.0 1 7
2010 18 2 Teams 1 Lg A LAA,ARI 9 5 3.29 23 18 98.1 25 102
2010 18 Cedar Rapids MIDW A LAA 8 4 3.61 19 14 82.1 21 82
2010 18 South Bend MIDW A ARI 1 1 1.69 4 4 16.0 4 20
2011 19 2 Teams 2 Lgs A+-AA ARI 9 6 2.96 27 27 158.1 49 198
2011 19 Visalia CALL A+ ARI 5 5 3.22 17 17 100.2 34 125
2011 19 Mobile SOUL AA ARI 4 1 2.50 10 10 57.2 15 73
3 Seasons 18 11 3.04 55 47 266.2 76 313
A (1 season) A 9 5 3.29 23 18 98.1 25 102
Rk (1 season) Rk 0 0 1.80 5 2 10.0 2 13
AA (1 season) AA 4 1 2.50 10 10 57.2 15 73
A+ (1 season) A+ 5 5 3.22 17 17 100.2 34 125
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/30/2011.
Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff W L ERA IP WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB
2009 17 2 Teams 2 Lgs Rk LAA 0 0 1.80 10.0 1.100 8.1 0.0 1.8 11.7 6.50
2009 17 Orem PION Rk LAA 0 0 4.50 4.0 1.500 11.2 0.0 2.2 13.5 6.00
2009 17 Angels ARIZ Rk LAA 0 0 0.00 6.0 0.833 6.0 0.0 1.5 10.5 7.00
2010 18 2 Teams 1 Lg A LAA,ARI 9 5 3.29 98.1 1.180 8.3 0.6 2.3 9.3 4.08
2010 18 Cedar Rapids MIDW A LAA 8 4 3.61 82.1 1.202 8.5 0.7 2.3 9.0 3.90
2010 18 South Bend MIDW A ARI 1 1 1.69 16.0 1.062 7.3 0.6 2.2 11.2 5.00
2011 19 2 Teams 2 Lgs A+-AA ARI 9 6 2.96 158.1 1.105 7.2 0.6 2.8 11.3 4.04
2011 19 Visalia CALL A+ ARI 5 5 3.22 100.2 1.142 7.2 0.5 3.0 11.2 3.68
2011 19 Mobile SOUL AA ARI 4 1 2.50 57.2 1.040 7.0 0.6 2.3 11.4 4.87
3 Seasons 18 11 3.04 266.2 1.132 7.6 0.6 2.6 10.6 4.12
A (1 season) A 9 5 3.29 98.1 1.180 8.3 0.6 2.3 9.3 4.08
Rk (1 season) Rk 0 0 1.80 10.0 1.100 8.1 0.0 1.8 11.7 6.50
AA (1 season) AA 4 1 2.50 57.2 1.040 7.0 0.6 2.3 11.4 4.87
A+ (1 season) A+ 5 5 3.22 100.2 1.142 7.2 0.5 3.0 11.2 3.68
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/30/2011.

Skaggs features three pitches that all grade as at least 55s, with his breaker a no-doubt plus to double-plus pitch.  It is a very tight 12-6 bender that features excellent shape and can get both sides of the dish out consistently, both in the zone and in the dirt.  His fastball has picked up several notches of pace in the last year and now is nearly always in the low-90s.  His changeup is behind the other two pitches, but only because a changeup inherently has less life than aggressive fastballs and breakers.  He turns it over quite well for a 20-year-old who has never needed it, though.  His delivery is athletic, fluid, and repeatable.  He gets excellent makeup grades as well.  Skaggs is a prized commodity and is simply one more stellar arm that the geniuses in Phoenix have stockpiled.

GIF of the Moment: Classic Vlad


Top 50 Prospects: #19 – Anthony Rizzo

#19 Anthony Rizzo

San Diego Padres

DOB: 8/8/1989

Previous Rank: N/R

ETA: 2012

It is hard to still think of Rizzo as a rookie after he was punished to the tune of a .523 OPS for the Padres in 128 at-bats in 2011.  He still qualifies for this list, though, and while his stock did take a hit, he still is one of the top corner bat prospects in the game.  As soon as he was demoted to Tucson, he began raking again, slashing .331/.404/.652 with 26 jacks in only 356 at-bats.  He has true 60-grade power today with a chance at more.

Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff G PA AB 2B HR RBI SB CS BA
2007 17 Red Sox GULF Rk BOS 6 24 21 0 1 3 0 0 .286
2008 18 Greenville SALL A BOS 21 87 83 6 0 11 0 0 .373
2009 19 2 Teams 2 Lgs A-A+ BOS 119 503 445 37 12 66 4 1 .297
2009 19 Greenville SALL A BOS 64 274 245 21 9 42 2 1 .298
2009 19 Salem CARL A+ BOS 55 229 200 16 3 24 2 0 .295
2010 20 2 Teams 2 Lgs AA-A+ BOS 136 602 531 42 25 100 10 1 .260
2010 20 Salem CARL A+ BOS 29 135 117 12 5 20 3 0 .248
2010 20 Portland EL AA BOS 107 467 414 30 20 80 7 1 .263
2011 21 Tucson PCL AAA SDP 93 413 356 34 26 101 7 6 .331
5 Seasons 375 1629 1436 119 64 281 21 8 .296
A (2 seasons) A 85 361 328 27 9 53 2 1 .317
A+ (2 seasons) A+ 84 364 317 28 8 44 5 0 .278
AA (1 season) AA 107 467 414 30 20 80 7 1 .263
Rk (1 season) Rk 6 24 21 0 1 3 0 0 .286
AAA (1 season) AAA 93 413 356 34 26 101 7 6 .331
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/27/2011.
Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff G PA AB HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2007 17 Red Sox GULF Rk BOS 6 24 21 1 3 1 2 .286 .375 .429 .804 9
2008 18 Greenville SALL A BOS 21 87 83 0 11 3 15 .373 .402 .446 .848 37
2009 19 2 Teams 2 Lgs A-A+ BOS 119 503 445 12 66 50 99 .297 .368 .461 .828 205
2009 19 Greenville SALL A BOS 64 274 245 9 42 25 60 .298 .365 .494 .859 121
2009 19 Salem CARL A+ BOS 55 229 200 3 24 25 39 .295 .371 .420 .791 84
2010 20 2 Teams 2 Lgs AA-A+ BOS 136 602 531 25 100 61 132 .260 .334 .480 .814 255
2010 20 Salem CARL A+ BOS 29 135 117 5 20 16 32 .248 .333 .479 .812 56
2010 20 Portland EL AA BOS 107 467 414 20 80 45 100 .263 .334 .481 .815 199
2011 21 Tucson PCL AAA SDP 93 413 356 26 101 43 89 .331 .404 .652 1.056 232
5 Seasons 375 1629 1436 64 281 158 337 .296 .366 .514 .880 738
A (2 seasons) A 85 361 328 9 53 28 75 .317 .374 .482 .856 158
A+ (2 seasons) A+ 84 364 317 8 44 41 71 .278 .357 .442 .799 140
AA (1 season) AA 107 467 414 20 80 45 100 .263 .334 .481 .815 199
Rk (1 season) Rk 6 24 21 1 3 1 2 .286 .375 .429 .804 9
AAA (1 season) AAA 93 413 356 26 101 43 89 .331 .404 .652 1.056 232
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/27/2011.
Year Age Tm G PA AB 2B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+
2007 17 BOS-min 6 24 21 0 1 3 0 0 1 2 .286 .375 .429 .804
2008 18 BOS-min 21 87 83 6 0 11 0 0 3 15 .373 .402 .446 .848
2009 19 BOS-min 119 503 445 37 12 66 4 1 50 99 .297 .368 .461 .828
2010 20 BOS-min 136 602 531 42 25 100 10 1 61 132 .260 .334 .480 .814
2011 21 SDP-min 93 413 356 34 26 101 7 6 43 89 .331 .404 .652 1.056
2011 21 SDP 49 153 128 8 1 9 2 1 21 46 .141 .281 .242 .523 51
1 Season 49 153 128 8 1 9 2 1 21 46 .141 .281 .242 .523 51
162 Game Avg. 162 506 423 26 3 30 7 3 69 152 .141 .281 .242 .523 51
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/27/2011.

His bat gets long to the ball, a tendency that lefties have had a fairly easy time exploiting, but he is athletic enough to develop his hit tool to a point that he should be able to stay inside of more pitches.  Rizzo is an elite defender at first, but will never be an average runner.  Who cares?  With time, the 22-year-old could develop into one of the top first basemen in the National League and makes the loss of Adrian Gonzalez considerably more tolerable.  He was the top offensive prospect in Boston’s organization before he became the centerpiece of the Gonzalez deal last winter.  After the Mat Latos trade, the Padres are several pieces away from a legitimate chance at contention, and they have a very bright youngster with a chance to hit in the middle of the order for years in Anthony Rizzo.


Top 50 Prospects: #20 – Archie Bradley

#20 Archie Bradley

Arizona Diamondbacks

DOB: 8/10/1992

Previous Rank: N/A

ETA: 2014

Archie Bradley went seventh overall in the 2011 draft, but he would be the consensus No. 1 in this year’s class and in many other years.  He has reached 101 mph with his fastball and his curveball was arguably the top pitch in the entire class, and it honestly gives him a chance at two pitches that could flash 80s on any given night.  Make no mistake; Bradley is as frontline as they come with excellent projection and athleticism.

He likely will bully his way through the low Minors because no one will even come close to being able to handle him until he reaches Double-A.  He operates well on a downhill plane but still manages to sink his fastball even beyond what he naturally creates with his delivery.  Because he lost some of every year up until now to football, the length he can get out of each start probably has a way to go before he can reach 100 pitches consistently without a loss in stuff or command.

Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff W L ERA G GS IP H SO
2011 18 Missoula PION Rk ARI 0 0 0.00 2 1 2.0 1 4
1 Season 0 0 0.00 2 1 2.0 1 4
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/27/2011.

Nevertheless, this is just nitpicking.  Bradley is phenomenal, and as soon as he develops a quality third pitch he will be one of the very top prospects in baseball.  Imagine this possible rotation: Trevor Bauer, Daniel Hudson, Trevor Cahill, Ian Kennedy, Tyler Skaggs, and Bradley.  That could happen by the playoffs in 2013, something we are very confident Arizona will be a part of.


A dream come true year for Lance Jeffries (Prep Baseball Report)

Growing up, every aspiring baseball player shares a common dream: to one day play for their hometown team.  For many, it’s a dream that dissipates over time, as the daunting reality of what it takes to even play at the collegiate level takes center stage.

But for St. Louis native Lance Jeffries (right), the dream became a breathtaking reality on June 7, when the St. Louis Cardinals selected the McCluer outfielder in the 10th round of the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft.  Two days later, Jeffries and the Cardinals made it official when he signed his first professional contract, and was subsequently assigned to the organization’s Gulf Coast League affiliate in Florida.

As a senior, 6-foot, 205-pound Jeffries garnered Prep Baseball Report Missouri First Team All-State honors after posting a .457 batting average and .587 OBP, with 10 home runs, 38 runs scored, 45 RBI, and a perfect 46-for-46 in stolen bases.

However, it was obvious that Jeffries’ sheer athleticism extended well beyond his robust stats.  In August of 2010, the speedster opened eyes nation wide by running an event-best 6.6-second 60-yard dash at USA Baseball’s Breakthrough Series.  Then at Prep Baseball Report’s Super 60 draft showcase in McCook, IL last February, Jeffries flashed his 90+ mph arm and plus bat-speed.  In a matter of months, he had emerged as one of the nation’s more intriguing five-tool prep prospects.

Now, after an impressive inaugural campaign in the GCL, Jeffries is back in St. Louis and spending time with his friends and family. And despite his success and acclimation to life as a professional baseball player, the awe of being drafted – by his hometown team nonetheless – has hardly faded.

Continue reading ‘A dream come true year for Lance Jeffries’ at PrepBaseballReport.com >>