Conger off to solid start for Angels

With the first month of the MLB season in the books, and some of the baseball’s best prospects now suiting up for their respective big league squads, it’s time to reflect on the performances of our Top 50 Prospects.  Today we look at 45-50, which include: Chris Dwyer, J.P. Arencibia, Aaron Hicks, Jose Iglesias, Nick Castellanos and Hank Conger.

50. Chris Dwyer, LHP, Kansas City Royals

Double-A: 1-3, 6.35 ERA, 6 GS, CG, 28.1 IP, 27 H, 17 BB, 21 K, 1.553 WHIP, 1.24 K/BB

49. J.P. Arencibia, C, Toronto Blue Jays

MLB: .247(21-for-85)/.304/.482, 4 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 7 BB, 20 K

48. Aaron Hicks, OF, Minnesota Twins

High-A: .206(20-for-97)/.322/.309, 3 2B, 2 3B, HR, 10 RBI, 2-for-5 SB, 18 BB, 23 K

47. Jose Iglesias, SS, Boston Red Sox

Triple-A: .253(22-for-87)/.278/.253, 0 XBH, 4 RBI, 2-for-4 SB, 2 BB, 17 K

46. Nick Castellanos, 3B, Detroit Tigers

Single-A: .208(20-96)/.260/.281, 4 2B, HR, 13 RBI, 7 BB, 28 K

45. Hank Conger, C, Los Angeles Angels

MLB: .300(18-for-60)/.354/.500, 3 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 4 BB, 11 K

Shortly after the turn of the New Year, we began unveiling our Top 50 Prospects for the 2011 season.  The list is the product of hours of deliberation between Dee and myself, and is far from your average, cookie-cutter top prospect list.

Our rankings are based on a number of criteria such as ceiling, refinement, age, level, performance, and health thus far.  Positional scarcity and chances to stay at a premium position in the Major Leagues carries some weight too, but is a lesser component. No pitcher rankings are based off of potential as relievers because no top arm ends up in the bullpen unless the front office decides to lose its mind.

In case you have missed any player on our list, here is a recap of 40-50:

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• In a stunning eight-player deal, the Tampa Bay Rays traded Matt Garza, Fernando Martinez, and Zach Rosscup to the Chicago Cubs, and received a slew of prospects in return- Chris Archer, Brandon Guyer, Robinson Chirinos, Sam Fuld, and Hak-Ju Lee.  Although the players that the Cubs parted with are just prospects – all but Fuld are yet to reach the Major Leagues – I sincerely believe that they surrendered too much for Garza.  And after reading Dave Cameron’s analysis of Garza over at FanGraphs, I’ve only become more convinced this was the case.

• Although they are not nearly as despicable as the staff of the Chicago Tribune – don’t get me started on Phil Rogers – the Chicago Sun Times sports writers are still pretty inept.  On the morning following the announcement of the Garza trade, the Sun Times published a photo of Joaquin Benoit on the cover of the sports section instead of the newly acquired Garza.  A slip up of this magnitude speaks volumes about the crack-squad of writers and editors that they willingly employ.

• This week we learned that the St. Louis Cardinals and their prized slugger, Albert Pujols, resumed talks regarding an extension before the 2011 season.  But even when the Cardinals lock up the all-mighty Pujols, will it be enough? I-70 Baseball explores the trades made by the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs, and offers some insight as to how the 2011 Cardinals team will compare.

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#45 Hank Conger – Los Angeles Angels

C

DOB: 1-29-88

ETA: 2011

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