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Top 50 Prospects Recap: Nos. 11-50

Calendar January 17, 2012 | Posted by Mike Rosenbaum

After a monster 2011 season, Arenado jumps from No. 44 to No. 21

Just as we did prior to the start of the 2011 season, The Golden Sombrero is currently unveiling our Top 50 Prospects.  Due to the promotion of many of baseball’s finest prospects over the course of last season, our new list features a slew of new names thanks to strong performances across various minor league levels.  Only time will tell whether this new crop of prospects will match the hype and success of last season’s, but one thing is certain – they are the future of baseball.  Before we crack the Top 10, however, here is a quick recap of the players we’ve highlighted thus far, and where they were ranked headed into the 2011 season:

50. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

49. Christian Yelich, OF, Miami Marlins – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

48.  Joseph Wieland, RHP, San Diego Padres – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

47. Jarred Cosart, RHP, Houston Astros – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

46. Michael Choice, OF, Oakland Athletics – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

45. Matt Harvey, RHP, New York Mets – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

44. Sonny Gray, RHP, Oakland Athletics – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

43. Zack Cox, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals, — Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

42. Yasmani Grandal, C, Cincinnati Reds – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

41. Zack Wheeler, RHP, New York Mets – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

40. Hak-Ju Lee, SS, Tampa Bay Rays – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

39. Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle Mariners – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

38. Wil Myers, OF, Kansas City Royals – Pre-2011 Rank: 15

37. Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Boston Red Sox – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

36. Brett Jackson, OF, Chicago Cubs – Pre-2011 Ranks: 43

35. Carlos Martinez, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

34. Gary Brown, OF, San Francisco Giants – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

33. Randall Delgado, RHP, Atlanta Braves – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

32. Starling Marte, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

31. Robbie Erlin, LHP, San Diego Padres – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

30. Arodys Vizcaino, RHP, Atlanta Braves – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

29. Jonathan Singleton, 1B/OF, Houston Astros – Pre-2011 Rank: 37

28. Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Kansas City Royals – Pre-2011 Rank: 35

27. Travis d’Arnaud, C, Toronto Blue Jays – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

26. Manny Banuelos, LHP, New York Yankees – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

25. Miguel Sano, 3B, Minnesota Twins – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

24. Josh Bell, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates – Pre-2011 Rank: N/A

23. Martin Perez, LHP, Texas Rangers – Pre-2011 Rank: 28

22. Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Colorado Rockies – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

21. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies – Pre-2011 Rank: 44

20. Archie Bradley, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks – Pre-2011 Rank: N/A

19. Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Chicago Cubs – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

18. Tyler Skaggs, LHP, Arizona Diamondbacks – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

17. Devin Mesoraco, C, San Diego Padres – Pre-2011 Rank: 27

16. Bubba Starling, OF, Kansas City Royals – Pre-2011 Rank: N/A

15. Jarrod Parker, RHP, Oakland Athletics – Pre-2011 Rank: 8

14. Jacob Turner, RHP, Detroit Tigers – Pre-2011 Rank: 19

13. Jurickson Profar, SS, Texas Rangers – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

12. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates – Pre-2011 Rank: 14

11. Danny Hultzen, LHP, Seattle Mariners – Pre-2011 Rank: N/A

Top 50 Prospects Recap: Nos. 25-50

Calendar December 19, 2011 | Posted by Mike Rosenbaum

Banuelos debuts at No. 26 on our list

Just as we did prior to the start of the 2011 season, The Golden Sombrero is currently unveiling our Top 50 Post-2011 Prospects, and we are now halfway through out list.  Due to the promotion of many of baseball’s finest prospects over the course of last season, our new list features a slew of new names thanks to strong performances across various minor league levels.  Only time will tell whether this new crop of prospects will match the hype and success of last season’s, but one thing is certain – they are the future of baseball.

Here is a quick recap of the players we’ve highlighted thus far, and where they were ranked headed into the 2011 season:

50. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

49. Christian Yelich, OF, Miami Marlins – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

48.  Joseph Wieland, RHP, San Diego Padres – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

47. Jarred Cosart, RHP, Houston Astros – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

46. Michael Choice, OF, Oakland Athletics – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

45. Matt Harvey, RHP, New York Mets – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

44. Sonny Gray, RHP, Oakland Athletics – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

43. Zack Cox, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals, — Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

42. Yasmani Grandal, C, Cincinnati Reds – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

41. Zack Wheeler, RHP, New York Mets – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

40. Hak-Ju Lee, SS, Tampa Bay Rays – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

39. Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle Mariners – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

38. Wil Myers, OF, Kansas City Royals – Pre-2011 Rank: 15

37. Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Boston Red Sox – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

36. Brett Jackson, OF, Chicago Cubs – Pre-2011 Ranks: 43

35. Carlos Martinez, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

34. Gary Brown, OF, San Francisco Giants – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

33. Randall Delgado, RHP, Atlanta Braves – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

32. Starling Marte, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

31. Robbie Erlin, LHP, San Diego Padres – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

30. Arodys Vizcaino, RHP, Atlanta Braves – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

29. Jonathan Singleton, 1B/OF, Houston Astros – Pre-2011 Rank: 37

28. Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Kansas City Royals – Pre-2011 Rank: 35

27. Travis d’Arnaud, C, Toronto Blue Jays – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

26. Manny Banuelos, LHP, New York Yankees – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

25. Miguel Sano, 3B, Minnesota Twins – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

Top 50 Prospects Recap: Nos. 35-50

Calendar November 28, 2011 | Posted by Mike Rosenbaum

A position change and freak injury dropped Wil Myers to No. 38 

Just as we did prior to the start of the 2011 season, The Golden Sombrero is currently unveiling our Top 50 Post-2011 Prospects.  Due to the promotion of many of baseball’s finest prospects over the course of last season, our new list features a slew of new names, many of which drastically upped their stock thanks to strong performances across various minor league levels.  Only time will tell whether this new crop of prospects will match the hype and success of last season’s, but one thing is certain – they are the future of baseball.

Here is a quick recap of the players we’ve highlighted thus far, and where they were ranked headed into the 2011 season:

50. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

49. Christian Yelich, OF, Miami Marlins – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

48.  Joseph Wieland, RHP, San Diego Padres – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

47. Jarred Cosart, RHP, Houston Astros – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

46. Michael Choice, OF, Oakland Athletics – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

45. Matt Harvey, RHP, New York Mets – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

44. Sonny Gray, RHP, Oakland Athletics – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

43. Zack Cox, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals, — Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

42. Yasmani Grandal, C, Cincinnati Reds – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

41. Zack Wheeler, RHP, New York Mets – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

40. Hak-Ju Lee, SS, Tampa Bay Rays – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

39. Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle Mariners – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

38. Wil Myers, OF, Kansas City Royals – Pre-2011 Rank: 15

37. Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Boston Red Sox – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

36. Brett Jackson, OF, Chicago Cubs – Pre-2011 Ranks: 43

35. Carlos Martinez, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

Top 50 Prospects: #46 – Michael Choice

Calendar November 9, 2011 | Posted by Daniel "Dee" Clark

#46 Michael Choice

Oakland Athletics

DOB: 11/10/1989

Previous Rank: N/A

ETA: 2013

Choice had a terrific first full season of professional baseball as a 21-year-old. He had an outstanding career at UT-Arlington and was deservedly selected with the tenth overall pick in 2010. With Stockton this year in the California League, Choice slashed .285/.376/.542 and went deep 30 times. He struck out 134 times but walked enough to justify it.

Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA
2010 20 2 Teams 2 Lgs A–Rk OAK 30 130 109 21 29 10 2 7 26 6 1 17 45 .266
2010 20 Athletics ARIZ Rk OAK 3 9 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 .000
2010 20 Vancouver NORW A- OAK 27 121 102 20 29 10 2 7 26 6 1 15 43 .284
2011 21 Stockton CALL A+ OAK 118 542 467 79 133 28 1 30 82 9 5 61 134 .285
2 Seasons 148 672 576 100 162 38 3 37 108 15 6 78 179 .281
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/9/2011.
Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff G PA AB HR RBI BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2010 20 2 Teams 2 Lgs A–Rk OAK 30 130 109 7 26 .266 .377 .587 .964 64
2010 20 Athletics ARIZ Rk OAK 3 9 7 0 0 .000 .222 .000 .222 0
2010 20 Vancouver NORW A- OAK 27 121 102 7 26 .284 .388 .627 1.016 64
2011 21 Stockton CALL A+ OAK 118 542 467 30 82 .285 .376 .542 .918 253
2 Seasons 148 672 576 37 108 .281 .376 .550 .927 317
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/9/2011.
Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff G Ch PO A E DP Fld% RF/G
2010 20 2 Teams 2 Lgs A–Rk OAK CF 29 63 60 1 2 0 .968 2.10
2010 20 Athletics ARIZ Rk OAK CF 2 3 3 0 0 0 1.000 1.50
2010 20 Vancouver NORW A- OAK CF 27 60 57 1 2 0 .967 2.15
2011 21 Stockton CALL A+ OAK CF 98 219 206 7 6 1 .973 2.17
2011 21 Stockton CALL A+ OAK DH 20 0.00
2011 21 Stockton CALL A+ OAK OF 98 219 206 7 6 1 .973 2.17
2 Seasons 147 282 266 8 8 1 .972 1.86
CF (2 seasons) CF 127 282 266 8 8 1 .972 2.16
DH (1 season) DH 20 0.00
OF (1 season) OF 98 219 206 7 6 1 .973 2.17
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/9/2011.

There is some swing-and-miss with Choice, but no part of any park can hold him, and his defense is far better than one would expect from this kind of power bat. There is a realistic chance that Choice can stay in CF, and if he can, then he will be an all-star year in and year out. While his speed is a 60, he doesn’t necessarily use it very well stealing bases. It is better reflected in the field and moving from base to base on contact.

The down tool with Choice is his arm, so his value drops considerably if he is forced to move away of center, but by no means is that move imminent or even likely. Michael Choice can take a huge step forward perhaps even into the top 10 with a big 2012 in the high Minors.