Toolshed: Speed

2013 was the year of the stolen base in the minor leagues, highlighted by Billy Hamilton breaking Vince Coleman's record with 155 stolen bases. Just like how Hamilton shattered Coleman's record, his speed shatters the 20-80 scouting scale. Hamilton's speed and stolen base ability is probably a full two grades better than any other players, so that would make it around an 100. Hamilton was not the only burner to break the 100 stolen base barrier, as Delino Deshields reached that plateau by swiping 101 bags. Look for Roman Quinn to break out the next year, I think he will be the next player to accomplish that feat.

When comparing this list to my others in the Toolshed series, remember that because of the nature of the scouting scale it is easier to earn a plus-plus grade for speed than for any other tool. That is not to take anything away from the burners, but there will always be more players with an 80 speed tool than an 80 power tool.
1.)Billy Hamilton          80
2.)Roman Quinn            80
3.)D.J. Davis                  80
4.)Mallex Smith             80
5.)Delino DeShields Jr. 80
6.)Billy Buns                 80
7.)Eury Perez                 80
8.)Edgardo Rivera         70
9.)Jeff Kobernus            70
10.)Matt Szuzur              70
11.)CJ McElroy               70
12.)Keenyn Walker          70
13.)Byron Buxton            70
14.)Rey Fuentes               70
15.)Mason Williams         70
16.)Leury Garcia               70
17.)Gary Brown                 70
18.)Jose Peraza                  70
19.)Travis Jankowski         65
20.)Austin Schotts             65
21.)Tzu Wei Lin                 65
22.)Travis Jankowski          65
23.)Franklin Barreto           65
24.)Slade Heathcott            65
25.)Bubba Starling             65
26.)Luis Sardinas               65
27.)Adam Eaton                 65
28.)Gregory Polanco          65
29.)Glyn Davis                   65
30.)Andrew Toles              65
31.)Manuel Margot           65
32.)Kyrell Hudson             65
33.)Eric Stamets                65
34.)James Ramsey             65
35.)James Baldwin            65
36.)George Springer          65
37.)Johnathan Reynoso     65
38.)Nick Ahmed                65

39.)Max White                  65
40.)Anthony Alford           65


Billy Hamilton-How could I show someone else here?

The Toolshed: Power Bats

Inspired by receiving my BA prospect handbook last week, I have decided to work on this new series called the Toolshed. I admit that I am usually a tools guy; I really am a sucker for a player who can hit the ball 500 feet or get down the line in 3.7 seconds. To kick things off I am going to start with the power tool, because let's be honest, chicks dig the long ball. To compile this list I ranked them into tiers using the 20-80 scouting scale, and then narrowed the list down to 30. The grade 60 is considered a plus tool, and I handed all of these I grade of 65 or more, needless to say they can mash. This does not mean that they will though. Remember this list is not the best power hitting prospects, or even who I think will hit the most home runs. Instead it is a ranking of who has the most raw power potential.

1.) Miguel Sano     80
2.) Joey Gallo         80
3.) Jairo Beras        80
4.) Jorge Soler        70    
5.) Wil Myers         70
6.) Marcell Ozuna   70
7.) Bubba Starling   70
8.) Xander Bogaerts 70
9.) Michael Choice  70
10.) Yasiel Puig       70
11.) Josh Bell           65
12.) Javier Baez        65
13.) Darin Ruff         65
14.) Victor Roache   65
15.) Matt Adams       65
16.) Trayce Thromspson 65
17.) Dan Vogelbach  65
18.) Bryce Brentz      65
19.) Oscar Taveras     65
20.) C.J Cron             65
21.) Adam Duvall      65
22.) Lewis Brinson    65
23.) Courtney Hawkins 65
24.) Carlos Correa     65
25.) Kyle Jepsen        65
26.) Gary Sanchez     65
27.) Mike Zunino      65
28.) Hunter Morris    65
29.) Jonathan Singleton 65
30.) Yorman Rodriguez  65

The guy who probably sticks out on this list the most is Jairo Beras because he is a 17 year old international free agent who has proved absolutely nothing. Furthermore, he was suspended by the MLB for faulty paperwork last year and his career is getting off to a late start. However his upside, especially with the bat, is simply off the charts. Beras is a hulking 6'6" and his power tool is not loud, it is sonic. I have repeatedly heard that he was not only the best player in Latin America last year, but that he could have also gone first overall if he were eligible for the First Year Player Draft. Some scouts have even gone so fat to say that he possesses more raw pop than the guy who tops this list, Miguel Sano, but I will have to hold off until he starts backing his potential here in the states.




Joey Gallo was considered to have the most raw power in the 2011 draft class. 

25 Predictions for 2013

1.) Xander Bogaerts is the number one hitting prospect in baseball at end of year
2.) Miguel Sano will have a huge slump to begin the year in the Florida State League. But don't give up on "The Beast". This challenge will be force him to make adjustments that will help him in the long term. He will still develop into a middle of the line-up masher, this will just be a detour.
3.) Jairo Beras will be this years version of Joey Gallo. After his suspension is lifted in July he will report to the Arizona League, and for the second time in as many years, a Ranger's farmhand will hit 15+ home runs in rookie ball.
4.) Not so bold on this one, but Wil Myers will be your 2013 AL Rookie of the Year.
5.) A little more risky on this one. Trevor Rosenthall will break camp as a starter and will run away with ROY in the Senior Circuit.
6.) Bryce Harper is better than Mike Trout in 2013.
7.) Kyle Gibson has a huge rebound year.
8.) Adalberto Mondesi is a top 50 prospect by years end. He will be even higher in 2014. See Jurickson Profar
9.) Robert Osuna is a huge climber on next years Top 100's.
10.) The best pitching prospect in baseball will be Taijuan Walker.
11.) Trevor Bauer becomes the ace of Cleveland's staff.
12.) Carlos Santana has a breakout year.
13.) Evan Gattis is for real. Darin Ruff is not.
14.) Despite the graduation of Profar and Olt, the Rangers have one of the best systems in all of baseball at end of year. The power potential of Beras, Brinson, Guzman, Gallo, and Mazara is nothing short of frightening.
15.) Billy Hamilton leads the International League in stolen bases despite playing less than 60 games. His big league debut however, is less than stellar.
16.) Bruce Rondon is one of best closers in American League.
17.) Blue Jays win the AL East.
18.) Brett Lawrie contends for a batting title.
19.) Yankees and Red Sox finish in 4th and 5th in division, respectively.
20.) Carlos Rodon is too good for College ranks once again. He starts to get Strasburg-level hype.
21.) Clint Frazier gets drafted before Austin Meadows.
22.) Just like last year, Mark Appel is not drafted in top 5 picks.
23.) Stanton will hit 50 bombs this year.
24.) Gerrit Cole gets torched in his debut season.
25.) The Nationals will win the World Series.

For any one who is reading this, I wish you a Happy New Year. Good luck with all your resolutions. I am looking forward to a great year of baseball. Please comment with your own boldest predictions.

2015 Toronto Blue Jays Top 15 Prospects

   
1.) Aaron Sanchez RHP                                                 B+
In an off season where a number of highly touted Jay's prospects have been dealt away for the likes of Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, and R.A. Dickey, Sanchez is the last man standing. While Travis D' Arnuad was the clear cut top prospect in the Jays system before the blockbusters, and one could also argue that Marisnick, Nicolino, and Syndergaard were equal to or better prospects than Sanchez, he takes the top spot in their system by default. With that said, having Aaron Sanchez as the top prospect in your farm system is nothing to be ashamed of. He truly does have ace type stuff, he just has not learned how to harness it yet. In his first full season he was assigned to Low A Lansing and teamed up with  Nicolino and Syndergaard to create a formidable trio of young arms that became known as "The Lansing Three". Scouts who followed the team clearly labeled Sanchez as having the highest upside of the three. His delivery looks effortless, yet he continuously generates velocities in the upper 90's, even reaching 99 mph at times. His lanky frame is ideal for a starting pitcher and his arms are extremely long, giving him even more projection. He uses the same arm speed for both his change up as he does for his fastball, and it is also an effective pitch. His curve ball could also be graded a 70 pitch on a good day. It has a tight 12-6 break. Low A hitters had very little success hitting the pitch last year. The only thing stopping Sanchez from being an elite pitcher is his aforementioned control problems. In fact he averaged over 5 free passes per nine last year. However with his athleticism and arm action their is hope that his control will improve as he learns to pitch.
2.)Roberto Osuna                                                                                B+
Osuna pitched professionally in Mexico at the ripe age of 16. His rights were then purchased by the Blue Jays for 1.5 million dollars. As an amateur, scouts were worried that their was a little too much meat on his bones. But he has done a good job conditioning himself since signing, and has worked hard to shed fat and add muscle. Still at 230 lbs. as a 17 teen year old, he is still a pretty big kid. Despite his youth, Osuna impresses evaluators with the ability to add and subtract velocity from his fastball. He can hit as 96 on the gun. His command and feel for pitching are well beyond that of his peers. His change up has great arm speed and some nice late movement. His curveball needs a lot of work however, and it is slurvy at time. He throws it fairly frequently though, so he must have some confidence in it. As a 17-teen year old he showed the ability to miss a lot of bats too. He averaged over 10 K's per nine while pitching for Vancouver.
3.) Marcus Stroman                                                                           B+
For me it does not matter whether or not Stroman winds up in the pen or rotation, his stuff is so electric that he is a potential all star in either role. Stroman was hands down my favorite college pitcher in the 2012 draft. I found myself continuously hitting the replay button on his scouting reports on YouTube. I also had the pleasure of watching him as Team USA's closer in a few games a summer ago. He could have not have pitched better in that niche, going just over 8 innings of work without yielding a single hit. He also struck out 17 batters, an average of over 2 an inning, and saved 4 games for the Collegiate National Team. Stroman has also been effective as a starter. In his 2012 campaign, he was the ace of a terrible Duke team, and recorded an ERA of 2.39 while posting high strike out totals. Stroman certainly has the stuff and athleticism to be a starter too. Stroman's first love was hoops, but he found more success on the diamond. When starting, his fastball operates in the 92-95 range, but out of the pen he can notch it all the way up to 98. The life on his fastball is electric, and it explodes towards batters just before it reaches the plate. However his slider is an even better pitch. He throws the pitch in the mid-80's with late tilt and a wipe-out break. Scouts have thrown grades as high as 70 on it. Stroman also mixes in a high-80's cutter and an effective change up. The two biggest knocks on Stroman are his size and command. He is well undersized for a starting pitcher, listed at just 5' 9". The obvious comparison is to Sonny Gray, but Stroman has longer more powerful legs that help compensate for his height. Furthermore, Stroman's command has come in gone at times during his career. In addition, Stroman also suffered a setback after being drafted when he was suspended for  testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. However, he did not test positive for PED's, he actually was caught for a stimulant known as methylhexaneamine. Frankly, i do not think that this should warrant the same penalty as steroids, because it has a considerably different impact on the body and can often be consumed by mistake in other stimulants that may be perceived as legal. Stroman will be banned until late May, where he will return to AA probably in a relief role. For the Jays it will be intriguing option to let Stroman come out of the pen so he can accelerate quickly to the big leagues. For a Jays team that looks to be in the hunt for the pennant next season, he could prove to be a vary valuable asset next October. 

4.) DJ Davis                                                                                        B
Missouri Prep Schools have a terrible track record of producing quality big league players. In fact, there has not been a player drafted out of a Mississippian High School to reach the show in well over a decade. Furthermore, the stereotype for African American prospects out of Southern High Schools are that they are ladened with tools but have hardly any polish. Davis is more polished than his stereotype may indicate and appears to always have a plan at the plate. Speed is his calling card, which grades as a true 80 on the scouting scale. In fact out of any one not named Billy Hamilton, he may have a faster pair of legs than anyone in all of the minor leagues. His sub 3.9 second times down the line blew scouts away as an amateur. However Davis is much more than just a burner. Their is some pop in his bat, with the potential to hit for a boatload of doubles and triples and also put up 10-15+ home run totals. Davis has a whipy swing that can catch up to almost any fastball. Breaking balls do plague him though and led to high strikeouts in his professional debut. With more reps and exposure to off speed  pitches he should develop into a plus hitter. His only below average tool would be his arm, which could be labeled as "fringy". While it make take Davis a while to reach the big leagues, he could have a lot of value for fantasy owner and for the Blue Jays.
5.) Daniel Norris                                                                                  B-
After top prospects Dylan Bundy and Archie Bradley, Norris was arguably the best prep pitcher in the 2011 class. A strong commitment to Clemson University caused him to last a lot longer on the draft boards then he had originally expected. The Blue Jays snagged him with the 76th overall pick and lured him away from campus with a 2 million dollar signing bonus. Norris has a plus fastball that sits in the low 90's and can reach 96. Their is still a lot of projectablitiy in his frame and he could add even more velocity as he matures. Despite his lofty expectations, Norris suffered a rude awakening to professional ball.  He also can mix in a curve, slider, and change up that all grade as average or better.Although his performance was not nearly as bad as his stats may indicate. His inflated ERA can partially be chalked up to that fact that only 45% of batters who reached base against Norris did not score. According to Baseball America, this was worst in the North West League. One concerning part of Norris' game is his mechanics. He struggles to repeat his delivery and his arm has a tendency to drag behind the rest of body. Norris was the starting quarterback on his high school football team since he is an exceptional athlete he should not have to much difficulty ironing out his mechanics. If he is able to rebound in 2013, he could be among the top pitching prospects in the game a year from now.
6.) John Stilson                                                                                   B-
Stilson was the Ace of the Aggies staff in 2010 and 2011, and was slated to be a high pick before a shoulder injury in may of 2011 bounced him out of the first round. The Jays couped him up in the third, and in 2012 he showed scouts the excellent stuff that made him so coveted in college. He is widely viewed as more of a bullpen arm because of his lack of durability and command, although he has pitched well as a starter up until now. He has the ceiling of a high leverage reliever and some believe that his demeanour suits that of a big league closer. The Blue Jays also appear to see him as a reliever, because they stuck him in the pen at the end of last season. There is no denying that his already excellent stuff would play up in the bullpen as well. His fastball peaks at 96 and he throws he throws a change up with superb sink that scouts drool over. He can also spin in 2 variation of a breaking ball, a slider and a curve. I prefer, the curve which has a powerful hammer break.

7.) Matt Smoral                                                                                  B-
Smoral entered 2012 with a lot of helium, but a broken foot sidelined him for almost all of the season. That did not stop the Jays from taking him in the second round and shelling out a 2 million dollar bonus to him. He is a physical presence on the mound, towering over competition at 6' 8". His fastball has been clocked in the mid 90's and he could add more if he fills out his lanky frame. With his size his heater also plays up because the length of his stride makes the release of his pitches that much closer to batters. Smoral's next best offering is his slider, which sits in the low 80's and I have heard it has been graded as a plus pitch. He rarely threw his change up as an amateur, and developing a third pitch will essential if he wishes to remain a starter. Like most Goliaths, Smoral struggles to repeat his delivery. This makes it hard for him to stay on top of the ball at times, leading to command problems. However, he is very athletic and not as awkward as one may expect, so he has a good shot at correcting this issue.
8.) Ty Gonzales                                                                               B-
Gonzales is yet another electric high school arm that the Jays drafted in 2012. If nothing else, Gonzales has one of the best 1-2 punches in his fastball and slider than any other prep arm from last years amateur draft. Gonzales is undersized, but when he rears back he can get his fastball all the way up to 97. He can keep his fastball in the 91-93 range even in the late innings of starts. His slider is a wipeout pitch that he had a lot of success with as an amateur at Madison High in Texas. The most concerning part of Gonzales game is his max-effort delivery. There are so many moving parts for every pitch, including a violent head bob. While this hurts his command, the scarier thing is that I feel their is a Tommy John Surgery waiting to happen for him. He has not thrown a change up yet, and unless that changes I feel that he is destined for the bullpen.

9.) Alberto Tirado                                                                          C+
Toronto made several big splashes when they signed Jario Labourt, Jesus Gonzalez, and Dawel Lugo in July of 2011. But they also signed Alberto Tirado, a skinny pitching prospect who slipped under the radar amidst all the big names. Tirado has seen a huge spike in velocity since signing, and now he looks to be the best of the bunch. He has a quality three four pitch mix, with his fastball being his best offering. His heater sits in the mid 90's and can peek at 96. He commands his fastball very well and keeps it low in the zone. The Jays lowered his arm slot, which added a lot of depth to his power slider and generated a lot of swings and misses for him. He also throws a curve and change up which are a step behind his other two offerings at this point.

10.) Sean Nolin                                                                                 C+
If you have not heard of Sean Nolin yet, put him on your sleeper alert for 2013. He burst onto the prospect scene in 2012 with a strong season where he dominated High A and earned a late season promotion to AA New Hampshire. Nolin has a solid 6' 5" frame and a bulldog approach on the mound. He attacks batters with 92-93 mph fastball. His change up and hook are also average pitches. Nolin won't anchor a rotation for anyone, but if you're looking for a big, sturdy innings eater to fill up the 4 or 5 slot, he is your man. Nolin will be 23 next year and probably will again in New Hampshire. A September call to the bigs, however, is not out of the question.
11.) Dwight Smith                                                                          C+
Dwight Smith is another guy who had a bad year, but don't let that fool you. While he probably would not have made the cut for this list before the trades, he is still a good prospect who could hit near the top of a big league lineup. He is more polished than one might expect from a guy recently drafted out of high school. Smith is a pure hitter with a pretty swing and he manages to keep his bat on the ball all the way through the zone. Smith has only average power, but he has quick hands that may lead to more down the road. He is not a burner, but he moves well on the diamond and may get the chance to stay in center. If not he could slide over to left, where he has the arm strength to still be valuable.
12.) Matt Dean                                                                              C+
Matt Dean fits the bill for a big league third baseman perfectly. He was considered the best third base prospect in all of the 2011 class, but since he was being recruited heavily by the University of Texas, he slid to the 13th round. His plus raw power is adequate to profile well at the hot corner or any other position. Dean possesses a strong arm and makes crisp and accurate throws across the diamond. He played short stop in high school and is athletic enough to make most plays at third. Dean is a pretty big guy, 6' 3" and still growing, so speed is not really part of his game. He did not really get off to a great start in his professional career, but since he was held back in extended Spring Training, 49 games is not a large enough sample size to gather any long term conclusions.
13.) Franklin Barreto                                                                    C+
Barreto was the top player of on almost every clubs' board for the 2012 International Signing Period, and the Blue Jays were fortunate enough to be the winning bidder for his services. Barreto has put up monster numbers for every Venezuelan National Team in international competition since turning 10, and has one a slew of MVP awards for his performances. He hit two home runs off Team USA in the  16-U World Championship last year as well. Since he is so young, it is really hard to project what kind of player he might become, but with his short swing and quick hands some scouts predict that he could hit .300 in the big leagues. Barreto could pose as a future threat on the basepads as well, with speed being a plus-plus tool for him. He lead the world with 8 steals in as many attempts in international competition in 2011. Because of his small stature, Barreto does not really profile as a slugger. He has excellent bat speed that should allow him to get the most out of his body. I would not be surprised to see him hit 15 home runs annually. Defensively, second base and centerfield both appear to be good fits for Barreto in the long term.
14.) Santiago Nessy C                                                                 C+
As an amateur Nessy's defense was heavily scrutinized, but now their is now doubt that he will be able to remain behind the plate. He has a cannon from behind the plate, and he threw out a third of the runners who ran on him last year. His blocking and receiving skills have also improved since signing with Toronto. In addition, he is bilingual and communicates well with both American and Latino players. Offensively, I wouldn't expect Nessy to hit for a very high average. In split time between the Appalachian and the Northwest League he stuck out at a 30% clip and compiled just a .236 average between the two stops. However, Nessy has some intriguing power potential. He has very quick hands that translated into a .456 slugging percentage in his time with Bluefield. He also launched 8 homers in just 160 at bats. For me, Jarrod Saltalamacchia comes to mind as a comp for Nessy.

15.) Kevin Pillar OF                                                                 C+
In a year where a lot of Blue Jays prospects didn't put up numbers to match their prospect statuses, Kevin Pillar probably had the best year of any player on this list. Pillar doesn't exactly fit the ideal prospect mold, he is maxed out physically and already 23 and still in A ball. He flat out raked in 2012, hitting .323 between Lansing and Dunedin. He also stole 51 bags. Don't expect Pillar to put up those monster numbers as a big leaguer, but he could be a really good 4th outfielder or even a second division starter if everything breaks right. He is not a slugger, but both his hit and speed tools are above average and he has a great feel for the game that allows all of his tools to play up.


Next Five: Adonys Cardona RHP, Mitch Nay 3B, Deck McGuire 3B, Christian Lopes 2B, Anthony Alford OF

2013 Kansas City Royals Top 15 Pospects

                   

1.) Wil Myers OF                                                   A
With his combination of eye-popping numbers and elite prospect status, Myers earned my Minor League Player of the Years honors. Myers was drafted as a catcher in the third-round of 2009. He was considered a top-tier high school talent, but his sky high asking price forced him to slide out of the first round. Myers really burst on to the scene when he hit .313 in his debut season. After struggling in 2011, he altered his approach at the plate and put up monster numbers in his 2012 campaign. While he made a lot less contact (he fanned 140 times) he put up off the charts power numbers. As a 21 year old he posted a gaudy .316/.389/.602 with 37 home runs slash line between AA and AAA. When Myers made a cameo in Kansas City for the Sirius XM Futures Game, he was nearly ready for the show. But the Royals were far from contention, so they left him in the minors to demolish Pacific Coast League pitching. However, their is still no guarantee that Royals will break camp with the Myers in the starting line up. At least, not with the Royals. According to numerous sources, Myers is being actively shopped in exchange for a frontline starter. The Royals are in desperate need for pitching, so the Athletics, Rays, and Red Sox all represent possible fits. While Myers has not found a permanent home in the field, with the bat he is the best pure hitter in all of the minor leagues. His light-tower power and great eye-hand coordination make him a likely future 3-4 hitter in almost any big league line up.
2.) Kyle Zimmer RHP                                            B+
Zimmer came to San Francisco as a third baseman, where he played almost exclusively for the Dons in his freshman campaign. However he was converted to a pitcher in his sophomore season where he became a truly elite prospect. He still lay under the radar going into his Junior year, where a breakout season propelled him up draft boards and he was apparently even in the consideration to go 1-1 for the Astros. Zimmer is a tremendous athlete, has the stuff to be an ace, and considering his lack of experience, has pretty good command. He was paired with Mark Appel and Kevin Gausman to form the "Big Three" college arms in the 2012 draft. The Royals were ecstatic to land him at #5 where they finally got the elite pitcher that they had so long coveted in the draft. His stock took a hit after being drafted, where a physical revealed bone chips in his elbow. He made 9 starts before his surgery where he flashed a fastball that sits in the mid 90's and peaks at 98 mph. Zimmer also showed a curve and slider that have swing and miss potential. His change up needs the most work but has a lot of late movement.
3.) Derek "Bubba" Starling                                      B+
Bubba Starling is about as gifted of a natural athlete that you will ever find. At Gardner-Edgertown High he starred in baseball, basketball, football, and track. He was one the mostly highly touted college football prospects and the nation and he committed to play quarterback for Nebraska. The Royals drafted him out of their own back yard and gave him an offer he couldn't refuse. Starling never found his way onto campus, instead signing a $7.5 million bonus with Kansas City. The Royals pumped the breaks on his 2011 season-he didn't debut until the middle of 2012 in the short-season Appalachian League. He had mixed results in his first year. While he slugged at an impressive .485 clip, Starling fanned in close to 35% of his at bats. Starling is such a raw talent that he is the near definition of a high risk, high reward prospect. While he is still only 20, time is not exactly on his side because he is old for his draft class and has yet to play full-season ball. He is definitely a player who will need a lot of minor league reps to add polish before reaching the show. If he does not improve his mechanics and pitch recognition he is a player who could be in danger of flaming out before he reaches AA. Despite all of the red flags, Starling has five-tool potential that could make him a super star. If he reaches his ceiling he could steal 20-25 bags a year with the potential to hit 30 homers annually. Starling shows a lot more polish in the outfield as he possesses the speed and instincts to play center field at an elite level. Starling also has a rocket for an arm so he could be a fit in right too.
4.) Yordano Ventura RHP                                       B+
It seems like every organization has their own "Pedro". The Pedro Martinez comp is often given to every Latino pitcher with a small stature and an electric fastball. But in reality it is a terrible comparison, because how many Pedro's have we really scene in the last 15 years? In fact, according to baseball reference in the last 30 years their has not been a single starting pitcher under 6'0" and 175 lbs. to make over 100 appearances predominately as a stater. So where the odds appear to be stacked against the little guys, enter Yordano Ventura. The Dominican flamethrower is listed at just 5'11" and 140 lbs, and if there was ever a Pedro comparison that was justified, it would be with him. While he is slightly more than his listed weight, he is one of the smallest pitchers in professional baseball and he generates easy velocity that has been recorded as high 102 MPH. To go along with his triple-digit heat Ventura has a hammer curve and an effective change up offering. Ventura blew away hitters in the Carolina League before meriting a promotion to AA where he struggled to command his pitches in 6 outings. As a 22 year old next season, Ventura will likely return to AA to work on his location. Ventura's command will likely be the deciding factor on weather or not he will end up in the pen or not. Durability is not as much of a concern for him as it is with other undersized starters as he is usually able to maintain his velocity deep into games. If Ventura is able to stick as a starter, he has the ceiling of a top of the rotation starter.
5.) Jake Odorizzi RHP                                           B
Odorizzi does not have anything left to prove in the minors as he now mastered every level. The Illinois native began the season in AA but earned a promotion to Omaha early in the season. In 18 starts he posted a 2.93 ERA, which is especially impressive for the Pacific Coast League. He even earned a cup of coffee with the Royals in September.  Depending on the moves Dayton Moore makes this off season, Odorizzi  may get a chance to crack the rotation with the club out of Spring Training. If not he will wait for an opening in AAA. Odorozzi throws an average fastball that tops out at 94 with some movement, but he has a tendency to leave it up. His off speed pitches include a change up, curveball, and a slider that are all average to slightly above average. One red flag that stands out in his game is his increasing fly ball rates. If he continues to throw so many fastballs up in the zone, don't be shocked if a lot of his pitches leave the park-especially in his first few seasons. Odorozzi was the blue chip prospect in the Zack Grienke deal so the Royals are really counting on to fill a slot in their rotation for several years to come. He has the upside of a 3 starter, with a floor of being a back of the rotation guy if he allows too many home runs.
6.) Adalberto Mondesi                                            B
With Mondesi's bloodlines, tool set, and premium position if you were to tell me that he would rank among the top prospects in the game a few years down the road, I would be hardly surprised. However, Mondesi is so young that everything is mostly projection at this point. At age of just a high school sophomore Mondesi more than held his own in an advanced rookie league. As a 16 year old he hit .290 against pitchers more than 5 years his senior. If Mondesi continues to develop at a similar trajectory, his career path could be similar to that of Rangers' shortstop Jurickson Profar. Mondesi is a near lock to stay at shortstop. He has phenomenal range, good speed, and a solid arm to go along with strong instincts. Offensively the Royals hope that he could develop into the same kind of player as his father Raul Mondesi, the former NL Rookie of the Year. Mondesi isn't very tall, but if he fills out his wiry frame he should be bigger than his dad. When signed Mondesi didn't show much pop, but his bat speed is quicker than expected. According to Baseball America, one opposing coach said that "He might have the highest ceiling in the league because of his youth. This guy may show up in three years hitting 30 bombs in the big leagues." Mondesi also possesses plus speed and he managed to steel 11 bags in 13 attempts for Idaho Falls. Like most players his age he really needs to work on his plate discipline. Improving his ability to recognize pitches could be an invaluable skill for him and help him unlock some power.
7.) Jorge Bonifacio OF                                            B-
The polar opposite of his light-hitting brother, Emilio, Jorge is a pure-hitting outfielder who's true value lies in his bat. Bonifacio is not a speedster like his brother, but with his plus arm and the potential to hit for both power and average and should profile well as a right fielder. As a teenager in the Midwest League, Bonifacio performed well hitting .282. He has a lot of raw power, but he has not really tapped into it yet. Scouts have also been impressed with his approach and power will come if he continues to wait for his pitch to drive. Bonifacio has all the tools to become an offensive threat at the plate.
8.) Orlando Calixte SS                                            B-
As an elite defender at a premium position with solid pop, Calixte has a highly desirable profile. The Royals scouted Calixte from his boyhood and after handing him a seven-figure bonus, he is developing into exactly the kind of player they had wished for. Calixte's range at short really stands out and he possesses a pretty good arm there too. Calixte is far from a "glove only" prospect-he could easily develop into an above average hitter for both contact and power. Calixte hit 15 home runs in 2012 despite playing a good portion of his games at Wilmington's pitcher-friendly ball park. Calixte desperately needs to improve his eye at the plate and draw more walks. He should have a lot of time to figure things out as the Royal's appear to have the slick-fielding Alcides Escobar penciled in at short for the foreseeable future.
9.) Sam Selman LHP                                              B-
Injuries derailed Selman's  collegiate career at Vanderbelt, and even when he did manage to stay on the field his performance was inconsistent. Selman bounced around from the rotation to the pen but the Royals intend to let him start. Selman finally performed up to level that scouts had been expecting in his pro debut. Selman posted a ridiculous 13.28 K/9 rate and topped the circuit in almost every other major category. A second round pick in 2012, Selman's fastball opertates in the 91-95 range. Pioneer league batters struggled to make contact with his slider too, which is also an above average offering. Of all of his pitches his change up needs the most work. Selman could reach the majors quickly as a reliever, but he will probably require more development if he sticks in the rotation.
10.) Cheslor Cuthbert 3B                                        B-
After hitting well as the youngest player in the Midwest League, their was a lot of hype surrounding Cuthbert entering 2012. The bonus baby from Nicaragua signed for $1.35 million in 2009- shattering the record for his homeland. Cuthbert took a step back, at least offensively, in 2012. He his just .240 with out much power for Wilmington. However, keep in mind that he was facing pitching that is superior to that of which most prospects his age were seeing. Wilmington's home field isn't exactly a great environment to hit home runs in either. Cuthbert will probably take a second stab at High-A next year. It is certainly far too early to give up on Cuthbert. He drives pitches to all parts of the field and has plus raw power. There are some questions about his ability to remain at third though, as many scouts wonder if he has enough foot speed to remain at the hot corner. He is a very steady defender when balls are hit right at him, but he doesn't nearly have enough range to make some of the bigger plays. Worst case scenario would be that he would have to slide across the diamond to play first base.
11.) John Lamb LHP                                              B-
Lamb was ranked the top pitching prospect in the Royals loaded 2010 system, but injuries have slowed down his progress. Lamb was on the fast track to the majors in 2011 before a shoulder injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. The injury led to Tommy John surgery which sidelined him for nearly all of 2012. Lamb's stuff has not been as crisp and his velocity has been way down since his surgery, but people in the Royals organization seem to believe it will improve with more time away from the surgery. Prior to the injury Lamb was noted for having pinpoint command, a plus fastball, and an even better change up. He also mixes in an average to above average curveball. The southpaws frame is also ideal for a starting pitcher. If he is able to return to his form prior to the injury, he has the ceiling of a # 3 starter or better.
12.) Kyle Smith RHP                                              B-
Despite Smith's undersized frame, the Royals went over slot to sign him to highest bonus in the 4th round of 2012. Smith rewarded Kansas City with a season nothing short of dominant. Many scouts were impressed with his control but he also showed the potential to miss bats by averaging 12.19 K's per 9 innings. Smith's fastball is only average, it sits between 89-91 MPH, but his curve is his best offering and projects as a true out pitch for him. Smith's change up needs the most work as he struggled to command it at times during the season. Smith has plus athleticism which helps compensate for his lack of size. Because of his frame their will always be concerns about his durability, but if he remains a starting pitcher he could develop in a solid 3-4 starter for the Royals.
13.) Jason Adam LHP                                          B-              
Adam doesn't really generate enough punch outs  to profile as a frontline starter, but he has a good feel for pitching and could be a workhorse in the big leagues. Before signing,  Adam was noted as a guy who lit up radar guns with a high 90's fastball, but so far  in his professional career he has sat more in the 90-92 range. Recovering his velocity is key to Adam's success because his change up and curve are still developing. Despite his lack of flash Adam has been fairly successful so far. In a 158 innings of work for Wilmington, he recorded just a 3.53 ERA while allowing only 35 free passes. Adam should begin the year in AA next year and could be able to help the Royals rotation in the not so distant future.
14.) Christian Colon 2B                                      C+            
When the Royals took Colon with the 4th overall pick in 2011 after Bryce Harper, Jameson Taillon, and Manny Machado, he was considered a "safe pick" because his only plus tool was his bat. When Colon failed to hit well in 2012, he posted just a .257 average in AA, his prospect stock took a major hit. He also moved off short stop to second base. Despite his struggles, he was still ranked the #11 prospect in the Royals organization by Baseball America. After this season, Colon has failed to make the cut in many of the top prospects lists at all. This is puzzling to me because Colon actually hit a lot more than he did in 2011. He raised his average to .301 and slugged at a .413 clip. Reports also suggested that Colon was developing into a plus defender at his new position. Colon has great plate discipline and I could see him hitting in the #2 slot if he continues to get on base. By the end of 2013 he could be battling Johnny Giavotella for the starting spot in Kansas City.
15.) Elier Hernandez OF                                      C+        
Hernandez was considered the consensus top Latin American player in the 2012 class, and maybe the best hitting prospect from the Dominican Republic since Miguel Sano. He is a quick-twitch athlete with tremendous power projection. He looks the part getting of the bus too, his 6' 4" 210 Lb. frame is already major league ready. But all other aspects of Hernandez's game need serious work. He looked helpless in his major league debut in the Pioneer League. Despite his plus raw power, he did not connect for a single home run in 250 at bats. He did not make much contact either, and needs to work on his pitch recognition. However, Hernandez has one of the highest ceilings of any player in the Royals system. He was only 17 last year, as far as we know, and there is a lot of time for him to refine his approach and tap into his raw power.


Next 5: Bryan Brickhouse RHP, Cam Gallagher C, Mike Montgomery LHP, Pat Leonard 3B, JC Sulbaran RHP

Chicago Cubs Top 15 Prospects

                          
1. Javier Baez SS                                   A
As good of a player that Starlin Castro is, Javier Baez has the chance to be better. That is saying a lot considering that you would be hard pressed to find a better young shortstop than Castro currently in the majors. When drafted 9th overall in 2011, there were some questions both about Baez's ability to remain at short and his makeup. In his first professional season Baez has done a lot to shore up those concerns. Surprisingly, Baez showed great range and solid hands in the field. If he fills out a lot more he might have to move over to third, but the Cubs will likely give him every opportunity to remain there as long as possible. Despite concerns about his maturity in high school, Baez played with an aggressive but respectful approach in 2012. They were no major incidents with his behavior last season. Baez's real value lies at the plate, where he has garnered comparisons to a young Gary Sheffield. Baez generates tremendous bat speed, his hands might be quicker than any player in the minor leagues. Baez hits hard and often, and his future bat and hit tools have been graded as high as 65 and 70, respectively. The Puerto Rican native demolished Midwest League pitching, posting an impressive .383/ .596./.979 line for Peoira. Baez has above average speed paired with excellent instincts that should allow him to steal 15 or more bases annually. Baez scuffled a bit after a promotion to Daytona, however this season was a huge success on the whole, as he truly excelled in all aspects of the game. If Baez continues to develop at such a rapid pace, Castro could find himself as an expendable trade chip in the not so distant future. He would certainly be able to net Theo and the Cubs a bounty of young arms.
2. Albert Almora OF                         B+   
Almora has plus tools in all of the five major categories but it his off the charts intangibles give him a "sixth tool" and truly sets him apart. Almora is an absolute dream for coaches because of his work ethic and genuine love for the game. Almora is very polished for a player just out of high school, and while his upside may not be as high as some of the other first rounders, he has an extremely high floor. The Cubs became enamoured with Almora very early on, and reportedly he was at the very top of their draft board. Needless to say, Theo was delighted to have him when the sixth overall pick came around. Almora has solid speed, but his instincts allow it to play up both on the base pads and in the field. Presently, his fielding ability is his most impressive part of his game. Almora gets great reads of the bat, and defense is really something he takes pride in. Almora makes good contact and  his loose swing generates a lot of line drives. As he adds strength the Mater Academy alum should hit his share of home runs too.
3. Jorge Soler OF                           B+
Following in the footsteps of fellow Cuban star, Yoenis Cespedes, Soler defected from the island to play in the big leagues. Soler signed a deal lasting 9 seasons worth $30 million. Based on their investment, the Cubs hope that Soler will anchor the middle of their line up when paired with Javier Baez to form a formidable 3-4 punch for years to come. Soler certainly has the tools to do it. Soler played professionally in Cuba so he is also more seasoned than most international signees  Soler possesses light-tower power that would probably grade as 70 on the scouting scale.  His hitting ability has been debated fiercely among scouts. His approach at the plate is consistent, but he has a tendency to over swing at times. Soler has a rocket arm so he profiles well as a right fielder. However, he desperately needs to improve his routes in the outfield before he reaches the majors.
4. Ardoys Vizcaino RHP               B
Vizcaino came to Chicago as part of the deal that sent Reed Johnson and Paul Maholm to Atlanta. Vizcaino's long term role is still up in the air at this point. He certainly has the stuff to be a big league starter, but his durability, or lack thereof, combined with previous success out of the pen lead many to believe that he could develop into a high-leverage relief option. With a fastball that operates between 93-97 out of the bullpen and a plus curve, I could see Vizcaino in the future closer's role for the Cubs. Vizcaino is also developing a third plus pitch as his change has made huge strides recently. With Carlos Marmol appearing to be on the way out of the windy-city I could see this happening sooner than later. However, Vizcaino missed all of 2012 with an elbow injury, so he more than likely will open 2013 in AAA.
5. Dan Vogelbach 1B                   B
To say that Vogelbach has a "bad body" would be a dramatic understatement. He does not look like he would be able to play in an adult softball league, let alone professional baseball. He is under 6 feet, and generously listed at 260 lbs. His high school recruiting pictures are comical, but he has worked hard to shed  some of that weight since his amateur days. In the field he will likely always be a liability no matter where he plays. With all that said, there is actually a lot to like about Vogelbach. Vogelbach works extremely hard to make up for his weaknesses and is reportedly a very good teammate. At the dish he showed a very promising approach and the ability to hit for both power and average. He was red-hot for two different Cub's affiliations (AZL and Boise) where he posted a gaudy .410/.641/1.051 slashline.  At times it seems that he can literally hit the ball a mile and in 2012 he averaged about one  home run in about every 14 at at bats. Vogelbah's ability to draw a walk makes him about as complete of hitter as you can find. If he doesn't eat himself out of baseball, Vogelbach could wind up as a steal for the Cubs as a second round pick.
6. Dillon Maples P                       B-
Maples was regarded as a near impossible sign out of Pinecrest High in 2011. He was heavily recruited by North Carolina and appeared ready to head to campus (to play both football and baseball) at Chapel Hill. However, Chicago lured him to pro ball just before the deadline with a lofty $2.5 million bonus. Maples' leg was considered to be NFL quality and he is extremely athletic. He has some big time velocity, with a fastball that sits between 93-96, but he needs to work on his location. His curve is plain nasty, with 12-6 break that has the ability to be a plus-plus pitch. Maples really needs to develop a better change up if he wants to remain as a starter though. With his athleticism and stuff Maples has the ceiling of a top of the rotation starter.
7. Brett Jackson OF                     B-
The fact that Jackson comes in at #7 here is indicative of the depth of really good hitting prospect in the Cubs system. Jackson is a great athlete who has a rare speed-power combination, but he hardly makes contact enough for any of his tools to be viable. In fact the Cubs former top prospect fanned in 41% of his at bats split between AAA and the majors. Jackson has also struggled to catch up with the inside fastball so their are concerns if he will ever be able to make an impact at the big league level. On the plus side, when Jackson does hit, he hits hard. Jackson slugged at a .479 clip for Iowa in 2012. Jackson is also a threat to steal a bag as he had 27 steals last season. Unless Jackson is able to make significant adjustments, the comp I would throw on him would be a lesser-version of Drew Stubbs.
8. Pierce Johnson P                      B-
The Cubs used their first of two supplemental picks this year on Pierce Johnson, a college pitcher from Missouri State University. In recent years MSU has been a factory for producing big league arms including the likes of Brad Ziegler, Shaun Marcum and Ross Detwiler that have all passed through the program. Johnson's repertoire includes a low-to-mid 90's heater, a hard curve with 3/4-quarter break, an improving change up and an occasional cutter. Currently his curve is his best pitch, but his fastball could also become an out-pitch if he improves his location. In the past Johnson has had trouble staying on the field, but if he can remain healthy he should rise quickly through the Cubs system.
9. Christian Villanueva 3B             B-
While in the Rangers' organization Villanueva was blocked by top prospect Mike Olt and all-star Adrian Beltre and he appeared to be the odd man out. Luckily for Villanueva, was sent to Chicago in a package that brought Ryan Dempster to Texas. Villanueva did not show up in particularly great shape to camp and got off to a sluggish start in 2012. He rebounded though and posted solid numbers the rest of the way. At the hot corner, Villanueva is a plus defender with a plus arm and good range. He is athletic enough to make a transition to second base justifiable as well. Second might actually be a better home for Villanueva, as he has only average power that doesn't profile well at third. Up to this stage in his career, Villanueva is more of doubles hitter than a home run threat. Villanueva has a compact stroke that should allow him to make solid contact.
10. Jeimer Candelairo                  B-
While Candelairo leaves a lot to be desired in the field and on the bases, he has some huge offensive potential.  Candelairo was the youngest player in the North West League and he managed to hold his own by hitting .281 for Boise. The Dominican switch-hitter has serious raw power and if he taps into it he could hit well over 20 home runs in a season. In order to continue to make contact at the higher levels, Candelairo will need to make a lot of adjustments to his swing. Many evaluators claim that he needs to quiet his hand actions and shorten up his swing. There is a long time for Candelairo to figure things out though as he will only be 19 next season. Candelairo is already a big kid, but he could get even bigger in the next few seasons. I do not think he is quick enough to stay at third so in the long term his niche might end up being at first.
11. Josh Vitters 3B                     B-

Just when it appeared that Vitters was going to be an all-time draft bust, he finally started to make strides in 2011 and earned a August call up to Wrigley. However, it is even more amazing that he is still only 22 years old. The former 3rd overall pick was once regarded as a future superstar with the ability to hit .300 and hit north of 25 home runs in a season. But Vitters appeared to flame out in AA where he hit a dismal .223 in 2010. Just as we began to officially write Vitters off he posted respectable .356/.513/.869 line in AAA. Vitters will likely never develop into the all-star caliber player the Cubs hoped he would, but he could be an every-day player at the hot corner.

12. Matt Sczcar OF                  B-
While Sczcar patrolled center field in the spring for the Wildcats, he played wide receiver for Villanova in the fall. A standout-athlete in both sports, Sczcar was selected in the fifth round by the Cubs in 2010 but he probably could have gone higher in the NFL draft. He intended to return to the NFL draft combine but after a major league debut but after hitting .347 in his limited debut season, he elected to solely focus his efforts on the diamond. Speed is Sczcar's calling card as he swiped 42 bases between two levels in 2012. Sczcar profiles as a table-setter at the big-league level because to go along with his speed, Sczcar has a line-drove that should enable him to hit for a high average. Sczcar hit well in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League, but he hit a wall after a promotion to AA. Sczcar has earned the reputation of a hard-worker and the Cubs are confident that he will be able to bounce back from his struggles and maybe reach the big leagues by next September.
13. Juan Carlos Paniagua RHP    C+
No one really knows how old Paniagua is, but he claims to be 22. Paniagua signed a contract for the third time in August with the Cubs for $1.5 million bonus. He had previously inked a $17, 000 deal in 2009 with the Diamondbacks and then again with the Yankees for $1.1 for the Yankees last year. Both deals were terminated by the MLB because of fraudulent paperwork. Despite all the turmoil, Paniagua is a very talented arm. Paniagua has a live fastball that operates in the 92-95 range and he can reach back for a little more if he needs it. He throws his change up with the same arm speed as his fastball so it is a very deceptive pitch for him. His slider also flashes plus potential but he needs to gain more consistency with it.
14. Duane Underwood                C+
Underwood entered the spring of his senior year with a lot of hype surrounding him and some expected him to go as high as the middle of the first round. However, after an erratic season where the Georgia native struggled to maintain velocity and command his pitches, Underwood slid to the second round. Underwood has an ideal pitchers frame to go along with great stuff. His fastball has touched 98 mph, but his velocity has a tendency to drop off quickly after the fist couple innings. Underwood also has decent feel for his change up. While Underwood may have more upside than any pitcher in the Cubs system, he needs to be more consistent in all parts of his game.
15. Marco Hernandez SS         C+
As a teenager in the Midwest League. Hernandez appeared to be completely over matched in 2012. He was sent back to short season ball where he salvaged his 2012 campaign. While Hernandez hit just .256 last year, he has very good bat control and should hit for a decent average if he improves his pitch recognition. While not particularly strong, Hernandez is athletic and has very good footwork at the short. He should be able to either player short or second in the big leagues. If he adds some size he could hit for 10-15 home runs annually.

Next Five: Logan Watkins 2B, Junior Lake OF, Arismendy Alcantara SS, Trey Martin OF, Tony Zynch RHP,

Minor League Radar's Preseason 2013 MLB Draft Board

The Big Board

1.) RHP Mark Appel (Stanford Sr.)
2.)OF Clint Frazier (Loganville HS, GA) Profile
3.) RHP Ryne Stanek (Arkansas Jr.) Profile
4.) OF Austin Meadows (Grayson HS, GA) Profile
5.) OF Austin Wilson (Stanford Jr.) Profile
6.) LHP Sean Manaea(Indiana State Jr.)
7.) SS JP Crawford (Lakewood HS, CA)
8.) 1B/OF Domonic Smith (Serra HS, CA)
9.) 3B/1B Kris Bryant (San Diego Jr.) Profile
10.) RHP Jordan Sheffield (Tullahoma HS, TE)
11.) C Reese McGuire (Kentwood HS, WA) Profile
12.) SS Oscar Mercado (Gaither HS, FL)  Profile
13.) RHP Kohl Stewart (St. Pius HS, TX) Profile
14.) 3B Drew Ward (Leedey HS, OK) *
15.) LHP/OF Trey Ball (New Castle, IN) 
16.) OF Justin Williams (Terrebone HS, LA) Profile
17.) RHP Jonathon Crawford (Florida Jr.) 
18.) 3B Colin Moran (North Carolina Jr.) Profile
19.) RHP Karsten Whitson (Florida Jr.) Profile
20.) C Jonathan Denney (Yukon HS, OK)
21.) OF Ryan Boldt (Red Wing HS. MN) Profile
22.) RHP Bobby Wahl (Ole Miss Jr.) Profile
23.) LHP Ian Clarkin (James Madison HS, CA)
24.) OF Aaron Judge (Frenso State Jr.)
25.) LHP Robert Kaminsky (St. Joseph Regional HS, NJ)
26.) C Jeremy Martinez (Mater Dei HS, CA)
27.) RHP Ryan Eades (LSU Jr.)
28.) RHP Trevor Williams (Arizona State, Jr.)
29.) LHP Stephen Gonsalves (Catholic HS, Sr.)
30.) LHP Kevin Ziomek (Vanderbilt Jr.)
31.) RHP Dustin Driver (Wenatchee HS, Washington)
32.) LHP AJ Puk (Washington HS, Iowa)
33.) OF Phil Ervin (Samford Jr.)
34.) C Chris Okey (Eustis HS, Florida)
35.) RHP Marco Gonzales (Gonzaga Jr.)
36.) RHP Clinton Hollon (Woodford County HS, Kentucky)
37.) SS/3B Andy McGuire (James Madison HS, Virginia)
38.) SS JaCoby Jones (LSU Jr.)
39.) LHP Garrett Williams (Calvary Baptist HS, Louisiana)
40.) RHP/ OF Michael Lorenzon (Cal State Fullerton Jr.)
41.) 1B Rowdy Tellez (Elk Grove HS, California)
42.) 3B Cavan Biggio (St. Thomas HS, Texas)
43.) 3B Trey Williams (College of the Canyons FR)
44.) 1B/OF Nick Longhi (Venice HS, Florida)
45.) 1B DJ Peterson (New Mexico Jr.)
46.) C Chris Okey (Eustis HS, Florida)
47.) C Nick Ciuffo (Lexington HS, South Carolina)
48.) RHP Brett Morales (King HS, Florida)
49.) RHP Corey Knebel (Texas Jr.)
50.) RHP Dominic Taccolini (Kempner HS, Texas)