Midseason Prospect Update: Non Top 190 Hitters

Prospects Not on Preseason List

Previously, I looked at how pre-season prospects have been performing this season, but what about players who weren't on any prospect lists? I have listed the top five qualified hitters in each league by age and league adjusted wOBA (raw numbers from Minor League Central), removing hitters with poor walk and strikeout rates. The bust and productive percentage columns are what I have found from my prospect research. That research looked at only top 100 players, so it may not be perfectly correlated to the chances of these (for now) non prospects. Finally, since we are supposed to be trying to find new prospects, I removed all players older than the league average and older than 25 in AAA.

Single-A

Midwest League

Name	Organization	Position	Age	Adj wOBA	Bust%	Prod%	Round Drafted
Chris Bostick	Athletics	2B	20.25	0.429	51%	26%	44th - 2011
Travis Harrison	Twins	3B	20.67	0.425	51%	26%	1st - 2011
Jorge Polanco	Twins	2B/SS	19.92	0.411	47%	20%	IFA - 2009, DR
Rock Shoulders	Cubs	1B/OF	21.75	0.389	50%	33%	25th - 2011
Mallex Smith	Padres	OF	20.08	0.388	30%	35%	5th - 2012

Bostick ranked 11th on the preseason consensus A's list. Mark Anderson had this to say about him: "At the plate, Bostick has the potential for average power if he can develop a consistent trigger and swing plane, allowing him to make more consistent hard contact."

Shoulders' first name is actually Roderick, but he goes by Rock. I would prefer that too.

More Twins show up performing well, after Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton lead the prospect list in good hitting performance.

None of these players have been promoted yet.

South Atlantic League

Name	Organization	Position	Age	Adj wOBA	Bust%	Prod%	Round Drafted
Rosell Herrera	Rockies	SS	20.67	0.467	30%	35%	IFA - 2009, DR
Mookie Betts	Red Sox	2B	20.67	0.445	30%	35%	5th - 2011
Stetson Allie	Pirates	1B	22.25	0.434	50%	33%	2nd - 2010
Gregory Bird	Yankees	1B	20.58	0.418	51%	26%	5th - 2011
Josh Elander	Braves	OF	22.25	0.404	60%	19%	6th - 2012

Herrera was tied for 17th on the preseason consensus Rockies list, only ranked by two outlets. Jonathan Mayo on Herrera: "Herrera is a young switch-hitter who’s shown some ability to hit for average and some power from both sides of the plate."

Allie was promoted to High-A on June 21st. He started his professional career as a pitcher, but had a 29/37 K/BB ratio in 147 batters faced. The switch is looking good for him so far.

Elander was recently promoted to High-A Lynchburg.

High-A

California League

Name	Organization	Position	Age	Adj wOBA	Bust%	Prod%	Round Drafted
Chris Taylor	Mariners	2B/SS	22.83	0.421	51%	26%	5th - 2011
Ryan Casteel	Rockies	C	22	0.409	60%	19%	17th - 2010
Max Muncy	Athletics	1B	22.83	0.404	30%	35%	5th - 2012
Preston Tucker	Astros	OF	22.92	0.399	47%	20%	7th - 2012
Cory Spangenberg	Padres	2B	22.25	0.382	60%	19%	1st - 2011

Another league leader named Chris, how about that? Taylor, owner of the world's greatest first name, was not ranked on the Mariners pre-season consensus list. He was promoted to AA Jackson on June 19th.

Spangengberg was picked 10th overall and ranked 100th on the 2012 consensus list, so he is no stranger to being a top prospect and this year is helping his cause to return to that status. He was promoted to AA on June 7th. Tucker started play in AA on June 26th.

Carolina League

Name	Organization	Position	Age	Adj wOBA	Bust%	Prod%	Round Drafted
Kyle Kubitza	Braves	3B	22.92	0.406	50%	33%	3rd - 2011
Tyler Naquin	Indians	OF	22.17	0.400	60%	19%	1st - 2012
Henry Ramos	Red Sox	OF	21.17	0.391	30%	35%	5th - 2010
Michael Taylor	Nationals	OF	22.25	0.385	60%	19%	6th - 2009
Justin Trapp	Royals	2B	22.67	0.362	60%	19%	34th - 2009

Kubitza ranked 23rd on the Braves pre-season consensus list, appearing only on two relatively unknown sites Baseball Instinct and MLB Prospect Portal.

None of these five have been promoted yet.

Florida State League

Name	Organization	Position	Age	Adj wOBA	Bust%	Prod%	Round Drafted
Kennys Vargas	Twins	1B	22.83	0.440	51%	26%	IFA - PR
Andy Burns	Blue Jays	3B/SS	22.83	0.434	47%	20%	11th - 2011
Robert Refsnyder	Yankees	2B	22.25	0.434	30%	35%	5th - 2012
Aaron Altherr	Phillies	OF	22.42	0.428	50%	33%	9th - 2009
Dustin Geiger	Cubs	1B/3B	21.5	0.403	47%	20%	24th - 2010

I'm not sure who Kenny is and what his Vargas does, but it must help his batting prowess. Vargas was not ranked on the Twins consensus rankings.

Burns was promoted to AA on June 21st. Refsnyder started the season in the sally league but was quickly promoted after 62 PAs.

Double-A

Eastern League

Name	Organization	Position	Age	Adj wOBA	Bust%	Prod%	Round Drafted
Josmil Pinto	Twins	C	24.25	0.433	30%	35%	IFA - VE
Andrew Susac	Giants	C/1B	23.25	0.417	51%	26%	2nd - 2011
Daniel Fields	Tigers	OF	22.42	0.411	51%	26%	6th - 2009
Michael Almanzar	Red Sox	1B/3B	22.5	0.409	47%	20%	IFA - DR
Ramon Flores	Yankees	OF	21.25	0.403	30%	35%	IFA - VE

I'm sick of writing about Twins prospects performing well in the minor leagues! Pinto did not appear on the organizational rankings either.

None of these players have been promoted yet.

Southern League

Name	Organization	Position	Age	Adj wOBA	Bust%	Prod%	Round Drafted
Arismendy Alcantara	Cubs	2B/SS	21.67	0.420	51%	26%	IFA - DR
Marcus Semien	White Sox	2B/3B/SS	22.75	0.410	30%	35%	6th - 2011
Kevin Kiermaier	Rays	OF	23.17	0.407	47%	20%	31st - 2010
Ronald Torreyes	Cubs	2B	20.75	0.399	47%	20%	IFA - VE
Andy Wilkins	White Sox	1B	24.75	0.388	51%	26%	5th - 2010

Alcantara certainly has the most fun to say name of the league leaders. He showed up at number 14 on the Cubs preseason prospect list. Keith Law calls him "a plus runner and thrower who might end up at third but shows pop from both sides of the plate."

Wilkins was promoted to AAA on June 24th and has three extra-base hits in seven games.

Texas League

Name	Organization	Position	Age	Adj wOBA	Bust%	Prod%	Round Drafted
Reymond Fuentes	Padres	OF	22.33	0.454	30%	35%	1st - 2009
Domingo Santana	Astros	OF	20.83	0.453	50%	33%	IFA - DR
Randal Grichuk	Angels	OF	21.83	0.430	47%	20%	1st - 2009
Taylor Lindsey	Angels	2B	21.5	0.417	30%	35%	1st - 2010
Cristhian Adames	Rockies	2B/SS	21.92	0.363	30%	35%	IFA - DR

Fuentes, rumored to be a part of a possible Matt Garza to the Padres deal, just barely snuck onto the Padres preseasons consensus list tied for 27th. However he did rank 14th on the 2012 list. Mark Smith wrote this: "Offensively, he can hit with improving plate discipline, but he likely won’t hit for much power. That being said, you can see him filling out and adding power, and if he can eliminate a slight bat wrap at the beginning of his swing, he should have the bat speed to hit a few more dingers."

None of these players have been promoted yet this season.

Triple-A

International League

Name	Organization	Position	Age	Adj wOBA	Bust%	Prod%	Round Drafted
L.J. Hoes	Orioles	OF	23.25	0.453	30%	35%	3rd - 2008
Cesar Hernandez	Phillies	2B/SS	23.08	0.448	30%	35%	IFA - VE
Cody Asche	Phillies	3B	23	0.426	60%	19%	4th - 2011
Zoilo Almonte	Yankees	OF	24	0.423	30%	35%	IFA - DR
Todd Cunningham	Braves	OF	24.25	0.415	30%	35%	2nd - 2010

Hoes ranked 6th on the Orioles preseason prospect list, appearing in the top 10 of all source lists. Baseball America gave Hoes the title of Best Hitter for Average and Best Strike Zone Discipline in the organization.

Hernandez made his major league debut on May 29th, appearing in nine games, but was sent back to AAA. Almonte is still currently in the big leauges, tearing it up with a 0.357 wOBA in 37 PAs.

Pacific Coast League

Name	Organization	Position	Age	Adj wOBA	Bust%	Prod%	Round Drafted
Corey Dickerson	Rockies	OF	24.08	0.502	47%	20%	8th - 2010
Jaff Decker	Padres	OF	23.33	0.407	51%	26%	1st - 2008
Jonathan Galvez	Padres	2B/3B/OF	22.42	0.390	60%	19%	IFA - DR
Ryan Wheeler	Rockies	1B/3B/OF	24.92	0.383	60%	19%	5th - 2009
Engel Beltre	Rangers	OF	23.58	0.378	47%	20%	IFA - DR

Dickerson was promoted to Colorado, but may not get enough playing time to settle in. If he does, he could perform extremely well, since he has hit at every level. He was ranked 16th on the Rockies prospect list. John Sickels gave him a ringing endorsement: "At some point people just have to admit that the guy can hit, mediocre tools and middling glove aside. May not be a big batting average guy, but the power is real in my view." He has only played in six major league games and has yet to hit a home run, but does have four doubles and a 0.357 wOBA.

Decker has appeared on prospect lists before, but has always had a problem being aggressive enough. True to form, he walked in his first major league PA.

Wheeler has 128 career major league PAs, nine of which have come this year.

Beltre was recently promoted (I was at his final AAA game!). He has four singles in four games.