Baseball America's 2012 Top 31 Prospects (Pre trades)

[cinreds21]

Just picked up my copy of the annual Prospect Handbook. I was disappointed to discover that the Reds top 31 was prior to the Latos and Marshall trades. Nevertheless, here they are:

1. Devin Mesoraco, C
2. Billy Hamilton, SS
3. Yonder Alonso, OF/1B
4. Yasmani Grandal, C
5. Zack Cozart, SS
6. Daniel Corcino, RHP
7. Robert Stephenson, RHP
8. Didi Gregorius, SS
9. Todd Frazier, 3B/1B/OF
10. Brad Boxberger, RHP
11. Neftali Soto, 1B
12. J.C. Sulbaran, RHP
13. Ronald Torreyes, 2B
14. Ryan LaMarre, OF
15. Tony Cingrani, LHP
16. Dave Sappelt, OF
17. Henry Rodriguez, 2B
18. Amir Garrett, LHP
19. Yorman Rodriguez, OF
20. Gabriel Rosa, 3B
21. Chris Valaika, INF
22. Kyle Wladrop, OF
23. Ryan Wright, 2B
24. Sean Buckley, 3B/OF
25. Tucker Barnhart, C
26. David Vidal, 3B
27. Donnie Joseph, LHP
28. Juan Duran, OF
29. Jonathan Perez, RHP
30. Kyle Lotzkar, RHP
31. Tim Crabbe, RHP

[dougdirt]

John Fay has this as well, and even has a little bit of info on most guys.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/201...eds-prospects/

I am most curious about the drop for Kyle Lotzkar.

[mth123]

Surprised Valaika is on the list. No Donald Lutz?

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by mth123

Surprised Valaika is on the list. No Donald Lutz?

I missed that one too. Those two do surprise me.

[Edd Roush]

Originally Posted by dougdirt

I missed that one too. Those two do surprise me.

I was most surprised by Jonathan Perez over Crabbe and Lotzkar although it is very close. Valaika that high is weird, too. Ryan Wright seems high as well.

[Ohayou]

I have Wright almost within my Top 10.

[Edd Roush]

Originally Posted by Ohayou

I have Wright almost within my Top 10.

I realize you said almost and not in your Top 10, but who do you have Wright above the following:

#1 C Devin Mesoraco
#2 SS Billy Hamilton
#3 SS Zack Cozart
#4 RHP Dan Corcino
#5 RHP Robert Stephenson
#6 1B Neftali Soto
#7 OF Yorman Rodriguez
#8 UT Todd Frazier
#9 SS Didi Gregorius
#10 2B Henry Rodriguez
#11 LHP Tony Cingrani

[cinreds21]

Just to go a little bit further, Baseball America has implemented a grading scale this year. Basically it's two grades, one being the player's ceiling (on the 20-80 scale.) and the other being their risk factor. (ranging from safe to extreme.) Here is how they describe each:

35-40: Players with with fifth-starter or utility/backup catcher upside, or relief specialists. It will be rare for a 35 to make the book. This category includes the likes of Doug Slaten, Matt Treanor and Alfredo Simon.

45-50: Most players reside here. The high ends (50s with lower risk) are second-division regulars with higher peaks, eight-inning relievers and fourth starters on playoff teams. The lower end are platoon/utility players, back-end starters and relievers. Think of Jamey Carroll, Joe Blanton and Angel Pagan.

55-60: First-division regulars and number three starters and elite closers, such as Jonathan Papelbon, James Shields and Torii Hunter would earn these grades.

65-70: Number two starters and perennial All-Stars in the mold of Chase Utley, Matt Cain, Matt Kemp and Adrian Beltre.

75-80: Franchise players and number one starters, such as Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Roy Halladay.


Safe: Has shown realistic ceiling in big leagues; ready to contribute in 2012.

Low: Likely to reach realistic ceiling, certain big league career barring injury.

Medium: Still some work to do to turn tools into major league-caliber skills.

High: Most draft picks in their first seasons, players with plenty of projection left.

Extreme: Teenagers in Rookie ball or players with significant injury histories.

1. Mes-65, Low
2. Hamilton-65, High
3. Alonso- 60, Low
4. Yas-60, Medium
5. Cozy-50, Safe
6. Corcino-55, Medium
7. Stephenson-60, High
8. Didi-55, High
9. Frazier-50, Low
10. Box-50, Medium
11. Soto-50, Medium
12. Sulbaran-50, High
13. Torreyes-50, High
14. LaMarre-50, High
15. Cingrani-50, High
16. Sapp-45, Low
17. Rodriguez-45, Medium
18. Amir-55,Extreme
19. Yorman- 55, Extreme
20. Rosa-50, High
21. Valaika-45, Medium
22. Waldrop-50, High
23. Wryan Wright-45, Medium
24. Buckley-50, High
25.Barnhart-45, Medium
26. Vidal-50, High
27. Joseph-45, High
28. Duran-50, Extreme
29. Perez-50, Extreme
30. Lotzkar-50, Extreme
31. Crabbe-45, High

[Ohayou]

Originally Posted by Edd Roush

I realize you said almost and not in your Top 10, but who do you have Wright above the following:

#1 C Devin Mesoraco
#2 SS Billy Hamilton
#3 SS Zack Cozart
#4 RHP Dan Corcino
#5 RHP Robert Stephenson
#6 1B Neftali Soto
#7 OF Yorman Rodriguez
#8 UT Todd Frazier
#9 SS Didi Gregorius
#10 2B Henry Rodriguez
#11 LHP Tony Cingrani

I'm not as high on Yorman and Henry as some other people on this board are. Edit: I did vote for Yorman at #9, but I've since changed my mind about him.

[mth123]

Interesting that Alonso and Frazier are both 50-Low yet Alonso is a number 3 prospect and Frazier number 9 while Frazier offers more defensive value. Something seems out of whack there.

[cinreds21]

Originally Posted by mth123

Interesting that Alonso and Frazier are both 50-Low yet Alonso is a number 3 prospect and Frazier number 9 while Frazier offers more defensive value. Something seems out of whack there.

That's my bad. Yonder and Yas are both 60s. Typing error on my part. And the Low and all that means risk as in what they can do in the big leagues is basically obvious at this point.

[mth123]

Originally Posted by cinreds21

That's my bad. Yonder and Yas are both 60s. Typing error on my part. And the Low and all that means risk as in what they can do in the big leagues is basically obvious at this point.

Makes more sense.