Top 50 Prospects by MiLB

by NothinG on Dec 5, 2008 9:12 AM CST Comment 46 comments

MinorLeagueBaseball.com this week ranked the top 50 prospects with rookie eligibility. The Texas Rangers have 3 in the top 50 and I think you can make a strong case for two or three more (Smoak, Main etc) due to the stock falling on some of the other players on this list, but like any rankings system it is subjective. The Rangers rank as follows:

9 – Neftali Feliz

21 – Elvis Andrus

46 – Derek Holland

They’ve done a nice job of giving a bio and video on each player. Here is the link to the complete list.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/minorleagues/prospects/y2009/index.jsp

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Good List

Since it’s going on potential versus performance, those would be my top 3 Rangers as well.

Rangeressary

"the poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese." - G.K. Chesterton

by rangeressary on Dec 5, 2008 9:25 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

apparently the had Smoak ...

just missing the top 50 at #51

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081204&content_id=3701895&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Wait 'til the year after next

by NothinG on Dec 5, 2008 9:36 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I thought Smoak’s absence in the rankings so far meant they put him in the top 10.

Strange exclusion…

Lars Anderson, OK, but Yonder Alonso…he’s in there.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Dec 5, 2008 9:59 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah i agree

Alonso over Smoak? I tend to disagree

by Michael Cave on Dec 5, 2008 11:26 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

well milb aren't known for their rankings

no Smoak in the top 50 is wrong, just wrong.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Dec 5, 2008 9:37 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I mean...

…I hate to say it, because I love me some Smoak, but he hasn’t really proven much of anything yet. That’s not to say I don’t think he’s going to be a Beasticon to the point where you have to start capitalizing Beasticon in reverence, but I can kind of understand their hesitation to anoint him as an elite prospect just yet.

"Please. What the hell do you know about starting a sports-related website and then deciding to leave it to work on other things and then? How dare you, sir." -- Michael Schur, aka FireJoeMorgan's Ken Tremendous, to Will Leitch

by ghtd36 on Dec 5, 2008 9:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I understand that

but Hosmer and Smoak were considered a toss up in last years draft and In many circles Smoak was considered more polished and ready to fly through the minors (we’ll see) as he is drafted out of college rather than Hosmer out of HS. Hosmer is rated 29 on the list. Either way, I think both are extremely talented.

Wait 'til the year after next

by NothinG on Dec 5, 2008 9:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

If Hosmer and Alonso made the list, Smoak should’ve definitely made the list.

by Coolbean04 on Dec 5, 2008 9:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

"Somewhere out there, between 14-32 BBWAA NL MVP voters are trying to get cheaper winter heating by drilling a hole in the microwave." - Jeff at LoL

by lonestarJon on Dec 5, 2008 10:25 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess that's true.

by ghtd36 on Dec 5, 2008 11:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think Hosmer and Smoak were considered a toss-up

Hosmer was pretty universally considered the best high school hitter, the only reason people thought he may drop was his possible major league contract demand.

by JBImaknee on Dec 5, 2008 10:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes. I love Smoak and I think he's more of a sure thing, but I'd trade him for Hosmer right now in a second.

Homser is freaking awesome.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.

by thedirkatron on Dec 5, 2008 10:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I almost cited you in my post as evidence of Hosmer love...

by JBImaknee on Dec 5, 2008 10:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

dirkie

he’s a Hosmersexual. He likes to have his Lemon Felized.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Dec 5, 2008 12:39 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs

lol

Nice.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.

by thedirkatron on Dec 5, 2008 6:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

strange rankings

Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

"If I go to this "party", I will give "save us" a piece of my knuckle sandwich…" -- miles

by knockoutking on Dec 5, 2008 9:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Holland at 46...

is low, and Andrus at 21 is a little high imo.

Smoak should also be in the top 50.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Dec 5, 2008 9:58 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

lou marson over holland is laughable

o you mean the guy who had 23 XBH in 322 ABs…THAT guy

Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

"If I go to this "party", I will give "save us" a piece of my knuckle sandwich…" -- miles

by knockoutking on Dec 5, 2008 11:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I really have a hard time believing...

…that Michael Main has a strong case for being in the top 50.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 5, 2008 9:58 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think I'd rather have

Main than Adenhart (#35) right now.

The list looks like its a little too similar to pre-2008 lists (Cameron Maybin at #5?) with a select number of draft picks thrown in.

by JBImaknee on Dec 5, 2008 10:31 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

It's close b/c Adenhart is closer

but I’d rather have Main, too. Maybe its just b/c of all the good things I’ve read about his makeup and athleticism and work ethic… but something about him really makes me think of a special player. Adenhart doesn’t appear to have a very good K pitch since he’s moved up from A+ ball.

"Holland didn’t make that kid question his swing, he made him question his career path"

by trident on Dec 5, 2008 4:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

where would you rank Main?

Wait 'til the year after next

by NothinG on Dec 5, 2008 4:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Smoak

Not all that surprising that he’s not in there. He’s a great prospect, and I’m excited to have him, but I think the hype around here about him has bordered on ridiculous.

Some people were expecting that since he wasn’t on the 11-50 list he must have been in the top ten. He was the 11th player taken in the draft! Sure he fell a bit, but he fell because other people in the league don’t see him the same way. I think Smoak should have been there, but if everyone expects him to be in the top 50 of every list I think they’ll be disappointed.

by JBImaknee on Dec 5, 2008 10:27 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Wrong

the Smoak love around here is legitimate. When the BA and BP lists come out, I guarantee you that Smoak is easily in the top 50.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Dec 5, 2008 11:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

without a doubt

Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

"If I go to this "party", I will give "save us" a piece of my knuckle sandwich…" -- miles

by knockoutking on Dec 5, 2008 11:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Top 50 is reasonable

I’m not saying he deserves to sit around 65 or something. But there are people around here who’ll be mad if he’s not top 20. I could very easily see Smoak landing in the mid 40s on at least one major list.

There are 30 teams. Smoak would probably be the #1 prospect of a handful of those clubs, but I doubt more than that. And there are quite a few that Smoak wouldn’t even be the #2 prospect (including the Rangers). Approximating as the #2 prospect for half the clubs out there is the same as a #45 ranking. I think around 45-50 is a realistic projection of where he would fall in prospect realm right now, so I’m not surprised if a list or two has him outside their top 50.

by JBImaknee on Dec 5, 2008 12:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think BA puts Smoak

around the 20s. BP might have him a bit lower than that, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him ranked highly there. Smoak was a top draft pick, was highly thought of and the Rangers got lucky that he slipped, he looked great in his short Clinton stint, and he impressed again in the AFL. Top draft picks like Smoak (elite college hitters) are often highly thought of before a single professional PA. All Smoak has done so far is show that he deserves all the hype.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Dec 5, 2008 8:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This list is a joke

no Pedro Alverez, Chacin, Bowden, C. Santana, Smoak or Vitters

Bad List….

by laxtonto on Dec 5, 2008 10:46 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

This list sucks a bag of shit

How does Tim Alderson not make a top 50?

by LiamP on Dec 5, 2008 11:10 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

some ppl dont like alderson that much

but he should be top 50 i would think

the most laugable exclusino is most def alvarez. wow.

Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

"If I go to this "party", I will give "save us" a piece of my knuckle sandwich…" -- miles

by knockoutking on Dec 5, 2008 11:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Bowden?

Michael Bowden?

The 40 Trumps All!!!

There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.

by thedirkatron on Dec 5, 2008 11:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Bowden will make the top 60

he was in top 100 last year (94) and will get a nice bump because of his decent season and Red Sox status.

I might not personally agree with it, but it definately follows the BA thinking from the last several years.

by laxtonto on Dec 5, 2008 11:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

But that still doesn't explain why his exclusion from this list makes the list a joke.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.

by thedirkatron on Dec 5, 2008 12:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He just falls into the line of long list of guys that all have a shot at a top 50...

I lost count at about 10-15 guys that had a shot at a top 50 that got excluded, he was just one of the names that I figured most people would recognize.

by laxtonto on Dec 5, 2008 1:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

why is marson on there over bowden/above holland/etc

Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

"If I go to this "party", I will give "save us" a piece of my knuckle sandwich…" -- miles

by knockoutking on Dec 5, 2008 3:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Did Chris Davis ever make a top-50 list?

Anybody recall?

by shroomer on Dec 5, 2008 2:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

CD prospect rankings prior to the 2008 season

BA – 65
BP – 74
Law – 69

by spurdynasty on Dec 5, 2008 2:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

joke

"Holland didn’t make that kid question his swing, he made him question his career path"

by trident on Dec 5, 2008 4:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Had he not graduated to the majors in 2008,

I think he would have been a candidate for a spot in the Top 10 on most lists.

by spurdynasty on Dec 5, 2008 4:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah

Back to back 35+ HR seasons
Hitting .333 w/ .390 OBP
Improving at each level

He’d be big time

"Holland didn’t make that kid question his swing, he made him question his career path"

by trident on Dec 5, 2008 4:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i think hed be a lock

the preceding post was a great success.

by DSheppard on Dec 5, 2008 6:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

that's the problem

with some of those rankings. The non-top draft picks have to prove themselves more to earn the top rankings. If Davis was a top talent when he was drafted and put up the same numbers, he would have been way higher after last year.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Dec 5, 2008 8:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs