Top 100 Prospects Review (90-81)
90. RHSP Aaron Poreda (Chicago White Sox)
Year In Review: One of my prospect pet peeves is when a supposed power pitcher is unable to strike batters out. (Deolis Guerro anybody?). At High-A, Poreda struck out only 15% of batters he faced, and for some reason that earned him a promotion to AA. A good start at AA may be a good sign, but I wouldn’t be so sure. Right now he’s just a fastball pitcher with no secondary stuff.
Prospect Status: Slightly down.
89. LHSP Jaime Garcia (St. Louis Cardinals)
Year In Review: Garcia dominated as a 21 year old in AA, striking out 28.3% of batters, but struggling a little with his control, walking 11% of batters. AAA has been a complete opposite, striking out only 18.3% of batters but walking only 8.3%. All the while, he’s continued to induce ground balls at an excellent rate. Injuries and some consistency issues aside, Garcia will likely continue to use his plus sinker, plus curve and excellent makeup to turn into a very good mid-rotation starter.
Prospect Status: Way up.
88. INF Todd Frazier (Cincinnati Reds)
Year In Review: Frazier can MASH. He strikes out a little much, 22% for the year, but he balances that with an 11% walk rate. Most importantly, he has a ton of power. He hit 21 XBH in 47 games last year, and that’s continued with 30 in 65 games this year, including 12 home runs. The biggest question is Frazier’s position. Frazier as a 3B is likely a top 50 prospect; Frazier as a 1B/LF is more in the 60-75 range. Either way…
Prospect Status: Somewhere in the up/way up range.
87. RHSP Sean Gallagher (Chicago Cubs)
Year In Review: Gallagher really broke out as a 22-year-old in AAA this year, striking out over 1/4 of the batters he faced and walking only 7.7%. In the majors, a few more strikeouts would be nice, but as a 22-year-old putting up this kind of production in the majors I’m not going to be too picky.
Prospect Status: Up, graduated.
86. CF Ben Revere
Year In Review: The excellent 90-81 range continues. Revere combines his miniscule strikeout rate (7.4%) and absolute plus-plus speed to hit for a high average. (Not that I’d expect him to hit .413 forever, of course). He has an average to slightly below average walk rate (6.7%), but has surprising gap power (20 XBH in 44 games). Only one home run, so he’s not going to be a high-ceiling five-tool type, but I’ll take an Ellsbury-type prospect anyday.
Prospect Status: Slightly up.
85. 2B Chris Coghlan (Florida Marlins)
Year In Review: Honestly, I didn’t know who Chris Coghlan was until I saw that PECOTA had him ranked very highly. He’s done right about what you’d expect… good plate discipline, some gap power, mediocre defense. He won’t light the world on fire, but an average major league 2B is a fine commodity.
Prospect Status: Neutral
84. 1B Val Pascucci (Florida Marlins)
Year In Review: Pascucci is a weiiiiird one. He was out of pro-ball for 2005-2006 completely, then returned last year at age 28… with a performance that earned him a place on this list. In a season and a half since returning, Pascucci has 103 walks and 48 HR. Pascucci can absolutely be a productive 1B/RF if somebody would get past age stereotypes and give him a chance.
Prospect Status: Slightly up. Free Val Pascucci!
83. RHSP Jair Jurrjens (Atlanta Braves)
Year In Review: Spending the whole season in the majors, Jurrjens’ 3.20 ERA looks pretty. However, that is coming from a below-average strikeout rate and an average walk rate, so don’t go thinking he’s some sort of phenom. Just what he’s always been projected to be; a decent starter.
Prospect Status: Slightly up, graduated.
82. RHSP Jordan Walden (Los Angeles Angels)
Year In Review: Walden boasts an average strikeout rate, very good control, and a great groundball rate. He’s a very, very projectable pitcher who could boast a plus repertoire in the years to come, but right now he basically lives off of his fastball.
Prospect Status: Neutral.
81. SS Brent Lillibridge (Atlanta Braves)
Year In Review: Of course, we absolutely must end such a promising group of prospects with a guy who’s been a bitter disappointment so far. At age 24, Lillibridge boasts absolutely no hitting ability besides plus speed, and he’s a questionable defensive shortstop.
Prospect Status: Way down.
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Wow peter this whole website is really impressive. You know a lot more about baseball that i thought.
[…] Gallagher and Donaldson have already been covered in the top 100 prospects review series. Donaldson is the ultimate throw-in, just there in the vague hope that he could turn into something; I don’t think even Beane expects Donaldson to have much value. […]