Recently MLB.com’s Fantasy 411 unveiled their early position by position rankings. Among the rankings were the top 25 rookies for 2009. Let’s examine the list player by player…
1. Matt Wieters C BAL- It says something that Wieters is ranked above David Price. It also says something that he’s been described as “Joe Mauer with power.” If he gets the catcher job out of spring training, he could find some immediate success at the big league level in 2009.
2. David Price SP/RP TB- I think we all have seen what Price is capable of after watching him pitch in the world series. The way he fell behind to both Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in game 5 yet still made them look silly is all the evidence you need. Though many believe he’ll start from day one, let’s wait and see the Ray’s plan.
3. Travis Snider OF TOR- Not often you see a 21 year old ranked this high when looking from a fantasy perspective, but while climbing all the way from high A ball to the majors in 2008 Snider hit a combined .297 with 25 HR’s, 36 2B’s, a .357 OPB and a .500 SLG. He was the Blue Jays 1st round pick out of high school in 2006.
4. Cameron Maybin OF FLA - Maybin was the centerpiece for the Marlins in the Miguel Cabrera deal and started 2008 in AA where he hit .277 with 13 HR’s and 21 SB’s. He also went 16 for 32 as a September call up for the Marlins though only 2 of his hits were for extra bases. The biggest problem for Maybin is controlling his strikeouts (124 in 390 AB’sat AA). He may be best served starting 2009 at AAA, but should certainly see some time with the big club before too long. Here’s Baseball Prospectus’s Kevin Goldstein’s assessment before the 2008 season:
When it comes to tools, Maybin is Home Depot. He has outstanding size and athleticism, projecting to hit for average and power, while also being a total burner. He effortlessly covers ground in center field, and his arm is outstanding. He’s shown a solid approach at the plate, has great instincts on the base paths, and backs up his natural ability with a strong work ethic.
5. Dexter Fowler OF COL- 2008 was a breakout year as far as his prospect status. Not that he wasn’t already a top prospect, but the sort of season he had in AA at age 22 (.355-9HR-20SB-.431OBP in 421 AB’s) shows he’s ready for the next step.
Thanks to Purple Row I was able to get a sneak peak at Fowler’s projection from the 2009 Bill James Handbook:
| Age | G | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | BB | SO | SB | |
| Dexter Fowler | 23 | 150 | 564 | 171 | 38 | 8 | 10 | 95 | 63 | 63 | 112 | 28 |
6. Matt LaPorta OF CLE- The centerpiece for the Indians in the Sabathia deal, LaPorta has a chance to make an immediate impact with his power numbers in 2009.
7. Andrew McCutchen OF PIT- McCutchen, 22, will likely start out 2009 back in AAA. He’s got a ceiling projection of 20 HR/40 SB in the future. For now, his value would most likely lie in his SB’s if he’s called up.
8. Neftali Feliz SP TEX - At only 20 years old, Perez blew away hitters at high A and AA in the Rangers system in 2008. With a combined 2.75 ERA and 153 K’s in 127.1 (10.48 K/9) between the two stops, Perez has set himself up on the fast track to the pitching starved Rangers. Given his age, the Rangers will most likely limit his innings no matter what level, but this guy has a chance to be a premiere power pitcher for years to come.
9. Alcides Escobar SS MIL- As if a name like Neftali wasn’t unusual enough. After back to back solid seasons in the minors, Escobar may have made J.J. Hardy expendable in Milwaukee. He’s got the defensive game to play in the big leagues right now and his .328/.363/.434 with 34 SB’s shows his bat might be ready too.
10. Trevor Cahill SP OAK- Only 21 in 2009, Cahill still has a way to go before he reaches Oakland, but his first three seasons in the minors have been very successful. He’ll likely start the year in AA, but keep your eyes on his progress.
11. Brett Anderson SP OAK- Only 21 in 2009, Anderson was one of the prized catches of the Dan Haren trade. It looks like a footrace between Anderson and Cahill as to who will become the better prospect, but both have considerable upside as a 2-3 SP.
12. Chris Tillman SP BAL- Another 21 year old in 2009, Tillman was a top prospect for the Mariners before he was shipped to Baltimore in the Bedard which is looking more and more like a lopsided deal for the Orioles. In 2008 at AA Tilman posted a 3.18 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with a 10.22 K/9 ratio. His biggest issue is controlling his walk rate. He looks to be a big part of the future rotation in Baltimore.
13. Colby Rasmus OF STL- Before last season, Rasmus was much higher on this list, but a lost season in 2008 has blocked his road to the majors for now. He’ll need to show another productive season in the minors before we start to think about his big league projection.
14. Matt Gamel 3B MIL- Gamel projects as a slugging corner infielder, but his fielding suggests he took 3B lessons from Ryan Braun. If he can hit like Braun, the Brewers will find a spot for him. Don’t be mistaken though, his ceiling is not close to Braun’s. Gamel could eventually develop 30 HR power.
15. Fernando Martinez- This guy might be the hardest top prospect to project in a while. Some say he’s got the ability to be a middle of the order star. Others think he’ll be a .300-.330 hitter with limited power. Either way, he’s still got a way to go at age 19. I see no reason the Mets would rush him to the big leagues in 2009 or 2010 for that matter.
16. Carlos Carrasco SP PHI – He’s only 22 and still needs some seasoning in the minors, but keep an eye on him down the road. I’ve read everything from him becoming a front line starter to a 2-3 at best.
17. Jake Arrieta SP BAL – His first season of pro ball at high A was a success: 2.87ERA-1.16WHIP-9.56K/9-4.06BB/9. He most likely will start 2009 in the minors.
18. Jason McDonald (I believe they meant James McDonald) SP LAD – McDonald won the Dodgers Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award for the second year in a row. He went 7-4 with a 3.26 ERA in a combined 27 games between AA and AAA. Watch him in spring training to see if he breaks with the big club.
19. Taylor Teagarden C TEX- Teagarden had a nice little major league debut in 2009 hitting .319 with 6 HR in 47 AB’s. Something has got to give with the three catcher log jam in Texas and Teagarden should be behind the plate for someone to start 2009. He’s got the tools to develop into a fine offensive catcher with above average defensive ability.
20. Gio Gonzalez SP OAK- I’m a little surprised Gonzalez is this far down on the list, especially if both Oakland farmhands Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson are much higher. Gonzalez is not only closer to securing a spot in the rotation, but he’s the only one to see big league time already. He’s an interesting lefty to keep an eye on, but if he doesn’t cut down on his walks he won’t be very effective.
21. Kila Ka’aihue 1B KC- Ka’Kaihue made a name for himself in the Royals system in 2007 when he hit 31 HR’sbetween A and AA. In 2008 he progressed even more hitting .315 with 37 Hr’s and 100 RBI between AA and AAA and earning a call to the show in September. All of a sudden the Royals have more talentat at the corner of their infield than they know what to do with.
22. Jonathon Neise SP NYM- Neise projects as a mid-rotation starter and does not have overpowering stuff.
23. Brett Cecil SP TOR – Cecil made his way from high A through AA and AAA in 2008. Ranked as the Blue Jays second best prospect, Cecil has a chance of seeing some big league time in 2009 and projects as a mid-rotation lefty.
24. Michael Bowden SP BOS- I overlooked Bowden in my Fantasy Roster Breakdown for the Red Sox because he was only the 7th ranked prospect in the Red Sox system going into 2008. Though he continued his success in AA and AAA and even a spot start for the Red Sox in 2008, I think most see his stuff as mid-rotation at best.
25. Elvis Andrus SS TEX- To be honest, I’d rank Andrus much higher than some of these pitchers. I know he’s still very young (20), but he’s got a ton of upside. In a full season at AA in 2008 he put up .295AVG-4HR-53SB. The SB’s were a huge step forward for Andrus. If he starts off hot in 2009, he could force Micheal Young over to third before too long. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s their everyday guy by 2010 at the latest.
Filed under: Hot Prospect Corner | Tagged: 2009 Prospects, Alcides Escobar, Andrew McCutchen, Brett Anderson, Brett Cecil, Cameron Maybin, Carlos Carrasco, Chris Tillman, Colby Rasmus, David Price, Dexter Fowler, Elvis Andrus, Fantasy Baseball, Fernando Martinez, Gio Gonzalez, Jake Arrieta, James McDonald, Jonathon Neise, Kila Ka'aihue, Matt Gamel, Matt LaPorta, Matt Wieters, Michael Bowden, Neftali Perez, Taylor Teagarden, Travis Snider, Trevor Cahill
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FANS DESERVE TO KNOW THE TRUTH BEHIND MILWAUKEE PROSPECT ALCIDES ESCOBAR
Alcides Escobar is my husband puts tears in my eyes how someone with so much future could be so irresponsible. You have no idea what he has done to me and his daughter. Most of the time fans only see the players as an idol but they never see what they really are as people. I’ve always believed that being a great prospect or great player not only involves doing good in the field but also doing good to others in life specially to their own flesh and blood in this case our daughter Gabriela who is only one month old. I hope you don’t think that the reason why I’m writting you is to get any type of fame because honestly that’s far from what I want. My father is a former major leaguer I was raised in baseball and if I wanted fame I could have had plenty of it through him and never have. The only reason for my email is because I want everyone who is an Alcides Escobar fan to know the truth behind the person they see on the field. Everyone deserves to have a good role model in their lives and after everything Alcides has done to me his wife, his daughter and his mother and father I don’t believe he can be anyones role model. If you read below you’ll understand a little better what I mean.
Alcides and I got married last year in Huntsville and we found out I was pregnant soon after. Our life was full of hope and he did great that season so well that he got called up from double A to the major leagues. After the season was done he went to venezuela and I came to Panama to have our daughter because my family lives here, this is when my worst nightmare started. I couldnt go to venezuela due to the problems that VNZL has with the US and I’m a US citizen. He abandonded me since october 7th. He was suppose to come and spend Christmas with me and never did, he was suppose to spend New Years with me and never did either. He only called to emotionally insult me and tell me that I was fat and ugly and that he had found someone better, all this while I was pregnat with our daughter. He later told me that the only reason why he married me was to get his green card. He would constantly call and send text messages insulting me and telling me that the baby wasn’t his which he knows is a complete lie and a DNA test will be there to prove it, he would call me and put his mistress on the phone to insult me. She is a prostitute in Venezuela who has slept with almost the entire country to say the least and all she has always wanted was money. She has a son who she abandoned and last I know now she is pregnant with Alcides child. It’s been so hard for me to find out while pregnant all this things and that I married a monster. Alcides got kicked off his team in Venezuela Cardenales due to bad conduct. Everyone believes that the little time he spent in the majors made his head swell to the max.Nobody respects him in Venezuela or in the Brewers organization because everyone knows what’s going on.His own mother and father and brothers and sisters want nothing to do with him to the point that they kicked him out of his house. He had a car accident in Venezuela in December where he totalled the car he was driving so to this day nobody knows what he will or will not achieve this upcoming year due to the fact that he has many loose screws as you can see.
He didnt come for our daughters birth, hasnt called once to see how she is doing and refused to come to get her passport through the embassy so I had to file for everything on my own and file for full custody through the embassy. He hasn’t sent me or his daughter a penny since he has been in venezuela where he was playing winter ball and making 4,000 a month. I am currently in Panama at my parents house and havent received a penny from him my daughter has been sick extremely constipated in the hospital because I wasnt able to breast feed her because of stress and everything Alcides and his mistress were doing to me. My daughter Gabriela was born two days short from 8 months she was born on Dec. 11th and was programmed to be born January 24th. So she was born premature due to everything you’ve read.
The last email I got from his agents was stating that they had no money to send me my plane ticket to return to the states and I live in the states I’ve always live there, I only came to Panama to have my baby, This man the one you all call a top prospect is not anyones role model he has humiliated me, his daughter, and his family and goes around the world getting woman pregnant and leaving them like he did to me and the only difference is that I’m his wife. He is in venezuela right now and will be back in the states in Arizona mid February for spring training. We are legally married, I am his wife and have his daughter and everyone in the milwaukee brewers know that. He threatens me constantly and says that he is making no millions and is famous and I’m a nobody can force him to take responsability because he is now a star and a top prospect what you guys call him. A person that marries someone, gets them pregnant and abandons her in such an emotional time could never be anyones role modeI. All of Alcides fans deserve to know the truth behind milwaukee brewers number 21.
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Sincerely,
Leury Escobar Moreno