MLB Dirt

I am shamelessly stealing this idea off of Keith Law’s Top Prospect Update by making this list but I absolutely loved the idea and our staff here talked about doing a weekly prospect roundup before the season started. Since some of our staff is on hiatus I figured I would take a number from the master but expand my list beyond the 10 he did and do my top 25 prospects. Here you go:

1. Mike Trout (OF – LAA) – Trout doesn’t turn 20 until my birthday, August 7th, but is already in Double-A and hitting .293/.361/.547 with 3 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homeruns, 4 steals, in 86 plate appearances with a 8:17 BB:K rate. We could see Trout in the Majors this year and be their starting center fielder on Opening Day 2012.

2. Bryce Harper (OF – WAS) – Playing in the Sally League at the age of 18 (he should be a senior in high school) and hitting a robust .358/.453/.679 with 8 doubles, 6 homeruns, 5 stolen bases, in 95 PAs with a 14:20 BB:K rate. Harper has seen time in both center and right field and if he can hold his own in center then he could pass Trout as the #1 prospect on my list.

3. Eric Hosmer (1B – KC) – Hosmer is playing in Triple-A and will be 21 through the entire season. Most 21 year olds in Triple-A struggle but Hosmer is killing it to the tune of .430/.518/.581 with 5 doubles, 3 homeruns, 3 steals, in 112 PAs with a 18:15 BB:K rate. The guy is hitting like he’s a 21 year old in short season ball.

4. Domonic Brown (OF – PHI) – Brown has been recovering from a broken hamate bone which is usually a hard road to recovery. He has only logged 9 at-bats in Triple-A after 21 in a rehab assignment in High-A ball. He crushed two homeruns in the Florida State League, a good pitcher’s league, proving that the power is there after an injury that kills ones power. Brown should be up in the Majors no later than next month and will have enough playing time to remove himself from this list next season.

5. Jesus Montero (C – NYY) – Like Hosmer, Montero is playing the entire Triple-A season at the age of 21 and more than holding his own hitting .373/.384/.470 with 5 doubles and a homerun in 86 PAs. His 2:16 BB:K rate is poor and he did not walk until just a few days ago when he received both free passes in the same game. Montero may be trying to prove that he can hit his way into the Yankee lineup, and he probably can, but there is no room until an injury or trade occurs.

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Filed under: On the Farm - Prospects | Tagged: Aaron Hicks, Aroldis Chapman, Brandon Belt, Bryce Harper, Carl Crawford, Casey Kelly, Desmond Jennings, Devin Mesoraco, Domonic Brown, Dustin Ackley, Eric Hosmer, Jacob Turner, James Taillon, Jarrod Parker, Jeremy Hellickson, Jesus Montero, John Lamb, Julio Teheran, Kyle Drabek, Lonnie Chisenhall, Manny Banuelos, Manny Machado, Martin Perez, Matt Moore, Michael Pineda, Mike Montgomery, Mike Moustakas, Mike Trout, Oswaldo Arcia, Prospects, Sam Fuld, Shelby Miller, Wil Myers, Zach Britton | 4 Comments »