Some Thoughts on the Manny Machado Call Up

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Michael Schwartze

The news that the Orioles were calling up prospect Manny Machado first broke at about 11:30 ET when Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun tweeted the news. Well twitter began to blow up and the discussion began.

Machado was the Orioles first round pick in the 2010 draft and the third overall pick in the draft. He made his professional debut in the Gulf Coast League at the age of 17 and spent hardly anytime there before being called up to play in the New York Penn League to finish out the 2010 season. In 2011 he split time between Class A and High A which brings us to 2012. He was a consensus top 15 prospect in all of baseball heading into the year and was regarded as the second best shortstop prospect behind Jurickson Profar. At this point, Machado is arguably a top 5 prospect. He has spent all of 2012 at AA where he’s hit .266/.350/.431 this year in 455 plate appearances with 10 homeruns. (more…)

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My 2012 Top 100 Prospects

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Michael Schwartze

I present to you my 2012 top 100 prospect list. I have ranked the players evaluating ceiling, how likely a player reaches that ceiling, risks that come with a player, experience, and all the other stuff along those lines. I hope to hear what you guys think whether it be in agreement or disagreement. Enjoy.

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2012 Baltimore Orioles Top 16 Prospects

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Jonathan C. Mitchell

The Baltimore Orioles have one of the best 1-2-3 prospect combos in the game but it gets a bit muddled after that with low-ceiling high probability guys and high-ceiling low probability guys. It’s a solid mix for a team that needs to develop from within but most of the top talent is at least a full year or more away from helping the big league club.

Below are my top 16 prospects with 2012 opening day age, position, and comments on each player. Below the top 16 is a small list of additional notable names. Enjoy.

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My Mid-Season Top 25 Prospects

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Jonathan C. Mitchell

Like Mikey’s top 25 from yesterday, I will only include players that I believe will still hold prospect status at the end of the year and no recent draftees. That means no Mike Trout or Gerrit Cole on my list. Here are my current top 25 prospects:

  1. Bryce Harper (OF – WAS)
  2. Matt Moore (LHP – TB)
  3. Manny Machado (SS – BAL)
  4. Julio Teheran (RHP – ATL)
  5. Shelby Miller (RHP – STL)
  6. Jameson Taillon (RHP – PIT)
  7. Carlos Martinez (RHP – STL)
  8. Martin Perez (LHP – TEX)
  9. Brett Lawrie (3B – TOR)
  10. Jacob Turner (RHP – DET)
  11. Jesus Montero (C – NYY)
  12. Jurickson Profar (SS – TEX)
  13. Manny Banuelos (LHP – NYY)
  14. Wil Myers (OF – KC)
  15. Arodys Vizcaino (RHP – ATL)
  16. Desmond Jennings (OF – TB)
  17. Devin Mesoraco (C – CIN)
  18. Aaron Hicks (OF – MIN)
  19. Jarrod Parker (RHP – ARI)
  20. Miguel Sano (3B – MIN)
  21. Hak-Ju Lee (SS – TB)
  22. Tyler Skaggs (LHP – ARI)
  23. Leonys Martin (OF – TEX)
  24. Taijuan Walker (RHP – SEA)
  25. Travis d’Arnaud (C – TOR)

The biggest jumps from my pre season top 175 list were Taijuan Walker (152nd), Tyler Skaggs (83rd), Jurickson Profar (78th), and Hak-Ju Lee (74th). Most people would have Carlos Martinez as their highest jumping prospect but he was 48th on my pre season list and I am not surprised to see him 7th right now.

There are a few guys that just missed the cut and would have been in my next group. Gary Brown is having an amazing season but I would like to see what he can do in AA before he makes that big of a jump on my board. Jarred Cosart was on the bubble for me. I really like his stuff but the numbers have not matched the stuff to date. His command is average at best and he needs to stay healthy. Jake Odorizzi also just missed my list. I love his feel for pitching and matching it with his stuff makes him a potential #2 starter. Robbie Erlin is another that has fantastic numbers. He is 20 and has a 48/6 K/BB ratio in 48.2 AA innings.

I love Jason Kipnis but his mediocre defense kept him out of my top 25. He very well may be my #26 guy, though, because the bat is very legit. Brett Jackson also missed the cut but I absolutely love the tools. He can play center and could be a 20/20 guy in the Majors very soon. One last guy that I absolutely love is Oswaldo Arcia. He has an outside shot at cracking my top 25 for next year if he can prove the shoulder issues are behind him and he keeps raking like he is.

-Jonathan C. Mitchell can be found writing about the Tampa Bay Rays at DRaysBay and you can follow him on twitter at @FigureFilbert and follow MLBdirt at @MLBdirt

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Midseason Top 25 Prospect List

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Michael Schwartze

We are at the halfway point in the season, and many prospects have taken strides or falls in their development. Here is my midseason top 25 prospect list. Prospects must not be at the big league level, used up their rookie eligibility, and all 2011 draftees are excluded as well.

  1. Bryce Harper, OF, Nationals
  2. Matt Moore, LHP, Rays
  3. Julio Teheran, RHP, Braves
  4. Shelby Miller, RHP, Cardinals
  5. Manny Machado, SS, Orioles
  6. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Pirates
  7. Jesus Montero, C, Yankees
  8. Martin Perez, LHP, Rangers
  9. Jurickson Profar, SS, Rangers
  10. Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Indians
  11. Brett Lawrie, 3B, Blue Jays
  12. Manny Banuelos, LHP, Yankees
  13. Jacob Turner, RHP, Tigers
  14. Carlos Martinez, RHP, Cardinals
  15. Desmond Jennings, OF, Rays
  16. Tyler Skaggs, LHP, Diamondbacks
  17. Wil Myers, OF, Royals
  18. Travis d’Arnaud, C, Blue Jays
  19. Hak-Ju Lee, SS, Rays
  20. Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Royals
  21. Devin Mesoraco, C, Reds
  22. Leonys Martin, OF, Rangers
  23. Taijuan Walker, RHP, Mariners
  24. Matt Harvey, RHP, Mets
  25. Gary Brown, OF, Giants

Some guys that just missed the cut for me are Robbie Erlin, Brad Peacock, Jason Kipnis, Dee Gordon, and Brett Jackson. I would also like to note that Mike Trout would be my number one prospect if he was not at the major league level.

A few players that I think you have to watch for to jump onto this list by the end of the season are Nolan Arenado, Anthony Gose, Nick Castellanos and Zach Wheeler.

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Keeping Up With the Top 25 Prospects

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Jonathan C. Mitchell

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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Manny Machado’s Career is Off to a Hot Start

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Jonathan C. Mitchell


(Joy R. Absalon/MLB.com)

The Baltimore Orioles top position prospect, and my #25 overall prospect, Manny Machado is hardly old enough to be out of high school yet is the starting shortstop for the Delmarva Shorebirds, the Orioles’ A-ball affiliate. Most players his age (he won’t turn 19 until July 6th) are playing short season ball but Machado’s approach is so far beyond the players his age that he is capable of the level jump.

It is early in the season but through the first 5 games Machado has done nothing but rake and show the plate discipline of a veteran. He is currently hitting .467/.636/.733 in 22 plate appearances with 2 doubles, a triple, a stolen base, and a 7:3 BB/K rate. Seven walks in his first 22 PAs at a level higher than most his age is unreal. Strike that, it’s pretty unreal for any prospect at any level let alone an 18 year old shortstop. Last year, as a 17 year old, he hit .306/.359/.472 with a double, triple, homerun, and 3:3 B/K ratio in 39 PAs playing most if his games at low-A Aberdeen. His career minor league line in 61 PAs reads .353/.459/.549 with 3 doubles, 2 triples, a homerun, and a 10:6 BB/K rate.

Machado has been unfairly compared to Alex Rodriguez because he is Latino, from the Miami area, plays shortstop, and is of similar build at the same age. That comparison is completely unfair and no one should be compared to one of the 100 best players of all-time out of high school. But Machado is, without a doubt, the best shortstop prospect in all of baseball and it’s not even close. He projects to hit for average, power, and has enough speed to be dangerous on the bases. The A-Rod comparison is not fair but neither is a Troy Tulowitzki comparison but that is more his bat’s potential with A-Rod’s early glove at shortstop.

While the above stats are a very small sample sizes they are an indication, especially the BB/K rate, that he is definitely above his peers and I would not be surprised to see him in Double-A this year, in my top-10 prospect list for 2012, and a cup of coffee in September of 2012. The A-Rod and even Tulowitzki comparisons may be unfair but Machado has star potential and we may see him sooner than later and if you think that Baltimore team looks like a contender now or in 2012 then prepare for a real battle in the AL East come 2013 when I expect to see Machado as a full-time shortstop.

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2011 Top 175 Prospects

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Jonathan C. Mitchell



There is no need to bore you with multiple paragraphs that you will not read or maybe skim over at best. Everyone wants to see the list, whether they will agree with it or not. One note is that I did not include anyone that does not qualify as a rookie, meaning anyone over 130 at-bats, over 50 innings pitched, or more than 45 days on the active roster will not make my list. Hope you enjoy it, critique it, and then tell me how awesome I am.

I kid, but seriously, without further ado here is the list:

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