winninguglyin83 Posted November 29, 2003 Share Posted November 29, 2003 Baseball America sometimes contradicts itself. Jeremy Reed was mentioned as the runnerup to Joe Mauer of the Twins as its minor-league player of the year. But he was voted only the fourth best overall outfield prospect in the minor leagues. I guess that means they don't believe he is as talented as he showed last season and that three other guys have higher ceilings. They say he doesn't have 'superior tools." (Of course, I remember they said Julio Ramirez was a five-tool player. Here is what they say about the Top Five: (Also, please note that nobody else in the Sox system made the Top 20. Borchard, No. 4 last season, was a best of the rest pick. And Chris Young was called somebody to watch.) 1. Alexis Rios, Blue Jays Age: 22 Level: Double-A 2002 Ranking: 14 Rios is a great example of raw tools translating into plus tools and performance, with the assistance of a patient player development plan. While his aggressive approach didn't fit the Blue Jays new profile under general manager J.P. Ricciardi, Rios exercised more patience at the plate this season and soared in the new regime's eyes. Rios drives the ball to all fields, and shows tremendous power to right field in particular, which is a good indication of more home run power down the road. He possesses outstanding hand-eye coordination, combined with good bat control, enabling him to maintain his aggressiveness without his plate discipline suffering. He projects along the lines of a younger and healthier Juan Gonzalez. Rios is the total package: athlete, hitter, baseball player with big tools, giving him a distinct advantage over Grady Sizemore. "As much as I love Sizemore and his makeup, Rios is on a different level," one NL scout said. "Oh my god. He's such an athlete, so graceful. You look at this rail thin 6-foot-6 body, but he's so smooth at how he moves and uses that body. His ability to put the bat on the ball is special. His arm and defense is better than Sizemore." 2. Grady Sizemore, Indians Age: 21 Level: Double-A 2002 Ranking: 15 See, there is plenty of hope for former highly recruited prep football stars, as Sizemore and Joe Mauer are proving. Sizemore emerged in 2003, flashing solid tools across the board, save his below-average arm strength. He's not flashy, but can do a little of everything to help a team win. "With him it depends on how he's pitched," the NL scout said. "His power came when they started jamming him a little more. He'd pull the ball over the fence when they do that. He did that but didn't get home run happy. He's always going to make adjustments and be a good player." 3. Delmon Young, Devil Rays Age: 18 Level: Arizona Fall League 2002 Ranking: NR Young is capable of manning the top spot on this list before he even makes his regular season debut. For now, he makes way for two tools-laden outfielders who have performed in the upper levels. Young's power potential exceeds almost anyone's in the minors already. He's been punishing pitches in the Arizona Fall League, displaying light-tower power to all fields. "He's going to hit like Alberto Belle, but (Young) is going to be even bigger," one scout said. He'll have little trouble adjusting to full-season ball next spring and should enjoy a speedy ascent towards Tampa Bay. He's an early favorite for 2004 Minor League Player of the Year. 4. Jeremy Reed, White Sox Age: 22 Level: Double-A 2002 Ranking: NR Without superior tools, Reed hit .409 in 242 Double-A at-bats. While he isn't gifted with as much natural ability as Rios, Sizemore and Young, Reed is a pure baseball player with a line-drive swing and gap power. And his tools are solid-average to above across the board. He's often been compared to Mark Kotsay, which is fair based on Kotsay's 2000-2002 production (.290 with average power and speed with 30 doubles). Reed is close to contributing at the major league level. 5. Jeff Francoeur, Braves Age: 19 Level: Low-A 2002 Ranking: NR Another prep football star experiencing early success in pro ball, Francoeur has the Braves reminiscing about a young Dale Murphy. Francoeur spent much of his first full season focusing on driving the ball to the opposite field and improving his reads in center field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cali Posted November 29, 2003 Share Posted November 29, 2003 Man they are really putting Young on a pedestal by saying he's the early favorite for POY next year. I wonder if Anderson, Nanita, and Sweeney didn't get injured at the end of the short-season, they would have been on the "Guys to Watch" list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxfest Posted November 29, 2003 Share Posted November 29, 2003 I say let him have a legit shot at CF in 04 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted November 29, 2003 Share Posted November 29, 2003 Not to nitpick but minor league player of the year, and MAJOR league potential are two different things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winninguglyin83 Posted November 29, 2003 Author Share Posted November 29, 2003 yes, they are but often the scouts overrate tools and underrate ability to maximize the use of those tools Borchard is a classic example. Great tools. But he hasn't been able to maximize that ability by mastering the strike zone and learning how to shorten his swing and put the ball in play. Lots of 'tools' guys never put it togeter. I'll take my chances with Reed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winninguglyin83 Posted November 29, 2003 Author Share Posted November 29, 2003 considering the state of the payroll, the sox best hope to win the Central in 2004 will be to have important contributions from Harris, Rowand and either Reed or Borchard, plus more consistency Crede and Olivo. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to have some pitching, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted December 2, 2003 Share Posted December 2, 2003 yes, they are but often the scouts overrate tools and underrate ability to maximize the use of those tools Borchard is a classic example. Great tools. But he hasn't been able to maximize that ability by mastering the strike zone and learning how to shorten his swing and put the ball in play. Lots of 'tools' guys never put it togeter. I'll take my chances with Reed. Excellent point! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MurcieOne Posted December 2, 2003 Share Posted December 2, 2003 5. Jeff Francoeur, Braves Age: 19 Level: Low-A 2002 Ranking: NR Another prep football star experiencing early success in pro ball, Francoeur has the Braves reminiscing about a young Dale Murphy. Francoeur spent much of his first full season focusing on driving the ball to the opposite field and improving his reads in center field. This Kid is awesome.... we saw him Kannapolis over summer, and I instantly fell in love with him. Looked like a five-tool player. Watched him during BP, He was hitting some roof shots on to the Locker room in left center field. He looked like a man among boys, as he was only about one of 3 guys who could even get the ball over the fence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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