League Top 20's - Baseball America

[NorthSideSox72]

OF Adam Engel of Great Falls named #12 prospect in Pioneer League.

 

Appy League out tomorrow.

 

Lists are free, scouting reports are subscription-only.

 

Here is a link to the lists as they go up.

[winninguglyin83]

Danish should make the Appy Top 20.

 

Anybody else?

 

BA was pretty high on Engel.

 

Said they made a change in his stance that improved his hitting. He's got the other tools.

[NorthSideSox72]

Tyler Danish at #10 in the Appy. No other Sox from Bristol.

 

[NorthSideSox72]

SAL (Kanny) and CAR (W-S) up next week.

 

[southsider2k5]

Tyler Danish at #10 in the Appy. No other Sox from Bristol.

 

Was hoping for a bit higher, but not bad.

[maggsmaggs]

Was hoping for a bit higher, but not bad.

Could only be that scouts don't believe he can be a long-term starter. Stuff and stats are clearly there, but role is in flux.

[Balta1701]

Could only be that scouts don't believe he can be a long-term starter. Stuff and stats are clearly there, but role is in flux.

No, his role really isn't in flux the Sox did everything they could to make him a long term starter but they weren't going to pile 50 more innings onto a full season in high school innings for a kid that young.

 

They literally had him pitching every 5th day out of the bullpen with a normal throwing schedule in-between. That's how insistent they are on making him a starter, they even put him through the routine of being a starter.

 

That said, if you compare him to someone who was used as a starter this year already, then fine, you under-rank him and the rankings really aren't that useful.

[winninguglyin83]

BA has the usual questions about how his motion would allow his health to hold up.

 

Bundy, Harvey and others have better motions, but still broke down. Can happen to anybody.

[southsider2k5]

BA has the usual questions about how his motion would allow his health to hold up.

 

Bundy, Harvey and others have better motions, but still broke down. Can happen to anybody.

 

Meanwhile Sale doesn't, and is still going strong.

[maggsmaggs]

No, his role really isn't in flux the Sox did everything they could to make him a long term starter but they weren't going to pile 50 more innings onto a full season in high school innings for a kid that young.

 

They literally had him pitching every 5th day out of the bullpen with a normal throwing schedule in-between. That's how insistent they are on making him a starter, they even put him through the routine of being a starter.

 

That said, if you compare him to someone who was used as a starter this year already, then fine, you under-rank him and the rankings really aren't that useful.

Sox view him a starter but many scouts don't believe he can use at motion and be a starter. How the Sox view him is irrelevant.

[oldsox]

Sox view him a starter but many scouts don't believe he can use at motion and be a starter. How the Sox view him is irrelevant.

Why irrelevant?

[ChiliIrishHammock24]

Why irrelevant?

 

Because the Sox don't make the top 20 lists.

[southsider2k5]

Sox view him a starter but many scouts don't believe he can use at motion and be a starter. How the Sox view him is irrelevant.

 

Considering the Sox are the ones developing him, and not the "many scouts", I'd say it is pretty important how the Sox view him.

[NorthSideSox72]

Considering the Sox are the ones developing him, and not the "many scouts", I'd say it is pretty important how the Sox view him.

How the Sox view him is (mostly) irrelevant to these League T20 lists.

 

Similarly, how BA sees him is (mostly) irrelevant to how he will actually develop.

 

[maggsmaggs]

Considering the Sox are the ones developing him, and not the "many scouts", I'd say it is pretty important how the Sox view him.

I'm only talking about these lists. Not real life importance.

[NorthSideSox72]

No one from Sox on SAL T20. Was expecting Micah Johnson. If anyone plans to join their chat this afternoon, you can ask about Micah. I won't be able to join. Would be curious if he was on their radar.

 

[winninguglyin83]

During his chat this afternoon, J.J. Cooper says Tim Anderson was 21st. I'm starting to believe these prospects guys don't care for the White Sox because they don't share information before draft time.

 

Here is what he said about Anderson:

 

Sam (Chicago): Where did Tim Anderson fall outside the Top 20? What is his potential?

J.J. Cooper: He was 21. If this list went one longer, he was on it. In fact, I wrote him up:

 

21. Tim Anderson, ss, White Sox

Coming into the draft, scouts were divided as to whether Anderson would end up as a speedy singles hitter in pro ball or a speedster who also provided more than expected power for a middle infielder.

A half season into his pro career, Anderson didn’t show much of the pop that some expect to see eventually, but he did showcase his plus-plus speed. His swing is relatively simple, although he has work to do on pitch recognition. Defensively, he did little to alleviate concerns that he’ll eventually move to second base or center field. His arm appears to be short for the position, although observers did like his actions and his first-step quickness.

 

And about Micah:

 

Matt C (Chicago): Was Micah Johnson (Kannapolis, then Winston-Salem, then B-Ham) on the radar for the SAL T20? If not, is he considered for the CAR? His combo of on base work, leading MiLB in steals, and hit for average was impressive.

J.J. Cooper: He didn’t miss this list by much. In fact I wrote him up as a potential No. 20 at one point, here’s a freebie:

 

Johnson led the minors in steals this year, taking the crown that had been Billy Hamilton’s for each of the past two seasons. While Johnson may not match Hamilton’s speed from first to second, he is one of the faster players in the game, a true 80 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale.

But unlike a lot of Class A speedsters, Johnson also has a pretty good idea of what he’s doing at the plate. He has a chance to be a league-average hitter with below-average power. Considering his speed, that could be enough to make him a useful player offensively.

But the questions about his usefulness revolve around his defense. He has good range and turns an OK double play, but his hands are hard and his arm is below-average. Scouts question whether he can be solid enough defensively to play second base every day. More see him as a super utility player who can play center field, left field and second base.

 

 

[witesoxfan]

So Tim Anderson might be Erick Aybar and Micah Johnson is Emilio Bonaficio

[NorthSideSox72]

Those are actually good reports on both, overall. It was a deep league this year.

 

By the way, that was me asking the Micah question.

 

[Chicago White Sox]

I'm glad he at least confined Micah is a legit 80 in the speed department. I know there was some uncertainty on just how fast he actually is.

[ChiliIrishHammock24]

I'm glad he at least confined Micah is a legit 80 in the speed department. I know there was some uncertainty on just how fast he actually is.

 

I didn't expect him to be graded an 80, I thought he was more of a 65-70 guy who had awesome base stealing instincts.

[winninguglyin83]

Baseball America put Hawkins #15 in Carolina League.

 

Only Sox prospect in the Top 20.

 

Here is the report:

 

15. Courtney Hawkins, of, Winston-Salem (White Sox)

 

Age: 19. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 220. Drafted: HS—Corpus Christi, Texas, 2012 (1).

 

Courtney Hawkins

Courtney Hawkins (Photo by Bill Mitchell)

Not much went right for Hawkins in his first full season since signing for $2.475 million as the 13th overall pick in 2012. After he split 59 games between three levels last season—including the final five in Winston-Salem—the White Sox aggressively started him back in the CL, where he was the circuit’s youngest player.

 

Hawkins’ youth showed at the plate, as his 160 strikeouts were 28 more than anyone else in the league. He appeared lost at times, chasing breaking pitches away or fastballs up in the zone, and leading scouts to question why the White Sox left him in Winston-Salem the entire season. Dash manager Newman said Hawkins’ struggles were due more to a lack of pitch recognition and plate discipline—which should improve with experience—than fundamental problems with his swing.

 

Hawkins has quick hands, and his swing isn’t particularly long, though he does rely on a lot of movement to generate above-average power. Despite contact woes, he ranked third in the league with 19 home runs and first in home runs rate (one every 20.16 at-bats). “His bat speed is incredible,” Newman said. “He has no idea how strong he is, and he is only going to get stronger. It’s going to be fun to watch.”

 

Hawkins played a solid center field, showing plenty of speed and improved routes as the season progressed. He’ll likely move to right field as he continues to fill out his 6-foot-3 frame, a position he has plenty of arm and power to play.

 

AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG

383 48 68 16 3 19 62 29 160 10 5 .178 .249 .384

1

[winninguglyin83]

More interesting tidbits on Baseball America's top 20 lists

 

Southern League

 

11.Erik Johnson.

 

14. Marcus Semien

 

International League

 

7. Avisail Garcia

 

11. Erik Johnson.

 

18. Carlos Sanchez.

[NorthSideSox72]

More interesting tidbits on Baseball America's top 20 lists

 

Southern League

 

11.Erik Johnson.

 

14. Marcus Semien

 

International League

 

7. Avisail Garcia

 

11. Erik Johnson.

 

18. Carlos Sanchez.

 

Where are you seeing this? BA site doesn't show these lists as up yet, they come out this coming week.

 

[winninguglyin83]

I'm an old-fashioned subscriber.

 

My issue arrived last Friday.

 

Surprised to see Sanchez in Top 20.

 

Also thought Semien would have been higher, but then I remembered that with BA it's all about THE TOOLS.