Prospect Insider - The Top 15

The Top 15

By Jason A. Churchill

By 02-27-2011

Free for all to see, the Top 15 prospects are revealed by clicking here.

For scouting reports, tools grades and peak performance projections, you can get the 2011 Prospect Insider Digital Handbook by clicking here.

You'll notice in the Top 15 that each player has received a grade in columns labeled "MLBPR" and "Top 100." If there is a "Yes" in the Top 100 column, the player appeared in Keith Law's Top 100 Rankings.

MLBPR stands for MLB Power Ranking. What we did this winter was take Law's Top 10 by organization and rank PI's Top 10 for the M's according to the players' Top 100 Ranking, or by pitting them against each other in conversations with four talent evaluators, including an assistant general manager.

This ranking tells you where that player ranks among the rest of the players ranked at that position within their own organization. For example, Ackley's 1.07 MLBPR ranking means he's the seventh best No. 1 prospect in baseball. Pineda's 2.04 ranking means he's the fourth best No. 2 prospect. And so on.

In order to get these grades for prospects 11-15, the text, email and phone discussions I had with scouts included adding 5 players to each organization on top of Law's top 10. So yes, it took some time to complete, but I felt it gave some context that we've never had before.

Jump to the top 15!

the-top-15

Comments
The following 7 comment(s) for this article are shown below:

1. By: Jerry on 02-27-2011 16:39:56
Hey Jason,

Nice to see the Draft blog at ESPN.com back and running. Great coverage as usual.

I had a question for you about Francisco Lindor. You mentioned that the M's really like him. Keith Law had him ranked pretty highly. And, from the scouting reports you posted today, he fits the profile of the elite prep SS prospect. Do you think he is good enough to sneak into consideration for the top 3 picks?

With the #2 pick, I really like the idea of going for a position player, just because pitchers are so volatile. Cole would be a great addition to the system, but I'm wondering if guys like Springer, Starling, or perhaps Lindor could be legit options. I can understand that the front office may want to stick with college guys who could move quickly. But elite prep position players are a pretty good investment. I'm just not sure if Starling or Lindor fall into that category.

Is it fair to say that Lindor and Starling have more upside than Springer? And if Lindor's bat profiles as plus, with good power and very good reports on his defense, that's tough to pass up.

Do you think he has the talent to climb way up the board with a strong year? Or am I overrating him a bit?

2. By: Jason A. Churchill on 02-27-2011 16:51:43
I don't think the risk/ceiling combo on Lindor is safe enough and it certainly doesn't come with a quick enough return on investment considering where the Mariners are right now.

As for upside between Lindor, Starling and Springer, sure, I'd say that as far as value goes, but it's not by much at all. Springer, however, gets to the big leagues quicker and is a safer bet to reach his potential.

As for wanting to pick a position player, there's only one good reason for that and it's attrition. But if you're talking Cole versus a position player, there isn't much difference in time table and payoff, and there's a good chance Cole hits the majors before Springer.

Lindor's upside is probably Jose Reyes, which is a really food player. But I don't know that he's Hanley Ramirez by any stretch, and at 6-feet (maybe) there's little chance he ever brings that kind of offensive upside.

I would not tab Lindor at No. 2, even if Rendon is gone.

3. By: tonydif on 02-27-2011 23:38:00
Small edit needed. Chavez listed as a "RHP".

Nice list, nice to have a few infielders on their way, but a little concerned about the lack of an OF with huge promise coming soon to the big leagues.

4. By: Shawnuel on 02-28-2011 08:18:26
But that is one of the beautiful things about stressing growth in the farm system, tonydif. Strength in other positions allows us to make trades for pieces we need. Assets are assets.

5. By: jp1717 on 02-28-2011 11:27:55
Is Seager's height a misprint, or is he really 6'6"? Can't imagine a utility infielder that tall.

Glad to see somebody list Lueke over Cortes, no matter how minor it really is.

Is Robles' high ranking because you still think he can start in the MLB?

6. By: Lonnie on 02-28-2011 19:11:30
tonydif sez:

"Nice list, nice to have a few infielders on their way, but a little concerned about the lack of an OF with huge promise coming soon to the big leagues."

I think that a lot depends on what your definition of "huge promise" is. I equate "huge promise" with 5-tool players that the M's use to gobble up and watch them fade into the woodwork as time went by. The vast majority of them never even came close to their potential.

Zduriencik has a totally different approach to talent evaluation, one that brings back quicker returns, and that's to nab "baseball" players like Nick Franklin, Nate Tenbrink, and Kyle Seager. Within the M's system we have some interesting baseball players in James Jones, and a few others. Huge promise? I wouldn't say that, but potential? Ya, I would.

Lonnie

7. By: dawgncarolina on 03-05-2011 13:56:40
On the OFs, we don't have necessarily an elite talent on the way, but I agree with Lonnie that there are some guys with nice potential. In addition to Jones, Chavez is interesting, and then in the lower levels there's guys like Pimental and Castillo. Those two are further away, but considering we've got another 3-4 years left with Guti and Ichiro it's not like there's a huge need. If Saunders can develop we won't need anyone for awhile, and even if he can't we're only looking at one slot to fill.

Obviously I'd love to have a Mike Trout, but I don't think the organization is in dire OF straights at all.

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