Top 100 Prospects -- Where they are Starting 2009

[catman]

Here is the story from Baseball America:
BaseballAmerica.com: Prospects: Rankings: Top 100 Prospects: Where The Top 100 Are

[NYgiantsfan5689]

68 Nick Adenhart, rhp Angels Angels ML

They should probably fix that....

[NYgiantsfan5689]

I don't understand how Brackman, Triunfel, Bard, Flowers, and Jeffress bottom out that list. They all should be much higher.

[Kingdom]

Is Chris Perez really supposed to be that good?

[catman]

Is Chris Perez really supposed to be that good?

I've seen people higher on this list not make it in the bigs.

[realmofotalk]

Relievers generally have a faster track to the big leagues. Even Craig Hansen and Joey Devine have broken through.

[Kingdom]

Even still, is he really that good? He lost a job to a brand of applesauce.

[missionhockey21]

Only two Reds on the list, but that's what happens when your prospects graduate to the bigs.

Even though I love Wieters, I'd still rank Price above him personally. Other than that, its a pretty heavy catching list (1/10th of the list), and there is some pretty good talent in the top 100-200 prospect range at the backstop. Of course catchers are often evaluated a bit more heavy on potential than current ability, but I think this next generation of catchers, including the young crop at the MLB level like Soto, will be a lot of fun to watch.

[nick]

I don't understand how Brackman, Triunfel, Bard, Flowers, and Jeffress bottom out that list. They all should be much higher.

One huge reason: every single player you listed there has had significant attitude or injury problems already. The most talented player there is easily Triunfel, and even in his case, this year is a complete blank spot (out for 8+ months) for his development. Jeffress was suspended for smoking dope a season or two ago, and has maturity issues. Bard and Brackman have battled injuries.

In Flowers' case, he's entering a new organazation, is 23, and hasn't been higher than A-ball to this point (to my knowledge, anyway). His AFL numbers were insane, but the AFL is misleading. And he probably won't even stick behind the plate.

[Witlon]

Flowers was popped for PED in '06, too. There also was some worries that his knee injuries would limit him to 1B.

[nick]

Well there ya go. I had a feeling he had something troubling like that in his past, but wasn't sure.

He really isn't much of a prospect in my eyes anyway. I think he's overhyped at 100, if anything...

[NYgiantsfan5689]

Well you just answered my question haha. Thank you Nick.

[nick]

Triunfel has the potential to be really, really good... and he's only 18 or 19, so one lost season isn't a death sentence. But he's going to have to bounce back next yr to get his stock up again.

Jeffress might be the 2nd most talented player on that list, and as long as he silences the questions about his maturity with a good season this year, I could see him shoot up the list in a big way.

I think Bard is close to debuting with the Sox, and is going to lose most prospect status anyway. He's already 25 or so. Slow developer, but he could be nasty out of their pen soon.

Brackman is probably destined to be a late-inning MR...

[nick]

Even still, is he really that good? He lost a job to a brand of applesauce.

Exceptional stuff, a good sinking FB/slider combination, and that's perfect for middle relief and especially from your closer. When he misses, he does tend to miss up though... but he's still the best bet to wind up the Cardinals closer full-time by next year.

I think MR prospects in baseball are a crapshoot though. Relievers can rocket out of nowhere and claim a CL role a lot easier than a starter can just jump into someone's MLB rotation.