It's time for my annual Giants Top 50 Prospect list. For the last several years, I have posted these on the Giants Message Board on sfgiants.com with a lot of positive feedback. Starting this year, I am posting it exclusively on my own blog. I will begin by simply posting the list along with some honorable mention candidates and some names to watch from the Dominican Summer League. Between now and the start of the season, I will post comments on each player on the list. As always, this list is just one fan's opinion. Don't get too hung up on the exact order. The main point is to familiarize readers with the players in the Giants minor league system who I think have a chance to play in the major leagues someday.
The Giants farm system remains strong, despite a couple of trades, some poor performances, and the devastating loss, hopefully temporary, of Angel Villalona to legal problems in his home country, the Dominican Republic. These losses were made up for by another strong draft, more international signings, and some unexpectedly strong performances. Last year, the Giants were ranked by Baseball America as the #5 best farm system in baseball. BA hasn't released their list yet this year, but two of their writers, John Manuel and Jim Callis are on record as ranking them #3 and #4 respectively.
On with the list!
1. Buster Posey, C
2. Madison Bumgarner, LHP
3. Zach Wheeler, RHP
4. Thomas Neal. OF/1B
5. Rafael Rodriguez, OF
6. Brandon Crawford, SS
7. Roger Kieshnick, OF
8. Tommy Joseph, C
9. Nick Noonan, 2B
10. Francisco Peguero, OF
11. Hector Sanchez, C
12. Edward Concepcion, RHP
13. Dan Runzler, LHP
14. Waldis Joaquin, RHP
15. Jason Stoffel, RHP
16. Clayton Tanner, LHP
17. Darren Ford, OF
18. Conor Gillaspie, 3B
19. Ehire Adrianza, SS
20. Chris Dominguez, 3B/1B
21. Ydwin Villegas, SS
22. Henry Sosa, RHP
23. Jose Casilla, RHP
24. Matt Graham, RHP
25. Brett Pill, 1B
26. Johnny Monell, C
27. Steve Edlefsen, RHP
28. Kevin Pucetas, RHP
29. Joe Paterson, LHP
30. Brock Bond, 2B
31. Dan Turpen, RHP
32. Mike McBryde, OF
33. Craig Clark, LHP
34. Paul Oseguera, LHP
35. Kyle Nicholson, RHP
36. Eric Surkamp, LHP
37. Ari Ronick, LHP
38. Josh Mazzola, 3B
39. Wendell Fairley, OF
40. Charlie Culberson, 2B
41. Aaron King, LHP
42. Andy Reichard, RHP
43. Chris Wilson, RHP
44. Ryan Verdugo, LHP
45. Evan Crawford, OF
46. Drew Biery, 3B
47. Ryan Cavan, SS
48. Jorge Bucardo, RHP
49. Jose Valdez, RHP
50. Wilbur Bucardo, RHP
Honorable Mention: David Quinowski, Dan Griffin, Chris Gloor, Jeremy Toole, Craig Westcott, Leonardo Ochoa, Sundrendy Windster, Julio Izturis, Cameron Lamb, Jason Jarvis, Kaohi Downing, Audy Santana.
"Dominican Dandies": Carlos Willoughby, Jose De La Cruz, Jesus Galindo, Kendry Flores, Ariel Hernandez.
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Thanks for the list Dr. B! Always enjoy reading your updates on the giants board. Will be sure to check back here often.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I hope people will find it interesting enough to keep coming back. Will try to make daily posts.
ReplyDeleteYou do know by now that the comments don't show up on the black background? At least I do as I have to highlight them to even see them.
ReplyDeleteThere, is that better?
ReplyDeleteRecent Latin American signees to keep an eye on: RHP Marvin Barios (six-figure bonus, reportedly), OF Leonardo Fuentes ($280K bonus, reportedly), 3B Duanel Jones ($1.3M bonus, reportedly)
ReplyDeleteNice List. I am a bit to see Culberson on here, even at 40. I also thought you would be higher on Bucardo. Can't wait to read your write-ups on each of these guys. Thanks for taking the time to do this!!
ReplyDeleteGreat list. It's nice to see someone else as high on Crawford and Sanchez as me. I'd have Jorge Bucardo, Surkamp, and maybe Graham higher than where they are, but I really like this list.
ReplyDeletenice gutsy calls on Concepcion and Villegas.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you are right about Culberson becoming a prospect again--congrats to him and you! 54
Dr. B, congratulations on the new blog - as a McC-follower who too wondered where you had gone, I'm glad to find you here. Your prospect list is so solid. I agree with your lower ranking of the relievers - in years past, when the Giants' system was much thinner and hitting prospects were rare, relievers were very often top 10-worthy, but the possible impact of the potential everyday players you have at 4-11 does seem greater than even someone as exciting as Runzler. I think I might have placed Sosa, Pill, Surkamp and Verdugo a bit higher, perhaps Cavan too if he is a bona fide shortstop. One name missing entirely, though, is Steve Johnson who the G's acquired from the Orioles in the rule 5 draft last month. Knowing little about him beyond his stats, he does look to be worthy of a ranking somewhere in the 20's - or did you not include him because the odds of his making the team and not being returned to Baltimore are so slim?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback everyone!
ReplyDeleteI'm very excited about the recent international signees too. I just don't have enough information to rank them right now, but I think they make the Giants system even stronger than it appears to be, which is quite strong. It's also most encouraging that the Giants are staying active in the international market.
I would have left Culberson off entirely, except that I read somewhere recently that the Giants have moved him to 2B and he's going to be the starter at that position in San Jose. He's still pretty young, and if the Giants haven't given up on him, then I'm not going to either, so I slipped him in the latter portion of the list. Culberson has to step it up in the very near future though. I would say that 2010 is almost a make or break year for him and Wendell Fairley.
I like the Bucardos, especially Jorge, but they are basically groundball/contact pitchers and the organization is full of those. A kid who brings the heat and gets the K's like Concepcion is more the type I am looking for in the higher rankings. Jorge and Wilber are going to have to keep proving themselves at higher levels for me. Take their rankings as a sign of the exceptional depth of the system, though.
In reviewing the Giants pitching depth chart, I just can't see Steve Johnson making the 25 man roster, which means he's not going to be in the organization past spring training. Oddly enough, I see him as a better bet to land the #5 starter role than a bullpen slot, but that has to be a huge longshot too.