Down on the Farm: BA's League Top 20's

Let's get our minds off the frustrating Division race for a minute and catch up on BA's League Top 20 series.

NWL: The Giants placed just one player in the NWL top 20. Jake Dunning at #20, almost like a token placement to make sure every team got at least 1. Here's some excerpts from the scouting report on Dunning:

Prototypical size and arm strength. FB sits at 92-93 MPH, tops out at 95 with good life. Slider and changeup need polish but have the potential to become at least average pitches. Giants may try him at starter next year.

Not much more info in the Chat. Edwin Escobar has inconsistent velocity on the FB 84-92. Good pitch sequences. CB can be an average pitch. Uses Cutter for changeup.

Gary Brown would have been in the 6-10 range had he qualified, probably #7. Potential to be a good CF and impact leadoff hitter.

SAL: The SAL is a big league, so more difficult to place in a top 20 list.

12: Zack Wheeler- Low 90's FB that tops out at 97 MPH. Jumps out of his hand with late, heavy life down in the strike zone. CB, Change and control all lack consistency, but should have 3 solid or better pitches when fully developed. His manager Dave Machemer said "....arm strength and his fastball make him a potential number 1 or 2 starter down the road.

20: Chris Dominguez- 2 outstanding tools- power and arm. Powerful swing has some length and polished pitchers take advantage. Well above average arm strength and moves well for a big man, so has a chance to stick at 3B. Dave Machemer says: "He hits the ball as hard as anyone I've ever managed. He needs to shore up his strike zone, but he has outstanding tools across the board with two that are off the charts."

I was surprised that Dominguez made the list and Tommy Joseph did not. To me, they were very similar hitters with Tommy being 4 years younger with a lot more time to develop. Comments in the chat re. Joseph: Easy power, easy arm action. Exceptional balance at the plate but tries to pull too many pitches. Shortening his swing, particularly with 2 strikes would cut down on his K's. Can catch in the big leagues but might be blocked by a guy named Buster Posey. Could move to 1B.

Joe Pun at azgiants.com is making daily posts of great pictures from Instructional League. Hopefully he'll also have some of those great interviews again this offseason. Check it out by clicking on the link on the left. I'll just say that Caleb Hougesen is one impressive looking ballplayer, at least in the pictures!