It’s clear of us are nonetheless wanting to speak about our High 100 prospects , guys on it, guys not on it, guys from the previous lists and guys we missed. So let’s maintain the chatter going with a Pipeline Inbox that’s chock full o’ High 100 discourse.
Trying again on the prospect misses and who you had been improper about, which prospects did you overlook and prove higher than you anticipated? — @StevieDAles97
As we’ve continued to slice and cube 20 years of prospect rankings, I’ve written concerning the greatest successes and the prospects who didn’t stay as much as expectations. It had dawned on me that we hadn’t regarded on the guys we missed within the different route, prospects we didn’t rank extremely who’ve gone on to do wonderful issues within the massive leagues. Then Stevie D’s query landed and it was kismet, so listed below are a couple of who stand out.
Paul Goldschmidt: In our protection, Goldschmidt took lots of people without warning after being an eighth-round pick of Texas State College and was within the massive leagues by 2011, two years after being drafted. He put up large numbers within the California League in 2010 (.990 OPS), however who didn’t? The 2011 season was the primary we did what was then the highest 10 for every crew rankings, and he was tenth on the D-backs checklist. He’s now No. 8 on the profession energetic bWAR checklist (61.7).
Jose Altuve: Altuve is No. 13 on that energetic WAR checklist (49.3) and he has AL MVP honors, three batting titles and 6 Silver Slugger awards, amongst different accolades, on his résumé. You gained’t discover him wherever on a listing, however he was within the massive leagues in 2011 after beginning the yr in Excessive-A, so there wasn’t precisely a ton of time to rank him.
Josh Donaldson: No. 16 on the energetic WAR checklist (46.8), it took Donaldson some time to search out his footing as knowledgeable. Whereas he misplaced his rookie standing in 2012, he didn’t set up himself within the massive leagues till the next yr. He didn’t seem on the A’s high 10 in 2011.
Jose Ramirez: Though he did land in Cleveland’s high 10 in 2013 and 2014, he by no means appeared on a High 100. He hit within the Minors (.304) however the energy didn’t present up till he reached the massive leagues, a cause why he was by no means ranked that prime. He’s No. 18 on that WAR checklist now (45.6) with 216 homers and an OPS of .854.
Jacob deGrom: I’ll finish with one arm nobody actually noticed coming. A ninth-rounder in 2010, deGrom had Tommy John surgical procedure the summer time after he was drafted. He had a very good yr in 2012, however he was 24 and in A ball. He began the 2013 season in Excessive-A and ended it in Triple-A earlier than leaping on the massive league scene as a 26-year-old Rookie of the Yr winner in 2014. His 44.8 WAR is seventh amongst all pitchers nonetheless listed as energetic.
Utilizing your crystal ball, who would be the high three prospects this time subsequent yr? — @mattherr07
There may be an expectation that a lot of our present high prospects on the High 100 will graduate in some unspecified time in the future in 2024. Eight of our high 10, in actual fact, have an ETA of 2024 and several other of them may contend for Rookie of the Yr honors of their respective leagues. So what does that depart us for 2025? The very first thing I can do is to rule out any 2024 draftees from a high three. It simply not the identical sort of class as final yr the place we do have a consultant in that high group (Paul Skenes), three others within the high 10 (Wyatt Langford, Dylan Crews, Walker Jenkins) and one not far off at No. 13 (Max Clark). Three of these 5 will probably graduate, however Jenkins and Clark are within the combine. I’ll go along with:
1. Ethan Salas, C, Padres: I believe we’ve all predicted the precocious backstop to ascend to the highest spot by subsequent yr, haven’t we?
2. Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins: He had a terrific debut and there’s excessive confidence he’s going to place up numbers out of the gate.
3. Max Clark, OF, Tigers: Let the Jenkins vs. Clark debate proceed to rage. Don’t wager in opposition to Clark’s ceiling.
This checklist, in fact, doesn’t account for any prospects who fly up the charts in a rush, sort of like Salas did, so I reserve the best to amend this as we transfer ahead.
Y’all graded Thomas Saggese because the fourth greatest 2B prospect in your rankings. Why did he not make the High 100, and is he set to inherit a spot as soon as a few of these gamers graduate from prospect standing? — @stlcardscov
The place I come from, it’s “Yinz” and never “Y’all,” however I’ll enable it. Saggese actually had the sort of yr in 2023 that warranted numerous consideration for the High 100, ending with a .903 OPS, 26 homers, 111 RBIs. As Sam Dykstra identified when placing him on a listing of fellows who simply missed the High 100, he led the Texas League in a complete bunch of classes earlier than getting bumped as much as Triple-A following his commerce from the Rangers to the Cardinals. He didn’t fairly make it as a result of he’s a little bit too aggressive on the plate and it’s not one hundred pc clear what his defensive house is. That stated, assuming he comes out and rakes in Triple-A out of the gate this yr, I believe he’ll get added within the early going after we want replacements.
Is Druw Jones a bust? — @THEaltBAE
That’s a bit harsh, I believe. Has it been a disappointing begin to the No. 2 decide within the 2022 Draft’s profession? Completely. Are we involved concerning the rash of accidents and the dearth of manufacturing when he was on the sector in 2023? Sure, and that’s why he’s down at No. 78 within the High 100 now. (If he we thought he was a bust, he wouldn’t be on the checklist anymore.) Nevertheless it’s means, means too early to attract this sort of conclusion. He’s missed essential growth time, each the summer time after he signed and final yr, when he managed simply 41 video games and 147 at-bats. However he nonetheless has ridiculous instruments and will likely be simply 20 years previous for the 2024 season. The most important factor we have to see is a wholesome Jones roaming middle discipline for a whole yr. I believe the instruments will begin exhibiting up persistently then and any speak of him being a bust will likely be over.