Major League Baseball may be in a lockout (as I'm typing out this thread), but it will be business as usual in the minors. The Sugar Land Skeeters open their season on April 5, 2022 (a Tuesday) in Sacramento. The other three full-season affiliates will start on April 8, which is a Friday. Corpus, Asheville, and Fayetteville will all open with three-game series. Corpus Christi takes on San Antonio. Asheville will be in Bowling Green. Fayetteville will also open on the road as they travel to Kannapolis. The Hooks, Tourists, and Woodpeckers will also open the second half of the season against their season-opening opponents. Monday will be the designated off day for the minors. All series will be six games in length, with a few quirks: - Sugar Land has a stretch in early June where they will play three games in OKC and then return home to play Las Vegas for three games. I don't know if this was an error of some sort. - Fayetteville has an off day on June 5 (a Tuesday) in between the first and second games of a series against Down East. I also don't know if this was an error. - Corpus Christi's first road series of the year in Midland (April 12-16) will conclude with a doubleheader on the 16th (a Saturday), giving them two off days. - There will be a break from July 18-21 to coincide with MLB's All-Star break (provided that MLB's season starts on time). The AAA season concludes on September 21, while all other leagues end on September 11. Alright, with that out of the way, here's my top 15 prospects with other names to keep an eye on. None of these players have made an appearance for the major league club. 1. Pedro Leon 2. Hunter Brown 3. Jeremy Pena 4. Korey Lee You could probably put the top four in any order, honestly. 5. Forrest Whitley 6. Alex Santos 7. Jaime Melendez 8. Joe Perez 9. Shawn Dubin 10. Yainer Diaz 11. Tyler Whitaker 12. Jairo Solis 13. Misael Tamarez 14. Chayce McDermott 15. Cristian Gonzalez Others to watch (no particular order) Shay Whitcomb Yohander Martinez Luke Berryhill Colin Barber Jimmy Endersby J.P. France Enmanuel Valdez Matthew Barefoot Alex McKenna Michael Horrell Jonathan Bermudez Ray Gaither Diosmerky Taveras Julio Robaina Jonathan Sprinkle Spencer Arrighetti Brayan De Paula Angel Macuare Elvis Garcia Carlos Calderon Miguel Palma Dauri Lorenzo Yefri Carrillo Luis Encarnacion Leosdany Molina
1. SS Jeremy Pena 55 2. C Korey Lee 55 3. CF/SS Pedro Leon 55 4. RHP Hunter Brown 50 5. RHP Forrest Whitley 50 6. OF Tyler Whitaker 45+ 7. RHP Alex Santos 45+ 8. 3B Joe Perez 45+ 9. RHP Jaime Melendez 45+ 10. RHP Shawn Dubin 45+ 11. OF Colin Barber 45+ 12. C/1B Yainer Diaz 45+ 13. RHP Peter Solomon 45 14. C Mike Papierski 45 15. IF Grae Kessinger 45 16. LHP Jonathan Bermudez 45 17. RHP Chayce McDermott 45 18. IF Shay Whitcomb 45 19. RHP Tyler Ivey 45 20. RHP Angel Macuare 45 21. 1B/OF JJ Matijevic 45 22. IF Cristian Gonzalez 45 23. IF Dauri Lorenzo 45 24. OF Alex McKenna 45 25. IF Freudis Nova 45 26. RHP Tyler Brown 45 27. LHP Julio Robaina 45 28. RHP Diosmerky Taveras 45 29. RHP Misael Tamarez 45 30. OF Logan Cerny 45 Honorable mention: C: Scott Manea, Luke Berryhill, Cesar Salazar, CJ Stubbs, Nathan Perry, Miguel Palma, Juan Santander IF: Luis Encarnacion, Leosdani Molina, Narbe Cruz, Hector Nieves, Alex De Goti, David Hensley, Enmanuel Valdez, Deury Carrasco, JC Correa, Luis Santana, Yohander Martinez, Kobe Kato, Will Wagner OF: Norel Gonzalez, Corey Julks, Rainer Rivas, Roilan Machandy, Richi Gonzalez, Ross Adolph, Marty Costes, Scott Schreiber, Matthew Barefoot, Wilyer Abreu, Luis Guerrero, Justin Dirden, Kenedy Corona, Michael Sandle, Zach Daniels, Jordan Brewer P: all of them
The fact that Houston lost 3 prospects in the minor league portion of the rule 5 draft is a testament to their depth. This system took a big step forward in the last year. Several prospects increased their stock multiple levels and now the system not only still features very good depth (including incredible pitching depth) but also now has top end talent, as any of their top 5 prospects wouldn’t look out of place on a Top 100 list and they have a solid 2nd tier who could be Top 100 types by the end of next year. Add in the expected international signees and the fact that they’ll have a full complement of draft picks and this farm system is very good. They should be ranked in the 12-18 range in MLB and described as an average system.
Projected opening day minor league rosters: AAA Sugar Land: C: Lee, Papierski, Manea IF: Kessinger, Leon, Perez, De Goti, Gonzalez OF: Julks, Siri, Matijevic, Costes, Taylor P: H Brown, Dubin, Solomon, Bielak, Ivey, Bermudez, Taylor, Martinez, Paredes, James, Scrubb, Mushinski, Record IL: Whitley, Hansen, Solis Others: Shaver, A Lee, Wielansky, Donato, McKee, Scheetz, Hernandez, Lawson, Riggs, Olczak, France, Conine, Blanco, Torres Notes: Trades, injuries, and the Rule 5 draft will solve the pitching glut. Solid lineup although it’s not sure that Perez will start in AAA; they may sign another CJ Hinojosa type for depth. Lee, Leon, and Perez are potential future core position player pieces for Houston. AA Corpus Christi: C: Berryhill, Stubbs, Salazar IF: Valdez, Whitcomb, Hensley, Arias, Nova OF: Barefoot, McKenna, Adolph, Abreu, Schreiber P: T Brown, Melendez, Macuare, Endersby, Deason, Ruppenthal, Peck, Moclair, Conn, Garcia, Horrell, Sprinkle, Serrano Others: Holderbach, Mendoza, Rodriguez, Bravo, Freure, Collado, DeJuneas, Cobos, Benedetti, Henderson, Casey, Cabral, McDonald, Cody, Lopez Notes: Another deep roster although it lacks elite prospects. Whitcomb is a major breakout candidate. High A Asheville: C: Diaz, Perry, Rodriguez IF: Santana, Carrasco, Williams, Correa, Wagner OF: Daniels, Barber, Dirden, Guerrero, Corona P: Rivera, Jimenez, Robaina, Tamarez, Taveras, De Paula, Jaquez, Gusto, West, Gomez, Gruller, Holcomb, Henley Others: Cueta, Orr, Urdaneta, Ramirez, Zimmerman, Garcia, Ceballos, Plumlee, Barry, Gayle, Hiraldo, Meszaros, Mesquita, Reina, Mejias, Matthews, Palmer Notes: extremely underrated group of pitchers. Barber and Diaz are potential elite prospects. I expect the 2021 college draftees to hit well in Asheville. Perry is also a breakout candidate. A Fayetteville: C: Palma, Hurtado, Alvarez IF: Kato, Gonzalez, Martinez, Stevens, Cruz OF: Brewer, Cerny, Sandle, Loperfido, Hamilton P: Santos, McDermott, Arrighetti, Tokar, Betances, Rodriguez, Vega, Calderon, Garcia, Brown, Kouba, Bellozo, Salgado Others: Mascai, Giron, Hallmark, Schroeder, DeLabio, Brockhouse, Ford, Gaither, Garcia, Solano, Lopez, Perez, Swanson, Hunt, Foggo, Chaidez, Dickey Notes: not a great roster but still pretty deep. Cristian Gonzalez and Alex Santos are high ceilings guys. If Tyler Whitaker is assigned here he would be a major breakout/Top 100 candidate. FCL: C: Santander, Toro, Guilamo IF: Molina, Lorenzo, Nieves, Balogh, Encarnacion, Arcila, Espinosa, Del Rosario, Mendoza OF: Gonzalez, Whitaker, Machandy, Ramirez, Rivas, Diaz, Morales, Liranzo, Perez P: Carrillo, Nodal, Batista, Gordon, Martich, Guzman, Ramirez, Pereira, Leon, Beltre, Santa, Molero, Miley, Gonzalez
Mine is not quite finished but this is what I have so far for 2022. Sugar Land Skeeters Starters C Javier, F Whitley, P Solomon, J Bermudez, H Brown Tandems JP France, B Conine, B Donato Relievers T Ivey, J James, B Bielak, E Paredes, R Montero, J Olczak, J Record, A Scrubb Catchers K Lee, M Papierski, Shawn Manea Infielders N Gonzalez, D Hensley, G Kessinger, Joe Perez Hitters JJ Matijevic Outfielders C Julks, P Leon, M Costes, A McKenna Overflow B Abreu, S Martinez, N Riggs, J Torres, P Mushinski*, R Ferrell, A Hanson, R Blanco, A Hanson, K Scheetz, C McKee Corpus Christi Hooks Starters J Solis, J Robaina, J Endersby, J Melendez, M Tamarez Tandems T Brown, RJ Freure, A Macuare Relievers J Sprinkle, N Hernandez, H Peck, M Horrell, J Bravo, Devin Conn, M Ruppenthal, L Henderson Catchers L Berryhill, Yainer Diaz, CJ Stubbs Infielders S Schreiber, Cesar Prieto, Shay Whitcomb, JC Correa, E Valdez Hitters C Benedetti Outfielders M Barefoot, Colin Barber, J Dirden, C Taylor Overflow Franny Cobos, Willy Collado, Kyle Serrano, Bryan Arias, AJ Lee Asheville Tourists Starters A Santos, E Garcia, C Gomez, E Jaquez, D West TandemsAlfredi Jimenez, Freylin Garcia, Jairo Lopez Relievers Ryan GustoRay GaitherD TaverasDanny CodyKyle GrullerChandler CaseyB DePaulaCody Deason Catchers Nate Perry, Nerio Rodriguez, Alex Holderbach Infielders Cody Orr, Will Wagner, C Gonzalez, Deury Carrasco, Luis Santana Hitters R Rodriguez, Kenedy Corona Outfielders Jordan Brewer, Tyler Whitaker, Zach Daniels, Luis Guerrero Overflow Abreu, Nova, Rivera, Lopez, McDonald, Gruller, Moclair, Holcomb, Ceballos, Henley, DeJuneas, Hurtado Fayetteville Woodpeckers Starters Z Mathews, S Arrighetti, C McDermott, A Brown, R Kouba Tandems Heitor Tokar, Alex Palmer, Christian Mejias Relievers Bryant Salgado, Elian Rodriguez, Fabricio Reina, Carlos Calderon, Ed Batista, Carlos Hiraldo, Peyton Plumlee, Kacey Ford CatchersMiguel Palma, Freddy Guilamo, Jose Alvarez Infielders Omar Diaz, Yo Martinez, Leo Molina, Justin Williams, Y Ramirez Hitters Vic Mascai, Kobe Kato Outfielders Joey Loperfid, Logan Cerney, Michael Sandle, Q Hamilton Overflow A Giron, C Stevens, S Mendoza, G Gayle, R Garcia, S Barry, J Betances, P Brockhouse, J DeLabio, J Meszaros, R Urdaneta
Do happen to know the rule for who gets to play in these Minor League games? Someone like Jake Myers may likely start his next season in a normal year in AAA. Can he next year if there is a lock out? Is it just burning an option?
From what I've understood, the lockout affects all players on the 40 man roster as those are the players represented by the MLBPA. Here's an article I found about this from CBS. They make it sound like players on the 40 man roster can play in the minor league games if they want, but based on the past it is likely they would all sit out.
1st tier Pena 2nd tier Leon Lee 3rd tier Brown Guys that interest me for high upside, but there may or may not be better prospects Whitley Tamarez Melendez Santos Whitaker Guys I'm interested for potential immediate impact as a reliever and/or swingman Dubin Solomon
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/oakland-athletics-top-33-prospects/ Preemptive whining caveat: These lists aren't perfect, but give a rough idea of value of a farm system. Angels and A's both have lowly ranked systems per FanGraphs. I expect the A's system to be a lot better after they make trades when the offseason continues. Rangers and Mariners have better systems, and I expect when they are ranked, the rankings will reflect this. Mariners have the better elite prospects, while the Rangers have a lot of good prospects in AA and AAA who should be coming up this year or next. I expect the Astros to be about an average system (i.e., good enough to keep spitting out some good players, but not like 2019 when the Astros had elite prospects in Tucker, Alvarez along with a ton of depth guys still in the lower levels). I expect FanGraphs will have them ranked below average (AA and AAA prospects are undervalued in my opinion by FanGraphs), but better than the Angels and A's are currently ranked.
This Edwin Diaz is also Puerto Rican, but obviously, he's a position player. The A's drafted him in the 15th round out of high school and he had spent his entire pro career as a member in the Oakland system. He turned 26 in August, so... a depth signing.
So…if anyone wanted to provide a list of floor/ceiling comps for some of our top prospects…I wouldn’t be mad
I’ll play. I don’t usually do comps for pitchers because of risk and I don’t know Jack about pitch types etc compared to position players traits. Pedro Leon: Mookie Betts ultimate ceiling, Leury Garcia realistic Jeremy Pena: Willy Adames Korey Lee: Travis D’Arnaud Tyler Whitaker: Hunter Dozier Colin Barber: Ian Happ Joe Perez: JD Davis Yainer Diaz: Christian Vasquez Freudis Nova: Edgar Renteria (extremely low odds) Shay Whitcomb: Tim Beckham Luke Berryhill: Tom Murphy
I didn't think of the Mookie Betts comp for Leon but it makes sense based on tools and infield outfield versatility. Ever since I first read a scouting report I was thinking: Raul Mondesi. But he likely has a career much less than either
Here’s 3 more: JJ Matijevic: Kyle Schwarber (very low odds) Zach Daniels: Justin Maxwell Grae Kessinger: Ryan McMahon