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Corey Brown DOB: 11/26/85 Ht. 6′ 1″ Wt. 205 Bats: L Throws: L Career Stats |
The lack of OFs at the AAA and MLB level is what keeps Brown on the watchlist, as he’s viable candidate to make the club as 4th OF out of ’12 ST. Hit .287/.363/.434 in the 2nd half, but also had two sub-.600 OPS months (April, July), consistent with his reputation as streaky and strikeout prone. |
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Bryce Harper DOB: 10/2/92 Ht. 6′ 3″ Wt. 225 Bats: L Throws: R Career Stats |
Harper’s strengths are well-documented. His weaknesses remain on defense (13E in 133G), not a surprise given that ’11 was his first as a full-time OF. LHPs gave him trouble in AA, but his splits in the AFL were nearly identical. Fans may want him on the 2012 Opening Day roster, but the smart money is on him putting in time at AAA until June. |
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Eury Perez DOB: 5/30/90 Ht. 6′ Wt. 180 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats |
Defensively, Perez is ready: Takes good routes, makes accurate throws, etc. The question is whether or not he can hit when small-ball is not an option. Needs to rediscover the art of taking a walk if he’s to fully exploit his speed and basestealing skills, both of which are plus. |
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Destin Hood DOB: 4/3/90 Ht. 6′ 1″ Wt. 225 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats |
One of the biggest surprises in ’11, Hood finally tapped his raw talent and turned it into some skills: more walks, more steals, more power. Played RF mostly for the P- Nats, but is better suited to LF where his weaknesses (arm, range) are less exposed. |
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Brian Goodwin DOB: 11/2/90 Ht. 6’1″ Wt. 190 Bats: L Throws: L Career Stats |
Scouts believe Goodwin has the potential to have five tools that range from average to plus. Speed is his strongest tool, but he’s still learning to employ it on the basepaths and in CF. The Nats are said to have spent most of instrux trying to use his lower half to hit, a common problem for collegiate batters. |
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Kevin Keyes DOB: 3/15/89 Ht. 6’3″ Wt. 190 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats |
Was Keyes 2011 season a breakthrough or merely a matter of getting the metal out of his swing and getting back into shape? That’s the question Sickels implies in his 2012 book. Power has been his hallmark since his freshman year at Texas, but the scout’s reports worsened each year. Speed, defense, and contact skills are considered fringy to below-average but the plus power is what will push him up the ladder. |
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Michael Taylor DOB: 3/26/91 Ht. 6′ 2″ Wt. 190 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats |
Converted from SS after the 2010 season, Taylor is getting a lot of buzz from the prospect gurus after a strong finish to the ’11 campaign (.291/.351/.498 in the second half). Defensively, he is raw but scouts like the potential, noting his speed, range, and (obviously) the arm. Sickels has him as one of his sleepers, saying he’s “just scratching the surface.” |
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Randolph Oduber DOB: 3/18/89 Ht. 6’3″ Wt. 186 Bats: R Throws: L Career Stats |
Injuries essentially cut his ’11 campaign in half, so “The Groovin’ Aruban” could be facing a make-or-break year as a prospect. Scouts point to his struggles with contact and plate discipline while praising his above-average speed and power potential. |
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Billy Burns DOB: 8/30/89 Ht. 5’9″ Wt. 180 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats |
A 32-Rd. pick in the ’11 Draft, Burns makes it here as one the Auburn Top 5 position players, i.e. his production. In 130PA, he put up nos. that validate his reputed strengths: speed (13SB in 32G), defense (0E), and plate discipline (.367 OBP). |
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Caleb Ramsey DOB: 10/07/88 Ht. 6’2″ Wt. 215 Bats: L Throws: R Career Stats |
Ramsey makes the cut as an FIL invitee, but also put up decent numbers (.280/ .362/.347) for Auburn. Like a lot of the ’11 collegiate picks, he’s shown good defense and good plate discipline. At 23, he’s going to have to start fast to silence the doubters. |
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Narciso Mesa DOB: 11/16/91 Ht. 5’11” Wt. 175 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats |
Mesa makes the cut as one of the Top 5 on an otherwise abysmal G-Nat team in 2011. He put up a decent .286/.318/.411 line as a 19-y.o., quite the improvement from his ’10 line of .224/.271/.286, so the presumption is that there’s something the Nats see in him that can’t necessarily be divined from his stats. |
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Estarlin Martinez DOB: 3/8/92 Ht. 6’1″ Wt. 185 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats |
Four months younger than Mesa, but also has another year of experience. His 2010 numbers were actually worse than 2009, so his promotion to the GCL was similarly unexpected. The #2 G-Nat was also 2nd in HRs and RBIs to… |
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Wander Ramos DOB: 4/26/90 Ht. 6’3″ Wt. 192 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats |
…who led the G-Nats with 12HR and 37 RBI. The power surge is tough to explain, aside from simply repeating the level. Maybe he can be written off as “too old” (21), but a .653 SLG in the GCL is tough to ignore. |
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