Projected Southern League (AA) Prospect Team
By Mike Damman
Almost the opposite of the Eastern League, the Southern League was deep on the infield, but not so deep in the outfield and at catcher. While there are two shortstops listed on here, including one at DH, there are a handful of shortstops that offer intrigue. Both Chicago teams have intriguing shortstops in Tyler Saladino (Birmingham- White Sox) and Junior Lake (Tennessee- Cubs) and Atlanta’s AA affiliate (Mississippi Braves) could include Andrelton Simmons. Still, there’s only room for so many and those players will have to wait on their recognition.
Once again, the sources I will use for the prospect rankings are:
Position Players
C J.T. Wise, Chattanooga Lookouts (Los Angeles Dodgers)
2011 Statistics (A+ Rancho Cucamonga): 397 Plate Appearances .286/.384/.503/.887 37 XBH 53 BB-90 K
Seedlings to Stars Top 100 Rank: N/A
Other 2012 Top 100 Prospect Rankings: N/A
Drafted in the 5th round of the 2009 draft out of the University of Oklahoma, J.T. Wise is perhaps the most obscure player of the series so far. One thing Wise knows how to do is hit a baseball. Over the last two years, he has put up 72 extra base hits over 736 plate appearances. Wise held up good numbers in the California League after hitting .309 with an .868 OPS in the Midwest League. Both seasons he has hit in ballparks that are far more favorable to pitching. Wise has struck out a fair amount over the two seasons, but he also walked at a 13.4% clip in 2011. Defensively, Wise threw out 36% of attempted base stealers for Rancho Cucamonga in 2011. At 25 years old, Wise has been older for his level, but he has a chance to show that he’s not just a product of age relative to league in the coming year.
1B Bobby Borchering, Mobile BayBears (Arizona Diamondbacks)
2011 Statistics (A+ Visalia): 590 Plate Appearances .267/.332/.469/.801 56 XBH 49 BB-162 K
Seedlings to Stars Top 100 Rank: N/A
Other 2012 Top 100 Prospect Rankings: N/A
Taken with the 16th overall pick in the 2009 draft, Bobby Borchering is part of a group of hitters taken in the same draft that continue to move up the Arizona Diamondback’s system. Borchering, a switch hitter, has very good raw power from both sides of the plate. His approach at the plate, however, can get him into trouble. It’s his approach that has gotten him into a streaky pattern so far. In 2011, he took 30 walks and struck out 52 times in 233 plate appearances during June and July. However, he took 19 walks and struck out 110 times in his other 357 plate appearances. Defensively, it’s not certain where Borchering will end up. He is not a good defender at third base and teammate Matt Davidson is more likely to end up the third baseman of the future for Arizona. Borchering more than likely will either end up at first base or the outfield. In 2011, Borchering split time with Matt Davidson at third and first for Visalia. They could do the same in 2012 in Mobile.
2B Scooter Gennett, Huntsville Stars (Milwaukee Brewers)
2011 Statistics (A+ Brevard County): 601 Plate Appearances .300/.334/.406/.740 35 XBH 27 BB-69 K
Seedlings to Stars Top 100 Rank: N/A
Other 2012 Top 100 Prospect Rankings: N/A
Owner of one of the best names in minor league baseball, Scooter Gennett put up his usual numbers again in 2011 for the high-A Brevard County Manatees. Gennett has surprising pop for a 5 foot 9, 164 pound framed player. After hitting 52 extra base hits and a .463 slugging percentage in the Midwest League in 2010, he totaled 35 extra base hits and a .406 slugging percentage in the Florida State League in 2011 despite playing half his games in a good pitcher’s park. Scooter is a good contact hitter though as he has put up a .300 or better batting average at both levels. While he has decent power and good contact ability, Gennett does not walk a lot making his on base percentage very batting average driven. He has taken 58 walks over his 1,126 plate appearances in pro ball. His speed and defense both project as average at the major league level, so he will go as far as his bat takes him. Scooter Gennett will get his first taste of the upper levels of the minor leagues in 2012.
3B Matt Davidson, Mobile BayBears (Arizona Diamondbacks)
2011 Statistics (A+ Visalia): 606 Plate Appearances .277/.348/.465/.814 60 XBH 52 BB-147 K
Seedlings to Stars Top 100 Rank: N/A
Other 2012 Top 100 Prospect Rankings: ESPN (#82), Baseball America (#97)
Another part of the group of 2009 draft picks by the Arizona Diamondbacks that are making their way up the system, Matt Davidson is viewed as the third baseman of the future for Arizona. Built with a strong 6 foot 3, 225 pound frame, Davidson projects to have good power at the major league level. He has been an extra base hit machine since entering pro ball. After hitting 57 extra base hits in 2010 as a 19 year old in single-A and high-A, Davidson had 60 extra base hits in a full season of high-A in 2011. Davidson needs to cut back on his strikeouts and he could take a few more walks, although his walk totals haven’t been awful. Still, Davidson should hit for a good average and good power due to his bat speed and ability to hit to all fields. Defensively he isn’t great, but projects as a decent fielding third baseman, which should be enough given his bat. Davidson will begin 2012 in Mobile with what looks to be a very strong lineup.
SS Hak-Ju Lee, Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays)
2011 Statistics (AA Montgomery/A+ Charlotte): 568 Plate Appearances .292/.365/.416/.781 37 XBH 53 BB-94 K
Seedlings to Stars Top 100 Rank: #27
Other 2012 Top 100 Prospect Rankings: Scout.com (#20), ESPN (#12), Baseball America (#44), Baseball Prospectus (#65), MLB.com (#46), John Sickels (#58)
After being acquired from the Chicago Cubs last offseason in the deal that sent Matt Garza to Chicago, Hak-Ju Lee spent the 2011 season between high-A Charlotte and AA Montgomery. Lee displayed more power in the 2011 season as he hit 11 more extra base hits than in 2010 and his slugging percentage climbed from .351 in 2010 to .416 in 2011. His successful season was almost entirely due to his dominant performance in the Florida State League (high-A), as Lee struggled mightily in his 114 plate appearances in AA. He hit .318 with an .832 OPS in high-A though and should get a chance for redemption in AA to open the 2012 season. Hak-Ju has very good contact ability and a disciplined approach at the plate. Where Hak-Ju excels is in regards to his speed and defense. He has excellent speed and is very good defensively with good range and a strong arm at shortstop. He profiles as a leadoff hitter in the major leagues and a very good defensive shortstop to boot.
LF Adam Eaton, Mobile BayBears (Arizona Diamondbacks)
2011 Statistics (AA Mobile/A+ Visalia): 556 Plate Appearances .318/.434/.463/.897 39 XBH 72 BB-76 K
Seedlings to Stars Top 100 Rank: N/A
Other 2012 Top 100 Prospect Rankings: N/A
No, the former San Diego Padres pitcher did not find the fountain of youth and come back as an outfielder, as this is a different Adam Eaton. A 19th round selection in 2010, Adam Eaton might have a smallish frame (5 foot 9, 180 pounds), but he is not one to overlook. In his first full season in pro ball, Eaton batted .318 with a .434 on base percentage and stole 34 bases between high-A Visalia and AA Mobile. He is a very disciplined hitter as he walked nearly as much as he struck out. What Eaton lacks in size, he makes up for in skillset. He has great contact ability and hits to all fields. He can play all three outfield positions and has solid speed with great instincts. He will hit at the top of a very good Mobile lineup in 2012, which includes Borchering and Davidson among others.
CF Jared Mitchell, Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox)
2011 Statistics (A+ Winston-Salem): 541 Plate Appearances .222/.304/.377/.682 48 XBH 52 BB-183 K
Seedlings to Stars Top 100 Rank: N/A
Other 2012 Top 100 Prospect Rankings: N/A
When the Chicago White Sox took Jared Mitchell in the 1st round of the 2009 draft, he was expected to move through the system fairly quickly. Well, an injury in 2010 halted his rise as Mitchell missed the entire season after he tore a tendon in his ankle when he collided into a wall in the outfield during spring training. Mitchell is a player with very good tools, who hasn’t produced to those tools yet. He has good bat speed, but will need to cut back on the strikeouts to really make use of that. His best tools are his plus-plus speed and his range in the outfield. He doesn’t have a strong arm, however, which could force him over to left field in the future. Mitchell should begin the 2012 season in AA and
RF Matt Szczur, Tennessee Smokies (Chicago Cubs)
2011 Statistics (A+ Daytona/A Peoria): 480 Plate Appearances .293/.335/.423/.758 35 XBH 26 BB-48 K
Seedlings to Stars Top 100 Rank: N/A
Other 2012 Top 100 Prospect Rankings: Scout.com (#82), Baseball America (#64)
Drafted out of Villanova in the 5th round of the 2010 draft, Matt Szczur is the definition of an athlete. Szczur is in baseball terms still a very raw player. He has elite speed and already has very good contact ability. He’s shown the potential for at least average power as well. Szczur does need to work on his patience, but he is very tough to strikeout as he struck out in just 10% of his plate appearances in 2011. He shows the ability to be a very good defender as well. His arm is average, but his range is outstanding. What makes him special though is his makeup and work ethic. There is a chance that he could return to high-A after spending just 182 plate appearances in high-A, but I believe that he will begin in AA.
DH Nick Franklin, Jackson Generals (Seattle Mariners)
2011 Statistics (AA Jackson/A+ High Desert/Rookie): 401 Plate Appearances .281/.352/.418/.770 27 XBH 37 BB-80 K
Seedlings to Stars Top 100 Rank: #41
Other 2012 Top 100 Prospect Rankings: Scout.com (#40), ESPN (#57), Baseball America (#77), MLB.com (#52), John Sickels (#63)
Drafted in the 1st round of the 2009 draft, Nick Franklin is seen as a fixture of the middle infield for the Seattle Mariners in the future. Offensively, Nick Franklin has the potential to be a very good offensive middle infielder. In 2010 Franklin showed very good power in the Midwest League as he hit 52 extra base hits, including 23 homeruns, in 578 plate appearances. In 2011, the power did regress a bit. Franklin strikes out a lot and could use some work on discipline although it’s not awful. He has good instincts on the bases which allow his average speed to play up. Franklin has stolen 43 bases over the last two seasons. Defensively, Franklin has good range, but his arm may force a move to second base in the future, which could force the Mariners to be creative with Dustin Ackley or trade Franklin. In the meantime, Nick will begin the 2012 season playing for the Jackson Generals in AA as a 21 year old.
Starting Pitchers
LHP Danny Hultzen, Jackson Generals (Seattle Mariners)
2011 Statistics: Did Not Play
Seedlings to Stars Top 100 Rank: #46
Other 2012 Top 100 Prospect Rankings: Scout.com (#13), ESPN (#30), Baseball America (#21), Baseball Prospectus (#35), MLB.com (#16), John Sickels (#25)
Taken with the 2nd overall pick in last year’s draft, Danny Hultzen will be making his regular season minor league debut in 2012. While it’s not a sure thing that Hultzen will begin in AA, most people have him pegged for Jackson where he will be part of a very tough 1-2 duo at the top of the General’s rotation. Hultzen did pitch in the Arizona Fall League in 2011 and was dominant in what is generally a better showcase for hitters. Hultzen made 6 starts and pitched 19 1/3 innings. He gave up 16 hits, struck out 18 batters, and walked just 5. His ERA over the time was a miniscule 1.40. Left handed hitters went just 2 for 17 against him. Hultzen doesn’t overwhelm you with stuff, but his excellent command makes his pitches play up better. He has a low 90s fastball, a good changeup, and a decent slider. Hultzen could fly through the Mariner’s system and projects as at least a good #3.
LHP James Paxton, Jackson Generals (Seattle Mariners)
2011 Statistics (AA Jackson/A Clinton): 6-3, 2.37 ERA, 95 IP, 73 H, 43 BB, 131 K, 1.22 WHIP
Seedlings to Stars Top 100 Rank: #43
Other 2012 Top 100 Prospect Rankings: Scout.com (#71), ESPN (#51), Baseball America (#52), Baseball Prospectus (#59), MLB.com (#77), John Sickels (#29)
James Paxton took an interesting ride to this position. He was drafted in the first round of the 2009 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, but didn’t sign. He was then ruled ineligible to play college ball. Finally drafted in the 4th round by the Seattle Mariners in 2010, Paxton went from single-A to AA in his first pro season. Paxton has always struggled with command, but when going right he can be a very dominant pitcher. In single-A, he struck out 80 batters over 56 innings and then 51 in 39 innings in AA. Paxton uses a low to mid 90s fastball, a good curveball that can be an out pitch, and an improving changeup. He is very tough on left handed hitters, who had 5 extra base hits against him in 105 at bats in 2011. Paxton will join Hultzen at the top of Jackson’s rotation.
RHP Allen Webster, Chattanooga Lookouts (Los Angeles Dodgers)
2011 Statistics (AA Chattanooga/A+ Rancho Cucamonga): 11-5, 4.03 ERA, 145 IP, 147 H, 57 BB, 135 K, 1.41 WHIP
Seedlings to Stars Top 100 Rank: N/A
Other 2012 Top 100 Prospect Rankings: Scout.com (#78), ESPN (#61), Baseball America (#95), MLB.com (#79)
An 18th round pick in the 2008 draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Allen Webster has used a four pitch repertoire to become an emerging top pitching prospect. He struggled in his first go around in AA, but was dominant in high-A (62 K in 54 innings with a 2.33 ERA) to begin the 2011 season. He can touch mid-90s, but sits low 90s with his fastball with good life. He also throws a good changeup and mixes in a solid curveball and ok slider. Left handed hitters hit just .176 (with a .494 OPS) against Webster in high-A, but touched him up for a .288 average and .792 OPS in AA. Webster is another in a line of young pitchers to come through the Los Angeles Dodger’s system.
RHP Nestor Molina, Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox)
2011 Statistics (AA New Hampshire/A+ Dunedin): 12-3, 2.21 ERA, 130 1/3 IP, 114 H, 16 BB, 148 K, 1.00 WHIP
Seedlings to Stars Top 100 Rank: #44
Other 2012 Top 100 Prospect Rankings: Scout.com (#64), John Sickels (#72)
The White Sox acquired Nestor Molina from the Toronto Blue Jays during the Winter Meetings in Dallas straight up for major league reliever Sergio Santos. Molina had a breakout season in 2011 as he put up video game like numbers in high-A and AA combined. Molina’s 9.25 K/BB ratio is a sight to behold. Since entering full season ball, Nestor Molina has walked just 1.53 batters per 9 innings (36 in 211 1/3 IP). His walks per 9 ratio in 2011 was a minute 1.1. Needless to say, Molina is a pitcher with exceptional control. Molina works low 90s with his fastball, which has good movement. His best out pitch is his splitter. By all scouting reports his slider is still coming, but what helps everything is his deceptive delivery. Whether Molina sticks in the rotation or ends up in the bullpen at the big league level is still up in the air, but for now he will remain a starter in the minor leagues.
RHP Tyler Thornburg, Huntsville Stars (Milwaukee Brewers)
2011 Statistics (A+ Brevard County/A Wisconsin): 10-6, 2.57 ERA, 136 2/3 IP, 94 H, 58 BB, 160 K, 1.11 WHIP
Seedlings to Stars Top 100 Rank: #78
Other 2012 Top 100 Prospect Rankings: N/A
A small stature, Tyler Thornburg had a big season in 2011. He used a dominant first half of the season in single-A to propel him to a very productive time in high-A. In the end, Tyler Thornburg was nearly unhittable (6.2 H/9), nearly untouchable for power (8 in 136 2/3 innings), and very missable (10.5 strikeouts per nine innings). Thornburg does struggle with command at time as he walked 3.8 per 9 innings, but it’s not a big issue when your WHIP is still only 1.11. It could become a bigger issue if he starts giving up hits. Thornburg sits mid 90s and can hit upper 90s, although his fastball can be straight. He has a good curveball to go with the mid 90s fastball and mixes in a changeup as well. Like Nestor Molina, it’s not certain that Thornburg will stay a starter or if he could ultimately move to the bullpen. But for now he will be in Huntsville’s rotation.
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