2013 Seedlings to Stars Top Prospects: #51-60

We continue our rankings of this year’s top prospects here at S2S and we’ve reached the midway point of our list. There have been a few surprises here and there, based on some of the feedback I’ve received, but that was to be expected when taking on this task. Don’t forget, there’s a certain level of subjectivity to these lists which is why no two are every completely the same. There’s no perfect science to coming up with them. There will be some decisions within this list that you will not fully agree with. Discussion is encouraged. If you want some more insight into the process behind them, be sure to read through our introductory post.

To make it easy for your to look back, here are the rankings we’ve already gone through:

• #101 through #115 (because I couldn’t settle on just 100 names)
• #91 through #100
• #81 through #90
• #71 through #80
• #61 through #70

Next up: #51 through #60.

#60 – Trevor Story, shortstop, Colorado Rockies

Height/Weight: 6’1″, 175

Born: November 15, 1992 (age 20)

2012 Stats (with Class-A Asheville): .277/.367/.505, 18 HR, 63 RBI, 15 SB, 60 BB, 121 SO, 122 G (548 PA)

Bold Prediction: Troy Tulowitzki is locked up in Colorado for a number of years, so Story may have to move to another position before long once he’s MLB-ready. A position change is more likely than a trade for the 20 year old.

#59 – Robert Stephenson, right-handed pitcher, Cincinnati Reds

Height/Weight: 6’2″, 190

Born: February 24, 1993 (age 19)

2012 Stats  (combined between Rookie Level Billings and Class-A Dayton): 3-4, 3.18 ERA, 15 GS, 65.0 IP, 23 BB (3.2 BB/9), 72 K (10.0 K/9), 1.185 WHIP

Stephenson is much further away, but he and Tony Cingrani (#63 on our list) give the Reds a pretty formidable duo of pitching prospects to eventually build around.

Bold Prediction: Stephenson makes the jump to Double-A before season’s end, but struggles with the promotion.

Jarred Cosart (#58 on our rankings) has a solid chance at seeing time in Houston’s starting rotation this season. (Image Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports)

#58 – Jarred Cosart, right-handed pitcher, Houston Astros

Height/Weight: 6’3″, 180

Born: May 25, 1990 (age 22)

2012 Stats (combined between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Oklahoma City): 6-7, 3.30 ERA, 21 G (20 GS), 114.2 IP, 51 BB (4.0 BB/9), 92 K (7.2 K/9), 1.395 WHIP

It was surprising to see Cosart included in a trade that brought Hunter Pence to Philadelphia, but he’s done nothing but show why the Astros wanted to have him so badly in the deal. Long term he won’t be the best asset they acquired in the trade (that honor will fall on Jonathan Singleton, in my opinion) but he’ll be a serviceable starter for a number of years.

Bold Prediction: Cosart will see Houston before summer’s end.

#57 – Jesse Biddle, right-handed pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies

Height/Weight: 6’4″, 225

Born: October 22, 1991 (age 21)

2012 Stats (with High-A Clearwater): 10-6, 3.22 ERA, 26 GS, 142.2 IP, 54 BB (3.4 BB/9), 151 K (9.5 K/9), 1.283 WHIP

Bold Prediction: With a successful jump to Double-A, Biddle will let Phillies fans forget all about dealing Cosart.

#56 – Jake Marisnick, outfielder, Miami Marlins

Height/Weight: 6’4″, 200

Born: March 30, 1991 (age 21)

2012 Stats (combined between High-A Dunedin and Double-A New Hampshire): .249/.321/.399, 8 HR, 50 RBI, 24 SB, 37 BB, 100 SO, 120 G (553 PA)

Marisnick is the “big piece” that Miami picked up from their most recent blockbuster trade, but the jury is still out on where he’ll end up. He’s been said to have all of the talent to stick in center field long term but ultimately I think he’ll be forced to move, as Christian Yelich will potentially take on the role of starting center fielder. Barring a significant trade (i.e. Giancarlo Stanton) it’s actually conceivable to envision an outfield in Miami in a few years of Marisnick, Yelich, and Stanton from left to right.

Bold Prediction: He’ll spend most of the year at Triple-A, but could earn a September callup.

#55 – Nolan Arenado, third baseman, Colorado Rockies

Height/Weight: 6’1″, 205

Born: April 16, 1991 (age 21)

2012 Stats (with Double-A Tulsa): .285/.337/.428, 12 HR, 56 RBI, 0 SB, 39 BB, 58 SO, 134 G (573 PA)

There was a strong belief a year ago that Arenado was assured to see time in Colorado before the 2012 season would end. He struggled through much of the year, however, and spent the entirety of the season at Double-A trying to prove his newfound critics wrong about his future. He enters Spring Training under much less pressure this year, but could still make his way into the Rockies lineup before summer’s end.

Bold Prediction: Arenado is starting in Colorado by the All Star Break.

#54 – Kevin Gausman, right-handed pitcher, Baltimore Orioles

Height/Weight: 6’4″, 185

Born: January 6, 1991 (age 22)

2012 Stats (combined between Low-A Aberdeen and High-A Frederick): 0-1, 3.60 ERA, 5 GS, 15.0 IP, 1 BB (0.6 BB/9), 13 K (7.8 K/9), 0.800 WHIP

One of the top picks in last June’s Draft, Gausman and Dylan Bundy give the Orioles a pair of top-notch starting pitching prospects to hang their hopes on in the years to come. Bundy should be ready to step into a role this season, but Gausman is a little further away.

Bold Prediction: With a solid season at Double-A, Gausman is one of the biggest climbers on this list one year from now.

#53 – Michael Choice, outfielder/first baseman, Oakland Athletics

Height/Weight: 6’0″, 220

Born: November 10, 1989 (age 23)

2012 Stats (with Double-A Midland): .287/.356/.423, 10 HR, 58 RBI, 5 SB, 33 BB, 88 SO, 91 G (402 PA)

Oakland already has a logjam of outfielders on their active roster, which will slow how quickly an opportunity becomes available for Choice.

Bold Prediction: Choice could be trade bait, given the depth in front of him within the organization.

#52 – Courtney Hawkins, outfielder, Chicago White Sox

Height/Weight: 6’3″, 220

Born: November 12, 1993 (age 19)

2012 Stats (combined between three levels): .284/.324/.480, 8 HR, 33 RBI, 11 SB, 11 BB, 56 SO, 59 G (249 PA)

Bold Prediction: Hawkins has all of the tools to stick in center field long term and could move quickly through Chicago’s system.

#51 – Mason Williams, outfielder, New York Yankees

Height/Weight: 6’0″, 150

Born: August 21, 1991 (age 21)

2012 Stats (combined between Class-A Charleston and High-A Tampa): .298/.346/.474, 11 HR, 35 RBI, 20 SB, 24 BB, 47 SO, 91 G (397 PA)

Yankees fan have longed for a talented center field prospect with the likelihood of actually staying in center field (Slade Heathcott, if he can ever remain healthy, seems destined to slide over into a corner spot), something the team has lacked since they shipped Austin Jackson to Detroit. An unlikely injury cut his 2012 season short, but Williams could have a big impact in 2013 which will set him up for a shot at making the Yankees roster in early 2014.

Bold Prediction: Williams will struggle at first with a jump to Double-A, but will figure things out and make the move to Triple-A by season’s end.