Down On The Farm: More From Keith Law's Top 100 Prospects List
As promised, I have a few more player profile excerpts from Keith Law's Top 100 prospects list over at ESPN. Here are a few from the 26-50 list:
Law had Ryan Westmoreland at #32 on his top 100 list. Here is what he wrote in his player profile:
Westmoreland is a top-10 talent with his combination of athleticism, power potential and feel for hitting, and he showed very advanced plate discipline in his limited season in Lowell last year while going a remarkable 19-for-19 in stolen base attempts. The combination of catastrophic injuries does raise the specter of Chris Snelling Disease, in which a prospect is so prone to injury that he can't develop properly as a hitter. But with a full season in 2010, Westmoreland could largely put those concerns to rest.
KLaw ranked A's 1B prospect Chris Carter at #33 in his top 100. Here is what he wrote about Carter:
Carter has made impressive strides since his arrival in the Oakland organization as a power-or-nothing hitter with a long swing and no defensive value, and while he's still probably a solid DH with thump, he has a chance to contribute in a few different ways. Carter is limited defensively and will probably max out as a fringe-average first baseman, although the positional logjam in Oakland may make him a DH by default. Even in Oakland's ballpark he should be good for 30 homers a year and a solid on-base percentage by his peak.
Carter went 28-115-13-.329-.422-.570 in AAA last year, and could be a sleeper in 2010 fantasy drafts.
Finally, KLaw ranked Padres outfield prospect Jaff Decker higher (at #27) than BA and Sickels, and I can't blame him. Looking at his stats in Low-A, I am surprised Decker isn't getting more press. Here is what KLaw had to say in his player profile:
Decker's approach at the plate rivals that of most big leaguers; he's not just patient, but he's selective, and rarely swings at balls out of the zone. (Just for kicks: Decker has drawn 136 unintentional walks in a year and a half in pro ball; Josh Vitters, with an additional year in the minors, has drawn 26.) Decker's swing is short but hard, and he has big pull power with some power to the opposite field as well. He's got a plus arm, so he can handle right or left field. A .400 OBP with some pop from an outfield corner is a well-above-average player, and not far off from stardom if Decker can add more power than currently projected.
Decker's body type has been compared to Brian Giles and Matt Stairs, according to Law, but he says he is more athletic than either of the them. I am curious where he gets drafted in my minor league draft this year.
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More on Ryan Westmoreland
Our Ben Carsley took a deep dive on the Red Sox prospects today and had this to say about Westmoreland:
Westmoreland has the highest upside of any Red Sox prospect, and is now ranked ahead of Kelly on some prospect lists. When healthy, there’s almost nothing Westmoreland can’t do on a baseball field. A true five-tool-threat, Westmoreland’s only red flag is his injury history, as he’s already suffered two significant shoulder injuries, limiting him to 223 at-bats last season.
Once he does reach the big leagues, Westmoreland has the potential to be a first round fantasy pick. His ceiling is a Grady Sizemore-type player, who could hit .290-30-100 with 30 stolen bases, annually. If he fills out more and slows down on the bases, he would still have top-3 round potential. Either way, Westmoreland is a must-have in dynasty leagues, and if he holds up for a whole season, he could easily be a top-10 fantasy prospect next year.
by Steve @ MLB Fantasy Prospects on Jan 30, 2010 3:09 PM EST reply actions
dacker
Dacker has a lot going against in the MLD. 1) he is still hasn’t played past A ball so he is a few years away 2) when he does get to the majors he will be playing his home games at Petco 3) he is an OF so not a scarce position 4) although he managed to steal 10 bases last year (caught 6 times) I doubt he will be any help in the SB category
sounds like DB11
wants him to me-lol.
Dacker should have no problem making it to AA in 2010, as he will be hitting in a hitter’s league in High-A. I could see a promotion to AA by 2011, if not July 2010.
I think KLaw is right. If he increases his power in high-A, he will definitely be ranked higher going into 2011 drafts/prospect lists.
raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com
by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 31, 2010 10:54 AM EST up reply actions
lol
Sorry, wasn’t able to answer yesterday. Was running errands and made a deposit in AC (flopped a boat and lost to a bigger boat on the turn-ugh).
possibly not. depends on who I take at 7, I guess.
Does that mean you want him at 12?
raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com
by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 31, 2010 10:50 AM EST up reply actions

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