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Yesterday, Baseball America published their Top 100 Prospects List and I believe it is free to non-subscribers, so here is their Top 20:
20. Chris Sale, lhp, White Sox It's amazing that the Royals have 5 of the top 19, and 9 of the top 69, prospects, in all of baseball. Not shown in this list, but I was surprised that they ranked Dee Gordon at #26 overall. Several other prospect experts were down on him after the 2010 season focusing on his lack of power and his penchant for making errors. BA's ranking of Pirates first round pick Jameson Taillon was surprising as well considering he hasn't thrown a pitch in the big leagues. Some BA chat Q & A after the jump:
2011 TOP 100 PROSPECTS
1. Bryce Harper, of, Nationals
2. Mike Trout, of, Angels
3. Jesus Montero, c, Yankees
4. Domonic Brown, of, Phillies
5. Julio Teheran, rhp, Braves
6. Jeremy Hellickson, rhp, Rays
7. Aroldis Chapman, lhp, Reds
8. Eric Hosmer, 1b, Royals
9. Mike Moustakas, 3b, Royals
10. Wil Myers, of/c, Royals
11. Jameson Taillon, rhp, Pirates
12. Dustin Ackley, 2b, Mariners
13. Shelby Miller, rhp, Cardinals
14. Manny Machado, ss, Orioles
15. Matt Moore, lhp, Rays
16. Michael Pineda, rhp, Mariners
17. Freddie Freeman, 1b, Braves
18. John Lamb, lhp, Royals
19. Mike Montgomery, lhp, Royals
JAYPERS (IL): Were he eligible, where would Anthony Rendon have ranked on your list, approximately?
Jim Callis: You'll have to ask the rest of the editors how they feel, but personally, he would easily have been in my top five. Maybe as high as No. 2.
Man, that 2013 Pirates lineup is going to be solid with Jose Tabata, Neil Walker, Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez, Rendon, and Tony Sanchez. Does Chase d'Arnaud crack the lineup at SS in 2012?
Tyler (Harrodsburg, Ky): Jim, great list as always. Did Christian Yelich get any consideration from the 6 BA staffers? If so, how close was he?
Jim Callis: Thanks, Tyler. He did get some consideration, but it's a little early for him. Of the six of us, one put him on their Top 100 (at No. 87) and five of us had him on our Top 150 lists. I had him ranked at No. 138. Promising bat, just want to see more of him against pro pitching.
Yelich was the Marlins 2010 first round pick and could be a sleeper to make the Top 50 next year. He did make Keith Law's Top 100 this year.
Neufeldt (New Berlin, WI): No Jerry Sands? What are the reservations that justify keeping him off the list, and was there any disagreement regarding Sands?
Jim Callis: Sands was on the short list of 10-15 guys who just missed. Two of us had him on Top 100s, and we all had him on our Top 150s. I had him ranked at No. 136. I respect Sands (No. 136 still puts him in the top 1 percent of minor leaguers), but it's hard to make it as a righthanded-hitting first baseman. I think he's good, just not good enough to crack the Top 100.
I think Sands has a good shot at making the Dodgers 25 man roster in 2012.
John (OH): A little surprised to see that Grandal didn't make the cut. His game seems to be pretty well rounded for a catching prospect. Any insight into why he didn't make the cut?
Jim Callis: He would have made a Top 105. Three of us had him on our Top 100, I had him at No. 82, and he made all six Top 150s. The guys who weren't as high on him want to see more offensive and defensive consistency out of him.
The Reds are apparently being aggressive with Yasmani Grandal as he will start the 2011 season in AA. I am curious if he or Devin Mesoraco will eventually be traded.