Fake Teams Consensus Prospect Rankings: First Basemen 11 Through 20

With each week being dedicated to our consensus rankings at a particular position, the prospect staff at Fake Teams will also be providing position-specific coverage during these weeks. This will include a pair of prospect profiles, as well as a comparison post between two similar prospects at the position. And of course, we will be releasing our top 20 prospects at the position. This differs slightly from what we did last year, as these rankings are for the long term, rather than providing a separate list for the upcoming season only.

Bret Sayre, Craig Goldstein, and I have discussed the ranking of each player on these lists, and have come to a determination on each them of where they belong on the list. There are a number of groupings where, if you believe a prospect should move up or down a slot, we would probably not disagree. Prospect rankings remain a picture of what we see based on the information available at that moment in time, and are likely to change as the offseason progresses.

The top 10 prospects will be released on Tuesday of each week, and prospects 11-20 will be released on Thursday. Please note that at this point in the first base rankings, you really can kind of slot them in just about any order, as right now there is not a lot separating this group from each other. And to be perfectly honest with you, most of these prospects may not even make it as a productive player in the Majors. With that, you can view our top 10 first base prospects here, and here are the rest of top 20 first base prospects:

11. Darin Ruf (PHI)

Ruf vaulted through the Phillies’ system in 2012, clubbing 38 home runs at AA Reading before a callup to the Majors, and helping to spawn the #AAat26 hashtag during the season. Obviously, the power potential is very nice, but it remains to be seen where exactly Ruf plays next year or in the future. The Phillies tried him in left field, and it sounds like he really shouldn’t even be out there.

Estimated ETA: 2013

12. Matt Olson (OAK)

Drafted by the A’s with the 47th overall pick this year, Olson hit 9 home runs in 50 games between Rookie ball and short-season Low A. Reports from before the draft point toward a player who could provide value as a hitter even at 1B, but he is a long way from contributing.

Estimated ETA: 2016

13. Bobby Borchering (HOU)

I didn’t really write about Borchering when I wrote up the Astros’ system, as it is really hard to see exactly what he provides in the long-term. He was tried at both 3B and in corner outfield spots by the Diamondbacks before his trade, but neither appears to have worked really well. I don’t know if I see him hitting enough to justify owning as a 1B prospect.

Estimated ETA: 2014

14. Matt Skole (WAS)

A personal favorite of Bret’s, Skole hit 27 home runs between Low and High-A this year, with 99 walks and a .291 batting average. The Nationals continue to play him at 3B since he is in the low minors, but reports on his defense point toward a 3B in name only.

Estimated ETA: 2015

15. Nicky Delmonico (BAL) (Profile from MLKT Series)

Estimated ETA: Late 2014/Early 2015

16. Alex Dickerson (PIT)

Dickerson hit .295/.353/.451 with 13 home runs and 12 stolen bases for the Pirates’ High-A affiliate in Bradenton this year, and even though he is already at 1B, it sounds like his defense at the position is good. I’m not sure he would hit enough to be valuable at the position for fantasy owners though.

Estimated ETA: Late 2014/Early 2015

17. Telvin Nash (HOU)

Nash has shown solid power potential, clubbing 29 home runs in the hitter’s paradise in Lancaster. However, it remains to be seen whether his inability to make contact will destroy any value that provides. Despite that power, he hit just .224 this year with 198 strikeouts in just 106 games.

Estimated ETA: 2015

18. Keon Barnum (CHW)

Barnum was also drafted in 2012, and is considered to have more power than Olson, but may not necessarily hit as well. He hit 3 home runs in his 13 games for the White Sox’ Appy league affiliate, but we really can’t tell too much from that sample size.

Estimated ETA: 2016

19. Mauro Gomez (BOS)

Gomez was the starting 1B at Pawtucket for most of the 2012 season, hitting 24 home runs for the third time in the minors with a .310 average. He saw some time at the end of the season with the Red Sox, but he will also start the 2013 season as a 28 year old, wherever he ends up. Only in the deepest of leagues will he provide value, unless he somehow wins a starting job for the Red Sox.

Estimated ETA: 2013

20. O’Koyea Dickson (LAD)

A personal favorite of our own Craig Goldstein and drafted out of my alma mater, Dickson is an extremely raw prospect with good power potential, but remains a long way away and is likely relegated to 1B at best.

Estimated ETA: Late 2015/Early 2016