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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. With that, you can view our top 10 third base prospects here, and here are the rest of top 20 third base prospects:
11. Tyler Goeddel (TAM)
Craig wrote about Goeddel during the season, and he profiles as a solid power hitter in the long term. He played the full season in Low-A this year, and the numbers don't really match up at this point, but he will still be just 20 years old this coming season, and has a bat that is considered good enough to play in a corner outfield spot should be unable to stay at 3B long term.
Estimated ETA: Late 2015
12. Rio Ruiz (HOU)
Ruiz fell to the Astros in the third round after he needed surgery to remove a blood clot in March, but had been viewed as a first round talent coming into the season. He is expected to stay at 3B long term, where he could provide both batting average and some power to fantasy owners. He could see a full season assignment in 2013.
Estimated ETA: 2016
13. Cheslor Cuthbert (KC)
Cuthbert came into the season extremely well-hyped, and was expected to be a rising star among prospect people. The shine came off of him a little bit after a lackluster performance (.240/.296/.322, 7 HR, 6 SB in 124 games this year), but Wilmington is well known for being a pitchers' park. Cuthbert could be sent to AA to start the season, but it would also not surprise me to see them send him back to High-A for the first couple of months.
Estimated ETA: 2015
14. Cody Asche (PHI)
Asche really emerged this season after a lackluster performance in the New York Penn League in 2011. He posted 12 home runs and a .324/.369/.481 slash line between High-A and AA this year while also learning the 3B position. It remains to be seen whether he will provide a lot of power, but he should be a solid hitter and be able to stay at the position long term.
Estimated ETA: 2014
15. Garin Cecchini (BOS)
Cecchini posted a gaudy stolen base total (51 for 57) at Low-A this season to go with a high batting average (.305). The reports on Cecchini point toward the stolen bases being a bit of a player taking advantage of being in the lower levels, and it remains to be seen what kind of power he might develop as he moves through the minors.
Estimated ETA: 2015
16. Christian Villanueva (CHC) (Profile in MLKT Series)
Villanueva was acquired by the Cubs in the Ryan Dempster trade this season, and I'd be inclined to agree with Craig's opinion that Villanueva is a better real-life prospect than fantasy one.
Estimated ETA: 2015
17. Carson Kelly (STL)
Kelly was a second round draft pick by the Cardinals this year, and proceeded to hit 9 home runs in just 56 games with their Appy League affiliate. A high school draftee, Kelly could see time in another short season affiliate next season, as he didn't turn 18 until July this year.
Estimated ETA: 2016-2017
18. Maikel Franco (PHI)
Franco hit 14 home runs and posted a .280 batting average this year with the Phillies' Low-A affiliate. He is known specifically for having above-average power, but it sounds like his hit tool still needs a lot of work before he will be able to harness that power consistently in-game.
Estimated ETA: 2016
19. Daniel Robertson (OAK) (Profile in MLKT Series)
Craig wrote briefly about Robertson in our MLKT series, and he could potentially be an interesting power prospect down the line. That said, he is almost all projection at this point, and could see a full season assignment to start the 2013 season.
Estimated ETA: 2016
20. Brandon Drury (ATL)
It was a bit of a down season for Drury in terms of production, as he hit just .229/.270/.333 with 6 home runs and 3 stolen bases in 123 games in Low-A. At this point, he is really just a project, and did not end up in either BA's top 10 for the Braves or John Sickels top 20.
Estimated ETA: 2016