Prospect Watch
Over the course of the season, I’ve decided to implement a new series to this blog called “Prospect Watch”. What this will be is a ranking of the Mariner’s top ten prospects in their minor league system, according to my own opinion. I’ll also provide some brief insight to go along with my own rankings. I haven’t yet decided whether I want to do this on a weekly or monthly basis. So, for the time being just stay tuned and we’ll take it from there. Please be aware that prospects included in this top ten ranking system will NOT include any prospects currently playing short-season baseball (i.e. Julio Morban). I have my own reasoning for this, but to put it simply, prospects are too fragile as they climb the minor league system. As a result, I’ll choose to focus solely on the prospects playing full-season baseball. Of course, should anyone be promoted from short-season to full-season baseball, they will obviously be taken into consideration for inclusion in my rankings. Also, please note that my rankings will not solely be based upon how each player is performing in 2010, but rather, consideration will be given for past performance, as well as current performance. Additionally, all rankings are subject to change, and will probably do so numerous times throughout the course of the 2010 minor league baseball season. So, with that said, let’s get this thing started…
1. Dustin Ackley .153/.275/.220…15 G, 59 AB, 10 R, 9 H, 2 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 9 BB, 10 K, 2 SB, 3 E
The second overall pick in the 2009 draft has gotten off to a bit of a low start for the Diamond Jaxx. However, Ackley has been coming around recently, as he notched 2 of his 3 extra base hits on this season this past week. Personally, I’m not too worried about Ackley’s slow start and I’d be willing to bet he’s going to get this thing turned around sooner rather than later. Want some proof for that? Take a look at his walks and strikeouts on the season, they’re almost dead even. The hitting for average and for power will soon follow.
2. Michael Pineda 3 GS, 1-0, 1.76 ERA…15.1 IP, 13 H, 4 BB, 18 SO, 1.11 WHIP
I realize some of you may question my aggressiveness with ranking Pineda so high on this list, but as a person who currently has his own Michael Pineda Day (Similar to King Felix Day!), I couldn’t help myself here. The love affair the coaching staff developed with the 6’7 right-hander that started in Spring Training, has continued thus far this season. At this point, I don’t think there’s much debate anymore as to whether or not Pineda is the top pitcher in the Mariners farm system. That said, Pineda must prove he can stay healthy and continue to pitch effectively for a full season. If he does, he’s not long for AA…
3. Michael Saunders .157/.228/.157…14 G, 51 AB, 3 R, 8 H, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 5 BB, 12 K, 1 SB, 0 E
Speaking of top Mariners prospects that have gotten themselves off to slow starts, Michael Saunders is really struggling right now. I’ve got to believe the majority of Saunders struggles at the plate are due in large part to the tinkering Alfonzo Powell and the coaching staff are trying to do with his swing. As an optimist, I think Saunders will eventually get things figured out and return to his 2009 form which tore up AAA pitching. However, as a pessimist, I think Saunders stint in Seattle last season could potentially be a pre-cursor of things to come, much like the situation that unfolded with Jeff Clement. I really like Saunders, so I’m certainly hoping it’s the former rather than the latter, because it sure would be nice to have him push Milton Bradley to DH (where he belongs), Griffey to the bench, and Sweeney to retirement.
4. Carlos Triunfel .234/.290/.359…16 G, 64 AB, 10 R, 15 H, 0 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 5 BB, 13 K, 0 SB, 5 E
In what’s becoming a common theme for top Mariner prospect hitters, Dustin Ackley’s double play partner, Carlos Triunfel, hasn’t exactly been tearing the cover off of the ball either. Granted, Triunfel is a year removed from missing just about the entire AA season. Triunfel has been turning things around at the plate lately, with both of his homers just recently occurring this past week. The 20 year old has done a decent job thus far adapting to AA pitching, but will have to continue to improve upon the strides he made this past week in order to warrant a higher ranking on this list
5. Nick Franklin .343/.382/.657…17 G, 70 AB, 10 R, 24 H, 2 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 5 BB, 13 K, 1 SB, 3 E
Once again, another aggressive ranking here as the 19 year old switch-hitting middle infielder is off to a scorching start for the Clinton Lumberkings. Many people questioned, including myself, whether Franklin’s bat would be able to produce at the professional level. Thus far, Nick Franklin has done nothing other than dispel any questions surrounding his production at the plate. It will be interesting to see if he can keep up the quick start he is off to at the dish. If he can, he’ll undoubtedly be forcing the Mariners hand into a promotion to High Desert sometime this summer.
6. Mauricio Robles 3 GS, 1-1, 4.15 ERA…13 IP, 12 H, 5 BB, 17 SO, 1.31 WHIP
The short and stocky left-hander acquired in the Jarrod Washburn deal is off to a solid start thus far for the Diamond Jaxx. Along with Pineda, Robles generated a lot of attention from the Mariners coaching staff during spring training, and was even rumored to have been taken under the wing by none other than King Felix himself. In 3 starts at West Tennessee, Robles has done a good job generating a bunch of swings and misses. However, he’s been hurt a little bit by giving up almost a hit per inning, while also walking 5 men thus far in 13 innings. The control will have to improve a bit for Robles, and if/when it does, watch out!
7. Greg Halman .188/.328/.417…13 G, 48 AB, 8 R, 9 H, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 10 BB, 21 K, 3 SB, 1 E
Had I asked any of you who among the Mariners top ten prospects would be the leading strikeout candidate thus far, I’d imagine 99 % of you would have guessed Greg Halman. However, had I asked any of you who has generated the most walks among the top ten Mariners prospects, I’d be willing to bet NONE of you would have guessed Greg Halman. Despite a paltry batting average, and a compounding number of strikeouts, Greg Halman has actually performed well thus far at the AAA level. Shockingly, Halman has generated a 1 walk in about every 6 plate appearance, and has still managed to hit for a decent amount of the power we all know he possesses. Halman is no doubt one of, if not the most, frustrating prospect in the Mariners system, but if he can continue to demonstrate this improved discipline at the plate, he might be able to vault himself back into top 5 prospect territory once again
8. Dennis Raben .290/.367.565…18 G, 69 AB, 13 R, 20 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 8 BB, 18 K, 0 SB, 3 E
A year removed from knee surgery, in which he missed the entire 2009 season, Dennis Raben has shown no ill efffects at the plate thus far. Like his fellow Lumberking counterpart, Nick Franklin, Raben has done a good job tearing apart Midwest League pitching. As a result of the knee surgery, Raben will probably be strictly considered as a 1B/DH type of prospect from this point forward, so the bat will have to continue to produce at an above average level if he wishes to eventually warrant major league playing time. If Raben can cut down on the strikeouts, and continue to display the power and plate discipline he demonstrated at Miami, he should find himself in High Desert in no time.
9. Rich Poythress .297/.366/.516…16 G, 64 AB, 8 R, 19 H, 5 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 6 BB, 13 K, 0 SB, 1 E
Many of you are probably wondering why I chose to rank the left-handed Raben, over his right-handed counterpart, Rich Poythress. The answer is actually pretty simple, it’s called “The High Desert Effect”. As we’ve seen a countless number of times in the past, High Desert is known for severely inflating hitter’s numbers. That said, I do think Poythress will be able to carry over his early success he has at High Desert to West Tennessee if/when he is promoted. Poythress is a big slugger with a good eye at the plate who tends to strike out quite a bit. If Poythress can continue to mash A+ ball pitching, you have to believe he’ll be on the fast track to AA, where there is currently no first base prospect in place.
10. Dan Cortes 4 GS, 1-1, 7.36 ERA…18.1 IP, 21 H, 10 BB, 15 SO, 1.69 WHIP
In all honesty, deciding on the tenth prospect on this list was a pretty tough decision for me. If there was a pitching equivalent to Greg Halman, it would no doubt be considered Dan Cortes. Cortes has now spent 2+ seasons pitching at AA, and the results have been nothing more than a mixed bag of success (or lack there of). Much like Halman, Cortes has all the physical attributes that make scouts drool all over him. That said, inconsistent command, and an ability to just quite frankly not even show up at times makes Cortes nothing more than the #10 prospect on my list at this time. Cortes no doubt has the capability to be the top pitching prospect in the Mariners system, and many people even consider him to be that guy, but until he is able to demonstrate an improved feel for the strike zone, and make the necessary jump to AAA, he is nothing more than a fringe prospect in my opinion.
Honorable Mention:
Makiel Cleto, Alex Liddi, Gabriel Noreiga, Johermyn Chavez, Kyle Seager, Carlos Peguero
