1.
Joba Chamberlain (
RHP)- Grade A: No comment needed, great pitcher in any role, next Mariano or next Clemens
2. Ian Kennedy (
RHP)- Grade A-/B+: Underrated from the moment he was drafted, has proven himself at every level, next step Big League consistency, impeccable control and baseball smarts, velocity is below average but he still hit 90
3. Jose
Tabata (OF)- Grade B+: He seems to be falling off the radar a bit, not making much headlines, but he should, hitting .300 at any level as a teenager is great, and his approach is akin to a big
leaguer, next step: power
4. Alan Horne (
RHP)- Grade B: Would have much more recognition without the Big Three, after dominating AA, he'll conquer AAA, before heading the NY, but he'll have to come out of the 'pen
5. Austin Jackson (OF)- Grade B: Some say overrated, I don't, he's got all the tools and now he's getting results, could be the next Curtis
Granderson (all tools, lot of K's)
6. Jesus
Montero (C?)- Grade B (could be A when he's done): The big international signing last year, he's done nothing but rake, and he handled the Catcher position pretty well, but he's a big kid, so he might have to settle being the next Manny Ramirez, huge bat, no defense.
7.
Dellin Betances (
RHP)- Grade B-: Like the other teens on this list, his grade will probably get higher, he had arm injuries this season, but had a 98 mph fastball and great secondary offerings
8. Andrew
Brackman (
RHP)- Grade B-: Something about this guy screams
JOBA at me, maybe it's size, his huge fastball and blistering slider, or that he had injury concerns that prevented from being taken earlier in the draft. Nevertheless, I got high expectations for this kid when he comes back from
TJS. He'll through the farm system like
JOBA due to his ability, age, and major league contract.
9. Austin
Romine (C)- Grade B-: Hasn't played much, but is a catcher and was highly regarded in the draft. He was a second round selection, but concerns of college commitments prevented from going earlier. He's got a doubles bat and could make home runs, and a cannon arm that super-strong. He was polished for a high
schooler, but will need more work before he's ready
10. Humberto Sanchez (
RHP)- Grade B-/C+: Another potential
JOBA, he's big, injury concerns, with filthy stuff. He's on the road back from
TJS, and could get to the big league pen by August.
Other prospects include (in no particular order): Brad
Suttle (3B), Carmen
Angelini (SS), Jose
Pirela (SS),
Reegie Corona (2B), Carlos
Urena (OF), Kevin
DeLeon (OF), Dan
McCutchen (
RHP), Angel Reyes (
LHP), Michael Dunn (
LHP), Zach
McAllister (
RHP), Manny
Barreda (
RHP), Brett Gardner (OF), Damon
Sublett (2B), Justin Snyder (2B/OF), Brandon Laird (3B/1B), Shelley Duncan (1B/OF), Eric Duncan (1B), Marcos
Vechionacci (3B), Eduardo Nunez (SS), Jeffrey Marquez (
RHP), Christian Garcia (
RHP), George
Kontos (
RHP), Tim Norton (
RHP), Kevin
Whelan (
RHP), James Cox (
RHP), Mark
Melancon (
RHP), Francisco
Cervelli (C), David Robertson (
RHP),
Jairo Heredia (
RHP), Ross
Ohlendorf (
RHP),
Edwar Ramirez (
RHP), Jon
Albaladejo (
RHP), Juan Miranda (1B), Seth
Fortenberry (OF), Jason Jones (
RHP), Jon
Hovis (
RHP), Steven White (
RHP)
By the way, has anyone heard any recent news on hot international free agent Edward
Salcedo? Last I heard, he was being heavily pursued by the Yankees and Indians. Agent Scott
Boras has even gone as far as calling him the next A-Rod. Also, anyone think that draft picks should be
tradeable? Or only the top 10 (not 15 are protected)? Maybe only the following year's draft picks should be
tradeable?