[존 시켈스] 밀워키 브루워스, 유망주 TOP 20

존 시켈스가 밀워키 브루워스의 유망주 랭킹을 올렸습니다. 우완 투수 유망주인 윌리 페랄타가 최고의 유망주로 선정이 된 가운데 모두 11명의 선수가 B-이상의 등급을 받을 정도로 좋은 평가를 받았네요. 제가 보기에는 좋은 팜으로 보이지 않는데...존 시켈스가 중부지구 팀들의 팬이라 후한 점수를 준 것이 아닐까 싶기도 하네요.

1) Wily Peralta, RHP, Grade B: Borderline B+. There's no question about his stuff, it's all a matter of command. If it is there, he is a very strong mid-rotation starter and perhaps more. My guess is that he'll be inconsistent, but with flashes of brilliance.

2) Tyler Thornburg, RHP, Grade B: I don't think his stuff is quite as good as Peralta's, but he's got a solid three-pitch mix, a deceptive delivery, and throws strikes. Seems ready for a full trial to me.

3) Victor Roache, OF, Grade B: Tough to rank and grade due to wrist injury, but his power upside is enormous and even without any pro data, he's the top offensive prospect in the system. 

4) Clint Coulter, C, Grade B: I very much believe in the bat and expect him to hit for power with a strong OBP. His defense is very rough, but he's got the tools and work ethic for the position and just needs experience. 

5) Johnny Hellweg, RHP, Grade B-: No surprise here, fireballing right-hander acquired in Zack Greinke trade with Angels has enormous upside as a potential upper-level starter or closer, but he's got to lower his walk rate. 

6) Taylor Jungmann, RHP, Grade B-: Former University of Texas ace and 2012 number one pick had decent year in the Florida State League (11-6, 3.53, 99/46 K/BB in 153 innings) but is looking more like a reliable inning-eater than a future star. 

7) Mitch Haniger, OF, Grade B-: Solid college outfielder from Cal Poly with above-average power and a good arm, should fit well in right field. Profiles as a regular, though probably not a star.

8) Scooter Gennett, 2B, Grade B-: Keeps hitting .290-.300 with doubles power, a few steals, a low walk rate, while gradually improving his defense at second base. Needs a year of Triple-A and is another guy who could be a decent regular, but not a star.

9) Hunter Morris, 1B, Grade B-: Persistent theme: chance to be a regular, but not a star. Morris showed better pure hitting skills to go with his plus power in Double-A, hitting .303/.357/.563 with 28 homers. His defense has improved too, but scouts don't seem to think the batting average will carry forward and still worry about his strikeouts.

10) Ariel Pena, RHP, Grade B-: Another component of the Greinke trade, Pena throws very hard and has a good slider, but gets into trouble when he leaves his pitches too high in the strike zone. He sagged after the trade and is something of an enigma. You can draw a scenario where he becomes a number three starter, or one where he becomes a closer, or one where he becomes nothing.

11) Tyrone Taylor, OF, Grade B-: Second round pick has excellent tools and showed more polish than expected in rookie ball, has a chance to hit for power and average and steal bases as an across-the-board threat.

12) Mark Rogers, RHP, Grade C+: Eligible for this list by one inning. When healthy, Rogers can dominate. He just has a very hard time staying healthy.

13) Hiram Burgos, RHP, Grade C+: 25-year-old from Puerto Rico came out of nowhere to go 10-4, 1.95 with a 153/49 K/BB in 171 innings, 128 hits allowed at three levels, finishing with a strong run in Triple-A. Scouts seem skeptical, respecting his pitchability but doubting that his stuff will hold up over the long run. I tend to be optimistic and think he's got a shot at doing what Michael Fiers did last year, keeping in mind that we don't yet know if Fiers was a flash in the pan.

14) Khris Davis, OF, Grade C+: Has a multi-year track record of strong hitting including .350/.451/.604 in an injury-abbreviated season in 2012, but scouts don't like him much, pointing to mediocre tools, his age (25) and a long swing. In a way he is a hitting version of Burgos or Fiers. He clearly deserves a shot in the majors and while we shouldn't expect him to duplicate those minor league numbers, I will be surprised if he does not turn into a useful role player. 

15) Jimmy Nelson, RHP, Grade C+: Like Thornburg and Jungmann, Nelson is a recent college draft pick with solid stuff who has generally pitched well but didn't dominate. Key here will be getting his walks down, 37 in 46 Double-A innings is too many.

16) Drew Gagnon, RHP, Grade C+: Here's another one, third round pick in 2011 out of Long Beach State with three pitches (low-90s fastball, curveball, changeup) and decent command who has pitched well without genuinely dominating. Like the others, he's got a shot at being a mid or back rotation starter.

17) Caleb Gindl, OF, Grade C+: Tweener type looked frustrated early in 2012, repeating Triple-A despite having had a good season there in '11, but he turned things around in the second half and finished strong. Looks like a fourth outfielder with a touch of power.

18) David Goforth, RHP, Grade C+: Here's another live-armed college guy from a major program (Mississippi, seventh round, 2011). Throws quite hard in short stretches but secondary stuff needs work, did not dominate Midwest League (4.66 ERA ,93/63 K/B in 151 innings). 

19) Jorge Lopez, RHP, Grade C+: Extremely projectable high school draftee in 2011 from Puerto Rico. I was very high on him pre-season but he was rawer than expected and spent the summer working on his mechanics in rookie ball.

20) Cameron Garfield, C, Grade C+: Struggled with knee injury for two years but finally got healthy, hit .298/.385/.524 in 66 games in Low-A, but it was his third try at that level. Turns 22 in May and defense remains rather rough, but he will shoot up the lists if he duplicates this performance.

OTHER GRADE C+: Nick Bucci, RHP; Logan Schafer, OF.

OTHERS: Orlando Arcia, SS; Jed Bradley, LHP; Kentrail Davis, OF; Adam Giacalone, 1B: Kyle Heckathorn, RHP; Damien Magnifico, RHP; Chris McFarland, 2B; Casey Medlen, RHP; Matt Miller, RHP; Michael Olmsted, RHP; Jose Pena, OF; Chad Pierce, RHP; Josh Prince, OF; Nick Ramirez, 1B; Yadiel Rivera, SS; Jesus Sanchez, RHP; Cody Scarpetta, RHP; Josh Stinson, RHP; Michael Strong, LHP