[존 시켈스] 콜로라도 로키즈, 유망주 TOP 20

존 시켈스가 콜로라도 로키즈 유망주 랭킹을 올렸습니다. 유격수 유망주인 트래버 스토리가 1위로 선정이 된 가운데 올해 1라운드 지명을 받은 데이비드 달이 2위를 차지했군요. C+ 등급의 선수들이 상당히 많은데...문제는 지난 몇년간 제대로 메이저리그까지 성장을 시킨 선수가 부족하다는 점이겠죠.

1) Trevor Story, SS, Grade B+: Borderline A-: I want to see how his contact issues look against better pitching, but overall there are a lot of things to like here. . .power, speed, walks, defense, a complete package if the strikeouts don't eat him up. I don't expect they will. Ranks a bit ahead of Dahl due to defensive premium.

2) David Dahl, OF, Grade B+: Borderline A-. Almost went with the A-, but Story needs to rank ahead due to defensive premium and longer track record. I like them both. Like Story, Dahl can be a complete offensive player with power, speed, and defensive contributions. I just want to see him outside the Pioneer League.

3) Nolan Arenado, 3B; Grade B+: Glove is very good, should be a solid but not outstanding hitter in a neutral environment, say .275/.330/.450, however Coors Field should play to his strengths and goose those numbers.

4) Kyle Parker, OF, Grade B: Made very good progress cutting down on his strikeouts and improving plate discipline, and I don't think his power was a Cal League illusion. Not a .300 hitter in a neutral environment, but should be a 20+ homer guy.

5) Edwar Cabrera, LHP, Grade B-: He's got that killer changeup, low-90s fastball, and a decent-enough curve, plus he pitched well in Colorado Springs. Whether that's enough to survive Coors, I don't know, but in a neutral environment I think he'd be a solid fourth starter.

6) Eddie Butler, RHP, Grade B-: Sinker/slider combo with velocity plus movement gave him 2.13 ERA with 55/13 K/BB, 1.96 GO/AO in the Pioneer League. Poor changeup may limit him to relief at higher levels, but if it comes around he could be a number three starter.

7) Tyler Anderson, LHP, Grade B-: Average fastball but excellent changeup and control resulted in 2.47 ERA in Low-A, 81/28 K/BB in 120 innings. Breaking ball is so-so and limits his strikeout potential. Projects as a number four starter.

8) Corey Dickerson, OF, Grade B-: At some point people just have to admit that the guy can hit, mediocre tools and middling glove aside. May not be a big batting average guy, but the power is real in my view.

9) Tyler Matzek, LHP, Grade C+: Stuff isn't the problem, but will his command ever be good enough for the stuff to matter? I have no idea. Grade A arm, but Grade C/D+ in the control and consistency departments.

10) Rafael Ortega, OF, Grade C+: Line drive hitter with amazing defensive skills, but needs to prove that his bat will hold up against advanced pitching. Double-A will tell us if he can be a possible regular or just a good fourth outfielder.

11) Chad Bettis, RHP, Grade C+: Missed entire season with shoulder problems. He's a solid Grade B prospect if healthy, as a mid-rotation starter or (more probably) a relief option and potential closer due to his issues with the changeup. Both fastball and slider are plus/plus pitches.

12) Tom Murphy, C, Grade C+: Third round pick from University of Buffalo is somewhat raw as college players go, but is athletic, has power, and unlike Will Swanner he'll stay at catcher.

13) Will Swanner, C, Grade C+: Enormous power, 30-homer potential, but his strikeout problems (101 in 325 AB) may preclude batting average/OBP against better pitching. His defense is terrible, caught 10% of runners and gave up 120 stolen bases in 75 games behind the plate in Low-A.

14) Ryan Wheeler, 3B-1B, Grade C+: Acquired in trade with Diamondbacks. Adequate glove at third could keep position warm until Arenado is ready. Bat is average with decent power and should play well in Coors.

15) Tim Wheeler, OF, Grade C+: Hamate injury sapped power, hit just two homers in Triple-A after knocking 33 in Double-A in 2011. True level of talent is somewhere in between. Has problems hitting lefties, solid glove, platoon/fourth outfielder profile.

16) Jayson Aquino, LHP, Grade C+: Highly projectable lefty made brief but successful debut in Pioneer League (1.87 ERA in 43 innings) after dominating Dominican Summer League. 88-92 now with more heat possible, has a good changeup, working on breaking stuff, just turned 20.

17) Rob Scahill, RHP, Grade C+: Easy to overlook due to 5.68 ERA in Triple-A, but that's Colorado Springs and his FIP was two runs lower. Quality fastball/sinker/slider combination could be useful in pen if command is there, could also be fifth starter.

18) Joe Gardner, RHP, Grade C+: Another sinkerballer with 2.04 GO/AO in Double-A, should see the majors sometime this year. Like Scahill, he could be a back-end starter or a reliever that you can stretch out more than one inning.

19) Danny Rosenbaum, LHP, Grade C+: Rule 5 pick from Nationals could stick in bullpen with a chance to start at some point given good durability history, control, and ground ball tendency (2.29 GO/AO in Double-A). We should sense a theme here with sinker specialists Rosenbaum, Gardner, and Scahill all in line for trials.

20) Wilfredo Rodriguez, C, Grade C+: Seventh round pick out of high school in Puerto Rico is stocky at 5-10, 200, but quite mobile, should develop into a good defensive catcher, has power potential, hit .319/.370/.452 in Pioneer League. Long-term prospect but quite interesting.

OTHER GRADE C+ PLAYERS: Cristhian Adames, SS; Rosell Herrera, INF; Seth Willoughby, RHP. These guys could easily slot in the 16-20 range but I wanted to highlight guys closer to the majors.

OTHERS: Charlie Culberson, 2B; Taylor Featherston, INF; Ryan Garvey, OF; Angel Lezama, RHP; Kent Matthes, OF; Sam Mende, INF; Scott Oberg, RHP; Jeff Popick, OF; Harold Riggins, 1B; Helmis Rodriguez, LHP; Antonio Senzatela, RHP; Peter Tago, RHP; Ryan Warner, RHP; Max White, OF; Danny Winkler, RHP; Julian Yan, OF.