TPC in Retrospect: 2009 Top 10 Hitters: #6-10

Prior to the 2009 season, I put together my list of the top 10 prospect hitters, and I think it's about time I reviewed the list to see how I did. I'll start with the last 5 hitters, and then cover the top 5 hitters later this week.

6. Chris Carter (Oakland) -- I couldn't remember how highly Carter was ranked before this season, so I checked Baseball America, and they had him as the 76th best prospect in baseball, behind players like Jose Tabata, Taylor Teagarden, and Wilson Ramos. I understand why some folks don't like Carter, but hopefully his numbers at AA this year have opened some eyes. At 22 years old, he improved his plate discipline by posting career bests in K% (20.1%) and BB% (13.9%), while also posting career highs in batting average, OBP, SLG, and OPS (.337/.436/.576/1.012). To put that in context, Carter's numbers this year are almost identical to the AA stats of 22 year old Pedro Alvarez, who signed with the Pirates last year for a guaranteed $6.355 million. Not too shabby.

7. Max Ramirez -- This pick looks like my worst pick among the whole list. At 24 years old, I really thought Ramirez would force the Rangers to settle their future catching situation by trading at least one of their top catching prospects. However, no one has really stepped up to nail down the position, especially Ramirez. He has posted career lows in just about every category, and has been a complete disappointment in '09. There have been some injury issues, and maybe Ramirez just had a really bad year, but his future is looking a lot less promising than it was just 12 months ago.

8. Jesus Montero -- If I were to put this list together today, I'd definitely put Montero ahead of both Ramirez and Carter. His numbers this year were absolutely stellar, and I think he has a chance to be just as good as Miguel Cabrera or at least Pablo Sandoval. I think he's easily a top 10 prospect at this point, and maybe a top 5. It's amazing that Baseball America had him as the 38th best prospect heading into 2009.

9. Josh Reddick/Freddie Freeman/Lars Anderson -- During the preseason, I couldn't decide which one of these guys I liked more. At this point, I'd definitely go with Reddick. Anderson was much more hyped a few months ago, but he's struggled a ton, and has only gotten worse as the season has progressed. Freeman hasn't done too bad, but his power has dropped, and he probably won't be a major league contributor for another 3 years. Meanwhile, Reddick (who was completely left off Baseball America's top 100 list) was able to improve his plate discipline at AA while maintaining his power production, and has even been given a few spot starts with the Red Sox this season, hitting 4 doubles and a home run in 35 plate appearances.

10. Colby Rasmus -- I think putting Rasmus in at #10 was a good pick (Baseball America had him as the 3rd best prospect in baseball in front of Jason Heyward and Brett Anderson). He is obviously very talented, but will take a while to develop.

Summary: Looking back, I'd probably leave Ramirez off this list, include just Reddick at #9, and probably put Andrew McCutchen somewhere in my top 10 (probably around #8). I'm glad I left Travis Snider off the list (ranked #6 by Baseball America), who continues to struggle with Toronto, and I'm also glad I passed on Mike Moustakas (Baseball America's number 13 prospect, and Cameron Maybin (#8 by Baseball America).

Overall, I'd give my #6-10 list here a 'B'. I whiffed on Ramirez, but my other 4 picks were pretty good, so I'll take 80%. Could have been better, but could have been much, much worse.
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TPC 2009 Top 10 Contact Hitters

See the ball, hit the ball. Sounds easy, right? Well, for these guys it is.

1. Matt Wieters -- How many guys can say they made the top 10 power hitters list and the top 10 contact hitters list? In 2008, Wieters posted a .345 average at A+ ball before posting a AA average of .360. My only concern with those numbers is that they were supported by a BABIP of .383, which might indicate that Wieters will only hit in the .290 to .310 range in the majors in 2009.

2. Ben Revere -- Revere also posted an insane BABIP last year which topped out at .444 in June. He'll have a hard time repeating stats like that at higher levels, but he has fantastic plate discipline and should continue to develop into a very good contact hitter.

3. Brett Wallace -- When the Cards drafted Wallace, his weight and athletic abilities were a big question mark, but Wallace knows how to hit, posting a .327 average in his first 177 plate appearances at A ball. Odd fact for the day: Wallace had a 73% groundball rate at AA in '08, but still managed a BABIP of .385.

4. Max (Maximiliano) Ramirez -- He's no Joe Mauer, but following the trade to Texas, Ramirez has hit .300 or better over his last 929 plate appearances.

5. Angel Salome -- For some reason, a lot of the best minor league hitters are catchers right now. Salome hit .359 at AA last year, including .407 in May and .446 in August.

6. Jason Heyward -- At just 19 years old, Heyward is a very advanced hitter, showing above average plate discipline and a knack for getting on base, and as his power develops, we'll likely see his entire stat line rise. In 2008, his batting average stayed above .300 in every month except for June.

7. Josh Vitters -- According to his high school coach and Dr. Bill Harrison, Vitters has the best vision of any baseball player since Barry Bonds was in his prime. It's too early to say if that will translate into a higher average at the major league level, but Vitters did hit .324 last year at lower A ball, and showed adequate plate discipline. If he can replicate his production at higher levels, Vitters could be comparable to David Wright.

8. Lars Anderson -- As a first baseman, Anderson does not have elite level offensive skills, but he is a patient hitter with a good eye, and he'll fit in very well with the Red Sox. He should hit in the .290-.310 range early in his career, and should be able to maintain a very high on-base percentage.

9. Lonnie Chisenhall -- Chisenhall suffered from an extremely low BABIP (.262 in June and .290 in July) through his first 175 plate appearances in '08, but by August it was up to .349 and in September it shot up to .375. Though just 18 years old at A ball, Chisenhall struck out only 32 times in 305 plate appearances, and finished the year with a .290 average.

10. Yonder Alonso -- I stayed away from including college draft picks from last summer due to very small sample sizes, but Alonso has a history of being a very patient and selective hitter, as well as a propensity for maintaining a high average. He doesn't swing at much, but when he does he usually makes excellent contact.
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TPC 2009 Top 10 Hitting Prospects

The following list is best understood as a ranking of hitters, with minimal regard for scouting reports, internet hype, or team name.  The list is generated primarily off of what a player has done on the field, particularly in the batter's box, and reflects demonstrated potential as opposed to assumed potential.  While capacity as a hitter is the main concern, each player's defensive position can also play a role in their ranking, and will be noted if necessary.  This list may not look like lists produced by big name prospect guides, but TPC was not created to mirror other sites.  It was created to help baseball fans gain a more accurate understanding of player potential.

1. Matt Wieters -- Obvious choice here.  Worst case scenario, he's an average everyday catcher.  Mid-range scenario, he's a repeat All-Star in his prime.  Best case scenario, Chuck Norris changes his name to Matt Wieters.
2. Matt Laporta -- This is where the TPC list diverges from the crowd.  The majority of prospect junkies and publications gave up on Laporta at the end of 2008 when he slogged his way through a season ending slump.  But keep in mind that he posted those numbers (.649 OPS and 2 home runs in 60 at-bats) after a 1 month period that included a mid-season trade to Cleveland, followed by the death of his grandfather whom Laporta was very close to, the Futures Game, and then a trip to China where he sustained a concussion due to a bean ball to the head.  It wasn't like the guy just stopped hitting one day.  He went through some stuff that got to his head (literally), and things fell apart for a minute.  Prior to July, Laporta had hit 30 home runs in just 452 plate appearances, and had an OPS around 1.000 for the majority of his minor league career, numbers that say a whole lot more about his potential than a few dishevelled games with Cleveland.  
3. Gordon Beckham/ Yonder Alonso/ Justin Smoak/ Buster Posey -- Ok, so I'm cheating with this one a bit.  None of these guys has played much in the minors, but they all have incredible talent, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them all playing in the same All-Star game in a few years.  If I had to rank them purely on offense, I'd go with Alonso, Smoak, Beckham, then Posey.  If you mix in their defensive skills, I think they all come out about the same.  By the end of 2009 we should have a better feel for what they can all do, and I won't rank them all together like this.
4. Jason Heyward -- Braves fans have it made in the shade with this guy.  He's a Man Child Beast Machine, and should be good for a high average, 30 to 40 home runs a year, and 20 plus stolen bases, all while playing solid defense.  But only if Frank Wren and company don't screw things up.
5. Brett Wallace -- I almost put Wallace in at number 4, but I can't justify putting him ahead of Heyward.  In 2008 Wallace showed that his bat is for real, and he can hold down 3rd base just fine.  He's not the prototypical power hitter, but he'll hit .300 or better, with somewhere around 30 home runs for most of his career.  He'll also post an OPS in the .900 to 1.000 range, and that makes him very productive at his position.
6. Chris Carter -- While I think the Chris Carter in Boston could be very productive, I think the Oakland Chris Carter has All-Star potential.  Legitimate 40 plus home run power, and great comps including Fred McGriff and Chris Davis.  
7. Max Ramirez -- If Ramirez weren't a catcher, he'd still be a good hitter.  But the fact that he can hold his own behind the plate and profiles as a .300 hitter with the potential for 30 home runs and an OPS in the mid-.900 range puts him with some very good company.  
8. Jesus Montero -- As with Ramirez, Montero's bat is good, but it's his defensive position that makes him appealing.  Also, like Ramirez, Montero profiles as a .300 hitter, with 30 home run potential, although I think Montero has the higher ceiling.  The only down side to Montero is whether he stays at catcher or not.
9. Josh Reddick/ Freddie Freeman/ Lars Anderson -- Another cheap trick, but I'm still not sure which one of these players to go with.  They are all very talented, but they all have a long ways to go.  Anderson has been overhyped, Reddick has been overlooked, and Freeman has been overshadowed, but each one of them is either going to hit for a high average or power at times, and sometimes both.  Anderson looks like a .290-.315/ 30 plus home runs type hitter, which is solid for first base, Reddick could post similar numbers in the outfield, which also makes him a very solid prospect.  Freeman has similar potential, and once again, as a first baseman, he should be able to hold his own quite well.  
10. Colby Rasmus -- I considered putting Rasmus a bit higher on this list, but at times he has really struggled, and I think he could take a bit longer to develop than other players.  He'll probably be good for a .270 to .290 average with 30 plus home runs and 10 to 20 stolen bases, but he'll also go through some really tough slumps that could really take a toll on his confidence.  Fortunately for the Cardinals, Rasmus has a lot less risk than a guy like Travis Snider (26% strikeout rate), but has all the upside.  When he's on his game, there won't be many better, but getting there will be the hard part.  

Comments: I'm sure there are a lot of prospects that did not appear on the above list that readers feel should have.  I'll try to address some of my reasons for leaving certain players off the list.

Travis Snider -- Snider has shown that he can hit for power and get on base, but his overall skill set doesn't put him higher than 12th or 13th on my list.  His strikeout rate of 26% isn't extremely high, but it's too high for a guy with a .214 ISOP in the minors.  In order to overcome such a high K%, a hitter needs to post an ISOP somewhere in the .250 range at Snider's age.  

Mike Stanton -- I really like Stanton's raw power, which compares well to some of the best hitters in baseball, but a 28.3% strikeout rate at A ball is a major red flag.  If Stanton's plate discipline improves in 2009, he'll shot up all kinds of prospect lists, but until then, I'm going to be cautiously optimistic about him.

Pedro Alverez -- Everything about Alverez is a cause for concern to me.  His college stats were good, but not the best, his contract problems with the Pirates, his history of injuries, the organization he plays for, everything.  He could prove me wrong, but I'm going to do like Alvarez did and hold out until I see something I like before committing.

Mike Moustakas -- I really like Moustakas, and he came very close to making the list.  He has above average power, good defensive skills, and solid plate discipline, but nothing really pops out at me.  I also have concern for any player in the Royals farm system and will one day play for a major league team that could be better run by monkeys.  

Josh Vitters -- I think Vitters could be very good, but he hasn't done much so far.  Check back in 6 months.

Taylor Teagarden -- Teagarden was very close to making the list, but there just wasn't enough room.

Logan Morrison -- Good player, but not an outstanding candidate at first base.  I'll take Lars, Carter, or Freeman over Morrison.

Anyways, that's the 2009 hitters top 10 list.  Like it or love it, I'm happy with it.  We'll see how it looks in a few months.

Edit: I forgot to include a comment about Cameron Maybin.  I like Maybin, but I've always felt the the hype precluded the product.  One of his most recent comps is Felix Pie, and I see a lot of similarities between the two, and while both are very talented, they don't have dominant or game changing skills.  Above average contact, average power, good speed, solid defense.  Give him a few years and Maybin will be much better, but for now he has a lot to work on.

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TPC Prospect Smackdown: Max Ramirez vs Taylor Teagarden vs Jarrod Saltalamacchia

Recently, Baseball America ranked the Texas Rangers farm system as the #1 system in the country. From top to bottom, the Rangers have loads of offense, great pitching, and defense to boot. It's an enviable position that teams around the nation would love to be in, but the Rangers are learning that, in the words of the ever insightful Notorious B.I.G., mo' money means mo' problems, and mo' talented prospects means someone has to ride the pine.

In 2008, Chris Davis rocketed up the ranks to dethrone Hank Blalock from the third base starting job, causing a minor disturbance in the balance between rising talent and established veterans. While no one is really sure if Davis will stay at third, move to first, or hit from the DH spot over the next few years, it looks like the scenario may repeat itself as the likes of Elvis Andrus, Justin Smoak, and Engel Beltre move through the minors.

Perhaps the first Rangers veteran player to be completely bumped by rookies is Gerald Laird, the 29 year old catcher that made $1.6 million last year and played in 95 games in '08 for Texas. However, unlike Blalock, Laird didn't have just one rising star to worry about -- he had three. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Taylor Teagarden, and Max Ramirez are all very talented catchers hoping for a chance to start for the Rangers, and possibly nail down the job for good.

The Rangers, realizing that despite having 4 talented catchers to choose from, there was just no room to keep them all. In early December they sent Laird packing, and traded him for two pitching prospects. So, with Laird out of the picture, the Rangers are in the process of shopping around Teagarden, Salty, and Ramirez, hoping to pull in a few more young pitchers in return. So far, it doesn't look like a deal is imminent, but if the Rangers get a good offer, which catcher should they give up?

Here are each of the three catching prospects stats stacked up against one another.

Between the three, it's hard to say who has the better potential. Of course, Salty's power numbers are a bit lower, but he was also 2 years younger at AA, so his power potential is still comparable to Ramirez. Teagarden obviously has the most power, but his strikeout rate is considerably higher, so we can't really give him the top ranking. If we're going to establish any kind of order here, we've got to dig a bit deeper.

Here are each players offensive comparables I've found.

Looking at the comparables, I'm still not sure which catcher I would take.

So, let's look at what each comparable hitter did at the age of 25 at the major league level and see if that helps at all.


Based off of those numbers, I'd have to say it's a toss up between Salmon and Bay. Posada went on to have some great years with the Yankees, but early on in his career he just couldn't compete with the other two in terms of offense. Obviously, we can't assume that Teagarden, Ramirez, and Saltalamacchia will absolutely reflect the production of the three players above, but I think they could come pretty close given the right conditions.

Anyways, if we toss out Salty/Posada, now we've got to figure out if we're going to give Bay/Ramirez the top spot, or Salmon/Teagarden. Let's look at each players' production the following year and see who comes out on top.


Once again, it's a close call, but I think Salmon has the edge, putting Taylor Teargarden at the top of the pecking order. Once again, keep in mind that these numbers don't guarantee anything for Teagarden, Ramirez, and Saltalamacchia, but there are enough indicators to suggest that these numbers are pretty close and present reasonable projections for each.

If Teagarden performs similar to Tim Salmon over the next few years of his career, and Max Ramirez performs similar to Jason Bay, either catcher would easily outperform almost every other catcher in the major leagues in offensive terms. In 2008, Mike Napoli was the only catcher to post an OPS over .900, and there was not a single catcher that hit more than 23 home runs (although, Napoli hit 20 in just 262 plate appearances). Given a full season of 600 plate appearances, Teagarden and Ramirez both have the potential to be All-Star backstops.

If I had to make the call, I'd probably trade Teagarden since his value is a bit higher right now, keep Salty as the #2, and give the job to Ramirez for good. Then again, maybe I'd keep Teagarden, trade Salty, keep Ramirez in the minors one more year, then trade Teagarden at the end of '08. Either way, with 3 extremely talented catchers to choose from, I'll be interested to see which one the Rangers go with in 2009, and whether they give him the job outright, or set up a platoon system. Regardless of what happens, I think there's a good chance that Taylor Teagarden and Max Ramirez will be considered 2 of the top hitting catchers in the majors in a couple of years, and Saltalamacchia won't be far behind.
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