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Top Ten Scouting Lists

MFS62 Nov 09 2021 08:03 AM

The baseball publications have started updating their top ten prospect rankings for each team. Here is the Baseball America list for the Mets: 1 Francisco Alvarez C 2 Brett Baty 3B/OF 3 Ronny Mauricio SS 4 Mark Vientos 3B/OF 5 Matt Allan RHP 6 J.T. Ginn RHP 7 Alex Ramirez OF 8 Khalil Lee OF 9 Joel Diaz RHP 10 Calvin Ziegler RHP The top 8 were predictable, but 9 and 10 are new. Diaz is a 17 year old righty starter who split time between two DSL teams, with a 0.54 ERA and a .755 WHIP. Ziegler is a 19 year old Canadian born right handed pitcher who was picked #2 in the last draft, but hasn't played minor league ball yet. Can this be pinned, so other publication lists can be added as they become available? Later

MFS62 Nov 23 2021 12:38 PM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

Baseball Prospectus Mets Top 10: 1 Francisco Álvarez, C 2 Brett Baty, 3B/OF 3 Ronny Mauricio, SS 4 Mark Vientos, 3B/OF 5 Matt Allan, RHP 6 J.T. Ginn, RHP 7 Khalil Lee, OF 8 Alex Ramirez, OF 9 Calvin Ziegler, RHP 10 Hayden Senger, C Senger hit well for the first half of the season , then tapered off. For a young catcher, it is tough to determine whether it was from his workload or if the pitchers found out his weakness. Later

Edgy MD Nov 23 2021 01:15 PM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

Senger upped himself to fourth on the organizational depth chart, and he has a very good chance of being snagged in the Rule V Draft.

duan Nov 23 2021 01:25 PM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

Edgy MD wrote: Senger upped himself to fourth on the organizational depth chart, and he has a very good chance of being snagged in the Rule V Draft. which again you could point to as front office incompetence - there's plenty of space on the 40 man - and they sent him to the AFL where he could look pretty decent just to be sure people might be alerted.

MFS62 Dec 02 2021 08:33 AM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

BA is doing subscriber only Insider mailbags and one of the first topics is the apparent delay of the Handbook. A: Hi Mike and Bill. Yes, we are going to see delayed shipping for our books this year. We looked at every option we could to try to avoid that. Nothing worked. Unfortunately, it seems to be an unsolvable problem. Printers are backed up and they are also having trouble getting the supplies of paper they need for their printing jobs. To mitigate the effects to our loyal readers (thank you), what we are going to do is offer early digital access to the Handbook to anyone who purchases it directly from Baseball America—if you buy it from us here at the Baseball America Website. So what that means is that while your print book will be arriving later than normal, you will have access to a digital version of the book (most likely through the Baseball America app) much earlier than you normally receive it. We also will be posting all of our Top 30s online by the end of January (with updates to account for any trades that happen between when we send the book to press and the day we push the Top 30s live). We also hope to have some new features for 2022 that will assist subscribers in their preparation for fantasy drafts. Later

duan Dec 02 2021 09:25 AM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

As someone also involved in publishing some books this year I can say they are 100% accurate about the paper issues. Worldwide problem.....

Frayed Knot Jan 19 2022 07:59 PM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

Baseball America Top-100 #13 - Francisco Alvarez - C [mlb.com = #10] #39 - Brett Baty - 3B [mlb.com = #45] #92 - Ronny Mauricio - SS [mlb.com = #53]

Frayed Knot Jan 19 2022 08:08 PM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

mlb.com Top Ten 1 - Andy Rutschman - C - Orioles 2 - Julio Rodriguez - OF - Mariners 3 - Bobby Witt Jr - SS - Royals 4 - Spencer Torkelson 1B/3B - Tigers 5 - Marco Luciano - SS - Giants 6 - CJ Abrans - SS - Padres 7 - Riley Greene 0 OF - Tigers 8 - Grayson Rodriguez - RHP - Orioles 9 - Marcelo Mayer - SS - Red Sox 10 - Francisco Alverez - C - NYM [Francisco] Alvarez checked in as MLB Pipeline's No. 13 prospect for the 2018-19 international period before inking a $2.7 million pact with the Mets on July 2. The Venezuela native emerged as one of the better young catchers in the Minors in 2019, slashing .282/.377/.443 over 35 games in the Rookie Appalachian League at age 17 to conclude his pro debut. The Mets sent Alvarez to their alternate training site in Brooklyn in 2020 -- a challenge to which the teenage catcher responded by showing better than any hitter in camp. With his exceptional physical strength and explosive swing, Alvarez appears poised to do damage each time he steps to the plate. He has massive raw power and knows how to get to it during games, making hard, fly-ball contact using a leveraged right-handed swing. Alvarez also finds the barrel consistently and is comfortable hitting to all fields, thanks to an approach that belies his age and experience. Alvarez still has gains to make defensively with his blocking and catch-and-throw skills, but the arm strength is plus, and he's worked hard to improve his athleticism and mobility behind the plate. On top of the impressive physical tools, Alvarez earns high marks for his makeup and leadership skills and his desire to improve in all facets of the game. Those qualities give the Mets confidence that Alvarez will stick behind the plate long term, and the way he's taken off at Low-A and High-A He'll play this entire year at age 20 [DOB = 11/19/01] probably starting in AA. 5' 10"/220; BR/TR; ETA = 2023 [Brett] Baty was old for his class as a 19-year-old high school senior, and that deterred some clubs from taking him early in the 2019 Draft. The Mets weren't one of them, as they made Baty the first third baseman to be taken by the organization in the first round since Chris Donnels in 1987, selecting the Lake Travis (Texas) High product No. 12 overall. Baty posted a .821 OPS with 25 extra-base hits (seven homers) while climbing three levels in his pro debut after signing for $3.9 million, then arrived at the Mets' alternate training site in '20 looking physically stronger and leaner. Hitting for power from line-to-line from the left side is Baty's calling card. He's shown early in his career that he can get to it during games, even hitting his longest and most impressive home runs to the opposite field, though he's still learning how to turn on the ball. Baty's swing mechanics and bat path do lead to swing-and-miss issues that raise questions about his hit tool, but he also employs a patient approach and controls the zone well enough to project him as an average hitter with plus game power. The athleticism that made Baty a three-sport standout as a prep shows up on the diamond, and he showed improved agility and more speed last summer at the alternate site. He could develop into an average defender at third base, where his plus arm strength -- he was clocked at 92 mph off the mound in high school -- is an asset, though, overall, Baty will need time to develop on both sides of the ball to reach his ceiling. Having climbed to Double-A in 2021, Baty has seen some time in the outfield with the Mets hoping to get his bat in the lineup anyway they can in the future. [Ronny] Mauricio commanded the seventh-highest bonus of any international amateur during the 2017-18 period, signing with the Mets for $2.1 million. The Dominican native made his pro debut in ‘18, finishing his age-17 season in the Appalachian League, then put himself on the map with a solid full-season debut at Class A Columbia in ‘19. Mauricio was among the first Mets prospect additions at the alternate training site in ‘20, receiving an assignment on Aug. 16. Mauricio's game is all about projection. He's struggled to drive the ball consistently early in his career, with some swing-length and pitch-selection issues mitigating his production, but it's easy to envision the switch-hitter eventually doing damage from both sides of the plate as he fills out his impressive 6-foot-3 frame. Mauricio's power, especially as a left-handed hitter, should emerge with those physical gains, and he may even be able to unlock more pop by merely improving upon his high ground-ball rate from 2019 (53.6%). He's less advanced as a righty and will need to do a better job controlling the strike zone as he works his way through the Minors. Mauricio has impressed evaluators with his athleticism, actions and plus arm strength as a shortstop. Those tools could also make him a plus defender elsewhere on the infield if he's ever forced off the position, with the hot corner representing Mauricio's likely destination on account of his below-average speed and larger frame.

MFS62 Jan 20 2022 06:24 AM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

Baseball Prospectus has the Mets prospects rated higher than BA: Alvarez - 10 Baty - 13!! Mauricio - 51 Nice to see. Later

Benjamin Grimm Jan 20 2022 06:32 AM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Baty ended up playing 80 or more games with the Mets this year.

duan Jan 20 2022 11:02 AM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

Baseball Prospectus has the Mets prospects rated higher than BA: Alvarez - 10 Baty - 13!! Mauricio - 51 Nice to see. Later two of the BP prospect team are mets fans, and they do the podcast "for all you kids out there". If you can get past the fact that they still devote a portion of the show to wrestling it's can be an interesting listen. They are very very very low on Mauricio's chances to hit - so it's interesting that he's ranked higher by them then anyone else. They are very very HIGH on Brett Baty, but think they still aren't sure about sticking at 3rd.

Edgy MD Jan 20 2022 11:34 AM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

It's disappointing nobody is hot for Mark Vientos after he just hit 25 homers in little over half a season, playing at the top of the minors at just 21.

MFS62 Jan 20 2022 12:35 PM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

Ron Schandler, a Fantasy baseball writer, has Vientos at 94. He also has Alvarez at 14, Baty at 35 and Mauricio at 70. Later

Benjamin Grimm Jan 20 2022 12:51 PM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

I haven't seen this week's Mets Hot Stove yet, but apparently one of the guys suggested trading McNeil and Vientos to the Reds for Luis Castillo. (Not the guy who dropped the pop up against the Yankees, I presume.) Just because some TV guy suggested it doesn't mean it's even being considered by the front office, but I do think that sooner or later, one of the group of Vientos, Baty, and Mauricio is likely to be traded for an established player. And it's probably least likely to be Baty, at least at this point.

seawolf17 Jan 20 2022 01:32 PM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

Mauricio is definitely blocked here, so yeah, he seems to be most likely to be moved.

Edgy MD Feb 01 2022 02:02 PM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

Keith Law in The Athletic has come out more bullish on the Mets prospects, posting a Top 100 list that includes Alvarez (#8), Baty (#40), and Mauricio (#41!), but also Mark Vientos (#71) and St. Lucie centerfielder Alex Ramirez (#100 — “He was slightly overmatched at the plate, but showed incredible defensive skills IN centerfield with great reads and plus speed, and flashed what should be grade 60 or even 70 power when he fills out”).

bmfc1 Feb 02 2022 08:15 AM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

Baseball America (it's subscriber-only and I'm not), tops in the NL East and it will get better after the next draft: [TWEET]https://twitter.com/djshort/status/1488893286102220804[/TWEET]

Edgy MD Feb 02 2022 03:41 PM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

The ongoing problem with the ranking system is that Khalil Lee (23) and Nick Plummer (25) count toward the Mets rankings, but Juan Soto (also 23) doesn't count toward the rankings of the Nats, because he's been destroying baseballs in the big leagues since he was 19, and is now 100 homers into his career. Ronald Acuña, Jr. is also 23, with 105 homers and 78 steals already notched, despite missing half of 2021.

Frayed Knot Feb 02 2022 03:46 PM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

That's why some sites also make a 'Best Under 25' list for each team regardless of what level they play at. It's probably a better evaluation.

Edgy MD Feb 02 2022 07:55 PM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

What do you think the deal is with Plummer? He has a pretty crappy minor league record for a first round draft pick. Then, when so many were coming back from the Covid layoff looking rusty and falling victim to a tighter numbers game, he hit like he never has before, just in time for the Cards to lose him to minor league free agency? The Mets not only gobble him up, but give him a major league deal (which would be great, if it didn't get him locked out). And he makes a handful of these organizational top ten lists, despite his advanced age for a prospect. Mets Roster Central has him at seventh (or second callup) on the team's outfield depth chart, but it's not crazy to think he has a shot at making the team out of camp, depending on how the breaks go.

Johnny Lunchbucket Feb 03 2022 04:47 AM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

Yeah I don't know how much more development he has in him. I'd like to see him on the field. Seen him listed as 5-10/200 but also as 5-11/230 which probably means he's 5-7, 250

Frayed Knot Feb 03 2022 05:24 AM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

"He wears a big pair of underwear"

bmfc1 Feb 07 2022 08:25 AM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

Keith Law ranks the farm systems for all MLB teams in The Athletic and, Casey will tell you: "Coming in at number 21, down two notches from number 19, is a band out of Flushing, it's... The New York Mets": [BLOCKQUOTE]The most top-heavy system in the minors has four guys on the top 100 [sic: it's five] and a pitcher who should return to the top 100 if he comes back successfully from Tommy John surgery. But a series of trades — some ill-advised — has badly depleted the system despite a decade of extremely productive drafts and some big hits on the international side. They traded away three of their first four picks from 2018, their two first-round picks from 2016, their second-round pick from 2019, and their first and third picks from 2020, plus two of their best international signings from that decade. It's a miracle they're not 30th. https://theathletic.com/3112765/2022/02/07/mlb-2022-farm-system-rankings-keith-law-grades-all-30-teams-on-prospects-with-the-dodgers-at-no-1/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983[/BLOCKQUOTE] LAD is #1, CWS is #30, WSH is #27, NYY is #22.

seawolf17 Feb 07 2022 09:44 AM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

In their defense... 2018: Jarred Kelenic, who finished 1367th out of 1374 MLB hitters in WAR in 2021 Simeon Woods Richardson, who had a 5.91 ERA in AA in 2021 and they kept Carlos Cortes, who wasn't great, but did hit 14 HR and went .257/.332/.487 in Bing last year 2016: Justin Dunn, who's already 26 and has been league-average at best over 25 starts spread out over three seasons Anthony Kay, who's older than Dunn and has a 5.50 ERA in parts of three seasons and they kept Pete Alonso, who is Pete Alonso 2019: Josh Wolf, who had a 5.35 ERA in single-A this year and they kept Brett Baty and Matt Allan and since he conveniently left off 2017: David Peterson is a reasonably productive major league starter Mark Vientos went .281/.346/.580 in Bing last year So I get it, yeah, but still.

Edgy MD Feb 07 2022 04:47 PM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

=seawolf17 post_id=85620 time=1644252271 user_id=91]So I get it, yeah, but still.

Worthwhile points. These players still have value yet to unfold, but the process is still playing out.

Frayed Knot Feb 07 2022 06:30 PM Re: Top Ten Scouting Lists

And, of course, having a good farm system is a means towards a specific end -- the improvement of the ML club -- not the goal itself. The trades of those draft picks may or may not work out in the long run but several of those mentioned, the older ones in particular but also most likely Kelenic, would no longer be prospects at this point so wouldn't have affected this year's ranking anyway. The bigger problem is the top-heaviness of the list. Having some top-50 guys is great but if those guys don't blossom then the rebuilding process takes that much longer as you're relying on guys not yet drafted to replace them or hoping there are some late-bloomers from among the lesser lights.