BA Jays Top 30 Prospects

Friday, March 02 2012 @ 06:12 PM EST

Contributed by: #2JBrumfield

One of my two favourite books arrived at my door this week in the form of the 2012 edition of the Baseball America Prospect Handbook.  This year's handbook has added a couple of new wrinkles in evaluating each team's top 30 minor league prospects.

Baseball America has introduced a numerical grade based on the traditional 20-80 scouting scale and a risk factor for each player with safe, low, medium, high and extreme ratings.  A numerical grade of 75-80 is for  franchise players or number one starters, 65-70 means perennial All-Stars or number two starters, 55-60 grades are for first division regulars, number three starters and closers, a grade of 45-50 are for second division regulars, number four starters and eighth inning relievers and 35-40 grades are assigned to number five starters, utility players/backup catchers and relievers.

For risk factors, "safe" means the player is ready to contribute in the bigs and has shown a realistic ceiling.  A "low" risk factor has the player likely to reach his ceiling and become a big leaguer, "medium" means the player still has some tools to sharpen, "high" is for players who are first year draft picks and "extreme" is for teenagers in rookie ball or for players with significant history of injuries.

Down below is BA's top 30 prospects in the Blue Jays system with the accompanying grades and risk factors.
              
   
No.# Player Position Grade     Risk
1
 Travis d'Arnaud
 C
 60
 Medium
2
 Anthony Gose
 OF
 65
 High
3
 Jake Marisnick
 OF
 60
 High
4
 Daniel Norris
 LHP
 60
 High
5
 Justin Nicolino
 LHP
 55
 Medium
6
 Aaron Sanchez
 RHP
 60
 High
7
 Noah Syndergaard
 RHP
 60
 High
8
 Deck McGuire
 RHP
 55
 Medium
9
 Drew Hutchison
 RHP
 55
 Medium
10
 Asher Wojciechowski
 RHP
 55
 High
11
 Matt Dean
 3B
 55
 High
12
 A.J. Jimenez
 C
 55
 High
13
 Adeiny Hechavarria
 SS
 55
 High
14
 Carlos Perez
 C
 55
 High
15
 Moises Sierra
 OF
 50
 Medium
16
 Dwight Smith Jr.
 OF
 55
 High
17
 Kevin Comer
 RHP
 55
 High
18
 Adonys Cardona
 RHP
 55
 High
19
 Kellen Sweeney
 3B
 55
 High
20
 Joe Musgrove
 RHP
 55
 High
21
 Jacob Anderson
 OF
 55
 High
22
 David Cooper
 1B
 45
 Medium
23
 Michael Crouse
 OF
 50
 High
24
 Marcus Knecht
 OF
 50
 High
25
 Christopher Hawkins
 OF
 50
 High
26
 John Stilson
 RHP
 55
 Extreme
27
 Dickie Joe Thon
 SS
 55
 Extreme
28
 Chad Jenkins
 RHP
 45
 Medium
29
 Christian Lopes
 SS
 50
 High
30
 Roberto Osuna
 RHP
 50
 Extreme



Look what he's got!  In addition to the baseball, Jake Marisnick snagged the #3 spot in Baseball America's list of the Jays Top 30 prospects for 2012.

Nathan Rode, the author of the Jays Top 30 list, is tabbing Deck McGuire as the team's top rookie for 2012, Kevin Comer as his breakout prospect and lefty Mitchell Taylor as his sleeper.  Overall, BA ranks the Blue Jays farm system fifth in the majors. 

Four BA writers also compiled a personal Top 50 prospects list.  Jim Callis lists Travis d'Arnaud as his #26 prospect and has Anthony Gose at #48 among his Top 50 prospects.  J.J. Cooper puts d'Arnaud at #21 but had no love for Gose. Will Lingo is buying what d'Arnaud is selling by rating him at #13 and has Gose at #44.  Finally, John Manuel slots d'Arnaud at #22 and is the most bullish on Gose by placing him at #36.

Finally, which"B.A." is the coolest?  B.A. Baracus of The A-Team fame or Baseball America.  Discuss among yourselves!  ;D

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