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Prospect Rankings

2011 Los Angeles Angels Top 15 Prospects Post Season Report Card

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With the 2011 minor league season complete we check in on the progress of each of the Los Angeles Angels preseason Top 15 prospects as ranked by our prospect ranker J.P. Schwartz. The post season grading report was done by the publisher of Top Prospect Alert, not Mr. Schwartz, and reflects only the 2011 season and not future upside or downside of the individual prospect. Our 2012 preseason rankings will be published in the coming months.

#1 Mike Trout GRADE: A
Trout batted .326 with 18 Doubles, 13 Triples, 11 Home Runs, 38 RBI’s, and had 33 Stolen Bases for the Double-A Arkansas Travelers. In 40 games at the big league level with the Angels, Trout batted .220 with 6 Doubles, 5 Home Runs, and 16 RBI’s.

#2 Fabio Martinez GRADE: NO GRADE
Martinez missed nearly all of the 2011 season with shoulder issues. He pitched 2.1 innings and did not allow a run in two appearances with the Rookie Leagues AZL Angels.

#3 Jean Segura GRADE: B
Segura batted a combined .293 with 13 Doubles, 4 Triples, 4 Home Runs and 26 RBI’s between the AZL Angels and the High-A Inland Empire 66ers. He added 18 stolen bases. He walked 15 times and struck out 26 times in 52 games.

#4 Garrett Richards GRADE: A-
Richards went 12-2 with a 3.15ERA for Double-A Arkansas. He walked 40 and struck out 103 in 143 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .233 against him on the year. For the Angels, Richards was 0-2 with a 5.79ERA in 14 big league innings.

#5 Hank Conger GRADE: C
Conger batted .209 with 8 Doubles, 6 Home Runs, and 19 RBI’s in 59 games with the Angels. For the Triple-A Salt Lake City Bees, Conger batted .300 with 4 Doubles, 5 Home Runs, and 26 RBI’s in 27 games.

#6 Mark Trumbo GRADE: A+
Trumbo batted .254 with 31 Doubles, 1 Triple, 29 Home Runs and 87 RBI’s for the Angels. He added 9 stolen bases. He was voted the 2011 team MVP by his teammates.

#7 Tyler Chatwood GRADE: B-
Chatwood went 6-11 with a 4.75ERA for the Angels. He walked 71 and struck out 74 in 142 innings. Big league hitters batted .303 off of Chatwood on the season. At Triple-A Salt Lake, Chatwood went 1-2 with a 5.06ERA in 16 innings of work.

#8 Jordan Walden GRADE: A+
Walden went 5-5 with a 2.98ERA and 32 Saves for the Angels. He walked 26 and struck out 67 in 60.1 innings of work. He was a member of the 2011 American League All Star Team.

#9 Kaleb Cowart GRADE: B
Cowart batted .283 with 12 Doubles, 3 Triples, 7 Home Runs, and 40 RBI’s for the Rookie League Orem Owlz. He added 11 stolen bases. He walked 25 times and struck out 81 times in 72 games.

#10 Trevor Reckling GRADE: C+
Reckling went 4-7 with a 3.73ERA for Double-A Arkansas before his season ended in mid July with a sprained elbow. He walked 35 and struck out 63 in 99 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .274 off Reckling on the season.

#11 Randal Grichuk GRADE: B-
Grichuk batted a combined .256 with 12 Doubles, 7 Triples, 3 Home Runs, and 25 RBI’s in 53 games split between the AZL Angels, the Low-A Cedar Rapids Kernels, and High-A Inland Empire.

#12 Chevez Clarke GRADE: C
Clarke batted .226 with 5 Doubles, 10 Triples, 3 Home Runs, and 27 RBI’s for the AZL Angels. He walked 16 times and struck out 66 times in 51 games.

#13 Dan Tillman GRADE: A-
Tillman went a combined 6-3 with a 2.30ERA and 14 saves between Low-A Cedar Rapids and High-A Inland Empire. He walked 34 and struck out 78 in 74.1 innings of work. Opposing batters hit just .214 off Tillman on the season.

#14 Cam Bedrosian GRADE: DID NOT PLAY
Bedrosian missed the entire 2011 season following Tommy John Surgery.

#15 Ryan Bolden GRADE: D
Bolden batted .168 with 4 Doubles, 1 Triple and 13 RBI’s for the AZL Angels. He walked 9 times and struck out 48 times in 29 games.

Prospect Rankings

2011 Kansas City Royals Top 15 Prospects Post Season Report Card

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With the 2011 minor league season complete we check in on the progress of each of the Kansas City Royals preseason Top 15 prospects as ranked by our prospect ranker J.P. Schwartz. The post season grading report was done by the publisher of Top Prospect Alert, not Mr. Schwartz, and reflects only the 2011 season and not future upside or downside of the individual prospect. Our 2012 preseason rankings will be published in the coming months.

#1 Mike Moustakas GRADE: A-
Moustakas batted .263 with 18 Doubles, 1 Triple, 5 Home Runs, and 30 RBI’s for the Royals. He walked 22 times and struck out 51 times in 89 games. For the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers, Moustakas hit .287 with 15 Doubles, 1 Triple, 10 Home Runs and 44 RBI’s in 55 Games.

#2 Eric Hosmer GRADE: A+
Hosmer batted .293 with 27 Doubles, 3 Triples, 19 Home Runs and 78 RBI’s for the Royals. He walked 34 times and struck out 82 times in 128 games. He also stole 11 bases on the season. At Triple-A Omaha, Hosmer batted .439 with 5 Doubles, 3 Home Runs and 15 RBI’s in 26 Games.

#3 Wil Myers GRADE: C
Myers batted .254 with 23 Doubles, 1 Triple, 8 Home Runs and 49 RBI’s for the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals. He walked 52 times and struck out 88 times in 99 games.

#4 Mike Montgomery GRADE: C-
Montgomery went 5-11 with a 5.32ERA at Triple-A Omaha. He walked 69 and struck out 129 in 150.2 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .271 off of Montgomery on the season.

#5 John Lamb GRADE: B-
Lamb went 1-2 with a 3.09ERA in 8 starts for Double-A Northwest Arkansas before undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the remainder of the 2011 season. He walked 13 and struck out 22 in 35 innings. Opposing batters hit .246 off of Lamb. The grade reflects what he did while he was healthy.

#6 Jake Odorizzi GRADE: B+
Odorizzi was a combined 10-7 with a 3.73ERA between the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks and Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He walked 44 and struck out 157 in 147 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .244 off of Odorizzi on the season.

#7 Christian Colon GRADE: B-
Colon batted .257 with 14 Doubles, 2 Triples, 8 Home Runs and 61 RBI’s for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He also stole 17 bases. Colon walked 46 times and struck out just 51 times in 127 games.

#8 Aaron Crow GRADE: A
Crow went 4-4 with a 2.76ERA out of the Royals bullpen. He made the 2011 American League All Star Team. He walked 31 and struck out 65 in 62 innings. Big league hitters batted .237 off of Crow on the season.

#9 Chris Dwyer GRADE: C+
Dwyer went 8-10 with a 5.60ERA for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He walked 78 and struck out 126 in 141.1 innings. Opposing batters hit .238 against Dwyer on the season.

#10 Danny Duffy GRADE: B-
Duffy went 4-8 with a 5.64ERA for the Royals. He walked 51 and struck out 87 in 105.1 innings. Big league hitters batted .287 off of Duffy. At Triple-A Omaha, Duffy went 3-1 with a 3.43ERA in 8 starts.

#11 Jeremy Jeffress GRADE: C
Jeffress opened the season with the Royals where he went 1-1 with a 4.70ERA and one save in 15.1 big league innings before being optioned. He went 1-3 with a 4.26ERA at Triple-A Omaha before being demoted to Double-A Northwest Arkansas where he went 2-3 with a 7.16ERA in 24 innings. Opposing minor league hitters batted .281 off of Jeffress. He walked 40 and struck out 44 in 55.2 innings in the minors.

#12 Jason Adam GRADE: B
Adam went 6-9 with a 4.23ERA for the Low-A Kane County Cougars. He walked 25 and struck out 76 in 104.1 innings. Opposing batters hit .235 off Adam on the season.

#13 Brett Eibner GRADE: D+
Eibner batted .213 with 13 Doubles, 2 Triples, 12 Home Runs and 31 RBI’s for Low-A Kane County. He walked 48 times ans struck out 90 times in 76 games.

#14 Yordano Ventura GRADE: B-
Ventura went 4-6 with a 4.27ERA for Low-A Kane County. He walked 24 and struck out 88 in 84.1 innings. Opposing batters hit .258 off of Ventura on the season.

#15 Cheslor Cuthbert GRADE: B
Cuthbert batted .267 with 13 Doubles, 1 Triple, 8 Home Runs and 51 RBI’s for Low-A Kane County. He walked 36 times and struck out 65 times in 81 games.

Prospect Rankings

2011 Houston Astros Top 15 Prospects Post Season Report Card

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With the 2011 minor league season complete we check in on the progress of each of the Houston Astros preseason Top 15 prospects as ranked by our prospect ranker J.P. Schwartz. The post season grading report was done by the publisher of Top Prospect Alert, not Mr. Schwartz, and reflects only the 2011 season and not future upside or downside of the individual prospect. Our 2012 preseason rankings will be published in the coming months.

#1 Jordan Lyles GRADE: C+
Lyles went 2-8 with a 5.36ERA for the Astros. He walked 26 and struck out 67 in 94 big leagues inning. Major league hitters batted .285 against him. In the minors Lyles went 3-3 with a 3.61ERA for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Redhawks. He walked 17 and struck out 42 in 62.1 innings of work. Opponents batted .277 against him.

#2 Delino DeShields GRADE: C
Deshields batted .220 with 17 Doubles, 2 Triples, 9 Home Runs and 48 RBI’s for the Low-A Lexington Legends. He also stole 30 bases on the season. Deshields walked 52 times and struck out 118 times in 119 games.

#3 Jonathan Villar GRADE: B-
Villar batted a combined .241 with 23 Doubles, 6 Triples, 14 Home Runs and 52 RBI’s between the High-A Lancaster Jethawks and the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks. He stole 32 bases on the season. Villar walked 54 times and struck out 156 times in 130 games.

#4 J.D. Martinez GRADE: A
Martinez batted .274 with 13 Doubles, 6 Home Runs and 35 RBI’s in 53 big league games with the Astros. At Double-A Corpus Christi, Martinez hit .338 with 25 Doubles, 1 Triple, 13 Home Runs, and 72 RBI’s in 88 games.

#5 Mike Foltynewicz GRADE: C
Foltynewicz went 5-11 with a 4.97ERA for Low-A Lexington. He walked 51 and struck out 88 in 134 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .289 against Foltynewicz on the season.

#6 Jiovanni Mier GRADE: C
Mier batted a combined .239 with 21 Doubles, 1 Triple, 7 Home Runs and 52 RBI’s between Low-A Lexington and High-A Lancaster. He walked 66 times and struck out 112 times in 114 games.

#7 Ben Heath GRADE: C
Heath batted a combined .252 with 22 Doubles, 10 Home Runs and 52 RBI’s between Low-A Lexington and High-A Lancaster. He walked 26 times and struck out 91 times in 91 games.

#8 Tanner Bushue GRADE: C
Bushue went a combined 6-8 with a 4.96ERA between the Rookie League GCL Astros and Low-A Lexington. He walked 17 and struck out 58 in 85.1 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .293 off of Bushue on the season.

#9 Rod Quintero GRADE: C
Quintero was 0-1 with a 5.97ERA for Rookie League Greeneville. He walked 16 and struck out 32 in 28.2 innings. Opposing batters hit .246 off of Quintero on the season.

#10 Austin Wates GRADE: A-
Wates batted .300 with 23 Doubles, 9 Triples, 6 Home Runs and 75 RBI’s at High-A Lancaster. He also stole 26 bases on the season.

#11 Mike Kvasnicka GRADE: B-
Kvasnicka batted .260 with 32 Doubles, 4 Triples, 4 Home Runs and 59 RBI’s for Low-A Lexington. He walked 46 times and struck out 106 times in 128 games.

#12 Ross Seaton GRADE: C
Seaton went 4-9 with a 5.23ERA for Double-A Corpus Christi. He walked 47 and struck out 97 in 155 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .279 off Seaton on the season.

#13 Thomas Shirley GRADE: C+
Shirley went 0-0 with 2.08ERA combined across three levels topping out at Low-A Lexington. He walked 5 and struck out 15 in 13 innings of work on the season. Opposing batters hit .143 against him.

#14 Vincent Velasquez DID NOT PLAY
Velasquez missed all of 2011 following Tommy John Surgery.

#15 J.B. Shuck GRADE: B+
Shuck batted .272 with 2 Doubles, 1 Triple, and 3 RBI’s in 37 big league games with the Astros. At Triple-A Oklahoma City, Shuck hit .297 with 11 Doubles, 7 Triples, and 30 RBI’s. He also stole 20 bases. He walked 56 times and struck out just 30 times in 108 games.

Prospect Rankings

2011 Florida Marlins Top 15 Prospects Post Season Report Card

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With the 2011 minor league season complete we check in on the progress of each of the Florida Marlins preseason Top 15 prospects as ranked by our prospect ranker J.P. Schwartz. The post season grading report was done by the publisher of Top Prospect Alert, not Mr. Schwartz, and reflects only the 2011 season and not future upside or downside of the individual prospect. Our 2012 preseason rankings will be published in the coming months.

#1 Chad James GRADE: C
James went 5-15 with a 3.80ERA for the High-A Jupiter Hammerheads. He walked 51 and stuck out 124 in 149.1 innings of work. Opposing hitters batted .294 against him.

#2 Christian Yelich GRADE: A
Yelich batted .312 with 32 Doubles, 1 Triple, 15 Home Runs and 77 RBI’s for the Low-A Greensboro Grasshoppers. He also added 32 stolen bases. Yelich walked 55 times and struck out 102 times in 122 games. He was named by the Marlins organization as their Minor League Player of the Year for 2011.

#3 Matt Dominguez GRADE: C+
Dominguez batted a combined .249 with 18 Doubles, 12 Home Runs, and 58 RBI’s across three levels in the minor leagues with 87 of his 95 games played coming with the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs. Through September 25th, Dominguez was batting .238 with 3 Doubles and 2 RBI’s in 42 big league at-bats with the Marlins.

#4 Brad Hand GRADE: B
Through September 25th, Hand is 1-8 with a 4.20ERA for the Marlins. He’s walked 35 and struck out 38. Opposing big leaguers are hitting .241 against him. In the minors, Hand went 11-5 with a 3.56ERA for the Double-A Jacksonville Suns and a single start for High-A Jupiter. He walked 55 and struck out 75 in 113.2 innings. Opposing hitters batted .233 against him.

#5 Rob Rasmussen GRADE: B
Rasmussen went 12-10 with a 3.64ERA for High-A Jupiter. He walked 71 and struck out 118 in 148.1 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .254 off Rasmussen on the season.

#6 Jhan Marinez GRADE: B
Martinez went 3-8 with 3 Saves and a 3.57ERA for Double-A Jacksonville. He walked 42 times and struck out 74 times in 58 innings. Opposing hitters batted .223 against him.

#7 Kyle Skipworth GRADE: D+
Skipworth batted .207 with 12 Doubles, 2 Triples, 11 Home Runs, and 49 RBI’s for Double-A Jacksonville. He walked 34 times and struck out 143 times in 106 games.

#8 Marcell Ozuna GRADE: A-
Ozuna batted .266 with 28 Doubles, 5 Triples, 23 Home Runs and 71 RBI’s for Low-A Greensboro. He stole 17 bases on the season. He walked 46 times and struck out 121 times in 131 games.

#9 Edgar Olmos GRADE: D
Olmos went 4-17 with a 6.63ERA for High-A Jupiter. He walked 81 and struck out 101 in 127.2 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .318 on the season against Olmos.

#10 Mark Canha GRADE: A-
Canha batted .276 with 22 Doubles, 25 Home Runs, and 85 RBI’s for Low-A Greensboro. He walked 59 times and struck out 85 times in 107 games.

#11 Tom Koehler GRADE: C
Koehler went 12-7 with a 4.97ERA for Triple-A New Orleans. He walked 79 and struck out 116 in 150.1 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .254 off Koehler on the season.

#12 Jacob Realmuto GRADE: A-
Realmuto batted .287 with 16 Doubles, 3 Triples, 12 Home Runs and 49 RBI’s for Low-A Greensboro. He hit a home run off Stephen Strasburg when the Nationals pitcher was on rehab. Realmuto walked 26 times and struck out 78 times in 96 games. He also stole 13 bases on the season.

#13 Ryan Fisher GRADE: B- Fisher batted .258 with 36 Doubles, 4 Triples, 18 Home Runs and 79 RBI’s for Low-A Greensboro. He walked 38 times and struck out 137 times in 129 games.

#14 Osvaldo Martinez GRADE: C
Martinez batted .245 with 15 Doubles, 1 Triple, 3 Home Runs and 26 RBI’s for Triple-A New Orleans. He also stole 11 bases. Through September 25th Martinez was hitting .130 with no extra base hits in 23 big league at-bats.

#15 Zach Neal GRADE: C
Neal went 7-6 with a 4.16ERA for Low-A Greensboro. He walked 41 batters and struck out 84 in 119 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .273 against Neal.

Prospect Rankings

2011 Detroit Tigers Top 15 Prospects Post Season Report Card

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With the 2011 minor league season complete we check in on the progress of each of the Detroit Tigers preseason Top 15 prospects as ranked by our prospect ranker J.P. Schwartz. The post season grading report was done by the publisher of Top Prospect Alert, not Mr. Schwartz, and reflects only the 2011 season and not future upside or downside of the individual prospect. Our 2012 preseason rankings will be published in the coming months.

#1 Jacob Turner GRADE: A-
Turner went a combined 4-5 with a 3.44ERA between the Double-A Erie Seawolves and Triple-A Toledo Mudhens. He walked 35 and struck out 110 in 131 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .238 off of Turner on the season. Through September 20th, Turner logged two starts at the big league level with the Tigers going 0-1 with a 7.45ERA in 9.2 innings.

#2 Nick Castellanos GRADE: A
Castellanos batted .312 with 36 Doubles, 3 Triples, 7 Home Runs and 76 RBI’s for the Low-A West Michigan Whitecaps. He walked 45 times and struck out 130 times in 135 games. The Tigers recently named Castellanos their organization’s Minor League Player Of The Year

#3 Andy Oliver GRADE: C+
Oliver went 8-12 with a 4.71ERA for Triple-A Toledo. He walked 80 and struck out 143 in 147 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .272 off of Oliver on the season. Through September 20th, Oliver was 0-1 with a 6.52ERA in two big league starts with the Tigers.

#4 Casey Crosby GRADE: B-
Crosby went 9-7 with a 4.10ERA for the Double-A Erie Seawolves. He walked 77 and struck out 121 batters in 131.2 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .253 off of Crosby on the season.

#5 Chance Ruffin TRADED TO SEATTLE
Ruffin went a combined 3-3 with a 2.03ERA and 19 saves between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo. He was the player to be named later in the Doug Fister trade. Through September 20th, Ruffin was 1-0 with a 3.21ERA in 14 big league innings covering two appearances with the Tigers and ten with the Mariners following the trade.

#6 Daniel Schlereth GRADE: A-
Through September 20th, Schlereth was 2-1 with a 3.40ERA in 47 big league appearances out of the Tigers bullpen. He has walked 30 and struck out 42 in 47.2 innings. Opposing major league hitters are batting just .204 off Schlereth this season. In 8 Triple-A appearances, Schlereth was 1-0 with a 0.77ERA in 11.2 innings of work.

#7 Francisco Martinez TRADED TO SEATTLE
Martinez batted a combined .289 with 21 Doubles, 7 Triples, 10 Home Runs and 69 RBI’s for Double-A Erie and the Mariners Double-A club the Jackson Generals. He was traded to Seattle in the Doug Fister deal.

#8 Drew Smyly GRADE: A
Smyly went a combined 11-6 with a 2.07ERA for the High-A Lakeland Flying Tigers and Double-A Erie. He walked 36 and struck out 130 in 126 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .227 off Smyly on the season. He was named by the Tigers as the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

#9 Charlie Furbush TRADED TO SEATTLE
Through September 20th, Furbush was a combined 4-9 with a 5.22ERA between Detroit and Seattle in 81 big league innings. At Triple-A Toledo, Furbush went 5-3 with a 3.17ERA.

#10 Avisail Garcia GRADE: B
Garcia batted .264 with 16 Doubles, 6 Triples, 11 Home Runs and 56 RBI’s for High-A Lakeland. He also added 14 stolen bases. Garcia walked 18 times and struck out 132 times in 129 games.

#11 Rob Brantly GRADE: B-
Brantly batted a combined .274 with 22 Doubles, 1 Triple, 10 Home Runs, and 62 RBI’s between Low-A West Michigan and High-A Lakeland. He walked 29 times and struck out 56 times in 114 games.

#12 Daniel Fields GRADE: C-
Fields batted .220 with 14 Doubles, 4 Triples, 8 Home Runs, and 46 RBI’s for High-A Lakeland. He walked 49 times and struck out 133 times in 124 games.

#13 Adam Wilk GRADE: B
Wilk went 8-6 with a 3.24ERA for Triple-A Toledo. He walked 14 and struck out 76 in 102.2 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .262 off Wilk on the season. Through September 20th, Wilk was 0-0 with a 5.40ERA in 13.1 big league innings for the Tigers.

#14 Bruce Rondon GRADE: A-
Rondon went 2-2 with a 2.03ERA and 19 saves for Low-A West Michigan. He walked 34 and struck out 61 in 40 innings of work before being shut down in August. Opposing batters hit just .164 against Rondon on the season.

#15 Josue Carreno GRADE: C+
Carreno went 7-10 with a 4.55ERA at Low-A West Michigan. He walked 41 and struck out 115 in 124.2 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .270 off of Carreno on the season.

Prospect Rankings

2011 Colorado Rockies Top 15 Prospects Post Season Report Card

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With the 2011 minor league season complete we check in on the progress of each of the Colorado Rockies preseason Top 15 prospects as ranked by our prospect ranker J.P. Schwartz. The post season grading report was done by the publisher of Top Prospect Alert, not Mr. Schwartz, and reflects only the 2011 season and not future upside or downside of the individual prospect. Our 2012 preseason rankings will be published in the coming months.

#1 Tyler Matzek GRADE: C-
Matzek went a combined 5-7 with a 6.22ERA between the Low-A Asheville Tourists and the High-A Modesto Nuts. We walked 96 and struck out 111 in 97 innings of work. Opposing hitters batted .225 off Matzek on the year. He improved greatly following nearly a month off to work with his youth pitching coach. He allowed just one earned run and struck out 15 over his final two starts of the season.

#2 Wilin Rosario GRADE: B-
Rosario batted .249 with 15 Doubles, 3 Triples, 21 Home Runs and 48 RBI’s for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers. Through September 17th, Rosario was batting .212 with 2 Doubles, 1 Triple, 2 Home Runs and 4 RBI’s in 33 big league at-bats with the Rockies.

#3 Nolan Arenado GRADE: A+
Arenado batted .289 with 32 Doubles, 3 Triples, 20 Home Runs and a minor league baseball leading 122 RBI’s at High-A Modesto. He walked 47 times and struck out just 53 times in 134 games.

#4 Chad Bettis GRADE: A
Bettis went 12-5 with a 3.34ERA at High-A Modesto. He walked 45 and struck out 184 in 169.2 innings of work. Opposing batters hit just .225 off Bettis in the very hitter friendly California League.

#5 Christian Friedrich GRADE: C-
Friedrich went 6-10 with a 5.00ERA in 25 starts at Double-A Tulsa. He walked 43 and struck out 103 in 133.1 innings. Opposing batters hit .286 off Friedrich on the year. He went 0-5 with a 6.71ERA in his last 10 starts of the season.

#6 Kyle Parker GRADE: B+ Parker batted .285 with 23 Doubles, 1 Triple, 21 Home Runs and 95 RBI’s for Low-A Asheville. He walked 48 times and struck out 133 times in 117 games.

#7 Rex Brothers GRADE: A
Through September 17th, Brothers was 1-2 with a 3.11ERA and 1 save in 37.2 big league innings with the Rockies. He has walked 19 and struck out 53. Major league hitters are batting just .220 against Brothers this season. For the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Brothers went 3-2 with a 2.89ERA with 15 walks and 45 strikeouts in 28 innings of work.

#8 Peter Tago GRADE: D+
Tago was 3-5 with a 7.07ERA for Low-A Asheville. He walked 72 and struck out 58 in 90.1 innings of work. Opposing hitters batted .267 against Tago.

#9 Albert Campos GRADE: C
Campos went 6-4 with a 5.19ERA for Low-A Asheville. He walked 19 and struck out 64 batters in 86.2 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .316 against Campos on the season.

#10 Corey Dickerson GRADE: B
Dickerson batted .282, with 27 Doubles, 5 Triples, 32 Home Runs and 87 RBI’s for Low-A Ashville. The home road splits for Dickerson prevent him from getting a higher grade. At the hitter friendly home stadium in Ashville, he batted .354 with a .844 slugging percentage. On the road Dickerson batted just .193 with a .363 slugging percentage. 26 of Dickerson’s 32 Home Runs were hit at home.

#11 Charlie Blackmon GRADE: B
Blackmon batted .337 with 19 Doubles, 4 Triples, 10 Home Runs, 49 RBI’s and 12 Stolen Bases in 58 games with Triple-A Colorado Springs. The hot start earned him a promotion to the Rockies where he batted .255 with 1 Double, 1 Home Run and 8 RBI’s in 27 big league games before fracturing his foot in July.

#12 Tim Wheeler GRADE: A+
Wheeler batted .287 with 28 Doubles, 6 Triples, 33 Home Runs, and 86 RBI’s at Double-A Tulsa. He also stole 21 bases on the season. Wheeler walked 59 times and struck out 142 times in 138 games.

#13 Hector Gomez GRADE: C+
Gomez batted .235 with 23 Doubles, 6 Triples, 14 Home Runs and 50RBI’s for Double-A Tulsa. He also stole 16 bases. He walked 19 times and struck out 94 times in 102 games. Through September 17th, Gomez had two hits in six big league at-bats for the Rockies.

#14 Juan Nicasio GRADE: B
Nicasio went 4-4 with a 4.14ERA in 13 starts for the Rockies before suffering a potentially career ending broke neck after being hit in the head with a line drive on August 5th. Prior to his promotion to the big leagues, Nicasio was 5-1 with a 2.22ERA at Double-A Tulsa. Nicasio’s grade reflects his accomplishment prior to the broken neck.

#15 Josh Slaats GRADE: C+
Slaats went 7-3 with a 4.18ERA for Low-A Asheville. He walked 51 and struck out 103 in 125 innings of work. Opposing hitters batted .274 off Slaats on the season.

Prospect Rankings

2011 Cleveland Indians Top 15 Prospects Post Season Report Card

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With the 2011 minor league season complete we check in on the progress of each of the Cleveland Indians preseason Top 15 prospects as ranked by our prospect ranker J.P. Schwartz. The post season grading report was done by the publisher of Top Prospect Alert, not Mr. Schwartz, and reflects only the 2011 season and not future upside or downside of the individual prospect. Our 2012 preseason rankings will be published in the coming months.

#1 Lonnie Chisenhall GRADE: B+
Chisenhall, through September 14th, is batting .240 with 11 Doubles, 7 Home Runs and 15 RBI’s in 54 games with the Indians. For the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, Chisenhall batted .267 with 15 Doubles, 3 Triples, 7 Home Runs and 45 RBI’s in 66 games.

#2 Alex White TRADED TO COLORADO
White was dealt to the Rockies as part of the Ubaldo Jimenez deal. He went a combined 2-1 with a 1.80ERA in eight starts between Columbus and the Rockies Double-A Tulsa Drillers. At the big league level through September 14th, White is 3-1 with a 6.32ERA in seven starts with the Rockies.

#3 Drew Pomeranz TRADED TO COLORADO
Pomeranz was dealt to the Rockies as part of the Ubaldo Jimenez deal. In the minors, Pomeranz went a combined 4-3 with a 1.78ERA in 20 starts between the High-A Kinston Indians, Double-A Akron Aeros, and the Rockies Double-A Tulsa. At the big league level with the Rockies, through September 14th, Pomeranz was 1-0 with a 0.00ERA in one major league start.

#4 Jason Kipnis GRADE: A
Kipnis batted .280 with 16 Doubles, 9 Triples, 12 Home Runs, and 55 RBI’s for Triple-A Columbus. He also tallied 12 stolen bases on the season. Through September 14th, Kipnis was batting .280 with 5 Doubles, 6 Home Runs, and 12 RBI’s in 22 big league games with the Indians.

#5 Jason Knapp DID NOT PLAY
Knapp missed the 2011 season following Tommy John Surgery.

#6 Joe Gardner TRADED TO COLORADO
Gardner was dealt to the Rockies as part of the Ubaldo Jimenez deal. Gardner went a combined 10-11 with a 4.31 ERA between Double-A Akron and the Rockies Double-A Tulsa.

#7 Corey Kluber GRADE: C+
Kluber went 7-11 with a 5.56 ERA for Triple-A Columbus. He walked 70 and struck out 143 in 150.2 innings of work. Opposing hitters batted .263 off Kluber on the year. Through September 14th, Kluber was 0-0 with a 0.00ERA in 1.1 innings at the big league level with Cleveland.

#8 Nick Hagadone GRADE: B
Hagadone went a combined 6-4 with 4 Saves and a 2.79ERA between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus. He walked 22 and struck out 77 in 71 innings of work. Opposing hitters batted just .222 off Hagadone this season. Through September 14th, Hagadone was 0-0 with a 7.94ERA in 5.2 innings out of the Indians bullpen.

#9 Kelvin de la Cruz GRADE: B-
De La Cruz went 5-6 with a 4.19ERA for Double-A Akron. He walked 57 and struck out 95 in 86 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .227 off De La Cruz on the season.

#10 Levon Washington GRADE: C
Washington batted .218 with 9 Doubles, 4 Triples, 4 Home Runs and 20 RBI’s for the Low-A Lake County Captains. He stole 15 bases on the year. Washington walked 49 times and struck out 89 times in 79 games.

#11 Nick Weglarz GRADE: D
Weglarz batted .179 with 8 Doubles, 3 Home Runs, and 12 RBI’s in an injury plagued 41 games for Double-A Akron. It was his third consecutive season at the Double-A level.

#12 Robbie Aviles GRADE: C
Aviles went 0-2 with a 6.52ERA in 9.2 innings for the Rookie League AZL Indians. He walked 2 and struck out 7.

#13 Jordan Henry GRADE: C
Henry batted .256 with 7 Doubles, 2 Triples, and 33 RBI’s for Double-A Akron. He drew 69 walks and struck out 75 times in 119 games. Henry also had 33 stolen bases on the season.

#14 Tony Wolters GRADE: B
Wolters batted .292 with 10 Doubles, 3 Triples, 1 Home Run and 20 RBI’s in 69 games for the Short-A Mahoning Valley Scrappers. He also stole 19 bases.

#15 Felix Sterling GRADE: A-
Sterling who is one of the youngest players in professional baseball, went a combined 4-6 with a 4.12ERA between the AZL Indians and Low-A Lake County. He walked 33 and struck out 66 in 67.2 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .236 against Sterling on the season.

Prospect Rankings

2011 Cincinnati Reds Top 15 Prospects Post Season Report Card

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With the 2011 minor league season complete we check in on the progress of each of the Cincinnati Reds preseason Top 15 prospects as ranked by our prospect ranker J.P. Schwartz. The post season grading report was done by the publisher of Top Prospect Alert, not Mr. Schwartz, and reflects only the 2011 season and not future upside or downside of the individual prospect. Our 2012 preseason rankings will be published in the coming months.

#1 Aroldis Chapman GRADE: A-
Chapman, through September 11th is 4-1 with a 4.09ERA for the Reds. He has walked 37 and struck out 65 in 44 innings. Opposing hitters are batting just .154 against Chapman this season. In nine minor league rehab appearances between the Double-A Carolina Mudcats and Triple-A Louisville Bats, Chapman went 1-2 with a 8.31ERA in 13 innings of work.

#2 Devin Mesoraco GRADE: A-
Mesoraco batted .289 with 36 Doubles, 2 Triples, 15 Home Runs and 71 RBI’s for Triple-A Louisville. He walked 52 times and struck out 83 times in 120 games. Through September 11th, Mesoraco was hitting .143 with a Double and a RBI in 14 big league at-bats with the Reds.

#3 Billy Hamilton GRADE: A
Hamilton became only the 11th player in Minor League Baseball History to steal 100 or more bases in a season. He finished with 103 stolen bases and was caught 20 times for Low-A Dayton. He batted .278 with 18 Doubles, 9 Triples, 3 Home Runs and 50 RBI.

#4 Yasmani Grandal GRADE: A-
Grandal batted a combined .305 with 31 Doubles, 14 Home Runs and 68 RBI’s across the High-A Bakersfield Blaze, Double-A Carolina and Triple-A Louisville. He walked 59 times and struck out 97 times in 105 games.

#5 Yonder Alonso GRADE: A
Alonso batted .296 with 24 Doubles, 4 Triples, 12 Home Runs and 56 RBI’s at Triple-A Louisville. Through September 11th, he was batting .403 with 4 Doubles, 4 Home Runs, and 13 RBI’s in 62 at-bats ats for the Reds.

#6 Yorman Rodriguez GRADE: B-
Rodriguez batted .254 with 10 Doubles, 4 Triples, 7 Home Runs, 40 RBI and 20 Stolen Bases for the Low-A Dayton Dragons in 79 games before a season ending hand injury during the final game of July.

#7 Ryan LaMarre GRADE: B
LaMarre batted a combined .278 with 18 Doubles, 3 Triples, 6 Home Runs and 47 RBI’s in 117 Games with High-A Bakersfield and 5 Games with Double-A Carolina. He stole 55 bases on the season.

#8 Juan Francisco GRADE: B
Francisco batted .318 with 26 Doubles, 1 Triple, 16 Home Runs and 53 RBI’s for Triple-A Louisville. In 47 big league at-bats with the Reds through September 11th, Francisco was batting .234 with 2 Doubles and 2 RBI’s.

#9 Drew Cisco GRADE: DID NOT PLAY
Cisco missed the 2011 season following Tommy John Surgery.

#10 Todd Frazier GRADE: B
Frazier batted .260 with 18 Doubles, 1 Triple, 15 Home Runs and 46 RBI for Triple-A Louisville. Through September 11th, Frazier was hitting .217 with 4 Doubles, 6 Home Runs and 13 RBI’s in 92 big league at-bats with the Reds.

#11 Ismael Guillon GRADE: D+
Guillon went 3-6 with a 6.57ERA in 15 starts for the Rookie League Billings Mustangs. He walked 46 and struck out 61 in 63 innings of work. Opponents batted .305 off of Guillon on the year.

#12 Ron Torreyes GRADE: A-
Torreyes batted .356 with 9 Doubles, 5 Triples, 3 Home Runs, and 47 RBI’s for Low-A Dayton. He also stole 12 bases. He walked 14 times and struck out just 19 times in 65 games.

#13 Kyle Waldrop GRADE: B-
Waldrop batted .273 with 22 Doubles, 9 Triples, 5 Home Runs, and 29 RBI’s for Rookie League Billings. He walked 10 times and struck out 65 times in 68 games.

#14 Devin Lohman GRADE: C+
Lohman batted .272 with 19 Doubles, 3 Triples, 10 Home Runs and 69 RBI’s combined between Rookie League Billings, Low-A Dayton, and High-A Bakersfield. He also stole 19 bases on the season.

#15 Juan Duran GRADE: C+
Duran batted .264, with 21 Doubles, 2 Triples, 16 Home Runs, and 71 RBI’s for Low-A Dayton. He walked 34 times and struck out 152 times in 104 games.

Prospect Rankings

2011 Chicago White Sox Top 15 Prospects Post Season Report Card

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With the 2011 minor league season complete we check in on the progress of each of the Chicago White Sox preseason Top 15 prospects as ranked by our prospect ranker J.P. Schwartz. The post season grading report was done by the publisher of Top Prospect Alert, not Mr. Schwartz, and reflects only the 2011 season and not future upside or downside of the individual prospect. Our 2012 preseason rankings will be published in the coming months.

#1 Chris Sale GRADE A
Through September 10th Sale has gone 2-1 with 6 saves in 52 appearances for the White Sox. He has walked 22 and struck out 71 in 64 big league innings. Big leaguers are hitting just .200 against Sale.

#2 Jared Mitchell GRADE C+
Mitchell hit .222 with 31 Doubles, 8 Triples, 9 Home Runs and 58 RBI’s for the High-A Winston Salem Dash.

#3 Brent Morel GRADE B-
Through September 10th Morel has batted .254 with 15 Doubles, 1 Triple, 5 Home Runs and 30 RBI’s for the White Sox. He has walked 12 times and struck out 47 times in 358 big league at-bats.

#4 Tyler Flowers GRADE C+
Flowers hit .261 with 8 Doubles, 15 Home Runs and 32 RBI’s for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights. He struck out 84 times in 65 games. At the big league level through September 10th, Flowers was hitting .210 with 4 Doubles, 1 Triple, 3 Home Runs, and 10 RBI’s in 27 Games.

#5 Eduardo Escobar GRADE B-
Escobar batted .266 with 23 Doubles, 4 Triples, 4 Home Runs, and 49 RBI for Triple-A Charlotte. Through September 10th he was 1-3 in three big league at-bats.

#6 Dayan Viciedo GRADE A
Viciedo batted .296 with 28 Doubles, 20 Home Runs, and 78 RBI’s for Triple-A Charlotte. He walked 45 times and struck out 83 times in 119 games. The .296 average was a career high. In the big leagues through September 10th Viciedo was hitting .356 with 1 Double, 1 Home Run, and 4 RBI’s in 45 at-bats.

#7 Jacob Petricka GRADE B-
Petricka went a combined 7-8 with a 3.35 ERA between the Low-A Kannapolis Intimidators and High-A Winston Salem. He walked 39 and struck out 99 in 113.1 innings. Opposing batters hit .262 off Petricka on the season.

#8 Addison Reed GRADE A+
Reed went a combined 2-1 with 5 Saves and 1.26ERA between Low-A Kannapolis, High-A Winston Salem, the Double-A Birmingham Barons, and Triple-A Charlotte. He walked 14 and struck out 111 batters in 78.1 innings. Opposing minor league hitters batted just .157 off Reed. Through September 10th Reed was 0-0 with a 3.38ERA and 6 strikeouts in 2.2 innings with the big league White Sox.

#9 Gregory Infante GRADE B
Infante went a combined 3-4 with 11 saves and a 2.54ERA between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. He walked 28 and 54 strikeouts in 63.2 innings. Opposing hitters batted just .235 off Infante.

#10 Trayce Thompson GRADE B
Thompson batted .241 with 36 Doubles, 2 Triples, 24 Home Runs and 87RBI’s for Low-A Kannapolis. He walked 60 times and struck out 172 times in 136 games.

#11 Jon Gilmore GRADE B-
Gilmore who was out much of the season, batted .283 with 13 Doubles, 1 Triple, 3 Home Runs, and 28 RBI’s in 50 games for Double-A Birmingham.

#12 Brandon Short GRADE B-
Short batted .262 with 29 Doubles, 5 Triples, 13 Home Runs and 60 RBI’s for Double-A Birmingham. He also had 21 stolen bases on the season.

#13 Matt Heidenreich GRADE C
Heidenreich went 10-10 with a 4.32ERA for Low-A Kannapolis. He walked 31 and struck out 101 batters in 154.1 innings. Opposing batters hit .277 off Heidenreich.

#14 Miguel Gonzalez GRADE C
Gonzalez batted .255 with 7 Doubles, 2 Home Runs and 21 RBI’s in 55 Games for Low-A Kannapolis.

#15 Mike Blanke GRADE C
Blanke batted a combined .246 with 22 Doubles, 1 Triple, 9 Home Runs, and 43 RBI’s between Low-A Kannapolis and High-A Winston Salem.

Prospect Rankings

2011 Chicago Cubs Top 15 Prospects Post Season Report Card

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With the 2011 minor league season complete we check in on the progress of each of the Chicago Cubs preseason Top 15 prospects as ranked by our prospect ranker J.P. Schwartz The post season grading report was done by the publisher of Top Prospect Alert, not Mr. Schwartz, and reflects only the 2011 season and not future upside or downside of the individual prospect. Our 2012 preseason rankings will be published in the coming months.

#1 Brett Jackson GRADE A-
Jackson batted a combined .274 with 23 Doubles, 5 Triples, 20 Home Runs and 58RBI’s between the Double-A Tennessee Smokies and the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. He also added 21 stolen bases. Jackson walked 73 times and struck out 138 times in 115 games.

#2 Trey McNutt GRADE D+
McNutt went 5-6 with a 4.55ERA in 95 innings for Double-A Tennessee. He walked 39 and struck out 65. Opposing batters hit .319 against McNutt on the season. His ERA was over two runs higher than in 2010 and opponents batted 102 points better off him compared with a year ago.

#3 Josh Vitters GRADE B
Vitters batted .283 with 28 Doubles, 2 Triples, 14 Home Runs and 81 RBI’s for Double-A Tennessee. He struck out just 54 times in 129 games.

#4 Chris Carpenter GRADE C
Carpenter went 2-4 with 5.91ERA in 42.2 innings at Triple-A Iowa. He walked 27 and struck out 34 batters. Opponents hit .269 against Carpenter this season. In 10 big league appearances with the Cubs through September 7th, Carpenter went 0-0 with a 2.79ERA in 9.2 innings. He walked 7, struck out 8, and big league hitters batted .316 against him.

#5 Hayden Simpson GRADE D
Simpson went a combined 1-10 with a 6.27ERA between the Rookie League AZL Cubs and the Low-A Peoria Chiefs. He walked 38 and struck out 57 in 79 innings. Opposing hitters batted .317 off Simpson. He was demoted to the AZL Cubs after struggling in Low-A in the first half, and actually put up worse numbers in the Arizona League, going 0-4 with a 8.15ERA and allowing opposing batters to hit at a .356 clip.

#6 Matt Szczur GRADE B+
Szczur batted a combined .293 with 22 Doubles, 3 Triples, 10 Home Runs, and 46 RBI’s between Low-A Peoria and the High-A Daytona Cubs. He struck out just 48 times while drawing 24 walks in 109 games. He also stole 24 bases on the season.

#7 Rafael Dolis GRADE B
Dolis converted to a reliever this year and went 8-5 with 17 saves and a 3.32ERA for Double-A Tennessee. He walked 35 and struck out 48 in 72.2 innings of work. Opposing batters hit just .227 off Dolis this season.

#8 Michael Burgess GRADE C-
Burgess batted .225 with 24 Doubles, 1 Triple, 20 Home Runs and 68 RBI’s for High-A Daytona. The .225 batting average was the lowest of Burgess’ three full seasons in High-A.

#9 Reggie Golden GRADE C+
Golden batted .242 with 10 Doubles, 5 Triples, 7 Home Runs, and 39RBI’s for the Short-A Boise Hawks. He walked 28 times and struck out 68 times in 64 games.

#10 A.J. Morris DID NOT PLAY
Morris did not make an appearance in 2011 as he recovers from off season shoulder surgery.

#11 D.J. LeMahieu GRADE A-
LeMahieu batted a combined .319 with 22 Doubles, 3 Triples, 5 Home Runs, and 50 RBI’s between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. Through September 7th LeMahieu batted .275 with a Double and 2 RBI’s in 40 big league at bats with the Cubs.

#12 Ryan Flaherty GRADE B-
Flaherty batted a combined .280 with 31 Doubles, 3 Triples, 19 Home Runs and 88 RBI’s between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. After batting .305 with Tennessee in 83 games, Flaherty was promoted to Iowa where he hit just .237 in the final 49 games of the 2011 season.

#13 Jay Jackson GRADE C-
Jackson went 8-14 with a 5.35ERA at Triple-A Iowa. He walked 46 batters and struck out 97 in 146.2 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .305 off Jackson on the year.

#14 Ben Wells GRADE C+
Wells went 4-4 with a 4.66ERA in 77.1 innings at Short-A Boise. He walked 19 and struck out 53. Opposing hitters batted .265 off Wells on the season.

#15 Austin Reed GRADE C-
Reed went 2-7 with a 6.08ERA for Short-A Boise. He walked 25 and struck out 36 in 63.2 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .320 off Reed in 2011.