Tag Archives: Trayce Thompson

2012 Chicago White Sox Top 15 Prospect Rankings

By: J.P. Schwartz
@Jaypers413 on Twitter
JP’s FreedomCardboard Blog

2012 Chicago White Sox Top 15 Prospect Rankings

Every year at this time I like to rank each team’s top prospects. My criteria is based upon both past performance and future potential to his parent team. This is my ranking of the 2012 Chicago White Sox Top Prospects.

To qualify, a prospect must have fewer than 130 at-bats or 50 innings in MLB

#1 Keenyn Walker OF
Born: 8/12/1990
Highest Level Reached: Low-A Kannapolis Intimidators
2011 Combined Stats: .257, 8(2B), 3(3B), 24RBI, 21SB

#2 Addison Reed RHP
Born: 12/27/1988
Highest Level Reached: MLB Chicago White Sox
2011 Combined Stats: MINORS: 2-1, 1.26ERA, 5 Saves, 78.1IP, 14BB, 111K, .157BAA
MAJORS: 0-0, 3.68ERA, 7.1IP, 1BB, 12K, .313BAA

#3 Simon Castro RHP
Born: 4/9/1988
Highest Level Reached: Triple-A Tucson Padres (Traded to White Sox December 2011)
2011 Combined Stats: 7-8, 5.63ERA, 115IP, 34BB, 94K, .286BAA

#4 Eduardo Escobar SS
Born: 1/5/1989
Highest Level Reached: MLB Chicago White Sox
2011 Combined Stats: MINORS: .266, 23(2B), 4(3B), 4HR, 49RBI, 13SB
MAJORS: .286 (2 hits in 7 big league at-bats)

#5 Jhan Marinez RHP
Born: 8/12/1988
Highest Level Reached: Double-A Jacksonville Suns (Marlins)
2011 Combined Stats: 3-8, 3.57ERA, 3 Saves, 42BB, 47K, .223BAA

#6 Jared Mitchell OF
Born: 10/13/1988
Highest Level Reached: High-A Winston Salem Dash
2011 Combined Stats: .222, 31(2B), 8(3B), 9HR, 58RBI, 14SB

#7 Nestor Molina RHP
Born: 1/9/1989
Highest Level Reached: Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays)
2011 Combined Stats: 12-3, 2.21ERA, 130.1IP, 16BB, 148K, .234BAA

#8 Ozzie Martinez SS
Born: 5/7/1988
Highest Level Reached: MLB Florida Marlins
2011 Combined Stats: MINORS: .245, 15(2B), 1(3B), 3HR, 26RBI, 11SB
MAJORS: .130, 1RBI (3 hits in 23 at-bats)

#9 Kyle McMillen RHP
Born: 3/14/1990
Highest Level Reached: Rookie League Great Falls Voyagers
2011 Combined Stats: 0-1, 45.00ERA, 1IP, 3BB, 2K, .429BAA (4th Round Pick 2011 MLB Draft)

#10 Brandon Short OF
Born: 9/9/1988
Highest Level Reached: Double-A Birmingham Barons
2011 Combined Stats: .262, 29(2B), 5(3B), 13HR, 60RBI, 21SB

#11 Kevan Smith C
Born: 6/28/1988
Highest Level Reached: Rookie League Great Falls Voyagers
2011 Combined Stats: .355, 22(2B), 3(3B), 9HR, 48RBI

#12 Pedro Hernandez LHP
Born: 4/12/1989
Highest Level Reached: Triple-A Tucson Padres (Traded To White Sox December 2011)
2011 Combined Stats: 10-3, 3.49ERA, 116IP, 22BB, 94K, .262BAA

#13 Tyler Saladino SS
Born: 7/20/1989
Highest Level Reached: High-A Winston Salem Dash
2011 Combined Stats: .270, 26(2B), 9(3B), 16HR, 55RBI, 7SB

#14 Erik Johnson RHP
Born: 12/30/1989
Highest Level Reached: Rookie League Great Falls Voyagers
2011 Combined Stats: 0-0, 4.50ERA, 2IP, 1BB, 2K, .444BAA (2nd Round Pick 2011 MLB Draft)

#15 Trayce Thompson OF
Born: 3/15/1991
Highest Level Reached: Low-A Kannapolis Intimidators
2011 Combined Stats: .241, 36(2B), 2(3B), 24HR, 87RBI

Disclaimer – I did not attend any minor league games this year, nor do I claim to have any scouting experience. These lists are the product of my own research of statistics and online scouting reports.

2011 Chicago White Sox Top 15 Prospects Post Season Report Card

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.

Saturday’s Notable Minor League Home Runs

AAA:
Brian McCann Atlanta Braves – Home Run #1

Valentino Pascucci New York Mets – Home Run #18

Jeff Clement Pittsburgh Pirates – Home Run #1

Nick Stavinoha St Louis Cardinals – Home Run #23

Shane Robinson St Louis Cardinals – Home Run #4

Ryan Flaherty Chicago Cubs – Home Run #3

Bryan LaHair Chicago Cubs – Home Run #31

Jai Miller Oakland Athletics – Home Run #28

AA:
Brandon Waring Baltimore Orioles – Home Run #18

Quincy Latimore Pittsburgh Pirates – Home Run #12 & #13

Matt Den Dekker New York Mets – Home Run #7

Anthony Gose Toronto Blue Jays – Home Run #13

Melky Mesa New York Yankees – Home Run #7

Neftali Soto Cincinnati Reds – Home Run #26

Johermyn Chavez Seattle Mariners – Home Run #13

Mike Trout Los Angeles Angels – Home Run #10

Matthew Adams St Louis Cardinals – Home Run #27

Ben Paulsen Colorado Rockies – Home Run #14

High-A:
Matt Davidson Arizona Diamondbacks – Home Run #15

Gary Brown San Francisco Giants – Home Run #10

Bryce Brentz Boston Red Sox – Home Run #16

Scooter Gennett Milwaukee Brewers – Home Run #8

Hunter Morris Milwaukee Brewers – Home Run #16

Daniel Fields Detroit Tigers – Home Run #8

Tommy Medica San Diego Padres – Home Run #4

Tommy Joseph San Francisco Giants – Home Run #16 & #17

Nathan Freiman San Diego Padres – Home Run #19

Low-A:
Jonathan Rodriguez St Louis Cardinals – Home Run #15

Trayce Thompson Chicago White Sox – Home Run #20

Isaac Galloway Florida Marlins – Home Run #13

Friday’s Notable Minor League Home Runs

AAA:
Jesus Montero New York Yankees – Home Run #13

Cord Phelps Cleveland Indians – Home Run #12

Devin Mesoraco Cincinnati Reds – Home Run #13

Brandon Inge Detroit Tigers – Home Run #6

Lastings Milledge Chicago White Sox – Home Run #11

Taylor Green Milwaukee Brewers – Home Run #21

Anthony Rizzo San Diego Padres – Home Run #23

Pedro Feliz San Diego Padres – Home Run #1

Brett Jackson Chicago Cubs – Home Run #6

Brandon Belt San Francisco Giants – Home Run #8

Alex Liddi Seattle Mariners – Home Run #26

Brandon Allen Oakland Athletics – Home Run #21

AA:
Bryce Harper Washington Nationals – Home Run #3

Travis D’Arnaud Toronto Blue Jays – Home Run #17

Mike McDade Toronto Blue Jays – Home Run #17

Brahiam Maldonado New York Mets – Home Run #21

Kyle Skipworth Florida Marlins – Home Run #9

Ernesto Mejia Atlanta Braves – Home Run #19

Francisco Martinez Seattle Mariners – Home Run #1

High-A:
Robbie Grossman Pittsburgh Pirates – Home Run #10

Xavier Scruggs St Louis Cardinals – Home Run #15 & #16

Jonathan Schoop Baltimore Orioles – Home Run #4

Tommy Joseph San Francisco Giants – Home Run #14 & #15

Kole Calhoun Los Angeles Angels – Home Run #19

Nathan Freiman San Diego Padres – Home Run #18

Low-A:
Jake Marisnick Toronto Blue Jays – Home Run #12

Chris Jacobs Los Angeles Dodgers – Home Run #10 & #11

Travis Witherspoon Los Angeles Angels – Home Run #12

Trayce Thompson Chicago White Sox – Home Run #19

Marcell Ozuna Florida Marlins – Home Run #18

Jacob Realmuto Florida Marlins – Home Run #7

Xander Bogaerts Boston Red Sox – Home Run #12

Sunday’s Notable Minor League Home Runs

AAA:
Chris Valaika Cincinnati Reds – Home Run #6

Brandon Laird New York Yankees – Home Run #12

Russ Canzler Cleveland Indians – Home Run #15

Chris Marrero Washington Nationals – Home Run #13

Cord Phelps Cleveland Indians – Home Run #11

Brett Jackson Chicago Cubs – Home Run #6 & #7

Alex Liddi Seattle Mariners – Home Run #25

Tim Federowicz Los Angeles Dodgers – Home Run #2

Hank Conger Los Angeles Angels – Home Run #5

Matt Dominguez Florida Marlins – Home Run #10

Taylor Green Milwaukee Brewers – Home Run #19

AA:
Erik Komatsu Washington Nationals – Home Run #1

Derrick Mitchell Philadelphia Phillies – Home Run #17

Mycal Jones Atlanta Braves – Home Run #6

Alfredo Silverio Los Angeles Dodgers – Home Run #14

Matthew Adams St Louis Cardinals – Home Run #26

High-A:
Jarrett Parker San Francisco Giants – Home Run #10

Andy Wilkins Chicago White Sox – Home Run #18

Ian Gac Chicago White Sox – Home Run #29 & #30

Robbie Grossman Pittsburgh Pirates – Home Run #9

Matt Davidson Arizona Diamondbacks – Home Run #14

Jonathan Singleton Houston Astros – Home Run #2

Low-A:
Kellin Deglan Texas Rangers – Home Run #4 & #5

Jake Skole Texas Rangers – Home Run #5

Telvin Nash Houston Astros – Home Run #11

Trayce Thompson Chicago White Sox – Home Run #18

Derrick Dietrich Tampa Bay Rays – Home Run #16

Friday’s Notable Minor League Home Runs

AAA:
Ryan Lavarnway Boston Red Sox – Home Run #13

Brandon Guyer Tampa Bay Rays – Home Run #11

Ryan Strieby Detroit Tigers – Home Run #16

Trayvon Robinson Los Angeles Dodgers – Home Run #26

Brett Lawrie Toronto Blue Jays – Home Run #16

AA:
Matt Den Dekker New York Mets – Home Run #6

Paul Goldschmidt Arizona Diamondbacks – Home Run #28

Ryan Wheeler Arizona Diamondbacks – Home Run #14 & #15

Tommy Mendonca Texas Rangers – Home Run #18, #19, & #20

Engel Beltre Texas Rangers – Home Run #1

Matthew Adams St Louis Cardinals – Home Run #22

High-A

Angelo Songco Los Angeles Dodgers – Home Run #18

Michael Burgess Chicago Cubs – Home Run #13

Low-A

Trayce Thompson Chicago White Sox – Home Run #16 & #17

Kyle Parker Colorado Rockies – Home Run #13

Sean Coyle Boston Red Sox – Home Run #9

Mark Canha Florida Marlins – Home Run #17

Chris Jacobs Los Angeles Dodgers – Home Run #7 & #8

Bowman Chrome Autograph Prospecting Penny Stock Edition: 10 Prospects Under $5.00 To Buy

Bowman Chrome Autographs have long been the king of the baseball card prospecting world. Many buy and sell these cards as if they were stock, buying low and selling high, and turning a nice profit to do it all over again with the next wave of prospects, upon each subsequent Bowman Chrome release. In this article, I have found 10 players, whose Bowman Chrome autographs recently ended for $5.00 delivered or less on Ebay, who I believe are great low risk buys for the Bowman Chrome prospector. The list is below is in no particular order.

Ryan Wheeler Arizona Diamondbacks: Lost in the shuffle of the Diamondbacks group of hitting prospects that includes Paul Goldschmidt, Marc Krauss, Bobby Borchering, Matt Davidson and a host of others, Wheeler is having a career year at Double-A Mobile. The third baseman is hitting .302 with 20(2B), 11HR, and 63RBI through 89 games. The 11 Home Runs are one off the 22 year old’s career high.
Ryan Wheeler 2010 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Jonathan Villar Houston Astros: The 20 year old was recently promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi and is one of the youngest players in the Texas League. While he is hitting just .233 combined (.201 in AA) and striking out in nearly a third of his at-bats, Villar has 13(2B), 5(3B), 7HR, and 35RBI as well as 26 stolen bases on the season. If he can get his strikeouts down and his average up over the next couple of years, this card could see some great growth.
Jonathan Villar 2011 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Adron Chambers St. Louis Cardinals: At 24 Chambers is one of the oldest players you will see on this list, however being on the St Louis Cardinals, a team that tends to do well in the hobby, could allow this bargain basement prospect to see a nice spike immediately after his big league debut. An against all odds player, Chambers was 38th round pick back in 2007. Since then he’s hit under .270 just once in the minors. This year for Triple-A Memphis, Chambers is hitting .274, 9(2B), 2(3B), 9HR, and 32RBI. He also has 11 stolen bases on the year. Not a long term hold by any means, but he should be a very nice buy low, flip high player this September.
Adron Chambers 2011 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Allen Webster Los Angeles Dodgers: The 20 year old right hander is following up a solid Low-A campaign in 2010 with nearly as good numbers at the higher levels. He earned a promotion to Double-A in late May after going 5-2 with a 2.33ERA in the hitters friendly California League. Since arriving in the Southern League, Webster has gone 2-1 with a 3.69 ERA in 46 innings. Opposing batters are hitting a combined .226 off of him. Dodger Stadium could come calling for a spot start or two should anyone get hurt down the stretch. Webster has both a 2010 Bowman Platinum Autograph as well as a 2011 Bowman Chrome Autograph which both sell under $5.00.
Allen Webster 2010 Bowman Platinum and 2011 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Jeurys Familia New York Mets: Durability issues are a bit of a question, he just got put on the DL with a right shoulder impingement this morning, but when he is healthy, Familia has been pretty dominant. This year he is a combined 3-3 with a 2.63ERA and 100 strikeouts in 92.1 innings pitched between High-A and Double-A. Opposing hitters are batting just .214 on the year. If his arm holds up, Familia could compete for a starting job with the Mets next season.
Jeurys Familia 2010 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Corban Joseph New York Yankees: Like Adron Chambers, Joseph makes the list as a buy low, sell high flip. With Robinson Cano blocking his path to the bigs, there is not a high likelihood that Jospeh ends up doing much longterm, at least in the Yankee organization. However the the 22 year old is putting up solid numbers at Double-A Trenton, batting .282, 27(2B), 7(3B), 4HR, and 36RBI, and the Yankees usually reward young players like this with September call ups or as injury replacements. One big hit in the Bronx will send Joseph’s chrome autographs into the $15-$20 range overnight.
Corban Joseph 2010 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Jefry Marte New York Mets: The 20 year old third baseman has done a respectable job in his first go-around in the Florida State League hitting .270 with 18(2B), 5HR, and 41RBI. He has 11 stolen bases and only been caught once, and struck out just 55 times in 318 at-bats thus far, which is not bad for being one of the younger players in the league. His numbers this season are nearly identical to fellow Mets prospect Wilmer Flores who has been the recipient of loads of hobby love in the past.
Jefry Marte 2010 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Scooter Gennett Milwaukee Brewers: There aren’t a whole ton of prospects left in the Brewers organization and there are likely to be fewer as the big league club continues it’s now or never run at the post season in what is likely Prince Fielder’s final year with the club. That being said, Gennett may be a little overvalued as a top 10 organizational prospect in a barren farm system, however Gennett is holding his own in the Florida State League batting .281 with 11(2B), 3(3B), 5HR, and 32RBI. He’s struck out just 42 times in 359 at-bats this season. If he can develop 12-15 Home Run power at his second base position over the next couple of years as he climbs the ladder, Gennett could find himself being a Danny Espinosa (who is 3 years older than Gennett) type by the time he reaches the big leagues.
Scooter Gennett 2010 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Trayce Thompson Chicago White Sox: Thompson is the ultimate all or nothing guy in this group. He’s in his second year of Low-A ball as a 20 year old after his first season at Kannapolis was cut short by injury. He’s hitting just .224 this year and has yet to finish a year above .229 as a pro. However Thompson can hit a ball very far. This year his power continues to develop and he has 20(2B), 15HR’s and has drove in 50 runs thus far. He has also struck out 114 times in 340 at-bats. If he can get his plate discipline under control he could be scary good as he progresses through the White Sox system. If he cannot, he will be the latest version of former Braves all or nothing prospect Cody Johnson.
Trayce Thompson 2010 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Adrian Cardenas Oakland Athletics: I will probably get flack for this, but I am still a buyer on Adrian Cardenas. Yes he’s been around forever, but he’s still only 23 years old. He’s never hit below .295 in a season in six years as a pro. In his first full season in Triple-A Cardenas is hitting .305 with 17(2B), 2(3B), 3HR, and 30RBI. He’s walked 35 times and struck out just 28 times in 308 at-bats. Chicks dig the long ball and so do prospectors, but I say at some point in the next year or two, Cardenas chrome autographs are selling for well above the $.99 level he is at right now.
Adrian Cardenas 2006 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Thursday’s Notable Minor League Home Runs

AAA:

Ryan Strieby Detroit Tigers – Home Run #13

Adam Loewen Toronto Blue Jays – Home Run #14

Matt Dominguez Florida Marlins – Home Run #7

Brandon Belt San Francisco Giants – Home Run #7

Cody Ransom Arizona Diamondbacks – Home Run #25

AA:

Allan Dykstra New York Mets – Home Run #11

Will Middlebrooks Boston Red Sox – Home Run #10

Charlie Culberson San Francisco Giants – Home Run #7

Andrew Lambo Pittsburgh Pirates – Home Run #2

Neftali Soto Cincinnati Reds – Home Run #16

Kyle Skipworth Florida Marlins – Home Run #6

Matthew Adams St Louis Cardinals – Home Run #20

High-A:

Tony Plagman New York Yankees – Home Run #13

Ian Gac Chicago White Sox – Home Run #23

Matt Long Los Angeles Angels – Home Run #13

Angelo Songco Los Angeles Dodgers – Home Run #15 & #16

David Flores Houston Astros – Home Run #4, #5, & #6

Low-A:

Josh Skole Texas Rangers – Home Run #4

Trayce Thompson Chicago White Sox – Home Run #15

Jake Marisnick Toronto Blue Jays – Home Run #8

Jesus Aguilar Cleveland Indians – Home Run #17 & #18

Yazy Arbello Arizona Diamondbacks – Home Run #22