BA’s Top 20 GCL Prospects

September 16, 2008 by Mike Axisa 30 Comments

Baseball America has started it’s annual look into each leagues top 20 prospects, starting yesterday with the Rookie level Arizona League (not to be confused with the Arizona Fall League), and continuing today with the Rookie level Gulf Coast League. Twins’ first rounder Aaron Hicks grabbed the top spot, and was followed by Marlins’ first rounder Kyle Skipworth. Only one Yankees’ farmhand made the list – 17-yr old RHP Arodys Vizcaino, who came in at #11. Brett Marshall likely would have made the list if he didn’t sign so late.

You can see the top 20 list schedule here; the next one of interest to Yankees’ fans is the Short Season NY-Penn League this Friday.

Manimal

Vendette must be in the top 5. Domitation with two arms.
- Steve
  
  . . . or gimmick pitcher who doesn’t have great stuff from either side.
  
  Do the Yanks really need to sell tickets to SI games that badly?
Joe

No, Manny Baneulos, seems like a crock of shit to me. Kelly from the Sox made it despite horrible stats.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Don’t get too caught up in Rookie ball stats, they’re pretty useless. Go check out how Tony Blanco and Derek Jeter did in Rookie ball.
- Reggie C.
  
  but……Casey Kelly has got all the projectables — physical tools, pedigree, prep coaching. All that stuff counts at this lowest of minor league levels.
Maat

Ditto on Manny B. No love for Cojo? How could that kid not make it?
Miles Roche

No Manny Banny?
Gotta say i’m surprised, as i was led to believe that Banuelos was the better prospect of the 2 (Banny & The Viz) . . .
Reggie C.

Isn’t the knock on Manny B. his height? I don’t think he’s even 6 feet tall. That and a FB that doesn’t consistently touch 90 knocks him out. Stats/Results clearly dont matter at this point — look at Casey Kelly & Anthony Hewitt. Its all about projectability.

Arodys V. sounds like he could be the next pitching splash signed from the Dominican. MIKE, do you think he starts in Low-A? What’s your low-A pitching rotation??
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  I would think he starts in Low-A. I figure Arodys, Marshall, David Phelps and Adam Olbrychowski are locks for the Low-A pitching staff, but beyond that it’s just guessing.
  - Steve
    
    Mike, what do you think Marshall’s ceiling is?
    
    He must have BLOWN the Yanks away in his workouts to grab 1 mil $$. His scouting reports weren’t anything mind blowing, at least nothing that I saw.
Miles Roche

And your Tampa rotation as well, please, Mike.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  That one’s easy (in no particular order):
  
  Brackman, Bleich, Betances, DeLaRosa, Jairo
  - Miles Roche
    
    So you’re having Z-Mac and Garcia starting in Trenton.
    Makes then pretty formidable as well. . .
    - Reggie C.
      
      It makes sense for McAllister to start off at Trenton. He pitched his fair share of innings at Tampa and didn’t really hit a speed bump, and succeeded against hitters who were no longer rusty from the winter break.
      
      Garcia should make it through the Rule V draft remaining in the Yank org. 2009 is now or never with this kid. He’s 22 & finally healthy for a good stretch. Time to see if his plus plus stuff succeeds against seasoned hitters.
      - Steve
        
        Thats pushing him a bit. AA is considered the biggest jump in the minors. I’d rather see him start the year in Tampa myself.
        
        Garcia could start in AAA. He’s been with the organization forever, the traing wheels should be off at this point. Same goes for Horne.
  - Miles Roche
    
    That also pushes Marquez, Wright, Igawa, Hacker, Jones, Kontos, Horne, McAllister, Garcia, Nova and those of Hughes, Kennedy & Aceves that don’t make the Major League cut into the AA & AAA picture.
    So who falls?
Miles Roche

Heck. Give us the entire Tampa roster for ’09. . .

(I’m getting the goosebumps thinking how scary good Tampa can potentially be next year.
They should be more exciting than the big league club. . .)
- yankeemonkey
  
  They should be more exciting than the big league club. . .
  
  That’s a pretty low bar to set, dotcha think? Although this might be bitterness over the ’08 season talking…
  - Steve
    
    “Bitterness”? You would think the Yanks are 10 games UNDER .500 instead of 10 games over the way some fans talk. I know some fans have never seen the Yanks miss the playoffs, but it happens, and even happened to some of the great teams of the 20’s-60’s. I saw it happen in 1979 and they bounced back strong the next year. Some teams get old, some get banged up, we had a little of both and still had a decent year by most teams standards.
    
    I’m not saying I don’t embrace the high standards the Yanks have, its one of the things I love most about them. But being 10 games over .500 is nothing to be bitter about.
- Miles Roche
  
  Snyder, Suttle, Montero, Romine, Laird & Krum.
  Who will the other 3 steadies be?
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

I’m trying to figure out whether Arodys Vizcaino reminds me more of A-Rod or of Jose Vizcaino…
- Steve
  
  I’m going to start calling him A-Viz, myself.
  
  BTW-This is where you say “Not exactly”
  - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos
    
    …
    
    Not exactly.
    
    (Now give me a fish.)
craig

If Manny Baneulos didn’t make the top 10 list I would have thought the list was silly, for him not to be ranked in the top 20 is beyond laughable…..and it’s why I no longer subscript to BA. They have “some” good content, but most of it is speculation based on scouting reports….no real eyes on the players.
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos
  
  “Subscript?”
  
  yeesh.
Bill

my AAA staff:
SP Hughes
SP Kennedy
SP Aveves
SP Hacker
SP Kontos/Wright/Horne/Marquez/Hacker

Bullpen cadidates: 4 of Kontos/Wright/Horne/Marquez/Hacker, Igawa, Kronke, Jackson, Whelan.
David Brown

BOSTON AMERICA (oops Baseball America) always puts the Yankees down. I do not understand why Betances is not ranked higher. I think when all is said and done, Garrison Lassiter will be the jewel of the 2008 draft, and he will be on that top 20 list next year.
Steve

Mike, could you give us a breakdown/scouting report on Arodys Vizcaino?

Maybe copy and paste the BA article with a few minor changes for copyright reasons?
Manimal

I Just realized how amazing High A yankees will be next year. AA seems to get the short end of the stick while AAA will seek to repeat.
- Steve
  
  That staff is the type that could be talked about for years, if most of them make it.