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Tuesday, December 4, 2012

2012 MLB PROSPECT REVIEW: #100-96



Felipe M

The following is a review of a list that was compiled way back in March of 2012.  "2012 Outlooks" are based on a summation of scouting reports (entering the 2012 MLB season) of each player condensed into a sentence or two for easier reading.


100. Taylor Jungman--P--Milwaukee Brewers

  • 2012 Outlook: "Future #2 in Starting Rotation."
  • 2012 Achievements: 0.4 HR/9, along with ability to induce groundball outs, displayed ability to keep ball low in the strike zone.
  • Conclusion: Pitched more to contact in Hi-A ball, which resulted in a very disappointing K/9 (5.82). Also, high hit rate shows lack of dominance and command. Clearly, will need more seasoning before the Brewers can consider calling him up.
99. Trevor May--P--Philadelphia Phillies
  • 2012 Outlook: "Long-term prospect, led Minors in K/9 innings."
  • 2012 Achievements: Was added to Phillies' 40-man roster and will be invited to 2013 Spring Training.
  • Conclusion: Issues with control are very transparent, but young enough to fix those issues. Despite posting a respectable K/9, May struggled mightily in Double-A ball, especially with the long ball, despite a history of showing ability to keep the ball in the park. Unless he shows otherwise next season, May might prove to be a fly ball pitcher in the long run, which combined with a newfound struggle to limit home runs allowed, might prove to be fatal in Philly.  Will more than likely be optioned back to the Minors next March.
98. Josh Vitters--3B--Chicago Cubs
  • 2012 Outlook: "At 22 now, progress has stalled, but young enough to continue to develop."
  • 2012 Achievements: Was called up to the Majors
  • Conclusion: Power and production, along with a terrible approach at the plate, has been a disappointment throughout his Minor League career.  So not surprising, he was completely overmatched in call-up to the Cubs last season. He is still young enough to turn things around, bu the Cubs, before Theo Epstein arrived, were not very fond of him to begin with and, just like Vitters' approach at the plate, are growing more impatient with him.
97. C.J. Cron--1B--Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
  • 2012 Outlook: "Long-term player with legit power, but has moderate ceiling."
  • 2012 Achievements: Rated #9 Prospect and Best Power Prospect in California League
  • Conclusion: Cron had surgery to repair a tear in right shoulder, but at 22, he might be 2 years away from making Angels' roster at the soonest. Posted impressive power numbers and contact rate, but still needs to continue on improving plate approach and drawing more walks (.327 OBP% in High-A).
96. Andrelton Simmons--SS--Atlanta Braves
  • 2012 Outlook: "Long-term prospect, but has high upside. Lacks power."
  • 2012 Achievements: #6 Prospect and Rated Best Infield Arm in Southern League
  • Conclusion: Simmons has shown a wonderful approach at the plate.  He's also capable of posting high contact rate despite lacking power, resulting in legit, high batting average. He has speed, but has a lot of learning to do in the art of stealing bases. He's also shown improvement in OBP% in every year in the Minors. All of this resulted in Simmons being able to hold his own in the Majors last year as skills that were developed in Minors, streamlined fairly well in the Big Leagues. 

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