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.
35. Joe Benson--OF--Minnesota Twins
- 2012 Outlook: "Future 20-20 player, but needs to raise contact rate and lower strikeouts."
- 2012 Achievements: N/A
- Conclusion: Benson struggled in 2012, but they can be attributed to hand and knee surgeries. Despite a down 2012, GM Terry Ryan is expecting Benson to compete for CF spot in 2013. Benson, however, is far away from ready. He has posted a career BB:K of .43 in the Minors justifying the concern over his patience. Also, Benson needs to show more efficiency when attempint to steal bases. As much as the Twins are high on Benson, his Slash Line seems to be that of a solid, but unspectacular player: .258/.351/.430/.782.
34. Jerry Sands--OF--Pittsburgh Pirates
- 2012 Outlook: "Strong finish to the 2011 MLB season, but might be heading back to Triple-A in 2012. However, as soon as a spot in the OF opens, he'll be the first one up for the Dodgers."
- 2012 Achievements: N/A
- Conclusion: After being traded to the Red Sox in the big Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, and Adrian Gonzalez deal, the Red Sox traded him to the Pirates in the trade for Joel Hanrahan. Sands did manage to garner 23 at bats for the Dodgers last season (struck out 9 times). He has also proven to be a versatile defender, capable of playing anywhere in the OF and has even played at 1B, and a couple of games at 3B. His Minor League Slash Line is as follows: .289/.376/.562/.938 along with a BB:K of .56. He is currently listed as the 3rd RF in the Pirates' depth chart.
33. Matt Adams--1B--St. Louis Cardinals
- 2012 Outlook: "Starting 1B for the Cardinals by 2013."
- 2012 Achievements: #19 Prospect in Pacific Coast League
- Conclusion: Adams is a big guy with legit power. He garnered 86 at bats with the Cardinals last season and struck out 24 times. And then he was forced to have surgery to remove bone spur from his right elbow in August, but should be ready by spring training. Unfortunately, with Allen Craig and Matt Carpenter at the top of the Cards' depth chart, Adams' chance at the Big Leagues will continue to be delayed. Baseball experts and fans alike have been waiting in anticipation to see if Adams is the real deal. Power and production has been improving in the Minors since 2010 (from A-ball to Triple-A) and has show adequate patience, posting a BB:K of .60. Adams just needs an opportunity in the Majors to see if skills and abilities can streamline to the Big Leagues.
32. Jonathan Singleton--1B--Houston Astros
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| Singleton showing off his big bat. |
- 2012 Outlook: "20 year-old can hit for high average and high power."
- 2012 Achievements: Played in Arizona Fall League; #5 Prospect in Texas League; #2 Prospect in Astros' organization as well as the system's Best Hitter for Average.
- Conclusion: Singleton will have to be called up sometime in 2013, but the Astros have pretty much tried to defer having to call-up the young power hitter by signing Carlos Pena and even flirting with the idea of reuniting with Lance Berkman. In the Minors, Singleton has shown discipline (BB:K .70) and production (Slash Line: .291/.394/.470/.864). Reports have shown Singleton to compete for a spot in the Astros' roster in spring training, to projecting his call-up for September. Singleton will be worth monitoring even in the Minors.
31. Adam C. Eaton--OF--Arizona Diamondbacks
- 2012 Outlook: "Shane Victorino-like. Might step in 2012 if somebody gets hurt."
- 2012 Achievements: #12 Prospect in Pacific Coast League as well as the League's Fastest Baserunner and Most Exciting Player.
- Conclusion: Eaton did indeed get called up and filled in for a hurt D'backs' OF. He held his own in 85 Big League at bats posting a BB:K of .93(!), .259 batting average, and a .382 on-base%. He has a career .456 OBP%, .966 OPS, and a BB:K of .85 in the Minors. Despite all of the impressive numbers, Eaton is expected to compete for CF spot in 2013 and will most likely be on a short leash as he will be shipped back to the Minors at the fist sign of struggle. However, Eaton has shown flashes of his potential and despite the lack of size, he has show, thus far, that he can be a prototypical baseball player.
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