Reader Top 30 #29 – Second Attempt – Zach Green

2013 Reader Top 30

Simon and Green ended in too close a race to call, but I didn’t feel right ending in a strict run-off.  So I have taken the top 5 vote getters and they will be our poll for #29 today and #30 tomorrow.

About Matt Winkelman

Matt is originally from Mt. Holly, NJ, but after a 4 year side track to Cleveland for college he now resides in Madison, WI. His work has previously appeared on Phuture Phillies and The Good Phight. You can read his work at Phillies Minor Thoughts

31 thoughts on “Reader Top 30 #29 – Second Attempt – Zach Green”

  1. Kevin Brady. Top 100 draft prospect going into 2012 season. Fastball up to 96 mph. Supposedly has pinpoint control of his fastball according to reports. BB% under 1.5 last year, in pro debut backs that up. Suppos has good breaking ball. If starting fails, could be a power arm reliever.

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    1. I’m on Green for the exact opposite reason. The likelihood of him reaching his potential is low, but relief prospects are a dime a dozen, and power hitting 3B prospects are not.

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      1. what are you basing your statement on? one year on the GCL or strictly just odds of anyone reaching their potential?. pure hogwash

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        1. Hogwash? Most prospects are lottery tickets. Green is a third round pick who had just as many negatives as positives in his first professional season. So, to answer the question, I’m basing the statement that he is a longshot to achieve his potential on both: the fact that he struck out a lot while drawing few walks and had a BABIP-driven average in the GCL, and the fact that most prospects who fit his profile do not develop into the players scouts hope they will.

          I like Green. I’m just being realistic.

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    2. He has 25 IP at AA. He is not all that close as far as I am concerned (watch him start in AAA and then get promoted in June when half the bullpen gets hurt again…anyway). He had a 7.5 K/9 as a reliever in AA. It will be lower in the majors. He also had a .174 BABIP which will surely rise. He is not that good and his ceiling is low. He does not belong on this list at all.

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    1. Before signing at age 16 his raw power in batting practice was drawing legitimate Stanton comps. He came to instructs this fall and showed that same power. Right field profile long term. The power is not just raw strength, he has insane bat speed for a prospect his age. Otherwise that is it, he has no semblance of an approach or game instincts. He is a pure dream, but a dream with 80 grade raw power at age 17 (turned 17 in September).

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      1. Why is this the first time I’ve seen his power graded at an 80?

        I’ve got to tell you, Matt … that writeup just made me consider changing my vote.

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        1. I threw the 80 out there, he just jacks everything out there (it might be more projection right now I admit, but you don’t get Stanton comps without it being elite). The problem is his game power is somewhere in the 30 range because the hit tool is a 20 or so. But he is 17 so no time to worry, if you are going to be super young and raw it is good to have elite skills.

          All of that being said, I have Green, Brady, and I think Altherr ahead of him.

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        2. This was Mark Anderson’s write up on him last week
          http://baseballprospectnation.com/2013/02/05/2013-philadelphia-phillies-top-15-prospects/
          “I got my first exposure to Pujols during the fall instructional league and let’s just say I’m hooked. A very raw 16-year old, Pujols is a plus athlete with a good frame and the room to bulk up and add plenty of strength. He already has plenty of raw power with the ability to drive the ball out of the ball park but he must refine his hit tool and develop an approach at the plate to allow his power to manifest in games. Phillies fans are looking at least five years of development in Pujols future before he even approaches the big league radar but you should keep an eye on him.”

          Some Youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiQbQD_q5Eo

          Jon Mayo’s scouting report

          “Athletic, with a strong arm that might eventually land him in right field, the teenage outfielder has also displayed raw power at the plate. However, he remains an enigma because of an inconsistent approach and the fact that he sometimes seems lost when in the batter’s box, even during batting practice. Some think Pujols’ biggest issue is his belief that he has to hit every ball out of the park and the mixed results that come with the all-or-nothing approach. At times, he shows plus-plus power along with natural throwing and running abilities that would make him among the top prospects on the international market, but there is a concern that he might not make enough contact to stay in a lineup on a regular basis. Pujols’ natural abilities make him attractive to scouts, and he could pay dividends once he receives regular instruction in a Major League farm system. Strong performances in Florida and Arizona for the Dominican Prospect League All-Star travel squad during Spring Training have some scouts believing that Pujols is starting to put his game together.”

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  6. I went Green here, but could also have gone with Brady or Pujols. Just trusting the higher pick, and excited by the power potential.

    Where’s the Simon love coming from? Relievers have limited value, and his numbers aren’t eye-popping.

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    1. If there wasn’t at least one low ceiling, middle inning, Reading, relief pitcher voted in, it wouldn’t be a top 30. It’s tradition.

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    1. Probably because Joe Jordan will ensure Simon is pitching up in Philly in June/July as a cup of coffee, when the bullpen pitchers start going down on the IR.

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    2. Kyle Simon is 2 years younger, and had better success at AA than Tyler Knigge. Plus Simon was invited to orientation and big league camp, so that shows the organization looks at him as the better prospect.

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  9. The system is far more deep than you would think based on their low system ranking. When you are having legitimite prospect discussions at 29 and 30 you have to feel a little good.

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      1. Also, in other news, I can’t comment when I am logged into work anymore. Although I can comment through WordPress, apparently. So if I get confused and post something that’s already been said, blame my employer.

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  12. All good choices. Though I am not as high on Simon since he is a reliever he was a 4th Rd pick. Green was 3rd Rd, and projects for power and plus 3B. Pujols is serious projection, so I’d like to see him play professionally before making further evaluation. Brady is interesting since he was highly ranked (at one point) with excellent results. Altherr is still a toolkit with just average results but upside still reasonable to project.

    At this point I still like Green but good see him moving drastically either direction this year depending on the long swing and his positional ability – still like to see if he can stay at SS.

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  13. The most predictable outcome. Someone would make sure that the Simon caught Green today, to force a deadlock before the next round.

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  14. I’m grateful for your decision not to end the top 30 in a run-off. I really want Kevin Brady to be in this list. I think this will be a break-out year for him and that he will be a big help to the Phillies in the future. Thanks for this opportunity to vote.

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