Michael Taylor makes the SAL Top 20

Top Prospect Lists

Taylor comes in at #15 in the SAL, and was the only Phillie to crack the list. The SAL is a huge league (16 teams), so its not really a travesty to only have one guy on the list. This is also the most talent I’ve seen in the SAL in a long time.

So far, the Phillies to make league top 20’s are

GCL

4. Jason Knapp
7. Sebastian Valle
8. Zach Collier
13. Anthony Hewitt

NYPL

5. Travis D’Arnaud

SAL

15. Michael Taylor

32 thoughts on “Michael Taylor makes the SAL Top 20”

  2. Congrats to Michael, this is a big year in his development ahead. If he rakes at AA he’ll shoot up everyone’s rakings. I’d have to think his age kept his ranking in the teens then the top 10.

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  3. My guess is the Phils get blanked on the FSL list, unless somebody really likes Savery.

    For the Eastern League, presumably Marson and maybe Donald get in there; I don’t know enough about the talent leaguewide to make a particularly well-informed guess. Perhaps Golson, given that it’s BA and they’re into tools.

    Carrasco would seem to merit a spot somewhere, but his AA numbers weren’t that great and he didn’t spend much time at AAA, so I’m not sure if he’ll crack either list despite the likelihood that he’s our highest ranked prospect on their next top 100 list.

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  4. When I first saw that, I was a bit miffed that Dominic Brown was absent and Taylor was so low. But that is quite an impressive list of prospects, so no reason to be too upset. I think there’s probably an argument to be made for Brown over Ryan Kalish (especially if the latter fails to project as a CF), but no real complaints.

    Not to look too far ahead, but Collier and d’Arnaud could find themselves on this list next year if they play to their potential. Fingers crossed, at least.

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  5. The SAL was pretty loaded, and look at the list from 5 years ago: BUpton, Kazmir, Hamels, Francouer, Hermida, Hanley, Carmona is the top 7 and Scott Olsen’s on there. This year, I think there’s a dropoff after the top 3, then another one after #7, and I don’t know enough about the rest to keep going.

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  6. drew from Philly asks:
    How close were Dominic Brown, Freddy Galvis, and Julian Sampson to making the list. I know the last 2 are a stretch but D. Brown seems to have the projection and plate discipline to go along with very consistent production to warrant being on the list somewhere.

    A: Bill Ballew: All three were strong considerations, particularly Brown. Brown is an excellent athlete with a plus arm who has some power. Steve Roadcap, Lakewood’s manager, compared him to Darryl Strawberry, believing that Brown will hit in the middle of the order in the big leagues. Galvis was considered by many to be the best defensive shortsotp in the league with good instincts and plus range. He made great strides this year and should appear on these types of lists as he continues to get strong. Sampson has a power arm that could allow him to develop into a second or third starter in the big leagues. He’s a workhorse type of guy with a great body. He simply needs more command and to continue to develop his changeup.

    Will from Tampa asks:
    Was Michael Taylor ranked so low, because of his age? Also I assume he won’t be on the FSL list because he’s here?

    A: Bill Ballew: Age definitely played a role, but the numbers he posted in the SAL and the FSL were impressive. Don’t be surprised if his name appears again in the near future.

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  7. do you think him moving up impacted his status?

    also do you think that he might be in the top 20 in two leagues? he played almost equal amount of games at both levels.

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  9. Maybe mt will make the fsl roster too. Beats me why the Phillies didnt put him on a fast track but a team who has SO-SO(last hit JUL 27) qualified for the playoff and not GREG GOLSON has something wrong somewhere.
    Perhaps it was accidental but GG scored on the infield ball because he ran perfectly as far infield as legal preventing
    a low throw,seemed very advanced to me.
    ps.nice info maybe they will erect a MT statue in hawaii after the season

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  11. Pete (Philly): What are your thoughts on Michael Taylor from the Phillies organization. Is he for real?

    Jim Callis: (2:20 PM ET ) I always thought he was overrated in high school and at Stanford, but I have to tip my cap to him for a tremendous year. I don’t think he’s going to duplicate those .346/.412/.557 numbers in the majors, but he’s for real.

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  12. I think Taylor makes the FSL and probably ranks even a little higher 10-14 range. I think Savery has a good chance too towards the bottom of the list. FSL only has 12 teams I think it was kind of down year for talent.

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  13. NoWheels, although I love your name Golson scored because Sammons didn’t block the plate a la Rod Barajas.

    Looks like Callis and Ballew both are high on Taylor. Next year is a wathershed moment for him IMHO. Hopefully he starts at AA.

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  14. if you have a tape it is clear that he could not block the plate
    and get the throw without the ball hitting GOLSON . Stop listening to chris wheeler for you own good

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  16. And more Taylor from our good friend Kevin Goldstein. He’s on the bandwagon too. Nice.

    AL (NYC): I’m intrigued by Phillies’ prospect Michael Taylor. What type of player do you envision him being in the future? Any favorable comparisons come to mind?

    Kevin Goldstein: I’m intrigued by him as well, and one of the reasons I am so intrigued is because he’s so unique and so it’s hard to compare him to people. 6-6, 260 guys are hard to find, especially guys with impressive high school numbers, bad college careers, and then pro breakouts. It’s a unique track record.

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  17. ANNDDDDDDdd I found this over on John Sickels blog. Taylor comes in at 10 on the FSL Top Twenty. Not too shabby. Cardenas is at 5. Sigh.

    BA Florida State League Top 20

    Wwjjd_tiny by Brett Keith on Sep 24, 2008 5:44 PM EDT

    Got the issue with all the lists in it yesterday, so here ya go…

    1 – Rick Porcello

    2 – J.P. Arincibia

    3 – Logan Morrison

    4 – Jeremy Jeffress

    5 – Adrian Cardenas

    6 – Jeremy Hellickson

    7 – Sean West

    8 – Wilson Ramos

    9 – Scott Cousins

    10 – Michael Taylor

    11 – Todd Frazier

    12 – Drew Stubbs

    13 – Chris Valaika

    14 – Jose Ceda

    15 – Juan Francisco

    16 – Taylor Green

    17 – Cale Iorg

    18 – Francisco Samuel

    19 – Jonathan Lucroy

    20 – Zach McAllister

    Now remember, these lists lean more towards performance than other BA lists, and rankings are in context of the league. NOW you can start whining.

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  18. Cardenas got out of the FSL before his bad slump. Very disappointing that a #1 pick can’t make a top 20 the year after being drafted. I think we have a shot at 4 in the Eastern League.

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  19. Sguire every pitcher that goes to READING has a slump
    SAM WALLS being the poster boy. A change in management there is way overdue. CC’S perforance in AAA should convince you
    ps HAPP being a exemption He did well. Hamels on the other hand spent little time in AAA almost like they knew there was a problem there.
    pps lots of talented MARLINS on that list.

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  21. I wrote “Cardenas” you seem to be reading Carrasco. After Adrian Cardenas was traded to the Athletics he had about a month and a half of sub .700 OPS numbers.

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  22. Cardenas had a down glitch on move to CAL league, but then had .716 OPS in promotion to AA. I would be happy for that after mid-season promotion if he were still in Phillies org.

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  28. Happ rated #15 best prospect in the IL. Weak league. Still, nice to have at least one of the best at each level. So the count is.

    4 GCL, 1 NYPL, 1 SAL, 1 FSL, 3 EL, 1 IL

    3 Catchers, 3 Pitchers, 3 Outfielders, 1 Infielder

    Not bad. It’s an improvement, especially with the omissions of D. Brown and J. Donald both who will rated on some top prospect lists in the offseason. I’ll take at least 11 legit prospects, considering we didn’t have any two years ago.

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  29. Hey CC one bad game and 5 with a total one one errand run
    Ill take that anyday especially playing with the Ironbodies
    DAVE HUPPERT is a hell of a manager especially great with pitchers.

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  30. Hawaiian Winter Leagues start tonight. Michael Taylor, Dom Brown and Chris Kissock are playing. Start time is 7pm (HT). MILB is back! I think the AFL starts October 4?

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  32. MT didn’t have any RBIs but the 2 guys in front of him were 0 – 10 with 4Ks. He did score 2 runs. Dom Brown didn’t play and when I clicked on the roster, he didn’t even have a number. Does anyone know if he’s hurt or was he just inactive? Kissock see any action but he has a number.

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