Daily Archives: January 25, 2012

May, Biddle and Colvin land on the mlb.com Top 100 list

You can view the list in its entirety here. May came in at #54, Biddle at #78 and Colvin at #80. I’m not going to go in to specifics about my love/hate for the list. Everyone is entitled to create their lists, and everyone has different opinions of players. I think there are a number of weird placements on this particular list, and I’m not sure Colvin is a Top 100 prospect right now, but I won’t complain about any hype/positive reports he generates. The blurbs are free for all to read, so I’ll post them here. But go check out the full list if you’re curious

Scouting report: May is starting to develop into a more complete pitcher and not just a thrower. The fastball is up to 95 mph and it has plenty of sink. May has no trouble maintaining velocity deep into his starts. He complements his fastball with an above-average curve and a changeup that shows glimpses of being above-average as well. While he still walks a good number of hitters, he lowered his walk rate considerably and showed better overall command.

Upside potential: He’ll keep refining his stuff and command, eventually settling in as a very durable No. 2 or 3 starter.

Scouting report: A strong and durable southpaw, Biddle has the makings of three above-average to plus pitches in his arsenal. He’s shown the ability to run his fastball in the low 90s. He has a changeup that could be plus when all is said and done, and although his curve is inconsistent, it’s tighter and has a harder break than when he was in high school. He needs to improve his command, not rare for such a young arm, but he did lower his walk rate in the second half of 2011.

Upside potential: Even if he moves one station at a time, Biddle profiles as a sturdy, innings-eating lefty who will have a long career in the middle of a big league rotation.

Scouting report: Despite the rough 2011 season, Colvin still has pure stuff, and a projectable pitcher’s body, that would be the envy of many a pitching prospect. His fastball is plus at times, up into the mid-90s with good sink that generates ground balls. Both his curve and his changeup have the chance to be very good secondary pitches, and he’s shown a better feel for the offspeed pitch in the past then many his age. His command suffered in 2011, something that will have to improve for him to move forward.

Upside potential: He has the stuff to pitch near the top of a rotation. If the command doesn’t bounce back, his stuff would play well in the bullpen.

The End of the Wilson Valdez Era

It is with much sadness that the Phillies announced the end of the WIlson Valdez era today as he was traded to the CInncinati Reds for LHP Jeremy Horst.  Horst, a 26 year old reliever pitched predominately for Louisville, the AAA Affiliate of the Reds last season, going 1-4 with a 2.81 ERA in 36 games, while holding the opponents to a .219 batting average. Horst was originally drafted by the Reds in the 21st round of the 2007 draft and pitched in 12 games for Cinncinati last season going 0-0 with a 2.93 ERA.

2012 Reader Top 30, #17

Compact speedster Roman Quinn tops a tightly grouped trio to take number 16. Ten different prospects got write in consideration, with Leandro Castro and Perci Garner both getting multiple votes, so I’ll add both of them. As a reminder on eligibility for the list, to be eligible the player must have fewer than 130 AB or 50 innings pitched. So far we have

01. Trevor May, RHP
02. Jesse Biddle, LHP
03. Sebastian Valle, C
04. Brody Colvin, RHP
05. Freddy Galvis, SS
06. Phillippe Aumont, RHP
07. Jon Pettibone, RHP
08. Justin De Fratus, RHP
09. Maikel Franco, 3B
10. Julio Rodriguez, RHP
11. Tyler Greene, SS
12. Larry Greene Jr, OF
13. Jiwan James, OF
14. Tyson Gillies, OF
15. Lisalberto Bonilla, RHP
16. Roman Quinn, SS/OF

Check below for #17

Continue reading 2012 Reader Top 30, #17