Hindsight is 20/20: A Look At Our Top Prospects For 2008
Conor Gillaspie (3B – SF) was the first player to be called up from this summer’s first year player’s draft. We had the report over at Major League Report. So far in the minors, in just rookie ball and short season, he has hit .269 with zero home runs and 15 RBI in 24 games. He hasn’t done anything to deserve a call-up, but the Giants don’t have anything to lose. Regardless, his call-up got me thinking about prospects and I figured there was no better time than the present to take a look at our pre-season top prospects and see how they’ve played this season. You can find all of the analysis on them here.
1. Jay Bruce (OF, CIN)
Bruce came up at the end of May and was electric, but has settled down since then. Still, he’s had a solid rookie campaign. He has a .259 BA with 16 HR to this point.
2. Evan Longoria (3B, TB)
Despite a stint on the DL, Longoria has played quite well in the majors this year. He has a .278 BA with 22 HR to this point.
3. Cameron Maybin (OF, FLA)
Maybin hasn’t played well in the majors in 22 games this year, but he did hit .277 with 12 HR and 21 SB in AAA.
4. Clayton Kershaw (SP, LAD)
In 18 games in the majors Kershaw has a 4.60 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 90 innings. He hasn’t played poorly for a rookie, but he hasn’t been electric either. He’s still only 20.
5. Joba Chamberlain (P, NYY)
He’s spent time in the bullpen, rotation, and on the DL, but however you spin it, he’s had a successful year. He currently has a 2.67 ERA with 105 strikeouts in 91 IP. He’s started 12 games.
6. Clay Buchholz (SP, BOS)
Buchholz has only started 15 games in the majors this year, and he didn’t play very well. He has a 6.75 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 76 IP this year. The K/9 ratio is good so the ERA will likely be better next year.
7. Colby Rasmus (OF, STL)
Rasmus hasn’t played in the majors this year and hasn’t played well in the minors. He’ll get his chance at some point, but the Cardinals OF has played well and he hasn’t, therefore, his stock has probably dropped some this year.
8. Andrew McCutchen (OF, PIT)
McCutchen has played pretty well in AAA this year. He’s batting .283 with 9 HR and 34 SB. Look for McCutchen to make an impact in the majors next year.
9. Homer Bailey (SP, CIN)
Bailey has been absolutely awful in the majors this year; however, don’t give up on him yet. He’ll slip a bit in the prospect rankings next year, but he still has the talent.
10. Adam Miller (SP, CLE)
Miller didn’t play much this season as he battled injuries, but when he did play he was electric in AAA. He has a 1.88 ERA in 6 games.
Those were our top 10 players. You can see the rest of the top 50 in our 2008 draft guide. As is always the case with prospects, some panned out and some didn’t. Most of these guys will make an impact at some point in their career, the question is simply when. By the way, #11 on our list was David Price. For continual updates on David Price, check out Major League Report’s “David ‘Price Check”
1. Jay Bruce (OF, CIN)
Bruce came up at the end of May and was electric, but has settled down since then. Still, he’s had a solid rookie campaign. He has a .259 BA with 16 HR to this point.
2. Evan Longoria (3B, TB)
Despite a stint on the DL, Longoria has played quite well in the majors this year. He has a .278 BA with 22 HR to this point.
3. Cameron Maybin (OF, FLA)
Maybin hasn’t played well in the majors in 22 games this year, but he did hit .277 with 12 HR and 21 SB in AAA.
4. Clayton Kershaw (SP, LAD)
In 18 games in the majors Kershaw has a 4.60 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 90 innings. He hasn’t played poorly for a rookie, but he hasn’t been electric either. He’s still only 20.
5. Joba Chamberlain (P, NYY)
He’s spent time in the bullpen, rotation, and on the DL, but however you spin it, he’s had a successful year. He currently has a 2.67 ERA with 105 strikeouts in 91 IP. He’s started 12 games.
6. Clay Buchholz (SP, BOS)
Buchholz has only started 15 games in the majors this year, and he didn’t play very well. He has a 6.75 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 76 IP this year. The K/9 ratio is good so the ERA will likely be better next year.
7. Colby Rasmus (OF, STL)
Rasmus hasn’t played in the majors this year and hasn’t played well in the minors. He’ll get his chance at some point, but the Cardinals OF has played well and he hasn’t, therefore, his stock has probably dropped some this year.
8. Andrew McCutchen (OF, PIT)
McCutchen has played pretty well in AAA this year. He’s batting .283 with 9 HR and 34 SB. Look for McCutchen to make an impact in the majors next year.
9. Homer Bailey (SP, CIN)
Bailey has been absolutely awful in the majors this year; however, don’t give up on him yet. He’ll slip a bit in the prospect rankings next year, but he still has the talent.
10. Adam Miller (SP, CLE)
Miller didn’t play much this season as he battled injuries, but when he did play he was electric in AAA. He has a 1.88 ERA in 6 games.
Those were our top 10 players. You can see the rest of the top 50 in our 2008 draft guide. As is always the case with prospects, some panned out and some didn’t. Most of these guys will make an impact at some point in their career, the question is simply when. By the way, #11 on our list was David Price. For continual updates on David Price, check out Major League Report’s “David ‘Price Check”
