How To Prepare For The Arizona Fall League

The Arizona Fall League recently released their rosters for the upcoming season and did not disappoint. There are a number of top prospects playing this year as well other players that are on my radar. I think the Fall League is the best test for prospects outside of the jump from A ball to AA or a promotion to the Majors. Prospectors should take player performance very seriously. Success in the Fall League is a good indicator on if a prospect will produce in the Majors.


Arizona Fall League Rosters via Baseball America

Los Angeles Angels OF Jahmai Jones On Fire

Jahmai Jones is on fire in Hi-A with a 22 game hitting streak. I predicted earlier in the season that he would have a bounce back season. The Angles are in the Wild Card hunt but the team could still use all the help it can get. I expect the Angels to move Jones as fast as possible. He is still rated as a STRONG BUY.

Los Angeles Dodgers 2B/SS Gavin Lux - Turning the Corner?

Gavin Lux has turned the corner after a rough start to a season. Despite hitting for a .219 average he has a walk rate of 13% and a K rate of 17% with 394 plate appearances. I think his start to the season was so bad his average was never going to recover. Prices are a bargain due to him being kept off various hot lists. Lux seems to have good plate discipline so the low average does not worry me at all. The Dodgers have a good track record of developing hitters. I rate him as a STRONG BUY.

A Few Impressive Hitting Prospects

I took some time over the weekend to run some numbers and the results are interesting. Here are a few hitters who are having impressive seasons. All of the names have a minimum of 175 plate appearances, a strikeout rate of less than 20%, a walk rate (BB) greater than 8% and an ISO (Isolated Power) greater than .140. The report shows hitters who have plate discipline and power. The overall list is not long.

Bo Bichette (TOR) - 16.20% K rate - 8.40% BB - 0.212 ISO
Brandon Lowe (TB)  - 17.50% K rate - 12.80% BB - 0.218 ISO
Lewis Brinson (MIL) -  18.90% K rate - 10.10% BB - 0.225 ISO
Rafael Devers (BOS) - 17.60% K rate - 9.50% BB - 0.267 ISO
Rhys Hoskins (PHI)-  15.50% K rate - 13.50% BB - 0.280 ISO
Willie Calhoun (TEX) - 12.00% K rate - 8.30% BB - 0.278 ISO
Gleyber Torres (NYY) - 20.00% K rate - 12.80% BB - 0..193 ISO
Ronald Guzman (TEX) -  15.50% K rate - 9.10% BB - 0.163 ISO - Buy
Carson Kelly (STL) -  14.30% K rate - 11.80% BB - 0.176 ISO - Needs a Chrome Auto
DJ Stewart (BAL) -  16.80% K rate - 11.10% BB - 0.174 ISO - Bargain Bin Buy
Jahmai Jones (LAA) -  16.70% K rate - 8.30% BB - 0.144 ISO - STRONG BUY
JP Crawford (PHI) - 17.00% K rate - 14.80% BB - 0.145 ISO - Buy if under $20. Hold if you already own.

Why New York Yankees OF Blake Rutherford Was Traded

Brian Cashman has done a great job over the past few years restocking the farm. Some fans wonder why he traded Blake Rutherford to the Chicago White Sox. Well the reason is because of Estevan Florial. Hopefully he has a Chrome auto this November.

Estevan Florial Stats via Fangraphs

Garrett Whitley - Tampa Bay Rays OF On The Rise

At Prospects for Cash, I try to provide my readers with new information about prospects who are not discussed. Keep an eye on Garrrett Whitley. He was drafted in the 13th round of the 2015 draft and I think he is starting to turn to corner. He is a boom or bust prospect but I trust the Rays to do everything they can to develop him. It is a good time to buy.

Baseball America's 2017 Midseason Top 100 Prospects Update

Over the All Star break Baseball America released its update of the top 100 prospects. I have provided some analysis on some of the names that received my attention. 

101. Padres SS Fernando Tatis Jr - A prospect that was on my radar but the swing and miss bothered me. The power is real but while baseball has embraced the strikeout I have not. I still rate him as a BUY with the hope that he cuts down on the strikeouts.

97.   Angles OF Jordon Adell - Hopefully Adell will be in 2017 Draft in December. Scouts worry about his swing and miss issues.

96.   Red Sox 3B Michael Chavis - Nice prospect putting up solid numbers in AA so far. I would rate him as a STRONG BUY.
 
93.   Indians 1B Bobby Bradley - 16HR's so far in AA with a respectable K%. He is coming along well and I would buy an auto or two.

92.   Phillies SS J.P. Crawford - Crawford has struggled a little in AAA. If you have any auto's HOLD.

91.   Rockies 1B/3B Ryan McMahon - I recommended Ryan in the past but unless he is a superstar Rockies players don't sell well.

90.   Blue Jays SS Lourdes Gurriel -Watching him closely as he returns from injury.
 
83.   White Sox RHP Dylan Cease - Nice prospect joining a stacked White Sox farm system. I expect prices to remain at the same level.

71.   Braves SS Kevin Maitan - Has not played yet but cards are already on the high end.

69.   Phillies 1B Ryan Hoskins - Needs a Chrome auto.

57.   Cardinals RHP Jack Flaherty  - Loved him since he was drafted and his stuff keeps getting better. I rate him as a BUY.

52.   Phillies 2B Scott Kingery - Legit prospect who has made great adjustments. His Bowman Auto is on the high end.

51.   Cardinals C Carson Kelly - A great catching prospect who plays great defense and will hit for a good average with pop.

50.   Mets 1B Dominic Smith - Underrated prospect in my opinion. Auto's are still at a decent price considering the market. Very impressive season so far.

46.   Phillies OF Mickey Moniak - Love the talent but can he hit for power?

45.   White Sox OF Luis Robert - Hopefully Robert is in 2017 Bowman Chrome

44.   Blue Jays SS Bo Bichette - One of the hottest prospects in the minors. Buy if you can afford it. All you need is one.

41.   Braves RHP Kyle Wright - Looking forward to his debut.

40.   Rays LHP/1B Brendan McKay - Brendan seems like a generational talent. I really hope he succeeds playing both ways.

39.   Twins SS Royce Lewis - On fire in rookie ball but don't take those stats too seriously.

34.   Rangers OF Leody Taveras - STRONG BUY - Leody is the current top prospect in the Rangers system. At 18 years old he is producing some good numbers. Don't let the batting average worry you. The K rate is 15% and walk rate is around 8% in A ball. Auto's are under $25.

30.   Reds RHP Hunter Greene - Another generational talent that hopefully will play both ways. I love that he is playing for the Reds.

22.   Pirates OF Austin Meadows - Still battling injuries and the pop has not been there. I'm worried a little but I would HOLD and not sell.

23.   Braves LHP Kolby Allard - Impressive numbers after coming back from injury. I am now a believer.

If you would like my thoughts on any prospect not mentioned on the list or one that did not make the list, leave a comment or reach out to me on Twitter @Prospects4Cash. Thanks!

Still Time to Buy Nick Gordon

Nick Gordon is having a breakout season and prices have not spiked like I thought they would. He has shown increased power and should stay at shortstop. There is still time to invest for a reasonable price. I think he will only improve.

A Rule That Every Prospector Should Follow

On July 4th, an Aaron Judge BGS graded 9.5 purple auto sold for $14,655. This is the highest sale I have seen for an Aaron Judge card. The one rule that I tell any prospector whether they are young or old is "all you need is one". If your budget allows you to buy multiples autos of a player, by all means proceed but if not, one auto is just fine. When 2009 Bowman Draft was released a Mike Trout auto was only $20. When Aaron Judge struggled during his first callup, prices were very affordable. All you need is one.

Los Angeles Dodgers OF Alex Verdugo - Buy Immediately

Alex Verdugo is currently on a 13 game hit streak in AAA and 5 years younger than the league average. He is batting .455 in his last 10 games. Verdugo has a 10.4% walk rate and a 9.3% K rate to go along with 14 doubles, 3 triples and 3 home runs on the season. These stats indicate a high level of plate discipline that you want to see in a major league hitter. In my opinion, there is a strong chance that prices could reach Bellinger/Seager levels in the future. I expect a callup to the majors in 2018 (possibly 2017) and I expect Verdugo to rake. The power numbers are not a concern as home run power is the last skill to develop. As I stated on Twitter previously, Mike Trout only hit 23 home runs in his minors career and Verdugo has hit 25. What is scary is that when you compare both players minor league statistics they are very similar. Am I saying that Verdugo is the next Trout? NO. What I am saying is Verdugo is an advanced hitter with 20-30 HR potential with a 70 rated arm. Time is running out so do not wait to invest. Verdugo's cards can still be bought for decent prices.

Link to Stats via Fangraphs
                                       

MLB Prospect Alerts & Updates

As we approach the All Star break, I would like to provide some updates and thoughts on various events happening in the minor leagues. As always feel free to send me a message on the blog or on twitter if you have any questions.


New York Yankees - Dustin Fowler - Back in 2016 I recommended you invest in Fowler. If you bought at that time you are in good shape. Prices have doubled. You hope he would increase his walk rate in the future but the talent is legit.

Oakland Athletics - A.J. Puk - A.J. Puk is now a STRONG BUY. Scouts were initially skeptical but Puk has delivered. He is the lefty that Oakland needs.

Cleveland Indians - Will Benson - I will be watching Will Benson closely as short season begins. Can he cut down on the strikeouts?

Boston Red Sox - Jay Groome - If you like Groome, I strongly suggest investing now. He was a steal in the draft due to character issues but the arm is front end.

Colorado Rockies - Brendan Rodgers - I am aware that Rodgers is on fire right now but there is one issue... He plays in Colorado. If he were to ever be traded I would buy immediately. He's that good.

Short Season Leagues - Keep an eye on all short season & rookie ball leagues. Performance will be a key factor when 2017 Draft is released in September. (Obvious I know)


Stay tuned for more updates from Prospects For Cash!

NY Yankees INF Gleyber Torres Out For the Season - My Thoughts

It was announced today that Gleyber Torres will undergo Tommy John surgery and will be out for the season. Tommy John surgery for a position player is not as negative than surgery for a pitcher so I'm not worried but his debut with the Yankees will be delayed a significant amount of time. The injury presents a possible new investing opportunity. Most prospectors will hold and some will sell at at a discount. Might be a good time to take advantage of a rare opportunity. Torres will be a star.

My Thoughts on the 2017 MLB Draft

The MLB draft is tonight and while most individuals could care less I will be watching all three rounds. Most scouts would say the talent is not as good as previous years draft (see 2011) but I still am interested on where certain players will end up. This draft has a few two way players that I have been watching closely. Hopefully all the kids drafted sign sooner than later so an adequate sample size can be logged before Bowman Draft is released in December.

Taylor Trammell - Cincinatti Reds (OF) - Strong Buy

After a slow start to the season Taylor Trammell has started heat up. He currently has 11 doubles, 7 triples and 3 home runs on the season. The most impressive stat is that Trammell has 28 walks so far. For a two sport player that is a very good sign. The tools are there and I expect him to continue his success. I strongly recommend prospectors invest in a few auto's. He is a speedster with the power potential to hit 15-20 Hr's.

Taylor Trammell Stats

2017 Bowman Chrome Prospects You Should Buy

It has been over a month since the release of Bowman 2017 and prices have settled on the market. Here are a couple of prospects to consider.


Blake Rutherford - Nice prospect but prices are inflated due to him being a Yankee. Blake has some nice tools but he's a little too high for me.

Eloy Jimenez - Another Chicago Cub top prospect. Very talented player with some good tools and a great bat.

Nick Senzel - Senzel is an impressive prospect but I believe his auto cost is a little overvalued. I am watching closely to see if a price dip happens. A spike in power numbers will be a key thing to monitor.


The prospects above are considered high end talents and are well known to the prospecting community. Prices are pretty high so please keep your budget in mind and invest wisely.

TJ Friedl - STRONG BUY (Bargain Bin) - TJ was not drafted by any teams but he has my attention. He is putting together a solid season in A ball. I don't understand why auto's are under $10 for a player with 15 doubles, 4 triples and 4 homers. The investment is worth the risk based off the cost alone.

Triston McKenzie - I spoke about Triston in a previous post. He is a STRONG BUY. Triston will be brought through the system slowly and has a strong chance to remain a starter. One of the few pitching prospects I love.

Prospect to keep an eye on:

Yu-Cheng Chang - Chang has power potential but the K rate is too high to touch right now. Auto's are under $10. Keep a strong eye on him. Cleveland does a good job developing hitters.

Triston McKenzie - Cleveland Indians RHP - Strong Buy

Before I release my full breakdown of 2017 Bowman, I think it is crucial to mention Triston McKenzie as a pitching prospect to invest in. On May 10, 2017 he struck out 14 batters over 6 shutout innings. His wiry frame reminds me of CJ Edwards, a past favorite of the site. What makes me excited about this kid is that I think he will not move to the bullpen and has the stuff to be a No 2 starter. I rarely recommend pitchers but the talent and upside is too good to overlook. A base auto is selling for $15 and refactors are going for $30. I rate McKenzie as a STRONG BUY.

Triston McKenzie Stats

My Thoughts on The MILB Season So Far

The MILB season is underway and even though its early there are a few observations that I think will help everyone with their prospecting. Check out these quick hits.

Vladimir Guerrrero Jr. - Currently has more walks than strikeouts. He's pretty much his dad with bat control. Let that sink in.

Anthony Alford - Nice prospect that battled injuries and is finally coming around. His cards have already flown off Ebay.

Lewis Brinson - On fire in Triple A but the Milwaukee market always scares me. If he was still with the Rangers his prices would be insane.

AJ Puk - Off to a great start this season. Small sample size but I love the talent.


Ryan Mountcastle - Having a nice season so far with 4Hr and a decent BB/K ratio.

Alex Verdugo - Currently lighting up Triple A at age 21. My only concern is can he hit for power. I'm willing to wait and see. The payoff could be huge.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr Scouting Report - Toronto Blue Jays 3B,OF

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Profile:

Position: Third Baseman
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Height: 6' 1", Weight: 200lb.
Draft: Signed by the Toronto Blue Jays March 12, 2015
Born: 3/16/1999

Scouting Report:

Grades: Hit: 60. Power: 70. Speed: 50. Defense: 45. Arm: 55.
2016 Stats (Rookie Ball): .271 AVG/.359 OBP/.808 OPS,8 HR, 46 RBI, 32 Runs, 12 Doubles

The son of a future HOF, Guerrero Jr. has the hitting and power potential that makes you an instant fan immediately after you watch him at the plate. The top international prospect in 2015 had a very nice debut in rookie ball and looks to continue his development as one of the youngest rising stars in the top 100. His hitting ability and strike zone judgement has impressed scouts so far and there is no doubt the bat will play anywhere. Some worry about his defensive profile and his size being an issue but in prospecting offensive production drives prices. Reports have stated that the Blue Jays are putting all of their resources into developing Vladimir physically and mentally on and off the field.

I predict that when 2018 lists are released Guerrero Jr will be the top hitting prospect in the minors. He has trained with his uncle Wilton growing up in the Dominican Republic and we all know who his old man is. It's common for me to shy away from speaking about higher end prospects but I think Guerrero Jr will be special. The ability to hit for average and power can't be ignored and he has a strong support system fully backing him.

MILB.com Prospect Primers

MILB.com has provided full prospect primers for all 30 teams. These highly recommend and fun to read. I have learned some things and actually found a few new prospects to add to my list. Enjoy!


MLB Prospect Primers from MILB.Com

Buy LA Angels Jahmai Jones & Matt Thaiss

When you look across the industry, everyone is in clear agreement that the Los Angeles Angels have the worst system in the minors. Other than the promotion of Mike Trout to the majors, not much talent has come from their farm. Even though the system is dead last, there are two players that have the potential to provide a boost to the Angels that is desperately needed .

1B Matt Thaiss - Thaiss was drafted 16th overall out of Virginia. He will be 22 in May. I expect him to move quickly through the system and he will be a everyday player. He has one of the safest bats in the minors and should have a high OPS in the Majors. Aside from his age, he does not have the power that you would like for a typical first baseman. Some scouts see him being a 20HR type of guy. I still think he should be watched closely as the season starts due to his great ability to hit. Auto's are selling for $10-15. I rate Matt Thaiss as a BUY.

OF Jahmai Jones - I think Jones has the biggest potential in the system to really be special. He has the speed to steal bases and the raw power to hit plenty of doubles. I think the HR power will come as he develops. He should hit for a nice average (around .280) and play solid defense. Auto's are selling for $10-20.I rate Jones as a BUY.

Minnesota Twins OF Alex Kirilloff Out for The Season

Earlier this month it was announced that Alex Kiriloff will miss the entire season due to Tommy John surgery. If you read my earlier posts I recommended that prospectors wait to buy due to the base auto prices reaching the $30 dollar mark. If prices drop between $10 to $20, I would not hesitate to buy and hold. He is still a very promising prospect.

Andrew Benintendi Scouting Report - Boston Red Sox LF

Andrew Benintendi

Profile:

Position: Left Field
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Height: 5' 10", Weight: 170lb.
Draft: Drafted in the 1st round of the 2015 MLB draft by the Boston Red Sox
School: Arkansas
Born: 7/6/1994

Scouting Report:

Grades: Hit: 70. Power: 60. Speed: 55. Defense: 60. Arm: 50.
2016 Stats (AA and A Adv): .312/.378/.910 OPS, 9 HR, 76 RBI, 70 Runs, 31 Doubles
2016 Stats (MLB): .295/.359/.835 OPS, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 16 Runs, 11 Doubles

Andrew Benintendi is the best hitter in the minor leagues by a mile. He is my pick to be AL Rookie of the Year. Andrew has an above average bat and above average power. Combine the offensive talent with his above average defensive potential, you have a true asset on the diamond. The Red Sox are all in this season and Andrew will be a big part of the push to win the World Series. This kid is polished and I expect him to have a great strikeout to walk ratio in the bigs. The Red Sox front office has done it again.

Buy Andrew Benintendi Auto's Here

Yoan Moncada Scouting Report - Chicago White Sox 3B

Yoan Moncada

Profile:

Position: Third Baseman
Bats: Switch, Throws: Right
Height: 6' 2", Weight: 205lb.
Draft: Signed by the Boston Red Sox March 12, 2015
Born: 5/27/1995

Scouting Report:

Grades: Hit: 60. Power: 60. Speed: 70. Defense: 50. Arm: 70.
2016 Stats (AA and A Adv): .294/.407/.918 OPS, 15 HR, 62 RBI, 94 Runs, 31 Doubles

Yoan Moncada is the most exciting prospect in MLB and has the elite combination of power and speed scouts travel miles for. The talent is obvious and the $31.5 million dollar bonus handed out by the Boston Red Sox was worth every penny to sign him. His full season debut in the Majors is imminent after being traded to the Chicago White Sox this offseason.

Moncada is an athlete with the physical tools of a NBA/NFL player. Expect to see a show on the basepaths when the ball is in play. He is a switch hitter with opposite field power from the left side of the plate and on the right side he still has the raw power you want from a top prospect. The swing and miss issues are obvious but I strongly believe that he will improve his K% rate.

People ask me all the time who the next Mike Trout is. Yoan Moncada is the only prospect that has the best shot to be that guy. He has all the tools to be the type of player you pay to see. A true generational talent.

Prospects for Cash Breakdown of The 2017 Top 100 Prospects

Recently Baseball America released it's top 100 prospect list. BA has a proven record of providing the best scouting reports and tool grades in the industry. Using their Top 100 2017 Prospects List, here are the toolsiest prospects, with ratings from 80 (Elite) down to 20 (Poor) based on the scouting scale. The big takeaway this year is that a ton of pitchers have highly rated tools but there are not too many hitters with 70/80 grade hit tools. I expect prices for highly graded hitters to be at a premium this year.

80 Ratings

Alex Reyes - Fastball
Riley Pint - Fastball
Franciasco Mejia - Arm
Michael Kopech - Fastball
Jorge Mateo - Speed
Matt Chapman -Arm

70 Ratings


Andrew Benintendi - Hit
Yoan Moncada - Speed, Arm
Alex Reyes - Curveball
Cody Bellinger - Power, Fielding
Amed Rosario - Fielding
Ozzie Albies - Hit, Speed
Victor Robles - Speed
Eloy Jimenez -Power
Francis Martes - Fastball, Curveball
Anderson Espinoza - Fastball, Changeup
Mitch Keller - Fastball
Tyler Glasnow - Fastball
Vladimir Guerrero Jr - Power
Manuel Margot - Fielding
Yadier Alvarez - Fastball
Reynaldo Lopez - Fastball
Josh Hader - Fastball
Jorge Alfaro - Arm
Jason Groome - Fastball
Hunter Renfroe - Power, Arm
Matt Manning - Fastball
Albert Almora - Fielding
Carson Kelly - Fielding
Sixto Sanchez - Fastball
A.J. Puk - Fastball
Jharel Cotton - Changeup
Delvin Perez - Speed
James Kaprielian - Fastball
Aaron Judge - Power
Cal Quantrill - Changeup
Dylan Cease - Fastball
Justin Dunn - Fastball

Pitchers with a 60 or better control grade 
Mitch Keller
Mike Soroka

Pitchers Whose 3 Best Pitches Total 185+

3 Best Tools	185+
Martes	195
Reyes	210
Kopech	195
Espinoza	200
Pint	200
Cotton	180

Hitters Whose Hit + Power Tools Total 120+
 

Hit+Power	120+
Moncada	120
Meadows	120
Bellinger	130
Jimenez	130
Rodgers	120
Devers	120
Tucker	120
Guerrero	130
Rutherford	120
Collins	120