Wallace rated 5th best prospect in MWL, Kozma 15th
Posted on September 23rd, 2008 by erik in Brett Wallace, Pete KozmaBaseball America continues to roll out it’s top twenty prospects in each league, and this time the Midwest League is up to bat. Brett Wallace came behind Mike Moustakas, Neftali Feliz, Jarrod Parker and Ben Revere to be ranked the 5th best prospect in the league, and Kozma ranked 15th overall.
Pete Kozma ranked a spot behind Justin Jackson, who also plays shortstop and was the 45th pick overall in the same 2007 draft. Kozma had better numbers, but the scouts whom BA talked to took to Jackson’s overall tools. While scouts do like Kozma, he’s more of an acquired taste. In a nutshell, BA’s synopsis on Kozma is that he remains spectacularly unspectacular, but the tools that he does possess play so free and easy that he can and at times does play above them.
Their synopsis on Wallace is pretty much the same types of things we’ve been hearing: Great hitter, iffy range. Will hit well enough to make up for iffy range. I am tempted to debate that he belongs above Revere, but when you hit nearly .400 as a 19 year old for an entire season, it sort of takes away that argument.
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Glad to see Koz getting some love, and I am looking forward to him getting a chance to get to AA sometime next year. I know it is wishful thinking, but if the Cards wanted to aggressively promote someone, Nico could be playing right along side Kozma imho…
Feliz is the only guy out of the five that I would definitely take above Wallace. The rest each have their strong points and weaknesses. I personally would take Moustakas if you had the time for him to develop–ungodly power, but he is still three years away. Wallace is a lot closer to the show, his bat will be ready next year. I am currently not convinced by Revere. For as much contact as he makes and his speed, I would expect to see more doubles…
Gawd, looking at it I think Kozma could be ranked higher–there are a lot of good but not great talents in the group. This year the midwest league could turn out a lot of major league regulars, but maybe only one or two all-stars.
I’m a bit surprised – and more than a bit disappointed – that Richard Castillo didn’t get into the top 20. If any FR readers pay to talk to the BA gang, you might ask in the MWL chat whether Castillo got any consideration.
Castillo’s stats alone should speak for something. I am also a bit confused.
Why be surprised about Castillo? He has no “tool” that BA would fall in love with. He simply knows how to pitch.
Glad to see Kozma on that list. Just goes to reaffirm the Cards belief that his development will continue to move along, and validate what has seemingly been a couple of real solid years for Luhnow.
What is the exact eligibility criteria? Wallace was in the MW league for only about 1/3 of their season, I didn’t think that would make him eligible.
Cario- maybe just whomever is on a MW league roster currently?