I’ll skip the fanfare for this first post. Suffice to say we’ve compiled our top 20 list for this year. It is, noticeably, the least homogeneous rankings that I’ve seen since I started writing here.

#20. Steve Hill
Age – 26
Stats
Individual Rankings - azruavatar – N/A, Jeff Roman – 13, erik – N/A
Player Comments -

As the only member to rank Hill in my top 20, I think it is probably right that I defend my pick.  First and foremost, the Cardinals have moved Hill from a OF/1B to Catcher and he played only 6 non-catcher games in 2010.  If he stays at catcher like the organization is pointing him towards, his career minor league slugging percentage of .510 will look awful shiny.  - Jeff Roman

The Cardinals play a tricky game with their catchers in the minors. They’ve teased us in recent years with players like Hill and Tony Cruz who they’ll let play behind the plate for significant portions of the season. For a team that preaches defense, I don’t see them ever sticking with a converted catcher no matter how enticing his offense.  Steve Hill as a catcher is exciting. Steve Hill as an outfielder is rather mundane.  I think we’re looking at the latter rather than the former. – azruavatar

#19. Deryk Hooker
Age – 21
Stats
Individual Rankings - azruavatar – 14, Jeff Roman – N/A, erik – 19
Player Comments -

And here we move to the opposite direction for me, a player that I didn’t rank in my top 20, but erik and AZ did (granted Hooker was on my “just missed” list).  If he can extend his strikeout numbers from Quad Cities to Palm Beach and Springfield, then we may be able to talk.  I just think his projection is probably a right handed relief and the Cardinals are already flush with those guys. – Jeff Roman

I like Hooker’s pure stuff. He’s got a fastball with better than average velocity, a good slider and the makings of some functional offspeed pitches. He’s young enough that despite being in the system since 2007, he’s age appropriate for the level he’s pitching at.  He reminds me a little of Adam Ottavino though his slider doesn’t rate as well. – azruavatar

#18. Adron Chambers
Age – 24
Stats
Individual Rankings - azruavatar – N/A, Jeff Roman – 11, erik – N/A
Player Comments -

Adron is a big-time speed merchant who can play plus defense in the outfield, even in center.  He has been swinging for the fences a bit more in 2010 with 5 HRs, but his slugging will always be dependent on triples.  He’s Jon Jay essentially with more speed and less power. – Jeff Roman

Chambers is a Jon Jay clone.  His power is below average for an outfielder and he’s very reliant on his speed and defense to provide his value. I don’t see the offense holding up in the big leagues meaning he looks like a fringy backup outfielder to me. – azruavatar

#17. Jordan Swagerty
Age – 21
Stats
Individual Rankings - azruavatar – 13, Jeff Roman – N/A, erik – 17
Player Comments -

I did not rank Swagerty for the same reason I didn’t rank Hooker, he is a right handed reliever prospect.  Swagerty should move fast in the Cardinals system, but I’m going to take a Missouri approach on this one: when I see it, I’ll believe it. – Jeff Roman

Swagerty was half of the Arizona State duo that the Cardinals drafted in 2010.  At 13, I’m aggressive and I’m counting on his fastball to hold up as a starter.  This is likely a volatile ranking – he could be off the list next year or conceivably creep toward the top 10. – azruavatar

#16. Cody Stanley
Age – 22
Stats
Individual Rankings - azruavatar – 16, Jeff Roman – 18, erik – 15
Player Comments -

Cody Stanley is the new Robert Stock.  He had a quality season in rookie ball after being drafted in the first 4 rounds of the MLB draft.  However, Stanley has a better chance of continuing his good play going forward whereas most people though Stock would come off catcher to become a pitcher sooner or later. – Jeff Roman

The biggest plus about Stanley is his athleticism. He’s small for a catcher but he’s physically fit and has average speed.  There seems to be a tendency to underrate catchers given their positional scarcity and I’d give him the best odds of anyone in the organization to stick behind the plate defensively while still having some kind of an offensive game. – azruavatar

This entry was posted on Monday, January 10th, 2011 at 10:00 am and is filed under Prospect rankings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.