The first of a three-part series that looks back at just how wrong and stupid I was last year. With the Community Prospect List starting up, I figured this would be a good time to look back at my top-30 prospect list from last year. Note that I'm not going to make you sit through three of these in a row and make your eyes completely glaze over. I'll keep the next two installments on the shelf until another newsless day.
30. Ryan Cavan
How did he do?
Okay. He didn’t repeat his gaudy performance from the Northwest League, and he was moved off short, and he was old for the Sally, but his power is still interesting for a middle infielder.
Lesson learned?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. The #30 spot is more of an honorary spot for a fringe prospect with some sort of interesting background. Cavan held his part of the bargain, holding up well without falling into that vortex between short- and full-season ball. And he’s from Belmont; he’s probably eaten at Sushi Monster and everything.
29. Mike McBryde
How did he do?
Done busted his hand. A lost season. The broken hand shouldn’t affect his ability to run, throw, or play center, though, and that’s where his value lies.
Lesson learned?
Hands are filled with bones, not gelatinous cartilage-based goo. Medical science is still reeling from the discovery.
How did he do?
"Say...What’s a mountain goat doing way up here in a cloud bank?"
Lesson learned?
Don’t be fooled by reports of plus-fastballs from non-teenagers who get hit around in the Rookie League.
27. Brock Bond
How did he do?
Exactly as expected. Took walks. Didn’t hit for power. Didn’t think about hitting for power. Deleted power’s voicemails without listening to them. Took more walks. Played a couple of positions.
Lesson learned?
Nothing important. This back end of a list is where projects or utility players are supposed to be. It’s not unreasonable to think that Bond will carve out a nice career as a utility player. The eye is there, so maybe some protein shakes or raw eggs will help.
26. Chris Dominguez
How did he do?
Boom! Whiff. Hack. Miss. Flail. Whiff. Hack. Hack. Hack. Boom! Whiff. Flail...
Lesson learned?
He is who we thought he is. If you want to crown his stats, then crown them.
25. Craig Clark
How did he do?
He was slapped around two different levels, and his strikeout rate cratered in AA.
Lesson learned?
Listen up, because I’m going to drop some science. Turn off that music. Come closer. This is serious. Ready? Sometimes, when a pitcher doesn’t throw hard, he’ll put up superficially impressive stats in the lower minors, only to struggle as he moves up the ladder. Write that down. I totally figured that out on my own, and I’m working to copyright and/or patent that idea because I came up with it.
24. Jason Stoffel
How did he do?
He got hit, but the strikeout rate was pretty nifty. An 11.7 K/9 can be my wingman any time.
Lesson learned?
Sometimes college closers don’t move all that quickly. I could see Stoffel speeding up the ranks, maybe even up to a September call-up, just as easily as I could see him in organizational limbo next year.
23. Waldis Joaquin
How did he do?
Got a World Series ring. That’s how he did, dang it.
Also, he was hit hard and removed from the 40-man roster. Other that that.... He’s back in the organization after telling the White Sox to cram it with walnuts.
Lesson learned?
People really overrated this guy last year, and I’m smarter than all of them. Yeah. Just ignore that Brandon Belt wasn't on the list last year.
Man cannot live on fastball alone. Joaquin will probably show up in another MLB bullpen some day, though.
22. Matt Graham
How did he do?
Like Tim Lincecum, only less so. That’s the polite way to put it. He threw a baseball with his right hand, and a catcher caught it. Just like Lincecum in that respect. Other than that, he was completely shelled.
Lesson learned?
He’s a high-school draftee with a live arm. Sometimes they struggle. That’s not a lesson to be learned; that’s physics. Thinking about a player like Graham, though, makes Madison Bumgarner’s ascent seem even more amazing than it already was.
21. Jose Casilla
How did he do?
Crazy sink. And how. Dude’s awesome, and he’s near the top of the prospect lists now.
Lesson learned?
When in doubt, overrate the power sinkers. They’re the gaudy OBPs of the pitching world. Or something.