Another top prospect list
This one's from Baseball Prospectus:
Five-Star Prospects
1. Jesus Montero, C
Four-Star Prospects
2. Arodys Vizcaino, RHP
Three-Star Prospects
3. Manny Banuelos, LHP
4. Zach McAllister, RHP
5. Austin Romine, C
6. Gary Sanchez, C
7. Slade Heathcott, CF
8. Kelvin De Leon, RF
9. J.R. (John) Murphy, C
10. Mark Melancon, RHP
11. D.J. Mitchell, RHP
Montero's scouting report:
The Good: Simply put, Montero is one of the best offensive prospects in the game, and possibly the best. He's a massive slugger with the contact skills of a batting champion, with one scout classifying his ability to put the middle of the barrel on the ball "almost supernatural." His raw power is at or near the top of the charts - and he's just starting to tap into it. He has the potential for 30-40 home runs annually. He's a hard worker who puts as much work into his defense as his hitting, and he's made great strides behind the plate.
The Bad: Montero remains a well below-average catcher, despite his improvements. His big, thick build doesn't provide much agility defensively, and he's only expected to get bigger, which will almost assuredly mean a move to first base. His approach is good for his age, but it could use some improvements, as he swings at a lot of bad pitches, making up for it by often crushing them.
Ephemera: Playing in Double-A games away from the offensive black hole that is Trenton, Montero hit .400/.457/.718 with 61 total bases in 22 games.
Perfect World Projection: Montero will be one of the best run producers in the game - a .300 hitter (or better) with plus-plus power.
BP goes on to project Montero to start in Triple-A, but I'm not so sure, since he missed the last month of Trenton's season with a broken finger.
You can, unfortunately, take #2 prospect Arodys Vizcaino off the list, as he was used to acquire Javy Vazquez. His scouting report is glowing:
Vizcaino's combination of stuff and refinement is rarely found in a teenager. His clean arm action leads to effortless 92-94 mph fastballs that get up to 97 when he reaches back for a bit more, while his smooth mechanics allow him to harness his pitches and pound the strike zone...
Vizcaino's ceiling tops that of any pitcher in the system, by a significant margin. It will take time, but the skills are there for him to become an All-Star starter.
The winner of the Vazquez trade will likely be determined by Vizcaino's future.
Banuelos:
The Yankees have been busier than any team in baseball when it comes to scouting and signing talent from Mexico, and Banuelos is their biggest prize. He'll begin 2010 at High-A Tampa.
Actually, Alfredo Aceves is their biggest Mexican prize (so far).
Z-Mac:
Perfect World Projection: McAllister projects as a back-of-the-rotation starter who delivers 200 solid innings annually.
Path to the Big Leagues: For a team that rarely has room for back-end starters, McAllister's big-league career might begin in the bullpen.
Romine:
Path to the Big Leagues: It might be clearer than Montero's, as his ability to stay behind the plate makes him the heir apparent to Jorge Posada, unless the Yankees make a big trade or free-agent play.
Sanchez:
With all of the attention on Miguel Sano in the international market, the Yankees quickly scooped up Sanchez, who was generally seen as the second-best player available, for a $3 million bonus.
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Damn...
Vizcaino was THAT good huh.
Well..he was very young, and gonna take at least 3-4 years to become a factor (probably at the earliest).
The Yanks found Vizcaino…I’m pretty confident they can find another.
There’s also plenty of others in that farm, like Banuelos.
All in all..Vizcaino was expendable, I’m not gonna shed a tear for what could’ve been…
"It ain't over till its over"---
3rd down + Steve Smith = 1st Down.
"I just saw Avatar, and Sean Avery was hands down the best character!"
This is what gets me about these guys who love the farm above all else
they will piss and moan about a guy 3-4 yrs away being traded when we have a guy good enough to get to the show after only months=Chamberlin.But yet the first thing they want to do is throw him to the wolves?It makes no sense,im glad we got Javy but sad for Melky,but whatever makes them better now.Theres no guarantee I will live to see next yr.
by cashman bashman on Dec 23, 2009 1:07 PM EST reply actions
Montero
I’m excited too as well. I’m really hoping he magically figures out how to catch this year. Otherwise, it seems he’s destined to be traded. I’d love to have another kid come up through the system and make a significant contribution, but it seems that for want of a position, he’s going to have to leave.
I don’t see the team locking up the DH spot long term but I could be wrong.
Posada
Remember, Posada was a late convert to catcher and really struggled. It helped that he had a couple of seasons under Girardi’s wing. While he has never been a gold glover, Posada at his peak was a decent defensive catcher – his arm has been good, but gives up to many passed balls to be elite. He doesn’t quite have the same tools anymore, but I’d be quite satisfied if we could ge Montero to Posada’s level defensively.
Montero will catch
he doesn’t have to be great. His bat will make up for poor defense. But if he’s decent enough, then it’s worth it, because of what he can do with the bat. Jason Varitek catches in this league, doesn’t he? Well then, why can’t Montero?
Varitek is shot now...
but when he was younger..he was a damn good defensive catcher. But right now..no, I don’t think he is gonna catch much. He’ll just be water boy for Francona now…
But I’ll keep saying on Montero..the Yankees were pretty successful with Posada for so many years….why not Montero?
"It ain't over till its over"---
3rd down + Steve Smith = 1st Down.
"I just saw Avatar, and Sean Avery was hands down the best character!"
by FreeBradshaw on Dec 23, 2009 8:04 PM EST up reply actions
Montero
Apparently he’s much worse than even the current incarnation of Posada and Tek. The value he would give up on catcher defense right now outweighs the value he would provide with his bat. He’s actually not a viable catcher unless something changes in the next year.
Well give him this year in AAA....
if he still stinks, he’s gotta go to the OF (cuz he’s be playing LF right now if he was a LFer.
I still think he can catch. If Posada can have a long career at catcher…this kid probably can too.
Is it really impossible for him to get better?
"It ain't over till its over"---
3rd down + Steve Smith = 1st Down.
"I just saw Avatar, and Sean Avery was hands down the best character!"
by FreeBradshaw on Dec 24, 2009 9:06 AM EST up reply actions
Well,
The quotes from scouts that I’ve seen are highly pessimistic about Montero ever improving to the point where he’ll be able to catch in the majors, but then again, they didn’t think he’d improve as much as he already has. He’s a really hard worker and hasn’t been doing this for long so I’m still holding out hope against my better judgement.
Man, I really want him to be our catcher. I keep wondering about his ability to play LF, no one is saying anything about that. Maybe that’s because it’d be like trying Nick Johnson in left. He’s big, slow and better suited to play another position. You’d get more value out of trading him to a team that needs a first baseman/DH than to try and stick him in an open field. But maybe we haven’t heard anything because they’re still trying him behind the plate.
Either way, we’ll know what his role is going to be by the end of AAA this year. I’ll be following it pretty closely because even if he doesn’t develop any more, he’s already a better than league average hitter at 20. That’s worth something.
Damn right it is...
If Montero’s bat is that lethal?…..Yankees better hold on to this dude…don’t give a saamn if he can catch we’l find a place for him……
-Announcemen Forwarded To The Following: Boston Blowsox, New York Pets, Philadelphia Phonies, And Any Other Team Who Ain't The With The Empire.................
Getcha' Fuccin Rings Up........
by NYYWinsRings27 on Dec 24, 2009 4:59 PM EST via mobile reply actions

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