Baseball America has released their Arizona Fall League top 20 prospect list and there are no Nationals included.
AFL TOP 20 PROSPECTS
- Cameron Maybin, of, Peoria Saguaros (Tigers)
- Evan Longoria, 3b, Scottsdale (Devil Rays)
- Travis Snider, of, Scottsdale (Blue Jays)
- Matt LaPorta, of, Mesa (Brewers)
- Adam Miller, rhp, Surprise (Indians)
- Andrew McCutchen, of, Phoenix (Pirates)
- Reid Brignac, ss, Scottsdale (Devil Rays)
- Jordan Schafer, of, Peoria Javelinas (Braves)
- Dexter Fowler, of, Peoria Javelinas (Rockies)
- Taylor Teagarden, c, Surprise (Rangers)
- Matt Antonelli, 2b, Peoria Saguaros (Padres)
- Anthony Swarzak, rhp, Phoenix (Twins)
- Jeff Clement, c, Peoria Javelinas (Mariners)
- Jake Arrierta, rhp, Phoenix (Orioles)
- Eugenio Velez, 2b/of, Scottsdale (Giants)
- Joe Savery, lhp, Peoria Saguaros (Phillies)
- Max Scherzer, rhp, Scottsdale (Diamondbacks)
- Sean Gallagher, rhp, Surprise (Cubs)
- John Mayberry, of, Surprise (Rangers)
- David Huff, lhp, Surprise (Indians)
The only realistic Nationals options for this list were Garrett Mock or Justin Maxwell. Mock was honestly a long shot given his age and years of experience. Most of the players listed above are from drafts 2005 or later. Mock was a 2004 draft pick and has battled with injury and inconsistency over the past couple of seasons. Aside from his start yesterday where he was lit up for eight earned runs over only three innings of work, Mock handled himself well for the Javelinas. As for Maxwell, it appears it was more a function of his AFL performance (207/305/324).
steve | 16-Nov-07 at 2:36 pm | Permalink
Hey Brian,
thanks for the list. Even as great as this years draft was it goes to show how much work still has to be done on the farm.
Are any of our AFL guys going to play winter ball anywhere?
thanks,
Brian Oliver | 16-Nov-07 at 4:08 pm | Permalink
Steve - I doubt it. I’d imagine they shut them down for the season.
WaNats | 16-Nov-07 at 5:46 pm | Permalink
Maybin plays in a paltry 9 games out of 35, hits a comparatively anemic .219 and BA awards him Top AFL Prospect? Wow. How irrelevant is BBA, Brian?
Tofu Dog | 17-Nov-07 at 12:23 pm | Permalink
Maybin did manage 5 home runs in 20 at bats at the end of the year in ‘07 at AA Erie, so my guess is they were giving him the same benefit of the doubt the Nationals will give Maxwell. I’d let him play for my major league team any day.
It appears to me that rather than Mock and Maxwell, the best two prospects to emerge from the AFL were Kory Casto and Adam Carr. Carr demonstrated better control and a better K/BB ratio–which is what he needs to succeed. Casto’s bat came alive in the last weeks of the AFL for the first time in ‘07. One could hope he has re-discovered the confidence that the Nationals pulled out from under him by yo-yo-ing him during the spring between the big club and AAA. Maxwell looks like someone who belongs in Harrisburg, Mock like someone who belongs in Columbus.
JayB | 17-Nov-07 at 5:48 pm | Permalink
Hey Brian,
Now that I have paid for my season tickets I thought it would be interesting to just look over the current 40 man roster. How would you rank it against the other MLB teams as far as potential? It sure looks very weak to me (just by gut feeling but it must be in the lower 5th of the MLB if ranked on prospects. Do you see any potential stars other than Zim, Flores and Det?