Keith Law's Updated Top 50 (you will like it)

DeadlySplitter

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Houston has come back from the dead as a division contender once again. They need to get Bregman up ASAP.
 

Cesar Crespo

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.310/.359/.454 since May 1. His demise has been greatly exaggerated.
His overall line still is what it is and other publications dropped him 40 spots.

edit: Although these midseason lists are never actually close to the end of season lists. Devers will probably end up in the top 20 on the other lists at seasons end.
 

heavyde050

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"He's a difference-maker on defense" at shortstop vs "I don't think he's a lock to stay at second long-term."
Still not a good enough reason in my opinion considering the difference in projected and offense to date.

Moncada is a premium bat and Crawford just really isn't hitting like he was expected to.
 
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Papelbon's Poutine

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Still not a good enough reason in my opinion considering the difference in projected and offense to date.

Moncada is a premium bat and Crawford just really isn't hitting like he was expected to.
4. J.P. Crawford, SS
Philadelphia Phillies
Previous rank: 2
Current level: Triple-A


Crawford started a bit slow this year, but the Phillies chose to promote him to Triple-A anyway after he'd played about a full season's worth of games for Reading over the last calendar year. After a very slow start at his new level, he has been on a tear for about a month, taking great at-bats again and making quality contact. He's a difference-maker on defense and has the raw speed to do so on the bases as well, although he hasn't really done so in pro ball and might never become that kind of player. The only real deficiency in his game is power, but he's going to be an All-Star between his defense and ability to get on base.

5. Yoan Moncada, 2B
Boston Red Sox
Previous rank: 12
Current level: Double-A


My word, Moncada is strong. He muscled a changeup out of the park in left field at the Futures Game on Sunday, and he seems incapable of making any type of contact other than "very hard." He runs extremely well for a guy with a football player's build, and in Double-A at least showed a much better approach at the plate than he had in 2015. I don't think he's a lock to stay at second long-term, even if he weren't blocked by Dustin Pedroia. Of all of the near-to-the-majors bats on this list, he'd be my pick for most likely to struggle right out of the gate. But he's an elite physical specimen who has shown himself increasingly adept at hitting this year.

There ya go.
 

heavyde050

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4. J.P. Crawford, SS
Philadelphia Phillies
Previous rank: 2
Current level: Triple-A


Crawford started a bit slow this year, but the Phillies chose to promote him to Triple-A anyway after he'd played about a full season's worth of games for Reading over the last calendar year. After a very slow start at his new level, he has been on a tear for about a month, taking great at-bats again and making quality contact. He's a difference-maker on defense and has the raw speed to do so on the bases as well, although he hasn't really done so in pro ball and might never become that kind of player. The only real deficiency in his game is power, but he's going to be an All-Star between his defense and ability to get on base.

5. Yoan Moncada, 2B
Boston Red Sox
Previous rank: 12
Current level: Double-A


My word, Moncada is strong. He muscled a changeup out of the park in left field at the Futures Game on Sunday, and he seems incapable of making any type of contact other than "very hard." He runs extremely well for a guy with a football player's build, and in Double-A at least showed a much better approach at the plate than he had in 2015. I don't think he's a lock to stay at second long-term, even if he weren't blocked by Dustin Pedroia. Of all of the near-to-the-majors bats on this list, he'd be my pick for most likely to struggle right out of the gate. But he's an elite physical specimen who has shown himself increasingly adept at hitting this year.

There ya go.
Thanks, but I read the write up. Just don't really agree especially with how well Moncada has performed especially recently.

I am probably just being a homer, but I would think almost everyone would take Moncada over Crawford.
 

moondog80

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I think Law would tell you there's very little difference between 4 and 5 on these lists.
 

heavyde050

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I think Law would tell you there's very little difference between 4 and 5 on these lists.
And I would like to ask Law, bc I would think Moncada should be seen as significantly better than Crawford.

I am done now; I have said what I wanted to say. No more need to worry about one spot in the rankings.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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And I would like to ask Law, bc I would think Moncada should be seen as significantly better than Crawford.

I am done now; I have said what I wanted to say. No more need to worry about one spot in the rankings.
Then ask him. He does a chat on his website every Thursday.

You're also scouting a box score and, yes, being a homer. Law actually sees these guys play and he explained pretty well why he ranked them where he did.
 

E5 Yaz

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Ken Naylor: With reports Jason Groome is in Boston taking his physical, if he signs, where does he rank on your Red Sox list?
Klaw: He’s going to sign – I’ve said that all along – and would be 5th in the system.

Adam G.: What do you make of this Michael Kopech situation? By situation I mean…. first, 105? really? second, how much are Boston fans over reacting when we’re putting him in the same conversation with Espinoza (and hopefully Groom).
Klaw: He’s on my top 50, and that was before he hit 105 (but he had hit 103). I don’t really know what to do with him – has any starter had this kind of velocity without blowing out in the short term? Relievers have, starters haven’t. Is he the great exception?

Adam G.: I’ve been trying to rack my brain for a historical comparable body type to Moncada. 6’1″ 210 at 20 is huge. Can you think of any baseball players were that size and fit?
Klaw: Bo Jackson. A football body in a baseball uniform.

Mike: You would have Groome ahead of Kopech? 105 mph
Klaw: Velocity ain’t everything, sparky.

B. Cohen: You have Benintendi above Moncada among Sox prospects when those two are reversed almost universally elsewhere. Are you just super high on Beni, or do you have reservations about Moncada?
Klaw: I don’t care what “elsewhere” says. I think Benintendi’s the better prospect.

Paul: What position does Moncada end up … 3rd?
Klaw: Third or perhaps the outfield.

Corey: Could Moncada be ready by early next season ? If so, should Sox consider moving him to 3B soon since that’s where he likely ends up ? Side note – do they just eat the Panda contract ?
Klaw: That’s reasonable all around – the timeline and the position idea.

http://meadowparty.com/blog/2016/07/14/klawchat-71416/
 

heavyde050

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Ken Naylor: With reports Jason Groome is in Boston taking his physical, if he signs, where does he rank on your Red Sox list?
Klaw: He’s going to sign – I’ve said that all along – and would be 5th in the system.

Adam G.: What do you make of this Michael Kopech situation? By situation I mean…. first, 105? really? second, how much are Boston fans over reacting when we’re putting him in the same conversation with Espinoza (and hopefully Groom).
Klaw: He’s on my top 50, and that was before he hit 105 (but he had hit 103). I don’t really know what to do with him – has any starter had this kind of velocity without blowing out in the short term? Relievers have, starters haven’t. Is he the great exception?

Adam G.: I’ve been trying to rack my brain for a historical comparable body type to Moncada. 6’1″ 210 at 20 is huge. Can you think of any baseball players were that size and fit?
Klaw: Bo Jackson. A football body in a baseball uniform.

Mike: You would have Groome ahead of Kopech? 105 mph
Klaw: Velocity ain’t everything, sparky.

B. Cohen: You have Benintendi above Moncada among Sox prospects when those two are reversed almost universally elsewhere. Are you just super high on Beni, or do you have reservations about Moncada?
Klaw: I don’t care what “elsewhere” says. I think Benintendi’s the better prospect.

Paul: What position does Moncada end up … 3rd?
Klaw: Third or perhaps the outfield.

Corey: Could Moncada be ready by early next season ? If so, should Sox consider moving him to 3B soon since that’s where he likely ends up ? Side note – do they just eat the Panda contract ?
Klaw: That’s reasonable all around – the timeline and the position idea.

http://meadowparty.com/blog/2016/07/14/klawchat-71416/
Thanks for posting.
 

luckysox

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Holy crap. Imagine being a kid in High A ball and facing a freaking 105mph fastball and an 89 mph change in the same at bat. Jebus.

Edit: Adding Kopech and Groome, should he sign and be what we think he could be, to the top 6, is very exciting. If the top 6 suddenly includes 3 pitchers, and they manage to stay in the top 40 or 50 of prospects....just, wow. I know stuff happens more often than not, but the future, she looks a-nice.
 

Lowrielicious

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funny!

Another way of looking at it is DD just fast forwarded that prospects career to the major league stage.
I couldn't quickly find Keith Law previous years prospects but apparently milb.com had pomeranz at 24 overall at the start of the 2012 season:
http://www.milb.com/milb/news/prospects/y2012/index.jsp
That timetable better suits the window we have with the Bs all hitting career primes (**touch wood**) over the next couple of years.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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It was an update on the Top 50.

Sox checked in at:
#7 - Devers (ranked 11 in January)
#15 - Groome (20)

Former Sox:
#5 - Kopech (7)
#13 - Moncada (17)
#19 - Espinoza (21)

He notes that 7 players dropped off due to being on MLB rosters, including Benintendi, Josh Bell and Dansby Swanson (those three mentioned by name), but presumably Margot is also one of those other four he doesn't cite.