Last week Baseball America put out their Top 20 prospects list for the Northwest League and having had the opportunity to watch most of the players on that list in person this season, I wanted to throw in my two cents.
Overall Opinion
Making a list of prospects at this level is often a hit or miss type of thing. In 2003 the top prospect was Felix Hernandez, who if you haven’t noticed turned out to be an okay player, but on the opposite end of the chart is Andy Sisco who was the 2002 top prospect, and outside of spending a little bit of time with the Royals and White Sox, has been a career minor leaguer.
The list this year was led by the Eugene Emeralds who had six players make the top 20 prospects. Also well represented were the Spokane Indians and the Boise Hawks with five and four players respectively making the list.
Looking at this years there is a lot of potential, but once again potential doesn’t always mean major league player. There are a few things that I think people should take notice of though. On the list there are seven players who are still in their teens. The Northwest League has been a place normally set for college draft picks to make their debuts but it was the young guns who stole the show for the most part. Additionally five more players were only 20 years old.
Individual Reviews
The list of teenagers is started by the top prospect Justin Nicolino who played for the Vancouver Canadians. Nicolino didn’t just pitch well, he dominated the league and and as a result was placed on the leagues All-Star team even after missing a couple of starts due to being called up near the end of the season. Nicolino has a ton of talent and being a left handed pitcher that can throw in the low to mid 90’s he has the potential to make an impact for years to come with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Second on the list was Cory Spangenberg. At first glance Spangenberg doesn’t appear to be anything out of the ordinary but when he steps onto the field you can tell there is something different about him. Spangenberg has the tools to move up in the Padres system but he still needs to develop defensively at second base, as well as putting on a bit more muscle to increase his power numbers. Having seen him early on in the season, before he was called up, I can tell you that he worked hard to improve each day and it is because of that reason that I can see him making an impact in the majors in just a couple of years if he can keep hitting consistently.
The league MVP, Joe Panik, was ranked fourth on the list of prospects. The Giants surprised a lot of people when they took Panik in the first round but he quickly showed that their faith in him wasn’t misplaced. (A more in depth look at Panik can be found in one of my previous articles about Panik NW League MVP)
The youngest player in the Northwest league this season was Rougned Odor of the Spokane Indians, ranked 7th on the list. Odor is not a power hitter but he is a solid hitter and given that he is only 17 years old, he will have plenty of time to grow and build some muscle. If his hitting can improve it will make him a solid player given that his defensive ability alone makes him a viable prospect for the future.
One surprise for me in the top 10 prospects was Jesus Galindo, ranked 9th, of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. Galindo was definitely a top 20 prospect for the league but I would of thought of him more around the 15 to 17 range. However, despite my thoughts of where I thought he ranked, there is no arguing that he is possibly the fastest player I’ve ever seen on the base paths. The only player that I’ve ever seen that even comes close in my mind is Luis Durango. If you blink Galindo will steal second on you. If you blink again he will be standing on third base. Never before have I seen a player get a walk or a single and everyone in the stadium just assume that in two pitches he will be standing on third base.
Two players that made this top 20 and could be really good if they stay focused on the game are Jabari Blash of the Everett AquaSox and Donavan Tate of the Eugene Emeralds. Both players have an abundance of talent but both are surrounded with question marks. Blash is often noted for losing focus and not always giving 100%. However, when he is focused and giving it everything he is a force to be reckoned with. Tate has struggled his first few season as a professional with injuries and drug related suspensions, but when he is on the field it is clear to see why he was the third pick overall. Both players have the talent needed to be special but they just need to focus on developing that talent.
My Picks to Click
The top four players on this years list all have the potential to make the major league level in the next few years and I truly believe that each will. My two sleeper picks to click and in time make an impact at the major league level are a pair of 3rd round picks from this years draft. They are Will Lamb of the Spokane Indians, and Zeke DeVoss of the Boise Hawks. Both have a lot to do to become major league players but I think they will begin to make significant improvements in the next year or two.
Throwing in one more sleeper to close things out I have to go with Reggie Golden. At only 19 years old he is physically more developed then his age and if he can just become more consistent with his contact he could put up some very good power numbers.