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C27, that is a good idea, which I have not focused on yet. Until yesterday afternoon’s trade, looking at Rule 5 candidates was irrelevant since the 40-man was full. Now that there is a roster opening, it is worth exploring. Thanks.
While you are on a Goldy high, swing by The Cardinal Nation to read about our no. 25 #stlcards prospect for 2019. Johan Oviedo is a big Cuban RHP who improved considerably with @peoriachiefs. (free) https://t.co/lJplaCqpdv pic.twitter.com/jX9jV5UG2h
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) December 7, 2018
The 24th-ranked prospect in The Cardinal Nation’s #stlcards top 50 countdown for 2019 is Justin Williams, a left-handed hitting outfielder who was acquired from Tampa Bay in the Tommy Pham trade. ($) https://t.co/AkrdY7nOvX pic.twitter.com/ZDjLasba00
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) December 8, 2018
23rd in The Cardinal Nation’s #stlcards top 50 prospect countdown for 2019 is a 18-year old who has become the second-best catching prospect in the system while still in the Gulf Coast League. Much bigger things are ahead for Ivan Herrera. ($) https://t.co/kVMQPA7D5Z pic.twitter.com/8VlsUyvIf7
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) December 9, 2018
It is good to see that Herrera moved up from #48 on the TCN rankings from Aug. and the jump to #26 on your present list is significant. Maybe that sip at AA was a factor.
I believe he can add some height and weight to his age 18 frame of 6’0″-180lbs. I like the future for this kid. I can see him at Peoria in April because there isn’t much in the way of C prospects at the lowest levels, after Herrera is CSoto (#66- TCN Comm.)
In the interim, I also spoke to some folks who have seen Herrera a lot more than me who are really high on him. In the monthly rankings, I focus more on movement from the prior month based on game results. For these annual rankings, I try to start over and take a fresh look. As I wrote, Herrera was one I was slow to acknowledge.
I think that your estimation of Herrera is spot on. Like you said its difficult to judge the low level teenagers…. my belief is, that maturity is a bigger factor than one can spot on the stat sheet.
The Cardinal Nation’s top 50 prospect countdown for 2019 continues into the top 20 with an 18-year old OF acquired from Cleveland who made an eye-opening #stlcards debut in the Gulf Coast League. Jhon Torres is a name to know. (free) https://t.co/mEcPIg6rLa pic.twitter.com/JrXxJHuMJg
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) December 12, 2018
There is a wide difference as where to place this intriguing player. But all three sources agree that the potential, physical size and a positive mind-set are qualities that can’t be overlooked by any degree.
I had trouble trying to place this kid on the top-50. He had been #49 on the TCN list but continued to improve throughout August.
As far as his ’19 placement, I would like to see him stay at extended ST and start him at State College in June. The reasons being that the weather would suit him initially. Having to to start the season in the MWL in April at the age of 18 wouldn’t be the most prudent scenario for Torres, IMO. Riding buses through snowy stretches in April won’t impress him. There is also the possibility of moving him to a corner infield spot, especially if he will still grow a couple of inches and add some weight. A 6’5″ third baseman can be intimidating to batters.
I say let him get acclimated to the States gradually. I don’t like to see the organization setting some prospects up to fail. At 18, he has plenty of time to adjust. We may have something special here. Derek Shore’s estimation might be a bull’s eye.
Who were #22 and 21? After some searching, I see they are open due to trades, but it would be interested to see where Derek and Brian ranked these guys.
Kelly was originally #7, Young was #22. After the trade, everyone in between moved one spot to fill the gap and complete the top 20, leaving #21 and #22 open.
That will be great until the next trade, but I still would not change starting the countdown in November.
My lack of expert knowledge of the lower level minor leaguers always leads me to ask for comparisons. So how would Torres compare to Adolis-Garcia?
I don’t think Garcia ever had anything resembling a plate approach. Torres seems like he could, based on this season’s results. The quotes in Derek’s section of the article were quite exciting. Jhon could be a gem.
In comparison to other publications, we were pretty conservative with our ranking of Torres. Fangraphs ranked him at No. 6 in their Cardinals top 40 last month. BA, who has yet to release their Top 10 for St. Louis, but ranked him No. 2 in the Arizona League and No. 6 in the GCL.
One reader posed the same question in Brian’s write up to Ben Badger in the GCL chat. Why did the Indians trade him?
Here’s what Badler said: The Indians had good reports on Mercado, who’s close to MLB-ready, while Torres was still in his first year of U.S. rookie ball. Torres is still 3-plus years away from contributing, and probably more than that, but the reports from pro scouts who saw him this year in both leagues were pretty dynamite.
Nyquis, just because Torres is 6’5″ you think they might move him to 3B? Is there anything else that makes you think that?
I dont see Torres starting the year at Peoria. If nothing else it is really crowded. Machado, Cedeno, Ynfante, Riley, Warner, and Woodall at a minimum. I also see the Cardinals wanting to indoctrinate him to their defensive and offensive techniques. I dont expect the cold to factor in to it.
The discussion of why Cleveland would trade Torres reminded me of this article I read just yesterday
CC, they may not start Torres at Peoria, but if he shows this spring he is ready and they are going to let guys like Woodall, Riley and Warner block him, anyway, their priorities are messed up. In fact, not a one of the six names you named is considered by all of us here to be a better prospect than Torres. I am sure there were guys ahead of Carlson, too, but they gave him priority from the GCL to Peoria. And he was not the only one to do that.
In terms of indoctrination, Torres has/will have this training between now and opening day (assuming he is invited):
Dominican instructs this fall
US instructional camp in January
Spring training in MarchI am leaving out STEP Camp as he is probably too young for that.
Unless he is a slow learner, he should not also need extended spring training to learn how the Cards want him to play.
He did play 17 games for the Cards GCL team, so its not like he hasn’t already received some instruction from Cardinals coaches.
Maybe a better comp than Garcia for Torres might be Tyler O’Neill? Power, good defense, and doing great things at a precocious age…minus the huge muscles and Canadian ruggedness, perhaps. Haha. But this kid along with Tyler, Nunez, Montero, Gorman and maybe Baker give the Cards some serious potential on the hitting side of the minors. It should be fun to watch take shape in 2019.
Coming in 19th in The Cardinal Nation’s #stlcards top 50 prospect countdown for 2019 is a then-21-year old right-hander pushed ahead to Memphis. Jake Woodford explains what was behind his improvement at Triple-A. ($) https://t.co/dEdnXghZO4 pic.twitter.com/m6tUfr4dFy
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) December 13, 2018
Assuming Kruczynski moves up to AAA, Woodford is the 7th starting pitcher (AAA or above) on this list and in the 11th to 14th P prospect on the organization’s depth chart. That’s telling me that he’ll need to have a breakout ’19 to move up or face spending 2 or more years at Memphis. Still, he’s way too good to give up on.
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