Is 50 Prospects not enough for you? How about 10 more? SFDugout.com takes a look at the ten guys who just missed the list, and how they can make future iterations!
Mike McBryde - Last Year’s Rank: #41
McBryde gets the dubious distinction of being the guy who came closest to making the cut, but not quite. McBryde very well could be one of the three fastest guys in the system. But his offensive profile doesn’t quite fit that quality. His contact hitting is not great, and his plate discipline is poor. Without any power to speak of, he needs to get on base more for his speed to register. And to that end, 30 stolen bases in 190 career minor league games is simply not enough for his speed. If he makes the jump to San Jose, he’ll have to be much more aggressive everywhere except in the batter’s box.
Alex Hinshaw - Last Year’s Rank: NR
Another very, very close call on the cut. Hinshaw put up excellent numbers in Connecticut, with a 1.96 ERA working mostly in relief. He also showed significant improvement in his hits allowed (22 in 41 1/3 innings, compared to 57 in 69 2/3 last year) and walks allowed (19 in 41 1/3 innings compared to 61 in 69 2/3 last season). The only thing keeping Hinshaw off the list is the worry that this was a fluke in a pitcher’s league. Hinshaw will get a chance to say otherwise in Fresno this season.
Bobby Felmy - Last Year’s Rank: NR
Felmy showed an interesting mix of speed and power in Salem-Keizer, and did the same in Augusta. In fact, all in all, Felmy’s numbers were remarkably consistent in his first full-season compared to his debut in 2006. However, slow starts and finishes took away his shot to make the list. He also needs to push either his contact hitting (.281 average), slugging (15 home runs, though he had 31 doubles), or speed (26 stolen bases in 41 attempts) over the top to really make a mark, rather than being a jack of all trades. Those types of player have not faired well at higher levels.
Brett Pill - Last Year’s Rank: NR
There are some people in the Giants organization who really like Pill. And he’s got a swing that should be powerful. The problem is it never really has filled out. He had an organization leading 47 doubles in a large park in 2007, but just 10 home runs. Pill was put on a strength program in the offseason to help turn some of those into more home runs. But he’ll have to get to 25 home runs a year to make up for his lack of other plus offensive skills right now.
Erick Threets - Last Year’s Rank: NR
Ever the tease of a prospect, Threets has simply had too many problems staying healthy and consistent over his career. He has been more of both in the past two years, and finally made his major league debut late in 2007 (he would have in 2006, but surprise, he was injured just before his chance in September). Threets’ once overpowering velocity has dropped, but his walk rates never have. He’s out of options, and has stiff competition to make the majors this year. He probably will make it through waivers, but he has to lower that walk rate significantly to make an impact on this list.
Marcus Sanders - Last Year’s Rank: #17
Another prospect whose health problems have scuttled a promising set of tools. He was mostly healthy in 2007, but he only made it into 94 games in Augusta this season, and he looked very rusty. He hasn’t hit a home run since 2005, and his contact hitting was far down. He still has that speed, but that no longer is a standout tool in the Giants system. He’s still just 22, so he can still come back, but the road will be long and the middle infield in the Giants system is suddenly very, very crowded.
Mike Mooney - Last Year’s Rank: #18
2007 was supposed to be Mooney’s make-it-or-break-it year. Well, something definitely broke. He struggled all season, finishing with a .247 average and a .298 on-base percentage. Despite having a lot of solid if not spectacular tools, Mooney was already behind the development curve after spending three years in short-season ball, and now, he’ll turn 25 in this season and not be out of Single-A. Unless he does something shocking, like play his way into Connecticut to start the year and make Fresno mid-season, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to climb back up into this list’s rankings.
Brian Bocock - Last Year’s Rank: NR
Bocock has made some other lists based on his defense, and it seemed like he was a good pick when he started the season on fire in the South Atlantic League. However, he cooled off, and despite a fast start in San Jose after a promotion, his numbers came down sharply. His speed and defense can still make a difference, but he’ll have to be far more selective at the plate to get on base (he had 105 strikeouts in 87 games with San Jose), become a better contact hitter, and improve his stealing proficiency. And he’ll have to fight for playing time to show he can do it.
Sharlon Schoop - Last Year’s Rank: #50
Schoop is another defense-first shortstop. His talent there is undeniable. But he’s having problems moving up the ranks since making his U.S. debut in 2005. He looked overmatched in Augusta in 2007, and while he showed a bounce-back of sorts after his demotion to Salem-Keizer, his offensive toolset remains undefined. He does not have either plus speed or power, and his contact hitting is average at best. He’ll have to develop more offensively to let his defense carry him.
Thomas Neal - Last Year’s Rank: #46
Neal didn’t make the list simply because of injuries that kept him out of competition except for 10 games of rehab in the Arizona League. Neal still has all the talent to be a good prospect, and he’s a very good candidate to have a break out year at 20-years old and a legitimate shot to be in Augusta to start the year. However, he will have to deal with his rehabbing shoulder, and have to prove he can stay healthy.
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