Second-Base is next on my Top 10 Position report. As stated before here is my methodology: I am basing the players on the traditional
MLB 20-80 scouting scale and 5-Tool prospect categories. The 20-80 scale bases out like this: 20 career minor leaguer, 30 low level bench
player, 40 ML bench player, 50 ML Regular, 60 Plus ML player, 70 ML All-Star,
80 MVP candidate. The 5-tools I used
are: Fielding, Contact, Power, Eye, Base-running (Traditional ML 5-tools are
Arm Strength, Fielding, Contact, Power, and Speed). I altered to fit the HBD fields. Please note, this is also based on my
scouting vision (14).
The 2nd Base position is fairly full of
prospective prospects, with a few highly rated youngsters and a many quality
players. As far as ratings, Defense and
Contact rating are high on the list, and Power is the least considered
tool. Without further ado, here are the
rankings.
1.
John Hernandez, Pawtucket Gallivanters.
Age: 21
Bats: RH
How Acquired: Draft, Rnd 1, Pick
7, Season 28
5-Tool Ratings
Fielding
= 65
Contact
= 75
Power
= 70
Eye
= 60
Base-running
= 70
Hernandez is an excellent
all-around 2nd-baseman, looking to garner many All-Star and possible
MVPs in his ML career. Defensively,
he’ll stick at the position with no problem.
He already shows good range and a good glove, with both to tick up in
the future. Offensively, Hernandez has a
great combination of contact, power, and speed.
He can hit RH and LH pitching and has a discerning eye knowing what
pitches he can drive and what he can look to take to get a better selection. He’s not averse to taking a walk either. He should be able to impact the game in all
facets and present a very challenging out to opposing pitchers, and would make
an ideal #2 hitter in a power lineup.
ETA: Chicago has moved him through the minors one
step at a time, and if that remains the case, he’ll reach the ML’s in 2
years. He could make the leap next season if he
continues his current pace, but that’s up to the Chicago management.
2.
Turner Thompson, Los Angeles White Sox
Age: 18
Bats: RH
How Acquired: Draft, Rnd 1, Pick 7, Season 30
5-Tool Ratings
Fielding
= 80
Contact
= 55
Power
= 50
Eye
= 70
Base-running
= 80
Almost topping the list, Thompson
falls in at #2, but there was a lot to like with this future star. His one detraction is age, which also allows
him to gain a lot of growth. Thompson
projects to be a great defensive player, with plus range and great hand-eye to
work his glove. He can make plays deep
in the hole and has great depth up the middle.
Offensively, while he has top level hand-eye coordination, he has some
trouble barreling up pitches. If he can
increase his ability to make consistent hard contact he’ll become a top of the
order table-setter. He has a great eye
to read pitches. Once on the bases,
he’ll give catchers nightmares as he is becoming adept at reading the game and
picking his spots to use his blinding speed to steal bases.
ETA: Thompson will take time to develop, and he’ll
need the time as an 18 yr. old. But, in
terms of raw tools and promise, he’s a future top of the lineup terror. Expect to see him in season 34 at the earliest.
3.
Walt Buckel, Atlanta Soda Poppers
Age: 20
Bats: LH
How Acquired: Draft, Round 1,
Pick 21, Season 28
5-Tool Ratings
Fielding
= 55
Contact
= 80
Power
= 55
Eye
= 80
Base-running
= 50
Many of the 2nd-basemen
on this list are great overall prospects.
Buckel represents one of the outliers as he’s a good fielder, with good
power and base-running, however his bat and eye combination is so good he
shoots up the list for these two tools.
He’ll have to work hard to become a solid defensive player, but is
progressing to that end already. He does
show the ability to play at 3rd or the OF if needed as he has a very
strong arm for the position. As for his
batting ability, he shows amazing contact skills combined with a great batting
eye. This combination should allow
Buckel to be an on-base machine with plus doubles. He doesn’t show great speed, but isn’t a
terrible base-runner and could become an excellent #2 batter setting the table
for the middle-order hitters.
ETA: Buckel is toping out as a defensive player,
so his projection will have to come from continued improvement with the
stick. He certainly shows the ability to
continue his development. If needed he’d
be able to play on the ML squad today, but look to season 31 for Buckel to make
his first ML appearance.
4.
Chief Beachy, Iowa City Badgers
Age: 18
Bats: RH
How Acquired: Draft, Rnd 1, Pick
10, Season 30
5-Tool Ratings
Fielding
= 75
Contact
= 55
Power
= 50
Eye
= 65
Base-running
= 70
Chief Beachy (born, Nicholas
Adonis Beachy), has gained his nickname through dominating performances on the
field and mound for Valley View HS in Germantown, Ohio. He may certainly live up to that name in the
ML’s as he has the raw tools to be a true impact 2nd-baseman. Beachy projects to be a great defensive 2nd-baseman
with Gold-glove caliber defense. He
already shows impact range and an improving glove, with blinding top end speed,
which also helps his base-running ability.
Offensively, there is a lot, in fact an tremendous amount of room to
grow. At a lith 175 lbs now, he can get
overmatched by quality fastballs, but in batting practice he shows improving
coordination, and a very promising eye to read pitches. He may never reach the top of the lineup,
however, his defense and quality bat should allow him to be a all-star caliber
player in time.
ETA: It will be a long road for Beachy, and don’t
expect him to reach ML consideration till season 34.
5.
Kendall Flores, Montreal Rockets
Age: 20
Bats: RH
How Acquired: Rnd 1, Pick 6,
Season 28
5-Tool Ratings
Fielding
= 75
Contact
= 45
Power
= 65
Eye
= 50
Base-running
= 80
In the same vein as Beachy,
Flores should be a top defensive 2nd-baseman with a quality bat to
become a ML regular and possible all-star.
Flores, was known for his glove coming into the draft, and has not
disappointed, as his range is already fringe ML’er and his glove has improved
steadily. As he continues to progress,
there should be no doubt that Flores will become a great defensive 2nd-baseman. Offensively, Flores is one of the less
all-around players, and shows one plus-plus tool and 2 plus tools. Flores, will be a terror on the bases,
showing great speed and knowledge.
However, getting on the bases will be the concern. He has a good eye but still chases too many
non-strikes. As a second plus though, is
his power, which if he can make enough contact will generate 20 HRs per
year. Overall, Flores is a mixed bag
,but it’s a tools bag and should allow him to become a starter at the ML level,
and if he can catch a good roll, he could find himself in a mid-summer classic
as an all-star.
ETA: Season 32 call-up seems reasonable, with a
full-time player in season 33.
6.
Buddy Sheffield, St. Louis Apex Predators
Age: 22
Bats: RH
How Acquired: Draft, Rnd 1, Pick
19, Season 28
5-Tool Ratings
Fielding
= 65
Contact
= 70
Power
= 20
Eye
= 70
Base-running
= 75
Buddy Sheffield will be a ML 2nd-baseman,
showing good range and solid glove now.
He also shows a good ability to make solid contact with a great batting
eye. His one down-fall will be his
power, which is 20 on the scouting scale.
Overall as a hitter, he makes great contact, and hits both RH’s and LH’s
well at this point, and should tick-up as he gets more experience. However, having solid defense, contact, eye
and base-running will allow Sheffield to be a very productive ML player. He could sit at the top of a lineup and
provide great leadoff capabilities to set the table for the future St. Louis
offense.
ETA: Sheffield could make his debut this year, and
could become a quality starter over the next few years.
7.
Naoto Hasagawa, Richmond Rebellion
Age: 19
Bats: RH
How Acquired: Draft, Rnd 1, Pick
9, Season 29
5-Tool Ratings
Fielding
= 70
Contact
= 60
Power
= 60
Eye
= 70
Base-running
= 50
Naoto Hasegawa has not actually
played this season in LowA for the Richmond Revolution but still shows the
tools to be counted as a top10 2nd-baseman. Already possessing a plus range, his fielding
will certainly hold for a future 2nd-baseman. While he isn’t a great base-runner he’ll hold
his own and will not clog the bases. As
far as batting, Hasegawa shows excellent hand-eye coordination, while being a
plus hitter vs LH and RH pitchers, with a solid batting eye. He should become a great 2nd
batter in the Richmond lineup.
ETA: Naoto has a lot of development to go, and
will need regular playing time to get there.
But, he shows the skills to be a superb ML 2nd-baseman.
8.
Juan De La Vega, Boston Braves.
Age: 22
Bats: RH
How Acquired: Draft, Rnd 10, Pick
337, Season 28
5-Tool Ratings
Fielding
= 75
Contact
= 50
Power
= 60
Eye
= 65
Base-running
= 55
De La Vega is one o fth true
all-around 2nd-baseman prospects to come along in Satchel
Paige. He looks to become a great
fielder with plus range and glove, while showing an accurate arm. He is adept at turning-two right now. As a hitter, Juan can crush LH pitchers, but
will need to keep improving vs RH pitching to reach his status. He does show surprising pop for a 2nd-baseman,
with a discerning eye at the plate.
While note a great runner, he is a very intelligent base-runner which
allows him to take the extra base when available.
ETA: Taken as a late round draft pick, De La Vega
works hard to show his worth and will be rewarded with a ML call-up, possibly
as soon as Season 31.
Age: 22
Bats: RH
How Acquired: Draft, Rnd 1, Pick
15, Season 28
5-Tool Ratings
Fielding
= 75
Contact
= 50
Power
= 70
Eye
= 60
Base-running
= 50
Taken 4 picks ahead of Buddy
Sheffield in season 28 draft, Stokes could end up shooting up this list in
short order. Stokes has been on a tear
in High A this season with a .305 average but backing that up with 39 Doubles
and 43 Homeruns. As a future power
hitting 2nd-baseman, there shouldn’t be any park that Stokes can’t
drive the ball over the fence. He still
has ways to go to get better contact rates, but his batting eye is solid now which
helps his contact rates. As far as a
runner, he has ok speed, but makes mistakes trying to stretch and gain extra
bases leading to unnecessary outs. As a fielder, he could have few peers with
great range to both sides as well as flashing a plus-plus glove, and a solid
accurate arm.
ETA: Stokes has many admires in the scouting
community, as 2nd-basemen who can hit in the 5/6 holes in a lineup
don’t come around often. He should
become a run producing hitter with a plus glove, and may make a few All-star
squads. The league should see Stokes
next season as a call-up and possibly full time in Season 32
10.
Idemaro Unamuno, New Orleans RainMakers
Age: 20
Bats: RH
How Acquired: Trade, season 29
5-Tool Ratings
Fielding
= 70
Contact
= 55
Power
= 40
Eye
= 55
Base-running
= 75
Idemaro ‘Chuck’ Unamuno, is a
young, and potentially solid-plus ML prospect.
He has made strides over the past few seasons, even with his trade to
New Orleans in Season 29 (as trades can impact younger players both negatively
and positively). At his heights, ‘Chuck’
(as his teammates have come to call him due to a resemblance to a young Ray
Charles), has the requisite fielding and base-running skills for a quality 2nd-baseman...what
he needs to continue to develop is his offensive skills. Unamuno will continue to show a great contact
rate and already shows good ability vs LH and RH pitchers, with an average
batting eye. If any of those skills tick
up combined with his great contact he should be able to provide a solid
offensive player with triples, doubles and many stolen bases.
ETA: Sheffield could make his debut this year, and
could become a quality starter over the next few years.
Honorable Mention:
2.
Tyson Ratliff – Atlanta Soda Poppers
3.
Jody Feierabend – New Orleans RainMakers
4.
Antone Roberts – Tampa Bay Bandits
5.
Gus Hodges – Cleveland Disco Inferno
