Minor League thread a/k/a the 2020 roster part III

[Frater Perdurabo]

Originally Posted by blurry

BP's top 10 is out: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/p...-10-prospects/

Eloy Jimenez, OF
Michael Kopech, RHP
Alec Hansen, RHP
Dylan Cease, RHP
Luis Robert, OF
Jake Burger, 3B
Dane Dunning, RHP
Blake Rutherford, OF
Zack Collins, C
Carson Fulmer, RHP

It will be interesting to see how this compares to MLB Pipeline’s updated list when it is released.

[blurry]

Originally Posted by Frater Perdurabo

It will be interesting to see how this compares to MLB Pipeline’s updated list when it is released.

The top 3 will probably be the same. As for the rest, who knows.

[Hitmen77]

The Sox sign minor league free agent Patrick Leonard from the Rays organization:
https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/ba...ith-white-sox/

[Andrew C White]

Originally Posted by Hitmen77

The Sox sign minor league free agent Patrick Leonard from the Rays organization:
https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/ba...ith-white-sox/

Seems like the typical Sox minor league pick-up these days. Decent but not exciting minor league numbers...

https://www.baseball-reference.com/r...d=leonar000pat

Was ranked #27 on the Rays top 30 back in 2015 but not ranked last year or the year before. But that provides us the review from 2015. Sounds like a lesser version of D.J. Peterson who we signed and let go last year:

http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015?list=tb

Patrick Leonard | Rank: 27 (Preseason: 29)
Team: Status: Free Agent ETA: 2016
Position: 1B Age: 25 DOB: 10/20/1992
Bats: R Throws: R Height: 6' 4" Weight: 225 lb.
Drafted: 2011, 5th (156) - KC

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45

Leonard was the least known of the four players the Rays acquired from the Royals in 2012 in exchange for James Shields and Wade Davis. He had the best season of his career in 2014, when he was an All-Star in the Florida State League, though he didn't replicate the success with the move to Double-A in 2015.

Leonard stands out most for his raw power. He has the strength and leverage in his swing to drive balls over the fence. His approach, however, remains inconsistent. At his best, he does a good job finding the gaps, but like many young power hitters, there's some swing-and-miss in his game, and he can try to pull the ball too much.

After beginning his professional career as a third baseman, Leonard has moved across the diamond to first base, where he is an above-average defender. But it will still be up to his bat to get him to the Major Leagues.

[JohnTucker0814]

Originally Posted by blurry

BP's top 10 is out: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/p...-10-prospects/

Eloy Jimenez, OF
Michael Kopech, RHP
Alec Hansen, RHP
Dylan Cease, RHP
Luis Robert, OF
Jake Burger, 3B
Dane Dunning, RHP
Blake Rutherford, OF
Zack Collins, C
Carson Fulmer, RHP

Surprised Robert isn't in the top 3 to be honest. His age and abilities, I'd expect him to be a bigger star than Hansen & Cease if they all hit their ceilings.

[shes]

Originally Posted by JohnTucker0814

Surprised Robert isn't in the top 3 to be honest. His age and abilities, I'd expect him to be a bigger star than Hansen & Cease if they all hit their ceilings.

This is the first time I've seen him ranked outside the Sox top 3 since they acquired him. Strange.

[DonnieDarko]

Alec Hansen must have really opened some eyes. But I don't get the Cease love much over Robert. Perceived quality arms must be at a low amount compared to quality OF prospects.

[blurry]

Robert is still an unknown commodity at this point.

[A. Cavatica]

Originally Posted by blurry

Robert is still an unknown commodity at this point.

Cease has a ton of questions too.

[guillensdisciple]

Originally Posted by A. Cavatica

Cease has a ton of questions too.

He does from a health perspective, but not from a talent perspective (IMO). The kid is exceptionally talented and has a great fastball/ curve combo. He could be a third ace in a monster rotation assuming Kopech/ Hansen turn out to be great pitchers. I do think that, in order to get there, he needs to develop a third pitch. Otherwise, he will probably be a great reliever.

[rdivaldi]

MLBPipeline released their top 50 for next year's draft.

1. Brady Singer - RHP
2. Ethan Hankis - RHP
3. Matthew Liberatore - LHP
4. Nolan Gorman - 3B
5. Shane McClanahan - LHP
6. Nander De Sedas - SS
7. Brice Turang - SS
8. Casey Mize - RHP
9. Ryan Rolison - LHP
10. Jackson Kowar - RHP
27. Seth Beer - 1B

Mayo and Callis also released a very early 2018 top 10 mock draft.

4. White Sox
Callis: Nander de Sedas. He draws some Francisco Lindor comps because they're switch-hitting shortstops from the same school, with de Sedas offering more offensive upside and Lindor showing superior defensive ability at the same stage of their careers.
Mayo: Jackson Kowar, RHP, Florida. He's a rare college arm with projection and scouts report that Kowar threw as well as, if not better than, Singer this fall, albeit in a very small sample size.

[ChiSoxNationPres]

Originally Posted by rdivaldi

MLBPipeline released their top 50 for next year's draft.

1. Brady Singer - RHP
2. Ethan Hankis - RHP
3. Matthew Liberatore - LHP
4. Nolan Gorman - 3B
5. Shane McClanahan - LHP
6. Nander De Sedas - SS
7. Brice Turang - SS
8. Casey Mize - RHP
9. Ryan Rolison - LHP
10. Jackson Kowar - RHP
27. Seth Beer - 1B

Mayo and Callis also released a very early 2018 top 10 mock draft.

If the Sox get Madrigal (assuming he can play SS) or Nander De Sedas, I'll be very happy. For sure one will be on the board I think. Also expect a college bat to come shooting up the boards in late spring with a strong season (like Benintendi or Bregman type guys) and I'd be intrigued by that as well.

[rdivaldi]

Originally Posted by ChiSoxNationPres

Also expect a college bat to come shooting up the boards in late spring with a strong season (like Benintendi or Bregman type guys) and I'd be intrigued by that as well.

Yep, just like Haseley and Smith. Someone always shoots up after a strong year.

[DonnieDarko]

I like the idea of drafting De Sedas. Having more depth at 3B, SS, and 2B is never a bad thing.

[Andrew C White]

Originally Posted by rdivaldi

MLBPipeline released their top 50 for next year's draft.

1. Brady Singer - RHP
2. Ethan Hankis - RHP
3. Matthew Liberatore - LHP
4. Nolan Gorman - 3B
5. Shane McClanahan - LHP
6. Nander De Sedas - SS
7. Brice Turang - SS
8. Casey Mize - RHP
9. Ryan Rolison - LHP
10. Jackson Kowar - RHP
27. Seth Beer - 1B

Mayo and Callis also released a very early 2018 top 10 mock draft.

Thanks. Interesting ranking. So we pick 4th and 43rd.

The high school 3B, Nolan Gorman, that they list at #4 looks very interesting. A lefty with a big power bat. I know we picked a 3B last year but he looks like an interesting pick regardless.

Lefty pitcher Shane McClanahan ranked #5 looks interesting too if we decide to go with pitching (and we could use some more pitchers at the bottom of the minors where pitching is fairly weak).

I still like SS-Brice Turang though the reports on Nander De Sedas sound good too. I think I like Turang more than De Sedas though. Slow guys at SS sound like future 2B and 3B's to me. If we are going to draft 3B we should go with Gorman. And if we are going to draft a SS then it should be someone that can stick there.

Personally, I still lean towards Turang but I wouldn't complain with Gorman or McClanahan. And of course if Singer is still around at #4 then he is worth considering too.

Later in the draft is much harder to predict, even in the 2nd round, as players fall and others rise and teams make surprise picks. But if Joe Gray Jr., ranked #40 is still there at #43 then I like the sound of him. C-Noah Naylor, ranked #47 looks interesting as well. RHP-Blaine Knight out of Arkansas looks like another possibility. High School 1B-Triston Casas ranked #39 is interesting as well.

We don't really need another OF at this time but Alek Thomas is the son of White Sox director of strength and conditioning Allen Thomas and is ranked #49. He looks interesting too but hopefully Dad insists he go to college so we can pick someone at a position of greater need.

Should be another good draft for us with dividends paying off a couple years after we've started contending again and therefore helping to extend that contention through the next decade. Be nice to put a string of winning years together throughout the roaring 20's.