For
the first time ever, Perfect Game decided to expand its focus to
minor league baseball, using its extensive knowledge of players and
contacts within the industry to compile a list with corresponding
reports of the top 10 prospects of each of the 30 big league teams.
In these features we also provided an overview of each team's
organization as a whole and how their efforts from the 2011 draft
look so far.
Not
surprisingly, we found that quite a few of the top prospects were
former Perfect Game All-Americans.
Eight
of the No. 1 overall prospects for their respective teams had
previously played in the Classic: Dylan Bundy (Orioles, 2010),
Yasmani Grandal (Padres, 2006), Bryce Harper (Nationals, 2009), Matt
Harvey (Mets, 2006), Francisco Lindor (Indians, 2010), Jonathan
Singleton (Astros, 2008), Jameson Taillon (Pirates, 2009) and Jacob
Turner (Tigers, 2008).
Each
of the 30 teams either had a player ranked among or was considered for their top 10
prospect list that had previously attended the Perfect Game All-American Classic. 79 players in
total were listed in these extensive reports (full list below),
including at least one player from every year of the Classic since
its inaugural year in 2003.
The
Washington Nationals had the most All-Americans listed among their
top 10 list with five, which doesn't include the two others that were
listed among those considered. The Pirates had four listed in the
top 10, while the Athletics, Cubs, Indians and Mets each had three.
The Nationals also had the most players that had attended any Perfect Game event in the past, as all 10 of their top 10 prospects, as well as all six of the prospects that were also considered, are PG alums. All 10 of the Giants top prospects listed also had previously attended a Perfect Game event, while the Athletics, Diamondbacks, Rays, Red Sox and Rockies each had nine former PG players among their top 10.
In total, 210 of the 300 prospects listed (70-percent) had previously attended a Perfect Game event. Add in the 162 of 225 players that were also considered, and you have 372 of 525 prospects that are PG alums, 71-percent of all of the players listed.
To
give an example of how these lists are expected to grow in the years
to come, eight former All-Americans were recently named to Perfect Game's college preseason All-American teams: Kris Bryant (San Diego,
2009), Kevin Gausman (Louisiana State, 2009), Michael Lorenzen (Cal
State Fullerton, 2009), Austin Maddox (Florida, 2008), Richie Shaffer
(Clemson, 2008), Karsten Whitson (Florida, 2009), Austin Wilson
(Stanford, 2009) and Mike Zunino (Florida, 2008).
To
view all of the team-by-team top prospect reports, please visit the Perfect Game Minor League page.
O
= players not ranked in the top 10 but mentioned as others in
consideration
Name |
Organization |
Rank |
Year |
Ryan Adams |
Orioles |
O |
2005 |
Stetson Allie |
Pirates |
7 |
2009 |
Tyler Austin |
Yankees |
8 |
2009 |
Xavier Avery |
Orioles |
O
|
2007 |
Javier Baez |
Cubs |
4 |
2010 |
Cameron Bedrosian |
Angels |
O
|
2009 |
Tim Beckham |
Rays |
10 |
2007 |
Dellin Betances |
Yankees |
3 |
2005 |
Archie Bradley |
Diamondbacks |
2 |
2010 |
Dylan Bundy |
Orioles |
1 |
2010 |
Yordy Cabrera |
Athletics |
O
|
2009 |
Chevez Clarke |
Angels |
O
|
2009 |
A.J. Cole |
Athletics |
5 |
2009 |
Gerrit Cole |
Pirates |
2 |
2007 |
Christian Colon |
Royals |
7 |
2006 |
Jarred Cosart |
Astros |
4 |
2007 |
Kaleb Cowart |
Angels |
5 |
2009 |
Matt Davidson |
Diamondbacks |
7 |
2008 |
Derek Dietrich |
Rays |
O
|
2006 |
Phillips Evans |
Mets |
7 |
2010 |
Alex Fernandez |
Marlins |
4 |
2010 |
Cameron Gallagher |
Royals |
O
|
2009 |
Scooter Gennett |
Brewers |
4 |
2008 |
Mychal Givens |
Orioles |
O
|
2008 |
Reggie Golden |
Cubs |
O
|
2009 |
Brian Goodwin |
Nationals |
6 |
2008 |
Yasmani Grandal |
Padres |
1 |
2006 |
Sonny Gray |
Athletics |
3 |
2007 |
Grant Green |
Athletics |
6 |
2005 |
Larry Greene |
Phillies |
O |
2010 |
Robbie Grossman |
Pirates |
8 |
2007 |
Travis Harrison |
Twins |
9 |
2010 |
Bryce Harper |
Nationals |
1 |
2009 |
Matt Harvey |
Mets |
1 |
2006 |
Austin Hedges |
Padres |
O
|
2010 |
Aaron Hicks |
Twins |
4 |
2007 |
Destin Hood |
Nationals |
7 |
2007 |
Dillon Howard |
Indians |
2 |
2010 |
Taylor Jungmann |
Brewers |
2 |
2007 |
Mike Kelly |
Padres |
O
|
2010 |
D.J. LeMahieu |
Rockies |
O
|
2006 |
Francisco Lindor |
Indians |
1 |
2010 |
Matt Lipka |
Braves |
O
|
2009 |
Marcus Littlewood |
Mariners |
O
|
2009 |
Dillon Maples |
Cubs |
8 |
2010 |
Tyler Marlette |
Mariners |
O
|
2010 |
Chris Marrero |
Nationals |
O
|
2005 |
Ethan Martin |
Dodgers |
O
|
2007 |
Kent Matthes |
Rockies |
O
|
2004 |
Tyler Matzek |
Rockies |
10 |
2008 |
Alex Meyer |
Nationals |
3 |
2007 |
Jared Mitchell |
White Sox |
10 |
2005 |
David Nick |
Diamondbacks |
O |
2008 |
Daniel Norris |
Blue Jays |
5 |
2010 |
Justin O'Conner |
Rays |
O
|
2009 |
Henry Owens |
Red Sox |
O
|
2010 |
Chris Parmelee |
Twins |
O
|
2005 |
Matt Purke |
Nationals |
5 |
2008 |
Zach Putnam |
Rockies |
O
|
2004 |
Neil Ramirez |
Rangers |
6 |
2006 |
Joe Ross |
Padres |
10 |
2010 |
Josh Sale |
Rays |
O
|
2009 |
Aaron Sanchez |
Blue Jays |
O
|
2009 |
Jonathan Singleton |
Astros |
1 |
2008 |
Josh Smoker |
Nationals |
O
|
2006 |
Max Stassi |
Athletics |
O
|
2008 |
Robert Stephenson |
Reds |
5 |
2010 |
Andrew Susac |
Giants |
3 |
2008 |
Jordan Swagerty |
Cardinals |
O
|
2007 |
Blake Swihart |
Red Sox |
3 |
2010 |
Peter Tago |
Rockies |
O
|
2009 |
Jameson Taillon |
Pirates |
1 |
2009 |
Donovan Tate |
Padres |
O
|
2008 |
Michael Taylor |
Athletics |
O
|
2003 |
Jacob Turner |
Tigers |
1 |
2008 |
Josh Vitters |
Cubs |
9 |
2006 |
Zack Wheeler |
Mets |
2 |
2008 |
Tony Wolters |
Indians |
6 |
2009 |
Austin Wright |
Phillies |
O |
2007 |