My BA handbook came in the mail last night. The White Sox top 30 is interesting. There are a bunch of relievers and they apparently love the 2017 draft. Sox are ranked as the #4 system in baseball.

 

1. Eloy Jimenez OF

2. Michael Kopech RHP

3. Alec Hansen RHP

4. Luis Robert OF

5. Dane Dunning RHP

6. Zack Collins C

7. Jake Burger 3B

8. Blake Rutherford OF

9. Gavin Sheets 1B

10. Dylan Cease RHP

11. Zack Burdi RHP

12. Spencer Adams RHP

13. Carson Fulmer RHP

14. Luis Gonzalez OF

15. AJ Puckett RHP

16. Jordan Stephens RHP

17. Micker Adolfo OF

18. Luis Alexander Basabe OF

19. Lincoln Henzman RHP

20. Thyago Vieira RHP

21. Alex Call OF

22. Ian Clarkin LHP

23. Ian Hamilton RHP

24. Tyler Johnson RHP

25. Jordan Guerrero LHP

26. Bernardo Flores LHP

27. Tito Polo OF

28. Lenyn Sosa SS

29. Seby Zavala C

30. Connor Walsh RHP

31. Yeyson Yrizarri SS

 

Some interesting stuff in there. First would be Puckett, I don't anyone else is even close to that high on him.

Some interesting stuff in there. First would be Puckett, I don't anyone else is even close to that high on him.

 

 

They said "probably a back end starter" but he has a plus changeup and some scouts think he can add more velocity.

Thanks for sharing Y2Jimmy!

Why are they so low on Zavala?

My BA handbook came in the mail last night. The White Sox top 30 is interesting. There are a bunch of relievers and they apparently love the 2017 draft. Sox are ranked as the #4 system in baseball.

 

1. Eloy Jimenez OF

2. Michael Kopech RHP

3. Alec Hansen RHP

4. Luis Robert OF

5. Dane Dunning RHP

6. Zack Collins C

7. Jake Burger 3B

8. Blake Rutherford OF

9. Gavin Sheets 1B

10. Dylan Cease RHP

11. Zack Burdi RHP

12. Spencer Adams RHP

13. Carson Fulmer RHP

14. Luis Gonzalez OF

15. AJ Puckett RHP

16. Jordan Stephens RHP

17. Micker Adolfo OF

18. Luis Alexander Basabe OF

19. Lincoln Henzman RHP

20. Thyago Vieira RHP

21. Alex Call OF

22. Ian Clarkin LHP

23. Ian Hamilton RHP

24. Tyler Johnson RHP

25. Jordan Guerrero LHP

26. Bernardo Flores LHP

27. Tito Polo OF

28. Lenyn Sosa SS

29. Seby Zavala C

30. Connor Walsh RHP

31. Yeyson Yrizarri SS

 

Sheets above Cease is a surprise for me^

 

Why are they so low on Zavala? How many minor league catchers hit as well as he did last year?

Sheets above Cease is a surprise for me^

 

Why are they so low on Zavala? How many minor league catchers hit as well as he did last year?

 

Zavala is pretty old for the level and some feel he's a worse defender than even Collins.

SOSA

 

Surprised Adams is that high.

Adolfo coming in at #17 is pretty ridiculous IMO. Check out his power & walk numbers over the last three months of the season, the kid was making some serious progress. Obviously he has work to do on the strikeouts, but there is so much upside here I feel like he should be in the top 12 without question.

Call was the name that stood out to me. Assuming they must really like his defense in CF?

As far as Zavala goes: they mention that Sox have him on a program to add strength and weight because he loses a ton of weight in season. He also altered swing path to get ahigher launch angle. They note that he has power and an all fields approach, fringy but playable defense, fringe average arm. They say his ceiling is offensive minded backup catcher.

 

Call: probably ends up in left but profiles as an extra OF with the chance for me if he hits like he always has

 

They seem to think Cease is most likely a reliever. FWIW, Josh Norris did the list and he saw Sheets a ton at Wake Forest. Could have something to do with the ranking. They gave Sheets a Lucas Duda comp.

Adolfo coming in at #17 is pretty ridiculous IMO. Check out his power & walk numbers over the last three months of the season, the kid was making some serious progress. Obviously he has work to do on the strikeouts, but there is so much upside here I feel like he should be in the top 12 without question.

 

 

I agree but he's still pretty far from the majors, has injury concerns, and plate discipline issues in the manner of deciding which pitches to drive and which pitches he should lay off of due to making soft contact. That last part was in the handbook.

As far as Zavala goes: they mention that Sox have him on a program to add strength and weight because he loses a ton of weight in season. He also altered swing path to get ahigher launch angle. They note that he has power and an all fields approach, fringy but playable defense, fringe average arm. They say his ceiling is offensive minded backup catcher.

 

Call: probably ends up in left but profiles as an extra OF with the chance for me if he hits like he always has

 

They seem to think Cease is most likely a reliever. FWIW, Josh Norris did the list and he saw Sheets a ton at Wake Forest. Could have something to do with the ranking. They gave Sheets a Lucas Duda comp.

 

I've never heard anything negative about Zavala's defense until this month. Before that, reports mentioned a good arm and good overall defense. What changed?

SOSA

 

Surprised Adams is that high.

 

Adams is such a weird case. He's going to be 22 all season in AAA, he has never had gaudy strikeout numbers in the minors, but has always put up good FIP/xFIP at every level. I think he can stick as a back end of the rotation piece, but I dont think he'll ever be exciting. Being young at every level though, he has never been overmatched.

The podcast is helpful listening for context to this list, came out a few weeks ago: https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/whit...00DfLYcBvjKT.97

 

They mention as a throwaway line that Zevala is behind Collins defensively. They aren't particularly high on anyone after our top ten, but mention Adolfo.

 

That's one of those things about the rankings, Adolfo is probably the one stnadout they'll talk about in that latter tier, but clearly the ranking is a sign of the volatility with him.