First up with a Sox list: Fangraphs...

 

1. Erik Johnson

2. Courtney Hawkins

3. Jose Dariel Abreu

4. Marcus Semien

5. Chris Beck

6. Tim Anderson

7. Micah Johnson

8. Trayce Thompson

9. Scott Snodgress

10. Daniel Webb (they call him Danny, which I've never seen before)

11. Chris Bassitt

12. Tyler Danish

13. Andrew Mitchell

14. Carlos Sanchez

15. Adam Engel

 

Marc Hulet did the list for FG.

 

BA has theirs out in early January. BP looks like they will do theirs sooner. FutureSox will be January.

 

Lists are lists, but #2 for Hawkins is pretty generous. He turns 20 today, btw.

 

Hopefully Hawkins goes back to Winston-Salem with a clean slate and he learns how to hit breaking pitches.

Lists are lists, but #2 for Hawkins is pretty generous. He turns 20 today, btw.

 

Hopefully Hawkins goes back to Winston-Salem with a clean slate and he learns how to hit breaking pitches.

Looking at the article, I can't say this is one of those "rankings by guys who didn't take the time to learn our system" so it's clear the guy from Fangraphs still likes him a lot.

Lists are lists, but #2 for Hawkins is pretty generous. He turns 20 today, btw.

 

Hopefully Hawkins goes back to Winston-Salem with a clean slate and he learns how to hit breaking pitches.

I'll point this out again... he can and does hit breaking pitches. His problem is timing and recognition. When he guesses breaker, he hits them very hard. I've seen this in person, and other times on video. He isn't a dead-red guy. IN fact he struggles with big heat too.

 

 

I'll point this out again... he can and does hit breaking pitches. His problem is timing and recognition. When he guesses breaker, he hits them very hard. I've seen this in person, and other times on video. He isn't a dead-red guy. IN fact he struggles with big heat too.

 

Ok. I've just seen those clips where he's flailing at the hard breakers down and away.

 

Point is, he's not a hitter yet, and considering him #2 seems a stretch. But we'll see where he is a year from now. If it's the same season, he won't be on anybody's list.

Ok. I've just seen those clips where he's flailing at the hard breakers down and away.

 

Point is, he's not a hitter yet, and considering him #2 seems a stretch. But we'll see where he is a year from now. If it's the same season, he won't be on anybody's list.

Certainly if his 2014 is like his 2013, he drops well down the list to fringe status - but still a prospect. We'll see how it goes. I'd like them to keep him in extended ST next year to get extra focus work, then go to Kanny or W-S in like May or June.

 

Ok. I've just seen those clips where he's flailing at the hard breakers down and away.

 

Point is, he's not a hitter yet, and considering him #2 seems a stretch. But we'll see where he is a year from now. If it's the same season, he won't be on anybody's list.

 

Frank Thomas flailed at hard breaking balls down and away. Every player does.

 

I believe that Courtney Hawkins still has the highest overall ceiling of anybody in the Sox organization. It's hard to ignore that in a system so weak. There's depth there, but he's really the only prospect (not counting Abreu) who can be an impact type player.

 

 

Kinda surprised Danish is "that low". He should be a lot of fun to follow. If his arm doesn't fall of the kid could end up being really good.

 

I think I'd probably put Jacob May up there as well. What's the report on Engel?

Edited November 12, 201312 yr by scs787

Craziest thing about this list is Abreu. I get that you can consider him a prospect, but if you do, how is he not #1?

I think Engel is going to be this year's big riser. I think this because the editor in chief of baseball America is really high on him.

Craziest thing about this list is Abreu. I get that you can consider him a prospect, but if you do, how is he not #1?

 

I thought the same thing. He is technically a prospect, and I'm surprised anyone would put him anywhere but #1.

 

I think Engel is going to be this year's big riser. I think this because the editor in chief of baseball America is really high on him.

I've seen a few scout types speak highly of his tools. He's definitely a guy to keep a close eye on.

 

Craziest thing about this list is Abreu. I get that you can consider him a prospect, but if you do, how is he not #1?

 

If you consider him a prospect, he is the #1 prospect in all of baseball. Period.

Something else noteworthy, no Brandon Jacobs.

 

I look at him as a superior prospect to say, Carlos Sanchez.

I don't. Sanchez was 20 when he started AAA last year - 20. After having gone three levels the year before. I think there is still a lot to like there. Jacobs has a higher ceiling, offensively. But Sanchez is much more likely to be a multi-year major leaguer, and a starter, than Jacobs is (IMO). And he plays premium positions.

 

I like Sanchez, too. If he starts the season in Charlotte, which is likely, he should have a big year, making it a choice between Sanchez, Semien, Micah J, and Anderson for 2015. Love it.

I like Sanchez, too. If he starts the season in Charlotte, which is likely, he should have a big year, making it a choice between Sanchez, Semien, Micah J, and Anderson for 2015. Love it.

Middle infield is becoming somewhat of a strength in the system now. But there is a severe lack of talent on the corner IF positions, and at C. And most of the OF prospects are high potential with high bust rate type guys, which is fine, but makes it unlikely you get more than 1 or 2 doing anything in the majors.

 

Craziest thing about this list is Abreu. I get that you can consider him a prospect, but if you do, how is he not #1?

 

I thought the exact same thing, especially when you look at Courtney Hawkins rated higher. Take your bets right now as to who will contribute at the major league level more in the next 15 years, Abreu or Hawkins, and I think you'll see a pattern.

I thought the exact same thing, especially when you look at Courtney Hawkins rated higher. Take your bets right now as to who will contribute at the major league level more in the next 15 years, Abreu or Hawkins, and I think you'll see a pattern.

 

One of them has been described as possibly being the best hitter in the world.

 

The other is Courtney Hawkins.

I thought the exact same thing, especially when you look at Courtney Hawkins rated higher. Take your bets right now as to who will contribute at the major league level more in the next 15 years, Abreu or Hawkins, and I think you'll see a pattern.

 

You can't even use the "higher ceiling" argument. Abreu has to either be #1, or not on the list at all. Period, end of story.

Ya that's real bizarre to have Hawkins over Abreu.

 

On a positive note, every time I look at these lists, I like what I see more and more when it comes to the talent we have. Obviously there's still a ways to go but we've definitely made progress.

Why are you so sure Sanchez will have a big year in Carlotte? He played there last year and had an OPS of .589 over a full season.

Because of his age for starters. He was awfully young to go to Charlotte last season, plus he improved a lot in the last 6 weeks or so of the season. I don't have those splits in front of me, but that is my recollection. I just see a major improvement in him for 2014. I hope we see a lot of Sanchez and Micah Johnson at short and 2B next year at AAA.

Because of his age for starters. He was awfully young to go to Charlotte last season, plus he improved a lot in the last 6 weeks or so of the season. I don't have those splits in front of me, but that is my recollection. I just see a major improvement in him for 2014. I hope we see a lot of Sanchez and Micah Johnson at short and 2B next year at AAA.

I'm fairly certain Micah Johnson will be starting 2013 in AA.

I'm fairly certain Micah Johnson will be starting 2013 in AA.

Agreed, I would be shocked if he started at AAA. He may get there during the season though, if he does well in B-Ham.

 

Its no secret that the farm system is one of the worst in all of baseball, but it is safe to say that the farm is on the way up with guys like Hawkins, Danish, Zapata, Anderson, etc. With this 3rd overall pick the 2014 draft is a big one for the White Sox

Because of his age for starters. He was awfully young to go to Charlotte last season, plus he improved a lot in the last 6 weeks or so of the season. I don't have those splits in front of me, but that is my recollection. I just see a major improvement in him for 2014. I hope we see a lot of Sanchez and Micah Johnson at short and 2B next year at AAA.

April .207/.309/.244

May .255/.294/.304

June .253/.308/.333

July .255/.291/.316

August .209/.227/.256

September .250/.250/.250

 

Fairly consistent splits during May/June/July and certainly no significant improvement over the last 6 weeks of the season.

 

Sanchez was essentially the same player in '13 as he was in '12. The only difference was in the BABIP. In 2012 his BABIP was .385 giving a triple slash of .323/.378/.403, in 2013 his BABIP was .290 giving a triple slash of .241/.293/.296. I don't see where any "major improvement" would come from.