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By the time my phone stopped ringing, and the text messages stopped being texted, and the e-mail stopped finding my inbox, I was left with over 100 outfield prospects with a vote of scout approval listed in my notes. That’s a sprawling canvas to work with, and the opinions were so varied that I needed to alter my approach to this article. So far in this sprawling prospect series, I’ve made every effort to narrow the positional class, usually starting with the “Leader of the Pack (Present),” continuing to the “Leader of the Pack (Future),” followed by the high-ceiling talents, the middle-tier talents, the sleepers, and finally the head-scratcher of the group, leaving a tally of 10-15 players, all of whom have legitimacy in their class. But the talent pool in left field is abstract, as it’s a position that is usually occupied with the deficient spoils of other positions, (center field, second base, etc.), and that opens the queue to a wide range of talent. That puts the onus of positional projection on those I asked, and those opinions were too varied to follow the established construct. So for this specific section of the Positional Primacy series, we have to take another road home.

Here’s my idea: Instead of trying to fit the collection of talent into the established tiers [read: those cute little aforementioned tiers], let’s just make it simple and present the prospects in two categories: “High-Ceiling Division” and “Not-Quite-the-Ceiling-of-the-‘High-Ceiling-Division’-but-Still-Packs-a-Prospect-Punch Division.” Let’s offer up the material in scouting snapshots rather than full-length scouting essays, and let’s free ourselves from the burden of listing every middle-tier prospect at the position, which would keep me here for the rest of my life, writing reports on players like Angelo Songco or Jake Smolinski, and basically drinking myself to death to dull the pain in my fingers. I had to make some choices.

Because of the nature of the beast, if a scout didn’t champion a player, or I didn’t seek out an opinion on a specific player, some names (probably your favorite player) won’t appear on the list. This isn’t an encyclopedia. I asked the industry and I asked my eyes, and the information obtained on left fielders alone could probably fill a book. I whittled it down, slapped it together, and tried my best to compile a competent and thorough list of players with major-league projections at the specified position, but I didn’t rank them in any specific order, so don’t read too much into that.

It’s not an exact science, as young talent will ebb and flow in the developmental process, with quality center fielders in the present making their way to left field in the future, or players with paper characteristics for one corner proving to be a better fit for the other, thus altering the list and highlighting the arbitrary nature of the exercise itself. But arbitrary exercises can be fun, and here at Baseball Prospectus, we enjoy charging people a yearly fee for arbitrary fun. So jump onboard and enjoy the fun today, because tomorrow’s developments could make the present rankings obsolete. Prospects can break your heart. Baseball poetry.

High-Ceiling Division
Guillermo Pimentel (Mariners)
TCF: It remains to be seen if Pimentel is a left fielder or a right fielder, as I’ve received mixed performance reviews at both positions. Regardless of which corner of the diamond his body ends up in (I’m going to guess left), his path to stardom is paved by the gargantuan power of his left-handed stroke. His approach is aggressive, his hit tool has its detractors, and his athleticism isn’t overly impressive, but his power has elite potential, and that’s enough to turn a blind eye to the other deficiencies in his skill set. The 80-grade power potential puts Pimentel in a special class, but the development process is going to take time, and you have to show patience when the payout is so extreme.

Josh Sale: (Rays)
TCF: Sale has a crazy-high offensive ceiling, with well above-average power potential and a hit tool that should allow that power to translate to game action down the line. Sale’s ticket will be punched with the stick, as his defensive skills will always struggle to reach the water line due to his limited athleticism, below-average speed, and a fringy-at-best arm.

Ty Linton: (D’backs)
TCF: Linton is a plus-plus athlete who has the rare combination of speed and strength. Some scouts doubt his hit tool, but his power potential and speed create the profile for a very high ceiling. Despite the athleticism, Linton looks like a corner outfielder, and has been playing in left field this season. He is raw, and it’s going to take time, but a first-division ceiling from the corner is possible if everything comes together at the plate.  

Christopher Hawkins: (Blue Jays)
TCF: Plus athlete, with above-average speed and plus (projected) offensive tools. Originally a shortstop, Hawkins has played all over the diamond, logging time at third base and in the outfield, and although some suggest his skill set might be a good fit for center field, I think he will end up in a corner. Hawkins is a first-division player if the hit and power develop to potential (which they rarely do), and he has the natural athleticism to buy extra patience during the rigors of the developmental process.

Jonathan Singleton: (Astros)
TCF: Singleton is a big, strong lefty with a thunderbolt in the stick, leading some scouts to suggest his future power could reach the 80-grade level. His overall approach and hit tool (future) will allow for power translation, although his bat will have to carry the weight of his rise to the majors. Despite being somewhat athletic and owning a solid arm, Singleton’s body might eventually cement his feet at first base, which is where the ‘Stros currently have those feet penciled in. Several scouts mentioned that he could handle the physical necessities of left field, but Singleton’s offensive ceiling will have value at any position on the diamond, so it might not matter. Because I didn’t include Singleton on my first-base rankings, as he was playing left field for the Phillies at the time, I’ve decided to include him on this list.

Christian Yelich (Marlins)
TCF: This silky-swinging lefty has a 60/65 hit tool (future) and enough pop to project at least solid-average power at maturity. Athletic and quick, but not a burner, Yelich has the tools to excel in left field, with good reactions and a solid arm. Yelich’s physical tools give him a first-division ceiling, and his mature approach to the game could push the limits of those physical qualities.

Aaron Altherr (Phillies)
TCF: An athletic late-round high school draftee in the Phillies organization? Shocking, I know. The Phillies collect athletes, and Altherr is another high-ceiling project from that pool. He has a long, lean frame, and first-division offensive projections, but he has a long way to go before that proves prophetic. At his peak, Altherr could hit for both power and average, while showing good game speed and a strong arm. Because of his physical gifts, Altherr can handle all three outfield spots (for now), but as he adds mass to his frame, his body will slow and should eventually push him to a corner spot. Altherr’s arm is strong enough for right, but some scouts see him as a future left fielder, where his skill set could make him an above-average weapon at the position. He’s still quite raw and has a long way to go in the developmental process, but the tool-based ceiling gives the Phillies reason to be patient with this 20-year-old.

“Not-Quite-the-Ceiling-of-the-‘High-Ceiling-Division’-but-Still-Packs-a-Prospect-Punch Division”
Max Kepler (Twins)
TCF: This 18-year-old German outfielder has a promising combination of size and athleticism, with a natural feel for the bat that could make him an above-average hitter. Because of the characteristics of his body and swing, Kepler projects to slowly add power to his game, with a chance of becoming a plus power threat at physical maturity. He has enough arm and athleticism to handle center field, but is a better long-term fit in left, where his bat should have enough value. He’s one of my favorite prospects in the game, and a player who could end up being the face of European baseball if he can find a way to actualize his physical tools. I don’t see a crazy ceiling because I question his bat, but if you look at all the factors involved, being a second-division regular could still make Kepler a star.

Trayvon Robinson (Mariners)
TCF: Robinson is a plus athlete and has the raw physical characteristics of a center fielder, but the baseball skills that are better suited for left field at the major-league level. While not quite the offensive force suggested by his performance for Albuquerque in the Pacific Coast League, Robinson does possess legit skills at the plate, with a good approach, some batting average potential, and at least average power. His swing has some miss in it, and his hit/power tools are closer to average than plus, but with four out of the five tools playing at 50 and above, Robinson has a chance to become a solid-average everyday player at the major-league level.

L.J. Hoes (Orioles)
TCF: Hoes is an excellent natural hitter with a good approach and the ability to barrel balls to all fields with authority. He’s not a big power threat, so his value will be tied to his contact ability and on-base skills. Hoes is athletic but not a freak, and has good game speed and a solid arm, but nothing that will distinguish him from his contemporaries at the highest level. His ceiling falls below a first-division starter, but a solid-average regular is possible, although his bat would have more value at second than in left.

Brandon Jacobs (Red Sox)
TCF: Built like a 6-foot-1, 230-pound bowling bowl, Jacobs possesses crazy power potential thanks to a long, leveraged swing capable of tape-measure shots. The utility of the bat itself has promise as well, but Jacobs’ swing can get long, and his aggressive approach could erode in good hitting environments as he faces better pitching. His defense is going to be below average, even in left field because of fringy speed and an arm that wouldn’t look good in a celebrity softball game. But the power potential is legit, and let’s face it, power potential is sexy. If his approach finds some refinement and his total offensive package actualizes, Jacobs could develop into a second-division player.

Jaff Decker (Padres)
TCF: Some people love Decker’s offensive future, but I don’t happen to be one of those people. His approach is very advanced, and Decker will no doubt find a way to reach base at a high clip at every stop. But his bat has a ton of miss in it, and despite having the leveraged swing and strength necessary to hit for power, I have doubts that his hit tool will allow the power to reach its game potential. Decker isn’t a poor athlete, but when you see him navigate ground in the outfield you don’t often say to yourself, “Man, there goes a graceful man.” He has the arm to handle right field, but a résumé with more experience in left and a body that suggests a better a position would be fullback. Either way, Decker’s bat is his ticket to the majors, and even though I just spent a paragraph selling his offensive deficiencies, his ceiling is still that of a second-division player and, as a result, he belongs on this list.

Chih-Hsien Chiang (Mariners)
TCF: There are mixed reviews on this recently-traded outfielder; some call for a second-division ceiling, while others call Chiang an up-and-down type. Scouts love tools, and having seen Chiang I can attest that he isn’t exactly a tools-horse, but he makes things happen, and you can’t ignore his production this season. I’m not sure what to expect going forward, but those that saw a second-division future said his hit tool is much better than people realize and his power will translate against quality pitching. His outfield tools aren’t anything to fantasize about, but he can wear a uniform in either corner even though he won’t shine in either role. If Chiang can develop into a second-division starter, I’m sure the Mariners would take that and smile.

James Darnell (Padres)
TCF: I didn’t include Darnell in my third-base rankings because the field was crowded with superior talent, and Darnell’s second-division ceiling couldn’t crack the list. Now as a player that is getting more looks in left field, Darnell remains a second-division talent, albeit one that will offer even less value at the position. He is a good-but-not-great hitter with a mature approach, good bat speed, and some pop. Darnell’s Double-A numbers painted him as a plus-plus hitter with substantial game power, and as a result, some were calling out his name in the throes of prospect passion. But the reality is that Darnell grades out as an average hitter at best, with enough strength in his swing to produce solid-average power numbers at the major-league level. That’s a nice player to have on the roster, but not a first-division type, and not a player that needs to be included in the throes of your passion.   

Thank you for reading

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acmcdowell
8/04
Are you sure scouts love Chang's tools? I thought Kevin Goldstein just wrote about how Chang's production is way, way outpacing the mediocre to poor reviews his tools get.
acmcdowell
8/04
Whoops. I misread your post. Sorry about that.
dtrainmets
8/04
Great article. Are you surprised by Yellich's stolen base numbers so far this year? 27/4 SB/CS
Imperialism32
8/04
What do you make of Sale's .222 batting average despite a reasonable 16.2% strikeout rate? His BABIP is .234 which points to bad luck (also, we're dealing with 150 PA so SSS in effect) but I was wondering if scouts mentioned something with his swing that was leading to weak contact.
Scott44
8/04
Awesome work Jason. Have really enjoyed this series. On Pimentel, he's also starting to show some plate discipline as the season progresses (see last 15 games or so). If he can show a bit more discipline, what kind of hit tool would you put on him. Enough for .275-.285 (more/less)?
Campy39
8/04
What is the probability of a minor league left fielder actually playing left field when he reaches the parent team. Yelich, for example, is currently projected in center field between Stanton and Morrison notwithstanding Coughlan, Petersen and Cousins.
jparks77
8/04
Depends on the player and the needs of the team. Long-term, I dont see Yelich playing CF at the major league level. Better for LF, in my opinion.
Scott44
8/04
Better bat: Sale or Vettleson?
zasxcdfv
8/04
Thoughts on Miguel Sano or is he a RF?
jparks77
8/04
I profiled Sano as a 3B, but he will probably end up in RF.
benharris
8/04
What are your thoughts on both Kyle Parker and Corey Dickerson in the Rockies system?
lukejackson10
8/04
Hoes has played a bunch of left field this year, somewhat mysteriously; the Orioles are having Bowie play Greg Miclat and Buck Britton at 2B even though Hoes is a much better prospect than either of them and Hoes' long-term value lies at second base. So my question is about Hoes' ability at second base -- is he really bad enough defensively at 2B to justify not putting him there during games? What does he need to work on at 2B? As encouraging as Hoes' current ridiculous hot streak at the plate is, is as discouraging as it is to see him not getting a chance to improve at 2B on a daily basis.
antoine6
8/04
Domingo Santana is 18 and has much better production at Low-A than Altherr at Short-Season. I know Altherr is more athletic, but doesn't Santana have some high-ceiling tools as well? Are scouts down on him?
Scott44
8/04
What's held Robinson back from a big league call-up?
vtadave
8/18
Ned Colletti.
jparks77
8/04
In the process of traveling right now, but I promise to address any/all comments and questions once I get to my hotel. Apologies for the delay.
ncimon
8/05
Interesting comments on Jacobs. He was a high-school running back who chose baseball over a scholarship to Clemson. Bowling "bowl" doesn't quite describe his physique, as this picture-link makes clear:

http://fullcount.weei.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/010711_brandon_jacobs_lowell_spinners_john_corneau-255x300.jpg

Chiseled might be a better term. And while there's no doubt that his arm is in the raggedy-ann class, that's not true of his speed.

He's won at least one game this year using his legs and his base-running ability. And as his numbers - 26 stolen bases in 33 attempts - make quite clear, he does have some. Either that or he's being ignored to the tune of a nearly 80% success rate as a base thief.

He does in fact have decent pitch recognition skills and some discipline. His .400 OBP makes that clear. Even accounting for the A- pitching he's faced, that's not too shabby.

He'll need to cut-down the K rate, probably his biggest challenge at this point, a clear reflection of that longish swing you mention. Given the continued emergence of his raw power, that should be rectifiable if he's serious, and he seems to be.

All in all a good review. Might want to revisit the slow bowling analogy though.

dethwurm
8/05
You know bowling balls are as notable for their density as their shape, right? Jacobs is very heavy for his height. That's all it means.
ncimon
8/05
I suppose it's how you interpret the phrase "built like". I'm more inclined to take it in the structural sense. Check out the link down below. If this guy is "built like a bowling ball" he rolls downhill all the way.
benharris
8/05
I'd say it's how you interpret "built like a bowling ball." It's a pretty common term for football players, especially for running backs.
ncimon
8/05
I think I figured out what's going on. You may have had Miles Head in mind - or your scouts did. Head not only looks like a bowling ball, he looks like he ate all the pins as well. Any resemblance between the two is all in the bat, certainly not in there shapes.
Scott44
8/05
Cleary you haven't figured out anything. He didn't get the wrong player, get over it!
ncimon
8/05
Here's the link to the game that Jacobs stole - literally - for Greenville. Since I've done the research for you, the least you can do is revise this a little, right?

http://greenville.drive.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110630&content_id=21236474&vkey=news_t428&fext=.jsp&sid=t428
jparks77
8/09
Thanks for the help. I always love it when people who aren't in baseball pretend to know more than the people who are in baseball. I trust my sources a great deal, but you have to understand that opinions on players will vary from source to source. Assuming I haven't seen the player myself, I have to pick a source that I trust and go with it. Sometimes their opinions aren't parallel to my own, or even others within the industry, but that doesn't mean that the opinion in incorrect. Scouting is an art, not a science.

pcanderson
8/05
Actually, I'd say the reports on both Jacobs's speed and his arm are a little off-base. He is a raw, raw, baseball player. He's still getting by (if that's the term) on physical gifts alone. Once he does the work of reshaping his body (he has talked about doing that in the offseason), and as he moves up the ladder and picks up technique, physical speed will become baseball speed, and his arm, which actually is not that bad, will play in left field. In two years' time he'll be on the high ceiling of this list.
ncimon
8/05
Here's the quote pc: "fringy speed". I'll be the first to admit that player evaluation doesn't have the precision of physics, but he didn't say "physical speed" or "baseball speed". The word he did use is derived from fringe as is marginal. You can finesse it all you want. The evaluation is flat-out wrong. His past history as a running back and his present one as a base-stealer hammer that home. It has nothing to do with being a "raw, raw baseball player". He either has speed that's more than marginal or he doesn't.

The facts: he has plenty of speed and he should be able to learn to use that not only to steal bases but to set routes to the ball if he wants to and he does. He's said as much. He was given a list of issues to work on and he's done just that. At the top was discipline and selectivity and, given the year he's had, he's almost ready to cross those off. As you point out, there's lots more he can do and I have no doubt he'll tackle those in the same way.

And he doesn't look like a bowling ball, not even a little. Go look for yourself.
pcanderson
8/05
Did you bother to read my post, friend? I'm agreeing with you.

And for the record: I guarantee you I have seen Jacobs more times than anyone commenting here, and possibly more than some of the scouts sourcing the article.
ncimon
8/06
Then my apologies. Like everyone else who posts here, I enjoy the site and I'm willing to pay my entry fee to read what's here. Want to make sure it's accurate, that's all.
jparks77
8/09
I wasn't trying to suggest he looked like an actual bowling ball. I didn't think anyone would actually take the reference that literally. He carries a ton of weight on his frame, and he's not very tall. He's very thick, especially in his neck. It's just a physical description of his compact build.

Also, there is a difference between football speed and baseball speed. Jacobs isn't a burner on the diamond. Hell, even BA suggested his speed was fringy and I rarely agree with them. Fringy means it grades out as fringe-average, or 50. That's not exactly slow, but let's not pretend he's a 70 runner. He's not.
Mario66
8/05
Is Nick Weglarz a future MLB regular?
jeffr92
8/05
I'd be surprised. I see him as a poor man's version of Travis Hafner (circa 2007-10): no defensive value, some power, good patience, and often injured.
jm010e
8/08
I know that comps are lazy, but is a better version of Matt Stairs a legit comp for Decker? Similar body types and swing profiles (Stairs a bit better on the contact front, but Decker doing it at a younger age for level).