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January 7, 2013
Prospects Will Break Your Heart
Arizona Diamondbacks Top 10 Prospects
by Jason Parks
State of the Farm: “I say ‘High", you say "Low’. You say ‘Why?’ And I say ‘I don't know’”.
Prospect rankings primer
The Top Ten
- LHP Tyler Skaggs
- RHP Archie Bradley
- SS Chris Owings
- 3B Matt Davidson
- SS Didi Gregorius
- C Stryker Trahan
- LHP Andrew Chafin
- OF Adam Eaton
- C Michael Perez
- OF A.J. Pollock
1. Tyler Skaggs
Position: LHP
DOB: 07/13/1991
Height/Weight: 6’3’’ 195 lbs.
Bats/Throws: L/L
Drafted/Acquired: 1st round, 2009 draft (Angels), Santa Monica High School (Santa Monica, CA)
2012 Stats: 5.83 ERA (29.1 IP, 30 H, 21 K, 13 BB) at major-league level
The Tools: 5+ FB; 6+ CB; 5 CH
What Happened in 2012: An impressive run through the upper minors left Skaggs standing on a major league mound at the end of the season, where the 21-year-old held his own on the biggest stage.
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Baseball Therapy: What... (01/07)
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Prospects Will Break Y... (01/02)
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Prospects Will Break Y... (01/11)
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The Keeper Reaper: Fir... (01/08)
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30 comments have been left for this article. 
Surprise Me!
How are Eaton and Owings both 5's on hit? Eaton has done nothing but rake everywhere he has played (albeit in some good hitter's parks) while Owings just had a .291 OBP in AA. I know there is more to scouting than stats but I think they speak for themselves in this case. Curious as to your reasoning here
"I know there is more to scouting than stats"
There's your answer right there!
Eaton has been and will continue to be underrated because of his size. He's better than people think--better than a .270 hitter, too.
Yeah, I just don't see how you can have Didi ahead of Eaton...quite frankly, I was shocked at how low Eaton was...I felt he should have been top 5 for sure, and possibly only behind Skaggs and Bradley...I like Davidson, but he strikes out a ton, and isn't exactly an elite defender...seems to me that Didi got a higher ranking simply because he was dealt for Bauer. Lastly, I just can't understand how you can put a guy who could potentially be an above-average CF and lead-off guy with .300/380-.400 potential, whose already reached the show, behind a future bullpen piece...especially when the DBacks are already grooming their closer of the future in David Hernandez.
Didi plays a premium position at the plus level. We had spirited internal debate his ranking, and his total projection. He could have been listed even higher if I believed the bat would play more.
He wasn't given a higher ranking because he was dealt for Bauer. This isn't Bleacher Report.
A good chuckle in the morning is worth it's weight in coffee.
Just curious as to why you think Eaton's hit tool will not play at highest level. Is it concerns with size (which is bullcrap in my opinion-if you can hit, you can hit) or is it a legitimate issue with his swing and overall lack of confidence it would transition against higher quality pitching? Thanks
Suggesting Eaton has a 5 hit tool isn't the same thing as suggesting his hit tool will not play. Hitting .270+ is very impressive when you can add secondary elements to that equation. 5 or average isn't a bad word, nor is it a knock on the player. It's a conservative evaluation based on numerous reports. We can't view all players through the lens of plus or bust. Most players fall in between, right?
If the hit tool falls short of that mark, it will most likely be a result of a swing that can't, 1) time to high-end velocity; 2) can't produce enough bat speed; 3) stay in the zone long enough to make consistent contact; 4) or find the plane of plus breaking stuff.
Even the best minor league hitters will struggle against major league pitching.