FanGraphs Prospect Stock Watch

Charlie Culberson, IF, San Francisco Giants:
Current Level: AAA
2012 Top 15 Prospects Ranking: NR
Current Value: Leveling Off

After making 75 errors playing on the left side of the infield between 2008-09, Culberson has found more consistency on the right side of the field at the keystone. In truth his offensive profile fits better at second base too and he’s shown some nice gap power. Unfortunately he has an overly aggressive approach which hindered him at double-A in 2011 and his wOBA sat at just .303. Moved up aggressively to triple-A this season the 23-year-old infielder has walked just four times in 26 games. He also has 21 strikeouts and whiffs too much for a player with modest home run power. With experience at three infield positions Culberson’s future big league role will probably come as a utility player and the organization with have to look elsewhere for its second baseman of the future.

Brett Jackson, OF, Chicago Cubs:
Current Level: AAA
2012 Top 15 Prospects Ranking: 2nd
Current Value: Monitor Closely

Pro ball hasn’t been entirely kind to Jackson, the 31st overall pick of the 2009 draft. The outfielder has had an up-and-down pro career so far and 2012 has been no different. Playing at triple-A Jackson is showing good on-base numbers with 14 walks in 23 games but he’s also struck out an eye-popping 29 times. The left-handed batter is hitting just .209 against right-handed pitchers and his average is buoyed by a .407 average against southpaws, a small-sample number that’s not going to help him for long. The organization hopes that Jackson, 23, will be the club’s starting center-fielder of the future but he’s currently looking like an average regular at best rather than a star.

Taylor Jungmann, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers:
Current Level: A+
2012 Top 15 Prospects Ranking: 1st
Current Value: Looking Up

A first round draft pick out of the University of Texas in 2011 Jungmann signed too late to pitch during the regular season. Assigned to high-A ball to being 2012 the right-hander has gotten off to a quick start. He’s striking out batters at an average rate while also producing above-average ground-ball rates. As a result, Jungmann has given up just one home run in his first 36.1 pro innings. Jungmann should move rather quickly through the system and could reach double-A by the end of the season and the Majors by the end of 2013. He has the ceiling of a No. 2 starter.

Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Kansas City Royals:
Current Level: AA
2012 Top 15 Prospects Ranking: 4th
Current Value: Monitor Closely

Former Brewers prospect Odorizzi came over to the Royals organization prior to the 2011 season in a trade for the talented Zack Greinke and he spent his first year in the system split between high-A and double-A. He’s back in double-A to begin 2012 and his results so far have been inconsistent in five starts. Nine of his 12 runs came in two starts on April 12 and 17. He’s allowed just three runs combined in his other three starts. He’s also been an extreme fly ball pitcher so far this season, a disturbing trend that began last season. Odorizzi has solid stuff but he’s probably not going to have great results in the Majors unless he finds a way to work down in the zone on a more consistent basis.

Cory Vaughn, OF, New York Mets:
Current Level: A+
2012 Top 15 Prospects Ranking: 10th
Current Value: Leveling Off

Vaughn, who just turned 23 on May 1, is off to a nice start in high-A ball, his second attempt at the level. The outfielder posted an wOBA of just .317 in 63 games last season after producing solid results at low-A ball in the first half of 2011. This year, the son of former big leaguer Greg Vaughn has slugged six home runs in 22 games, hinting at some of the raw strength that his father possessed. Vaughn, a former fourth round draft pick, still needs to trim his strikeout rate with 21 whiffs in 22 games. He’s struggled as a run producer this year, as well, hitting just .185 with runners in scoring position and all six of his home runs have come with the bases empty.