Reviewing the Top 100 Prospects List, 75-51

This week we’re reviewing the annual pre-season Top 100 prospects list that originally ran in mid-March. Below you’ll find prospects 75 through 51 in the original order they appeared. Yesterday, we looked at prospects 100-76.

75. Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, Tampa Bay: The 24th overall selection during the 2011 draft, Guerrieri was held back in extended spring training by the ultra-cautious Tampa Bay Rays. The right-hander has 14 strikeouts, one walk and an above-average ground-ball rate in 13.0 innings. (Value Static)

74. Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, Kansas City: Cuthbert’s 2012 season has been a letdown after be had a very promising year in ’11. The infielder’s .582 OPS against right-handed pitchers has pulled down his overall effectiveness and he clearly has adjustments to make. He’s struck out 47 times in 77 games, a solid rate, but he’s also taken just 27 walks. (Value Down)

73. Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Kansas City: A participant of the 2012 Futures Game, Odorizzi continues to produce solid numbers as a pro. The right-hander struck out 47 batters in 38.0 innings at double-A and earned a promotion to triple-A. He’s pitched well but his opponents’ average against has risen from .191 to .274. (Value Up)

72. Leonys Martin, OF, Texas: Martin, 24, has produced outstanding triple-A numbers (.961 OPS) but hasn’t had the same success at the big league level although we’re dealing with a small sample size (11 games). Five of his six big league hits have gone for extra bases and he’s 2-for-2 in steals. (Value Static)

71. Carlos Martinez, RHP, St. Louis: Just 20 years old, Martinez is already pitching double-A after beginning the season in high-A ball. He has yet to give up a home run this season (54.1 IP) and has produced above-average ground-ball rates to go along with solid strikeout rates. (Value Up)

70. George Springer, OF, Houston: Springer is hitting .318 but he’s been aided by a .400 BABIP in an offensive-minded league. The outfielder has shown good speed (18 steals) and power (.244 ISO) but his contact issues (25.7 K%) could be an issue as he moves up the ladder. (Value Up)

69. Jedd Gyorko, 3B, San Diego: Gyorko produced a solid wRC+ rate of 120 in 34 double-A games but has gotten even better with a promotion to triple-A which has resulted in a wRC+ rate of 147. His power rate has also increased from .169 to .262. Gyorko is close to being ready for the Majors. (Value Up)

68. Dellin Betances, RHP, New York AL: Betances struggled mightily at triple-A when he lost complete control of the strike zone by walking 69 batters in 74.2 innings of work. Moved back to double-A, he’s looked better in two starts by issuing just six free passes in 12.0 innings. Now 24, it’s looking more and more likely that Betances’ future is in the bullpen. (Value Down)

67. Jeurys Familia, RHP, New York NL: Like Betances, Familia is another minor league starter that may face a big league future as a reliever do to control issues. The 22-year-old pitcher has walked 53 batters in 81.1 innings at triple-A but has also struck out 72. (Value Static)

66. Jake Marisnick, OF, Toronto: Marisnick produced decent numbers in high-A ball to begin the year (127 wRC+) and earned a recent promotion to double-A where he’s appeared in just five games to date. He has the ceiling of a perennial all-star but needs more time to put it all together. (Value Up)

65. Jose Campos, RHP, New York AL: A great acquisition as the “throw-in” to the Michael Pineda deal with Seattle, Campos hasn’t pitched since April thanks to an elbow injury. He possesses top-of-the-rotation stuff. (Value Static)

64. Noah Syndergaard, RHP, Toronto: Syndergaard can touch 100 mph with his fastball but needs work on his secondary stuff. Despite some rough edges he’s struck out 80 batters with just 18 walks issued in 64.2 innings. He allowed 13 of 22 earned runs on the year during a three-game stretch in late May/early June. (Value Up)

63. Justin Nicolino, LHP, Toronto: Like Syndergaard, Nicolino has been pitching at low-A ball for the Jays organization and producing impressive numbers. The southpaw’s stuff isn’t as dynamic as his teammate’s but his repertoire is more advanced and his control above-average (1.77 BB/9). (Value Up)

62. Eddie Rosario, 2B/OF, Minnesota: After slugging 21 home runs in 270 advanced-rookie ball at-bats in 2011 expectations were high for Rosario entering this season. His power numbers are down (It’s hard to duplicate a .333 ISO rate) but he still has a wRC+ of 125 as a 20 year old in the Midwest League. He’s also trimmed his strikeout rate by 6% down to 14%. (Value Up)

61. Taylor Jungmann, RHP, Milwaukee: Jungmann did not pitch after signing as a first round draft pick in 2011 but was given assignment to high-A ball to begin 2012. He’s showing good control and is allowing fewer than nine hits per nine innings but his strikeout rate is just 5.65 K/9. His lack of Ks is offset somewhat by his above-average ground-ball rate. He looks like a future mid-rotation starter. (Value Static)

60. Tyrell Jenkins, RHP, St. Louis: I ranked Jenkins pretty high entering 2012 (compared to other Top 100 lists) based on his immense potential and athleticism. So far, though, the teenager has struggled in his first taste of full-season ball. The right-hander currently sports a 5.60 ERA and a walk rate of 4.38 BB/9. Bad luck has played a part in his disappointing numbers and his FIP sits at 3.81. (Value Static)

59. Oscar Taveras, OF, St. Louis: Taveras employs a unique approach at the plate but the number of detractors amongst the scouting community are starting to dwindle away as he continues to have success as he moves up the organizational ladder. After posting a 187 wRC+ at low-A in 2011, the young outfielder was skipped over high-A and assigned to double-A where he has a 168 wRC+. Taveras hits for both average (.322) and power (.274). (Value Up)

58. Jonathan Singleton, 1B/OF, Houston: The Astros organization has done a nice job of rebuilding a bare minor league system basically from the ground floor up and Singleton is one of the key offensive prospects that should have a large impact at the big league level in short order. The former Phillies prospect is hitting just .271 with a strikeout rate of 22.8% at double-A but he’s getting on base at a high clip and is showing good power. He also has the ability to play either first base our the corner outfield. Singleton could develop into a middle-of-the-order threat for Houston and could be MLB ready by early 2013. (Value Up)

57. Rymer Liriano, OF, San Diego: Liriano, 21, has the potential to develop into an above-average regular in right field for the Padres. He opened 2012 in high-A ball and hit almost .300 with 22 steals in 74 games. He flashed some gap power but struck out a little too much (22%). Liriano stole more than 60 bases in 2011 but he’s expected to slow down as he matures and become more of a slugger. He was recently promoted to double-A. (Value Up)

56. Nate Eovaldi, RHP, Los Angeles NL: The right-handed Eovaldi made his MLB debut in 2011 with 10 appearances for the Dodgers but he received some more minor league seasoning in 2012 before settling into the big league rotation once again. He’s made eight big league starts in 2012 and currently has a 4.21with a below-averge strikeout rate (4.60 K/9). Eovaldi is currently pitching like a back-of-the-rotation arm but he has the potential to develop into a mid-rotation contributor. (Value Up)

55. Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Boston: The ranking of Middlebrooks was clearly a little low based on the impact he’s had for the Red Sox organization in 2012. His emergence at the hot corner allowed the organization to part with long-time star Kevin Youkilis, who had worn out his welcome. Middlebrooks is currently hitting almost .300 with above-average power (.240 ISO) in 171 at-bats but his low walk and high strikeout rates suggest the batting average might take a dive in the second half of the year. (Value Up)

54. Drew Hutchison, RHP, Toronto: Injuries caused the Jays organization to push Hutchison to the Major Leagues perhaps before he was truly ready but he held his own – until he suffered a injury of his own. He’s expected to try and rehab his elbow but I have a concern that the young pitcher is just delaying the inevitable Tommy John surgery – something that has befallen far too many young Jays pitchers as of late. (Value Static)

53. Daniel Norris, LHP, Toronto: Considered by many to be the top prep southpaw available in the 2011 draft, Norris slipped to the Jays in the second round and they got him signed with a well-above-slot deal. The club has been cautious with the talented lefty and he did not make his debut until the short-season leagues opened in June. He has 18 Ks in 15.1 innings but has also walked eight batters. (Value Up)

52. Javier Baez, SS, Chicago NL: Baez was held back in extended spring training until late May but was then assigned to the low-A Midwest League. It’s hard to argue with Chicago’s approach as the young shortstop has hit quite well with an average of more than .300 and six home runs in 35 games. He’s also stolen 14 bases in 15 attempts. (Value Up)

51. Daniel Corcino, RHP, Cincinnati: Corcino has enjoyed his time in double-A in 2012. He’s allowed just 74 hits in 94.0 innings of work and continues to be quite durable for the organization lending hope that the right-hander will provide plenty of innings for Cincinnati as a mid-rotation starter at the big league level. He needs to sharpen his control to fully realize his potential; after walking just 33 batters in 139.1 innings in 2011 he’s now issued 44 free passes in 2012. (Value Up)