Archive for Cito Culver

Seeing prospects in person is my passion. In 2012, I was fortunate enough to visit parks in five different leagues — collecting information and video on 200 legitimate prospects or more. The lists released over the next few weeks will highlight the best prospects I’ve seen in person at each position during the 2012 season. The rankings will be adjusted based on projected position at the major league level, not present position (in italics if ranking includes position shift). After writing the first three lists, I realized there’s really no way to keep statistical information out of the equation completely and focus on scouting/projection alone. This has caused me to hedge my bets a bit on high ceiling talents and focus more on the complete player. Additionally, understand this is not meant to be a complete list of the best prospects at each position across all of Minor League Baseball, but the best of what I’ve seen.

Previous Rankings:
The Catchers
The First Basemen
The Second Basemen
The Third Basemen

1. Carlos Correa, Houston Astros

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When the New York Yankees selected Cito Culver in the first round of the 2010 draft, the pick was met with surprise — shock actually. From upstate New York, the teenage shortstop was pegged as a third round pick or later by most accounts. Two years later, Culver’s batting average is just above the “Mendoza Line” and his slugging percentage sits below .300.

Video after the jump

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Tyler Anderson, LHP, Colorado Rockies
Current Level: A
2012 Top 15 Prospects Ranking: 8th
Current Value: Down

The 20th overall selection of the 2011 draft, Anderson was known as a fairly polished college pitcher who had a modest ceiling but was expected to move quickly through the system and offer Colorado big league help in short order. The organization kept Anderson out of game action after he signed late in 2011 and then assigned him to A-ball to begin 2012 when he missed the start of the season due to injury. After 11 starts the southpaw is still in low-A ball and his numbers have been modest. He’s shown excellent control with just 17 walks in 64.1 innings (2.15 BB/9) but he’s struck out just 37 batters (5.06 K/9). Anderson, 22, looks like a back-of-the-rotation starter unless he makes some unexpected adjustments.

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Dear Gary Sanchez,

I’ve made the two-and-a-half hour round trip to Rome, Georgia to watch you play baseball twice. On both occasions, you have had the game off leaving me with no choice but to dream of scouting your plus power potential without seeing it in person. Mr. Sanchez, the dugout is no place for a young man of your talents. On Saturday, I’ll be back at State Mutual Stadium and hope to see you in game action then. I enjoyed watching a number of your teammates perform well on Thursday, but their potent bats and steady glove work robbed me of seeing you make a token pinch-hitting appearance. Here’s to hoping you have a rightful place in the starting lineup this weekend so I may remove you from the list of “one’s who got away.”

Sincerely,
Mike Newman

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