Kyle Rivas
A review of the position in 2012 down to the A ball level for all of the AL Central franchises.
Alrighty then, with each position covered in more depth [catcher, first base, second base, shortstop, third base, left field, center field, right field], let's do a bit of a summary.
Here is the order in which I would ranked each position in the individual summaries and based on the 2012 results only (not where I think they will land in 2013):
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
|
|
Catcher |
MIN |
CHW |
CLE |
KC |
DET |
|
First Base |
DET |
CHW |
MIN |
KC |
CLE |
|
Second Base |
CLE |
CHW |
DET |
KC |
MIN |
|
Shortstop |
CLE |
KC |
DET |
CHW |
MIN |
|
Third Base |
DET |
CHW |
MIN |
KC |
CLE |
|
Left Field |
MIN |
DET |
KC |
CHW |
CLE |
|
Center Field |
DET |
CHW |
CLE |
MIN |
KC |
|
Right Field |
CHW |
CLE |
KC |
DET |
MIN |
Using a straight 5 (best ) to 1 (worst) scale on each of the positions, we end up with a total ranking of:
Chicago: 29
Detroit: 28
Cleveland: 23
Minnesota: 21
Kansas City: 19
Only real surprise here is that Chicago edges out Detroit, and if we actually factored in DH, they would have finished higher. Even with the Tribe finishing dead last in the black holes of typical power sources (first, third and left), they finished in third, and decently ahead of the Royals who only had one last place finish.
And finally, let's summarize the top minor leaguers at each position by franchise. Note that this may differ from top prospect lists as I am only looking at 2012 data and not any players at A- or lower. (The table is a bit lengthy)
|
Catcher |
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
|
Cleveland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jake Lowery |
A+:A |
2011-4 |
21 |
398 |
9 |
53 |
332 |
397 |
730 |
|
Alex Lavisky |
A |
2010-8 |
21 |
387 |
12 |
49 |
314 |
404 |
718 |
|
Chicago |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Josh Phegley |
AAA |
2009-1 |
24 |
421 |
6 |
48 |
306 |
373 |
680 |
|
Detroit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adolfo Reina |
AAA:A+ |
2008 aFA |
22 |
135 |
4 |
19 |
321 |
440 |
761 |
|
Kansas City |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Max Ramirez |
AAA |
2011 mFA |
27 |
445 |
17 |
77 |
374 |
473 |
847 |
|
Minnesota |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chris Herrmann |
MLB:AA |
Pre-Arb-1 |
24 |
558 |
10 |
61 |
350 |
392 |
741 |
|
Josmil Pinto |
AA:A+ |
2006 aFA |
23 |
445 |
14 |
60 |
362 |
482 |
844 |
|
|
|||||||||
|
First Base |
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
|
Cleveland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chun-Hsiu Chen |
AA |
2008 aFA |
23 |
459 |
5 |
43 |
394 |
426 |
820 |
|
Jesus Aguilar |
AA:A+ |
2008 aFA |
22 |
514 |
15 |
71 |
372 |
461 |
833 |
|
Chicago |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Andy Wilkins |
AA |
2010-5 |
23 |
502 |
17 |
69 |
335 |
425 |
760 |
|
Dan Black |
A+ |
2009-14 |
24 |
572 |
17 |
88 |
392 |
483 |
875 |
|
Detroit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A |
2011-11 |
23 |
446 |
12 |
79 |
375 |
474 |
850 |
|
|
Kansas City |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian Fletcher |
AA:A+ |
2010 aFA |
23 |
552 |
15 |
59 |
335 |
422 |
757 |
|
Minnesota |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A+ |
2010-8 |
22 |
426 |
13 |
66 |
327 |
403 |
730 |
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Second Base |
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
|
Cleveland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tony Wolters |
A+ |
2010 aFA |
20 |
537 |
8 |
58 |
320 |
404 |
724 |
|
Jose Ramirez |
A:A- |
2011 aFA |
19 |
326 |
3 |
27 |
404 |
465 |
869 |
|
Chicago |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joey DeMichele |
A:Rk |
2012-3 |
21 |
308 |
7 |
38 |
334 |
479 |
813 |
|
Detroit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A+ |
2012 mFA |
24 |
319 |
3 |
29 |
388 |
445 |
833 |
|
|
Kansas City |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Justin Trapp |
A |
2009-34 |
21 |
530 |
12 |
50 |
352 |
430 |
783 |
|
Minnesota |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eddie Rosario |
A:Rk |
2010-4 |
20 |
449 |
13 |
74 |
347 |
499 |
846 |
|
|
|||||||||
|
Shortstop |
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
|
Cleveland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Juan Diaz |
MLB:AAA:AA |
Pre-Arb-3 |
23 |
481 |
13 |
63 |
314 |
429 |
743 |
|
Ronny Rodriguez |
A+ |
2011 aFA |
20 |
483 |
19 |
66 |
300 |
452 |
752 |
|
Chicago |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AAA:AA:A+ |
2009 aFA |
20 |
588 |
1 |
56 |
378 |
403 |
781 |
|
|
Marcus Semien |
A+ |
2011-6 |
21 |
487 |
14 |
59 |
362 |
471 |
833 |
|
Detroit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A |
2009 aFA |
20 |
604 |
6 |
67 |
389 |
409 |
789 |
|
|
Kansas City |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christian Colon |
AAA:AA:Rk |
2010-1 |
23 |
363 |
6 |
36 |
376 |
413 |
790 |
|
Orlando Calixte |
A+:A |
2010 aFA |
20 |
532 |
14 |
62 |
315 |
444 |
759 |
|
Minnesota |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel Santana |
A+ |
2008 aFA |
21 |
547 |
8 |
60 |
329 |
410 |
739 |
|
|
|||||||||
|
Third Base |
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
|
Cleveland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adam Abraham |
AA |
2008-13 |
25 |
434 |
13 |
54 |
343 |
441 |
783 |
|
Giovanny Urshela |
A+ |
2009 aFA |
20 |
475 |
14 |
59 |
309 |
446 |
755 |
|
Chicago |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Juan Silverio |
A+ |
2008 aFA |
21 |
286 |
8 |
51 |
285 |
433 |
719 |
|
Chris Curley |
A+:A |
2012 mFA |
24 |
221 |
11 |
30 |
326 |
510 |
836 |
|
Detroit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AA:A+ |
2010-1 |
20 |
584 |
10 |
57 |
365 |
451 |
815 |
|
|
AA:A+ |
2009-3 |
24 |
475 |
16 |
74 |
352 |
442 |
794 |
|
|
Kansas City |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel Mateo |
A |
2009 aFA |
20 |
568 |
8 |
61 |
325 |
386 |
711 |
|
Minnesota |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Miguel Sano |
A |
2010 aFA |
19 |
553 |
28 |
100 |
373 |
521 |
893 |
|
|
|||||||||
|
Left Field |
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
|
Cleveland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AAA:AA |
2008-7 |
25 |
543 |
12 |
54 |
394 |
485 |
879 |
|
|
Jeremie Tice |
AA:A+ |
2008-6 |
25 |
280 |
13 |
58 |
357 |
528 |
886 |
|
Chicago |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brady Shoemaker |
AA:A+ |
2009-19 |
25 |
572 |
17 |
85 |
416 |
486 |
902 |
|
Detroit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wade Gaynor |
AA:A+ |
2009-3 |
24 |
475 |
16 |
74 |
352 |
442 |
794 |
|
A+ |
2011-6 |
22 |
542 |
7 |
66 |
371 |
429 |
800 |
|
|
Kansas City |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Lough |
MLB:AAA |
Pre-Arb-1 |
26 |
544 |
10 |
69 |
317 |
420 |
737 |
|
Brian Fletcher |
AA:A+ |
2010 aFA |
23 |
552 |
15 |
59 |
335 |
422 |
757 |
|
Minnesota |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wilkin Ramirez |
AAA:AA:A+ |
2012 mFA |
26 |
463 |
19 |
61 |
326 |
486 |
812 |
|
|
|||||||||
|
Center Field |
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
|
Cleveland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carlos Moncrief |
A+ |
2008-14 |
23 |
407 |
15 |
53 |
339 |
465 |
804 |
|
LeVon Washington |
A+:A |
2010-2 |
20 |
57 |
0 |
4 |
439 |
354 |
793 |
|
Chicago |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jared Mitchell |
AAA:AA |
2009-1 |
23 |
549 |
11 |
67 |
358 |
420 |
778 |
|
Trayce Thompson |
AAA:AA:A+ |
2009-2 |
21 |
588 |
25 |
96 |
328 |
482 |
809 |
|
Courtney Hawkins |
A+:A:Rk |
2012-1 |
18 |
249 |
8 |
33 |
324 |
480 |
804 |
|
Detroit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Austin Schotts |
A+:Rk |
2012-3 |
18 |
181 |
3 |
21 |
360 |
449 |
809 |
|
Kansas City |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lane Adams |
A+:A |
2009-13 |
22 |
576 |
11 |
69 |
326 |
395 |
721 |
|
Minnesota |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aaron Hicks |
AA |
2008-1 |
22 |
563 |
13 |
61 |
384 |
460 |
844 |
|
Eddie Rosario |
A:Rk |
2010-4 |
20 |
449 |
13 |
74 |
347 |
499 |
846 |
|
|
|||||||||
|
Right Field |
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
|
Cleveland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carlos Moncrief |
A+ |
2008-14 |
23 |
407 |
15 |
53 |
339 |
465 |
804 |
|
Chicago |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Earley |
A+ |
2010-29 |
24 |
503 |
13 |
73 |
352 |
467 |
819 |
|
Detroit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nick Castellanos |
AA:A+ |
2010-1 |
20 |
584 |
10 |
57 |
365 |
451 |
815 |
|
Tyler Collins |
A+ |
2011-6 |
22 |
542 |
7 |
66 |
371 |
429 |
800 |
|
A |
2009 aFA |
20 |
258 |
9 |
47 |
319 |
481 |
801 |
|
|
Kansas City |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jorge Bonifacio |
A |
2010 aFA |
19 |
448 |
10 |
61 |
336 |
432 |
768 |
|
Minnesota |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oswaldo Arcia |
AA:A+ |
2008 aFA |
21 |
534 |
17 |
98 |
388 |
539 |
928 |
|
Lance Ray |
A+ |
2010-8 |
22 |
426 |
13 |
66 |
327 |
403 |
730 |
The top catchers look to be Pinto from the Twins and our own Lavisky or Lowery. But all in all, a fairly bleak position. At first, the top players seem to be the Tribe's Aguilar and Chicago's Wilkins. At second, each team has an intriguing guy, but none of them have passed A+ yet. At short, the Tribe continues to lead the pack with Rodriguez, but the White Sox have Simien and the Twins have Calixte. Finishing up the infield, the Twins have the best one of the entire infield with Sano, and the Tigers also have Castellanos. But based on the numbers, the only upper echelon prospect of the infield bunch is Sano.
Heading to the outfield ... in left there is not much, but the best one could be Fletcher from the Royals or Collins from the Tigers. Center has many more options, with the White Sox having three, Mitchell, Thompson and Hawkins. And the Twins have Rosario and Hicks. Finally in right, the best looks to be Arcia from the Twins. I would list Thompson and Arcia as the best of the outfield guys.
If the Royals hadn't foolishly dealt Myers this offseason, he would have been far and away the best player prospect for all five systems. But since he is not around, I would identify Sano, Thompson and Arcia as the most likely bets to become integral parts at the major league levels. Quite a few others will also make the show of course, but may instead become role players at best.
This series attempts to review how each position fared within the AL Central last year and what holds for the future. The first chart reviews how the position fared in the majors between the five teams. The subsequent charts track each position through each team's farm system. Status is not always correct as some of the info was culled a few weeks ago. For players not on the 40-man roster, I have taken my best guess as when/how they were acquired. Not every player who played the position in the minors has been identified as again, I have tried to identify core players at the position only. Some identified as minor league free agents, could have been trade acquisitions. I also only reviewed down to the A level as players at A- or in the rookie leagues are still quite volatile.
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