Post by along on Jul 29, 2014 14:39:32 GMT -5
Several prospects around the league are not on any top prospect radar beyond local listings or an aficionado’s almanac.
But that does not mean they do not have potential for stardom.
Beyond the luck of the draw, a few players are special young talents a tool or two away from being complete players. Those players are fully capable of making a future all-star roster, and in the HOFFBL way, will surely find themselves shiny new blue stars in a minor league system near you. In no particular order:
1. Gary Geiger, OF, Baltimore
www.hoffbl.com/leaguesite/p133.html
This talented young player has all the splits and development you could want out of a 21 year old. Gary Geiger could hit for .300/.380/.450 or better against righties if he develops and manages a boost or two – though he may be destined for a platoon spot at best. He is not a threat to steal, but that could change too – and if it does, 40 stolen bases wouldn’t be out of the question for this possible masher. It doesn’t hurt that he provides solid defense in left field.
2. Ron Fairly, OF/1b, Philadelphia
www.hoffbl.com/leaguesite/p535.html
Like Geiger, Ron Fairly needs some cuts to go his way before his name garners any pencil punching from young fans voting on their all-stars nationwide. He might have a better eye than Geiger, but he doesn’t have the natural speed. Nevertheless, if he can learn to run the bases more efficiently he could also end up as a threat to hit 25 homeruns and steal as many bases while providing solid average against righties. As a lefty, Fairly will be limited against lefthanded pitching, but he could deserve playing time against all types with his above-average defense.
3. Buddy Gilbert, OF, Milwaukee
www.hoffbl.com/leaguesite/p45.html
Buddy Gilbert could be the best prospect on this list. He already possesses a sweet gap stroke, and could steal thirty bases if he learns to read pitchers a little better. He provides terrific defense in centerfield and leftfield, and the eye is already there for the 23-year seeking regular time on a talented Braves roster. If he improves the few holes in his swing, Gilbert could become a perennial all-star and household name for Milwaukee.
4. Tom Tresh, OF/SS/3b, Milwaukee
www.hoffbl.com/leaguesite/p696.html
Tom Tresh provides superlative defense in leftfield, but what is most intriguing about the 20-year old switchy is his ability to field both 3rd and SS. This player is never going to steal any bases, and he is perhaps too raw to really project into a lineup at this point – but the talent is there, and if he gets a few breaks he could become an all-star at any of his positions. He does not have the all-around bat of his fellow Milwaukee prospect Buddy Gilbert, but he does have time to develop.
![]()
5. Willie Kirkland, OF, Cleveland
www.hoffbl.com/leaguesite/p1587.html
Willie Kirkland is getting to the point where he needs to crack an MLB roster before he is considered a bust, but he just doesn’t seem to have fully harnessed his abundant talent yet. If he hit for 25 homeruns in three years, no one would be surprised – but at this point he may need some luck to fully realize his potential. The power is there, but will the eye and contact ever develop? If they do, he could become a terrific talent with a great arm in rightfield.
6. Shinichi Eto, Draft Prospect
www.hoffbl.com/leaguesite/p784.html
Whoever drafts Shinichi Eto will be gambling on the power and contact ability the young Japanese star has demonstrated. He is not a great catcher, but his ability there could add to his versatility in a league where catching is a valuable commodity. He might never be a threat to steal, but if he can improve his bat, he won’t need that to justify his spot in the lineup.
7. Jim Landis, CF, Chicago White Sox
www.hoffbl.com/leaguesite/team5.html
Jim Landis possesses elite defense in centerfield to go with his elite eye, but the holes in his swing have held him back from playing time. If he can hit for a bit more power, it could help increase his average by forcing pitchers to respect him more. Eye and defense are valuable, so if Landis can just eke a bit more out of his talent he could go far.
8. Duke Carmel, OF/1b, San Francisco
www.hoffbl.com/leaguesite/p161.html
Though listed as a first baseman, make no mistake – Duke Carmel is a centerfielder with exceptional range and a good-enough arm. If he can become a little faster on the basepath, it would go a long way toward consolidating his strength – a fairly developed eye for a 21 year old – and he could find his way into a major league lineup. He will need to improve his ability to hit for average, but his splits suggest his sub-par capabilities in that department might not prevent him from providing a tough matchup against righties. With his defensive range, Carmel could add substantial value to a roster with a bit of luck.
9. Dave Nicholson, OF, New York Yankees
www.hoffbl.com/leaguesite/p656.html
Dave Nicholson is as raw as they come, and is more likely to be a career minor leaguer than an all-star. But the one thing he has that merits his inclusion on this list is a unique eye for a 19 year old, and his relatively advanced power stroke doesn’t hurt. He may top out at AA, but if he lucks into a positive development and receives The Cosenza Touch © he could develop into something worthwhile. He’ll need a lot of The Cosenza Touch © judging by the looseness of his skin.
Each of these nine players has never sniffed the top of the hot prospects list; indeed many are not even in their organization’s top prospect lists. But they each have a degree of ability – they are uniquely well-rounded for players their age, and though they may never see the grass of an MLB field they bear watching because one or more of them could gain that next level of competence called stardom. Whether it's a good eye or a bit of pop in the bat, each of these prospects has something to build a career on, though as they are none will be guilty of pleasuring their GMs what with the stats and the hitting and the baseball. Yes, the prospects are slim, but that’s the reason we love prospects – especially those rare diamonds in the rough who succeed against all odds.
But that does not mean they do not have potential for stardom.
Beyond the luck of the draw, a few players are special young talents a tool or two away from being complete players. Those players are fully capable of making a future all-star roster, and in the HOFFBL way, will surely find themselves shiny new blue stars in a minor league system near you. In no particular order:
1. Gary Geiger, OF, Baltimore
www.hoffbl.com/leaguesite/p133.html
This talented young player has all the splits and development you could want out of a 21 year old. Gary Geiger could hit for .300/.380/.450 or better against righties if he develops and manages a boost or two – though he may be destined for a platoon spot at best. He is not a threat to steal, but that could change too – and if it does, 40 stolen bases wouldn’t be out of the question for this possible masher. It doesn’t hurt that he provides solid defense in left field.
2. Ron Fairly, OF/1b, Philadelphia
www.hoffbl.com/leaguesite/p535.html
Like Geiger, Ron Fairly needs some cuts to go his way before his name garners any pencil punching from young fans voting on their all-stars nationwide. He might have a better eye than Geiger, but he doesn’t have the natural speed. Nevertheless, if he can learn to run the bases more efficiently he could also end up as a threat to hit 25 homeruns and steal as many bases while providing solid average against righties. As a lefty, Fairly will be limited against lefthanded pitching, but he could deserve playing time against all types with his above-average defense.
3. Buddy Gilbert, OF, Milwaukee
www.hoffbl.com/leaguesite/p45.html
Buddy Gilbert could be the best prospect on this list. He already possesses a sweet gap stroke, and could steal thirty bases if he learns to read pitchers a little better. He provides terrific defense in centerfield and leftfield, and the eye is already there for the 23-year seeking regular time on a talented Braves roster. If he improves the few holes in his swing, Gilbert could become a perennial all-star and household name for Milwaukee.
4. Tom Tresh, OF/SS/3b, Milwaukee
www.hoffbl.com/leaguesite/p696.html
Tom Tresh provides superlative defense in leftfield, but what is most intriguing about the 20-year old switchy is his ability to field both 3rd and SS. This player is never going to steal any bases, and he is perhaps too raw to really project into a lineup at this point – but the talent is there, and if he gets a few breaks he could become an all-star at any of his positions. He does not have the all-around bat of his fellow Milwaukee prospect Buddy Gilbert, but he does have time to develop.
www.hoffbl.com/leaguesite/p1587.html
Willie Kirkland is getting to the point where he needs to crack an MLB roster before he is considered a bust, but he just doesn’t seem to have fully harnessed his abundant talent yet. If he hit for 25 homeruns in three years, no one would be surprised – but at this point he may need some luck to fully realize his potential. The power is there, but will the eye and contact ever develop? If they do, he could become a terrific talent with a great arm in rightfield.
6. Shinichi Eto, Draft Prospect
www.hoffbl.com/leaguesite/p784.html
Whoever drafts Shinichi Eto will be gambling on the power and contact ability the young Japanese star has demonstrated. He is not a great catcher, but his ability there could add to his versatility in a league where catching is a valuable commodity. He might never be a threat to steal, but if he can improve his bat, he won’t need that to justify his spot in the lineup.
7. Jim Landis, CF, Chicago White Sox
www.hoffbl.com/leaguesite/team5.html
Jim Landis possesses elite defense in centerfield to go with his elite eye, but the holes in his swing have held him back from playing time. If he can hit for a bit more power, it could help increase his average by forcing pitchers to respect him more. Eye and defense are valuable, so if Landis can just eke a bit more out of his talent he could go far.
8. Duke Carmel, OF/1b, San Francisco
www.hoffbl.com/leaguesite/p161.html
Though listed as a first baseman, make no mistake – Duke Carmel is a centerfielder with exceptional range and a good-enough arm. If he can become a little faster on the basepath, it would go a long way toward consolidating his strength – a fairly developed eye for a 21 year old – and he could find his way into a major league lineup. He will need to improve his ability to hit for average, but his splits suggest his sub-par capabilities in that department might not prevent him from providing a tough matchup against righties. With his defensive range, Carmel could add substantial value to a roster with a bit of luck.
9. Dave Nicholson, OF, New York Yankees
www.hoffbl.com/leaguesite/p656.html
Dave Nicholson is as raw as they come, and is more likely to be a career minor leaguer than an all-star. But the one thing he has that merits his inclusion on this list is a unique eye for a 19 year old, and his relatively advanced power stroke doesn’t hurt. He may top out at AA, but if he lucks into a positive development and receives The Cosenza Touch © he could develop into something worthwhile. He’ll need a lot of The Cosenza Touch © judging by the looseness of his skin.
Each of these nine players has never sniffed the top of the hot prospects list; indeed many are not even in their organization’s top prospect lists. But they each have a degree of ability – they are uniquely well-rounded for players their age, and though they may never see the grass of an MLB field they bear watching because one or more of them could gain that next level of competence called stardom. Whether it's a good eye or a bit of pop in the bat, each of these prospects has something to build a career on, though as they are none will be guilty of pleasuring their GMs what with the stats and the hitting and the baseball. Yes, the prospects are slim, but that’s the reason we love prospects – especially those rare diamonds in the rough who succeed against all odds.
