Buxton tops Baseball Prospectus' Mid-Season Top 50

[Parker Hageman]

Baseball Prospectus’s prospect guru Jason Parks released his mid-season Top-50 list and headlining it is Twins superhuman, Byron Buxton. Parks, who coined the phrase “Super Magic Unicorn Good” when describing Buxton’s talents, had this to say about the center fielder after a half-season in the Midwest League:

 

Buxton has the most exciting tool collection in the minors, which is why he ranks ahead of Taveras as the premier prospect in the game. The beauty of Buxton is the impact potential he has in all phases of the game, as the 19-year-old can go 1-for-5 at the plate but still patrol big swaths of real estate in center field and use his elite speed as a weapon on the bases. One scout source suggested his floor was Torii Hunter, which should be some indication just how high the ultimate ceiling could be. This is a special talent. You buy tickets to watch this kid play.

 

Hunter, who between the ages of 25 and 30 averaged 3.8 wins above replacement per season (essentially an All-Star level), would be a fantastic floor. If All-Star is the floor, to paraphrase Macklemore’s latest hit, the ceiling can’t hold Buxton.

 

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[Red Bull]

Nice I was waiting for this to come out. Im not a subscriber but atleast I got to read Buxtons profile, how many other Twins are on the list?

[Twins Twerp]

Any other twins make it? Its behind the pay wall

[Brad Swanson]

Sano 6, Meyer 44, Berrios and Rosario received consideration. If I am reading his qualifications correctly, Parks would not include Arcia due to his time spent in MN.

[Larsbars08]

Yeah, Parks said he wouldn't include anyone currently on a MLB team right now. These lists have gotten pretty exciting to look at with Buxton and Sano in the system. Now if only Sano would start hitting better at AA.

[nicksaviking]

Tavares? Bogaerts? Who else is ahead of Sano? Most of the top prospects heading into the year have disappointed or at the very least been less impressive than last year.

[Brad Swanson]

Tavares? Bogaerts? Who else is ahead of Sano? Most of the top prospects heading into the year have disappointed or at the very least been less impressive than last year.

 

Those two, Archie Bradley and Francisco Lindor. All legit.

[Riverbrian]

I'm drooling...

 

Drooling... I believe is a primary symptom of Buxton Fever!!!

[twinsnorth49]

 

​MMMMMMM......Super Magic Unicorn.

[boylan]

I don't look at their site at all but I have to say this is really cool. Think about how seldom a team has THE prospect. "There can be only one."

[nicksaviking]

Those two, Archie Bradley and Francisco Lindor. All legit.

 

Not bad. Bradley jumped Sano from their preseason rankings but with all the pitching prospects already called up, they'd probably need to bump some arms to balance out the list. Coming into the season, BP had Sano at one of his lower rankings at 22; nice jump.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I don't look at their site at all but I have to say this is really cool. Think about how seldom a team has THE prospect. "There can be only one."

 

Nine years ago, the Twins had two prospects in the top ten. Turned out okay for the team, I'd say.

[70charger]

I don't look at their site at all but I have to say this is really cool. Think about how seldom a team has THE prospect. "There can be only one."

 

So if Byron Buxton hits a home run off of Archie Bradley, does Sean Connery show up to tell him about the quickening?

[nicksaviking]

So if Byron Buxton hits a home run off of Archie Bradley, does Sean Connery show up to tell him about the quickening?

 

Is the HR a substitute for the decapitation? Or does Bradley get his head lopped off as well?

[boylan]

So if Byron Buxton hits a home run off of Archie Bradley, does Sean Connery show up to tell him about the quickening?

 

Without question.

 

I'd do a riff on his accent but somehow that just doesn't translate well to a forum does it?

[jay]

Nine years ago, the Twins had two prospects in the top ten. Turned out okay for the team, I'd say.

 

Would that make this version the BS Boys?

[jsimssd72]

So Gibson no mention due to age or due to fact he just got the callup?

[Mike Sixel]

I figured his ceiling was just unicorn good......but super magic too? That's not something I ever imagined.

[diehardtwinsfan]

So Gibson no mention due to age or due to fact he just got the callup?

 

Most publications dropped Gibson from their lists once he had TJ... Law I think was one of the few that put him back.

[jokin]

Even better than magically super unicornness, I like Jeremy's description best, and why I think we have a once in a generation type talent on our hands here:

 

"Fantastic Torii Hunter floor and a ceiling that can't hold back (Big Time Buxton)..."

[bird]

Bullpen Banter came outwith its mid-season Top 75 today too, with B&S at #1 and #7, and also #37 Stewart, #44 Meyer, #49 Berrios, and #53 Gibson. So 6 of the 75 are Twins, and Rosario and Kepler just missed, according to them. Some reasons to be encouraged about our chances to compete for the division in the near future:

 

1. The rest of the division placed a combined 8 prospects.

2. We placed 6 before CWS place thier sole prospect, #55 Hawkins.

3. Detroit placed only one: #29 Castellanos.

4. KCR: #30 Zimmer, #32 Mondesi, and #46 Ventura.

5. CLE: #5 Lindor, #34 Frazier, and #63 Paulino.

6. We just graduated Arcia and Hicks.

[blairpaul715]

Bullpen Banter came outwith its mid-season Top 75 today too, with B&S at #1 and #7, and also #37 Stewart, #44 Meyer, #49 Berrios, and #53 Gibson. So 6 of the 75 are Twins, and Rosario and Kepler just missed, according to them. Some reasons to be encouraged about our chances to compete for the division in the near future:

 

1. The rest of the division placed a combined 8 prospects.

2. We placed 6 before CWS place thier sole prospect, #55 Hawkins.

3. Detroit placed only one: #29 Castellanos.

4. KCR: #30 Zimmer, #32 Mondesi, and #46 Ventura.

5. CLE: #5 Lindor, #34 Frazier, and #63 Paulino.

6. We just graduated Arcia and Hicks.

 

I am surprised that Mondesi isn't higher, he is 17 yrs old, batting 260 in low A ball, with a ton of potential and already playing beyond his yrs. And the bloodlines are there too.

[drjim]

I am surprised that Mondesi isn't higher, he is 17 yrs old, batting 260 in low A ball, with a ton of potential and already playing beyond his yrs. And the bloodlines are there too.

 

Age to league guys are by far the biggest bust risks.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

Sano 6, Meyer 44, Berrios and Rosario received consideration. If I am reading his qualifications correctly, Parks would not include Arcia due to his time spent in MN.

 

Arcia just passed the 130 AB mark signifying the end of his rookie consideration for future seasons. If he's not eligible for rookie status next year (or any other), then his "prospect status" is generally gone too. I guess in this case though, no current MLB players included.

[John Bonnes]

There's a lot to be excited about here, but I'm curious as to why Rosario isn't in the top 100 on these lists. A 923 OPS in High A as a 21-year-old and he did well last year, too. I always hear: "He might not stay at second base" but the fallback is center field, which is up the defensive spectrum, not down it.

 

Can anyone give me any insight? What's not to like? Unlike Arcia, he was also a pretty high (4th round) draft choice, so it's not like he's surprising people, is he?

[Brad Swanson]

There's a lot to be excited about here, but I'm curious as to why Rosario isn't in the top 100 on these lists. A 923 OPS in High A as a 21-year-old and he did well last year, too. I always hear: "He might not stay at second base" but the fallback is center field, which is up the defensive spectrum, not down it.

 

Can anyone give me any insight? What's not to like? Unlike Arcia, he was also a pretty high (4th round) draft choice, so it's not like he's surprising people, is he?

 

Rosario (and Berrios), just missed BP's top 50, so he'd be top 75 at BP. I know from reading him that Jason Parks likes Rosario, thinks he can hit and thinks he should successfully transition to second base. However, I'm pretty sure he thinks Rosario can't play center, giving him a corner profile if second doesn't work.

[Thrylos]

There's a lot to be excited about here, but I'm curious as to why Rosario isn't in the top 100 on these lists. A 923 OPS in High A as a 21-year-old and he did well last year, too. I always hear: "He might not stay at second base" but the fallback is center field, which is up the defensive spectrum, not down it.

 

Can anyone give me any insight? What's not to like? Unlike Arcia, he was also a pretty high (4th round) draft choice, so it's not like he's surprising people, is he?

 

Arcia is Venezuelan so not subject to the Rule 4 draft like the Puerto Rican Rosario; so that comparison does not make much sense. Kinda like comparing Sano's and Buxton's draft positions.

 

That said, IMO not many of those national writers see many of the players they rank play. That is what happened with Rosario. Flying under the radar.

 

FWIW, super duper purple unicorns and such aside, I'd love to see Buxton sustain his success in high A, before I rank him over Sano

[Red Bull]

It seems like Sano is dropping a spot or two on most peoples lists because of his start in double A, hopefully he gets it together and keeps moving up.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I doubt a week in AA has influenced BP on this one. Players are expected to struggle a bit during those promotions. Sano should be no different, and being a higher K guy as it is, he's going to see a lot more breaking pitches that can get put over for a strike.

[gil4]

Bullpen Banter came outwith its mid-season Top 75 today too ... #37 Stewart

 

Is a guy who has yet to face a batter above high school ball really the #37 prospect overall?