Article: Minnesota Twins Top 50 Prospects: 16-20

[jorgenswest]

I just don't get this line of thinking. I understand it in the form of a prospect list. The reason that Buxton and Sano are top prospects in baseball is, along with their amazing talent, their age to level of competition. They are the exceptions.

 

I just don't see the value in pushing a player based on age as opposed to readiness. If they get to the big leagues at 25 instead of 23, but they're in a better position to succeed, what's the negative?

 

Brian Dozier got to the big leagues less than 2 years after he signed, and he was 24, and yet, people thought he was old. That's just crazy to me.

 

Age is just one piece of a prospect list.

 

Dozier is an up the middle player. He will get a longer chance to succeed or fall into a utility role.

 

Hicks has to make it by his bat. He is going to need a lot of AA and AAA at bats to be successful. How is that going to happen by 25 if he starts in High A at 24? By the time he does get to the majors, he will have nothing left in the growth curve. I think the way the a Twins have chosen to handle him demonstrates that they don't see him as a prospect.

[Seth Stohs]

I really like Dalton Hicks, but he was a 17th round pick out of college just last year. I rank him 30th in the Twins minor leagues, but that's likely well higher than most would rank him. Is he a prospect? Yes. Is he a top prospect? No. He's probably not a guy that's going to make it up by 25, and that's OK. If he does make it at 26-27, that would be great! And, it doesn't mean he can't be a valuable piece starting at that time.