Ross & Jackson in Top 100 prospects
Two Bay Area natives are in ESPN's top 100 prospects of 2012, compiled by Keith Law.
Joe Ross (RHP) went to Bishop O'Dowd HS and was selected in the 1st round last June by the Padres. He is the younger brother of A's RHP Tyson Ross. Brett Jackson (CF) went to Miramonte HS before heading to Cal, where he developed into a 1st round pick of the Cubs in the 2009 draft. Jackson was a two time participant in Bay Area World Series (2004 & 2005) and the event's most outstanding player player award is named after him.
Here are the scouting breakdowns of Ross and Jackson, as well as the entire list of 100 players. Personally I think Law has rated 1st year minor leaguers way too generously. I would like to see prospects broken up into different categories; prospects and suspects. For instance, Rays LHP Matt Moore is listed as a prospect and that is simply due to the fact that he still has his rookie eligibility intact, despite appearing in the big leagues last year and in the playoffs. There are clearly different levels of prospects, those who are suspects (those just drafted and 2nd year players in particular) and those who are prospects, which to me means they have a proven minor league track record and are either on the cusp of the big leagues or have some big league time (Trout, Moore, Montero, Teheran, Rizzo, etc).
| Rank | Player |
|---|---|
| 49 | Joe Ross |
| Age: 18 (DOB: May 21, 1993) Bats: Right Throws: Right Position: Pitcher |
Organization: San Diego Padres Top '11 Level: Rookie (AZL) 2011 ranking: IE |
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After last fall's instructional league, Ross (the 25th overall pick in the 2011 draft) was earning talk as the steal of the first round. Ross, whose older brother Tyson pitches in the Oakland system, is an extremely athletic, high-upside starter with enough present stuff and polish to move quickly through the low minors.
He'll pitch at 90-95 mph and has shown better in shorter stints, with real angle on the pitch from a three-quarters arm slot. His hard slurve was sharper in instructs than it had been before, and his changeup, currently solid-average, projects as an above-average to plus pitch. He's not quite the athlete that system-mate Casey Kelly is, but is in a similar mold, with a clean delivery and more velocity than Kelly had at the same age. Ross projects as at least a solid No. 2 starter.
| Rank | Player |
|---|---|
| 89 | Brett Jackson |
| Age: 22 (DOB: Aug. 2, 1988) Bats: Left Throws: Right Position: Center field |
Organization: Chicago Cubs Top '11 Level: AAA (Iowa) 2011 ranking: Ten who missed |
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Jackson has solid tools across the board, but they're mitigated by a longstanding problem with contact that really limits his offensive upside. Jackson has some bat speed with very little load, getting his weight settled late and not letting the ball travel that well. So despite his size and athleticism, he doesn't project for more than average power. He's an above-average runner who can handle center field and could be worth five runs a year or so there in a full season, or he could move to left and potentially be plus there.
But he punched out in more than 30 percent of his plate appearances in Triple-A, and only two big leaguers qualified for the batting title in 2011 with that kind of strikeout rate -- Drew Stubbs and Mark Reynolds, who had a combined OBP of .322. If Jackson can't figure out how to make better contact, he's probably a solid-average regular; but he could be a grade better if his hit tool improves.
| RANK | POSITION | PLAYER | TEAM | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CF | Mike Trout | L.A. Angels | 6-1 | 217 | 20 |
| 2 | RF | Bryce Harper | Washington | 6-2 | 245 | 19 |
| 3 | LHP | Matt Moore | Tampa Bay | 6-2 | 205 | 22 |
| 4 | SS | Manny Machado | Baltimore | 6-3 | 185 | 19 |
| 5 | RHP | Shelby Miller | St. Louis | 6-3 | 195 | 21 |
| 6 | C | Travis d'Arnaud | Toronto | 6-2 | 195 | 22 |
| 7 | SS | Jurickson Profar | Texas | 5-11 | 165 | 18 |
| 8 | C | Devin Mesoraco | Cincinnati | 6-1 | 220 | 23 |
| 9 | DH/C | Jesus Montero | Seattle | 6-3 | 235 | 22 |
| 10 | RHP | Gerrit Cole | Pittsburgh | 6-4 | 220 | 21 |
| 11 | RHP | Dylan Bundy | Baltimore | 6-1 | 200 | 19 |
| 12 | SS | Hak-Ju Lee | Tampa Bay | 6-2 | 170 | 21 |
| 13 | OF | Wil Myers | Kansas City | 6-3 | 205 | 21 |
| 14 | RHP | Arodys Vizcaino | Atlanta | 6-0 | 190 | 21 |
| 15 | OF | Bubba Starling | Kansas City | 6-4 | 180 | 19 |
| 16 | RHP | Jameson Taillon | Pittsburgh | 6-6 | 225 | 20 |
| 17 | 3B | Anthony Rendon | Washington | 6-0 | 190 | 21 |
| 18 | RHP | Julio Teheran | Atlanta | 6-2 | 175 | 21 |
| 19 | RHP | Archie Bradley | Arizona | 6-4 | 225 | 19 |
| 20 | LHP | Martin Perez | Texas | 6-0 | 180 | 20 |
| 21 | RHP | Trevor Bauer | Arizona | 6-1 | 175 | 21 |
| 22 | RHP | Carlos Martinez | St. Louis | 6-0 | 165 | 20 |
| 23 | LHP | Manny Banuelos | N.Y. Yankees | 5-11 | 155 | 20 |
| 24 | RHP | Taijuan Walker | Seattle | 6-4 | 195 | 19 |
| 25 | LHP | Tyler Skaggs | Arizona | 6-4 | 195 | 20 |
| 26 | 3B | Nolan Arenado | Colorado | 6-1 | 205 | 20 |
| 27 | RHP | Zack Wheeler | N.Y. Mets | 6-4 | 185 | 21 |
| 28 | 3B | Miguel Sano | Minnesota | 6-3 | 195 | 18 |
| 29 | RHP | Jacob Turner | Detroit | 6-5 | 210 | 20 |
| 30 | LHP | Danny Hultzen | Seattle | 6-3 | 200 | 22 |
| 31 | RHP | Jarrod Parker | Oakland | 6-1 | 195 | 23 |
| 32 | RHP | Casey Kelly | San Diego | 6-3 | 195 | 22 |
| 33 | RHP | A.J. Cole | Oakland | 6-4 | 180 | 20 |
| 34 | OF | Mason Williams | N.Y. Yankees | 6-0 | 150 | 20 |
| 35 | SS | Francisco Lindor | Cleveland | 5-11 | 175 | 18 |
| 36 | 1B | Anthony Rizzo | Chicago Cubs | 6-3 | 220 | 22 |
| 37 | 3B | Nick Castellanos | Detroit | 6-4 | 195 | 19 |
| 38 | RHP | Matt Harvey | N.Y. Mets | 6-4 | 210 | 22 |
| 39 | RHP | Wily Peralta | Milwaukee | 6-4 | 240 | 22 |
| 40 | OF | Rymer Liriano | San Diego | 6-0 | 211 | 20 |
| 41 | RHP | Zach Lee | L.A. Dodgers | 6-4 | 190 | 20 |
| 42 | RHP | Drew Hutchison | Toronto | 6-2 | 165 | 21 |
| 43 | 3B | Cheslor Cuthbert | Kansas City | 6-1 | 190 | 19 |
| 44 | SS | Jean Segura | L.A. Angels | 5-11 | 160 | 21 |
| 45 | LHP | Drew Pomeranz | Colorado | 6-5 | 230 | 23 |
| 46 | 1B/LF | Jonathan Singleton | Houston | 6-2 | 215 | 20 |
| 47 | OF | Jake Marisnick | Toronto | 6-4 | 200 | 20 |
| 48 | OF | Christian Yelich | Miami | 6-4 | 189 | 20 |
| 49 | RHP | Joe Ross | San Diego | 6-3 | 185 | 18 |
| 50 | OF | Eddie Rosario | Minnesota | 6-0 | 170 | 20 |
| 51 | LHP | James Paxton | Seattle | 6-4 | 220 | 23 |
| 52 | LHP | Mike Montgomery | Kansas City | 6-4 | 185 | 22 |
| 53 | OF | Oscar Taveras | St. Louis | 6-2 | 180 | 19 |
| 54 | RHP | Daniel Corcino | Cincinnati | 5-11 | 165 | 21 |
| 55 | C | Gary Sanchez | N.Y. Yankees | 6-2 | 220 | 19 |
| 56 | 3B | Jonathan Schoop | Baltimore | 6-1 | 187 | 20 |
| 57 | SS | Nick Franklin | Seattle | 6-1 | 175 | 20 |
| 58 | RHP | Taylor Jungmann | Milwaukee | 6-6 | 220 | 22 |
| 59 | OF | Anthony Gose | Toronto | 6-1 | 190 | 21 |
| 60 | OF | George Springer | Houston | 6-3 | 205 | 22 |
| 61 | RHP | Allen Webster | L.A. Dodgers | 6-3 | 185 | 22 |
| 62 | SS | Xander Bogaerts | Boston | 6-3 | 185 | 19 |
| 63 | RHP | Chris Archer | Tampa Bay | 6-3 | 185 | 23 |
| 64 | SS | Billy Hamilton | Cincinnati | 6-1 | 160 | 21 |
| 65 | C | Yasmani Grandal | San Diego | 6-2 | 205 | 23 |
| 66 | 3B | Zack Cox | St. Louis | 6-0 | 215 | 22 |
| 67 | OF | Josh Bell | Pittsburgh | 6-4 | 195 | 19 |
| 68 | CF | Gary Brown | San Francisco | 6-1 | 190 | 23 |
| 69 | 1B | Yonder Alonso | San Diego | 6-2 | 240 | 24 |
| 70 | RHP | Garrett Richards | L.A. Angels | 6-3 | 215 | 23 |
| 71 | RHP | Jake Odorizzi | Kansas City | 6-2 | 175 | 21 |
| 72 | OF | Starling Marte | Pittsburgh | 6-1 | 170 | 23 |
| 73 | RHP | Sonny Gray | Oakland | 5-11 | 200 | 22 |
| 74 | RHP | Tyrell Jenkins | St. Louis | 6-4 | 180 | 19 |
| 75 | 3B | Mike Olt | Texas | 6-2 | 210 | 23 |
| 76 | RHP | Trevor May | Philadelphia | 6-5 | 215 | 22 |
| 77 | OF | Michael Choice | Oakland | 6-0 | 215 | 22 |
| 78 | RHP | Jarred Cosart | Houston | 6-3 | 180 | 21 |
| 79 | RHP | Nate Eovaldi | L.A. Dodgers | 6-3 | 195 | 21 |
| 80 | OF | Aaron Hicks | Minnesota | 6-2 | 185 | 22 |
| 81 | RHP | John Hellweg | L.A. Angels | 6-9 | 210 | 23 |
| 82 | 3B | Matt Davidson | Arizona | 6-3 | 225 | 20 |
| 83 | RHP | Dellin Betances | N.Y. Yankees | 6-8 | 260 | 23 |
| 84 | LHP | Enny Romero | Tampa Bay | 6-3 | 165 | 21 |
| 85 | OF | Oswaldo Arcia | Minnesota | 6-0 | 210 | 20 |
| 86 | OF | Robbie Grossman | Pittsburgh | 6-1 | 190 | 22 |
| 87 | OF | Mikie Mahtook | Tampa Bay | 6-1 | 200 | 22 |
| 88 | RHP | Taylor Guerrieri | Tampa Bay | 6-3 | 195 | 19 |
| 89 | CF | Brett Jackson | Chicago Cubs | 6-2 | 210 | 23 |
| 90 | 3B | Jedd Gyorko | San Diego | 5-10 | 195 | 23 |
| 91 | RHP | Chad Bettis | Colorado | 6-1 | 195 | 22 |
| 92 | RHP | Jordan Swagerty | St. Louis | 6-2 | 175 | 22 |
| 93 | C | Derek Norris | Oakland | 6-0 | 210 | 22 |
| 94 | C | Christian Bethancourt | Atlanta | 6-2 | 190 | 20 |
| 95 | SS | Javier Baez | Chicago Cubs | 6-0 | 180 | 19 |
| 96 | RHP | Aaron Sanchez | Toronto | 6-4 | 190 | 19 |
| 97 | RHP | Addison Reed | Chicago White Sox | 6-4 | 215 | 23 |
| 98 | RHP | Randall Delgado | Atlanta | 6-3 | 200 | 22 |
| 99 | RHP | Neil Ramirez | Texas | 6-3 | 185 | 22 |
| 100 | C | Blake Swihart | Boston | 6-1 | 175 | 19 |
