51. Chris Volstad - RHP Marlins - DOB: 09/23/86 - ETA: July 2008

Previous rankings: 2007 #128

 

7-7, 4.16 ERA, 128 H, 80/32 K/BB in 106 IP for Single-A Jupiter

 

A. .296 average against in A ball is rarely a good sign, but part of that is poor defense. The 6-foot-7 Volstad uses a low-90s sinker to get a bunch of groundballs when he's on, and his curveball is an above average second pitch. A better changeup to use against left-handers is a must. Ideally, he'd get another year and a half in the minors to work on the offering. However, he might be hauled to the majors out of Double-A at some point during 2008.

 

64. Gaby Hernandez - RHP Marlins - DOB: 05/21/86 - ETA: May 2008

Previous rankings: mid-2005 #69, 2006 #100, mid-2006 #78, 2007 #82

 

4-8, 3.57 ERA, 86 H, 81/37 K/BB in 98 1/3 IP for Double-A Carolina

 

Facing older competition, Hernandez has been successful and consistent every step of the way since the Mets made him a third-round pick in 2004, with only a brief hiccup in his first stint in the FSL in 2005 marring his record. Both his low-90s fastball and changeup are major league pitches. He wasn't making as much progress with his curveball as hoped, so he's also working on a slider. Should he begin to excel with either offering, he could be the next pitcher rushed to the majors by Florida. He'll likely be up earlier, but perhaps he'll be truly ready in the second half of next year.

 

No write ups. Thompson 89, Coghlan 106, Sinkbeil 114, Vanden Hurk 123

 

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/...articleid=28523

eh... I really think RVH is ahead of all of them

Clay Buchholz, FTW

eh... I really think RVH is ahead of all of them

 

Concur. My #1 Marlin prospect.

 

FWIW though I still am pretty high on Volstad. His numbers are plain ole ugly, but I think he is a pitcher that will thrive in a ballpark like Joe Robbie, he just needs a good defense behind him. His upside is Derek Lowe and I can see him following his career path.

 

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/L/derek-lowe.shtml

The fact that Drew Stubbs is in the Top 100 makes that list useless.

 

I do love the fact we have 3 in the top 30 though.

Yeah, I'd agree that Vandy'd be the organizational #1 followed by Volstad, Thompson and Coghlan.

Yeah, I'd agree that Vandy'd be the organizational #1 followed by Volstad, Thompson and Coghlan.

I'd put them Coghlan (love love love him), Volstad, Thompson, Gaby, Sinkbeil, Dominguez, and then Vanden Hurk. Vandy might be the most progressed, but still think he ends up as a swingman. I have hopes those front 4 remain starters.

 

After that, who knows who ranks the best. Matter of preference among a bunch of projects and low ceiling MLB players.

I just can't make Coghlan our #1 until he atleast proves something in Jupiter...

 

I guess we'll have to see what he does by years end

He has struggled somewhat since the move, no?

He has struggled somewhat since the move, no?

2 games

Yeah, I'd agree that Vandy'd be the organizational #1 followed by Volstad, Thompson and Coghlan.

I'd put them Coghlan (love love love him), Volstad, Thompson, Gaby, Sinkbeil, Dominguez, and then Vanden Hurk. Vandy might be the most progressed, but still think he ends up as a swingman. I have hopes those front 4 remain starters.

 

After that, who knows who ranks the best. Matter of preference among a bunch of projects and low ceiling MLB players.

 

Fair enough, I just have a hard time taking Greensboro numbers overly seriously.

Yeah, I'd agree that Vandy'd be the organizational #1 followed by Volstad, Thompson and Coghlan.

I'd put them Coghlan (love love love him), Volstad, Thompson, Gaby, Sinkbeil, Dominguez, and then Vanden Hurk. Vandy might be the most progressed, but still think he ends up as a swingman. I have hopes those front 4 remain starters.

 

After that, who knows who ranks the best. Matter of preference among a bunch of projects and low ceiling MLB players.

 

Fair enough, I just have a hard time taking Greensboro numbers overly seriously.

And this isn't picking on Lou, but I really hate putting newly drafted high school positional players in the top 10 before they have even stepped foot in Jamestown

He has struggled somewhat since the move, no?

2 games

 

Hey, you can struggle in 2 games.

F Mart = )

Deolis = )

Humber = )

but still think he ends up as a swingman. I have hopes those front 4 remain starters.

 

 

Why do you think that?

Fair enough, I just have a hard time taking Greensboro numbers overly seriously.

 

And this isn't picking on Lou, but I really hate putting newly drafted high school positional players in the top 10 before they have even stepped foot in Jamestown

Coghlan's BB/K is what I'm interested in. I think the HR power goes away in Jupiter, but I'm not concerned with that. Guy could be a young Mark Loretta 2003/2004 version. I think that's an awesome awesome baseball player. The SP might have the higher ceilings, but Coghlan seems safer into 'becoming what he can' and that weighs in a bit for me.

 

And that's fine, but really there's a reason he was drafted where he was. At worst, he's # 7 right now before taking an AB.

but still think he ends up as a swingman. I have hopes those front 4 remain starters.

Why do you think that?

Just think his control/walks would become a problem over consistently starting and he'd be more effective in the pen. Kind of like Heilman or Madson, who each started for a bit because the organization couldn't resist their "stuff," but it's just a better idea to let them focus on pounding strikes for an inning then worry about getting through a lineup three times. Just my take right now. I wouldn't be shocked if he went all Zumaya on us one of these days.

Fair enough, I just have a hard time taking Greensboro numbers overly seriously.

 

And this isn't picking on Lou, but I really hate putting newly drafted high school positional players in the top 10 before they have even stepped foot in Jamestown

Coghlan's BB/K is what I'm interested in. I think the HR power goes away in Jupiter, but I'm not concerned with that. Guy could be a young Mark Loretta 2003/2004 version. I think that's an awesome awesome baseball player. The SP might have the higher ceilings, but Coghlan seems safer into 'becoming what he can' and that weighs in a bit for me.

 

And that's fine, but really there's a reason he was drafted where he was. At worst, he's # 7 right now before taking an AB.

 

I completely agree with you about his upside, but I just need to see more production to make him the #1 over guys who are producing at a higher level, albeit with a lower ceiling.