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It's appropriate that Anthony Ranaudo finds his way onto our list one spot behind Brandon Jacobs, because in so many ways Ranaudo is just Jacobs taken to an extreme.
Where Brandon Jacobs' hype was quiet, only really taken over the top courtesy of Kevin Goldstein's aggressive rating, Anthony Ranaudo was the guy from Day 1. Once projected to be one of the first picks of the 2010 draft, a tough senior year and high bonus demands (hello, Scott Boras) saw Ranaudo drop to the Red Sox in the first supplemental round. And, after dominating the Cape Cod League, the Sox were entirely willing to dish out $2.5 million to the man who suddenly looked like he could be the steal of the draft.
Like Brandon Jacobs, Ranaudo started strong in the system, providing 46 innings of 3.33 ERA ball in Greenville. His performance fell off some after a mid-season promotion, but there were plenty of expectations heading into 2012. And like Brandon Jacobs, he failed to follow through on those expectations, putting up an awful 2012 campaign 6.69 ERA in just nine starts in Double-A Portland.
And like Brandon Jacobs, there's an injury asterisk. The difference is that for Jacobs the injury was a hamate--the sort of thing you can just fix and be done with, say no more. For Anthony Ranaudo the injuries are more the sort that imply fragility. They weren't just annoyances, but the recurring, lingering type that can submarine careers five missed starts at a time. They even followed him to Winter ball.
Anthony Ranaudo still has upside through the roof. There's a reason he was once considered a top, top pick. But at this point he's 23, but has proven nothing. He hasn't pitched particularly well above Single-A Greenville, and hasn't stayed healthy. And until he can show us something in those areas, he's not going to get by on that old promise alone.
Just three spots are left now:
- Xander Bogaerts, SS
- Jackie Bradley, OF
- Matt Barnes, RHP
- Rubby De La Rosa, RHP
- Allen Webster, RHP
- Garin Cecchini, 3B
- Henry Owens, LHP
- Bryce Brentz, Sharpshooter
- Blake Swihart, C
- Brandon Workman, RHP
- Jose Iglesias, SS
- Deven Marrero, SS
- Brian Johnson, LHP
- Jose Vinicio, SS
- Drake Britton, LHP
- Brandon Jacobs, OF
- Anthony Ranaudo, RHP
I'll name candidates in the comments below, and you rec the comment of the player you want to vote for. For those unfamiliar with how to go about that, just click "actions" underneath the comment and then "rec." Nice and easy, though you do have to be a member to join in.
On the off chance I forget or otherwise leave someone out, you are free to start your own voting thread for that player. I'll even give it a rec of my own to make up for your vote.
Vote away!