:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8683585/gyi0064047673.0.jpg)
The first few picks on a top prospects list are usually not all that difficult to predict. Especially within one team's system there tends to be a pretty well-defined hierarchy amongst the best of the best. The further you get from the top, however, the more nebulous things become, and by the time we're hanging around #20, the rankings tend to become more telling about how a fanbase views the nature of prospects than any real measurement of quality. Does the fanbase value the guy with upside, or the guy who could be an average-or-better seventh-inning reliever in the coming year?
For my money, I've always liked it when these spots go to the distant-future, high-upside players. Two years ago, while voting for the #20 spot on the 2011 list, you readers (well, those of you who were here at the time) selected Juan Carlos Linares. Not a bad pick in a vacuum, but when you look closer and realize he edged out a young player from the DSL named Xander Bogaerts by a few votes (even Wally the Green Monster came closer! No, seriously), well, we missed an opportunity to look pretty smart, I'd say.
All that is to say that this looks like a pretty nice place for Manuel Margot, our #19 prospect, and a veteran of all of one season in the Dominican Summer League.
The 18-year-old looks like a leadoff hitter in the making between his quick bat, quicker feet, and a very mature looking 25:36 K:BB for his young age. In about 295 trips to the plate, the center fielder managed to reach base 110 times, and swiped 33 bases in the process.
Manuel Margot is a long way off, to be sure, but unlike some other players in his situation, we might be hoping to see Margot stay as close to his current self as possible. Oh, sure, we'll hope he refines his tools to match up against each new level, and adding a bit of pop (his 6'0", 170 pound frame did provide four homers this year, which isn't half bad for that level of play) would hardly be a bad thing. But as it stands Manuel Margot is the type of player that every team has room for. In fact, he's the type of player who's becoming increasingly expensive these days. We're likely about to see Jacoby Ellsbury depart for another team barring some very specific circumstances. And while right now we're relying on Jackie Bradley to fill the void in the second, having another player of that sort rising through the system would be fantastic.
Alright, folks, this is it. One to go. Let's blow this thing and go home!
- Xander Bogaerts, SS
- Jackie Bradley, OF
- Matt Barnes, RHP
- Rubby De La Rosa, RHP
- Allen Webster, RHP
- Garin Cecchini, 3B
- Henry Owens, LHP
- The man in black fled to Fort Myers, and Bryce Brentz followed.
- 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
- Pat Light, RHP
- Manuel Margot, OF
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.
For the last time this year: vote away!