NWL Top 20 Prospects

[ace3113]

Baseball America's Top 20 prospects for the Northwest League (2 Jays ranked)

1. Kris Bryant, 3b, Boise (Cubs)

2. Hunter Renfroe, of, Eugene (Padres)

3. D.J. Peterson, 3b, Everett (Mariners)

4. Aaron Blair, rhp, Hillsboro (Diamondbacks)

5. Austin Wilson, of, Everett (Mariners)

6. Kelvin Vasquez, rhp, Spokane (Rangers)

7. Paul Blackburn, rhp, Boise (Cubs)

8. Chase Johnson, rhp, Salem-Keizer (Giants)

9. Yasiel Balaguert, of, Boise (Cubs)

10. Dillon Maples, rhp, Boise (Cubs)

11. David Ledbetter, rhp, Spokane (Rangers)

12. Shawon Dunston Jr., of, Boise (Cubs)

13. Tom Robson, rhp, Vancouver (Blue Jays)

14. Jack Reinheimer, ss, Everett (Mariners)

15. Daniel Gibson, lhp, Hillsboro (Diamondbacks)

16. Ryan Warner, rhp, Tri-City (Rockies)

17. Kevin Encarnacion, of, Boise (Cubs)

18. Lars Huijer, rhp, Everett (Mariners)

19. L.B. Dantzler, 1b, Vancouver (Blue Jays)

20. Jose Martinez, rhp, Hillsboro (Diamondbacks)

 

Scouting Reports:

 

13. Tom Robson, rhp, Vancouver (Blue Jays)

Age: 20. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 200. Drafted: HS—Ladner, B.C., 2011 (4).

 

The British Columbia native dominated for his home-province team, using a 92-95 mph fastball, a curveball and a changeup to post a sub-1.00 ERA. His most impressive start came in the championship series clincher against Boise, when he allowed just three hits in 6 1/3 scoreless innings.

 

Robson went 3-0, 1.38 in six appearances at Rookie-level Bluefield before helping Vancouver win its third straight league title.

 

“His fastball is his best pitch,” Vancouver’s McCullough said of his team’s most dominant pitcher. “It has downhill angle and is in the low 90s. He gets a lot of groundballs with it, plus he can the spin the ball and he has a real good feel for a changeup.”

W L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG

3 0 0.94 7 7 0 38 28 5 4 0 11 29 .212

 

 

19. L.B. Dantzler, 1b, Vancouver (Blue Jays)

Age: 22. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 200. Drafted: South Carolina, 2013 (14).

 

Dantzler is an undersized first baseman who wasn’t a high draft pick, even as a senior sign. Yet at Vancouver, a noted pitcher’s park, he was as dominant a hitter as he was at college powerhouse South Carolina. He led the NWL in home runs (nine), doubles (20), slugging (.504) and extra-base hits (29) and won the league’s MVP award.

 

“He can get the barrel on a lot of pitchers because he has such an advanced approach,” Vancouver’s McCullough said. “Certainly the bat is very mature.”

“You don’t want to pitch to him in a big situation,” Spokane’s Hulett added. “It’s tough to get in on him. He’s more of a pull hitter until he has two strikes, and then he uses the whole field. He has a nice, quick, short swing.”

Dantzler played some third base in college and has arm strength, but his modest athleticism makes him more of a first baseman as a pro.

 

AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG

232 32 70 20 0 9 35 30 47 0 1 .302 .385 .504

 

 

Chat Content (Jays):

 

James Arnott (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada): As Tom Robson has a projectable pitchers body and a good fastball, breaking ball and the feel for a good changeup what is his prjected ceiling at the MLB level? Also, I am assuming he has done enough this year to start at Lansing, but is it probable that with a good 1st half he is promoted to Dun eiden for the 2nd half. thanks for the chat.

 

Lacy Lusk: Thanks for the question from Canada. Lansing sounds right to me. Seems like he has a chance to be a No. 3 or 4 starter down the line, if not more. The velocity could even improve.

 

Feng (New York): Shane Dawson had really good peripheral numbers and is quite young for the league. Does his stuff just not match the numbers?

 

Lacy Lusk: He just didn't get enough innings to make much of an impression around the league. Certainly another interesting Canadian off Vancouver's club.

 

francois (vancouver): were Dantzler's power number affected from playing in Vancouver, and he could be a real power threat?

 

Lacy Lusk: I wouldn't count on a whole lot of power, but the rest of his game is there.

 

gerry (Toronto): Dickie Thon played well for Vancouver before getting injured. It has taken him a lot of time to get this far. Were any coaches impressed by him?

 

Lacy Lusk: There's another good sleeper. He has a strong bat and did get noticed.

[kgm1]

Thanks Ace , Haven,t had a chance to read the chat yet so your recap was helpful . Great to see that a bunch of us have got BA subscriptions now . For a few years I think I was the only one . BA is still the best at scouting reports .

 

BTW , Did not think we would have even 1 on this list in spite of winning the league for the 3rd time but lets face it Dantzler is old for the league anbd not really a prospect IMO

[ace3113]

Thanks Ace , Haven,t had a chance to read the chat yet so your recap was helpful . Great to see that a bunch of us have got BA subscriptions now . For a few years I think I was the only one . BA is still the best at scouting reports .

 

BTW , Did not think we would have even 1 on this list in spite of winning the league for the 3rd time but lets face it Dantzler is old for the league anbd not really a prospect IMO

 

No problem. I'm probably not renewing my subscription for the off season, so you'll have to keep us updated.

 

As far as Dantzler goes best we can hope for is he's another Pillar type. If he makes it to +A next year he should be age appropriate I think. I'm not entirely sure about league average.