AcuñaMania

[zbhargrove]

I can see Vlad Jr. being in the conversation. He's putting up great numbers at A+... but Acuna is only a year older and is putting up even better numbers at AAA and put up better numbers at AA. The only thing that makes Vlad Jr. a bit more attractive is that he's not striking out as much and is almost walking as much as he is striking out. Still, Acuna is also rapidly improving that part of his game. The adjustments Acuna has made as he has advanced are ridiculous. That just doesn't happen that quickly very much.

[zbhargrove]

Vlad Jr.... .318/.420/.472, .892 OPS with 10 homers, 65 RBI, and 8 SBs at A and A+ this year
Acuna..... .322/.376/.539, .914 OPS with 20 homers, 70 RBI, and 37 SBs at A+, AA, AAA (Nice to see him putting in a season with 120 games and 479 at-bats thus far and not slumping from fatigue!)

Not to mention Acuna's 1.024 OPS at AAA in 143 at-bats

Vlad seems to have the advantage as far as plate discipline 66 BB's vs. 56 K's in 390 at-bats on the year (Acuna at 40 BB's vs. 127 K's)... but when you factor in defense and just the overall package... Acuna looks like the much better prospect.

As I said before its also nice to see his walk rate increasing and his K rate decreasing as he moves up:

A+: 8 BB's, 40 K's
AA: 18 BB's, 56 K's
AAA: 14 BB's, 31 K's

Just need to see him a bit more efficient on the basepaths, but that's definitely teachable.

[zbhargrove]

Eloy has a better OPS at .951 but he's older and has played his highest ball at AA (and only 3 games there thus far).... he has not speed and a similar strikeout/walk profile. Don't see how he can be considered above Acuna either.

[zbhargrove]

What about the number 1 prospect in baseball to start the year?? Moncada

In 80 games as a 22 year old in AAA, he put up an .823 OPS. He also only stole 17 bases. Struck out 102 times in 309 at-bats. And is looking pretty much over matched in the majors so far with 50 K's in 107 at-bats... .642 OPS

[thewupk]

So how does Acuna being #2 instead of #1 change things? What can change things and much more important to discuss is Acuna's being called up early and wasting a year of service time.

[zbhargrove]

This will be my last post comparing other prospects who could be considered.... I'll throw a couple in

Amed Rosario... valuable position at SS (but Acuna plays elite D at a premium position too)... .833 OPS at age 21 in AAA, 19 SBs in 393 at-bats... solid, but not number 1 material. He's also struggled in the majors thus far.
Gleyber Torres... too hard to evaluate with the injury. Given his position and putting up an .863 OPS in AA/AAA at 20 is impressive. Not much speed though. Can't be ahead of Acuna, especially when Acuna plays at a premium position too.
Rafael Devers... Ahh... maybe we found someone that can at least compete with Acuna in the hunt if he can keep his rookie status next year. .955 OPS at AA/AAA, 20 homers in 322 at-bats, 34 BB's to 63 K's... no speed, but with the way he mashes and plays good defense at 3rd, who cares? He's also tearing it up in the majors since called up with a sparkling 1.118 OPS in 73 at-bats with 7 homers and an 18/8 K/BB ratio. Would have been nice to get him last year in a Teheran trade! I wasn't very high on him last year. Boy was I wrong!
Robles.... no chance.... .855 OPS at A+/AA at age 20... decent speed. Top 10 prospect probably or close to it, but nowhere near #1
Senzel... should start getting some more love, but age at AA and suspect defense... you can't call him more than a top 10
Brendan Rodgers... wow, this guy has some helium. Didn't know much about him until I researched him. He scorched A+ and is doing okay at AA.... on the year though.... he's got a .976 OPS as a 21 year old. Most of that damage came in A+ where he batted .400 with 12 homers in 210 at-bats. Fast riser, but much older than Acuna and not clicking yet at AA.
Kyle Tucker... putting up a nice year at A+/AA as a 20 year old. Power numbers are impressive, but hit tool and plate discipline lacking. Been showing some nice speed with 20 SBs in 105 games. On the year he's batting .268 with an .842 OPS. However, since getting to AA, he's only been sporting a .252 Average with a .770 OPS and a 57/13 K/BB ratio. His stock has fallen a bit in my eyes. I didn't realize how mediocre he's been this year. He has the tools, but would be just outside of my top 10.
Brinson... should prob be ranked higher than he his. A .962 OPS over 76 games in AAA is impressive, even if it is the PCL. Nice power/speed combo and pretty good K/BB ratios in the minors. However, he's 23 and has struggled mightily in his first MLB stint.
Francisco Mejia... great year for a catcher at 21 in AA.... .863 OPS and even has shown some speed with 7 SBs.... nice BB/K ratio with stellar defense. Probably should be rated a bit higher soon.
Kopech... hard to compare hitters vs. pitchers when thinking about best prospect in baseball, but if there was a pitcher who could contend for the spot, it'd be Kopech. 100+ mph heat, 22 games started in AA as a 21 year old with a 2.87 ERA... 155 K's in 119.1 IP... you would like to see the walks come down a bit more, but he still sports a 1.15 WHIP. Still have to put Acuna ahead of him because of the inherent risk in pitchers and remaining control questions.
Honeywell...my personal favorite SP prospect, but probably shouldn't be ranked ahead of Kopech. 23 games started between AA/AAA at 22 years old. 3.38 ERA, 160 K's in 125 IP.... only 32 BB, but a 1.23 WHIP suggests maybe there are some more hits sneaking in.
Bo Bichette...he should be a top 5 prospect next year easy. Dude has just killed A/A+ pitching this year a 19 years old. .372/.433/.570/1.003 slash line on the year over 409 at-bats... playing SS.... and stealing 20 bases!! Because of age/level, can't put him ahead of Acuna, though. Plus, while he's still doing fantastic at A+, he's not dominating as much as he was at A.

I think I've gone over all of the guys who could be in the argument for top prospect, or top 5 really. I can't see anyone who deserves it more than Acuna, and I think I've looked at it in a pretty unbiased fashion. I went into this trying to find a reason he shouldn't be the #1 overall prospect, and nothing can sway me. Devers would possibly be #1, but he should be graduated.

My top 10 to start the year next year personally would be this:

Acuna
Vlad Jr.
Bichette
Eloy
Kopech
Rosario (if he keeps rookie status)
Brinson (if he keeps rookie status)
Brendan Rodgers
Senzel
Mejia
Torres
Honeywell

Okay, so that was my top 12. I'm done! lol

[smootness]

I have to laugh at Robles having 'decent' speed. He can fly.

The top 3 prospects in baseball are Devers, Acuna, and Vlad Jr., in some order. I don't think you can have Vlad there yet, and I think #1 is pretty clearly Acuna. But nobody else should be in contention.

[zbhargrove]

I have to laugh at Robles having 'decent' speed. He can fly.

The top 3 prospects in baseball are Devers, Acuna, and Vlad Jr., in some order. I don't think you can have Vlad there yet, and I think #1 is pretty clearly Acuna. But nobody else should be in contention.

Just meant in regards to steals. Just looking at stats, haven't seen him much. Didn't say anyone else was in contention...

[Southcack77]

FWIW, the BA folks seemed resigned to his being #1 prospect in their most recent chat.

[cajunrevenge]

I don't understand why Vlad Jr is in consideration for top prospect. Good prospect sure, but he is still in A ball. He puts up a good walk rate but he is most likely a 1b, the bar for offense at that position is set pretty high. Acuna would be playing one of the least offensive positions in the game if we didn't have Ender.

[The Chosen One]

I don't understand why Vlad Jr is in consideration for top prospect. Good prospect sure, but he is still in A ball. He puts up a good walk rate but he is most likely a 1b, the bar for offense at that position is set pretty high. Acuna would be playing one of the least offensive positions in the game if we didn't have Ender.

Andruw didn't play Center immediately when he first got the call.

[The Chosen One]

Also just want to say once again, Thanks Frank Wren for Albies and Acuna!

[bravesfanMatt]

So are bored with a 3-5 night. Prospect fatigue already?

[The Chosen One]

So are bored with a 3-5 night. Prospect fatigue already?

Everyones focused on the return of the powerful eclipse Kemp creates when he protects Freeman in the lineup.

[smootness]

I don't understand why Vlad Jr is in consideration for top prospect. Good prospect sure, but he is still in A ball. He puts up a good walk rate but he is most likely a 1b, the bar for offense at that position is set pretty high. Acuna would be playing one of the least offensive positions in the game if we didn't have Ender.

Because he's a really, really freaking good hitter at 18.

You have to profile as a beast of a bat to be at the top as a 1B. And he does. Probably one of the best 18-year-old minor league seasons in a long time.

[Tapate50]

I think Rico needs to edit his all time top 50 prospects!

[Knucksie]

IL Batter of the week, August 14 - 20.

[thethe]

Also just want to say once again, Thanks Frank Wren for Albies and Acuna!

I'm sure Wren had so much to do with the signing.

[Tapate50]

Also just want to say once again, Thanks Frank Wren for Albies and Acuna!

It will be interesting to see what our Intl Dept produces since the "Coppy" era officially began. Maitan would be a pretty huge piece of that, but all of the lower value signings would be the ones to offer a true comparison.

[The Chosen One]

I'm sure Wren had so much to do with the signing.

Doesn't matter. Both were signed relatively cheaply.

Didnt break the bank like Maitan and we were still a relatively competive team just coming off a division title.