Colorado Rockies Top-15 Prospects of 2010, No’s 6 – 15

ALSO SEE – Rockies Top Prospects, No’s 1 – 5

Grades are based on a prospect’s projected value over the course of his career and how likely it is that prospect will fulfill his projected value. Various factors are accounted for including upside, red flags, actual performance, and closeness to the majors. See the 2010 Prospect Primer for more information as it relates to prospect grading and philosophy.

Hitters must have 100 or fewer Major League ABs to qualify for this list. Starting pitchers must have 50 or fewer Major League innings to qualify for this list. Relief pitchers must have 25 or fewer Major League innings to qualify for this list. Ages are listed as of May 1st, 2010. Levels are based on the highest level in which a prospect played in 2009. All grades are subject to change based on any new information I receive before the season starts.

If you need to reach me in any way, please contact me via e-mail or post a comment at the bottom of the page and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. The first two prospects are available for everybody to read.

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Player Grades
Contact – 45 Now | 50 Future
Power – 40 | 50
Discipline – 40 | 45
Speed – 55 | 55
Defense – 55 | 60
Arm – 55 | 55
Instincts – 40 | 55
ETA – 2012
Final Grade – B-

Body Type – Lean and athletic

Scouting Report

Hector Gomez is a difficult player for me to evaluate. He’s got a nice tool set. To start, he’s a plus defensive shortstop with excellent hands and a strong arm as well as good footwork. Offensively, he has good bat speed and is a well above average runner. He doesn’t have good plate discipline but I don’t see him as an outright hacker…he seems willing to take a pitch here and there.

However, Gomez is really unrefined in a lot of aspects of the game. His swing particularly needs a lot of work. There are times he puts some good swings on the ball, but he’s often getting way out in front, diminishing his power, which you can see below. He has a tendency to bail on pitches by opening up to soon, which then leads to him using just his hands to make contact with the ball, again eliminating any power from his swing.

*Credit to David Pratt

When he’s able to keep his weight back and use his lower body in conjunction with his hands, he can put some good wood on the ball.

Gomez struggles to recognize breaking balls and his instincts on the base paths need work.

Gomez has battled numerous injuries the past couple years and missed significant periods of time because of them. He missed the entire 2008 season because he he unbelievably fouled a ball off his shin, causing a stress fracture and then needed Tommy John surgery for an injury he sustained during rehab.

Best Case Outcome – He’s got the tools to be a top player at the position, though he’s a long shot to reach his upside

More Likely Outcome – Average everyday shortstop with plus level defense…with Troy Tulowitzki currently Colorado’s shortstop, Gomez would be moved to second base

Player Grades
Contact – 45 Now | 55 Future
Power – 45 | 50/55
Discipline – 45 | 55
Speed – 50/55 | 50/55
Defense – 50 | 55
Arm – 55 | 55
Instincts – 50 | 60
ETA – 2013
Final Grade – B-

Body Type – Lean and athletic build

Scouting Report

The highest drafted player in Sacramento State school history, Tim Wheeler looks the part with a projectable, muscular, and athletic frame. He struggled a bit in his pro debut, failing to show the kind of power he displayed in college.

However, Wheeler has solid tools across the board. His power, speed, defense, and arm all grade out to slightly better than average or better. He has quick hands, leading to good bat speed.

Wheeler struggles with balls up in the zone and the way he loads up, he creates an arm bar for himself, which can lengthen a hitter’s swing and make it difficult for a hitter to get around on balls on the inside portion of the plate. He does cover the outside portion of the plate well, however.

Wheeler has a good feel for the game and great instincts on the base paths, which helps his speed play up. His approach and discipline at the plate is sound as well though I’d like to see him make more contact. A good chunk of Wheeler’s OBP will be made up of hit by pitches.

*Credit to farmsystem

A couple of concerns about his swing. He plants his front foot aggressively by tapping it and then spinning on it hard and forcefully, which is fine if he keeps his hips closed. But there are times when he plants where he opens up too soon. The way in which he planted is actually different from what he was doing in the Cape Cod League before the 2009 season, where he used to have a small leg kick.

The other issue Wheeler will need to address is the stability of his head during his swing. As he swings, his head tends to drop, making it more difficult for him to track the ball. That may be a reason he had a difficult time successfully centering the ball as a pro last season. The clip of Wheeler may be difficult to see, but focus on Wheeler’s front foot and head.

Best Case Outcome – Above average everyday center fielder…a lot of his value is tied to his ability to play center fielder

More Likely Outcome – Average everyday center fielder

Brief Rundown on Prospects 8 – 15

8. Esmil Rogers | RHP | Grade – B- – Athletic and lanky with good stuff, but inconsistent results…really struggled in the second half of last year…might be better out of the bullpen

9. Chris Nelson | SS/2b | Grade – C+ – He’s been written off by a lot of people, but he seemed to be back to his normal self before injury struck him again last season — and that’s the big issue, health. Can he stay healthy? If he can, I believe he’s an everyday player who could play any number of positions

10. Mike McKenry | C | Grade – C+ – Burly catcher has continued to produce solid numbers and could be an average everyday big league catcher, but it probably won’t be with the Rockies since he has Chris Iannetta blocking him and Wilin Rosario just behind him

11. Juan Nicasio | RHP | Grade – C+ – A little old for his level, but he posted excellent numbers and his fastball has a lot of life…breaking stuff needs work

12. Eric Young Jr. | UTI | Grade – C+ – A nice utility option for the Rockies

13. Nolan Arenado | 3b | Grade – C+ – I like the approach and high contact rate, but he’s going to have to adjust his swing to maximize his power potential…I discuss this in his report

14. Sam Deduno | RHP | Grade – C+ – Good stuff but has problems with consistency and throwing strikes…might be better out of the bullpen

15. Chris Balcom-Miller | RHP | Grade – C+ – A sleeper pitching prospect for 2010

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Other C+ Prospects

16. Charles Blackmon | CF | Age – 23 – Athletic center fielder has a pretty swing and good discipline, but not much power at the moment

17. Casey Weathers | RHP | Age – 24 – Still recovering from Tommy John surgery…maybe should be rated higher, but I want to make sure he’s fully recovered because I’ve read his recovery has been up-and-down…potential power arm — maybe even a closer — out of the bullpen if healthy

18. Jordan Pacheco | C | Age – 24 – Fairly new to the position of catcher, but he’s taken to it well…very high contact hitter with a good approach at the plate and his power came around last season

19. Kent Matthes | OF | Age – 23 – Needs to cut down on the strikeouts, but he’s big, strong, and athletic. I like his power potential and his swing, though I’ve seen a couple versions of it. One was a little long for my liking, while the other swing showed him getting the bat head into the hitting zone much more quickly

HONORABLE MENTIONS (in no particular order) – Eliezer Mesa (CF) | Kiel Roling (1b) | Bruce Billings (RHP) | Charlie Ruiz (RHP) | Al Alburquerque (RHP) | Mike Zuanich (OF) | Wes Musick (LHP) | Dan Mayora (UTI) | Dan Houston (RHP) | Edgmer Escalona (RHP) | Chaz Roe (RHP) | Darin Holcomb (3b) | Delta Cleary (CF) | Maikol Gonzalez (2b/3b) | Jared Clark (1b) | Cole Garner (CF) | Shane Lindsay (RHP) | Parker Frazier (RHP) | Rossel Herrera (SS/2b)

ALSO SEE – Colorado Rockies Top Prospects, No’s 1 – 5

UP NEXT – Los Angeles Dodgers Top Prospects, No’s 1 – 5

Other References and Resources Used for This Article – First Inning and Minor League Splits