BSB Prospects: 11-20
If this is your first prospect ranking read, go get caught up with 31-35 and 21-30 here.
The Rockies had a solid 2022 draft and made very solid trades this off-season to bolster the system. This list conveys that theory with many of those names appearing here.
20: Jackson Cox - RHP, 19 yo
Yet to debut, there is significant hype around Jackson Cox as he enters pro baseball. Drafted out of a Washington state high school, the Rockies 2nd round pick has a jumpy low-90s fastball and supreme feel for his curveball. Cox is definitely a project as of now but the upside is as high as any arm in the system. It’s easy to envision him sitting mid-90s with a mid-80s hammer-breaking ball once he makes some strength gains and develops on the hill. Perhaps Cox starts the year with the Fresno Grizzlies but a mid-season debut in the late-starting Arizona Complex League can’t be ruled out.
19: Dyan Jorge - IF, 20 yo
The bill is still out on Dyan Jorge since he just finished a season above the typical prospect age of the Dominican Summer League. Fortunately, he produced as expected with a .402 OBP, 13 steals, and 4 homers in 53 games. The 6’3” international signing played exclusively at SS with some scouts seeing CF as a potential home in the future. Either way, he looks like an above-average hitter with power potential that’ll play at a premium position. Jorge looks like he’ll be a key piece of the Fresno Grizzlies’ lineup this season.
18: Jeff Criswell - RHP, 24 yo
In another solid off-season move, the Rockies added some SP depth by acquiring Criswell from Oakland in exchange for Chad Smith, a viable MLB-caliber arm barn piece. RP for SP is already good, but when it’s Criswell-type talent, it is even better! Criswell worked his way from High-A to AAA in the Athletic’s system while receiving the A’s MiLB 2022 Pitcher of the Year! Criswell has above average fastball and slider combo with a changeup and curveball in his back pocket. His BB/9 is a bit high but still posts a respectable 1.2 WHIP across all MiLB levels. His pitching profile is perfect for Coors and is exactly what the Rockies love. Look for him to fight for that 7th or 8th rotation spot this season.
17: Hunter Goodman - C/1B, 23 yo
Somewhat unexpectedly, the Rockies have a standout offensive catching prospect. Going into 2022, expectations were that Goodman could hit for some pop and show the ability to stay behind the dish while maybe reaching High-A. Fast forward and Goodman hit 36 bombs in 134 games and made it all the way up to AA. Additionally, he’s gotten some decent reviews defensively and looks like he could play the position in MLB. The cherry on top, Goodman got the non-roster invite to Spring Training just a year and a half after being drafted; the Rockies think highly of him. I definitely wouldn’t rule out an MLB debut in 2023 but Goodman is a very aggressive hitter, which could get him into some trouble against high-level pitching. He likely picks up where he left off in Hartford.
16: Nolan Jones - OF/IF, 25 yo
96. 50. 45. Those are the preseason Baseball America rankings for Nolan Jones in 2019, 2020, and 2021. His rankings for the MLB ranks were even higher. He joined the Rockies this off-season in exchange for Juan Brito, who is years removed from being in the pros. Jones gives the Rockies a power bat option that they so desperately need. I may be big on Nolan but there are some concerns. His strikeout rate is the biggest, which is not what Rox fans like to hear. In his short time as a Guardian, 28 games, he possessed a 33% strikeout rate. However, his walk rate, 8.5%, is still solid for a major leaguer. Jones may be the new Hilliard, but I’m here for it. With great power, comes high strikeout rates AND walk rates.
15: Yanquiel Fernandez - OF, 20 yo
Yanquiel is 20 years old. The Cuban-born right fielder is one of my favorite prospects to watch. He has the “oh, he’s a ballplayer” look and feel, he also is able to back it up on the field. He is the all-time Freno Grizzlies leader in RBI after driving in 109 last season. The power is there, 21 homers and 33 doubles, all while posting a 21% strikeout rate. He profiles as a corner OF, where he still needs some growth, but the bat will play at all levels. Look for Yanquiel to start in Spokane but would not be a surprise if he is in the Eastern League by end of July.
14: Grant Lavigne - 1B, 23 yo
Lavigne keeps doing what he does but it never seems to be enough for the people in charge or other “experts”. The 2018 compensation A draft pick, has kept his plate discipline at every level but the power isn’t there just yet. Still only 23, there is time for that power to come in from his 6’4” frame. His biggest knock a few years ago was his glove, but that has gotten better over the years. In his first 13 games at Hartford last season, Lavigne seemed to find his home run stroke, 3 in 13 games, but his final 45 games didn’t fair so well hitting only 2 dongs while striking out more often than he is used to. In a recent mini-Banter Session with us, Grant shared how he has worked on his swing this off-season while getting a new bat grip. He knows he needs to hit for more power and he will continue to rely on his plate discipline to catch the eyes of the FO. Banter Session:
13: Sterlin Thompson - OF, 21 yo
A pretty unorthodox profile, the 6’4” Thompson is hit over power with a legitimate talent for making consistent contact. The catch is, that contact is consistently great. Thompson’s raw power deserves a 60 grade but his line-drive approach limits his in-game power to 45--maybe 50. The former Florida Gator doesn’t have a set defensive home but could play 3B, 2B, and the OF corners--the latter most likely. If he can elevate the ball a little more, a scaled-down 2018-2019 Christian Yelich ascension is on the table.
12: Michael Toglia - 1B/OF, 24 yo
Toglia is another tooled-up prospect. His defense is the selling point with legitimate gold glove 1B ability but there is 35-homer power in the switch-hitting Toglia’s bat. He also has a mature approach at the plate and could walk at a 10% clip or better. There is some real swing-and-miss concern with Toglia and he’ll need to make more contact to be an MLB regular but the pieces are all there.
11: Jordan Beck - OF, 22 yo
Beck is a toolshed. He’s got easy 60-grade power, 55/60-grade speed, and a strong arm. There were questions coming out of Tennessee that Beck might be a high K%, lower OBP type of hitter but based on a brief debut in Low-A, Beck showed he could be at least an average hitter. Nicknamed Mike Honcho, Beck probably ends up in RF but he’s capable of handling CF which gives him even more upside. Beck will likely start in Spokane but a fast track to Hartford is not out of the question if he picks up where he left off.
ICYMI
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