Yu need to forget the other distractions today and Yu need to consider Baseball America's top ten, released today. The top ten isn't very surprising, except for Asher Wojciechowski who sneaks in at number ten.
BA's full top ten, with Batters Box equivalent noted beside it, are:
1. Travis d'Arnaud (1)
2. Anthony Gose (4)
3. Jake Marisnick (2)
4. Daniel Norris (8)
5. Justin Nicolino (7)
6. Aaron Sanchez (13)
7. Noah Syndergaard (5)
8. Deck McGuire (10)
9. Drew Hutchison (3)
10. Asher Wojciechowski (22)
We all know that BA values tools so seeing Gose at number 2 is not a surprise. Similarly BA values the recent draft so Norris at number 4 is expected. Drew Hutchison ranked more lowly than last years draftees, mainly becuase his ceiling is less than Nicolino, etc. Hutchison, on the other hand, is already in AA and is more likely to reach the major leagues.
Other than Wojciechowki, BA still loves Aaron Sanchez who didn't have as good a season as Syndergaard or Nicolino but is still right with them in BA's opinion.
Batters Box had Nestor Molina, Chris Hawkins and Adeiny Hechavarria in our top ten.
Some comments:
D'Arnaud is better offensively and defensively than Arencibia
Sanchez improved his command after his promotion to Vancouver.
The Wojciechowski ranking isn't supported by any specific scouting remarks
In general the detailed scouting reports provide little that hasn't been reported here. I was expecting comments from scouts or other managers, or even Blue Jay field personnel but the write-ups are very generic this year.
BA notes who else they like from the 2011 draft:
The Blue Jays had eight choices in the top three rounds last June, and hauled in their best current pitching prospect (Daniel Norris), three more quality arms (Kevin Comer, Joe Musgrove, John Stilson) and a pair of intriguing bats (Dwight Smith Jr., Jacob Anderson). They also gave sandwich-round money to a couple of later-round position players, second baseman Christian Lopes and third baseman Matt Dean.
From the chat:
Nestor Molina would have been outside the top ten.
Reports are good on Hechavarria's bat but he needs to see it before he will rank him higher.
AJ Jimenez just missed the top ten.
Says Hutchison's command has got him into the top ten but he still needs to improve his "stuff" to be a successful major league starter.
Chris Hawkins is in the 20-30 range.
Jays system is top 5, but probably not the top system due to a lack of premium prospects. The Jays have great depth but not top, top prospects.
Cardona would rate in the middle of the top 30.
BA hears that the Jays are not sold on Griffin Murphy as a starter.
Chad Jenkins could be a big league innings eater.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20111219123800712