One of my two favourite books arrived at my door this week in the form of the 2012 edition of the Baseball America Prospect Handbook.  This year's handbook has added a couple of new wrinkles in evaluating each team's top 30 minor league prospects.


Baseball America has introduced a numerical grade based on the traditional 20-80 scouting scale and a risk factor for each player with safe, low, medium, high and extreme ratings.  A numerical grade of 75-80 is for  franchise players or number one starters, 65-70 means perennial All-Stars or number two starters, 55-60 grades are for first division regulars, number three starters and closers, a grade of 45-50 are for second division regulars, number four starters and eighth inning relievers and 35-40 grades are assigned to number five starters, utility players/backup catchers and relievers.

For risk factors, "safe" means the player is ready to contribute in the bigs and has shown a realistic ceiling.  A "low" risk factor has the player likely to reach his ceiling and become a big leaguer, "medium" means the player still has some tools to sharpen, "high" is for players who are first year draft picks and "extreme" is for teenagers in rookie ball or for players with significant history of injuries.

Down below is BA's top 30 prospects in the Blue Jays system with the accompanying grades and risk factors.
              
   

No.#	Player	Position	Grade	Risk
1	Travis d'Arnaud	C	60	Medium
2	Anthony Gose	OF	65	High
3	Jake Marisnick	OF	60	High
4	Daniel Norris	LHP	60	High
5	Justin Nicolino	LHP	55	Medium
6	Aaron Sanchez	RHP	60	High
7	Noah Syndergaard	RHP	60	High
8	Deck McGuire	RHP	55	Medium
9	Drew Hutchison	RHP	55	Medium
10	Asher Wojciechowski	RHP	55	High
11	Matt Dean	3B	55	High
12	A.J. Jimenez	C	55	High
13	Adeiny Hechavarria	SS	55	High
14	Carlos Perez	C	55	High
15	Moises Sierra	OF	50	Medium
16	Dwight Smith Jr.	OF	55	High
17	Kevin Comer	RHP	55	High
18	Adonys Cardona	RHP	55	High
19	Kellen Sweeney	3B	55	High
20	Joe Musgrove	RHP	55	High
21	Jacob Anderson	OF	55	High
22	David Cooper	1B	45	Medium
23	Michael Crouse	OF	50	High
24	Marcus Knecht	OF	50	High
25	Christopher Hawkins	OF	50	High
26	John Stilson	RHP	55	Extreme
27	Dickie Joe Thon	SS	55	Extreme
28	Chad Jenkins	RHP	45	Medium
29	Christian Lopes	SS	50	High
30	Roberto Osuna	RHP	50	Extreme

Look what he's got!  In addition to the baseball, Jake Marisnick snagged the #3 spot in Baseball America's list of the Jays Top 30 prospects for 2012.

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Nathan Rode, the author of the Jays Top 30 list, is tabbing Deck McGuire as the team's top rookie for 2012, Kevin Comer as his breakout prospect and lefty Mitchell Taylor as his sleeper.  Overall, BA ranks the Blue Jays farm system fifth in the majors. 

Four BA writers also compiled a personal Top 50 prospects list.  Jim Callis lists Travis d'Arnaud as his #26 prospect and has Anthony Gose at #48 among his Top 50 prospects.  J.J. Cooper puts d'Arnaud at #21 but had no love for Gose. Will Lingo is buying what d'Arnaud is selling by rating him at #13 and has Gose at #44.  Finally, John Manuel slots d'Arnaud at #22 and is the most bullish on Gose by placing him at #36.

Finally, which"B.A." is the coolest?  B.A. Baracus of The A-Team fame or Baseball America.  Discuss among yourselves!  ;D