Bay Area Pandas Top 15 Prospects 2022

For the fourth team of the individual lists, we are looking at the Bay Area Pandas’ farm system. They were ranked 2nd out of 30 farm systems, with ten prospect cracking the top 80. Because Bay Area ranks in the top 5, this is a special Top 20 ranking.

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20. CL Ernie Yates

Acquired:

Yates is a two pitch reliever with an emphasis on movement. He has a sinker that sits at 95 that will stay in the park due to its late sink. He won’t have elite control, though, and his 6.5 BB/9 state that. He’ll be able to strike out a few hitters should his slider develop correctly. He’s already around a strikeout per inning, and should his slider improve, he’ll be a piece in the majors for sure.

19. SP Christian Hodge

Acquired: Amateur Draft, Round 1, Pick 18 (#18)

Hodge will stay a back of the rotation starter or long man during his career, should he make the major league team. His stuff isn’t elite, he gives up his fair share of home runs, and he walks plenty of hitters. His 6.07 ERA through 10 starts in B ball doesn’t help his case, but some scouts think he’ll be able to grab onto a major league spot at some point in his career.

18. C Chris Monnier

Acquired: Inaugural Draft, Round 15, Pick 13 (#433)

For a catcher, he projects to have an average bat. He has the potential to hit for some average and has the potential to get on base, but most don’t think he’ll reach it. He plays average defense behind the plate, and doesn’t run well. Consider him a backup at best.

17. C Jason Robinson

Acquired: Trade with Indianapolis (6/30/2022)

Robinson has the potential to become a good hitting catcher. He has shown the ability to hit for average and hit for power, but his swing still needs work. He works the count well, but needs to lay off some breaking pitches before fully realizing his potential. Defensively, he needs a coach. He hasn’t shown scouts that he’s able to learn pitchers and the ability to call games, and his arm is nonexistent. If a runner takes off, there’s a good shot he’ll be safe. He has the potential to develop into a DH style hitter, but unless his defensive ability behind the plate increases, he doesn’t have much of a future at catcher.

16. RP Matthew McKenna

Acquired: Inaugural Draft, Round 14, Pick 18(#408)

Scouts haven’t held out much hope for McKenna as a starter. He’s got three pitches, but his change isn’t a pitch that he should be throwing and scouts think he should just abandon it altogether. Besides that, he’s got just a sinker and fastball, which doesn’t give him much of a speed difference. His stuff isn’t elite enough to strike out many guys, and his control isn’t good enough that he’ll be able to avoid too many walks. He hasn’t figured out how to use his lower half; when he does, that’s when he’ll develop into an elite prospect.

15. 3B Matt Foster

Acquired: Inaugural Draft, Round 13, Pick 13 (#373)

Foster is shaped in the mold of home run hitters – he’ll hit for power and do nothing else on the diamond. When he connects, look out – he can do some damage. That is, if he connects. His swing path is loopy and generates those home runs, but anything not thrown into his wheelhouse causes him problems. You won’t find him stealing any bases or gaining extra bases while out there, and his arm is the only plus thing about him defensively. He won’t be taking away any base hits while out at third base.

14. C Bobby Stutz

Acquired: Trade with Atlanta (5/26/2022)

Stutz is a great catching prospect. He won’t hit for average, home runs, or be able to avoid strikeouts. He will put plenty of balls into the gap and will draw plenty of walks. His ability behind the plate is incomparable to most other catching prospects – he’s got a great feel for the game and has the arm to throw out his fair share of runner. Speed is comparable to that of a catcher; the slow roadblock we’re used to seeing while he’s out on the bases.

12. SP Lance Lambeth

Acquired: Amateur Draft, Round 2, Pick 7 (#37)

Lambeth has the build to stay durable while throwing his fastball, which currently tops out at 97. Scouts say that he still has more left in the tank, perhaps being able to hit 100 when he’s all finished. He’s shown the potential to have a great curve/split combo with that high velocity fastball, and a change that could be considered a lesser fourth pitch to be used against specific batters. Stuff-wise, he’s got it going for him. He will give up his fair share of walks and his fastball is viable to give up home runs against due to its straight nature.

12. RF Garrett Haskins

Acquired: Inaugural Draft, Round 10, Pick 18 (#288)

Haskins has a great swing path, and that allows him to hit plenty of pitches that are in the strike zone. He has the shot to be a BA monster, with a great contact oriented approach at the plate. With that approach, he’s got the pop to hit gappers and home runs. He has shown to be a streaky hitter, though, due to his inability to avoid the strikeout. Defensively, he’s best suited for left field – he doesn’t have the arm you’re looking for in a right fielder. His range is limited, and a DH spot wouldn’t be out of the question for his future. Don’t expect him to burn up the basepaths, but he’ll be on them enough that it might become an issue for the Pandas.

11. CL Jaden Cooper

Acquired: Trade with Indianapolis (6/30/2022)

Cooper barely missed out on the top 80. He’s shown the ability to become a quality reliever, with a power fastball at 96 and a snappy slider on top. He’s cut down on his walks, down to roughly one every three innings, and at 11 K/9 and projected for 25 saves at A level, he’ll be on the active roster in the Bay sooner than you’ll think.

10. SP Chris Colombo

Acquired: Amateur Draft, Round 1, Pick 11 (#11)

The man has four pitches that appear to be headed for major league level, with a change that may be scrapped soon. He’s got a good fastball that sits in the mid 90s with a nice collection of offspeed pitches to complement it. The real question that sits with Colombo is, “Does he have the command?” His stuff is obviously there, and there is enough movement on them to keep hitters off, but his control is lacking to some scouts. He hasn’t shown an issue with it yet, though, with a 3.0 BB/9, so Colombo is developing where BAP wants him to.

9. 3B Chris Collins

Acquired: Unknown (Inaugural Round 50+)

Collins has power potential, around 25 to 30 home runs a year. He’ll hit plenty of XBH, and his batting average won’t be too shabby. Will he be able to get to counts to unleash his full swing? Speed and defensive ratings I’ve seen from scouts have told me “average d, slow speed”. He may become a first baseman for the Bay, or the third baseman due to his arm. His bat will play himself into the starting lineup every day.

8. SP John Lawson

Acquired: Amateur Draft, Round 1, Pick 24 (#24)

Lawson has four pitches that are major league ready. He’s still got too learn how to control his pitches before entering the majors, giving up roughly 2 walks every three innings. His K/9, near 8, gives us an indication of what he might be around in the majors – pretty high, but nothing spectacular. He’s pitching with a 4.16 ERA through 15 starts in A ball, and a promotion isn’t out of the question for this pitcher.

7. 2B Nolan Goeckeritz

Acquired: Inaugural Draft, Round 5, Pick 13 (#133)

A 15 year old was given a tall order when he was one of the first ever players selected into the Bay Area franchise. Scouts aren’t sold on him yet – which, for a kid who is now 16, we can expect. Some think he’ll develop into an all star hitter, while others think he’s destined for the bench. His defense and speed limit him to first base, and should his hitting develop, he might become the Bay’s starting first baseman. He’s got the potential to hit for pop while maintaining a high average. He still is focused on himself rather than the team while at the plate, leading to too many outs with RISP. Still, the kid’s got a future, and we hope he’ll get there.

6. 1B Wilfredo Lopez

Acquired: Inaugural Draft, Round 6, Pick 18 (#168)

Remember Lopez’s name. Remember this when he shows up on the home run leaderboards. He’s big and has plenty of power. The doubles that he hits now will become homers in a few years when he finishes growing. Pitchers have trouble getting him out, as he has shown a good eye and contact. He leaves much to be desired defensively, but a DH spot wouldn’t be half bad on him. A bonus for Lopez is that, for a big guy, he can definitely move. He’s got average speed, but average speed is amazing speed for the position he’s at.

5. LF Edgar Arreola

Acquired: Inaugural Draft, Round 4, Pick 18 (#108)

Arreola is major league ready. He’s shown the potential to lead the league in batting average and in XBH, with a swing that generates power to the gaps. He does have trouble with laying off pitches – he struggles to avoid strikeouts and to take walks when offered to him. Defensively, he plays aggressive, which lands him highlight plays but also lands him in a bad spot. He’s built for right field, with bad range but a great arm that will allow him to throw out runners at the plate. After a short start in the majors, Arreola was sent back to the minors, but he should soon figure everything out and contribute.

4. RP Francisco Rivera

Acquired: Inaugural Draft, Round 7, Pick 13 (#193)

Rivera hasn’t pitched well in A ball yet, pitching to a 5.04 ERA, but is only 16 years of age. He’s walked nearly as many batters as he’s struck out, leading to a 5.2 BB/9 rate. What Rivera will be able to do is use his size to pitch downhill using his strong fastball. He projects to be a strong strikeout pitcher, using a fastball/cutter/split combo with the occasional change to throw hitters off. The difference between elite and great will be if he’s able to control his pitches – some scouts say he’ll have good command, others say average. His stuff has the ability to post a K/9 in the 8.5 region, and his pitches will have enough movement to keep it in the park

3. RP Chris Allen

Acquired: Inaugural Draft, Round 11, Pick 3 (#313)

Allen is a highly sought after pitcher, projecting to have elite stuff and movement. He might post a 13 K/9 while giving up only a few home runs throughout the season. He doesn’t come without his issues, though – he struggles with command and only has two real pitches he can use. He’s at 10 BB/9 in Reserves ball, and he needs to strengthen his stamina in order to become a viable starter in the league. Still, the tools are there, and he just has to work on some minor issues (though, can you call 10 BB/9 a “minor” issue?). You need proof? Look no farther than his 11 K/9.

2. SP Tyler Shinkle

Acquired: Amateur Draft, Round 1, Pick 4 (#4)

Shinkle projects to be yet another power thrower in the Bay, though at a smaller frame than most. At only 5’11”, he’s smaller than most pitchers, but packs the same punch as his bigger counterparts. He projects to have a changeup, four seam, and split be above average pitches, and a curve that lacks the spin to be a quality pitch. He’ll have the stuff, and he currently has the movement, but once again, Shinkle is plagued by command. Not as bad as Allen, at only 5 BB/9 in reserves, but he lacks the elite stuff so far that Allen is showing.

1. LF Mike Todoroff

Acquired: Amateur Draft, Round 1, Pick 1 (#1)

He’s the #1 prospect in the league for a reason. He can hit for contact, hit for power, takes his walks, doesn’t strike out, has blazing speed, and plays an above average left field. He does need to improve on his baserunning ability, but that’s minor criticism for a player who will be a force in the league for years. We’ve heard rumors of Bay Area preparing to call him up – will it be this year?

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