Back in April, I posted a look at my Sleeper Alert! list from the 2013 Baseball Prospect Book. We have enough minor league data now to get a read for how the players on the list are doing, so let's take a look. This is players N throug...
Back in April, I posted a look at my Sleeper Alert! list from the 2013 Baseball Prospect Book. We have enough minor league data now to get a read for how the players on the list are doing, so let's take a look. This is players N through Z.Here are links to the original lists.Sleeper Prospects for 2013, Part OneSleeper Prospects for 2013, Part TwoSleeper Prospects for 2013, Part Three
Starling Peralta, RHP, Cubs: WHAT I WROTE IN APRIL: Age 22, Peralta was written up as a sleeper for the book in November, then was selected by the Diamondbacks in the December Rule 5 draft. He didn't stick on the roster and was sent back to Chicago. The live-armed Dominican can hit the mid-90s and shows promise with his slider, but is still often more thrower than pitcher. Nevertheless, his upside is very high, particularly as a reliever. RESULT: Just 14 innings for High-A Daytona, with 16 strikeouts but 19 hits and 20 runs allowed. Has spent most of May and June on the disabled list, so it's hard to know here.Dane Phillips, C, Padres: WHAT I WROTE IN APRIL: Age 22, Phillips was drafted in the second round out of Oklahoma City University last June. He's a sleeper because he didn't hit well in short-season ball (.228/.327/.350) and could get ignored, but the sound swing and good plate discipline he showed in college didn't just disappear. He can rebound. RESULTS: Hitting .265/.329/.424 with four homers, 12 walks, 37 strikeouts in 151 at-bats for Low-A Fort Wayne. He was outstanding in April (1.003 OPS) but has cooled off since then, though a trusted Midwest League observer still likes his swing. Glove looks like a problem though: he's thrown out just 11% of runners.Jorge Polanco, INF, Twins: APRIL: Age 19, signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2009. A bonus baby at the time ($750,000), he fell out of general prospect consciousness after mediocre '10 and '11 seasons and was passed by other Twins prospects. He rebounded to .318/.388/.514 in the Appy League in '12. With solid tools across the board, he should make more noise in '13. RESULT: Excellent so far, .294/.346/.450 with 23 walks, 33 strikeouts in 262 at-bats for Low-A Cedar Rapids. All the attention paid to Kernels teammate Byron Buxton has obscured the fact that Polanco is a very intriguing prospect in his own right.Jose Ramirez, 2B, Indians: APRIL: Age 20, Ramirez is a Dominican signed in 2009. He's undersized (generously listed at 5-9) and overshadowed by other guys with more press in the Cleveland system, but he rakes (career .342.383/.459), runs well, controls the strike zone, and has a good glove at second base. Scouts have mixed opinions but it is hard to knock his performance thus far. RESULT: Hitting .248/.316/.313 with 26 walks, 23 strikeouts in 246 at-bats for Double-A Akron, with 22 steals. This doesn't look too hot, but he's quite young for Double-A and is at least making contact. I remain very intrigued with him. Nate Roberts, OF, Twins: APRIL: Age 24, Roberts was a fifth round pick from High Point University in '10. He's ripped low-level pitching (.307/.439/.458 in A-ball) and destroyed the Arizona Fall League in '12 (1.226 OPS to lead circuit). He has a clean swing and strong feel for hitting, but his career has been slowed by knee issues. He fits the fourth outfielder profile but is clearly worth tracking. RESULTS: Played one game in High-A and has otherwise been injured all spring. At this point I wonder if he will ever be healthy enough for his abilities to matter. He has always hit well when healthy, but he just can't avoid the doctors and is falling behind the age/competition curve.Wilfredo Rodriguez, C, Rockies: APRIL: Age 19, drafted in seventh round out of high school in Puerto Rico last June. Stocky (5-10, 200) but has athleticism and good defensive tools along with a chance to hit for power and average. He's raw and needs more polish, but he also impressed many Pioneer League observers last summer and has the potential to be a regula