Mid-Season Top Prospect Review: #36-41, Danny Muno to Joe Tuschak

It's time to take a mid-season look back at my Preseason Top 41 Prospects list. THIS IS NOT A RE-RANKING. Instead, this was my take on the system last winter. After I look at the guys in my Top 41, we'll look at some of the big risers during the 2012 season.

This is a fun series to write as I grade my own work. Some things I got right. Some I got wrong.

Each player's name should link back to his scouting report from this past winter.

#36 - SS Danny MunoWhat I Thought: He could be a hard-hitting utility infielder.

Reality: He hit, mostly played second base, but mixed in a few at third and then was busted for an anabolic steroid. How much extra power did he pick up from the juice?

Stock: Down. It's not the suspension as much as the missed development time for a 23-year old who should have been pushing for a promotion to double-A by now.

Basic

	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	BB	SO	SF	SAC	HBP	AVG	OBP	SLG
2011 - NYP	220	78	23	3	2	43	39	0	1	3	.355	.466	.514
2012 - FSL	152	43	10	1	5	12	26	0	3	1	.283	.339	.461

 

Advanced

	XBH%	SO%	BB%	HR%	BABIP	ISO
2011 - NYP	10.5	14.6	16.1	0.7	.425	.159
2012 - FSL	9.5	15.5	7.1	3.0	.314	.178

 

 

#37 - RHP Taylor WhitentonWhat I Thought: Whitenton's fastball would play up out of the bullpen and combined with his high, slightly unusual arm slot, he would be would advance through the system as a reliever.

Reality: He's a reliever, but he's not advancing and his walk-rate is a career-high. Since June 1, Whitenton has been untouchable: 1.27 ERA, 21.1 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 HB, 12 BB, 27 K. 13.9, but even at his best, he's still walking 5.1 batters per nine.

Stock: Down.

Basic

	ERA	G/GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	HBP	WP
10 SAL	4.57	26/18	108.3	110	60	55	6	68	113	6	5
11 SAL	2.49	26/22	112	77	39	31	6	48	119	5	4
12 FSL	2.20	28/0	41	29	11	10	0	25	48	4	5

 

Advanced

	BB/9	SO/9	SO/BB	HR/9	H/9	R/9	BB%	SO%	HR%	TBF
10 SAL	5.7	9.4	1.7	0.5	9.1	5.0	13.8	23.0	1.2	492
11 SAL	3.9	9.6	2.5	0.5	6.2	3.1	10.5	25.9	1.3	459
12 FSL	5.5	10.5	1.9	0.0	6.4	2.4	17.1	32.9	0.0	146

 

#38 - RHP Rafael MonteroWhat I Thought:  I wrote that he "has one of the most explosive arms in the lower levels of the system regularly working in the low-90s, with the ability to throw mid-90s when he airs it out. He has the beginnings of a breaking ball and throws strikes, lots and lots of strikes."Reality: Explosive is a little high on his arm, but the strikes part was right. He was regularly 91-91 and could reach back for 94. On the other hand, his command of the pitch was really impressive for a 21-year old. He succeeded in the SAL on his fastball and changeup early, but began using his slider more as his time progressed before his promotion at the All-Star Break. If his slider develops, he could well be a rotation piece.

Stock: Up and Up.

 

Basic

	ERA	G/GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	HBP	WP
11 Total	2.15	17/12	71	55	23	17	4	13	66	5	4
12 SAL	2.52	12/12	71.3	61	24	20	4	8	54	1	2
12 FSL	2.80	3/3	19.3	13	6	6	0	6	15	1	0

 

Advanced

	BB/9	SO/9	SO/BB	HR/9	H/9	R/9	BB%	SO%	HR%	TBF
11 Total	1.6	8.4	5.1	0.5	7.0	2.9	4.6	23.2	1.4	285
12 SAL	1.0	6.8	6.8	0.5	7.7	3.0	2.8	18.9	1.4	286
12 FSL	2.8	7.0	2.5	0.0	6.1	2.8	8.2	20.5	0.0	73

 

#39 - Cam MaronWhat I Thought: Josh Thole Jr. - a catcher with some on-base skills but a short arm.

Reality: Josh Thole Jr. Maron does get extra credit for his ability to speak Spanish and the work he puts in with his pitchers. However, he's thrown out just three of 46 attempted basestealers a caught stealing rate of 6.5%. That's problematic.

Stock: Similar

Basic

	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	BB	SO	SF	Sac	HBP	AVG	OBP	SLG
2010 GCL	20	48	15	1	1	1	7	8	0	3	1	.313	.411	.438
2011 APP	58	201	64	8	1	3	38	34	0	6	3	.318	.434	.413
2012 SAL	54	218	65	13	1	3	23	51	2	1	4	.298	.372	.408

 

Advanced

	XBH%	SO%	BB%	HR%	BABIP
2010 GCL	5.1	13.6	11.9	1.7	.359
2011 APP	4.8	13.7	15.3	1.2	.372
2012 SAL	6.9	20.6	9.3	1.2	.373

 

#40 - Travis TaijeronWhat I Thought: I liked the power and patience Taijeron showed in his professional debut in 2011 with the Cyclones. He was ranked here because I felt as though he would have to move off centerfield to left, and was concerned about his strikeouts, and the fact that he would start 2012 as a 23-year old.

Reality: I like the power and patience, but he has moved to leftfield and struck out a lot. As of July 10, his 16 homeruns are tied with Aderlin Rodriguez and Cory Vaughn for the Mets' organization lead. Mechanically, he works off a very deep load that results in swing with a near arm-bar that concerns scouts who think it will prevent him from hitting for a high enough average to play on the corner.

Stock: Up, but by less than fans assume. A 23-year old in a-ball had better hit enough to earn a promotion, or he'll be looking at a release relatively soon.

Basic

	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	BB	SO	SF	SAC	HBP	AVG	OBP	SLG
2011 NYP	56	194	58	13	5	9	22	64	2	0	7	.299	.387	.557
2012 SAL	64	230	67	17	3	12	37	70	3	0	7	.291	.401	.548
2012 FSL	15	52	14	4	0	4	9	13	0	0	3	.269	.406	.577
2012 Total	79	282	81	21	3	16	46	83	3	0	10	.287	.402	.553

Advanced

 

	XBH%	SO%	BB%	HR%	BABIP
2011 NYP	12.0	28.4	9.8	4.0	.398
2012 SAL	11.6	25.3	13.4	4.3	.364
2012 FSL	12.5	20.3	14.1	6.3	.286
2012 Total	11.7	24.3	13.5	4.7	.349

 

#41 - Joe Tuschak

What I Thought: He was a young speedy outfielder picked in the sixth round in 2001, with a chance to put it together.

Reality: He's shown more patience and even a little extra-base pop in the first three weeks in the Appalachian League this year.

Stock: Similar

Basic

	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	BB	SO	SF	SAC	HBP	AVG	OBP	SLG
2011 GCL	32	108	22	2	0	0	15	34	2	0	4	.204	.318	.222
2012 APP	15	47	8	2	0	1	8	19	0	0	1	.170	.304	.277

Advanced

	XBH%	SO%	BB%	HR%	BABIP
2011 GCL	1.6	26.4	11.6	0.0	.289
2012 APP	5.4	33.9	14.3	1.8	.259

 

Tags: Analysis , Toby Hyde