Marc Krauss of Diamondbacks
Taking a quick look around the league at some top performers. We hope to bring you the names to watch before they start hitting the Top 100 lists. Keep an eye out for breakdowns on some of these players as we move our way through the farm system.
Krauss just keeps on chugging along in High A hitting his 21st HR of the season with his batting average sitting at .318 to date. We still love the bat and he establishing himself as a competent outfielder which was a big question coming into the season. Krauss is the top bat in the system for the Diamondbacks.
Matt Davidson 3B ARI
Davidson was a true power prospect coming out of High School in the 2009 draft and the best bet to stick at 3B over fellow prospect Bobby Borchering. The question was who would be the better hitter and Borchering got resounding support going into the season as the better hitter. But Davidson is still going strong with the glove and has hit more than could be expected. He’s currently hitting .300 with 14 HR and 30 2B. Elite power with excellent contact ability. Might have moved past Borchering in the system. I know he has in my rankings.
Billy Hamilton SS CIN Hamilton’s ability to hit for true leadoff hitter contact was in question going into the season after hitting just .205 in his 2009 debut. So far in 2010 Hamilton has done his best to quiet those concerns hitting .345 and swiping 24 bases. He’s going to stick in the middle infield and if he can tack on some average power he’ll advance into the upper levels of prospects. He’s already Top 10 in the Cincinnati system and could see himself move way up if can finish out the season the way he’s started it.
Yonder Alonso continues to put the first half of the season behind him and is tearing up AAA.He has his season average up over .280 and is starting to show power again. After breaking his hamate bone his power waned into the 2010 season and it may have caused him to move away from his sound approach at the plate. But he’s back on now and is the type of hand eye hitter that could win a batting title down the raos. He’s playing some outfield now so that the Reds can find a way to get his bat into the lineup since he’s blocked by MVP candidate Joey Votto.
Nolan Arenado 3B COL
Arenado was a 1st round pick of the Rockies in 2009 and his HS bat projected plus power with questions about being able to hit for average and stick at 3B. But he’s athletic enough to man the position and the Rockies brass think that his contact ability will be more than adequate to take full advantage of his plus raw power. Arenado is holding his own at .270 and the power is there. He’s hit 7 home runs in limited work so far. He’s one to watch.
