As a follow up to the last post, let’s very quickly compare the preseason Seattle Mariners prospect rankings to the ones we published yesterday.  It will be a nice way to track prospects and will also hold me accountable.

These rankings are from last December.  Go back one post for updated rankings.

1.) Carlos Triunfel. -2.  The addition of Dustin Ackley and losing practically the entire year to injury bumped Triunfel down to the bronze spot.  Ackley bumps him regardless, but he’d probably stick at #2 without the lost year of development and questions about mobility going forward.

2.) Phillippe Aumont. -8.  As a starting pitcher Aumont remains in the top five, but a degenerative hip condition will likely force him to remain in the bullpen.  He’ll be a great reliever– possibly a shut down closer– but a reliever’s ceiling is only so high.

3.) Michael Saunders. +1.  Shortening up his swing and showing improved pitch recognition, Saunders bounced back from injury and looked better than ever in 2009.  He is now working on cementing himself as a big league regular.  Saunders probably would have remained at #3 if it weren’t for Triunfel’s injuries.

4.) Greg Halman. -11.  Halman’s contact rates have gone from worse to I-didn’t-know-this-was-possible, and he’s got a long way to come.  He could still garner a top 10 spot based on the tools and power, but I want to see that he can bounce back mentally and is willing to make some adjustments.

5.) Juan Ramirez. -1.  Ramirez dropped a spot because of better players brought in, not because his stock has dropped.  While his numbers aren’t pretty, Ramirez is having a very solid year.

6.) Adam Moore. +2.  Showing signs of improvement behind the plate and has continued hitting after the promotion to AAA.

7.) Michael Pineda.  -7.  Delivery and injury issues drop him, but his stuff has gotten better.

8.) Matt Tuiasosopo. -1.  Losing most of the year to injury keeps his stock from rising, but he’s done nothing to hurt his stock.

9.) Mike Carp.  -12.  Hasn’t changed much, which is the problem.  I was hoping for more power this year.

10.) Dennis Raben. +2.  Raben has been out for the year, so if anything his stock has dropped. But so have the others around him.

11.) Jharmidy De Jesus. 0.  No change in ranking, slight drop in overall stock.  Want to see more consistency and what he can do in Class-A ball.

12.) Rob Johnson graduates.  Calling him “a very solid backup with starting upside perhaps in the vicinity of Dan Wilson” still sounds about right, though his defensive skills were severely overrated.

13.) Mario Martinez. -3.  Was in over his head in Class-A Clinton, and has produced mixed scouting reports all year. Next year will be important for his prospect status.

14.) Maikel Cleto.  -8.  Missed most of the year, so the transformation of his electric arm into a top notch pitcher will have to wait.

15.) Nathan Adcock was traded to the Pirates.  Would have landed in the same general area.

16.) Shawn Kelley.  -2.  Has impressed at times, but the oblique injury made it difficult to see exactly where he’s at.

17.) Gabriel Noriega.  +5.  The glove we knew about, but no one anticipated an .822 OPS this soon.

18.) Efrain Nunez falls into the “just missed” category.  2009 scouting reports say I overrated him a bit, but he has more than enough time to make it back.

19-21.) Gaby Hernandez, Mike Wilson and Justin Thomas all fall completely out of the August report.  I had hoped Hernandez might rediscover some of what made him a top 5 prospect with the Mets and Marlins, but he looks like a bust.  Age and injuries have closed the door on Wilson’s prospect status, though he still has a chance to be a good role player somewhere, and I wouldn’t put it past him to become a late bloomer success story at some point.  Thomas has fell completely off the map from being a decent back of the rotation arm and solid LOOGY to scuffling all season with AAA Tacoma.  As a reliever, he could still produce some value once he straightens some things out.

22.) Julio Morban.  +3.  Scouting reports have been fantastic this year.  He could crack the top 10 this time next year.

23.) Ezequiel Carrera falls into “just missed” territory.  I overrated him a bit in the last edition, but he has a great feel for the game and could be a decent 4th outfielder.

24.) Brett Lorin was traded to the Pirates.  Would have moved up a few spots.

25.) Tyson Gillies. +2.  Profile hasn’t changed much, though he’s added a little more pop.  A lot more publicity, though.

Notables:

Cesar Jimenez is still a fringy arm at best.
Johan Limonta still has a good approach but power has gone from poor to unacceptable for a 1B.
Doug Fister made it back to the “just missed” category.  Tightened up command enough that he’s a viable back of the rotation arm.
Javier Brito is minor league filler and I should have recognized him as such.  Now with the Cardinals.
Reegie Corona was sent back to the Yankees, but I still like him.
Fabian Williamson was traded for David Aardsma. I overrated him a bit, and I can’t complain with the return.
Henry Perez didn’t make the jump to the States as anticipated, and put up a so-so year in the Dominican Summer League.
Carlos Peguero has big power and has improved his K:BB ratios, but has to show me more to make it back to future lists.
Denny Almonte made it back to “just missed” section.  Still working on turning tools into skills.
Stephen Kahn continues to be devastated by injuries.
Kuo Hio Lo has been highly touted in the past, but didn’t show enough improvement in his 4th year of A-ball.
Jose Lugo was sent back to the Twins.  I still like him.
Kenn Kasparek made it back to the “just missed” section as well.  Showing some improvement.
Nick Hill was a late add to the “just missed” section this time around. Fringy as a starter in my opinion, but I like him out of ‘pen.

“Sleepers”

Steve Hensley is still worth monitoring, but hasn’t done enough this season to view him as anything more than a back of rotation SP or reliever.
Aaron Pribanic was traded to Pirates, but his groundball rates were awesome.  Should be a useful reliever at very worst.
Luke Burnett, by all accounts, has looked terrible this season. Bad delivery, no secondary, inconsistent fastball velo, Ricky Vaughn wild.
Donnie Hume caught my attention for his intangibles, to be honest. Fringy arm.