Brian McCann just keeps hitting, Edinson Volquez just keeps pitching. Thanks to their continuous impressive performances, it shouldn't be too surprising that these two are our biggest risers of the week. Matt LaPorta and Chad Billingsley have fought their way into the Top 25, knocking Billy Butler and Colby Rasmus off the board in the process.
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Player | |
Pos. | |
Comments | |
Age | |
Org | |
Lvl | |
Pre. |
| 1 | |
Prince Fielder | |
1B | |
Has recorded a hit in 11 of his last 12 games; hitting .348 (16-for-46) over that stretch | |
24.0 | |
MIL | |
MLB | |
1 ↔ |
| 2 | |
Hanley Ramirez | |
SS | |
What a difference a month makes: Ramirez's .278 IsoP in April down to .106 in May | |
24.4 | |
FLA | |
MLB | |
2 ↔ |
| 3 | |
Tim Lincecum | |
RHP | |
Has 24 strikeouts over his last 20.0 innings -- beginning to solidify his status as an ace | |
23.7 | |
SF | |
MLB | |
5 ↑ |
| 4 | |
Jose Reyes | |
SS | |
Starting to find himself in May: .240/.300/.410 in April vs. .297/.353/.462 this month | |
24.9 | |
NYM | |
MLB | |
4 ↔ |
| 5 | |
Justin Upton | |
RF | |
.281/.379/.462 line is strong, but it's his 14.2% BB rate that's advanced beyond his years | |
20.7 | |
ARI | |
MLB | |
6 ↑ |
| 6 | |
Felix Hernandez | |
RHP | |
Losing his crown: The King has allowed 43 to reach base in 22.2 IP in May (1.94 WHIP) | |
22.1 | |
SEA | |
MLB | |
3 ↓ |
| 7 | |
Ryan Braun | |
LF | |
Return of the Hebrew Hammer: Braun holds .410 IsoP in May after .172 start in April | |
24.5 | |
MIL | |
MLB | |
7 ↔ |
| 8 | |
Brian McCann | |
C | |
Setting career highs across the board: .337 AVG, .399 OBP, .598 SLG, 9.6% BB, 8.5% K | |
24.2 | |
ATL | |
MLB | |
15 ↑ |
| 9 | |
Scott Kazmir | |
LHP | |
He's only allowed two earned runs in his last 26 innings; 0.77 WHIP over 4-start stretch | |
23.7 | |
TB | |
MLB | |
9 ↔ |
| 10 | |
Cole Hamels | |
LHP | |
After not giving up a run since May 9, allowed six in four innings against HOU yesterday | |
24.4 | |
PHI | |
MLB | |
8 ↓ |
| 11 | |
Jay Bruce | |
CF | |
Reds expected to call up phenom tomorrow; has been on a tear in May: .419/.453/.709 | |
21.1 | |
CIN | |
AAA | |
10 ↓ |
| 12 | |
Edinson Volquez | |
RHP | |
His 12.8% BB rate isn't great, but just everything else is -- 29.5% K, 59% GB, 2.93 FIP | |
24.8 | |
CIN | |
MLB | |
23 ↑ |
| 13 | |
Clay Buchholz | |
RHP | |
Went four-plus innings in Triple-A rehab start yesterday; been on DL since May 13 | |
23.7 | |
BOS | |
MLB | |
14 ↑ |
| 14 | |
Clayton Kershaw | |
LHP | |
Made big league debut on Sunday vs. STL: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K (ND; 101 pitches) | |
20.1 | |
LAD | |
AA | |
20 ↑ |
| 15 | |
B.J. Upton | |
CF | |
Same BABIP, LD rate as a season ago, but no power in '08 (.130 IsoP vs .208 in '07) | |
23.7 | |
TB | |
MLB | |
12 ↓ |
| 16 | |
Yovani Gallardo | |
RHP | |
Will miss remainder of 2008 season with a torn right ACL; surgery scheduled for Tuesday | |
22.2 | |
MIL | |
MLB | |
11 ↓ |
| 17 | |
Evan Longoria | |
3B | |
Had two homers, six RBI against BAL on Saturday; .246/.319/.472 vital with TB this year | |
22.5 | |
TB | |
MLB | |
13 ↓ |
| 18 | |
Nick Markakis | |
RF | |
Walk this way: Markakis has nearly doubled his BB rate in '08 (16.3% vs. 9.2% in '07) | |
24.5 | |
BAL | |
MLB | |
16 ↓ |
| 19 | |
Alex Gordon | |
3B | |
After .306/.370/.429 start, falling off a tad in May: .256/.358/.402; solid .344 wOBA overall | |
24.2 | |
KC | |
MLB | |
18 ↓ |
| 20 | |
Joba Chamberlain | |
RHP | |
Yankees continuing to stretch him out; expected to throw around 55 pitches on Wednesday | 22.6 | |
NYY | |
MLB | |
21 ↑ | |
| 21 | |
Chris Young | |
CF | |
Same power numbers as '07, but showing more patience -- BB rate up from 7.0% to 12.7% | |
24.7 | |
ARI | |
MLB | |
22 ↑ |
| 22 | |
Zack Greinke | |
RHP | |
Why ERA doesn't matter: April (7.0% BB, 13.3% K, 1.25 ERA) vs. May (5.4%, 20.0%, 4.65) | |
24.5 | |
KC | |
MLB | |
17 ↓ |
| 23 | |
Matt Wieters | |
C | |
Shouldn't be in High-A much longer: .349/.435/.611 in 181 PA; 14.9% BB, .418 wOBA | |
22.0 | |
BAL | |
A+ | |
25 ↑ |
| 24 | |
Matt LaPorta | |
LF | |
Developing the right way: 7.8% BB, 21.4% K in Low-A in '07 vs. 13.1%, 15.4% in AA in '08 | |
23.3 | |
MIL | |
AA | |
30 ↑ |
| 25 | |
Chad Billingsley | |
RHP | |
Has only allowed 1 earned run, 13 to reach base in last 14 innings; 25.8% K vs. 12.4% BB | |
23.8 | |
LAD | |
MLB | |
27 ↑ |
| Honorables: Andrew Miller (FLA), Matt Kemp (LAD), Johnny Cueto (CIN), Billy Butler (KC), Ryan Zimmerman (WAS), and Jeremy Hermida (FLA). | |
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| Graduated (final ranking): None. | |
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| Dropped out of Top 25 (previous ranking): Colby Rasmus (19) and Billy Butler (24). | |
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| * Our rankings combine a player's ceiling with the odds that he'll reach it and favor recent production | |
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| *** Ages are as of May 26th, 2008 | |
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| **** Level is the highest level the player has reached | |
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| <<< Our May 12th Top 25 | |
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| <<< Discuss these rankings | |
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Adam Loberstein can be reached at aloberstein@projectprospect.com. Adam Foster can be reached at adamf@projectprospect.com.