[illeracula]

Top 100 Prospects List Published: The season is about to start, so it's time to publish the annual Top 100 Prospects list. This year 20-year-old starting pitcher Brad Jones of the Newark Millers is the #1 prospect overall.

Here is the top 10:
1) SP Brad Jones, 20, Newark Millers
2) SS Mario Reyes, 17, Milford Clippers
3) LF Anastasio Padno, 21, Richmond Cardinals
4) SP Seth Bennett, 20, Milford Clippers
5) SP Shawn Brock, 22, Milton Brewers
6) 1B Adrian Smith, 20, New Castle Colonials
7) LF Vaughan Lee, 20, Dover Generals
8) C Flynn Payton, 20, Richmond Cardinals
9) SP Cristóbal Díaz, 17, Lewes Braves
10) SS Pete Martin, 21, Chesapeake Blue Crabs

This marks the first time the Norfolk Cavaliers don't have any players in the top 10, and I am sad to say that our minor leauge system has dropped to #3 in the best organizations. Some of that had to do with trades, so of it had to do with players moving up. Overall I still think we have some pretty solid players and we are stocked with pitching. Below are our top 10 prospects, the number in parenthesis is where they rank in the DelMarVa top 100.

Cavaliers Top Prospects 2016
1 (13) Cooper Mananghaya (SP)
At 25 Cooper is one of the older guys on the list. He is a left who throws hard and gets ground balls. Something you like to see out of your starters. Cooper is ready to make the jump and he is in line to be on the big league club this season. He will begin his season at AAA. Diaz sees Cooper as "a middle-of-the-rotation guy at some point in his career." Cooper a starter, might see some time in the Cav's pen this year as the lefy specialist.
Stuff: 11/12, Movement: 10/11, Control: 12/12

2 (17) Joseph Kearse
We liked Joseph so much we drafted him twice. Kearse making his first appearance on the top 100 list, in only his second season. The 20 year old put up solid numbers in A ball last season and will get his first full season in the minors this season. He will start out in A-ball and we will see where the season takes him. A Diaz sees Kearse to "Projects to be a very good contact hitter." We look forward to his first full season to see what he has.
Stuff: 7/12, Power: 2/6, Eye: 2/6

3 (19) Luis Delon (P)
Luis is a 21 year old 5* prospect, who is close to be ready. Antonio Diaz has this to say about Deleon "This guy has the makings of a big-league bullpen anchor. A shut-down guy in the late innings". He should make his debut in 2017 and be the full-time closer by 2018 if he continues on his path of development.
Stuff: 9/13, Movement: 15/15, Control: 8/14

4 (21) King Brock (1B)
King, the second of only 2 fielders in the Cavaliers top 10 prospect list, is 21 and just about ready to play. He should be at the big league level by 2017. He will be making his debut in AAA this season and might see some big league time depending on injuries. He has some problems with his glove, but Diaz things he has "tremendous power potential".
Contact: 8/10, Power: 8/14, Eye: 8/10

5 (22) Arturo Ramirez (SP)
Arturo is only 20 years old and is well known in the Delmarva League, because of his big potential. He has moved up the ladder at a nice a pace and this will start in AA and probably see some time in AAA by the end of the year. He is almost ready to make the move to the big leagues he just needs to work on some control issues. Diaz has been quoted as saying "This kid has the sort of control that could give him a long career. Rarely walks people, and finds the plate consistently. You can trust him not to give away too much". He will probably see himself in the starting rotation in 2017.
Stuff: 10/12, Movement: 12/12, Control: 9/15

6 (52) Jamie King (SP)
Jamie is 24 and similar to Cooper is ready to make the push to the next level. King came over in an off-season trade and could see some time with the big league club before the season is over. He was given a shot in spring, but struggled, so he will begin his quest at AAA. He is had a cup of coffee last season with New Castle. Many question his intelligence, but Diaz says "his talent, instinct, and desire to make it as big leaguer translate into mid-rotation potential." Expect to hear his name later on this season.
Stuff: 10/11, Movement: 12/13, Control: 14/15

7 (55) Vaughan Griffth (SP)
At 19 years old Vaughn has made his way up the ranks and will be making his AA debut this season with New Orleans. Vaughn is almost ready to pitch in AAA, but we beleive a full season in AA will do him good. The only problem I see with Vaughn is his flyball ratio. Diaz has been watching this kid and has some good words to say about him "If this kid's elbow holds up, he'll be a front-line pitcher. It's easy to project plus pitches across the board." Look for Vaughn to make his debut late in 2018.
Stuff: 10/14, Movement: 8/8, Control: 10/16

8 (59) Joe Gould (SP)
Joe is 25 and just about reach his max potential. He will begin his season in AAA and could be a mid-season call-up if the need arises. He will join Cooper and Jamie in the Yokohama rotation and give us 3 guys ready to pitch in the bigs. Diaz sees Joe as "nothing more than a run-of-the-mill starter. A projected number 4 or number 5 pitcher".
Stuff: 12/13, Movement: 8/8, Control: 11/13

9 (88) Derek Cater (CL)
Derek was acquired only a few months ago, and should see some time with the big club soon. He is just a few control points away from being a full-time major leaguer. He throws in the upper 90's and gets a lot of ground balls, just want you want from a closer. Carter has spent 1 and a half seasons in AAA, so his time is just about here. A. Diaz has high praise, he claims that Derek is a "Potential Hall of Fame reliever".
Stuff: 12/13, Movement: 14/15, Control: 9/12

10 (92) Jorge Jimenez (SP)
Jorge was discovered out of the Dominican Republic as a 16 year old, and now as an 18 year old is making his first appearance on the top 100 list. Many teams were trying to get me include him in trades this off-season, but he has the potential to shine bright. At least that is what I have been told. A Diaz doesn't give him as high of marks as OSA. Diaz sees Jiminez as "a guy other players look up to. A good influence to have on the team." He is a few years away, but his journey to stardom has begun.
Stuff: 6/10, Movement: 9/11, Control: 1/8
OSA: 6/13, 11/14, 5/14

A look back in history...

2015
1 (10) Arturo Ramirez (SP) - Current #5 Prospect
2 (11) Eugene Carpenter (SP) - traded to Baltimore Barons 2015
3 (14) Gabriel Santos (CL) - traded to Baltimore Barons 2015
4 (17) Steven Wilson (1B) - traded New Castle Colonials 2015
5 (20) King Brock (1B) - Current # 4 Prospect
6 (35) Jorge Jimenez (SP) - Current #10 Prospect
7 (41) Augusto Rodriquez (SS) - Yokohama (Norfolk AAA / debuted in 2015 / 27 games)
8 (45) Joe Gould (SP) - Current #8 Prospect
9 (59) Vaughan Griffith (SP) - Current #7 Prospect
10 (68) Jeremy Jones (SS) - traded to Baltimore Barons 2015

2014
1 (2) Ken Coffman (P) - traded to Chesapeake Blue Crabs 2015 (made debut in 2015 / 14 games)
2 (7) King Brock (1B) - Current #4 Prospect
3 (12) Arturo Ramirez (P) - Current #2 Prospect
4 (18) Maurice Noble (OF) - New Orleans (Norfolk AA)
5 (27) Marc Alexander (OF) - traded to Newark Millers 2014
6 Augusto Rodriquez (SS) - Yokohama (Norfolk AAA / debuted in 2015 / 27 games)
7 Sun Ho (P) - Norfolk's #5 starter (debuted in 2013 / 33 games, 27 starts)
8 Christopher Shopland (2B) - traded to Baltimore 2016 (debuted in 2013 / 264 games)
9 Murray Pavie (OF) - Yokohama (Norfolk AAA)
10 Jorge Baez (P) - New Orleans (Norfolk AA)