Good to see new content from the Dr.
I kind of group prospects into three categories now: elite (meaning so talented that something would need to go wrong for them not to be an MLB contributor); intriguing (meaning could go either way); and longshot (meaning something needs to go right for them to make an MLB roster).
For years, we had mostly "intriguing" -- Wlads and Tuis and Manginis.
Now we have three clear-cut "elite" -- Smoak, Ackley and Pineda (after not really having any post-Felix -- unless you want to count Adam Jones). Lueke in the bullpen could be approaching that. And, yes, we need to be considering whether Franklin should be added to that category. If he can play SS every day in the majors, then absolutely, because he's showing enough extra-base power and patience at 19 to hold his own with the bat.
And the "intriguing" list goes on and on: Saunders, Moore, Tui, Robles, Cortes, Wilhelmsen, Varvaro, Fields, Poythress, Raben, Seager (upgraded from longshot), Chavez, Moran, Pryor, Jones and down to the very young guys Brandol Perez (overwhelming stats at 16 in the DSL), Ji-Man Choi (promoted from rookie ball all the way to High Desert at 19, and holding his own), Taijuan Walker and Sharkie Unsworth (both flashing interesting stuff at 17).
Most are Z-crew acquisitions. Franklin was considered a "reach" by many, and guys like Seager and Pryor look like brilliant lower-round picks (Wilhelmsen and Pryor combined for 11 K in 8 IP, 0 ER the other day).
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