Every AL West Team's Rawest Prospect

With Prospect Pipeline's Top 50 now in place, it's time to take a deeper look at these prospects from a positional standpoint. 

As I continue to put together Top 10 prospect scouting reports for every organization, I'll also be ranking prospects by both position and skill set (or as I refer to them, tools).

Today, we look at baseball's rawest prospects. These players typically possess pure athleticism and natural talent, but their baseball skills tend to lag behind. For example, a player who runs from home to first in around four seconds may struggle to consistently put the ball in play.

After profiling the American League East and Central earlier today, it's now time to focus on the American League West.

Michael Choice, Oakland Athletics

Position: OF

Height/Weight: 6'/215

DOB: 11/10/1989

Bats/Throws: R/R

Drafted/Signed: 2010 – First round

2011 Stats:

High-A: .285/.376/.542, .257 ISO, 130 wRC+ (542 PA)

Overview: There is some swing-and-miss with Choice, but no part of any park can hold him. His defense is far better than one would expect from this kind of power bat. He still chases too many breaking balls, but that should improve in 2012. 

There is a realistic chance that Choice can stay in center field. If he can, then he has perennial All-Star potential. While his speed is a 60, he doesn’t necessarily use it very well on the bases.

The down tool with Choice is his arm, so his value drops considerably if he is forced to move away of center. By no means is that move imminent or even likely. Michael Choice can take a huge step forward perhaps even into the top 10 with a big 2012 in the high Minors.

ETA: 2013

Jorge Alfaro, Texas Rangers

Position: C

Height/Weight: 6’2”/185

DOB: 6/11/1993

Bats/Throws: R/R

Drafted/Signed: 2010, Colombia

2011 Stats:

Low-A: .300/.345/.481, .181 ISO, 129 wRC+ (171 PA)

Overview: Alfaro has an absolutely explosive swing thanks to considerable raw bat speed and a powerful weight transfer through the baseball. As a catcher, his plus power is already a premium and there’s still room for further development. 

Like most young power hitters, his swing can get a bit long and loopy, which has resulted in excessive strikeouts (31.6 percent). He’s ahead of the curve in pitch recognition for prospects his age, but he still fights the urge not to take a monster hack at anything near the zone.

Defensively, Alfaro has an absolute cannon for an arm. However both his transfer and footwork are fringy, so he’ll have to learn to streamline his throws in order to be successful down the road. He has all the tools to be an elite catcher, it’s just a matter of how quickly they develop.

ETA: 2015

Kaleb Cowart, Los Angeles Angels

Position: 3B

Height/Weight: 6’3”/190

DOB: 6/2/1992

Bats/Throws: S/R

Drafted/Signed: 2010, first round (HS—Adel, GA)

2011 Stats:

Rookie: .283/.345/.420, 11 SB, .138 ISO, 95 wRC+ (319 PA)

Overview: A switch-hitting third baseman, Cowart handles the bat significantly better from his natural right side. His bat speed and fluid stroke as a right-handed hitter suggests plus power. He may even have a chance to hit for a respectable average.

Left-handed, his swing is choppy and lacks the fluidity showcased from the right side, although he’s flashed plus power from that side as well.

At third base, Cowart’s athleticism and instincts foster above-average range and smooth defensive actions.  His arm—which was mid-to-upper-90s off the bump in high school—is ideal for the position, although he has a tendency to get out of sync with his footwork and miss his target. 

He may not develop as quickly as the Angels hoped when drafting him, but his overall potential at the hot corner is undeniable.

ETA: 2015

Alex Liddi, Seattle Mariners

Position: 3B/SS

Height/Weight: 6’4”/230

DOB: 8/14/1988

Bats/Throws: R/R

Drafted/Signed: 2005, Italy

2011 Stats:

Triple-A: .259/.332/.488, .229 ISO, 98 wRC+ (637 PA)

MLB: .225/.295/.525, .300 ISO, 129 wRC+ (44 PA)

Overview: Despite the fact that he made the Mariners’ Opening Day roster, Liddi is still in need of considerable development. Given his 6’4” frame, he has a tendency to be rigid in the field. 

However, he made noticeable strides in his defense at Triple-A last season, and should be at least serviceable as a big-league third baseman.  His hands have become softer with experience, and his plus arm is more than enough at the hot corner.

Liddi is a free swinger who has struggled to make adjustments while in the minors, though his plus raw power continues to make scouts drool.  He lacks a two-strike approach and tries to generate as much power as possible on every swing, paying little attention to the pitch and its location. 

However, Liddi’s power is so promising that the Mariners will allow him to refine his discipline and approach at the big league level.

ETA: 2012