It’s just a tick past the mid-point of the minor league season, and high time to start my mid-season review of my preseason Top 41 prospect list.  I’ll finish with a look at the biggest risers outside of my pre-season Top 41. If you have suggestions for ways to improve this series, hit me up in the comment section

I will not do an in-season re-ranking.  I just don’t see a point.  I want to see the 2011 draftees play.  I want to see the short-season guys play.  I want to see how the guys who were recently promoted handle their new levels.  I want to see if the guys who struggled in the first half can make adjustments.  .

#36 – RHP Domingo Tapia
What I thought: He was a big right-hander who threw hard.
Reality: He’s a big right-hander who throws hard and in his two starts for Kingsport as a 19-year old, has yet to walk a batter.  If this continues, I’ll be in serious danger of developing a man-crush.  His Kingsport line: 10 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 7 K.
Stock: Up a smidge, which is to say, up as much as much as possible based on two starts in the Appalachian League.

#37 – 2B Jordany Valdespin
What I thought: I liked Valdespin’s athleticism, but worried that he’d never shown any kind of plate discipline.
Reality: The 23-year old Valdespin has improved dramatically.

1. The Mets shifted him back to shortstop, increasing his value immediately.
2. He’s doubled his walk rate from 2010 to 2011.  At 5.4%, he still has a long way to go to improve, but hey, progress is progress.  And he’s already drawn more walks than he did all of 2010!
3. He’s become a better base runner.  He stole at a 59% (17/29) clip in 2010, but is up to 79% (22/28) in 2011.
4. He’s gone nuts in June: .326/.373/.547 with six home runs.

Stock: UP!

Basic

Advanced

#38 – SS/2B Robbie Shields
What I thought: Shields had a chance to move up the system once he shifted to second base.
Reality: That happened.  The Mets moved the 23-year old Shields to second in the later stages of the first half with Savannah, and Shields has played eight games at second and just one at short stop in St. Lucie.
Also, Shields dramatically improved his approach, nearly doubling his walk walk rate in 2011 versus 2010 while dropping his strikeout rate a little.
Stock: Up

Basic

Advanced

#39 – LHP Jimmy Fuller
What I thought: The hard-throwing lefty had a chance as a bullpen arm
Reality: Shoulder surgery ended his season before it started
Stock: Down.

#40 – RF Javier Rodriguez
What I thought: That there was a chance that the athletic 2^nd round pick from the 2008 draft had figured something out in 2010 when he hit .319/.353/.513 in Kingsport in 2010.
Reality: At age 21, Rodriguez hit .209/.284/.407 in 26 games with Savannah to start the year.  The low batting average obscures a walk rate that more than doubled over his time in the Appalachian League and looks seriously like the product of a strangely low BABIP.   He’ll have a chance to redeem himself in the New York-Penn League where his first week and a half looks like … not much.
Stock: Down
Basic

Advanced

#41 – LHP Zach Dotson
What I thought: The overslot lefty from the 2009 draft had potential.
Reality: The potential is wildly unrealized, as Dodson has not thrown a pitch in 2011, or above the GCL thanks to a drug suspension in 2010.
Stock: Down, until he gets on a mound.