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01 January, 2002
John Sickels, ESPN, suggests TB's first
pick last June could be in the TB rotation this season :
" ... Dewon Brazelton, a righthander
from Middle Tennessee State, signed too late to pitch. But he has a 96 MPH
fastball, improving breaking stuff, and sharp control. He's already the Rays'
best prospect, and should reach the Show late in '02.
Sickels
on Carl Crawford :
" ... Speed demon, swiped 36 in Double-A.
Power hasn't developed yet, and he needs better strike zone judgment. Will
struggle if rushed too fast."
Both Baseball America and RotoWorld
have posted SD prospect lists and they are very similar.
Jim Callis
has the SD Top 10 for Baseball
America. Sean Burroughs tops the list with Dennis Tankersley
grabbing the #2 spot :
" ... Tankersley can throw four pitches for
strikes, and most of them are nasty. He can reach the mid-90s with his four-seam
fastball, and his sinking two-seamer arrives in the low 90s. Hitters can’t sit
on his fastball because he has a mid-80s slider that was rated the best breaking
ball in the Cal League ... could get a long look for the big league rotation in
spring training. It’s more likely that he’ll get work at Portland before
joining San Diego during the season."
Matthew Pouliot
at RotoWorld picks
Jerome Williams
as the best of the
SF prospects with Kurt Ainsworth at #2 :
" ... A strong performance in Fresno would
have gotten Ainsworth a rotation spot in San Francisco last season. Instead, he
was awful early and only lowered his ERA to 5.07 with a strong second half. It
should be remembered that Fresno is a very tough place to pitch, and Ainsworth’s
ratios remained strong. He’s still one of the better pitching prospects in the
minors. He’ll get a chance to compete for a rotation spot in the spring, and,
although he will need some time to adjust to the majors, he’s a nice sleeper
in fantasy leagues."
Coming up fast is Boof Bonser, the
#3 pick on the Giants :
" ... he became one of the top pitching
prospects in the low minors last season. Bonser throws in the mid-90s and has a
very good curve. He should make it as a starter, but if not, he has a promising
future as a reliever. The Giants are slow to push pitchers, so expect Bonser to
get full seasons at both Double- and Triple-A before arriving in the
majors."
Jack Cust
topped Pouliot's ARZ review (BA
dropped Cust to #4 on its ARZ chart) with John Patterson slipping in at
#2 :
" ... Patterson’s first year back from
Tommy John surgery didn’t go well, as he struggled to recover both velocity
and command. However, of all the pitchers in the Arizona system, he is still the
best bet to have a long career in the majors. Before getting hurt, he had a
mid-90s fastball and an outstanding curve. He’ll spend most of 2002 in
Triple-A. If he does well, he could help the Diamondbacks down the
stretch."
02 January, 2002
Mike Gullo's*
The Minors First is out of the gate with a Top
50 (the first instalment of its Top 100). Sean Burroughs rates
#1. Josh Beckett, Hank Blalock, Carlos Pena
and Nick Johnson round out the top five. Mark Prior,
without any pro experience, lands in the #9 spot :
" ... Coming off one of the best college
season's ever, Prior has a lot to live up to. It's rare for me to rate a new
draftee this high, but he is such a special player. It'll be very interesting to
see where the Cubs begin him. I think most within the Chicago system figure him
to be in the Majors very, very soon."
Another newcomer, Mark Teixeira, won the
#24 ranking :
" ... -he was a great college talent, but
he's yet to swing at his first professional pitch. He may be in the top 10 next
year, but without seeing him hit as a pro, I can't rank him any higher that #24,
despite all his hype."
Trying to catchup with Matthew Pouliot (RotoWorld) ... who has completed his first take on all the major league
clubs ... a few of the guys who haven't had much hype ... including Luis
Terrero, #4 ARZ ::
" ... a tools prospect with poor plate
discipline. He’s a quality defensive center fielder, and he will add power as
he matures. However, that won’t matter unless he learns to take a pitch now
and again. Terrero is no Vladimir Guerrero ... can’t see him being ready for
the majors until 2004."
Jason
Jennings, #2, COL :
" ... burst on to the scene in August
with one of the most impressive debuts in major league history. He not only
tossed a shutout against the Mets, but he also homered. Jennings should be a
solid third or fourth starter for the Rockies. He typically works in the
low-90s, but he does a good job keeping the ball on the ground, which is a must
in Coors Field."
Garrett
Atkins, #4 COL :
" ... made the switch from first to
third in the Arizona Instructional League ... with Jeff Cirillo gone, he now has
a clear path to the majors. Offensively, Atkins resembles Cirillo. He is a
line-drive hitter with solid plate discipline ... Because of the Coors factor,
Atkins is an excellent fantasy prospect."
Abraham
Nunez, #4 FLO :
" ... has all the tools that the
scouts love and complements it with plenty of patience at the plate. He strikes
out too much, which holds him back from being a top prospect, but he is Florida’s
right fielder of the future. A couple good months in the minors could get him to
the Florida very quickly, but he’ll probably struggle in his initial attempt
at the majors."
Brad
Wilkerson, #2 MON :
" ... Wilkerson’s ability to get on base
and knock out doubles doesn’t get the Expos excited, but it should. Wilkerson
figures to be a solid outfielder in the majors for the next 10-12 years, but he
may need a trade to an organization that will appreciate what he brings to a
team."
03 January, 2002
Another promising new prospect site is up -- Chris
Reed's ProtospectWatch.com (that's
not a typo, explanation on site). Chris is a NYC guy, grew up cheering for
the Dodgers and long time Bill James, Pete Palmer fan. "I put a lot of
faith in statistics and I'm not arrogant enough to believe that my subjective
opinions are as valid as objective data and analysis." January
first was the opening day of Chris' site and already he's up with reviews of the
2001 minor league season and ATL, CHN and TEX prospect reports.
PW has Hank Blalock at the top in TEX, Wilson
Benemit ATL and Mark Prior CHN.
Among some of the under-hyped guys is Omar
Beltre (TEX #10) :
" ... a strikeout artist. He's exciting to
watch and will only get better. Next season will be a test not only of his
skill, but of his endurance. While last year he threw only 70 innings in a
short-season rookie league, next year he will take on Low-A hitters for an
entire season. Beltre could move fast up the system."
Justin Duchscherer
is the 7th rated TEX
prospect :
" ... I like Duchscherer more
than Benoit and Lewis. Duschscherer is a soft tosser in the Jamie Moyer/Brian
Lawrence mold. Of course, most "tools" guys don't like Justin because
he doesn't have a jaw dropping fastball or a knee buckling curve. But he has
control, and that counts for a lot. Just ask Greg Maddux. He should be in the
Rangers' rotation next year."
#7 on the Cubs' list is Jae Kuk Ryu
:
" ... Ryu is the future
uber-prospect
of the Cubs system ... With Ryu's electric fastball and developing off-speed
pitches, he has tremendous potential. I really like Ryu's chances as his control
is already good, and he can already dominate hitters with not much more than a
fastball. Barring injury, I would say that the worst case scenario is that Ryu's
second and third pitches don't develop, and he becomes a stellar reliever."
Kelly
Johnson is Chris' #2 on the
ATL chart :
" ... has the potential to be a Scott
Rolen-esque offensive player. However , his defense is about un-Rolen-esque as
it can possibly get. Right now, Johnson is a better hitter than Betemit, and his
power potential might be better than Betemit's. Johnson barely ranks below
Betemit because Johnson's defense is simply atrocious and he most likely will
end up in left field, which will kill a good deal of his value. I think there is
a chance that his power develops to the point where he is a very good left
fielder, and that's why gets the #2 spot."
04 January, 2002
Hmmm ... Casey Kotchman draws a comparison
to Todd Helton in Chris Reed's ANA prospect report on ProtospectWatch
:
"
... Although he has yet to prove himself above the high school level, his
powerful bat combined with willingness to take a walk gives him the slight edge
over #2 Francisco Rodriguez ... Angels got a huge steal with Kotchman at the #13
pick. Kotchman was the best high school hitter in the draft and he has the
potential to be one of the premier hitters in baseball."
#3 on the ANA chart is lefty Joe Torres
:
"
... Torres is another teenage pitching phenom. Drafted at 17-years old with the
10th pick overall in the 2000 draft, Joe T. has moved quickly up the depth
charts. The left-hander’s out-pitch is his excellent curveball and he can also
hit the mid-90’s with his fastball. Only 19-years old, Torres has shown the
potential to become a great pitcher. His control could use some work, but there
aren’t many teenagers in professional baseball with great command. "
A few more picks from Mike Gullo's The Minors
First -- #20 (of 50 so far) Carlos Zambrano CHN :
"
... a guy whose prospect status has lost some shine in the past year and I'm not
sure why. As a 20 year old in the PCL, he posted very strong numbers. The only
negative I can think of about him is when I saw him last March in Arizona, I was
disappointed to see his fastball in the 93 range instead of the 97 range like I
heard it was. Regardless, he'll very likely spend most of this season in the
Majors as a 21 year old and have his share of success."
Michael
Cuddyer MIN #21 :
"
... has learned how to drive the ball... and with authority! He's
developed into one the the most dangerous longball threats in the minors. I've
seen him hit some of the longest, most towering homers I've seen in a while. The
other area of concern with Cuddyer was defensive consistency ... In the
outfield, I think his play is currently well below average and he may be
destined to become a first baseman/DH."
Justin
Morneau MIN is #26 :
"
... Big and strong, with a natural pull-hitter's swing and boy can he send
some balls a long way out of the yard. That's what Major League teams look for,
but part of it is also something that might hurt Morneau in the coming years.
Right now he's a dead pull hitter… maybe too much so at too young of an age.
He's moving up quickly and is so far performing well, but I wouldn't be
surprised to see that progress slowed this year as pitchers in the higher levels
begin to take advantage of his hitting style."
And, Gullo isn't too optimistic about Jon Rauch's
(#41) chances of success in 2002 :
"
... A year ago he was seen as one of the premier pitchers in all of the minors.
Like Ryan Anderson, it may be a little more difficult for him to return from
surgery because of his frame (very tall and lean). If I was sure he was fully
recovered, I'd certainly have rated him higher. My projection is that he'll
spend this whole year trying to get back to where he was and not spend any
significant time in the Majors until 2003."
05 January, 2002
The B-Boys also top Matthew Pouliot's Top
100 -- this time it's Josh Beckett, Hank Blalock, Sean Burroughs.
The rest of the top 10 -- Nick Johnson, Mark Prior, Wilson Betemit, Juan
Cruz, Ryan Anderson, Joe Borchard, Mark Teixeira.
At #19 is SEA's Chris Snelling :
"
... has put up great numbers everywhere he’s played, and he’s still just 20
years old. The Mariners will continue to take things slowly with him, but he
could force his way into their outfield before the end of2003. Snelling isn’t
going to be a fantasy superstar, but he could be a better version of Rusty
Greer."
Kenny Baugh DET won the #24 spot :
"
... Baugh, the Tigers’ first-round pick in 2001, looked excellent against
Double-A hitters and could be the first player from the draft to get into a
big-league game. Baugh consistently throws in the low-90s and features a solid
curve and an excellent changeup. He’s a polished pitcher who projects as a
second or third starter. He’s quite likely to appear in the Detroit rotation
before the end of 2002."
BBW's
HOU review has John Buck
rated as the system's top hitting prospect :
"
... The emergence of Buck made another great young catcher, Garett Gentry,
expendable in a trade ... mature beyond his years. Lexington infielder
Mickey McKee called him "the smartest player I have ever played with,"
and he shows that in the way he calls a game. After hitting .282 with 10 homers
and 71 RBI in his first full season at Michigan in 2000, his burgeoning power
emerged in 2001. "He's gotten better every day, every month, every
year," said Tim Purpura, the Astros' assistant general manager. "Now
he's starting to show power, but I like that he doesn't try to go crazy with
it."
Shortstop Tommy Whiteman also
attracted attention :
"
... In an organization particularly strong on the left side of the infield,
Whiteman might stand a tick above the rest. In his first full season after being
drafted out of Oklahoma in the sixth round of 2000, he finished second in the
organization in average and led his league in slugging. "He could be in the
big-league picture pretty quick," Purpura said."
On MIL, BBW highlighted 18-year-old pitcher Mike
Jones :
"
... Brewers had the Pioneer League's top player for the second year in a
row with Jones, after David Krynzel won the honor last year. He not only has a
great pitcher's build, but he also throws in the mid-90s with an easy,
effortless delivery that bodes well for his long-term health."
A surprise in PIT. BBW selected outfielder Tony
Alvarez as the club's best hitting prospect (over JR House) :
"
... no one (PIT) has done better in his first few pro seasons than the
Venezuelan-born Alvarez. The New York-Penn League MVP in 1999 when he hit .321
at Williamsport, he swiped 52 bases at Hickory in 2000. In 2001 he hit .369 with
runners on base at Altoona and .345 when they were in scoring position."
John
VanBenschoten also won mention
:
"
... After leading NCAA Division I hitters with 31 homers at Kent State,
many thought VanBenschoten would be a first-rounder, but they thought it would
be as a hitter. The Pirates had other ideas when they saw him in his brief mound
forays. He has a fastball in the mid-90s and remarkable presence on the mound.
He posted a 1.93 ERA in July and has the ability to be completely
dominating."
There's not much to admire in the STL system, but
there are some great names -- Covelli Crisp among them :
"
... Crisp was the Cardinals' 2001 Minor League Player of the Year. He led the
Carolina League in hits and was second in runs. Pitcher Brett Evert of Myrtle
Beach (Braves) called him the best pure hitter in the league."
06 January, 2002
Yep. That'll get my attention ... A-Rod
potential ... Chris Reed at ProtospectWatch on LA's Joel Guzman
:
" ... Okay, I said it. Irvin (or Joel to his
friends) has Alex Rodriguez potential. He is a big kid at 6' 4", and he has
loads of potential. I won't speculate what kind of hitter he is, because we
simply don't know. I'll just say he has tons of talent and I will be paying very
close attention to his Gulf Coast League debut this summer."
Corwin
Malone CHA seemed to come
out of nowhere in 2001 and ended the season attracting a lot of attention.
However, he may be a season away from a serious shot with the WSox :
" ...
his remarkable 2001 campaign
was exciting and fun to watch. But he still has a long way to go. His repertoire
is lacking good second and third pitches and that's going to hurt him as he
faces more advanced Double-A and Triple-A hitters. He is still very young, and
hopefully the White Sox give him a full year, if not longer, in the minors to
work on his "stuff" and his mechanics. If they are patient with him,
he could help to fill out a top-heavy rotation in 2003 or 2004."
ProtospectWatch
also sees a chance for Miguel
Olivo to get behind the plate for the WSox :
"
... an underrated catching prospect. He hit
well for a catcher last year in AA-Birmingham, and is almost ready for the
majors. His competition for White Sox catcher of the future is Josh Paul, who is
a similar yet inferior player to Olivo. Miguel has the potential to be a
Lieberthal-type catcher, but probably will max out at the Jason Varitek level."
Mike Mitchell
has Nick Neugebauer
as MIL's best prospect in his MLBProspect review of the Brewers' farm
hands :
"
... he'll need to make sure he's fully recovered from his relatively minor
shoulder operation, and then go out and earn his spot. It's a good bet he'll
struggle with control as he starts his career, but given time to adjust,
Neugebauer could be a future ace. The possibility he'll be a closer long-term
can't be ruled out, but it's on the backburner after his crucial success in
2001."
Mike Jones
is #2 on the chart with
outfielder Dave Krynzel at #3 :
"
... . In his first full season in the organization, split between Low-A Beloit
and High-A High Desert, he made them look smart, hitting .287 with 45 steals. He
also showed some of that projectable power with 20 doubles, six triples and six
homers. One element of his game that was lacking, as it is with most of the
Brewers' hitting prospects who will come after him, is plate patience. His BB/K
ratio was a sub-par 36/150 in 524 ABs ... If someone can drill patience into
Krynzel, the Brewers have a great player on their hands."
07 January, 2002
John Stephens
as Greg Maddux.
Chris Reed at ProtospectWatch looks upon the BAL rookie as a potential
clone of the ATL great :
" ... Yup, I said it. Stephens has Greg
Maddux potential. Forget about his lack of velocity. Forget about his lack of a
wicked curve or hard, diving sinker. It's all between the ears. Stephens gets no
respect now, but that'll change after a few years in the big leagues. At 22,
Maddux completed his first *full* big league season as a starter, Stephens will
look to do the same in 2002. If the Orioles are smart, they will give him that
chance and never look back."
Stephens is rated #1 in BAL with Canadian lefty Erik
Bedard at #2. Richard Stahl is #11.
Hmmm ... this is the 3rd of 4th review to suggest
Stephens as a top SP candidate (essentially the anti-BA approach).
Carlos Hernandez
finished #1 on Reed's HOU
chart followed by SPs Tony Pluta and Mike Nannini.
An interesting observation on the #5 pick, catcher John Buck :
" ... Did they trade the right one? I don't
think so. Personally, I like Garett Gentry more than Buck. But
that's just me. The Astros front office obviously disagreed as they shipped out
Gentry for peanuts, placing their future at catcher completely in the hands of
John Buck. Buck had a good year in Lexington, hitting for good power and playing
good defense. Overall, he is a very solid player whose power could develop
further."
Early look ahead to the June draft ... BA's
pre-season All-American team has one unanimous selection -- righthander Bobby
Brownlie from Rutgers.
Bill Ballew, Baseball America,
on Joel Guzman SS, LA :
" ... We're talking about a 16-year-old who
has yet to compete in his first pro game. Still, the Dodgers are raving about
Guzman's makeup, maturity and talent. In my mind, he's at least four years away,
probably five. He has the talent right now, but he must continue to work hard
and not rest on his $2.25 million signing bonus ... He's a legit five-tool
talent who speaks fluent English and has a great makeup. Comparing him to A-Rod
is unfair, but suffice it to say that he has the makings of a very special
player."
Ballew
on Jonny Gomes OF, TB :
" ... I still can't believe Gomes lasted as
long as he did in last year's draft (16th round). He would run over his
grandmother on the basepaths and hits the ball with tremendous force, even
though he has some holes in his swing."
More from the BBW prospect
reviews.
Anthony Pluta
HOU :
"
... made his pro debut in 2001 in full-season Lexington. He finished third
in the organization in ERA, and when he was on, he dazzled. Working on his
breaking pitch and on a strict pitch limit, he had his struggles with control
and led the league in walks, but the overall results were a definite success.
"It is absolutely stunning to see what he did," Purpura said.
"Next year with a little more maturity and focus I don't know what he could
accomplish."
Bill
Hall MIL :
"
... A strong, athletic shortstop, Bill Hall flashed some power this past season
and earned a second-half promotion to Double-A. Though his offensive numbers got
a big boost from a friendly home park at High Desert, he has exciting power
potential for a middle infielder and good speed. He also has the range, hands
and arm for short, although he still makes far too many errant throws. He also
needs to improve his discipline at the plate."
Sean
Burnett the top rated pitcher
for PIT :
"
... Not overpowering, he has a ton of poise for his age, as well as
outstanding command — in his pro debut in the Gulf Coast League in 2000 he
walked three in 31 innings. Out of 26 starts for Hickory in 2001, he allowed
either one or no earned runs in 13 of them. He finished second in the system in
ERA and led the South Atlantic League in wins and strikeouts."
WilyMo
Pena CIN :
"
... The former Yankees property is the most imposing physical specimen in the
system and has the highest ceiling. Expect him to be moved from center field to
left or right."
More names from Matthew Pouliot's Top
100 -- #29 Joe Crede CHA :
"
... He might not be ready to hit in the majors just yet, but he will be solid
defensively. Within a couple years, he should be an above average offensive third
baseman. He’s not going to play in many All-Star games."
Juan Rivera
NYA is #56 :
"
... After struggling for two years, Rivera re-emerged as a top prospect in
2001.He’s still too aggressive at the plate, a weakness major league pitchers
could exploit. Rivera is an excellent defensive right fielder. He could make it
to the majors at mid-year, but these are the Yankees, so it’s going to be a
while before he has a starting job."
Jamal
Strong SEA is #70 :
"
... Strong proved to be an incredible force in Single-A, but it remains to be
seen whether his bat will hold up at higher levels. He had just 26 extra-base
hits last season. That’s not a problem as long as keeps getting on base 40
percent of the time, but it would be nice if he delivered a few more line drives
into the gap. He’ll begin 2002 in Double-A."
Grady Sizemore
MON, #88 :
"
... slipped to the third round of the 2000 draft because teams thought he’d
go to college and play football. The Expos paid the price to get him and are
very happy they did. Sizemore has patience and speed and will develop power over
the next two years. Once that happens, there will be no stopping him."
08 January, 2002
On ESPN, John Sickels tackles the ANA
system and comes up with a few names to jot down for draft day. First round pick Casey
Kotchman is one :
"
... has the look of a star. A first baseman out of high school in Florida, he
went 20-for-37 (.541) before going down with a wrist injury. He should be fine,
and could end up being the first high school player in this draft class to reach
the majors."
The list of top prospects gives ANA some hope of
strength on the hill.
Chris
Bootcheck
" ... Throws strikes with 90-93 mph fastball, also has a good
slider and a developing changeup. Control is fine, but 5.45 ERA in six Double-A
starts shows there is work to do."
John
Lackey " ... Can hit 96 mph, also has a great curveball and
improving command. Will need additional Triple-A time, but looks like a number
two starter in the long run."
Bobby
Jenks " ... Throws blazing fastball, timed as high as 99 mph. Needs
better command and a sharper breaking pitch. Compared to Nuke LaLoosh for more
reasons than one."
eamOneBaseball
goes with Jon Rauch
as the best of the WSox prospects. Joe Borchard is #2,
followed by Miguel Olivo, Joe Crede and Corwin
Malone.
Robert
Dvorchak, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
on Kris Benson PIT :
"
... The painful twinge in his right elbow is gone, remedied by surgery that cost
him all of last season. As of Friday, Kris Benson was up to 50 pitches off the
mound and throwing his changeup for the first time.
Everything
appears to point to a full recovery for Benson, the Pirates No. 1 starter, whose
rehabilitation is ahead of schedule. He is working out regularly at PNC Park's
indoor facilities. Still, he isn't expected to return to the rotation until
mid-May, meaning he will miss at least six weeks of the season. The Pirates will
err on the side of caution while easing him back into the rotation this
season.
"It's
safe to say I'll be back in the starting rotation at least by the middle of
May," Benson said prior to a workout last week. "I don't see any
reason why I'm not going to be able to come back throwing as well as I
can."
There appears to be general agreement that Chris
Burke SS HOU is a good hitter and likely to be an offensive plus in the
majors, but questions remain about where he'll end up in the HOU infield.
BA #3 " ... Burke has plenty of
leadoff skills, gap power and stolen-base speed and aptitude ... they
believe Burke can play shortstop, which some scouts had questioned. His arm is
strong and accurate, and his instincts, hands and feet are all fine ... no
glaring flaws ... has a good chance of going to Double-A for his first
full season. He may play second base, but only to give Tommy Whiteman some time
at shortstop. The only way Burke won't be Houston's shortstop of the future is
if defensive whiz Adam Everett jump-starts his bat and pushes Burke to
second."
John
Sickels, ESPN " ...
fair comp for Craig Biggio: he has pop, patience, runs well, and plays the
middle infield very well. I think he's an excellent prospect."
BBW " ... Burke's pro debut at
Michigan was as good as any first-year infielder in 2001. A prototypical top of
the order guy, he hit .435 with 20 homers, 60 RBI and 49 steals at Tennessee,
earning Southeastern Conference Player of the Year honors. He finished the year
with a 14-game hitting streak to take into 2002."
MLBProspect #2 " ... Burke is the
real-deal. His great all-around game will lead him to AA this year, where he
could put up some monster numbers in the hitting-happy Texas League ...
Whether he stays at SS or moves back to 2B, I see Burke as an Opening Day
starter for the Astros in 2003 -- he's that good. If he can improve his OBP and
gain a little more power, he could become one of the best second-basemen in the
game right off the bat."
ProtospectWatch
#4
" ... The 2001 first round pick hit for average, took some walks, and
didn't strike out much. Am I satisfied with his performance? No. Because I think
there is more to Burke's game. This is, after all, the same Chris Burke who led
the SEC in not only on base percentage, but slugging percentage as well this
past year. Is it not realistic to expect him to get his slugging percentage up
around .500 when he topped .800 as a junior in college? I think it is. That's
why I will be looking for a bit more power from Burke in the future. He's a good
prospect now, but if you add power to the mix you have another Craig Biggio."
RotoWorld #6.
Strike Three #7 " ... hit
.300 with good patience and showed good instincts on the bases with 21 steals.
His power will develop, and his conversion from wood to aluminum went very well.
There's mixed reviews on whether he can remain at shortstop with a mediocre arm,
but the Astros will give him every opportunity ... may not have the same long
range potential as Betemit or Cabrera, but he could be a good major-league
shortstop by 2003."
TPA #9 " ... Burke hits for
average, has very good strike zone management and gap power, but his greatest
asset is his speed, making him a prototypical leadoff hitter. While his glove is
good, I doubt his arm strength will make him a big league SS, so expect him to
be the eventual successor to Biggio at 2B. He should start 2002 in Round Rock
and could see Houston by 2003."
Mark Sheldon, MLB.com, on Justin
Morneau MIN :
"
... he's been listed as a top 10 prospect in both the Florida State League and
the Midwest League by Baseball America. With three teams in 2001, he batted a
combined .314 with 16 home runs and 97 RBIs. "He's got a nice swing and
he's going to hit for average," said Jim Rantz, Twins director of minor
leagues. "He's got power to all fields and as he goes up the line, he's
seeing pitchers with better control. He's a player that can adjust and he hangs
in there against left-handed pitchers as well as righties." ... "He's
on a fast track," Rantz said. "The fact that he's always hit wherever
he's gone and his versatility (have) helped."
Patrick O'Connell, MLB.com, on Kris
Honel CHA :
" ... Following the conclusion of the
Appalachian League, Honel was named the leagues' No. 6 prospect by Baseball
America ... According to Minor League Pitching Coordinator Don Cooper, Honel's
success in 2002 will hinge on consistency. "This is going to be a big
learning year for him," Cooper said. "I have talked to him
individually about things we are looking for him to do: Take the ball on a
regular basis and stay healthy the whole year. He has to pitch every five days,
throw the ball and pitch more innings than he did in high school. He is used to
pitching once a week in high school, now he is going to be making 30
starts."
10 January, 2002
John
Sickels, on ESPN, has his take on the
NYA prospects ... and there's a lot of familiar names.
Juan
Rivera " ... ,324 with 28 homers at Double-A and Triple-A. Needs
a bit more work with the strike zone, but ready to step in as soon as Rondell
White gets hurt."
Marcus
Thames " ... .321 with 31 homers in Double-A, and looked
great in the Arizona Fall League. Also good with the glove. Plan B for when
White gets hurt, or possibly trade bait."
Drew
Henson " ... major problems with the strike zone last
year, as well as injury problems, but was healthy, effective, and patient in the
Arizona Fall League. Look for him in '03. He may be Troy Glaus; he could also be
Scott Brosius."
Brandon
Claussen " ... best lefty prospect in baseball if Ryan
Anderson isn't healthy. Fanned 220 last year, throws hard, throws strikes, and
could challenge for a rotation spot in '03."
14 January, 2002
Mark
Jerkatis ,at TPA, has zipped through prospect lists and reviews on
all the major league clubs.
Some
interesting analysis on a few guys who seemed to slip in 2001, including Ty
Howington (#2 pick on CIN) :
"
... I think his control will improve as he gains experience and given his age
and level, he’s poised to join the top pitching prospects in the game. Expect
him to return to AA to begin the season, but a September callup is not out of
the question. He should be in the 2003 rotation with good front of the rotation
potential."
Alex
Escobar has been at the top of Mark's "most overrated
prospects" for a couple of years. In a relatively weak CLE farm
system, Escobar remains a #1 :
"
... While Escobar does possess 25HR/25SB potential, his BB/K ratios have fallen
over the last two seasons, and he has big problems with the curve ball.
Defensively he has excellent range and a strong arm that may let him play CF at
the professional level. It is the potential of generating .250 AVG, 25HRs, 25SB
from a CF that keeps him near the top of prospect lists. There is little chance
that spending another full season at AAA will benefit him, so I expect the
Indians will give him every opportunity to win (or platoon with Milton Bradley)
one of the OF spots in 2002. While he still remains an intriguing prospect, the
likely future isn’t nearly as bright as it once was."
Mike
Jones, rated #3 on the MIL list, gains some high praise :
"
... an incredibly polished pitcher for a high school kid ... .does have good
command of his fastball, but relies on it too much at this stage of his career.
Pioneer League managers liked him so much so that they named him the circuit’s
best prospect ... Look for him to begin 2002 in full season A-ball. While
Jones probably is capable of dominating Midwest League hitters with his
fastball, it is imperative to his long-term possibilities that he use the
opportunity to work on his secondary pitches, so don’t be discouraged if he
gets knocked around early. The Brewers believe he has as much of an upside as
either Sheets or Neuguebauer, but it will be at least another season before how
true that really is becomes apparent."
Jack
Cust gets the seal-of-approval with a #1 ranking in COL :
"
... hits well and with astonishing power, while he strikes out way too
much (nearly once every 3 ABs), he actual has good strike zone judgment and
walked over 100 times. This provides him with a good OBA to go with all of that
power ... I think Cust is one of those rare individuals who will post
better numbers in the majors than he has in the minors ... does have a
major weakness in that he is a poor OF and potentially only adequate at 1B
... is major league ready and I expect to see him getting significant
playing time by year’s end somewhere. He is a future 3/4/5 hitter who will hit
.290+, w/100+ walks, and 40+ homeruns for many seasons, and at Coors it could be
more."
Outfielder
Luis Terrero jumps to the #1 slot on the ARZ chart in Michael
Cline's ARZ prospect review on MLBProspect.
" ... a five-tool prospect, so he can both run and play
defense. He
swiped 17 bases this season, being caught five times. Defensively, he uses his
speed to cover a great deal of ground, and has a cannon for an arm. He could
probably play defensively at the major-league level right now, but it’s his
offense that’s holding him back."
First baseman
Jesus Cota grabs the #3 spot (behind Lyle Overbay) :
" ... a 20 year-old rookie, Cota shows plate discipline beyond his
years. He walked four more times than he struck out, nearly unheard of in young
players, especially those who hit for power. For his size and the amount of
power he generates, his swing is very compact ... fits the profile of the big
first baseman who won’t steal many bases, if any, but he not so slow that it’s
painful. Yet unlike Overbay, Cota has also drawn praise for his defense, as he
committed just eight errors this season."
16 January, 2002
Jimmy
Gobble keeps climbing the charts. In his latest preview, Chris Reed
at PW puts Gobble atop the KC prospect list :
"
... If I had to compare Gobble to another prospect, it would be Jake Peavy. They
may throw from opposite sides of the mound, but they're results have been
strikingly similar. Both are young, both have great control, and both strike out
a ton of batters. They're also both very underrated. Gobble is just a little
behind behind Peavy in development, sporting a great curve, good fastball, and
solid change-up. Gobble is a super sleeper (if you can call him that), and
should start to get much more attention soon."
Shortstop
Angel Berroa grabs the #2 spot :
"
... On the plus side, Berroa is a multi-talented player with very good potential
in nearly all aspects of the game. He has good power potential, good speed, and
the promising combination of a strong arm and range on defense. On the downside,
Berroa is incredibly raw in nearly all aspects of the game. He has very bad
plate discipline, along with below average base running, and inconsistency in
the field."
Reed
has phenom Colt Griffin at #12 :
"
... fireballer Colt Griffin, who has been clocked as high as 100
MPH. Colt has only been pitching for a year or so, and is very raw."
18 January, 2002
Mike
Gullo, MinorsFirst, is up to 75 on
his Top 100. Some pretty fair talent in the 50-75 group including ATL's Kelly
Johnson :
"
... Nobody thinks Johnson will remain a shortstop, but his bat will make
the Braves find him a position as he moves up. Atlanta doesn't have a huge
stockpile of position player prospects and he's easily their second best. He's
showing a very fine power/speed package and best of all, he knows the strike
zone better than most young hitters."
The Blue Jays look to have a young OF partner for
Vernon Wells. Gabe Gross seems on the verge of working his
way onto the TOR roster :
"
... immediately showed why he was considered one of the top hitters at the
college level last spring by beginning his summer in the Florida State League,
hitting .302-4-15. He then jumped to Double A and had a 2 homer, 6 RBI game to
start things off. I'm expecting him to become a starter in the Jay's outfield
within just a few years. He could be a big-time offensive producer. For such a
young player, he already has an excellent idea of the strike zone... something
he showed all through his college career as well."
Over at The Sporting News, David Srinivasan
likes MON's Brandon Phillips :
"
... played well at three levels last season, batting .284-4-23 with
17 steals and a 45-38 K/BB ratio in high Single-A, .298-7-36 in Double-A and
.344-2-16 in the Arizona Fall League. He also has a glove that stood out despite
the AFL's high level of talent ... Expect Montreal to make a trade so that
it can clear a spot for Phillips. In time, he could hit 20 homers and produce 40
steals."
Srinivasan views Joe Mauer MIN as
the best catching prospect in baseball :
"
... a cross between Shawn Green and Johnny Bench. He didn't sign quickly,
so he was limited to 110 impressive at-bats in short-season ball. He batted
.400-0-14 with six doubles, two triples, four steals and a magnificent 10-19
K/BB ratio. He has a wonderful swing, and the power will come in time. Mauer
also has tremendous defensive skills."
20 January, 2002
Whether
it's in MON or WASH, John Sickels, ESPN, sees some good young talent on
the way including infield phenom Brandon Phillips. But,
there's lots more :
Josh
Karp " ... ... was erratic in college due to
inconsistent command, but scouts like his 93-mph fastball, and project him to
pitch better as a pro than he did in college."
Justin
Wayne " ... passed Double-A test by going 9-2 with 2.62 ERA in 14 starts.
Doesn't have tremendous fastball, but is polished, confident, and intelligent.
Could be up by midseason."
Grady
Sizemore " ... ,Drew 81 walks, stole 32 bases for Class A Clinton, just a year out of high
school. Lefty stick, runs well, very good with the glove, and may develop some
power. Looks like a breakout candidate to me."
If
you really want to keep up on the SD kids, check in with Geoffrey Young, at
Ducksnorts. He's picked through a ton of talent in the SD system to come up with the
final installment of his top 30. If only BOS or LA could boast the
kind of talent coming up for the Padres (Burroughs, Peavy, Tankersley,
Howard) :
"
... Mark Phillips is scary
good. There is now some talk that he'll begin 2002 with Peavy at Double-A
Mobile. If he succeeds there, he could follow in the footsteps of high-profile
high school lefties Rick Ankiel and C.C. Sabathia, and compete for a spot in the
big-league rotation as early as spring 2003. Phillips probably has the highest
upside of any pitcher in the organization."
"
... Josh Barfield, ... Son of former big-league slugger Jesse Barfield, Josh was pried away from a
Baylor scholarship and enjoyed a fine pro debut in the Pioneer League. Drafted
as a second baseman, Barfield also played some shortstop at Idaho Falls. He
possesses a good mix of power and speed, and if he can tighten up his strike
zone, he should produce very well for a middle infielder."
ProtospectWatch
has posted its take on the top guys for the Mets. Shortstop Jose Reyes
claims the #1 spot :
"
... a very
exciting prospect whose great tools are already starting to translate into
performance. Entering the 2001 season at the age of 17, Reyes hit for high
average, very good power, stole a bunch of bases, and played good defense ... .has a large upside and is well on his way to becoming a
very good Major League shortstop."
And
while the NYN farm is getting increasingly bare with the trading of many of the
club's top guys, there's an infielder worth a look :
"
... David Wright ... a
very similar player to David Kelton and Joe Crede. He had a good year for
R-Kingsport at only 18-years old. Offensively, he does just about everything
well, hitting for good contact and power while taking walks. After a promising
debut, now it’s time to prove himself against real pitchers in Single-A."
21 January,
200
Chris
Reed, ProtospectWatch, goes with Gabe Gross as the best of the Blue
Jays' prospects. Reed says Gross has Shawn Green potential :
"
... A very fitting ML Comparison for a Protospect who is on track to becoming a
very special player. Gross is a professional hitter who can hit for average,
power, and he has good plate discipline. The power numbers should continue to
increase, and look for him to be a big time hitter in AA-Tennessee. If all goes
well, Gross will put up a .400 OBP and .550 SLG in Double-A, earning a promotion
to AAA-Syracuse and possibly push his way into Toronto depending on the outfield
situation."
TSN"s
David Srinivasan likes the looks of Brandon Claussen NYA :
"
... deceptive and has plus stuff -- a fastball that can hit 92-93 mph with good
movement. He also has a plus curve and a plus slider, using both to generate
strikeouts ... candidate to start for the Yankees at some point this
season."
On
the Mets, Srinivasan thinks there's a premier shortstop on the way :
"
... Jose Reyes ...batted .307-5-48 with 22 doubles, 15
triples and 30 steals at low Single-A last season and has drawn comparisons to
Rafael Furcal. The comparisons are off-base. Furcal is much faster and displayed
far better discipline at the same age (Reyes' K/BB ratio was a putrid 71-18).
But Reyes improved with playing time, batting .430 in July, and he's so young
(18) he could rectify every flaw."
Mike
Mitchell, MLB Prospect, sees a lot of pitching to like on the SF farm.
It's so good last year's phenom, Jerome Williams, drops to the second
slot behind Boof Bonser :
"
... Bonser has the body of a workhorse, and he may fill out even more ... His
fastball, a 90-94 MPH pitch with great movement, was all he needed much of the
time. That didn't keep him from making significant strides with his curve and
change-up, both of which now project as plus pitches, and showed why when he
needed them. He does struggle with his control at times, particularly on the
secondary pitches ... When it comes to strong, fresh-armed, productive young
pitchers, Bonser is about as good as it gets. If he can post two good seasons,
he'll be challenging for a spot in the Giants rotation by early 2004. If his
off-speed pitches can prove reliable, he'll project as a future ace."
Right
behind Williams is yet another ace-in-waiting, Jesse Foppert :
"
... Foppert's stuff was the primary reason hitters managed just 35 hits off him.
His fastball is 91-94 MPH, and he makes opponents chase it ... .He has the
muscle to eat innings, and didn't wear down as he got deeper into starts, a very
good sign as he prepares for his first season in full-season ball ... could be
in Majors as soon as mid-late 2003 if he can continue to stay healthy. If
Foppert can prove himself at High-A and possibly AA, he'll establish a very high
ceiling. There's reason to believe he has the stuff, build and polish to be an
ace."
22 January, 2002
Hmmm ... Juan Cruz dips a bit in the
prospect rankings as MLB states his real age as 23 not 21.
Mark Jerkatis, who has been doing
outstanding prospecting at TPA, says the discovery follows Visa paperwork rule
changes implemented after the Danny Almonte/Little League World Series issue :
"
... shows Cruz to be born on October 15, 1978...Not October 15, 1980 as the Cubs
have staunchly held to. This makes Cruz 23 going into the 2002 season, not
21.
What
does this all mean? While it doesn't change the fact that Cruz can throw his
fastball in the upper 90's with incredible movement, or that he has a slider
that is even nastier, with a pitching demeanor to match, it does mean is that he
has two less years to fine tune his control and thereby does lower his ceiling.
To
put this in perspective, prior to this information, he was on a course that was
eerily similar to Pedro Martinez, the player with whom he has most often been
compared. Martinez as a 23yo went 3.42 ERA, 9.93 MOB, 8.8 K/9IP in 145 innings.
Entering that season he had already amassed 115 major league innings. While it
would not be impossible for Cruz to produce similar numbers this year, the odds
are against it for a pitcher with just over 40 innings of major league
experience.
From
a prospect perspective, it moves Cruz clearly behind being the only pitcher with
a remote chance of challenging Josh Beckett's upside into a next tier group of
pitchers that include Mark Prior, Jerome Williams, Nick Neugebauer, Jake Peavy,
and Carlos Hernandez."
24 January, 2002
BBW (as is everyone else) likes the look of catcher Joe Mauer :
"
... The Twins couldn't have asked for more from the first player taken in the
country, who just happened to be a local kid to boot. Armed with a line-drive
swing and a good eye, he missed qualifying for the Appalachian League batting
crown only because he didn't have enough at-bats. In high school, Mauer struck
out once in 208 at-bats his senior year and also homered in seven games in a row
to tie a national high school record. He has a pure stroke to all fields and
soft hands behind the plate."
Mike
Gullo, Minors First, has wrapped up the last segment of his Top 100. A
couple of interesting players in the lower levels.
At
#86 is SEA's Shin-Soo Choo :
"
... The only
player on this list from the lower rookie leagues ... doesn't seem to be
anything he can't do and with his top notch tools, he could become one of the
premier prospects in the game a couple of years down the road. I'm impressed
with his ability to draw walks at such a young age… and that makes me think
those high strikeout totals will be cut down to size as he moves up."
JD
Martin of CLE sits at #92 :
"
... Any 18
year old pitcher that puts up the kind of numbers Martin did in the Appalachian
League (5-1, 1.38 ERA, 45.2 IP, 26 H, 11 BB, 72 K) is sure to garner a lot of
attention and praise. Cleveland officials say he's the most polished 18 year old
they've ever seen. That, more than his overall stuff, is what allowed him such
great initial success. Yet his lack of overwhelming physical ability will keep
his progress up the ladder at a moderate pace."
A
couple of catchers just made the list, John Buck
HOU at #98, just behind Victor Martinez
of CLE :
"
...
switch-hitting catcher was the Carolina League's MVP last year. He was also the
best defensive catcher in that league. He'll need to get stronger in the future
to withstand the rigors of his position. Other than that, there aren't any
apparent flaws in his game."
25 January, 2002
Jason
Michael Barker, Strike Three, has some "Prospects to Watch" in his
review of the AL East :
"Drew
Henson ... .struggled mightily at AAA last season, hitting .222 and drawing
only 10 walks in 270 at-bats, but a strong Arizona Fall League have most
convinced that he's ready for The Show. Henson has tremendous power but has
struggled with the strikezone in the past, so a half-season at AAA couldn't
hurt."
"Angel
Santos ... showed a nice power/speed combo last season at AA, hitting 14
homers and stealing 26 bases. He also took 54 walks in 510 at-bats, just above
the 10% threshold of acceptability. He could wind up being a utility guy out of
spring training, but most likely he'll get a call-up once somebody on the big
club gets injured."
"Josh
Phelps ... probably won't wind up behind the plate when all is said
and done, as the Blue Jays have a better defensive player in Jason Wyerth on the
way up. Both played at AA Tennessee last season, but Phelps' bat is much closer
to the majors -- he hit .292, slugged 31 homers, and took 80 walks in 486
at-bats. He also threw out just 18% of runners trying to steal, and the Jays
themselves admit his footwork needs a great deal of improvement."
"Matt
Riley ... started 1999 at high-A, moved up to AA and then
skipped AAA on his way to Baltimore at age 20. Given a chance to make the
Orioles out of spring training the following year, he pitched poorly, sulked ...
Tommy John surgery in September. He then spent the entire 2001 season rehabbing
his pitching elbow. So why, after all that, does he find himself in as someone
to watch? Because when healthy, he throws 97 MPH with a good curve and
changeup."
"Dewon
Brazelton ... .Scouts rave about his 95 MPH fastball and quality
changeup. Depending on how he pitches this spring he'll start the year in AA or
AAA, but as a polished college pitcher he isn't that far from the majors and
could join the big club by the All-Star break."
26 January, 2002
Chris
Reed, ProtospectWatch, goes with Josh Hamilton as the best of the
bunch for TB with SP Dewon Brazleton as the runner-up :
"
... advanced, polished pitcher who should shoot up through the system. He has an
array of impressive pitches with good control and a solid 6' 4" frame. He
dominated at Middle Tennessee State and looks to do more of the same in
professional baseball. Dewon may start the year in A-ball, but it won't be long
til he reaches AA-Orlando; he should be ready to tackle the Majors by
2003."
At
#7 is outfielder Jonny Gomes.:
"
... hits for decent average, very good power, takes a ton of walks, and
also racks up a good deal of strikeouts. Next year, Gomes will have to make up
for lost time. Hopefully, he will make it up to A-Bakersfield and
continue to hit well, setting himself up for a big year in AA-Orlando in 2003,
and a move up the prospect charts."
Over
at MLBProspect, Ken Urben had an opportunity to review one of the
outstanding minor league systems -- San Diego.
Of
course, Sean Burroughs is #1 :
"
... as far as I'm concerned, the best hitting prospect in baseball and a prime
Rookie of the Year candidate this season. The fact that the Pads are moving Ryan
Klesko and Phil Nevin all around the diamond to accommodate him speaks volumes.
Talk about his lack of power so far all you want, but even if the power doesn't
come, then Burroughs just only becomes the next Wade Boggs and not the next
George Brett. I'm sure the Pads would be crying buckets over that."
The
BBW gang (Lisa Winston, Mat
Olkin and Paul White) have their top picks for the AL Central teams in the
latest issue.
Catcher
Victor Martinez was named top hitter in the CLE system :
"
... The Carolina League MVP ... was the league's batting champion as well as its
slugging leader. To add to that package, he is also an excellent defensive
catcher with a strong arm, soft hands and the ability to call a good game
... Martinez lost two months of 2000 to rotator cuff tendinitis, which
made, in effect, 2001 his first true full season. A New York-Penn League
All-Star in 1999, he boasts a fine career walks-to-strikeout ratio."
27 January, 2002
David
Srinivasan, The Sporting News, thinks SF's Boof Bonser has a chance
to vault into the Giants rotation in 2003:
"
... Bonser has used a tough workout regimen the last few years to shed plenty of
pounds and countless critics. Just as important, he has shown a competitive fire
and has learned to use his excellent stuff, going 16-4 with a 2.49 ERA in the
Single-A Sally League. His fastball touches 96-97 mph, and he dramatically
improved the command of his curve and changeup. He'll probably start '02 in high
Single-A and could reach Double-A by midseason ... Potential No. 1 starter
who is a candidate to make the majors in 2003."
And,
there's high praise for CLE catcher Victor Martinez :
"
... moved into the top prospect ranks by hitting .329-10-57 with a 60-39
strikeout-walk ratio and 33 doubles in 420 at-bats. His performance earned him
the high Single-A Carolina League batting title and MVP award. He's likely to
start next season in Double-A but could reach the majors as Einar Diaz's backup
by season's end ... Expect Martinez to take Diaz's starting job by 2003 or
'04."
28 January, 2002
Austin
Kearns CIN tops the lists as David
Cameron, Strike Three, ranks the right field prospects :
"
... there has been talk that he could win a job in Spring Training. As talented
as he is, we need to remember that he's only got a mediocre performance in a
half-season of AA ball and probably could stand to benefit from a few months in
AAA. As long as the wrist doesn't present a problem, Kearns could develop into a
Shawn Green-type tools player who knows how to hit."
Josh
Hamilton TB wins the #2 spot, with reservations :
"
... If scouts could create a right fielder, they'd make Josh Hamilton. If the
Hall of Fame could create a right fielder, it would make Babe Ruth, who looked
nothing like our young GQ posterboy. The key to being great is the ability to
hit, and I'm not convinced Josh has learned it yet. He may, and if he does,
he'll be special. But he comes with some large question marks."
A
minor surprise in the #4 slot -- Gabe Gross TOR :
"
... basically an Austin Kearns who went to college. They have strikingly similar
games, though Kearns may have a bit more power. Gross is a year older than
Kearns and hasn't had any high-level minor league experience yet, but he's got
the physical skills and the intelligence to produce quickly. I have very little
problem seeing Gross at the top of this list next year, pushing for a starting
job in Toronto's outfield in 2003."
Jim
Callis, BA, prediction for Mark Teixeira's pro debut :
"
... think Teixeira is headed to Double-A, and I'll put his debut numbers at
.290-28-92 with 78 walks. (If I'm at all close, someone please remind me in
September.) Excluding a possible September callup, which seems like a given
because he's already on the 40-man roster, I predict Teixeira will become a big
league regular in the second half of 2003."
29 January, 2002
John
Sickels, ESPN, has his take on the
TEX farm and reports a fine array of prospective major leaguers. There is
special mention of 2001 pick Mark Teixeira :
"
... one of the most advanced college hitters to come around in years. He offers
Troy Glaus-type power, in a switch-hitting package, with superior strike zone
judgment. He signed late, but should debut in Double-A and could be in the
majors by the end of the year. By himself, he'll make this draft class if he
develops as anticipated, though he may end up at first base in the long
run."
Of course, Hank Blalock is cited as the
best of the TEX youngsters, but the review shows a fairly deep system, including
outfielder Kevin Mench :
"
... .265 with 26 homers at Double-A, which was disappointing considering
his terrific 2000 numbers. Decline in his strike zone judgment as well as a
wrist injury were problems. Could make quick rebound if healthy and in the
zone."
"Joaquin
Benoit ... Posted 4.19 ERA and 9-5 record at Triple-A
Oklahoma... Throws 92-mph fastball, and a plus slider, but has trouble with his
command. Will challenge for a rotation spot."
Sickels' "key sleeper" on the Rangers
is starter Justin Duchscherer :
"
... Doesn't have the best fastball in the universe, but has exceptional command
and posted a 2.84 ERA in seven Triple-A starts. Hit hard in major-league trial
last year, but deserves more chances."
31 January, 2002
Now that's a fine day's work! Mark
Jerkatis has finished off his Top 300 for Top Prospect Alert.
The full list is expected to be posted this weekend. Many fascinating
picks here, although no surprises at the very top with the B Boys -- Beckett,
Burroughs, Blalock. Juan Cruz slides into the #4 slot
with ... Chris Snelling vaulting to #5, just ahead of Nick Johnson
and Mark Prior. Neugie is at #8, then another eye
opener, Jose Reyes NYN at #9 (the first shortstop, well ahead of Wilson
Betemit). Austin Kearns rounds out the top 10.
Jerkatis on Snelling :
"
... a gritty hard-nosed ball player who is a fantastic centerfielder. He
sprays the ball to all fields with consistency and his double and triple
production will more than make up for his lack of real HR power (I'd still
expect 15-20 with regularity in a few years). As the California League's
youngest everyday player he showed incredible strike-zone management. While the
Mariners could use an OF next season, don't expect to see Snelling before
September. He will be patrolling CF by the 2003 season and would be fantastic as
a #2 hitter."
And, on Reyes :
"
... Reyes may still be baseball's best kept secret. Prior to last season, Reyes
was viewed in the Mets organization as a good-field, no-hit SS prospect. But as
one the SALs youngest players, Reyes was not only named the league's best
defensive player, but finished 5th in the league in hitting and led the league
in triples. While his great range, above average arm, and good hands make
defense his greatest strength, Reyes can hit a little too. Figure on him adding
another 15 pounds or so to his 6'0 frame and his gap power projects to
eventually a 15+ HR player ... would not be unexpected to see the Mets skip Hi-A
and start him in AA in 2002. In either case expect him to make his major league
debut sometime in 2003, playing all-star caliber defense and solid middle
infielder offensive production. Omar Vizquel with a little more
"pop"."
Mark
Bonavita, The Sporting News, thinks Joaquin Benoit could be the TEX
ace :
"
... fastball touches the mid-90s, and he has a plus slider, but he must improve
his command to stick in the majors. At Triple-A last year, he had a 4.19 ERA,
142 strikeouts and only 113 hits allowed in 131 innings ... he's overpowering at times and could develop into Texas'
ace ... Benoit was 5-0 with a 2.37 ERA in the
Dominican Winter League (49.1 innings, 37 hits, including two homers allowed,
and a nice 38-14 K/BB ratio). His improved command means he might be worth a
shot in deep leagues."
Rookies
2002 Page Two
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