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07 December, 2003
 Winter
ball Mexico Saturday ... Ross Gload CHA 2-4, 11th homer ... Calvin
Pickering KC back in action 3-5, 11th homer ... Erubiel Durazo
OAK 1-2, 2 walks ... Venezuela ... Juan Rivera MON 2-5, 2 homers (6),
.296 ...
Scott
Rex, OnDeck, with his Yankee report online. Catcher Dioner Navarro rates
#1 in a pretty sorry farm system.
Our
'ol Scoresheet buddy, Alex Anthopoulos, making a mark :
"
... The Jays have hired Alex Anthopoulos away from the Montreal Expos to work as
a scouting co-ordinator. He is regarded by many scouts as one of the best young
evaluators in Canada. In June, Anthopoulos drafted and signed Mississauga lefty
A.J. Wideman (11th round) and Brampton right-hander Jamie Lehman (29th), both
Ontario Blue Jays grads."
06 December, 2003
Winter
ball ... Venezuela ... Carlos Hernandez HOU 3.1 12 3 2 2 5 3 ... Jose
Castillo PIT 3-3, double, .236 ... maybe Derrick Gibson
will land a backup spot somewhere, 2-3, 9th homer, .321 ... Mexico ... Erubiel
Durazo OAK in action, 1-4, homer ... Ross Gload CHA 2-4, 10th
homer, .316 ... Puerto Rico ... Willie Bloomquist, in line for an
expanded backup role in SEA, 3-4, triple, SB ...
The
Prince is back on top. Scott Rex, OnDeck, picks Prince Fielder as
the best of the MIL prospects over Rickie Weeks (the top pick by
BA). JJ Hardy ranked #3.
Dayn
Perry, FoxSports, also has the first base prospects up. Justin Morneau
cops the top spot :
"
... Morneau ... has hit at every stop. He hits for average, has decent on-base
skills and shows excellent power. He earned a promotion to Triple A this season
after destroying Double-A New Britain in 79 ABs (.620 SLG). At AAA-Rochester,
his numbers declined somewhat, but that's not damning in his first taste of the
International League. Morneau could stand to improve his plate discipline, but
as is he's the best first-base prospects in all of baseball."
Casey
Kotchman ANA was the runnerup, ahead of Prince Fielder MIL
and Jason Stokes FLO.
Chris
Shelton PIT (dropped from the 40-man howver) ranked #5 :
"
... Shelton was a 33rd-rounder ... and he looks like a major steal at this
juncture. In 2002, he was dominant in the low-A South Atlantic League, and this
past season he laid waste the Carolina League (.359 AVG/.478 OBP/.641 SLG). He
draws walks, hits for high averages and shows outstanding raw power. He was less
impressive after a late-season promotion to AA-Altoona, but it wasn't an
extended trial. Shelton has an excellent offensive skill set; now it's just a
matter of doing it at the higher levels. Since he's been generally older than
his peer group, he has some challenges ahead."
Winter
ball success may lead to 2004 opportunities for PIT outfielder JJ Davis
and TOR catcher Quillermo Quiroz :
"
... Davis, the sixth overall selection the 1997 First-Year Player Draft,
struggled for five seasons in the minor leagues before having a breakout
campaign with Double-A Altoona in 2002 when he hit .287 with 20 home runs in 348
at-bats. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound right-handed hitter was even more impressive at
Triple-A Nashville in 2003, batting .284 with 26 home runs and 23 stolen bases
in 122 games ... Because he is out of minor league options, Davis must
make the Pirates' 25-man roster out of Spring Training next season."
"This
winter will be an important time for him to get some at-bats and get some reps
against some veteran players in a challenging environment," said Pirates GM
Dave Littlefield ... wants Davis to make more consistent contact this winter and
he'd also like to see the 25-year-old get a better feel for the flow of the
game. According to the Bucs' GM, the best way for Davis to learn these things is
to be out on the field on a regular basis." (MLB.com)
"
... Quiroz just turned 22 last week, but he's been on the radar map for quite
some time. Unfortunately, he's always been one level behind Kevin Cash, who has
constantly been heralded as the team's catcher of the future. That window may
have already closed, though, because Quiroz has proven to be a much more
successful hitter. In time, the pair may prove to be a perfect platoon -- Cash's
glove will earn him some starts, but Quiroz should get the lion's share with his
bat ... Quiroz is penciled in as the starter at Triple-A Syracuse
... earned that designation with a tremendous season at Double-A New Haven,
where he batted .282 with 20 homers and 79 RBIs in just 369 at-bats. That season
did more than serve notice. It placed a claim on the position. Instead of taking
the winter off for rest and relaxation, Quiroz threw himself right back into
action."
" ... The Venezuelan native leads his homeland's league in homers (nine)
and slugging percentage (.679) despite only playing in 26 games. In that small
sample size, he's scored 16 runs and driven in 20, accounting for almost a third
of his team's power numbers. So far in Venezuela, the only problem is his
command of the strike zone: Quiroz has struck out 28 times in 26 games, but he's
only drawn five walks. Despite that, he's still batting .321 and sporting an
impressive on-base percentage (.383). Quiroz is simply living up to his own
lofty reputation ... he's only a few months from making his big-league
debut. If Quiroz bursts out of the gates for Syracuse, he'll likely position
himself for a midseason promotion -- otherwise, he's looking at 2005. The team
would prefer to see him this year, though. That way, the Jays could work him in
slowly. (MLB.com)
Jim
Callis, Baseball America, on Scott Hairston ARZ :
"
... Hairston is one of the better hitters in the minor leagues and he'll be a
cornerstone in Arizona's lineup of the future. But the jury is still out on
whether Hairston has the ability to play at second base. His tools are no better
than average and his sporadic work ethic is frustrating. He might have to be a
third baseman or left fielder. That said, Hairston likely will get an
opportunity to play second base in the majors. I expect that he'll start 2004 in
Triple-A with Matt Kata handling second base in Arizona. Kata is more of a role
player than a regular, and after his hot start he batted just .214/.270/.339
after the all-star break. If Kata doesn't get his bat going and Hairston hits
like he always has, Hairston could get the job by the all-star break."
Callis,
Pedro Liriano MIN vs Jorge De La Rosa
MIL :
"
... Liriano has the higher ceiling, but I'd rather have de la Rosa because
Liriano has pitched just nine innings since July 2002. He has been bothered by
shoulder problems, though he has yet to have surgery. Liriano, 20, is 20 months
younger than de la Rosa. When he's right, Liriano throws 93-97 mph, a couple of
ticks harder than de la Rosa, and his breaking ball and changeup have more
upside than de la Rosa's. But a great arm isn't worth much if it can't stay
healthy, so de la Rosa is a better bet for success. He also has proven himself
in Double-A, while Liriano hasn't established himself beyond low Class A.
Liriano probably wouldn't have ranked higher than fifth on the Giants Top 10
Prospects list, but de la Rosa was the Red Sox' best pitching prospect.
05 December, 2003
Puerto
Rico Thursday -- Terrmel Sledge MON 2-5, 8th double, .341 ... Aaron
Rowand CHA 2-4, 6th homer, 3 RBI, .247 ... Bobby Jenks ANA 7 3 0 0
3 7 ... Mexico -- Mark Bellhorn COL 2-4, 10th homer, .255 ...
Troop
movements ... Nick Johnson, Juan Rivera to MON in the
Javier Vazquez deal ...
Baseball
America handed Will Lingo the chore of coming up with a Top 10 on the Cards,
with one of the weakest systems in baseball. Righthander Blake
Hawksworth rated the top spot :
"
... Hawksworth has the highest ceiling of any St. Louis pitching prospect since
Rick Ankiel. His fastball usually ranges from 90-92 mph ... Both his curveball
and changeup are potential above-average pitches. His curve has good rotation
and his changeup has good fade. Hawksworth also has a good approach to pitching
and admirable toughness ... needs to pitch a full season, not only to prove he’s
healthy but also to soak up the experience that only innings can bring ...
Because the ankle injury slowed him down, Hawksworth could return to Palm Beach
to start the 2004 season. But he’ll likely spend a good portion of the season
in Double-A Tennessee ... projects as a front-of-the-rotation starter in an
organization that desperately needs pitching help."
John
Perrotto, Baseball America, with more on the PIT prospects :
"
... I believe (Chris) Shelton is a better prospect than House at this
point if only because he has been healthy and produced in recent seasons. I
think Shelton could definitely be taken in the Rule 5 Draft later this month.
However, I also think House has really bounced back well from his surgeries and
reestablished himself as a prospect off what he did late in the minor-league
season and in the AFL ... The Pirates will likely have House rotate between
catcher, first base and left field next season as they don't believe he is good
enough defensively to be a starting major-league catcher."
"
... It seems to me Freddy Sanchez rates the edge over (Bobby)
Hill for the starting second baseman's job going into spring training. A lot
of scouts I talk to believe Hill is overestimated."
"
... I think (Ian) Oquendo is starting to gain respect as he has been on
the Pirates' Top 10 the past two seasons. Even though he is ranked behind
VanBenschoten and Burnett, he isn't THAT far behind them. I expect Oquendo to be
a good major-league pitcher, even though there is always a bias in baseball
against little right-handers."
At
OnDeck, Scott Rex, has his CLE report up with outfielder Grady Sizemore
atop the prospect ladder, ahead of Jeremy Guthrie and Francisco
Cruceta. With the graduation of Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez, Brandon
Phllips et al, the system has suddenly thinned out.
04 December, 2003
Mexico
Tuesday -- Geronimo Gil BAL 2-4, double, .351 ... Ross Gload
CHA 3-5, 4 RBI, .322 ... Puerto Rico Tuesday -- Alexis Rios TOR
3-5, triple, 5th homer, .366 ... Justin Morneau MIN 2nd homer, 2
RBI, .206 ... Yadir Molina STL 2-5, double, homer, 5 RBI, .271
...
Dayn
Perry, FoxSports, pegs Mets' Jose Reyes as the best of the shortstop prospects
with TB phenom BJ Upton TB as the runnerup and Bobby Crosby OAK at
#3 :
"
... Upton ... has good speed, and his defense is solid, particularly considering
how young he is. He performed well in the Sally League this past season and even
held his own in Double-A for 102 ABs. He hit .302 in Low-A and showed excellent
plate patience at both stops. The power hasn't shown up yet, but most scouts
think he'll have very good gap power for a middle infielder. Right now, he looks
like an excellent leadoff man at the highest level. He's got lots of promise,
and he's on the fast track."
"
... Crosby ... hit well the low minors, showing solid plate discipline and gap
power, but didn't fare as well in Double-A in 2002. This past season, he started
out struggling at AAA-Sacramento but caught fire as the year wore on and wound
up with strong numbers on the whole. The PCL is generally a hitter's haven, but
Crosby performed well in any context. Particularly impressive was the power
surge he showed in 2003. He'll likely open 2004 as the starting shortstop in
Oakland."
Jose
Reyes might end up over at second.
"
... the Mets ... have turned bold, making a multiyear contract offer to the
Japanese infielder Kazuo Matsui and assuring him that he would be the team's
starting shortstop, with José Reyes moving to second base to accommodate him.
The change of direction by the Mets came after Matsui's agent, Arn Tellem,
informed the team that Matsui, a 28-year-old player who made his mark in Japan
as a leadoff hitter with speed and power, was interested in the Mets and in
becoming the second player named Matsui to play in New York. Mets General
Manager Jim Duquette was en route to the Dominican Republic yesterday on a
scheduled tour of the team's baseball academy. He was also scheduled to see
Reyes, who is recovering from a severely sprained left ankle that cut short his
rookie season. Duquette spoke to Reyes last month when Reyes was passing through
Shea Stadium for a physical exam. At that time, Reyes was told that he was the
Mets' shortstop of the future, barring a monumental occurrence. The Mets have
decided that signing Matsui comes under that heading." (New York Times)
It
seemed a tad off base at first glance, but I think he's nailed it. Chase
Utley PHI as the second-best of the second sacker prospects, ahead of Scott
Hariston ARZ. Jonathan E. Mailloux, SportsTicker, went with Josh
Barfield SD as the top dog :
"
... MVP honors in the advanced Class A California League in 2003 and
earned a spot on SportsTicker's All-Prospect Team. The 20-year-old ripped a
minor league-leading 46 doubles, crushed 16 homers and led the minors with 128
RBI while hitting at a .337 clip (31 points higher than last year) ... defense
improved as he committed five fewer errors (20) in 40 more chances (692)."
And,
then Utley :
"
... broke camp with the big league club in 2003. The 24-year-old UCLA product
connected on a grand slam in just his third big league at-bat on April 24,
sparking his most productive season as a pro. Displaying plate discipline and
power to all fields, the 15th overall pick in the 2000 draft finished second in
the International League with a .323 batting average while posting a .517
slugging percentage, a team-leading 18 homers and 77 RBI. His league-adjusted
.941 OPS led all minor league second baseman and he struck out just once every
six plate appearances. Returning to his natural position of second base after
fielding the hot corner last year, the California native also posted a
career-best .978 fielding percentage, committing just 13 errors in 599 total
chances before rejoining the Phillies in August."
Jason
NIx, at #4, and Alberto Callaspo, #5, rounded out the upper
half of the chart.
It
doesn't seem all that long ago that the cupboard was bare on the PIT farm, but
not any more. In his Baseball America report, John Perrotto now finds a
bountiful harvest headed by righthander John VanBenschoten :
"
... has the makings of four average to plus pitches, the best of which is a
90-93 mph fastball that reaches 95 and has good movement down in the strike
zone. His curveball is an above-average offering that he consistently throws for
strikes. His slider and changeup continue to get better ... fluid
mechanics make his heater look even faster ... He still needs more experience
pitching against high-caliber competition after concentrating on hitting in
college ... After making great strides in his three pro seasons despite
his inexperience, VanBenschoten looks like he can be a frontline pitcher in
Pittsburgh’s rotation. He has adapted to each level of the minors and likely
will spend all of 2004 at Triple-A Nashville before getting a September callup."
Former
phenom JR House missed the Top 10 with Ryan Doumit (ranked #10)
taking over as the catcher of the future :
"
... Doumit has a lot of offensive upside for a catcher. He’s a switch-hitter
who can hit for average and has emerging power, especially from the left side.
He improved his plate discipline when he got regular at-bats, though he still
needs work in that area. He also moves well behind the plate and has a strong
arm ... Despite his good defensive tools, CL teams ran on him. He needs to
become more accurate with his throws, and some question his game-calling and
receiving ability ... Doumit has the stuff be a No. 1 catcher in the
majors."
At
OnDeck, Scott Rex, has the SD Top 10 and Barfield ranks #2 behind shortstop Khalil
Greene. 2003 pick Tim Stauffer was #3, Javier Martinez
#4 and Ben Howard #5.
03 December, 2003
Troop
movements ... Aaron Miles to COL (in the Juan Uribe deal) ...
Guillermo
Quiroz TOR into a tie for the home run lead in Venezuela with 9 ... Omar
Infante DET continues winter success, 4th in AVE, 5th in RBI, 2nd
in SBs ... one-time hot prospect Derrick Gibson the top hitter so far ... in
Puerto Rico, maybe a rebirth for Donzell McDonald BAL :
Venezuela
AB
R H 2B 3B HR BB SO SB CS AVE OBA SLG OPS
Gibson Derrick 74 12 23 1 0 8 10 15
0
1 .311 .393 .649 1.042
Quiroz Guillermo 88 16 29 3 0 9 5 29
0 0
.330 .366 .670 1.036
Valderrama Carlos 103 23 37 10 0 5 6 20
4 2 .359 .394
.602 .996
Davis JJ
31 7 9 1 1 2 5 8 0 0 .290 .389 .581
.970
Infante Omar 155 37 54 10 2
5 18 27
10 0 .348 .416 .535 .952
Reyes Rene 127 22 44
9 1 4 11 14 2 3 .346 .399 .528 .926
Callaspo Alberto 69 14 26 4 1 0 8
5 0 1 .377 .442 .464 .905
Choi Hee Seop 85 13 23 7 0
4 11 25 0
0 .271 .354 .494 .848
Gutierrez Franklin 109 18 25 4 2 3 12 30 1 1 .229 .306 .385
.691
Castillo Jose 141 21 32 3 1
5 16 28 3 3
.227 .306 .369 .675
Puerto Rico
#McDonald, Donzell 65 20 22 3 1 2 11 14
5 2 .338 .436
.508 .944
*LaRoche, Adam 65 9 20 3 0
4 9 12 0 1
.308 .403 .538 .941
Rios, Alexis 32 6 9
1 0 3 3 3 0 0 .281 .343 .594 .937
*Pond, Simon 77 14 22 3 0
6 4 12 3 0 .286 .337 .558 .895
*Sledge, Termel 68 13 23 5 0 2
6 13 1 2 .338
.387 .500 .887
#Gotay, Ruben 37 5 11 1 0
0 5 5 1 0 .297 .381 .324 .705
Molina, Yadier 43 3 11 1 0
1 1 4 0 0
.256 .267 .349 .616
*Morneau, Justin 58 6 12 4 0 1
5 15 0 0 .207
.266 .328 .594
*Negron, Miguel 62 6 12 1 0 2
3 21 1 2 .194
.231 .306 .537
Venezuela IP H BB SO ERA Puerto
Rico IP H BB
SO ERA
Butto Francisco 23.0 10 3 20 0.39 Gonzalez, Dicky
37.0 27 3 39 1.22
Nieve Fernando 31.2 18 8 39 1.42 Olivares, Omar
20.1 19 4 10 3.10
Hurtado Edwin 56.1 41 12 52 2.08 Jenks, Bobby
20.1 12 15 17 3.54
Pulido Edwin 51.2 35 11 44 2.44 *Osborne, Donovan
12.0 10 4 11 3.75
Bouknight Kip 45.1 42 14 35 2.98 Rodriguez, Frank
28.2 33 12 13 4.08
Quevedo Ruben 31.1 24 6 22 3.16 Fernandez, Osvaldo
17.1 23 3 4 5.71
Hernandez Carlos 22.0 21 5 27 5.73 Rosado, Jose
5.0 6 4 4 7.20
Navarro, Jaime 23.2 31
8 18 7.23
Turnbow, Derrick 4.1 10 4 1 16.62
Touch
choice. Rickie Weeks over Prince Fielder as the best of the
Brewers' prospects. Tom Haudricourt putting the Top 10 together for
Baseball America :
"
... Weeks has a lightning-quick bat and was the purest hitter in the 2003 draft.
His bat is so quick through the zone that he can make good contact even when
he's fooled on a pitch ... surprising pop for his size, as well as tremendous
speed and quickness on the basepaths, a combination that has many scouts
comparing him to a young Joe Morgan. He also has a good eye at the plate and
gets hit by a lot of pitches, which will allow him to post high on-base
percentages. Weeks has worked hard to improve his defensive play. He's a
superior athlete who takes instruction well and always looks for ways to get
better. "He has a special focus," Brewers scouting director Jack
Zduriencik said ... makes up for his minor flaws with good hands, quickness and
determination ... Brewers will continue to expedite his development,
starting him at Double-A Huntsville in 2004 and getting him to the majors to
stay no later than 2005."
Haudricourt,
in the chat room, on catcher Lou Palmisano, JJ Hardy &
potential mound help :
"
... I've heard Palmisano compared to Mike Piazza athletically and offensively,
but with better potential defensively. He's a leader type, like Piazza ... The
Brewers really like Palmisano, on and off the field. He was MVP of the Pioneer
League despite missing the last 3-4 weeks with a broken ankle, which tells you
something. But ranking him higher than 10th would be tough, considering he's
just getting started. All nine guys ahead of him have a better pedigree at this
point. But Palmisano plays the right position in the Brewers' system to move
fast."
"
... Hardy will get a shot to win the shortstop job in the spring. The Brewers
would like him to be able to play 3-4 times a week at least, with Counsell and
B. Hall as backups. If Hardy doesn't show he's ready for that in the spring,
he'll go to Indy. As for his upside, the Brewers believe he's special, mainly
because of his strong mental makeup and tools."
"
... (Ben) Hendrickson made a nice recovery from his elbow problems in the
Arizona Fall League and could be a top of the rotation guy. If (Mike) Jones
stays well, he, too, could be a top of the rotation pitcher. (Tom) Wilhelmsen
showed a lot during his brief time in Beloit and also is highly regarded. (Ben) Diggins
has the long road back from Tommy John surgery, so there's no telling where
he'll end up. Manny Parra also could be a No. 2 or 3 pitcher. So
yes, there are some legit arms in the system, if they can stay healthy ...
(Nick) Neugebauer wasn't listed in any projected lineups because he has
to stay healthy for a while and prove he can be a force. He appears to be past
his injuries ... If he's able to get back on the mound -- he needs a full year
in the minors at this point -- and stay healthy, he could be a real sleeper for
the Brewers."
A
few names off the Topps' Short Season/Rookie League All-Stars to tuck away for
your draft.
Catcher
- Louis Palmisano MIL, 1B - Vito Chiaravolloti TOR, 2B - Habelito
Hernandez CIN, 3B - Jamie D’Antona ARZ, SS - Michael
Aviles KC, OF - Wladimir Balentien SEA, Conor Jackson
ARZ, Warner Madrigal ANA, DH - Tyler Davidson NYN,
RHP - Abel Moreno BOS, LHP - Kurt Isenberg TOR, RP -
Argimiro Guanchez BOS.
Dan
Troy, StrikeThree, takes on the Mets' system and comes out with a few jewels to
follow Jose Reyes :
"
... Scott Kazmir is one of the best prospects in the game and has a
chance to be as dominating a pitcher as any in the game. At the tender age of
19, the southpaw gives opposing batters fits due to an electric mid-90s
fastball, nasty slider, and developing changeup ... remains some concern that
Kazmir's frame may not hold up in a starter's role, and that he'll also need
better command of that changeup, but I see no reason why the Mets - who've been
pretty cautious with his workload - should move him to the pen until it's proven
necessary."
"
... Matt Peterson ... What's particularly encouraging about his 2003
season was the marked improvement in his control, as his walks dropped from
about four per 9 IP to 2.6. His brief stint at AA Binghamton wasn't so hot, but
Peterson returned to the FSL for the playoffs and was absolutely unhittable. I
think he'll do well in AA next year and emerge as one of the better young
pitchers in the minors."
"
... David Wright continued his impressive climb up the ladder with a
strong 2003 season in the FSL. The young third baseman walked in over 15 percent
of his at-bats, and 44 percent of his hits went for extra bases. His BB:K ratio
was almost 50 percent better than the league average. He earns high praise for
his defense and work ethic, and he deserves recognition among the top prospects
in the game."
02 December, 2003
Mexico
Sunday ... Ross Gload CHA 3-4, 9th homer ... Rigo Beltran
6.0 5 1 1 1 3, 4-0, 2.03 ... Puerto Rico ... Adam LaRoche ATL 2-5,
.308 ... Dicky Gonzalez BOS 7.0 4 0 0 0 7, CG, 1.22 ... Justin
Morneau MIN 0-4, .207 ... Dominican ... Ramon Nivar TEX 6-6
... Venezuela ... Rene Reyes COL 2-5, 4th homer, .346
Jim
Callis handled the HOU Top 10 for Baseball America and selected newcomer Taylor
Buchholz as the best of the Astros' prospects :
"
... Buchholz’ signature pitch is a hard curveball ... assistant general
manager Mike Arbuckle said Buchholz’ curve could be one of the five best in
the National League within a few years. He throws the bender at 76-79 mph, and
can change speeds off it to further befuddle hitters. Buchholz also has a
quality fastball that sits in the low 90s, touches 95 mph and has heavy life. He’ll
flash an average changeup at times. He has a strong, durable frame that has held
up well through 78 starts over the last three seasons ... pitched with bone
chips in his elbow in 2003, but the problem resolved itself without surgery
... will open 2004 in Triple-A New Orleans. Given how Houston went through
12 starters in 2003, he could get promoted quickly. Buchholz projects as a No. 2
or 3 starter."
Callis,
on catcher John Buck, ranked #3 :
"
... I'm not quite as high on Buck as I used to be, but in his defense, New
Orleans is as tough a hitter's park as there is in the PCL, and Buck probably
should have been in Double-A. I think he'll be a guy who hits .250-.270 with
15-20 homers in the big, with an average CS% and very good leadership skills. A
useful regular, if not a star."
On
Jason Lane, #2 :
"
... He was ready at the end of 2002. He's stuck in 2004 unless the Astros find a
taker for Richard Hidalgo. Lane plays CF better than any of Houston's starters,
and he has hit in his limited big league playing time. I think he'd easily hit
.275 with 20 or more homers if he played regularly this year."
Matthew
Pouliot, RotoWorld, has kicked off his team-by-team Top 10s with the AL
East. In his BAL preview, pitchers take all top five spots. Denny
Bautista ranked at the top:
"
... After a down 2002, Bautista boosted his stock in a big way last season,
enabling the Marlins to trade him along with Don Levinski to Baltimore for Jeff
Conine on Aug. 31. Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2000, Bautista throws
in the mid-90s and has a quality curveball. He still needs to refine his
changeup and improve his control before he’ll be ready for the majors, but
there aren’t many pitchers in the minors with more upside. Because the Orioles
have managed to find some real pitching depth over the last year, Bautista
probably won’t be needed in Baltimore in 2004. Perhaps he’ll force his way
into the picture, anyway."
A
pair of Canadian lefties ranked next -- Erik Bedard as the
runnerup and Adam Loewen at #3 :
"
... Loewen, the fourth overall pick in the 2002 draft, waited until just before
the 2003 draft to sign with Baltimore. Although he wasn’t hurt, the Orioles
decided to limit him to seven minor league appearances after he went 6-1 with a
2.47 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings for Chipola Junior College. Loewen
has outstanding stuff for a lefty, reaching 95 mph with his fastball and
flashing an excellent curve. He’s an injury risk, but the Orioles are going to
handle him very carefully, giving him every opportunity to become a top
starter."
Matt
Riley was 4th, John Maine 5th.
On
the Red Sox, the walking man, Kevin Youkilis gained the top spot :
"
... among the most patient hitters in baseball, leading to some amazing on-base
percentages in his first two years as a minor leaguer ... He did struggle
after a late-July promotion to Triple-A, but that’s not a major concern unless
he continues to have problems in the first two months of 2004. Because he’s a
below average defensive third baseman and probably won’t hit more than 15
homers per season in the majors, Youkilis is going to have to get on base 38-40
percent of the time to be an asset. Expect him to do so."
Hanley
Ramirez was #2.
Catcher
Dioner Navarro has zoomed to the top of the Yankees' prospects in
a weakened farm system :
"
... “Pudgito” went from hitting .238 with 8 HR at low Single-A
Greensboro in 2002 to taking over as the Yankees’ top prospect after Brandon
Claussen was traded last season. Signed out of Venezuela in 2000, Navarro is a
switch-hitter with a line-drive swing and doubles power. Defensively, he
projects as a slightly above average regular ... likely to be traded before he
makes it to the majors."
Second
baseman Robinson Cano was the runnerup, and third baseman Eric
Duncan rated #3. Drew Henson retained a spot, #7 while AFL
star Ramon Ramirez was #8 :
"
... 3-10, 4.43 ERA in 18 minor league starts but 3-2, 1.44 ERA, 25/2 K/BB in 25
IP during the Arizona Fall League. Low-90s fastball makes him a potential fourth
or fifth starter."
BJ
Upton topped Delmon Young for the top rank in the TB system :
"
... Upton, the second overall pick in 2002, established himself as one of
the game’s elite prospects during his pro debut, showing impressive on-base
ability for such a young player. Although his 56 errors in the minors indicate
that he isn’t quite ready defensively, he projects as an above average
shortstop. Offensively, he should be a quality leadoff hitter capable of
stealing 30-40 bases per season."
"
... Delmon Young ... already one of the game’s most talked about
prospects. The first overall pick in the 2003 draft has outstanding offensive
potential, drawing comparisons to Albert Belle, and his play in the Arizona Fall
League showed that he isn’t far off. Expect Young to push his way through the
minors next year and take over as Tampa Bay’s right fielder in 2005. He
probably has some .300-35 HR seasons in his future."
A
breakout season has propelled Alexis Rios to the top of the TOR
chart :
"
... The former first-round pick figures to continue to add power as he matures,
maybe turning into a 25-30 homer guy. He’s a legit center fielder defensively,
but he’ll end up in a corner in Toronto. If his pitch recognition and
strike-zone judgment improve, he could be a star."
"
... 2. Dustin McGowan ... steadily making the
transition from thrower to pitcher. He still lacks consistency with his power
curve and changeup, but he’s getting better, and his mid-90s fastball is
overpowering at times. It’s not really a stretch to label McGowan as a
potential ace, but I think of his as more of a No. 2. "
John
Sickels, ESPN.com, Ryan Wagner CIN :
"
... Wagner is definitely Cincinnati's closer of the future, and that future is
very soon indeed ... best pitch is his slider, which is a killer. Scouts
already grade it as among the best pitches in baseball; right-handers can't
touch it, and even lefties have trouble picking it up. Complementing the slider
is a 90-94 mph fastball that has great movement. The fastball moves so well that
it is sometimes confused with a breaking ball. Wagner also has a changeup,
though it is less refined than his other two offerings. His command is good for
a pitcher his age, and when everything is going right he is essentially
unstoppable."
"
... Although he's been durable so far, scouts worry about the effect the
slider will have on his elbow. With less-than-perfect mechanics, he is best
suited for a relief role since he'll be less likely to blow out his arm
... also concerns about his shoulder in the long run, since his delivery can be
rather violent. This adds to his deception on the mound, but it could lead to
rotator cuff or labrum problems down the road ... The only two things that
can stop Ryan Wagner from being a star are injuries or a sudden loss of
control."
A
little catchup on BA's reviews of its 2003 Top 10s ... with an accent on
"emerging prospects" and the 2003 top draft picks. San Diego :
"
... Freddy Guzman ... needed to move quickly after aging nearly two years
in the offseason, and he did just that, burning through three levels while
leading the organization with 90 stolen bases. Guzman is a pure 80 runner on the
scouting scale, and unlike many minor league speedsters, understands the value
of taking a walk. Humberto Quintero ... entered the season with a
reputation as one of the better defensive catchers around, but had never shown
any aptitude at the plate before hitting .298-3-52 at Mobile."
St.
Louis ... top pick :
"
... Daric Barton ... Generally considered one of the better
left-handed bats in the draft, Barton sneaked into the end of the first round
and showed the ability to hit for average and power, along with a mature
approach at the plate. Questions remain as to whether or not he can stay at
catcher, but he has the skills to play third base."
Pittsburgh
... top pick :
"
... Paul Maholm ... With a diverse repertoire, Maholm limited New
York-Penn League batters to a .197 average and spun 7.2 innings of two-hit,
shutout baseball against Staten Island on Aug. 27 in the longest outing of his
brief pro debut."
Philadelphia
... the 2003 #8 pick, Ryan Howard :
"
... Howard, ... continues to look like a fifth-round steal from the 2001 draft,
leading the Florida State league in batting average, slugging percentage and
home runs in his second full season while winning league MVP honors. Double-A
will be a significant test for his all-or-nothing approach at the plate."
Yankees
... top pick :
"
... Eric Duncan ... Yankees had their eye on Duncan
throughout the spring, and were more than happy to take him when he was still on
the board with the 27th overall pick. Duncan has fantastic hitting mechanics;
Rookie-level Gulf Coast League managers rated him the best prospect in the
league. A move from third to first base is likely in his future."
Emerging
Prospects MON
"...
Shawn Hill ... Canadian righty who played in this year's
Futures Game, Hill had a 1.44 ERA in his final 11 starts for Brevard County, and
finished the season a combined 12-5, 2.64 after spending the final month in
Double-A ... Brandon Watson ... After suffering
through a disappointing 2002 season, Watson finished at .319 for Harrisburg
after hitting .377 with 44 runs scored in his final 50 games. Still needs to
learn how to work the count and utilize his speed better."
LA
... top pick :
"
... Chad Billingsley ... was very impressive in his pro
debut at Ogden, and downright dominating by the end of the season, striking out
28 in 17 innings over his final three starts."
HOU
... emerging prospects :
"
... Jared Gothreaux ... moved into the rotation in late
April and showed continuous improvement throughout the year. 7-2, 2.62 over his
final 10 starts, highlighted by a three-hit complete game shutout on August 9. Fernando
Nieve, rhp: Venezuelan righty went 14-6, 3.65 in his full-season debut
while striking out nearly a batter per inning."
ANA
... top pick :
"
... Brandon Wood .... Natural shortstop added muscle to lanky
frame and moved into first round, then utilized that strength in a late-season
power surge at Provo."
01 December, 2003
Geeze
... the first of December ... can't be long until pitchers and catchers report
...
Mexico
... Ross Gload CHA 8th homer, .304 ... Andrew Lorraine,
still hoping for a MLB return, now 7-0, 2.44, 5.0 6 2 2 2 1 ... Puerto Rico ... Aaron
Rowand CHA 0-3, 1-2, homer, 4 RBI, .212 ... Justin Morneau
MIN 0-4, .222 ... Venezuela ... Omar Infante DET, 2nd in AVE, .368
:
Infante
isn't quite ready to give up his claim to the starting shortstop job. Through
the first month of the Venezuelan winter league season, Infante had the league
lead in hits and was batting third in his team's lineup. The reports that Tigers
officials have received suggest it's simply a matter of playing with more
confidence, probably coming from the comfort level of playing in his hometown
and getting off to a fast start. ... It won't affect the Tigers' pursuit of
Miguel Tejada or other free-agent shortstops, but it's a reminder of Infante's
immense ability when he concentrates. (MLB.com)
Jeremy
Reed CHA & Cole Hamels PHI saluted by Sports Weekly as
the Top Player & Top Pitcher in the minors :
"
... Reed, 22, so evenly split his summer between high-A Winston-Salem and
Double-A Birmingham that he didn't land on either league's leader board
... put the two sets of numbers together and they add up to something
great for Reed ... His cumulative .373
average led the minors by nearly 20 points, as he combined for 11 homers, 95 RBI
and 45 steals between the two stops. His .453 on-base percentage also was tops
among all minor leaguers, as he drew 70 walks while striking out just 36 times
all season ... Reed was supposed to continue honing his stuff in the Arizona
Fall League but instead was selected to Team USA, for which he played in Panama
before the team was eliminated in a loss to Mexico. In 10 games, Reed hit .250
with one homer and three RBI."
"
... Reed edged out San Diego Padres second base prospect Josh Barfield
for our top honor. Barfield, who will turn 21 next month, was the Padres'
fourth-round pick in 2001 out of high school. The son of former American League
home run king Jesse Barfield hit .337 with 16 homers and led the minors with 128
RBI, 46 doubles and 185 hits. He scored 99 runs and stole 16 bases."
"
... There were six or seven pitchers who could have made a case for this award.
Baltimore's John Maine led the minors in strikeouts as well as
opponent's batting average. Luis Martinez of Milwaukee had two
25-inning streaks in which he held the opposition without an earned run.
Detroit's Jon Connolly finished first in the minors in ERA in his
first full pro season, while Texas' Kameron Loe finished second in
the same category in the same situation. Zack Greinke of Kansas
City, just 19, would have posted a 1.45 ERA had it not been for one rough outing
in his first month at Double-A."
"
... Hamels didn't lead any categories because he didn't throw his first pitch
until May 13, and as a result, combined with a cautionary pitch limit, didn't
amass enough innings to qualify for the leader board ... made 13 starts for the
BlueClaws, striking out 115 batters in 74 2/3s innings while allowing just 32
hits and walking 25. Overall, he went 6-1 with a 0.84 ERA there, limiting
hitters to a .136 average. Nine of his starts were scoreless, and he struck out
at least 10 batters five times ... He didn't allow an earned run in his
last four starts before moving up to high-A Clearwater. At Clearwater, against
older and more experienced hitters, he made five starts, never allowing more
than two earned runs ... his 1.34 ERA would have led all minor league
starters, but he finished nine innings shy of the minimum to qualify."
Reed
is 4th on Josh Boyd's OF ranking at Baseball America. Alexis Rios, Grady
Sizemore and Delmon Young finished 1-2-3. Young looks like a
"can't miss" :
"
... Young is capable of manning the top spot on this list before he even makes
his regular season debut ... power potential exceeds almost anyone's in
the minors already. He's been punishing pitches in the Arizona Fall League,
displaying light-tower power to all fields. "He's going to hit like Alberto
Belle, but (Young) is going to be even bigger," one scout said. He'll have
little trouble adjusting to full-season ball next spring and should enjoy a
speedy ascent towards Tampa Bay. He's an early favorite for 2004 Minor League
Player of the Year."
Dan
Troy, StrikeThree, on the MON farm system.
"
... Larry Broadway is clearly the best hitter in the Expos' system, and
the 2002 draftee showed both impressive patience and power in his full-season
debut. Broadway, a left-handed first baseman, played at three levels, drawing a
combined 69 walks in only 444 at bats in 2003 stops in the SAL, FSL and Eastern
League. He slugged 20 homers among his 60 extra-base hits ... I'd let him have
at least a half season in AA in 2004 to give him a chance to catch his breath,
but he could come quickly."
"
... Josh Karp's return to the Eastern League went worse than his first
go-round, which isn't a very encouraging sign for the former first-rounder
... Despite having great stuff, I find it hard to be optimistic about him.
On a more positive note, Mike Hinckley pitched well for the second
straight season. While giving up a few more hits than you'd like to see from a
top prospect, the young lefty posted a K:BB ratio 28% better than the SAL
average over 121 innings, and looked great in a brief FSL stint. He improved as
the season advanced, so the overall season numbers may understate his progress.
Very promising."
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