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04 September, 2002
Chris Reed, Protospect Watch,
on Felix Pie CHN :
"
... This kid has a future. He is a legitimate five-tool player. If I had to
compare him to anyone it would be Vladimir Guerrero. That is, of course, if Pie
reaches his potential. Only 17-years old, Pie has the frame and the juice in his
bat to eventually put up good power numbers. For now, he settles for hitting the
ball to the wall and sprinting to third base. He is also a very intelligent
player who knows what he is doing both in the outfield and at the plate. He
delivers strong, accurate throws from the outfield and has more patience at the
plate than his BB/K ratio indicates."
Anthony
McCarron, NY Daily News, on Drew
Henson NYA :
"
... it seems Henson will be as much a spectator as anyone who lays out the
bucks for a seat at the Stadium. The Yankees want Henson, who struggled this
season at Triple-A Columbus, to soak up the atmosphere in the majors and perhaps
learn from veterans such as Robin Ventura. It's probably a different situation
than the Yankees had wished for for Henson, who they hoped would have developed
enough to be their third baseman next season. But Henson was only hitting .242
with 18 homers and 65 RBI in 127 games. He struck out 150 times in 467 at-bats
and made 33 errors. "He's had a very tough year," Joe Torre said.
"This thing was heaped on him. We're going to have him here so he can sit
on the bench and enjoy the surroundings of a big-league team. "I'm not
saying he won't get out there and play a game, but it's more for fun than
showing anybody what he can do." Torre acknowledged that there was no
guarantee Henson would be the Yanks' third baseman next year. Torre didn't say
it, but it's more likely the Yanks will re-sign Ventura, a free agent, for one
more season and let Henson ripen in Triple-A for another year. "He'll be
our third baseman sometime," Torre said of Henson. "He's going to be
ready when he's ready. It's going to take a number of at-bats, a mental
adjustment."
David Cameron, Strike Three, on Adam
Wainwright ATL :
"
... I got my second look at Adam Wainwright, the top prospect in the Braves'
system and perhaps one of the five best pitching prospects in the game. He's had
an outstanding season for Myrtle Beach, despite his recent fade as the season
wears down. Friday was not his best outing, though, and it appears that he's
ready for some time off. His velocity was actually better than it was the
previous time I saw him. He'll pitch comfortably between 89-91, but he popped 93
and 95 when he needed to throw a fastball by the hitter. While his velocity was
up, his movement wasn't as good. His fastball didn't have the same run it had
earlier in the year, and the hitters were making solid contact against him. His
curveball is still one of the premier breaking balls in the minors. He throws
the big 12-6 curve that Aaron Sele and Tom Gordon have flashed in the majors. He
was between 72-74 with the curve, though it didn't have the same tight rotation
as it had earlier in the year. Its still a nasty out pitch though. His changeup
was basically nonexistent, having no movement whatsoever. It got pounded. That
happens, though. He's got a good change, and his three-pitch repertoire is among
the best in the game. Despite the fact that he gave up seven earned runs in
2-2/3 innings, I walked away impressed. He's got command of two big-time pitches
and the makings of a third. He really just lacks experience, at this point, and
I could see him in Atlanta as early as late next year."
Josh Boyd, Baseball America, has the
year-ending Prospect Hot Sheet ... Rocco Baldelli TB. who zoomed from
A-Ball to AAA, tops the list :
" ... He did it a little of everything
(except for draw a walk in Durham) at the age of 20."
Jose Reyes SS NYN was the runner up
just ahead of FLO phenom Dontelle Willis, CLE's switch-hitting
catcher Victor Martinez and TEX 3B Mark Teixeira (Hank
Blalock dropped to 19th).
05 September, 2002
Chris Reed's site on the young guns has
moved on from ProtospectWatch to ProspectReport
... today some views on some rooks in the Arizona League :
"Justin
Jones (SP) CUBS - The Cubs made a nice choice in grabbing the 6' 4"
lefthanded pitcher with their 2nd round selection in the 2002 draft. Only
17-years old, Jones made his dad proud with a great professional debut followed
up by a very promising season in Arizona. Jones flashed a low-90's fastball and
a devestating 12/6 breaking ball which missed more than its share of bats."
Gerry Fraley, Dallas Morning News, on the
best of the TEX system, including Lance Nix his pick as Player of the
Year (Teixeira, runnerup) & Ben Kozlowski as Pitcher of the
Year :
"
... Managers and coaches in the Class A Florida State League voted Nix the
player of the year. Major league outfielder Kevin Mench won the same award in
2000. Nix is a different player from Mench. Nix, a left-handed hitter, runs well
enough to play center field on a daily basis and steal 17 bases in 18 tries. He
made his mark this season with Charlotte as a run producer. Nix led the league
in RBIs with 110. He hit for more power, finishing second in the league for
homers with 21, and improved against left-handed pitching. "He's as close
as we have to a five-tool player," minor league hitting instructor Butch
Wynegar said. All players invoke comparisons. For Nix, it is Rangers outfielder
Rusty Greer. Nix, a former high school quarterback, plays with the same
fierceness that has marked Greer's career. "He carried us," Charlotte
manager Darryl Kennedy said. "He's a manager's dream."
"
... In April, the Rangers acquired Kozlowski from Atlanta for left-hander Andy
Pratt ... Shortly after the deal, Kozlowski's mother died. Charlotte
trainer Scott Wilson, who had just lost his mother, helped Kozlowski work
through his grief. Kozlowski needed more time to understand what his new
organization wanted. He tried for high radar gun readings to make a good first
impression and made the mistake of overthrowing. "We had to convince him
that wasn't what we're looking for," minor league pitching instructor Bob
Cluck. The next lesson was that the Rangers wanted more changeups. Charlotte
pitching coach Fred Dabney helped Kozlowski find a comfortable grip for his
changeup, and he took off from there. Kozlowski, 21, has good deception in his
delivery, a low-90 mph fastball and excellent command of the curveball. The
changeup gave him the third pitch a starter needs. He went 8-6 with a 1.99 ERA
and a .195 opponents' batting average with Charlotte and Tulsa. "He's a man
on a mission," Tulsa manager Tim Ireland said. "He knows where he
wants to go, and he's going to get there."
07 September, 2002
David Cameron, StrikeThree, with his pick
for Prospect of the Year. Cameron had three hitters and three pitchers as
finalists -- Jose Reyes NYN, Jesse Foppert SF, Mark Teixeira
TEX, Dontrelle Willis FLO, Sean Burnett PIT and
...
"
... Victor Martinez walks away with the 2002 Prospect of the Year
award. Martinez came out of the gate swinging and never slowed down. He led the
Eastern League in batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage.
He spent 101 games behind the plate but still managed to produce throughout the
year. Martinez's plate discipline was impeccable and his power among the best in
the minors. His defense is solid and he should be able to stay behind the plate
at the major-league level. With his bat, he'll have little trouble establishing
himself as one of the better catchers in the American League. The 23-year-old
has now won league MVP in back-to-back years, building on his 2001 Carolina
League MVP. He's established himself as the Indians' catcher of the future and
one of the premier backstop prospects in the game. It was certainly a banner
year for Cleveland's farm system and no one demonstrates that better than
Martinez. For his accomplishments against AA pitching while playing the most
demanding defensive position on the diamond, Victor Martinez is your 2002
Prospect of the Year."
Cameron on Foppert :
"
... Foppert exploded onto the scene a year after the Giants took him in
the second round. He made the jump from short-season ball all the way to AA to
begin the season and quickly became the best pitcher in the Texas League.
Foppert is an example of the peripheral stats telling more of the story than
wins and ERA. He finished with just 6 wins and a 3.79 ERA, but his 183
strikeouts were second highest in the minors. He showed good command of a
mid-90s fastball and a strikeout-quality slider. His home run rate jumped when
he moved to the PCL, but it shouldn't be a concern for the future. Foppert will
likely go through some adjustments next year, but he's one of the top
right-handed arms in the game.
Rocco Baldelli TB, SportsTicker's Minor
League Player of the Year :
"
... The 20-year-old Baldelli hit .333 with 14 homers and 51 RBI in 77 games with
the Blaze ... In mid July, Baldelli was headed back east. "We were
holding the Bakersfield club together as long as we could and we decided to move
him to Double-A after the All-Star Game," said Devil Rays Director of
Player Personnel Cam Bonifay. "He didn't stop there. It was as if he was
playing in the same league." Baldelli did not slow down at all and his time
with the Orlando Rays in the Class AA Southern League was short. The Rhode
Island native hit .371 with two homers and 13 RBI in just 17 games for Orlando.
On August 9, Baldelli was promoted to Class AAA Durham in the International
League ... struggled a bit once he arrived in Durham. He had only a .257
batting average through his first eight games ... finished the regular season
with Durham hitting .292 with three homers and seven RBI in 23 games."
"
...The main
concern now is his approach as a leadoff hitter. Baldelli was moved into the
leadoff spot at the beginning of the season in Bakersfield and his average
continued to climb. "We moved him to the leadoff spot to maximize his
at-bats and he just took off," Bonifay said. "He never showed signs of
slowing down and this way, he could get 30-40 more at-bats." However, you
would normally like your leadoff hitter to draw more than 23 walks in 478
at-bats during the course of a season. "I thought his strikezone discipline
was not a problem," Bonifay added. "He has great pitch recognition and
the ability to lay off of pitches."
Martinez and Baldelli highlight SportsTicker's
All-Prospect Team.
C Victor Martinez CLE, 1B Jason
Stokes FLO, 2B Orlando Hudson TOR, 3B Mark Teixeira
TEX, SS Jose Reyes NYN, OF Rocco BaldelliTB,
OF Carl Crawford TB, OF Joe Borchard CHA, SP Kirk
Kaarloos HOU, SP Brett Myers PHI, SP Jerome Williams
SF, SP Billy Traber CLE, RP Franklyn German
DET
SportsTicker has officially announced its All-Teen team of 2002,
headed by a Fab Five on the hill -- Gavin Floyd PHI, Kris Honel
CHA, Jeremy Bonderman DET, Macay McBride ATL and Sean
Burnett PIT.
The position player sections : C Joe Mauer MIN, 1B Adrian
Gonzalez FLO, 2B Jose Lopez SEA, 3B Andy Marte
ATL, SS Jose Reyes NYN, OF Shin-Soo Choo SEA,
OF Grady Sizemore CLE, OF Jason Kubel.
Lopez, normally a SS, was just too good to leave off the club after finishing
behined Reyes, so shifted to 2B for pick purposes.
John Manuel, Baseball America, on NYN
prospects :
" ... Hard to come up with a pitcher with a
higher ceiling in the minors than Kazmir. What a dominating debut. If
healthy, his upside is pretty ridiculous--who misses bats like this guy? Jose
Reyes similarly has front-line player talent. Heilman is a nice
prospect but doesn't belong in the same sentence, really, aside from the fact
he's a Met. At best, he's a third starter, more likely he's a 4-5 guy or nice
middle reliever."
Manuel on Wilson Betemit ATL :
" ... The consensus seemed to be that
Betemit's lack of plate discipline is what killed him this year, and at his age
(he's just 20) and experience level, repeating a year of Triple-A would help him
improve his plate approach and let the humility of such a season sink in. If
he's an all-star, it will be at third base, as he has proven this year that he's
not a shortstop."
Manuel on CHN's Andy Sisco, Luke
Hagerty :
" ... Hagerty may move the fastest--his
fastball is explosive, he gets excellent extension and he's starting to get it.
Sisco's ceiling his higher, and he had a more dominant year, but he still has
some mechanics to work out and doesn't pitch off his fastball as much as some
would like."
Manuel on Jeremy Brown OAK :
" ... His best 'tool' seems to be his
intangibles--ever manager I've talked to that has had him raves about his
leadership and ability to rise to important occasions offensively and
defensively. The question on him seems to be his body, but the A's believe if
they can get him in the weight room that he could be a special catching
prospect."
09 September, 2002
John
Sickels, ESPN, on two of his top
pre-season picks, Kelly Johnson ATL and Gabe Gross TOR :
"
... Johnson ... I rated him as the 15th-best prospect in baseball ...
struggled at times this year for Class A Myrtle Beach, which has knocked him off
some prospect lists. He finished hitting .255 with 12 homers and 51 walks. I
still think he's a fine prospect. Nine of his 12 homers came on the road, and
Myrtle Beach is a notoriously tough park for hitters. He also had trouble
against left-handed pitching. But he is still just 20, and I think the park
effects in his home stadium had a lot to do with his problems this year. I
remain high on him, though obviously he needs to rebound in '03."
"
... Gross ... I gave him a B+ grade and ranked him as the 18th-best prospect in
baseball. Like Johnson, Gross had a bad year, although I'm not giving up on him
by any means. He finished at .238 with 10 homers and eight steals this year in
Double-A, a far cry from the .280-.300 mark with power I was expecting. On the
other hand, despite his struggles, he retained good strike zone judgment,
drawing 53 walks with just 71 strikeouts in 403 at-bats. He also hit .279 from
June 1 to the end of the season, so this could simply be a case of needing a
couple of months to get used to pro pitching. I don't have any regrets about
pegging either of these guys as top prospects for this year. While I'll have to
downgrade both of them to some extent for 2003, both remain very intriguing
players who should not be abandoned."
David
Cameron, Strike Three, on Jose Reyes NYN :
"
... put an end to the talk about the lack of a true prospect in the Mets system.
He made the jump to the Florida State League at just 19 years of age and turned
the league on its ear. His .288 BA/.353 OBP/.462 SLG line is extremely
impressive for a player of his experience in the FSL. His walk rate took a
dramatic leap from last year and his power and speed continued at near-all-star
levels. Reyes spent the second half of the season in AA Binghamton, which alone
is an accomplishment. His walk rate and power fell off, but he continued to hit
singles and steal lots of bases. He's got a great future ahead of him if he can
continue to improve his strike zone judgment. If the Mets hold off the urge to
give him the job next year, he'll be a prime candidate for 2003 Prospect of the
Year."
14 September, 2002
Incredible ... David Cameron, Strike Three,
is off and away on his prospect ratings for 2003! Catchers are first up
and Victor Martinez CLE tops the list, shading even MIN phenom Joe
Mauer.
"
... you'd be hard pressed to find a prospect who is closer to helping his team
win than Martinez. There is very little projection needed and he's likely to be
an asset both at the plate and behind it. His arm strength is questioned by
some, but his athletic footwork and solid receiving skills should compensate
quite well. He may struggle making the adjustment to the majors initially, but
he should be a very productive player in the big leagues for several
years."
"
... Justin Huber ... While nobody can expect another catcher to
hit like Piazza did, Huber profiles as a similar type of player. His bat is
going to be where his value lies, and there's quite a bit of talent there. He
has a powerful stroke that could generate 30 home runs a year. His arm and
footwork aren't great and probably won't get better, so the Mets will have to
decide if they want another offense-first catcher. If Huber continues to hit,
they'd be wise to overlook his defensive shortcomings."
"
... People are injuring themselves jumping off the Ryan Christianson
bandwagon, but I think they're a bit premature. He had a miserable start to the
season in AA San Antonio and missed several months due to injuries, but he's
still quite young and has an outstanding physical package. He has yet to make
consistent contact at the plate, but his power is legitimate. If he can become
more selective at the plate and put the ball in play more often, he'll be a real
threat with the bat. Defensively, he's well above average with a plus arm and
solid footwork. He's still got work to do, but he's probably more talented than
anyone on this list outside of Joe Mauer."
John
Sickels, ESPN, on Scott Kazmir
NYN :
"
... Kazmir could be an ace, a star pitcher, although he's probably three years
from being ready to help in the majors. Although he signed out of high school
this year, he went directly to the college-dominated New York-Penn League, and
devastated older competition. I talked about strikeout rates earlier in this
article. In his first 18 pro innings, Kazmir struck out 34 and allowed only five
hits and seven walks. That's awesome, and bodes very well for his future,
especially since he did it against more experienced players. He throws very
hard, and gets some serious wicked movement on his pitches."
Sickels on the third base situation in PHI -- Chase
Utley or Travis Chapman ?
"
... Utley hit .263/.352/.451 this year at Triple-A Scranton, not awesome
numbers, but better than what he did in A-ball last year. He hasn't hit for as
good of a batting average as anticipated, but his power is coming around, and he
made strides with the strike zone this year. He's still adapting to third base
defensively, having been a second baseman in previous seasons. His error rate is
still high, but he's shown enough range and arm to remain there. Chapman is a
level behind Utley, playing Double-A this year. He had a stronger season,
hitting .301/.388/.473, and is also more refined as a defensive player. He has a
solid line-drive approach, plus good command of the zone. But he's six months
older than Utley, and most scouts don't like Chapman as much. Chapman's numbers
since entering pro ball as a 17th-round pick in 2000 are stronger than Utley's,
but he remains behind Utley on most prospect lists ... I don't see either of
these guys as future stars, though both should hit enough to be valuable. If it
were up to me, I'd platoon them, taking advantage of the fact that their skills
are complementary."
15 September, 2002
David Cameron, StrikeThree, on John
Buck HOU :
"
... John Buck had a bit of a disappointing season at AA Round Rock, but he still
profiles as a solid all-around backstop. He's not a slugger, but he's got some
pop in his bat and should be capable of slugging .450 in the future. His walk
rate will go a long way towards determining his value, as he probably won't hit
more than .280 against big-league pitching. The Astros like his work behind the
plate and are willing to sacrifice a few hits for a quality defensive catcher.
Buck probably won't be a star, but he has a chance to be an average major-league
catcher, and those are a lot harder to find than most people realize."
John
Sickels, ESPN, on Sean Burnett
PIT :
"
... Burnett's statistical profile is unusual: his K/BB and H/IP are excellent,
but his K/IP is poor. You don't see that combination very often: if the K/IP is
weak, the H/IP often is as well. It could be a matter of luck, things breaking
right for him. It could be strong defensive support keeping the number of hits
down. Burnett is also a wily pitcher who knows how to change speeds, and a very
strong competitor; obviously that had something to do with it. I'm not trying to
downplay what Burnett did this year: he had a marvelous season. But we need to
see what Burnett is able to accomplish in Double-A next year. If his August
numbers carry forward to Double-A, he'll be great. But the fact remains that his
overall strikeout rate was very low this year, and few pitchers are able to
remain consistently successful with low strikeout rates."
Sickels on Kris Honel CHA :
"
... Watch Honel; he's one of the best pitching prospects in baseball, and will
start getting attention soon. He was drafted in the first round last year, out
of an Illinois high school ... throws in the low-to-mid 90s, has an evil
curveball, and knows what to do with it. He's polished for a cold-weather high
school pitcher, and did great work this year in the Sally League, posting a 2.82
ERA and fine 152/52 K/BB in 153 innings, allowing only 128 hits. His numbers
back up his scouting reports. The White Sox have a bad habit of over-hyping
their pitching prospects ... But Honel looks like the real deal to me, and
if he stays healthy, he should make quite an impact."
Josh Boyd, Baseball America
... Jhonathon
Figueroa LA likely BA Top 50 guy ... Jesse Foppert SF, near
flawless pitching mechanics ... #1 prospect, 2003? Baldelli, Reyes,
Mauer a leading trio ... Reyes, surely in the top five, Scott
Kazmir in the top 30
Boyd on Robinson Cano NYA :
"
... I really like Cano. He is an athletic player who can play second and short,
but what really stands out to me is his ability to make consistent, hard
contact. He should hit for good power as he moves up."
Boyd on Hanley Ramirez BO :
"
... Ramirez took two leagues by storm, and many project him as the Red Sox No. 1
prospect now too. Ramirez will be ranking No. 1 in both the Gulf Coast League
and the New York-Penn."
18 September, 2002
Victor Martinez adds to his trophy case
... named Baseball Weekly's Minor League Player of the Year :
"
... Two seasons. Two league batting titles. And likely two years in a row of
winning the Lou Boudreau Award for being the Cleveland Indians' Minor League
Player of the Year. The award is not given until the offseason, but as the
organizational leader in all three Triple Crown categories this year, he should
be a lock to become the first player to win back-to-back honors since the
award's inception in 1990. And now, this season Martinez is Sports Weekly's
Minor League Player of the Year.
The
23 year old hit .336 for the Double-A Akron Aeros, adding 22 homers, 85 RBI and
40 doubles, winning the Eastern League batting title and becoming a heavy
favorite to win the league's MVP award, which will be announced later this
month. His .576 slugging percentage ranked him fourth overall in the minors,
while he led all catchers and all switch-hitters in batting ... A converted
shortstop, he has quickly picked up catching, and was even voted the best
defensive catcher in the Eastern League this year ... .He has taken to his new
role with a passion. "I've learned to be aware of all situations,"
Martinez said. "I want to be in charge. I want to be a leader. I like to
control the running game. And I try hard to keep my infield on its toes. If I'm
lazy back there, then everybody else will think, 'Good, we can be lazy, too.'
" In 2001, Martinez called the pitches for a Kinston staff whose 2.73 ERA
was best in the minors." (Lisa
Winston, BBW)
BBW
named Dontelle Willis FLO as Pitcher of the Year :
"
... Every so often there comes a pitcher who just seems to have no-hit stuff
every time out. In 2002, Florida Marlins left-hander Dontrelle Willis was one of
those pitchers. Between 19 starts at low-A Kane County and 12 at high-A Jupiter,
Willis combined to go 12-2 with a 1.83 ERA and a .202 opponent batting average.
He walked just 24 while striking out 128 in 157 2/3 innings. Related item Past
winners 2001: Josh Beckett, Marlins 2000: Bud Smith, Cardinals 1999: Rick Ankiel,
Cardinals 1998: John Sneed, Blue Jays The 20-year-old southpaw's dominance, in
just his first full season, earned him the nod as Sports Weekly's Minor League
Pitcher of the Year. It's the second year in a row a Marlins prospect received
the honor, with Josh Beckett winning last year."
The pair anchored BBW's 2002 Minor League
All-Star team :
C -- Victor Martinez CLE,
1B - Brad Hawpe COL,
2B - Scott Hairston ARZ,
3B - Mark Teixeira TEX,
SS - Brandon Phillips CLE,
INF - Josh Bonifay PIT,
OF - Rocco Baldelli TB,
OF - Dee Haynes STL,
OF - Robb Quinlan ANA,DH - Walter Young PIT
SP - Dontrelle Willis FLO,
SP - Sean Burnett PIT,
SP - Tyler Johnson STL,
SP - Bubba Nelson ATL,
SP - Kirk Saarloos HOU,
RP - Joe Valentine CHA
19 September, 2002
Ted
Lukacs, Minors First, on Jose Reyes
NYN :
"
... On-field, we had the pleasure of seeing Jose Reyes play for half a season.
Easily the best Mets position prospect I have seen. ... Reyes should hit in the
majors, with some power. It would not surprise me to see him bat .300 most
years, with 15-20 HRs. He will probably be regarded as the premier defensive SS
of his time. Great instincts, terrific range, outstanding arm, very steady. He
will steal lots of bases, hit lots of triples, and be a real crowd favorite. His
instincts and judgement are those of a much more experienced player. Add to that
the fact that he plays the game right, is a good kid, well-liked by everyone, a
hard worker, and strongly motivated. The total package."
20 September, 2002
Baseball America --
Allan
Simpson -- with the first installment of the Top Prospects in each
league. The Arizona & Gulf Coast first up.
No surprises ... CF Felix Pie of the Cubs
and Hanley Ramirez of the Red Sox the top guns.
"
... Pie ... excelled in his first exposure to pro ball. He shared league MVP
honors ... and showcased four above-average tools, power proving his only
shortcoming. "He was by far the best prospect," Mariners manager
Darrin Garner said. "He's got a great idea at the plate and an excellent
approach to the game for a 17-year-old. He just needs to mature." "He
needs to learn plate discipline and walk more often," said Cubs manager
Carmelo Martinez, though Pie’s 21 walks in 248 plate appearances weren’t bad
at all, considering his age. "
"
... Managers were so enthralled with Ramirez' five-tool ability that they
compared him to Alex Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra at the same stage of their
careers. "He's awesome," Orioles manager Jesus Alfaro said. "He's
tall and thin like A-Rod, and has similar actions. He's got range and arm
strength, and is capable of making the spectacular play. And he's an outstanding
hitter." "He has the gift," Reds manager Edgar Caceres said.
"He has great bat speed and should hit for both power and average. There
are no holes in his swing."
22 September, 2002
USA Today has its Minor League Player of
the Year ... Jose Reyes NYN.
"
... Reyes, 19, has the speed, arm, hands and bat to become a fixture with
the New York Mets. He started slowly in Class A this year but ended in AA, with
a combined .288 average in 134 games. He hit 19 triples, tops in the minors,
scored 104 runs and stole 58 bases ... "Reyes is the real deal,"
Montreal pro scout Mike Toomey said. Reyes is real enough to be named the 15th
annual USA TODAY Minor League Player of the Year, an award given with equal
consideration for a player's performance that season and his potential.
"He's going to be a super-duper player," said Mets general manager
Steve Phillips, who's not given to hyperbole." (Rod Beaton)
David Cameron, StrikeThree,
has his Top 10 first sackers on line. Justin Morneau MIN and
Casey Kotchman ANA op the list.
"
... The only person who even challenges Morneau for the top spot is Casey
Kotchman. A first-round pick by the Angels in 2001, he's one of the most
polished high-school hitters you'll ever see. He completely controls the strike
zone and will not get himself out. Despite only hitting five home runs during
the season, he showed tremendous future power. Over 40 percent of his hits went
for extra bases, and Kotchman should have little trouble knocking the ball out
of the park 30 times a year. Not only will he be a terrific offensive player,
but he's also one of the best fielding first basemen you'll ever see. Kotchman
is the complete package and still isn't even out of his teenage years."
Jason Stokes
FLO, finished 6th :
"
... right-handed slugger, he had more home runs than doubles, which is quite
rare in the minors. His power is his strength, but it isn't strong enough to
carry Stokes. He's going to have to round out his game and become an all around
player. He's not the athlete that Gonzalez is, and another position isn't
likely. Despite his huge numbers for Kane County, he's got some adjustments to
make. Don't expect a repeat performance of his 2002 season."
Will
Kimmey, Baseball America, on his pick
as the top prospect in the Pioneer League, James Loney LA :
"
... His steady, line-drive swing, stellar defense and even his mound
background bring to mind John Olerud. Loney's best tool is his ability to hit
for a very high average, and he also has some power potential. He's more of a
doubles hitter now, but he should add power as he matures physically. Loney has
a strong knowledge of the strike zone and can go the other way as easily as he
can pull the ball. "He can flat-out hit for average and he's very
polished," Billings manager Rick Burleson said. "He looks like he's
been playing all his life."
Kimmey chose LA lefty Jhonathan Figueroa
as the runnerup. Prince Fielder finished in the #4 slot.
Bill Ballew, Baseball America, handled the
Appalachian League. An ATL prospect -- a postion player no less --
was selected as the loop's best prospect :
"
... Jeff Francouer ... a high-character player who has
attracted comparisons to former National League MVP Dale Murphy on a variety of
fronts. "He is the best tools player in this league, bar none,"
Danville manager Ralph Henriquez said. "I'm big on makeup and this kid is
off the charts. He knows he is going to play in the big leagues. Everything he
does is centered on that achieving that goal." Francoeur had no trouble
adjusting to wood bats, driving the ball to all fields. He has outstanding
instincts and is fearless pursuing fly balls and running the basepaths. He also
possesses a plus arm and is capable of playing all three outfield
positions."
Gavin Floyd as the best pitching
prospect in baseball?
"
... He's certainly up there. We debated in the office whether you'd take him or
Scott Kazmir. I take Floyd simply because he's proven himself at a level ahead
of Kazmir thus far. Pitchers are so hard to take chances on at young ages. We'll
really see if Floyd's the real deal next year, as the Phils have talked about
starting him in Double-A Reading." (Will Kimmey, BA)
Kimmey on Chase Utley PHI :
"
... Managers loved his line-drive, double-producing bat, especially after
jumping to Triple-A from Class A. But they were split over his future at 3b.
While his footwork and fielding are fine, they didn't know if he had the arm to
make the through. A move back to 2b could make him a nice offensive
player."
Kimmey on ... Jose Reyes or Hanley
Ramirez?
"
... Hanley's got more power than Reyes, who's more a slasher who won;t have to
bear the A-Rod comparisons Ramirez will. At this point, I'm not sure which rates
higher on the hype meter between the Mets and Red Sox respective nations.
Ramirez is certainly the hottest thing the Red Sox have now and a really strong
prospect, but I want to see him produce in at least Class A before I put him up
there with Reyes."
23 September, 2002
Jason Stokes FLO confirmed as Minor League
Player of the Year by The Sporting News, Kevin Wheeler :
"
... There were a lot of players in the minor leagues who could have received
this award, but Stokes was the most deserving. Not only did he dominate in his
first full season of minor-league ball, he did it with a sore wrist and on a
team that didn't provide him with a lot of protection. None of his teammates hit
more than eight home runs all season and nobody with more than 100 at-bats with
the Cougars hit better than .254. Those facts make his Herculean performance
(.341, 27 HR, 75 RBI, .421 OBP, .645 SLG) even more impressive. When you also
consider the fact that he posted the numbers he did in just 97 games, his season
becomes even more impressive ... Jim Fleming, Marlins vice president of player
development and assistant general manager, said the team is extremely pleased
with Stokes' development, both at the plate and with the glove."
Then, in some logic which escapes me, TSN
eliminated Stokes from its All-Prospect Team because he was chosen as
POY.
TSN's best prospects :
C Victor Martinez, 1B Brad Hawpe,
2B Joe Thurston, 3B Mark Teixeira, SS Brandon
Phillips, OF Rocco Baldelli, Michael Cuddyer,
Marlon Byrd, DH Lyle Overbay, SP Dontrelle Willis,
Gavin Floyd, Aaron Cook, Sean Burnett,
Ricardo Rodgirez, RP Franklyn German, Francisco
Rodriguez, Aaron Taylor.
David Cameron, Strike Three, on Adrian
Gonzalez FLO :
"
... the number one overall pick in 2000, has been compared to players like Mark
Grace and John Olerud. He has a compact left-handed swing but only gap power and
doesn't project as a big-time power threat. He hasn't developed into an on-base
machine yet either, but he is willing to take a walk. He's a solid defensive
player, but his bat might not be more than average at the next level."
Will
Kimmey, Baseball America, on Gonzalez
:
"
... Definitely in terms of power Stokes has passed him, and that might be enough
because we're talking about 1b, a place you want light tower power kind of guys.
But Gonzo's still a better first baseman defensively and hits for a solid
average. The problem these two guys present is you can't move Stokes up but so
far because Gonzalez is already there and both obviously need the ABs to play
and develop."
Kimmey on Wilson Betemit ATL :
"
... He needs another shot at Triple-A. He's still really young. I don't think
he'll be a ss though, so Furcal can rest easy. Betemit has trouble throwing to
first, much like Chipper Jones did as a Richmond ss. I see Betemit at 3b in
2004."
Kimmey on Scott Kazmir MYN :
"
... in terms of ceiling, there's no one higher. Only Gavin Floyd might really
compare. But Kazmir's a lefty. He really loves the play the game, which was a
big reason why he got his deal done with the Mets faster and for less money than
many expected. He'll offer three plus pitches and throws gas. The best arm with
a chance to make an impact next year probably goes to Brett Myers and then Jesse
Foppert."
24 September, 2002
Latest poster child? Scott Kazmir
looks to be the guy. (See pitching stats below). Josh Boyd,
in his Top 20 report on the New York - Penn League, says Kazmir would have been
#1 except for the lack of enough innings to qualify.
"
... . He had the best arm in the league, but Kazmir took two months to sign with
the Mets for $2.15 million and didn't join Brooklyn until the middle of August.
Fresh out of high school, the 18-year-old stepped into the league and dominated,
never allowing more than one hit in any of his five outings while registering 34
strikeouts in 18 innings. Facing mostly college-experienced hitters, he held
them to a .089 average. Kazmir's explosive fastball lit up the radar guns to the
tune of 96 mph, and his hammer curveball was a second knockout punch."
Shortstop Hanley Ramirez
BOS, named
earlier as the top prospect in the Gulf Coast, was named top dog in the NYP.
John Manuel, handled the Northwest League
for BA and liked big Andy Sisco of the Cubs as the top prospect :
"
... Sisco could have earned this distinction for being the youngest player
with the highest upside, understandable given his imposing 6-foot-9, 260-pound
frame. League managers universally lauded Sisco's size, stuff and athleticism
(his family has an extensive football background), and expect him to get better.
That's a scary thought, because Sisco looked plenty good in his second pro
season. Despite his size and the ability to run his fastball up to 95-96 mph–he
regularly pitched between 90-94–Sisco dominated more with the poise and
advanced feel for pitching that belied his age. "You look at him and see
him throwing four pitches for strikes now, and they will be above-average,"
Boise manager Steve McFarland said ... Said Vancouver manager Orv Franchuk:
"He looked like Randy Johnson early (in the season) against us. He was
getting extension and getting right on top of guys. He showed a lot of
poise."
25 September, 2002
Jim
Callis, Baseball America, handled the
top prospects in the Midwest League. Joe Mauer MIN was picked as the best
of the best in a tough field (Jason Stokes was the runnerup, Dontrelle
Willis 3rd) :
"
... Interestingly, managers raved about his skills behind the plate while scouts
believed his offense was ahead of his defense. Both camps agreed he only needs
time to become an all-around catching star. Mauer should be a .300 hitter
capable of 20-30 homers per year. He went deep just four times in 2002, but he's
strong and his power will develop as he learns to pull more pitches. His stroke
and approach are solid, and he walked more than he struck out. "He hits
like Adam Dunn did when Adam Dunn was in Rockford in 1999," Beloit manager
Don Money said. "Adam Dunn didn't pull the ball. He hit the other way, hit
the other way, hit the other way like Joe Mauer did. Now look at him."
Bill Ballew
had the difficult chore of selecting the top gun in the SAL. In a field
which included John VanBenschoten PIT (who finished second), Macay
McBride ATL (3rd) and Andy Marte ATL (4th), PHI's Gavin
Floyd topped the list :
"
... Floyd, however, is more than a durable fastball pitcher. While his plus
heater sits in the 94-96 mph range, his best pitch is a sharp-breaking curveball
that buckles hitters' knees. His changeup is nothing less than an average major
league offering and improving. Managers loved his smooth mechanics and
effortless delivery, which allow him to work both sides of the plate with
pinpoint control. "His makeup for a teenager is the best I have ever
seen," Manto said. "Most kids his age are just trying to fit in, but
Gavin has a unique intangible that lets him to know what it takes to succeed. He
knew how to budget his time with his workouts, studied hitters, did everything
he could to understand why certain things were done the way they were. Then you
add his ability to throw the ball, and he's as polished as any kid you'll
see."
26 September, 2002
Baseball America is zipping along with its
Top 20's. Josh Boyd tapped Mark Teixeira as the best
of the Florida State League with Jose Reyes NYN as the runnerup. TOR's Francisco Rosario was #3 :
"
... Rosario emerged as an intriguing pitching prospect at low Class A Charleston
in the first half, then solidified his status as one of the best arms in the
minors after his promotion to Dunedin. He made significant strides in all phases
of his game. "He keeps getting better," an American League scout said.
"The stuff is the same, but he's learning how to pitch a little better. He
is improving his English and learning situations in the game." Rosario
throws 92-97 mph gas, a developing slider and a pair of devastating
changeups."
Boyd had Rocco Baldelli TB, Oliver
Perez SD and Clint Nageotte SEA as 1-2-3 in the California
League. Jeremy Bonderman DET was next :
"
... Bonderman's first taste of pro ball came in high Class A, which didn't stop
him from experiencing immediate success. He was able to adjust to more
experienced hitters because of his advanced feel for pitching. "He throws
four pitches for strikes and mixes well, including an above-average
changeup," a National League scout said. "He's a little rough around
the edges, but he has the makings of pretty good stuff." Bonderman was
regularly clocked at 89-93 mph, touching 94, and his breaking ball is another
hard pitch. He finished the year in the high Class A Florida State League after
joining the Tigers as part of the three-team Jeff Weaver trade."
Dave Utnik and Lacy Lusk handled the
Carolina League. No surprise to see Sean Burnett PIT at the
top of the pack. PIT shortstop Jose Castillo was picked as
the runnerup :
"
... It doesn't take a scout's eye to see why Castillo was considered the CL's
most exciting player. His defensive skills had managers, players and fans
raving. "I think he's tremendous with a good, strong arm and a good glove.
He makes plays all over the field and has a cannon," Shines (Winston-Salem
manager, Razor Shines) said. "He has a chance to hit and hit with some
power. His speed is average or better than average, but he has everything else.
Especially the arm strength, that's something you only see on plus
players." Castillo has as many as four plus tools. He's the best defensive
player in the Pirates system and has blossomed into a dangerous hitter. He had
arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn wrist ligament, but showed no ill effects
by posting career highs in home runs and RBIs."
27 September, 2002
Baseball America has selected its
top prospects in the AA leagues and Mark Teixeira TEX ( " ...Managers
tabbed him as baseball's next great power switch-hitter ... defense was better
than expected. Some said his rumored move to first base shouldn’t be a
foregone conclusion and that he will be a better third baseman than fellow
Rangers prospect Hank Blalock.) has joined Hanley Ramirez
BOS as a two-league top pick by winning the top spot in the Texas League. Jesse
Foppert SF was the runnerup :
"
... Pick your favorite manager in the Texas League and you can attribute this
quote to him when asked about Foppert: "We couldn't do anything with
him." In 11 starts with Shreveport, Foppert made sure he would be
remembered with his exceptional mechanics and mound presence. And that's aside
from his mid-90s fastball, above-average slider and improving changeup."
Will Lingo had Canadian righty Rich
Harden in the #8 spot :
"
... After arriving in the TL in June, he was just as dominant as he had been in
the high Class A California League. Harden threw his fastball up to 96 mph, but
managers said his cutter was a more effective pitch. He also showed a plus
curveball, and his changeup was good considering his level of experience. What
sets Harden apart is his aptitude for pitching. He showed a good feel for mixing
his pitches, and his command improved as the year went along."
Andrew Linker handled the Eastern
League and CLE copped six of the top 20 slots. Jose Reyes
NYN was #1, followed by Brandon Phillips CLE :
"
... He might have to move to second base with Omar Vizquel on the Tribe, but
Phillips has the arm and range to handle the defensively responsibilities at
shortstop. Like many young middle infielders, he needs more consistency. He's
even more exciting as an offensive threat, hitting for average, projecting to
have 20-homer power and owning basestealing speed. "He has excellent tools
at a premium position," an AL scout said. "He has a chance to hit for
power and he's above average with his glove, and that makes Omar Vizquel
replaceable in Cleveland."
29 September, 2002
Baseball America wrapped up its
league-by-league prospect charts with picks for AAA. Jim Callis
made the PCL selections and had room for three of SFs pitching prospects in the
top 20. Jesse Foppert, rated #2 in the Texas League, topped the
list for the PCL :
"
... Foppert reached Triple-A 12 months after signing and led the minors with
11.7 strikeouts per nine innings in his first full season. He got whiffs with
three pitches: a mid-90s fastball that can reach 97 mph, a quick slider that
runs down and in on righthanders, and a splitter that hitters couldn't help but
chase out of the strike zone. "He misses bats," an American League
scout said. "Guys swing through his fastball and don't touch it."
Kirt Ainsworth was #13 and Jerome
Williams #16 :
"
... Williams is both precocious and enigmatic. He pitched well in the PCL at age
20, easily the youngest regular starting pitcher in the league. But observers
continue to wonder how someone with the athleticism of a young Dwight Gooden
doesn’t consistently show better stuff and focus. Williams usually pitches at
90-92 mph. There’s more velocity in him, but he just doesn’t bust it loose.
His best pitch is his changeup, but his slider and curveball are ordinary. His
command is good, not great."
Will Kimmey made the picks for the
International League. TB's Carl Crawford led the chart with Brett
Myers PHI as runnerup and Orlando Hudson TOR 3rd :
"
... profiles as a No. 2 hitter who could be a 20-20 player. The switch-hitter
greatly improved his swing from the left side this year, developing more power.
A former third baseman, he uses his speed to chase down balls at second, where
his defense improved a great deal in 2002. Syracuse manager Omar Malave said
Hudson worked hard to improve his pivot and positioning. "He's going to be
a .300 hitter in the big leagues," Fields (Toledo manager Bruce Fields)
said. "And he's a vacuum at second base who can turn the double play."
David Cameron, Strike Three, isn't
impressed by the second base crop :
"
... It is quite possible that none of these guys will make a major impact at the
major-league level. Even the number one prospect at the position is going to
have to make some major improvements in his game to become an everyday player.
This list could easily be renamed Future Utility Players and be just as
accurate."
"
... The cream of this crop is Joey Thurston. Nicknamed Joey
Ballgame because of his work ethic, Thurston plays above his tools. He's a
ballplayer, not an athlete. He does run well, but he'll never be the fastest guy
on the field. Considering that's his best asset, he hasn't overly impressed too
many scouts. However, Thurston swung the bat well in AAA this year, nearly
achieving 200 hits in 5 months. Whether he can repeat this kind of season at the
major-league level is a big question. He only drew walks in five percent of his
at-bats and he showed marginal power. Las Vegas is a hitter's park in a hitter's
league, so take Thurston's gaudy batting average with several grains of salt. He
could get an opportunity to win the job in Los Angeles next year."
Chris Burke HOU claimed the #2
slot, ahead of Scott Hairston ARZ :
"
... destroyed Midwest League pitchers this year and continued to flash
impressive power for a middle infielder. However, he was playing against younger
competition and still hasn't been challenged by the Diamondbacks. He continued
to hit after a promotion to high-A, but Lancaster is the best hitters park in
the minor leagues, so that isn't much of an accomplishment. Hairston's defense
is regarded somewhere between terrible and awful, depending on who you talk to,
and a good number of scouts think he'll end up in the outfield. He's going to
have to hit to have any value, and we still haven't seen him face quality
pitching. The attitude questions surrounding him don't help matters at
all."
Jim
Callis, Baseball America, on Clint Nageotte SEA :
"
... Nageotte did have a strange statistical line. He topped the minors with 214
strikeouts in 165 innings and his ratio of 11.70 whiffs per nine innings trailed
only Jesse Foppert (11.74). Nageotte didn't give up a lot of homers (10) and
while his control was less than perfect (68 walks), he wasn't exactly Jacob
Shumate. Opponents batted .240 against him. I think, more than anything,
Nageotte's 4.54 ERA was quirky. Of the 233 runners he allowed to reach base, 101
scored (83 were earned runs), and that's just out of whack ... it appears that
Nageotte's high ERA was a fluke rather than indicating some flaw in his game."
30 September, 2002
John
Sickels, ESPN, on the OAK fab four --
Rich Harden, Jason Arnold, Mike Wood, John
Rheinecker -- in Midland, TEX :
"
... The first thing to consider is the fact that Midland is an excellent park
for hitters. Keeping your ERA below 4.50 there isn't easy, let alone close to
3.00, which right away makes these guys stand out. The four offer a variety of
styles and repertoires. Harden has the best fastball, hitting the mid-90s
frequently, with a nasty breaking pitch. His command can waiver, but he is
overpowering more often than not, and has the highest ceiling in the group. Wood
throws 88-92 with sinking action, along with a splitter and slider. Arnold
throws 88-92, occasionally hitting 93 or 94, with sharp command of his curveball
and changeup. Rheinecker throws 87-91 with a slider and curve, and features the
best command of the bunch, though he's also the most hittable. For every four
pitching prospects, you're lucky to have one develop into a real pitcher, though
Oakland has been very successful of late. I like all four of these guys, though
I'm most impressed with Harden's overpowering stuff. If he can harness his
command a bit more, he could be the best right-handed prospect in the game
pretty soon."
Jim
Callis, Baseball America, on Jerome
Williams
SF :
" ... he just didn't overwhelm anyone. He
threw 90-92 mph which is good but not fabulous, his breaking pitchers were
nothing special, and he never seems real focused or aggressive. His changeup is
his best pitch, he's very athletic and there's more velocity and talent in
there. It just didn't come out enough for him to make the Top 10."
David Cameron, StrikeThree, on Jake
Gautreau SD :
" ... The Padres moved Jake Gautreau from
third base hoping to get a Jeff Kent-type bat in their lineup. While his work
with the glove does remind people of Kent, his bat doesn't look nearly as
potent. He has some power, but he drives mostly mistake fastballs and he still
struggles with breaking balls and pitches in on his hands. With Sean Burroughs
going back to third base, "The Goat" is going to have to stick at
second. With his mediocre defense, he'll have to hit a lot. He's got a shot, but
he's far from a sure thing."
Josh Boyd, BA, on Taylor Buchholz PHI, #4
prospect in the FSL :
" ... Managers rated Buchholz' curveball the
best breaking pitch in the league. Scouts compare the 12-to-6 hammer to that of
fellow Phillies righthanders Brett Myers and Gavin Floyd, grading it a 70 on the
20-80 scouting scale. Like Myers and Floyd, Buchholz is developing into the
total package on the mound. His fastball hits 88-93 mph on the gun, and his
changeup is effective. He has a sound delivery and is establishing himself as a
workhorse."
02 October, 2002
Baseball America's Jim Ingraham with a
major report on CLE catcher Victor Martinez :
"
... In the last two years, Martinez has emerged as the most decorated Indians
minor leaguer in decades–even more than Manny Ramirez. After winning the
Carolina League batting title and MVP in 2001 while hitting .329-10-57 at high
Class A Kinston, Martinez repeated himself this year at Double-A Akron, where he
again won the batting title and was named the Eastern League’s MVP.
"Anytime a player wins back-to-back MVP or batting titles, it gets your
attention," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro says. "Last year it
was hard to ignore Victor’s combination of run production, batting average,
on-base percentage, and runs scored, and he did it again this year."
"
... Eastern League managers also voted Martinez the league’s best defensive
catcher in Baseball America’s annual Best Tools survey. "We think Victor
is a potential all-star catcher at the major league level," Shapiro says.
"Being able to hit like he can hit as a catcher, that makes him a premier
prospect." It was for that reason the Indians included Martinez among their
September callups. But Martinez is by no means a finished product; indeed, he
may need some time at Triple-A Buffalo next year before he’s ready to become
an everyday catcher in Cleveland."
03 October, 2002
SportsTicker is running through the top
prospects league-by-league ... now onto the Eastern loop with Matt Santillo's
report ... and there's, of course, more attention devoted to catcher Victor
Martinez CLE :
"
... Considering his age and that he's a converted shortstop, he's way above
where we would have anticipated him being," said Indians Assistant Director
of Player Development Ross Atkins. "He has a plan. He's very
confident." Defensively, the native of Venezuela has soft hands and
outstanding leadership ability. His main deficiency is a weak arm. Despite a
quick release, Martinez had his problems controlling the running game, throwing
out just 25 percent of attempted basestealers. Without a immediate hole to fill
in the majors, he will be given the chance to grow. "The stats speak for
themselves," Atkins said, "but the most exciting thing about Victor is
the way he leads and his leadership abilities."
Bill Traber CLE also got some ink :
"
... Traber, who came over from the New York Mets in December, went 13-2 with a
2.76 ERA in 18 appearances. The 16th player taken in the 2000 draft, Traber
dominated the league between the months of May and June before being promoted to
Triple-A. With command of three solid pitches, including an outstanding
curveball, the 23-year-old went 8-0 with a 2.26 ERA over his last 11 outings for
Akron."
05 October, 2002
Hanley Ramirez
BOS ... a couple of
interesting views. Baseball America -- the second coming of Nomar :
"
... He’s got a chance to be a franchise player, and I don’t use that
term lightly," said Oneonta pitching coach Bill Monbouquette, a 45-year
veteran. "When I say franchise player, I’m talking like a Garciaparra, a
Ken Griffey before he got hurt, a Bonds maybe without as many home runs.
"He’s got so much potential, I really think he’s a can’t-miss guy. I
hate to jinx someone with a label, but I don’t think anyone’s going to be
jinxing this guy."
David Cameron, Strike Three, a little
caution :
"
... For a guy who hasn't set foot in full-season ball yet, he's generating a
ridiculous amount of hype. Granted, switch-hitting 18-year-olds who can really
hit, draw walks, and play shortstop aren't in great abundance, so there are
reasons for the excitement. However, rookie ball gives us very little insight
into Ramirez's ability at the plate. Until we see how well he can hit some
advanced pitchers, it's hard to project him as a superstar. There is just too
much about him we can't know yet."
Cameron's top pick among the shortstops -- Brandon
Phillips CLE over Jose Reyes NYN.
Jose Lopez SEA rated # 6 :
"
... If people believed Jose Lopez was really 18 years of age, he'd be one of the
top few prospects in the game. He battered Cal League pitching to the tune of a
.324 batting average and showed gap power and good speed. His defense has always
been his calling card, and he'll definitely stick at shortstop as long as he
plays. He's tough to project because of the questionable age, but he should be a
quality fielder with some pop, even if he doesn't get a whole lot better."
Some
tidbits from the SportsTicker Texas League prospect review :
"
... the one player that fans and scouts continue to rave about is Texas
Rangers third base prospect Mark Teixeira ... .The 21-year-old hit .320
with nine homers and 41 RBI in 38 games with Charlotte before being promoted to
Tulsa on July 13 ....finished the season hitting .316 with 10 homers and 28 RBI
in 48 games. Teixeira, who was named to SportsTicker's 2002 All-Prospect Team,
had 16 multi-hit games and drove in a season-high three runs on four separate
occasions. He is a tremendous middle of the order hitter who has an experienced
eye at the plate, drawing 25 walks while striking out just 36 times at Class AA
in his first season of professional baseball."
06 October, 2002
John
Sickels, ESPN,
on some top SP talent picked from the high school ranks :
Kris
Honel, CHA " ... I like Honel because
of his excellent curveball/fastball combination... he's one of the best pitching
prospects in baseball, and will start getting attention soon ... Honel
throws in the low-to-mid 90s, has an evil curveball, and knows what to do with
it ... did great work this year in the Sally League, posting a 2.82 ERA and fine
152/52 K/BB in 153 innings, allowing only 128 hits. His numbers back up his
scouting reports."
Gavin
Floyd PHI " ... matched Honel's numbers in the same league
this year. His strikeout rate was a bit lower, but he also gave up fewer hits.
His fastball is excellent, his curve is above-average, and he shows sharp
command. I do wonder if the Phillies are pushing him a bit. 166 innings is a lot
for a kid his age. But he's clearly one of the best pitching prospects in
baseball; you will be hearing his name a lot next year."
Joel
Hanrahan LA " ... Hanrahan has received less attention, but I
like him a lot. He was a second-round pick in '00 ... not quite the overall
athlete that Honel and Floyd are, but he has a strong body that promises
durability. He throws in the low 90s, throws strikes with his slider and
changeup, and pitched much better for Vero Beach than his 4.25 ERA implies. He
did excellent work in Double-A when promoted for the playoffs last month."
Sickels sees a quick ascent to the majors for SD
SS Khalil Greene :
"
... I'm a big Khalil Greene fan. He was the best player in college baseball this
year, then hit .317/.368/.535 in the California League after signing. He's a
polished hitter with good power, is fundamentally sound, hustles, and is
underrated as a defensive shortstop, in my opinion. Some people think he'll have
to shift to second base eventually, but if David Eckstein can play shortstop,
Khalil Greene certainly can. I think it would be a long shot for him to be the
starting shortstop in San Diego next April, but it would not surprise me at all
to see him in a Padres uniform by September, or earlier if he does well in
Double-A/Triple-A."
David Cameron, Strike Three,
on Khalil Greene (his # 9 pick at SS) :
"
... The Padres took Khalil Greene with their first-round pick after watching him
tear the NCAA apart on his way to becoming the Golden Spikes Award winner.
Greene isn't the pure athlete that most shortstops are, but he's got baseball
skills that compensate well. The Padres will give him every chance to stay at
shortstop and attempt to get his bat in the lineup quickly. Greene has a
slashing style at the plate with good bat speed and some above-average juice.
He'll get on base and can take second once he's there. If he can handle
shortstop, he could be an all-star."
16 October, 2002
No surprise in the selection of Mark Teixeira
TEX as the best of the third base prospects. The hot corner picks are David
Cameron's latest position picks at Strike Three.
"
... He dominated high-A in his professional debut, then improved after a jump to
AA. Teixeira's getting work in the Arizona Fall League to make up for lost time.
His future position is still in doubt, but he could handle third if asked. The
Rangers might move him to first just to get his bat in the lineup sooner. He'll
hit like an all-star no matter where he plays."
A bit of an eye-opener in his pick of Drew
Henson as the runnerup :
"
... People are beginning to mention him with other failed quarterbacks such as
Josh Booty. Indeed, Henson struggled for Columbus, posting a terrible
walk-to-strikeout ratio, a low batting average, and playing shaky defense.
However, he has continued to display the best power of any prospect in the game.
Nearly all of Henson's problems are mental, as his physical skills are
overwhelming. He needs to rebound in 2003, but he's an intelligent kid capable
of making the necessary adjustments."
Rapidly climbing the charts (#3 on Cameron's
list) is Andy Marte ATL :
"
... Despite being just 18, he showed a major-league swing with serious power
potential. His approach at the plate was very good for someone with his
experience and he's absolutely oozing with tools. He was the best defensive
third baseman I saw all year and has gold glove potential around the bag. If
Marte follows a normal development path, he could be among the top tier of
prospects in the game next year."
Jim
Callis, Baseball America, on David
Wright NYN (#5 on Cameron's Top 10) :
"
... Wright is one of the better young hitters and best third-base prospects in
the minor leagues. He played the entire season at age 19, and turned in a
more-than-respectable performance in a full-season league. Power often is the
last tool to develop, and having 43 extra-base hits as a teenager is a positive
sign. He's the best batting prospect in the Mets system—not the best position
player; that would be Jose Reyes—and Wright should become the classic run
producer teams want at third base. He'll need some time in the minors and may
not reach Shea Stadium until the second half of 2005, but he'll be worth the
wait."
17 October, 2002
Jim Keller, SportsTicker, on three
oustanding SPs from the SAL -- Gavin Floyd PHI, Kris Honel
CHA, Macay McBride ATL :
"
... Floyd ... pitched a no-hitter and had another broken up in the eighth
inning. The fourth overall pick allowed two runs or fewer in 16 of 27 starts and
held hitters to a .200 average, exceptional numbers for a first-year
professional. The 6-5 Baltimore native has a 92-94 mph fastball, an outstanding
power curve, developing changeup and poise beyond his 19 years."
"
... Honel ... was 9-8 and finished third in strikeouts (152) and ranked 11th in
ERA (2.78). The 6-5, 190-pounder allowed six runs and 23 hits over 52 innings
during one eight-start stretch. Honel features a 90-plus mph fastball and a
killer "knuckle curve".
"
... McBride, who didn't even make the Macon club out of spring training, was
selected the league's Most Outstanding Pitcher. He led in ERA (2.12) and went
7-0 with eight earned runs allowed over 10 starts during a July/August stretch.
He has drawn comparisons to Billy Wagner because of his 5-11 stocky build,
fastball that reaches 94 mph and bulldog mentality."
Baseball
America has made its annual picks in the "best by age"
categories. Topping the 18-year-olds is Mets lefty Scott Kazmir :
"
... After inking a $2.15 million deal, the 6-foot southpaw made his debut in the
college-dominated New York-Penn League. He actually topped his unearthly high
school strikeout ratio (16 K/9 IP) by striking out 34 in 18 innings (17 K/9) for
short-season Brooklyn. Kazmir, whose fastball consistently travels up to 96 mph,
allowed five hits and seven walks while going 0-1, 0.50 in his five pro starts.
Though he didn’t have enough innings to qualify for the league’s Top 10
Prospects list, Kazmir would have had a tough battle with fellow 18-year-old
Hanley Ramirez for the honor as top prospect. But Kazmir’s combination of prep
success and his dazzling pro debut were enough to earn him the nod over Ramirez
as the top 18-year-old."
18 October, 2002
Oh my ... the next Willie Mays, Ken
Griffey? Baseball America picks the top prospects by age.
And, the runnerup in the 17-year-old category (to BJ Upton) already has a lot of
hype :
"
... OF Lastings Milledge is the top-rated prospect for the 2003 draft,
and seemingly every scout and coach who has seen him over the last two years can’t
help but compare him to greats like Ken Griffey and Willie Mays. Milledge played
on the varsity at Northside Christian in St. Petersburg, Fla. since he was in
eighth grade, and his average never dipped below .500. He transferred to
Lakewood Ranch High in Bradenton for his senior year ... .Milledge hit
.569-14-71 with 30 steals in 2001, but that was just the start of his
barnstorming season. For the second straight year, he was the No. 1 prospect at
the Perfect Game National Showcase at Tropicana Field in June ... tied ...
for a team-high .474 average on the summer for USA Baseball’s junior national
team. Milledge also launched 10 home runs in 97 at-bats, including five at the
World Junior Championship in Quebec. He has a big league body with plus-plus
potential across the board."
19 October, 2002
David Cameron's best of the left fielders is
online at Strike Three with SEA's Chris Snelling grabbing the top
spot and Todd Linden SF as the runnerup :
"
... Linden got a bad reputation in college and it caused him to slide in the
draft, but the Giants were only too happy to scoop him up. After a prolonged
holdout cost him the chance to play in 2001, he went directly to AA to start his
pro career. He had few problems with the Texas League and was promoted to AAA
for the final month of the season. His power is still developing and he'll
always be a better gap hitter, but he's capable of driving the ball well. He is
willing to draw his fair share of walks and should have a quality on-base
percentage. He's not much of an outfielder, but his bat makes up for it."
OAK's John-Ford Griffin
checked in at #5 :
"
... He's the prototypical Billy Beane player. He draws a lot of walks, hits a
lot of line drives, and isn't much of a help on the bases or on defense.
Griffin's left-handed swing is among the nicest in the game, but he doesn't
generate much lift yet. He'll get on base, but isn't the typical run-producing
left fielder. There has been some talk that he could move to first base,
especially if the A's can't find a better option next year."
21 October, 2002
Kevin Goldstein's
The
Prospect Report is first off the mark with team-by-team Top 10 reports.
Kevin, who also offers a daily email report, has an attractive and info-packed
site with TB and DET the first clubs up.
No surprise on TB with Rocco Baldelli at
the top of the pack. Shortstop BJ Upton, TB's top pick in the June
draft, is the runnerup :
"
... Upton has the potential to be a five-tool shortstop, often drawing
comparisons to a young Derek Jeter. Defensively he has incredible range, soft
hands and an tremendous arm, with some of his throws across the diamond clocked
as high as 90 mph, which is average MLB fastball speed. At the plate he
generates significant bat speed with a swing that will require some refinement,
but could generate plus power as his body matures."
Dewon Brazelton rates at #4 :
"
... Brazelton possesses a 93-95 mph fastball, along with a vicious change up,
and his strong finish was credited to him ditching his curve and returning to
the vicious slider he featured in college. He pitches with extreme confidence
which helped him reach the majors in his 1st year as a professional ...
will most likely start the 2003 season in the Tampa Bay rotation, and could be
their best pitcher. While it will be difficult to post an impressive W-L record,
his peripheral numbers should be solid."
Goldstein's
DET review has recently
acquired Jeremy Bonderman as the top dog :
"
... Bonderman has everything it takes to be top-flight starter. His fastball
sits consistently in the low 90s, and could gain a couple mph as he matures and
tightens his mechanics. He's still working on a changeup but already has a nasty
slurve with a hard break. At times he works a little too high in the zone,
leading to balls leaving the park. His performance against much more experienced
competition is a testament to his aggressive, confident makeup."
22 October, 2002
Over at The Prospect Report, Kevin Goldstein
continues to churn out the Top 10s. Kansas City is the latest edition and
OF Alexis Gomez tops the chart :
"
... Gomez has the potential to be a dangerous power/speed combo at the plate.
Having never hit more than five home runs in a season, Gomez dramatically
improved his power without giving away any average. Perhaps more impressively,
he also dramatically lowered his strikeout rate... His speed also gives him
solid range in centerfield, although he is anything but an instinctive glove man
... .was one of the few bright spots in the system in 2002, as he drew
occasional comparisons to current Royals centerfielder Carlos Beltran ... on
pace to be in the majors for good in 2004."
23 October, 2002
From Kevin Goldstein's Prospect Report -- Cody
Ross DET (rated #7 among DET prospects) :..
"
... Like most players with the "gritty" label, Ross is an undersized
hard worker who features good tools across the board with no one tool (except
maybe a strong arm) standing out. While he played centerfield occasionally for
Erie, nobody really thinks he has the range to play there long-term. 2003
Outlook: Ross will start 2003 one step a way from the bigs at AAA Toledo. As an
everyday player he lacks to power to play a corner and the speed to play
centerfield, yet he could have a fine career in the majors as a 4th outfielder.
It's hard not to root for him."
24 October, 2002
Lisa Winston,
BBW, on Mark Teixeira
(te-SHARE-a) :
"
... Once he got started, though, there was no stopping him. He opened his pro
career at Class A Port Charlotte with a 12-game hitting streak and batting .320
in 38 games. "I was so excited just to be back out there, doing all the
little things," he said of that June 1 debut. Promoted to Double-A Tulsa in
July, he batted .316 in 48 games and combined for 19 homers and 69 RBI between
the two stops in 86 games. The numbers earned him the starting third base slot
on Sports Weekly's Minor League All-Star Team for 2002. Despite the shortened
season, Teixeira admits he hit the wall at the end of the summer and was happy
to have a few weeks off before fall ball to recharge his battery. His
performance shows the rest clearly energized him ... Rangers owner Tom Hicks
called him "the best player we've ever drafted as a franchise." The
eventual decision the organization will have to make between him and Blalock at
the hot corner is probably a year away. One will most likely move to first base
or the outfield."
Doug
Hennessee, at TwinsGeek, has been reviewing
the MIN organization, on the future behind the plate -- Joe Mauer :
"
... Mauer is the best positional prospect in the game, I believe. The Twins rave
about his work behind the plate, his arm, his intelligence, and his bat. Sure,
he’s not hitting the ball over the fence right now, but don’t worry. It’s
just not very common for 18 year-olds to go to A ball (even low A) and have this
kind of batting average and plate discipline. Just doesn’t happen. He’ll be
just fine ... guys like Mauer can take off very fast, or they can just
steadily develop. I could see him with the big-league club as early as late
2004, and challenging for a role on the team by 2005."
29 October, 2002
John
Sickels, ESPN, on Clint Nageotte
SEA :
"
... Nageotte was 9-6 with a 4.54 ERA in the Class A California League this year,
but he struck out 214 in 165 innings, with 68 walks. He allowed less than a
hit-per-inning, gave up just 10 homers, and didn't walk huge numbers of people,
so the relatively high ERA looks something like a fluke. He led all minor
leaguers in strikeouts, coming on the heels of a 187-strikeout season in the '01
Midwest League.
Nageotte
isn't a soft-tosser, either. His slider is his best pitch, and it's a killer,
but he also has a 92-94 mph fastball. He needs to improve his command, and a
changeup will help at higher levels, but Nageotte has one of the best pure power
arms in the minor leagues. If strikeouts are the best indicator of future
success for a pitcher, this guy has a bright future indeed. At 6-4, 200, he
projects to be durable, and hasn't had any health problems so far."
30 October, 2002
Chris Reed at
Prospect
Report is back and beginning position-by-position reviews with catchers
first up. MIN's Joe Mauer was selected as the best of the best :
"
... it's obvious Mauer has the frame to support better power than the .392 SLG
and 4 homeruns he pulled in last year. Right now the former number one selection
projects to be a .300 BA / .400 OBP / .400 SLG hitter in his prime, but he could
easily add more power as he matures."
Victor Martinez CLE is the runnerup :
"
... Don't ask me how Victor Martinez got overlooked last year (especially by
me). His 2002 Peak Projection was .303 BA / .361 OBP / .453 SLG, yet for some
reason he got the shaft. He's not young for a prospect but he crushed Eastern
League pitching to the point where you can't ignore his abilities at the plate.
He's not the most apt defensive catcher in the game, but he's serviceable and
should hit enough to make up for any small defensive inadequacies."
31 October, 2002
Victor Martinez tops Brandon Phillips
for #1 on the CLE prospect list as Kevin Goldstein, The Prospect Report,
continues his team-by-team reviews.
"
... While he's always been an excellent contact hitter, he's made tremendous
progress with his strike-zone recognition, drawing a career high 58 walks,
including 27 over the season's final two months. He acquitted himself well in
his major league debut, going 6-for-12 in his final four games and homering on
the final day of the season. Martinez is the rarest of the rare -- a
switch-hitting catcher who is capable of being a middle of the order run
producer, hitting for average and power from both sides of the plate.
Defensively, Martinez is a mixed bag. He has excellent hands and blocking skills
behind the plate and coaches rave about his leadership and the ability to call a
game. The big negative is his arm, which is well below average, as he's thrown
out under 30% of opposing base stealers in the last two seasons. With today's
power heavy game, that's not the concern it once was ... One easily accepts the
defensive shortcomings for a catcher who can hit like this. Einar Diaz and Josh
Bard don't present much of a roadblock, and Martinez will be given every
opportunity to win the starting catcher's job for the rebuilding Indians in
spring training."
At #3 on the chart -- SP Cliff Lee :
"
... Lee features five solid pitches -- two fastballs (two seam and four seam)
which sit in the low 90s, an excellent changeup, a slow curve, and a slider that
breaks strong and late that he struggles to keep in the strike zone. His control
still needs work but is improving, and when he throws all of his pitches for
strikes he is nearly unhittable. He one weakness is a tendency to work too high
in the zone, leading to pitches that leave the yard quickly ... .After C.C.
Sabathia, the Cleveland rotation is wide open entering 2003. Lee is one of about
eight pitchers battling for four slots, and he has as much long-term potential
as any of them."
Rookies 2002 Page
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