We continue our prospect roundup with Part II of the NL today. Previous parts: American League; National League Part I and II

Philadelphia Phillies

The chase for Roy Halladay threatened to leave the Phillie farm system barren, but instead they were able to bring in Cliff Lee and keep their top three prospects — not a bad trade deadline for the Phillies. Dominic Brown and Kyle Drabek were the key pieces that J.P. Ricciardi wanted in a Halladay deal. Brown is a toolsy outfielder who has the potential to be a 20/20 guy. Raul Ibanez is not getting any younger, but the Phillies certainly hope that Brown is not playing a key role down the stretch. Drabek, the son of former Cy Young winner Doug Drabek, has looked good in Double-A, but not so good that he deserved the ‘untouchable’ label.

In terms of guys that can, and have, helped this season, J.A. Happ is at the top of the list. At 8-2 with a 2.74 ERA, he has been the team’s ace this year. The addition of Lee will help and it is hard to imagine Cole Hamels is as bad as his numbers have indicated, but Happ has been the anchor to this rotation. Lee should be able to help Happ be consistent with his pitching and avoid a return to Triple-A (like Lee had to do after being a 19-game winner).

The Phillies have another bright young outfielder who is quickly moving towards the majors. Michael Taylor, a fifth-round pick in 2007, soared through two levels of Class-A last season, batting .346 with 19 homers and 15 steals. This season, the 23-year-old was absolutely fantastic at Double-A (.333 with 15 homers, 65 RBI and 18 steals in 86 games) to force another promotion, this time to Triple-A. Since arriving at Lehigh Valley, Taylor has continued to impress, batting .290 with five homers in 29 games. If he doesn’t get a September call-up this season, by mid-season 2010 he’ll definitely be forcing the Phils’ hands with these kinds of performances. The dude is really starting to put up numbers in Triple-A, with a four-RBI game and a three-RBI game among his last three contests.

Pittsburgh Pirates

I checked and, yes, the Pirates do still have players on their roster. They actually have a couple very talented guys still kicking around. In case you missed his three home run game, Andrew McCutchen (No. 12 on our Top 40 Prospect List) is kind of good. Here at RotoRob, it was predicted that he would see the majors before midseason and that was 100 per cent correct. He’s been a very exciting player to watch with a .292 average, 28 extra-base hits, and nine stolen bases. He reminds me of Matt Kemp, though hopefully he will not get buried in the Pirate batting order the way Kemp has in LA. McCutchen should be patrolling centrefield in Pittsburgh for a long time…at least until the trade deadline the season before his free agency kicks in, at any rate.

Down on the farm, the second overall pick in the 2008 draft, Pedro Alvarez (No. 20), has been promoted to Double-A where he is finally showing the bat that made him a high draft choice. Alvarez struggled to hit for average in High-A, but now he is sporting a .320 average at Double-A Altoona. He still strikes out too much, but then again, so does Mark Reynolds. Alvarez is not that far removed from a wrist injury that limited him in his junior season at Vanderbilt, so expect the bat to continue to improve. The Pirates have nothing to lose, so we may see Alvarez this September.

Another big stick that’s knocking on the door is Jose Tabata, acquired from the Yanks in last season’s Xavier Nady deal. Tabata, who just turned 21 last week, is enjoying a superb season. He hit over .300 at Double-A, earning a promotion to Triple-A where, after 10 games, he’s smoking the ball even better. Tabata deserves a look in Pittsburgh in September.

St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis did not have the deepest farm system before the Matt Holliday trade, but after the deal, it is virtually empty. The extent of the Cardinal youth movement seems to be Colby Rasmus (No. 7 on our prospect list). The outfield is getting a bit crowded with the addition of Holliday, but Rasmus has seen time spelling both Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick. At times, Rasmus has looked like he is worth all the hype. Then there are other times where he looks like an overmatched 22-year-old in a pennant race. When I watch him play, I see the talent that could lead to him being a future star. The 11 home runs in 325 at bats is a total that will improve, but the lack of base stealing is a bit of a concern.

Allen Craig is not much of a prospect at 25 years old, but he is a hitter. With a .309 average and 18 home runs in Triple-A, Craig provides a nice right-handed bat that could be useful off the bench down the stretch. The addition of Mark DeRosa will limit Craig’s immediate value, while Troy Glaus is the Redbirds’ preferred third baseman down the stretch. Still, Craig has the best potential of a Cardinal minor leaguer in terms of making an impact soon.

Catcher Bryan Anderson shot up the Card prospect list last season when he hit well over .300 combined between Double-A and Triple-A, but this season the 22-year-old’s bat has regressed to a .245 mark at Triple-A. The fact that his season ended rather early thanks to a shoulder woe won’t help him stay high on any prospect lists next spring.

San Diego Padres

Mat Latos was stellar in the minor leagues and has looked equally impressive since reaching the majors. On a terrible Padre team, he is 4-1 with a 2.43 ERA. It certainly helps to play in Petco Park. But actually, he’s been fairly lucky, as he’s given up six home runs in 29 innings with the Padres. Those numbers do not extrapolate very well, so he is going to have to cut down the long balls if he wants to keep his ERA that low. Chris “Pitcher” Young has been spending time mentoring Latos and that combo could be a nice 1-2 punch for the Padres next season. Latos has the unenviable task of replacing Jake Peavy as the ace of this San Diego squad.

In the deal for Peavy, the Padres were able to get Clayton Richard back from the White Sox. Richard was one of the White Sox top prospects before he was dealt and the Padres will look for immediate returns on his arm. San Diego won the first two games that Richard started, and he pitched fairly well in both outings. As a pitcher in Petco Park, Richard could have a decent amount of value. He had a 4.65 ERA with the White Sox before being dealt, but that came in US Cellular Field against American League teams. He should be able to post a sub-4.00 ERA the rest of the way.

On the offensive side of the ball, Will Venable has been on a power binge of late. As much as Petco Park helps Latos and Richard, it will hold Venable’s power upside back. He’s 26 years old and this is his longest stint in the majors so far, so he probably is not a long-term offensive option in the Padre outfield. San Diego does lack alternatives though, so if you can handle a .260 average, Venable should be able to help down the stretch in NL-only leagues.

A younger outfielder worth watching is Kellen Kulbacki. He tore it up in the Cal League last season, batting .332 with 20 homers and 66 RBI in 84 games, but he’s essentially had a lost year this season. Injuries have limited the 23-year-old to just 36 games at Double-A, and he’s struggled to a .201 mark with no dingers and just 11 RBI. Once this kid gets healthy, he could be a starter at Petco within a couple of years.

San Francisco Giants

Madison Bumgarner (No. 4 on our pre-season list) is the prized possession of the Giant farm system. He was lights out last year and he continues to dominate this year against older competition in Double-A. He has an ERA of 1.97 between High-A and Double-A to complement his 10-2 record. Bumgarner’s stuff has not been quite as overpowering against older hitters but at 20 years old he is still just learning how to pitch. If the Giants are in the race for the wild card in September, Bumgarner could be called upon to push the team over the top.

This spring, Buster Posey (No. 18) took the Cactus League by storm. Since Bengie Molina is firmly entrenched at catcher in San Francisco, there has been no need to rush Posey. In spite of this fact, Posey has done his best to force his way on to the Giant roster. After being assigned to High-A San Jose, he proved to be a man among boys. The San Francisco brass was quick to pick up on this and jumped Posey to Triple-A where he has continued to hit. Molina is no spring chicken, so it would stand to reason that Posey could see time in San Francisco soon. If you’re in an NL-only league, it is imperative you keep an eye out for Posey.

The Giants dealt away pitching prospect Tim Alderson to acquire Freddy Sanchez, but Pablo Sandoval, one of the team’s top prospects heading into the season, has made a seamless and triumphant transition into a full-time major leaguer this season. He just turned 23 last week, but is already entrenched at the hot corner, showing nice power and a BA that only Hanley Ramirez tops among NLers. He’s obviously a must-own Fantasy asset.

Washington Nationals

One of the benefits of putting a weak team on the field is supposed to be that you draft high. Unfortunately for the Nationals, they were unable to sign first round pick Aaron Crow last season. This year the heat is on for the Nationals to sign Stephen Strasburg. If and when the Nationals sign Strasburg (they have until Monday and so far, a record offer hasn’t made it happen yet), he immediately becomes one of the top prospects in the minors. His name has been linked to some of the best college pitchers of all time, like Mark Prior and Ben McDonald, but that may also be a warning sign to the Nationals. In order for Washington to be taken seriously, it needs to sign Strasburg. If not, the Nats should be relegated like a European soccer team, and we can call up the Triple-A team with the best record. With the amount of money the Nationals are going to throw at Strasburg, look for him to be in the majors to begin next season.

The Nationals do have a few nice bats coming up through the system. Chris Marrero, Michael Burgess, and Derek Norris would all rank as top bats in any system. Marrero and Burgess are not ready to be promoted to Washington, but they are two of the premier power hitters in the High-A Carolina league. Marrero is a better all around hitter at this stage of his career, while Burgess needs to cut down on his strikeouts. Norris is even further away from the majors, playing catcher at Low-A Hagerstown. He does have a tendency to strike out, but he still has managed an OBP above .400 for the season. Norris has a good amount of power and seems to be the Washington catcher of the future.

Of course, the team’s top prospect heading into the season — starter Jordan Zimmermann — was called up early this year, and spent most of the season in the Nat rotation until getting hurt last month. Unfortunately, Tommy John surgery is going to force Zimmermann to the sidelines for at least a year, derailing what was shaping up as a promising start to his career. This injury makes it all the more important that Washington gets Strasburg’s signature on a deal.

We continue our prospect roundup with Part II of the NL today. Previous parts: American League; National League Part I.

Florida Marlins

The Marlins roster is filled with prospects every year. The minute a guy turns 27 on this roster, they immediately get shipped out for another influx of prospects. It will be interesting to see if they can keep Hanley Ramirez in town to help sell seats for the new stadium. Cameron Maybin (No. 9 on our Top 40 Prospects List) was supposed to be the next big thing for the Marlins. He was the centrepiece of the Miguel Cabrera trade and considered the team’s centrefielder of the future when the year began. Not a lot has changed, as Maybin is still the centrefielder of the future in Miami, but the stats are not as gaudy as people once thought. He’s still just 22 years old, so the lack of power is forgivable. The big concern is the lack of speed. Maybin has just six stolen bases in 240 at bats in Triple-A.

Mike Stanton (No. 26) has taken over as the top prospect in Florida. At 6’5”, 240 pounds, Stanton is about as imposing as a player gets. He’s just 19 years old which means he might still have some room to grow. Some scouts believe that he has the most power potential in the entire minor leagues. Stanton will need some more time in the minors though, as he still strikes out once every three at bats. But that’s not a huge worry because at his age, he has plenty of time to develop. Stanton will not be useful to your Fantasy rosters this year, but he will soon erase any memories of other Mike Stantons you might remember.

If you’re looking for a player that might be able to help this year, Gaby Sanchez could be the answer. The Marlins have moved him from first base to third base to help make sure that he stays in the lineup. He is the complete opposite of current Marlins third baseman, Emilio Bonifacio, as Sanchez is a big guy with power potential. He will not steal bases like Bonifacio does, but he is more of a prototypical third baseman. The Marlins have threatened to replace Bonifacio numerous times this season and his .248 average is not exactly commanding a spot in the lineup.

Let’s not overlook first baseman Logan Morrison. While his counting stats are down this year because he missed several weeks with a broken wrist, he’s still been very impressive at Double-A, showing off a tremendous batting eye and scoring 40 runs in just 58 games. The injury probably cost him a chance at a September call-up, but Morrison could very easily be manning first for the Fish on Opening Day 2010.

Houston Astros

I love the Astros. I was a big Killer B’s fan. Those days are long gone, though. Now the biggest killer ‘b’ is “barren,” as in the Astro farm system. There just is not a whole lot to talk about with the Astros. Bud Norris looked outstanding in Triple-A and has looked equally impressive in the majors since getting called up. Norris could stand to improve his control (10 walks in 16 innings in the bigs), but he has been tough to solve on a whole. He still does not seem to be a great pitcher long term, but as long as he is striking out a batter an inning, he has a place in NL-only Fantasy leagues.

Last year’s first round pick Jason Castro has looked very good just a year after being drafted. The problem with Castro’s statistics is that they are virtually impossible to analyze. For the first half of the season, he played his home games in Lancaster in the California league, which is notoriously more hitter happy than any other park in baseball. As a result, his home OPS in High-A was almost 275 points higher than his road OPS. Castro has tried to make the stats stand up as he’s hitting .304 since his promotion to Double-A, but is not drawing as many walks. He’s a patient hitter and most scouts say that the offense always comes later for catcher prospects. Considering the fact that Brad Ausmus is the standard for offensive catcher in Houston, Castro should be a breath of fresh air.

Though I think that the stats at Hi-A Lancaster are always inflations of talent, I’d feel remiss not to mention Jon Gaston’s season. In 420 at bats, he’s hit .288 with 25 doubles, 15 triples, 30 home runs, and 12 stolen bases. These stats are absolutely ridiculous and it will be very difficult to replicate when he is eventually promoted to Double-A. If Gaston does match these numbers, though, he will be one of the true big stars in baseball. Again, take the stats with a grain of salt as Lancaster is a hitter’s paradise.

Brian Bogusevic is one of the more interesting prospects in the system, as he spent his first couple of minor league seasons as a pitcher before switching to the outfield halfway through 2008. He pulled a Rick Ankiel, batting .371 in the Texas League, but that just 124 at bats worth of action. Promoted to Triple-A this season, Bogusevic has shown gap power, some patience and some speed, so he could get a chance to show his stuff this September, but he really doesn’t project as much more than a fourth outfielder in the majors.

Los Angeles Dodgers

James McDonald is one of the top pitching prospects in the Dodger organization. This year, the team has elected to use him as an integral part of its bullpen. For a while, there was a bit of talk about moving him to the rotation, but the Dodgers have decided it would be smarter to use scrap heap specials like Jason Schmidt. McDonald has little Fantasy relevance this season, but he is a guy to watch next spring when the Dodgers are filling out their rotation.

The top prospects for the Dodgers are all hanging out in the low minors. Inland Empire saw a great deal of time on ESPN due to the Manny Ramirez fiasco (how does a suspended player get a rehab assignment — that concept baffled me), but there are some nice bats down there to watch. Scott Van Slyke, son of former Pirate All-Star Andy Van Slyke, has hit .290 with 58 extra base hits, while Trayvon Robinson has been one of the most exciting players in the minors. Both hitters are still at least two years away, but should be highly regarded next spring when different rankings of prospects are published.

Outfielder Andrew Lambo enjoyed a nice season at Class-A last year, and then dazzled in a brief trial at Double-A. He hasn’t quite kept up the pace at Double-A this season, but he’s smoked 35 doubles and considering he just turned 21 this week, you’ve got to figure plenty of those will be leaving the park in time. Lambo could very well be the team’s top prospect, so let’s not ignore this kid.

Milwaukee Brewers

Everyone loved Mat Gamel (The No. 32 prospect on our pre-season list) coming into the season. The Brewers were looking to improve their pitching at the trade deadline, but Gamel was untouchable in all of those negotiations. However, Casey McGehee stole all of Gamel’s at bats in Milwaukee, leaving Gamel to ride the pine for Ken Macha. When the Brewers acquired Felipe Lopez, they finally sent Gamel back to the minors to get some regular at bats. McGehee is not the long-term answer, so Gamel should be given an opportunity to play again next season. If the Brewers fall out of the race this year, Gamel should be back in September for some additional Major League experience.

The other untouchable prospect in the Brewers minor league system is shortstop Alcides Escobar (No. 27). In Triple-A, Escobar hit .298 with 42 stolen bases, and earlier this week — as part of a major shakeup in Milwaukee — Escobar was summoned to The Show while incumbent shortstop and former All-Star J.J. Hardy was demoted to the minors. Need speed? Grab this kid. He swiped a base in his first appearance as a pinch-runner and then had a hit and a run in his first start Thursday. Escobar has to be more productive than a guy like Craig Counsell. As a middle infielder with good wheels, the upside for Escobar offensively is similar to Luis Castillo in his early years with the Marlins.

Other than Escobar and Gamel, there is a shortage of Major League ready talent in the organization. Brett Lawrie and Caleb Gindl are nice hitters, but they will not be ready for a few years.

One arm worth tracking is Jeremy Jeffress, for no other reason than he can simply bring it. Armed with a triple-digit heater, this kid struck out 115 batters in 94 IP between High-A and Double-A last season. He started at Double-A this year, and again racked up the Ks (34 in 27 1/3 IP), but walked 33 as well, forcing Milwaukee to send him back to High-A. Jeffress took the demotion well, and although the walks were still too plentiful, he couldn’t be touched at this level (.145 BAA). Unfortunately, he’s been nailed with a drug suspension for 100 games. Still, he won’t be 22 until next month, and once he figures out how to command that 100 mph heat, he’ll move fast. Don’t sleep on him. Or offer him any more drugs.

New York Mets

Met fans would love to believe their team has a deep farm system. After all, they have to be optimistic if they are going to ignore how horrible the parent club has played this season. Granted, injuries have played a large role in their failures, but that makes the weak farm system even more of a problem. A strong farm system could have helped to successfully fill the holes created by injuries. Daniel Murphy was supposed to be a nice young bat that could step in and be the number two hitter for this team. He’s flashed his ability at times, but a .252 average and some defensive mishaps have left Met fans eagerly waiting for the next big talent.

Fernando Martinez (No. 29 on our prospect list) was the top Met prospect coming into the season and he had a shot to show his skills at the Major League level. However, after hitting .288 in Triple-A, Martinez was only able to manage a .176 average in 91 at bats. Like the rest of the Mets, Martinez has been hampered by the injury bug. The team seems to be getting healthy for September and there is actually still some hope for the postseason in New York. If things go the way the Mets plan, Martinez will not be a factor for the rest of this season, but you just never know with this team.

There is help coming in the lower levels, but it is just not ready for The Show. Wilmer Flores has received comparisons to a young Miguel Cabrera, but the statistics are not there to prove it yet. In terms of younger players that might be able to help your Fantasy team this year, Bobby Parnell is the guy to watch. The Mets have had a lot of issues with their rotation and Parnell might be able to fill the void. He will slowly need to be stretched out, but there is upside in his arm.

The team’s top pitching prospect, Jonathon Niese, pitched decently at Triple-A, but gave up a few too many hits for my liking. He got his shot in the majors and held his own, and then proved he truly belonged on the Mets by suffering a season-ending hamstring injury. He’s someone to watch next spring, as he’ll get a good chance to crack the rotation.

In Part III, we’ll wrap up the remainder of the NL team’s prospects.

We’re back with the second half of our Prospects Update. Here’s the American League.

Arizona Diamondbacks

When your team is 17 games back in the division and half your roster is on the disabled list, it is a great opportunity to see if any of your farm system is ready to play in the show. You know things are going bad when you have players on the disabled list with Valley Fever. Conor Jackson has managed to catch a disease that only infects one in 5,000 people a year. The hits keep coming in the farm system, where top prospect Jarrod Parker (No. 22 on our pre-season Top 40 Prospects List) has been sidelined with a serious elbow injury. A date with Dr. James Andrews is imminent and that is just about as ominous as it gets.

Arizona traded reliever Tony Pena to get power prospect Brandon Allen from the Chicago White Sox. Allen had disappointed in Triple-A for Chicago, but he’s torn the cover off the ball since joining the Arizona farm system. In 111 at bats, Allen’s hit .315 with 11 home runs and four stolen bases for the Reno Aces. With Jackson out with obscure diseases and Josh Whitesell hitting .191 in the majors, Allen could be up for September. In the long run, Allen might be a DH but he reminds me a lot of Carlos Lee when he was coming up. He could be a great source of power if he does get the call in September.

Trent Oeltjen has already gotten the call from the Diamondbacks. After spending the better part of seven years in the Minnesota farm system, Oeltjen seems to be coming into his own for the Diamondbacks. In 2008, he hit .315 with 28 doubles, 10 triples, six home runs, and 15 stolen bases. This year, his numbers remain consistent with a .300 average, 27 doubles, 14 triples, 10 home runs, and 19 stolen bases. Since he’s been called up, he’s hit .400 with three dingers and two swipes in just four games. Obviously, he’s not as good as that, but he is a guy that gives 110 per cent all the time. Oeltjen will always get the most out of his tools and that type of high effort guy has a place in every clubhouse. With Justin Upton on the DL and Chris “Outfielder” Young in the minors, Oeltjen could be very productive for the last month and a half.

Reliever Daniel Schlereth has tremendous stuff, and he’s been pushed through the system very rapidly, getting the call to Arizona for the second time this season on Wednesday. Health has been a concern for this kid, and he needs to limit the free passes, but in an Arizona bullpen that’s ripe with opportunity, he’s someone you must track.

Atlanta Braves

The Braves are not out of the playoff race, but it is evident that they are engaging in a bit of a youth movement. Tommy Hanson (No. 13 on our list) has ascended to the Major Leagues and has looked outstanding since receiving the call. He has not been quite as overpowering against Major Leaguers but the 3.22 ERA is very impressive for a 22-year-old. As Hanson matures, his control should improve a bit to match his statistics in the minors. Jordan Schafer started the year as the Braves centrefielder and hit a home run in the opener. It has been all downhill since then for him as he was demoted to Triple-A Gwinnett and promptly injured his wrist. He probably will not be back for September.

Brandon Jones is not really a prospect anymore, but he was one of the top Braves hopes over the past few seasons. In 2007, he hit .300 with 19 home runs and 17 stolen bases, but he has been unable to match that production since. The average is still there – Jones is hitting .293 in Triple-A – but the power and speed combination have disappeared. He might be a fourth outfielder at best, but he could see time in Atlanta soon. Barbaro Canizares received his cup of coffee earlier this season and was only able to manage a .190 average. At 29 years old, he does not qualify as a prospect yet the people who organize the All Star Futures Game felt he deserved a spot on the World team. The Cuban defector has hit well in Triple-A and only Adam LaRoche stands in his way for playing time in Atlanta, so he could be a cheap source of power in NL-only leagues in September.

The real big guns in the farm system are Jason Heyward (No. #3) and Freddie Freeman. This pair of 20-year-olds has been teaming up to destroy pitching at every stop in the Atlanta farm system. In Heyward’s case, he just seems to be getting better. He hit .296 with 10 home runs in 189 at-bats at High-A, but his numbers are even more impressive at Double-A. In 111 at-bats, he’s hitting .405 with six long balls. At 6’4” and 220 pounds, Hewyard is an imposing presence when he steps up to bat. His partner in crime, Freeman, has not enjoyed the same type of immediate success in Double-A, but that’s hardly an insult to a kid his age. Freeman put together a great Spring Training and he is the first baseman of the future in Atlanta. If either of these two get a September call-up, they are must-adds for a team looking to build for the future.

On the mound, Cole Rohrbough was one of the team’s top pitching prospects heading into the season, but he’s been a massive disappointment in 2009. He continues to walk too many, but is no longer striking out enough to compensate. He’s also been far too hittable and has really taken a major step backward. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Rohrbough forced to repeat High-A.

Chicago Cubs

Chicago has a decent farm system, but it is not necessarily loaded with talent that is ready to contribute this season. Josh Vitters (No. 31 on our pre-season list) is the prized possession of the system and he absolutely destroyed Low-A pitching this year. Unfortunately, the .230 average in Hi-A indicates that he is nowhere near ready to contribute in the Windy City. The other big name in the Cub system is Jeff Samardzija. In my opinion, the hype surrounding him is not proportional to his actual talent. The recognition that he received as an All-American wide receiver for Notre Dame helped propel his career. This year he’s posted a 6.29 ERA in the majors and I doubt he will do much to become roster worthy in the near future.

Jake Fox crushed the ball in 2008 with 39 doubles and 31 home runs between stops at Double-A and Triple-A. The problem was that he only hit .222 in Triple-A. Considering he was already 25, some people felt it was too late for him to develop. After hitting over .400 for the first month in Triple-A, Fox has been with the Cubs for most of the 2009 season and in limited action, he’s hit .301 with eight home runs. With Aramis Ramirez already on the roster, Fox may not be a long-term third base solution, but the incumbent’s injury-filled season has given the kid a window of opportunity. Fox is eligible at third base and in the outfield in most formats which allows flexibility for fitting him on your NL-only roster.

Starter Andrew Cashner, the team’s first round pick last year, has soared through the system, making him a prospect worth tracking. He handled the promotion to High-A with ease, forcing the Cubs to move him up to Double-A, where he’s been even harder to hit through five starts. Cashner occasionally suffers from a bit of wildness and inconsistency, but this soon-to-be 23-year-old righty has to be on the radar of keeper league owners.

Cincinnati Reds

Sometimes, when I look at the Cincy, I forget whether I am looking at Major League stats or Triple-A stats. Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips are obviously bright spots, but just about every other position seems to be a bit of a wild card. At the trade deadline, the Reds were able to pick up Wladimir Balentien from the Seattle Mariners. He has never been a truly elite prospect, but he has always been very intriguing because of the power upside. Balentien fell flat on his face with his opportunity in Seattle, but he’s hit well since arriving in Cincinnati. Right now, the five outfielders listed on the Red roster are Balentien, Jonny Gomes, Laynce Nix, Willy Taveras, and Chris Dickerson. It baffles me why Taveras is still playing at all. The Reds are 15 games under .500 and Taveras is hitting .237 with a .272 on-base percentage. I know Cincy dished out a fair amount of coin to sign this dude to a multi-year (!) contract last winter, but hell, just bench the guy! Gomes and Nix are both older than Taveras, while Dickerson is 27 years old. These guys have not been able to hold down starting jobs for a reason, so Balentien may have his best opportunity to play in Cincinnati right now. This lack of outfield talent should also provide Chris Heisey a chance to play in September. He’s 25 years old already, but you can’t ignore his combined .325 BA with 17 home runs and 16 stolen bases between stops at Double-A and Triple-A. Heisey might be a fun guy to take a chance on when he does get called up.

Yonder Alonso (No. 30 on our pre-season list) is the top prospect in the system. There were rumours that he was involved in the Scott Rolen trade at the deadline. When I first saw these reports, my jaw literally dropped. Fortunately, the Reds were smart enough to hang on to Alonso. He hit well in High-A but has been a bit overmatched with a promotion to Double-A. The best thing that Alonso has going for him right now is that he is a power hitter that does not strike out every other at bat. As long as he keeps making contact, the hits will eventually start to fall. The biggest problem the Reds have with Alonso is that Votto is entrenched at first base. Too much talent is always a good problem to have, though.

Neftali Soto, a tender-aged power-hitting third base prospect, has mostly struggled to adjust to High-A. But he has a great pedigree, and is getting hot in the last couple of weeks, so he may be ready for Double-A next season, which means he’ll soon need to be on your radar.

Colorado Rockies

Coors Field is still hell for pitchers, humidor or not. Just ask a guy like Jason Hammel whether he would rather pitch in Coors or on the road (home ERA 7.02 vs. road ERA of 2.81). However, that should not scare you away from star pitching prospects like Jhoulys Chacin and Christian Friedrich. In Chacin’s case, he has already made it to the big leagues. As a reliever, he is doing exactly what the Rockies expect him to do – strike people out. As a starter, he displayed control issues. He’s since been sent back down, but it is hard for Coors Field to hurt a pitcher when the batters cannot make contact. Friedrich has been arguably the best pitcher in the minor leagues this year. Between Class-A and High-A, Friedrich has posted a 1.71 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP. In 100 innings, he has struck out 136 batters, which works out to an eye-popping 12.24 strikeouts per nine innings.

Dexter Fowler (No. 11 on our pre-season list) did not necessarily have a spot in the Colorado outfield coming out of the spring. Now he’s the proud owner of 345 big league at bats, a .264 average, and 26 stolen bases. The stolen bases are good enough for third in the National League and he still is splitting time with a plethora of other flyhawks. If you’re looking for upside over the last month and a half, look no further than Carlos Gonzalez. After being traded from Arizona to Oakland, then from Oakland to Colorado, Gonzalez seems to have found a home in the Colorado outfield. He was hitting .330 in Triple-A before getting called up. Gonzalez has 25-homer, 20-steal potential and just needs regular at bats. He has eight stolen bases in just 127 at bats and could be a cheap source of steals in the speed-starved National League. He’s also been red hot as of late (.424 BA in August).

Catcher Wilin Rosario, one of the organization’s top prospects after a huge 2008 season in the Rookie-level Pioneer League, was aggressively promoted to High-A, and has predictably struggled with the adjustment. He’s now hurt and has been shut down for the season, but we were very impressed with his progress in June and July, so he’s a name worth tucking away.

In Part II of our NL Prospects Update, we’ll cover off more of the Senior Circuit minor leaguers.

Let’s review how some of the big prospects around the Junior Circuit have fared this season and who might be coming up next month that’s worthy of monitoring.

Baltimore Orioles

Before the season started, many Fantasy pundits (including us) predicted that Matt Wieters would be the number one prospect to add to your team. As expected, he was called up in the beginning of June and has hit .269 since with three home runs and 14 RBI. These numbers do not live up to the ‘Joe Mauer with power’ description that some scouts projected, but it is important to remember that Wieters just turned 23. Catchers take a little extra time to develop and Baltimore will give him every chance to perform for the rest of the season. His value may never be lower than it is right now, so he is a nice candidate to buy low on.

The future is now in the Orioles’ rotation. In the past week, they have called upon their top two young pitchers, Brian Matusz and Chris Tillman, to fill voids on their staff. Matusz seems to be getting better with each start he makes. After posting a 2.16 ERA in High-A, he actually looked more dominant in Double-A by putting together a 1.55 ERA to go with a 7-0 record. On Tuesday, he made his Major League debut against the Detroit Tigers and picked up a victory. After demonstrating his ability to get out of jams, he could stick around for the rest of this season. Matusz should already be owned in all keeper leagues and might provide some strikeout help down the stretch in redraft leagues. As a rule I do not trust Oriole pitchers, but Matusz appears to have truly elite stuff.

Tillman has already made two major league starts and has come up empty in both. The 6.75 ERA should drop as he settles into the rotation. Tillman’s groundball/flyball rate (0.33) in his first two starts does not remotely resemble the rate he produced in Triple-A (0.98). With some initial nerves out of the way, he should settle into the rotation nicely. In Triple-A, Tillman was able to strike out over a batter an inning, so he may have a little value in redraft leagues. Because he is an Oriole, it is worth steering clear until he puts a couple good starts together at the Major League level.

Boston Red Sox

The trade deadline has come and gone with Roy Halladay remaining in Toronto. A big reason that he was not moved was Boston’s reluctance to part with too much of its farm system. In our annual Top 40 Prospects, Lars Anderson rated as the 17th-best prospect. After a great season in 2008, he has been unable to hit Double-A pitching with any consistency. He’s striking out once every 3.6 at bats and has yet to reach double-digits in home runs. Many scouts still like Anderson, but he will not be ready to help this season.

The help for this season comes from the young arms. Michael Bowden (No. 40 on our list), Daniel Bard, and Clay Buchholz have all seen time on the big league club. Bard appears to be the most prized possession within the organization, as he has already elevated himself to a key role in the Red Sox bullpen. With a low ERA and a high K/9 rate, he can help teams in dire need of quality pitching. Bard was a starter in college, but the Red Sox seem content to use him as a dominant set-up man and avoid any Joba Chamberlain rotation/bullpen debates.

Buchholz was nothing short of fantastic in Triple-A. He’s only made four starts for the Sox this year and the numbers have not matched his talent, so the stay in Boston could be short lived. It’s hard to count on Buchholz as anything more than a reliever down the stretch, though he could be a nice starter long term.

Bowden has pitched in one Major League game this year, looking virtually unhittable in a relief effort against the AL East-leading New York Yankees. The wins in Triple-A have been almost non-existent, but the 2.96 ERA and 1.15 WHIP are better indicators of his talent. He could return to the Sox in September and provide some help in the bullpen. Bowden shouldn’t be of much use on your Fantasy team, though.

Chicago White Sox

Hopefully you were able to acquire Gordon Beckham when he started his Major League career in a 2-for-28 slump. Now, G-Beck is hitting .316 with six home runs, four stolen bases, and 38 RBI in just 187 at bats. If you are in a keeper league and are falling out of the race, do whatever it takes to acquire this kid. The American League rookie class has been dominated by pitchers, but Beckham has been a shining star on the offensive side. He’s my pick to win the AL Rookie of the Year. After Beckham, what you see is what you get with the White Sox current lineup. The Chicago farm system was already on the weaker side, but now that Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, and Brandon Allen have been dealt, the system is virtually barren.

The big name remaining in the minors is Dayan Viciedo. After a slow start in Double-A, this Cuban defector has started to hit well. If Alexei Ramirez needs to see time on the DL for his ankle injury, Beckham could slide over to shortstop and Viciedo might get the call up. If Viciedo does get promoted, he might be worth a flier, but Josh Fields would likely get the first shot at third base if they move Beckham to short.

Cleveland Indians

Mark DeRosa, Ben Francisco, Cliff Lee, and Victor Martinez are now gone and it is time for a new generation of Indians. Everyone assumed that trading Francisco would lead to Matt LaPorta being recalled, but apparently his .190 average in his first taste of the Show is reason enough for the Tribe to keep him in the minors. He will likely be up in September and has the bat to hit a handful of home runs in a short period of time. The move of Martinez also opened the door for Carlos Santana (prospect No. 39 on our pre-season list) at catcher, but the Indians seem content to use Kelly Shoppach and Chris Gimenez for now. Santana has been outstanding in Double-A, though, and there is a good chance he will see sometime in Cleveland this September. If you need a backstop next month, he could fill that void.

Even though his prospect star has faded in the past few years, Andy Marte is a player to watch. There was a time when this guy was the top prospect in the Braves’ minor league system. It’s entirely possible that Marte was just a little slow to capitalize on his talent. In Triple-A, he was hitting .327 with 18 home runs in just 300 at bats. Believe it or not, Marte is still just 25 years old, and he could be a cheap source of power. He’s a must-add in AL-only leagues.

Detroit Tigers

Rick Porcello (No. 8 on our pre-season list) has flashed brilliance this season. At times, he’s also shown that he is just 20 years old. Porcello has got good stuff, but he has yet to put up big strikeout numbers at the Major League level. He’s struggled with the gopher ball and is a candidate to be shut down for the remainder of the season any day now. The Tigers know they have a talented arm in this kid, and they will be careful not to risk an injury. If you need a pitcher for the stretch run, Porcello is not a good fit, but he is a great guy to look at next season.

If the Tigers need another bat, they are likely to call on Wilkin Ramirez or Jeff Larish again. Neither are top end prospects and they seem to be earning the label of Quadruple-A player because of the constant shuttling between Detroit and Toledo. The two names to watch for are Scott Sizemore and Ryan Strieby; both are hitting very well at Double-A, but they should not see considerable time this season.

Kansas City Royals

The future is still, well, in the future for the Royals. Mike Moustakas (No. 10 on our pre-season list) and Eric Hosmer (No. 23) are not ready for the majors. They are both at least another year away; maybe next year at this time they will be getting their September call-ups. Luke Hochevar still sports a 5.40 ERA, but the top pick from the 2006 draft has flashed some of his talent recently. If you need a source of some strikeouts, Hochevar can help, but do not expect many wins on the lowly Royals.

Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles has had a highly-regarded farm system for a few years now, but the prospects that are highly regarded seem to have a way of coming up short once they make the Major Leagues. Dallas McPherson could flat out rake at Triple-A and Jeff Mathis was supposed to be very similar to Mauer; so much for that. Kendry Morales is the only top prospect that has truly been able to break through, and not until this season. In 2009, no Angel farm system was able to make the Top 40.

Perhaps Sean Rodriguez was overlooked. He’s seen time in the Majors as well as Triple-A, but the numbers in Triple-A are awesome. While Maicer Izturis, Erick Aybar, and Howie Kendrick are serviceable infielders, none of them have blossomed into superstars. Rodriguez has a .290 average with 23 home runs and deserves a chance to show what he can do. That type of power in the middle infielder is a rare commodity and something you might just want to add to your roster down the stretch.

Minnesota Twins

The Twins live off their farm system. This is an organization that does not spend a ton of money in free agency, so it has to replenish its team through the draft. Like the Angels, the Twinkies entered the season with no prospects in the Top 40. Most of this system’s talent is still playing in the lower levels, though the Major League team is very young so that is not a big deal. Scouts say Aaron Hicks is the jewel of the system, but a .230 average in Low-A Beloit indicates he won’t be ready for some time.

One player that is ready, and has already seen Major League time, is Anthony Swarzak. Kevin Slowey is out for the season and Swarzak is the guy that is going to fill in. He posted a 2.34 ERA in Triple-A and now his ERA sits at 4.25 in the Majors. Swarzak will not win you any strikeout crowns, but he will give you some quality starts and a chance for a few wins. He’s a great guy to stream in mixed leagues and a solid pitcher to own if you’re playing in an AL-only league.

New York Yankees

New York insisted that it was not interested in dealing for Halladay, but the reality is that it did not have the pieces to get the Jay ace. The luster of Phil Hughes has faded (even though he has proven to be a very capable set-up man) and there is just an overall lack of pitching in the system. Austin Jackson (No. 35 on our pre-season list) was the top guy in the system this spring and he has performed admirably since. He runs well and has hit for a high average, but he still strike outs too much for a player whose number one skill is speed. Still, he could see time in September and perhaps even sooner than that if Brett Gardner is going to be out for a long period of time. Jackson could be a cheap source of steals down the stretch.

The big gun in New York is catcher Jesus Montero. He was not in this year’s Top 40, but next spring he is going to be Wieters all over again. Jorge Posada is not being rushed out the door, but Montero is the heir apparent. If you have a league format that will allow you to add Montero and stash him away, he’s the guy to get. He may be the best prospect in the American League right now.

Oakland Athletics

Much like Minnesota, Oakland has to build from within. Youth is the name of the game and that is exactly what the Athletic roster is filled with right now. Brett Anderson (No. 14 on our list) and Trevor Cahill (No. 15) were highly rated this spring. When you consider that they are both just 21 years old, they’ve each pitched admirably this season. Anderson has been slightly better than Cahill, but Cahill has had some good moments as well. Anderson looks like a great guy to target as a keeper in AL-only leagues, while Cahill is nothing but a streaming option right now in mixed leagues.

The breakout star from the Athletic farm system this season has been All Star Andrew Bailey. As of right now, he seems to be Beckham’s chief competition in the Rookie of the Year battle. Personally, I do not trust Bailey to hang on to the closer’s role. Just last year, Brad Ziegler took the league by storm and was expected to become Oakland’s closer of the future. Ride Bailey while he is hot, but do not expect him to become the next Dennis Eckersley in Oakland (keep in mind that Joey Devine will be back next year).

Right now, Bobby Crosby and Adam Kennedy are seeing time at the hot corner in Oakland. Though Kennedy is playing well, September seems like a good time for the A’s to see what the centrepiece of the Matt Holliday trade — Brett Wallace — can do. Wallace’s bat is supposed to be big league ready, so he could be helpful if, and when, he does get the call. The knock on Wallace is his defense and whether or not he’ll be able to field well enough to stay at the hot corner.

Seattle Mariners

No Mariners graced the Top 40 at the beginning of this season, but it is safe to say that Michael Saunders just missed that list. Instead of allowing Ryan Langerhans to roam left field, the Mariners have called upon the talented Saunders. He’s yet to take the league by storm at the plate, but he is 7-for-32 which is a better start than Beckham got off to when he was called up. Saunders has also played strong defense for the Mariners, so he should stick with the team.

Down on the farm, Greg Halman is the number two talent behind Saunders. He is not ready for the Majors at this point, though. A guy that is worth monitoring is Mike Carp. Russell Branyan has had a great season, but it is hard to believe that the Mariners see him as the future at first base. Carp is not an elite talent, but he has shown good pop at Triple-A Tacoma. He had a brief trial with Seattle earlier this season, but he was never given a true chance to play. Carp could be a nice addition for AL-only teams starved for power at the corner.

Tampa Bay Rays

Tim Beckham (No. 16 on our pre-season list) and Wade Davis (No. 28) were supposed to be the big names in the Ray farm system this season. They are both still very talented, but neither player should be that relevant this season. Davis has the best shot at offering some value as he could be added to the Tampa Bay bullpen down the stretch. He does not have pinpoint control, but he has a live arm which every bullpen can use. If you can pick Davis up and store him for next year, you could very well be rewarded.

Another name that fans should get familiar with is Desmond Jennings. The Rays do not have a limitless budget like their rivals in Boston and New York, so there are strong indications that they will be looking to move Carl Crawford in the offseason. When a team loses a lead-off hitter with a ton of speed, the easiest way to replace them is with one that has a similar skill set. That is exactly what Jennings has going for him. Look for him to be called up in September as an extra outfielder and possibly even make the post-season roster over a guy like Gabe Gross (assuming the Rays make the playoffs). Jennings could very well be the left fielder for the Rays as soon as next season.

Texas Rangers

One word: Neftali Feliz. He throws absolute smoke and was very impressive in his Major League debut. With questions at the back end of the Ranger bullpen, it would not stun me if Feliz took over the closer job in Texas. C.J. Wilson is left-handed, which means he is generally better suited to be a set-up guy. Frank Francisco cannot seem to stay healthy and he does have a history of getting a little violent. While I would not say Feliz taking over as the closer is likely, it is something to be aware of. If nothing else, he’s going to strike out his share of batters.

Derek Holland was called up in April and never given a real role on the staff. Now that there have been some injuries and episodes of swine flu, he has gotten a chance to be part of the rotation. The 5.60 ERA is unimpressive, but this kid showed what he’s capable of with his 10-strikeout performance against the Seattle Mariners. He’s a good guy to have in AL-only leagues and a nice match-up guy for people that stream.

The real big name to monitor in the Ranger system is Justin Smoak. After Chris Davis was generating hurricane force winds in Texas with his swings and misses, the race to become first baseman of the future opened up. Smoak has earned comparisons to Mark Teixeira, mostly because they are both switch-hitting college first basemen that were drafted by the Rangers. The similarities with the bat are there, too. After hitting .328 in Double-A, Smoak has yet to perform in Triple-A, but he should be ready by next year.

Toronto Blue Jays

Everyone and their cousin were excited about Travis Snider this season. He made a strong Major League debut last season after an excellent stint at Triple-A. Unfortunately, he did not live up to those expectations over the first month of the season and earned a trip back to Triple-A Las Vegas. Now that he’s back in a comfortable atmosphere, he’s hitting .305 with a decent amount of power. Snider is a candidate to return to Toronto in September and could be a nice source of power.

Another interesting power bat is Brian Dopirak. He’s already 25 years old, but a dude who can go yard tends to find his way to the Major Leagues. It was just a few years ago that Dopirak was the top prospect in the Chicago Cubs organization after smacking 39 home runs in 2004. After a few off years, he got back up to 29 dingers in 2008 and has already launched 25 this season. Dopirak is even hitting for a decent average to go with the power, so he may be the first baseman of the future.

Watch for our NL Prospect Update, coming soon.

This week, one of the top young pitchers in the world, 21-year-old Cuban southpaw Aroldis Chapman, defected prior to the 2009 World Port tournament being held in the Netherlands. Along with Stephen Strasburg and Yu Darvish, Chapman and his triple-digit high heat is likely one of the top three young pitching prospects currently not signed to an MLB contract.

Chapman moved to the forefront of the International pitching scene with a stellar peformance in the 2007 Baseball World Cup. He amassed a 2-0 record in defeating both South Korea and Japan, and along the way managed a microscopic 1.20 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 15 IP. He was named to the tournament All-Star team as the top southpaw.

Chapman went 11-4 for Serie Nacional in 2008-2009, striking out 130 in 118 1/3 IP. Unfortunately, he also managed to allow 62 walks and tied for the league lead with 14 wild pitches. Chapman is the holder of the record for the fastest recorded pitch in Cuba at 102 mph. Now that’s some very serious heat. My hunch is that batters won’t be digging in against a flame thrower who has a propensity for wildness like this.

Now what does this mean looking to the immediate future? Once the dust settles, Chapman will undoubtedly be looking at securing free-agency from MLB and then it’s time to let the games begin. The last big-name pitcher to defect from Cuba was back in 2002 and Jose Contreras managed to secure a four-year deal worth $32 million. Just last year, Dayan Viciedo signed a four-year, $10-million deal with the White Sox. Is the sky potentially the limit in this situation?

How many pitchers — especially southpaws — have the potential to hit triple digits on the radar gun? How many of those same pitchers have accomplished this in the past 10 years? Not that this is a guarantee of success, but the combination of both his age and recent history and the fact that MLB teams are enamoured with that huge strikeout potential makes a very large contract a very distinct possibility.

This leads us to the Washington Nationals, potentially the only group upset with the news of the Chapman defection. The shock waves are still rolling through the Nats’ camp as they attempt to secure the services of Strasburg. Do you think Scott Boras isn’t watching the Chapman developments very closely as he looks to gain the maximum leverage possible for his client? The ante has been raised one notch higher with the news of the Chapman defection.

From a Fantasy perspective, now would be the time for those of us playing in dynasty formats to make a move. Although it is highly unlikely we will actually get to see Chapman pitching this year because of the logistics involved, he is a talent worthy of rostering now before the hype continues to drive his price in both the real and Fantasy worlds to the highest of levels.

By Steven Ovadia and RotoRob

With the 2009 NHL Draft going down this weekend, we present our take on all the players taken in the first round.

1. John Tavares, C, London Knights, New York Islanders: The buzz started when Tavares was given an “exceptional player” exemption that allowed him to play in the OHL at the tender age of 14. I went to see him play with the Generals shortly after he had turned 15, and filed the following report back in November, 2005:

“Now that Sidney Crosby is in the NHL, who’s the next big thing? Yesterday afternoon, I got a chance to see him and his name is John Tavares. He created waves when earlier this year he fought for and ultimately gained a special exemption to be drafted into the Ontario Hockey League at the age of 14. The Oshawa Generals were only too happy to snap him up with the first overall pick and are definitely reaping the benefits. Tavares, who turned 15 three days before his junior debut, is more than just holding his own (better than a point per game) playing against competitors as many as five years older than him. He’s clearly the most creative and talented, if somewhat raw, player on the ice. He has tremendous ice presence and surprising size, but is knocked off the puck fairly easily (of course, given the attention his plight to gain entry into the league caused, he may as well have a bulls eye on his back). That will change as Tavares fills out. He showed his range of skills on a variety of plays; one particular give-and-go was just stunning and a move he made behind the net that turned an opposing defenceman inside out left the crowd gasping in awe. Tavares seemed to generate a scoring opportunity every time he was on the ice. He’s very good on his feet in traffic, reacting to the play quicker than anyone on the ice, can move very well and has a very strong skating stride. As Tavares gets stronger and gains more experience, he will continue to improve. He looks like a shoo-in for OHL Rookie of the Year, and it wouldn’t shock me if he’s the best player in the league within a year and a half. At this point, Tavares would have to be the favorite to be the first pick in the NHL draft in 2009. Yes, he’s four years from being drafted, but owners in keeper leagues that can hoard juniors would be well-advised to tuck this kid away.”

Anyone who saw Tavares, 18, dominate the 2009 WJC knows that this kid is capable of one day bringing the Islanders back to their glory days in a similar manner that Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have done for the Penguins. – R.R.

2. Victor Hedman, D, Modo (Sweden), Tampa Bay Lightning: Tampa was so shorthanded on defense last season, it had to bring Marek Malik back to the NHL. The buzz on Hedman is that he’s NHL ready, and for that reason alone, Tampa was psyched to get him. But Hedman should blossom into a high-quality defenseman. And hopefully he’ll work out better than Steve Stamkos, not that Stamkos sucked, but he did take some time to find his groove before turning in a pretty darned good rookie season. — S.O.

3. Matt Duchene, C, Brampton Battalion, Colorado Avalanche: It’s ironic that in a season when this franchise had this high a pick for the first time since 1995, it picked a kid that many compare to Joe Sakic, the greatest player in the history of the team and the team leader who is expected to retire this summer. Duchene, 18, used his great hands to score 31 goals and 79 points last season, adding 14 goals and 26 points in just 21 playoff games. – R.R.

4. Evander Kane, C, Vancouver Giants, Atlanta Thrashers: The Thrashers have had their share of high-flying offensive geniuses like Dany Heatley, Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Hossa, and for whatever reason, it’s never worked out for the team. So lately, they’ve become attracted to more rugged, two-way players. Kane is a player in that mold, and will be even more rugged once he has some AHL seasoning. – S.O.

5. Brayden Schenn, C, Brandon Wheat Kings, Los Angeles Kings: Schenn will trade in his Wheat Kings uni for an LA Kings one. This 18-year-old is a great playmaker, having logged 56 assists in 70 games in the WHL last season. LA is really stockpiling some great young talent, and it got a great one in Schenn, a player the Leafs coveted and had hoped to draft to team up with his older brother, current Leaf Luke Schenn. – R.R.

6. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D, Leksand, Phoenix Coyotes: Phoenix is trying to transition into more of a finesse offense game and Ekman-Larsson, an offensive defenseman, seems to be the kind of player who can thrive in that kind of system. While the Nicklas Lidstrom comparisons might be a little premature, he should be a solid offensive presence on the blue line. – S.O.

7. Nazem Kadri, C, London Knights, Toronto Maple Leafs: Shut out in their bid to trade up and draft either Tavares or Schenn, the Buds settled for Kadri, an 18-year-old who potted 25 goals in just 56 games in the OHL last season. He’s a tremendously gifted offensive player who should soon take his place among the top two lines in Toronto. He’s an intense player, and the fact that he’s of Lebanese decent could generate interest in the Leafs among the city’s Muslim community – not that Leaf Nation isn’t already busting at the seams. – R.R.

8. Scott Glennie, C, Brandon Wheat Kings, Dallas Stars: A solid goal-scorer, Glennie should eventually give Dallas the offensive punch it’s lacked for the past few seasons. – S.O.

9. Jared Cowen, D, Spokane Chiefs, Ottawa Senators: He’s immense (6’5”, 218) yet mobile, but unfortunately, Cowen’s 2008-09 season ended early thanks to an ACL injury. A true defensive defenseman, Cowen required reconstructive surgery and won’t be able to begin skating until late August. But the Senators don’t believe this will affect his ability to have a long NHL career. Still, picking a one-dimensional defenseman this early in the draft raised some eyebrows — especially considering this class was littered with defense prospects. – R.R.

10. Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, LW, Timra (Sweden), Edmonton Oilers: Paajarvi-Svensson is all about the speed. His lack of defensive responsibility could cause fits for defense-minded assistant coach Tom Renney, should Paajarvi-Svensson wind up playing with the Oilers next season. Odds are, he’ll need to flesh out his game a bit more. – S.O.

11. Ryan Ellis, D, Windsor Spitfires, Nashville Predators: Ellis is a gifted offensive defenseman who proved at the WJC that he can be a dominant force on the power play. The fifth OHL product among the top 11 picks, this 18-year-old scored 89 points this season, adding an eye-popping 31 in just 20 playoff games. Ellis is small, but should soon be part of a phenomenal young collection of Predator defensemen that already includes Shea Weber and Ryan Suter at the NHL level, with Cody Fransom and Jon Blum not far behind. – R.R.

12. Calvin de Haan, D, Oshawa Generals, New York Islanders (this pick was acquired by the Islanders from Minnesota for picks 16, 77 and 182): de Haan is a solid, if unspectacular defenseman. The big hook for him is that he’s played with top pick Taveras, and therefore had his game elevated by the top pick. Using the two of them together on a five-man unit could be a huge offensive boost for the Islanders. – S.O.

13. Zack Kassian, RW, Peterborough Petes, Buffalo Sabres: The OHL’s domination of this draft continues with the selection of Kassian, a player with a great blend of size and skill. This power forward is not afraid to use his size to his advantage and that helped him dramatically increase his output last season. The Sabres need a player that is capable of being a presence in front of the opposition’s net, and Kassian fits this bill perfectly. – R.R.

14. Dmitry Kulikov, D, Drummondville Voltigeurs, Florida Panthers: Kulikov is a solid defenseman who could be ready for the NHL as soon as next season. He won’t replace Jay Bouwmeester, but he might learn a lot from Jordan Leopold. – S.O.

15. Peter Holland, C, Guelph Storm, Anaheim Ducks: At one point Holland was ranked near the ISS’s top 10 prospects, so Anaheim was undoubtedly quite pleased to land him at No. 15. The 6’2”, 190-pounder is coming off a season in which he logged 39 assists and then ripped four goals in just four playoff games. Holland — one of five Storm players taken in this draft – is part of an impressive project by the Ducks of retooling while remaining competitive, highlighted by the immense booty they received when they dealt away Chris Pronger. – R.R.

16. Nick Leddy, D, Eden Prairie, Minnesota Wild (pick acquired by Islanders from Columbus, along with the 77th pick, for No. 26, No. 37, No. 62 and No. 92; the Isles then dealt this pick to Minny as discussed in No 12 above): The Minnesota native was drafted by his hometown team. He’s got a reputation as an offensive defenseman who knows how to do the right thing in his own end. A player like that will fit in anywhere, but the pride of playing for his local NHL team might give his play an emotional edge. – S.O.

17. David Rundblad, D, Skelleftea AIK (Sweden), St. Louis Blues: This kid can skate, and he’s got coast-to-coast ability thanks to some superb puck-handling skills. Don’t expect him to have a legitimate chance to win a job in St. Louis until at least next season, but add him to the growing pile of prospects the Blues are stockpiling – they now have 17 players who were picked in the first three rounds between 2006 and 2009 either already with the team or who still have a chance to play in the NHL. – R.R.

18. Louis Leblanc, C, Omaha Lancers, Montreal Canadiens: Leblanc is a physical forward who’ll be playing for Harvard next year, but you have to wonder if the college game will impede his development. While some Harvard players, like the Moore brothers, have succeeded in the NHL, it’s not the best breeding ground for two-way talent. – S.O.

19. Chris Kreider, C, Andover, Ma., New York Rangers: The highest-ranked high school player, Kreider finished 14th overall in the rankings, but slipped a few spots to the Rangers. A gifted skater, Kreider is headed to Boston College next season after piling up 56 points in just 26 games in his final season of high school. His selection continues a trend towards top talent heading to US colleges; all told seven current or future college players were taken in the opening round. – R.R.

20. Jacob Josefson, C, Djurgarden (Sweden) , New Jersey Devils (picks acquired from Calgary for picks No. 23 and 84): You know Josefson has upside if the Devils are drafting him and he’s not an American. Hell, they even traded up to get him. elHell, He’s supposedly skilled, but not much of a finisher. But if the Devils see something in him, you can bet the finishing touch will emerge soon. – S.O.

21. John Moore, D, Chicago (USHL), Columbus Blue Jackets (pick acquired from Anaheim for picks No. 26 and 37; this is the pick that Anaheim originally acquired as part of the Pronger trade): Moore has committed for 2009 to Colorado College, a school that’s known for its hockey program. Yet another offensive defenseman in this draft, Moore could be the best skater available this season. Even though the Jackets traded up to get this pick, they were still picking later than they ever have in their history. Given the plethora of young talent they’re hoarding – and you can now add Moore to this mix – the Blue Jackets won’t be getting any high draft picks again for quite some time. – R.R.

22. Jordan Schroeder, C, University of Minnesota, Vancouver Canucks: Schroeder is aa talented forward with a very complete game for someone so young, but the big knock on him is that he’s undersized (5’8”, 165). But as more and more players in the new NHL will tell you, size isn’t everything. – S.O.

23. Tim Erixson, D, Skelleftea AIK (Sweden), Calgary Flames: The son of former NHLer Jan Erixon, Tim was actually born in New York, but he played professionally in Sweden. Another offensive defenseman, Erixson went right about where expected in this draft. His selection by the Flames signals a change in their drafting philosophy – picking a skill player as opposed to a grinder. — R.R.

24. Marcus Johansson, C, Farjestad (Sweden), Washington Capitals: Johansson is fast and a bit of a playmaker. The Capitals are probably imagining an older Johansson playing next to Alexander Ovechkin, dishing the puck and, hopefully, burying the puck when Ovechkin creates time and space. But is Johansson big enough for the NHL at 5’11”, 180? — S.O.

25. Jordan Caron, C, Rimouski Oceanic, Boston Bruins: Caron developed into a much bigger offensive force in his third QMJHL season, potting 36 goals and 31 assists in 56 games, but the fact that he snuck into the first round was a bit of a surprise, as most experts had him projected as an early second round selection. The native Quebecer is likely headed back to Rimouski next season, and with the Bruins already overflowing with young talent, there’s no reason to rush him. — R.R.

26. Kyle Palmieri, RW/C, USA-18, Anaheim Ducks: This pick was also a bit of a surprise, given that Palmieri’s reputation is more checker than scorer. Obviously, the Ducks see some kind of potential, but it’s hard to know what it is. No one projected Palmieri as a first-round pick. — S.O.

27. Philippe Paradis, C, Shawinigan Cataractes, Carolina Hurricanes: Paradis showed more offensive touch in his second season in the QMJHL last year, potting 19 goals with 31 assists for 50 points in 66 games. The 18-year-old Quebec native also contributed six goals and six assists in 21 playoff games. No, those numbers aren’t really that impressive, and this was another pick that raised some eyebrows as most projected Paradis as a second or even third rounder. But he’ll bring the size (6’2”, 197) and grit that the Canes need. — R.R.

28. Dylan Olsen, D, Camrose Kodiaks, Chicago Blackhawks: A big defenseman (6’2”, 195), Olsen might develop more of an offensive game with some time in the minor leagues. This is seemingly a good long-term investment for Chicago. — S.O.

29. Carter Ashton, LW, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning (pick acquired from Detroit for picks No. 32 and 75): The son of Brent Ashton, a journeyman who played almost 1,000 NHL games, Carter had a bigger role for the Hurricanes this past season, scoring 30 goals with 20 assists for 50 points in 70 games. The 6’2” winger is just one of many kids who went in this draft that have some kind of NHL bloodlines. — R.R.

30. Simon Despres, D, Saint John Sea Dogs, Pittsburgh Penguins: Like Olsen, Despres is a big defenseman (6’4”, 215) with a hint of offensive potential. We might not see Despres in the NHL for a while, but when we do, he could make an impact. — S.O.

When we last discussed Junichi Tazawa he was embroiled in controversy and single handily was being held responsible for rewriting the rules of the game in the Far East. We have now completed the first two months of the 2009 campaign and it’s time to take a look at how the former Industrial League phenom is adapting to life on this side of the Pacific.

The 23-year-old right hander enjoyed a very strong spring in his first MLB training camp. In nine IP, he allowed only one earned run, with 10 strikeouts and one walk. He was optioned to the Double-A Portland Seadogs on March 22 for his inaugural season in North America.

Tazawa is currently sporting a 7-3 won-loss record, good for a tie for first in wins in the Eastern League. The Red Sox are being very patient with Tazawa so far and obviously are working him into their system and allowing him to build arm strength, a prudent move. His longest outing has been seven innings, so obviously a strict pitch count is being observed. In 67 1/3 IP, Tazawa is sporting a ERA of 2.67, while allowing 53 hits and only 19 walks, good for a 1.07 WHIP. He has 63 strikeouts, leaving him tied for third overall in the league. Only twice in his 12 starts for the Dogs has he allowed three runs or more — a rather impressive debut I’d say!

Tazawa has been extremely consistent and over his last eight starts his walk totals by game read: 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 0, 2. It appears that the control problems that plague many of his fellow countrymen upon arriving here are not currently an issue. The Red Sox and Tazawa must be extremely pleased with his early development and it looks like other than building arm strength and familiarity with the North American game he currently has very little left to prove at the Double-A level.

This then brings us to what’s on the horizon for Tazawa. A promotion to Triple-A is probably in the offing, with my guess that this happens around mid-July as he continues his trek to the big league club. The Red Sox will undoubtedly be very careful in not rushing the youngster, a very prudent organizational strategy. What does this then mean to the Fantasy player? “Get on the bus, Gus,” because it’s leaving the station for what could be a very long and enjoyable ride. In deep dynasty keeper leagues, Tazawa should be snatched up quick. He’s currently a bit off the radar, but with the successes he’s had you can be sure he won’t be for much longer.

The Red Sox continue to build an effective arsenal of young starting pitching through their minor league system. The trio of Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden, and now Tazawa provides the Red Sox with an exceptional talent base heading into the future. Boston’s scouting department is second to none and I take my hat off to Craig Shipley, Senior Vice President of International Scouting, for another job well done.

Good fortunes, or should I say “gambatte,” Junichi Tazawa as you continue your journey towards the ultimate goal, a spot in the Boston Red Sox starting rotation.

Spikes Up, our exclusive baseball column, is pleased to unveil the fifth annual Spikes Up Top 40 Prospects List, once again beefed up from last year’s version.

This season, a dozen players are back from the 2008 rankings, while another 18 (just over half of last year’s list) have graduated to the major leagues. Five players slipped out of the rankings, a slight increase from the past couple of seasons.

1. Matt Wieters, C, Baltimore Orioles: Wieters, who tied for 24th on our list last season, shot all the way to the top of the charts this year, and small wonder he did. A switch-hitting catcher with prodigious power and the ability to hit for an extremely high average? Uh, wow. Baltimore brought in Gregg Zaun as a placeholder and plans to start Wieters out in the minors for a couple of months, but that didn’t stop us from deciding he’ll still be the top rookie this year. Overhyped? Yeah, probably, especially when considering how high he’s getting drafted this year, but Wieters has future clean-up hitter written all over him.

2. David Price, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays: Price, another veteran of our 2008 prospect list (he was tied for 20th last year), is also expected to have a fantasy presence this year. The former Vanderbilt star provided a glimpse of what he’s capable of with his late-season and playoff exploits for the Rays in 2008. Imagine 200+ innings of that once this kid is in his prime.

3. Jason Heyward, OF, Atlanta Braves: A year ago, I preferred Jordan Schafer among the gaggle of Brave outfield prospects, but Heyward has soared past him to take his place as the best outfield prospect in all of baseball, never mind just in the Atlanta system. Ticketed for High-A this season, Heyward got tongues wagging as a non-roster invite to Spring Training this year. Just 19 and already oozing talent, this youngster has amazing upside as a left-handed power hitter.

4. Madison Bumgarner, LHP, San Francisco Giants: It’s not inconceivable that Bumgarner arrives in San Francisco before the end of 2009, but given the Giants’ abundance of young arms, I hope they don’t rush their 2007 first round pick. He looked great in his spring debut, further building the anticipation that he will help turn around San Francisco’s fortunes in the very near future. Having said that, Bumgarner will be best served by another full season in the minors. He’ll start the year at High-A.

5. Travis Snider, OF, Toronto Blue Jays: Snider moved up from a share of seventh place in last year’s rankings based on his fantastic 2008 season including him being named an Eastern League All-Star and winning the Home Run Derby before finally becoming the youngest position player in the majors upon his August promotion. “The Franchise” as he was known in the minors, is a serious power threat, and he’s been pounding the ball this spring. And despite his poor contact rates, I’m expecting Snider to compete for the AL ROY award.

6. Neftali Feliz, RHP, Texas Rangers: Feliz soared from No. 28 on last year’s list. The one-time Brave prospect, sent to Texas in the Mark Teixeira deal, is now the jewel in a Ranger system that’s loaded with nice looking young arms (I know, I know, that seems weird to say). He soaked up the Spring Training experience with the Rangers, and is starting the season at Triple-A, although it won’t be long until he’s back in a Texas uniform to stay. This 20-year-old looked so good at Double-A last season, the true hallmark of a pitching prospect and the level that separates the contenders from the pretenders. Originally signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2005, Feliz could legitimately help the Rangers in the second half, and if this team is hanging around in the AL West, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him get the call. Ironically, despite the attention heaped on Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Matt Harrison and Elvis Andrus, Feliz could wind up being the steal of the Teixeira deal.

7. Colby Rasmus, OF, St. Louis Cardinals: Tied for seventh on last season’s list, Rasmus takes sole possession of that lucky digit this year. I’m extremely bullish on this kid’s long-term prospects, and while his immediate future looked clouded by: (a) Skip Schumaker, who isn’t looking so good at second base, and if he gets bumped back to the outfield, that means less at bats for Rasmus; and (b) Chris Duncan, who was outplaying the kid for the left field job this spring. Still, Rasmus earned a job, and will see plenty of action in all three outfield spots, especially in left.

8. Rick Porcello, RHP, Detroit Tigers: Porcello moved up from a share of 24th place a year ago based on a solid pro debut in which he emerged as someone who looks one day capable of logging a lot of quality innings. In fact, he’s advanced enough that Detroit opted to hand him the fifth starter job in despite the fact he had yet to pitch above A-Ball. In reality, I believe Porcello would have been better served by another half-season in the minors. His emergence, however, is key to Detroit taking it to the next level, so keep an eye on this 20-year-old, a first round pick just two years ago.

9. Cameron Maybin, OF, Florida Marlins: Maybin was our ninth-rated prospect heading into the season, and he’s held his perch. Many expected his trip to the majors to be expedited once he was included in the trade to Florida as part of the booty the Marlins received for Miguel Cabrera. It didn’t work out that way, but Maybin had a solid season at Double-A, showing extra-base pop, patience and speed, before hitting extremely well in the majors as a late-season call up. This five-tool prospect is blessed with serious speed and power, and at the age of just 21, has a tremendously bright future in the majors – one that will start in earnest this season as Florida hands him centre field. Unfortunately, talk that Maybin might wind up as the lead-off hitter proved inaccurate, and so far he’s spent most of his time batting eighth, which will restrict his value. He will see time in the two-hole from time to time as well, thankfully.

10. Mike Moustakas, 3B, Kansas City Royals: Moustakas, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 draft, made great strides last season, shooting all the way from No. 30 on our list to become a top 10 prospect this year. The 20 year-old, drafted out of high school in Chatsworth, California, is a great power-hitting prospect, and his big campaign at A-Ball has sent him to the top of KC’s prospect list. Moustakas is a solid contact hitter, but I would like to see him develop more patience, so at least another full season in the minors would be prudent. That will give also him time to adjust to third base, expected to be his long-term home since he shifted from shortstop midway through last season. Alex Gordon, you better start looking over your shoulder, dude.

11. Dexter Fowler, OF, Colorado Rockies: Fowler’s been bubbling under the surface for a couple of years now, but he absolutely exploded in 2008 at Double-A, showing, speed, patience, power and batting average. It earned him a September callup, and while Fowler struggled to make contact in his first taste of the majors, it won’t be long until he’s a starter and fixture at Coors. In fact, Ryan Spilborghs is simply keeping centrefield warm for this five-tool prospect, who celebrated his 23rd birthday last month. Fowler, who will start the season as the fourth outfielder, has serious speed, and while making contact is a challenge for Fowler, we expect him to carve out enough action to be an impact rookie.

12. Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates: Despite undergoing some early-season adjustment issues, McCutchen showed nice development at the plate at Triple-A, riding a productive season to rise on our list from 17. He got a very long look this spring as the Pirates figured out what to do with him, but despite his late flourish, he was sent back to Triple-A. However, the 22-year-old won’t be long for the minors should be continue to improve at the plate, so expect to see him make his MLB debut well before mid-season.

13. Tommy Hanson, RHP, Atlanta Braves: Hanson rose from near obscurity more so than pretty well anyone on this list, and he’s been hyped like mad this offseason, yet deserves it all. Reports suggest he was the Braves’ top pitcher at camp, but considering all the moves Atlanta made to beef up its rotation this offseason, there was no room for Hanson right now, so he started the season at Triple-A. That could change in a few weeks if Tommy Glavine can’t take the hill when the Braves need a fifth starter for the first time. Could Hanson step in at that time? That might be premature, but this is a kid who made huge strides last season, simply dominating at High-A before performing solidly at Double-A (10.5 Ks per 9). We’re of the belief that even if he doesn’t get the call to Atlanta early, Hanson is someone who could surprise as a rookie sleeper at some point this season. It’s been a little while since Atlanta developed a pitching prospect that made an impact as a Brave, but Hanson is poised to break that drought very soon.

14. Brett Anderson, LHP, Oakland Athletics: Anderson, 21, pitched very well in High-A, but then was even better in Double-A – always an extremely promising sign for a pitching prospect. In fact, we expected him to get a September callup last year. Regardless, he made the team out of Spring Training and will make his first career start Friday. The southpaw is lauded for having command much beyond his years. He’s No. 24 on Baseball Prospectus’ Top 100 list, but we like him even more than that.

15. Trevor Cahill, RHP, Oakland Athletics: Cahill and Anderson are neck and neck here, and that’s quite appropriate since they will likely anchor the A’s rotation in the years to come. He’s another arm who impressed mightily this spring and, last season, after handling High-A very well, he too was even better after moving to Double-A. He just turned 21 last month, but with several Oakland starters hurting this spring, Cahill earned a job to start the season. Some experts consider this kid a top five prospect. I’m not as high on him as they are, but if he’s still rookie eligible at this time next year, he could very well make my top five.

16. Tim Beckham, SS, Tampa Bay Rays: The first overall pick in June was someone we started pimping right after the draft as a very special young player, and Tampa obviously felt the same, giving him a $6.15 million deal – the most the Rays have ever doled out for one of their draft picks. Beckham was reassigned to minor league camp and will start the season at Class-A, but reports about his fielding this spring were positive. He did okay in Rookie ball last year, and even got to play in a couple of games at Low-A. Still just 18, Beckham will play full-season ball this year, and it will be fun to watch how he adjusts to that.

17. Lars Anderson, 1B, Boston Red Sox: Anderson’s numbers weren’t eye popping in the least, but he impressed the experts with his play this spring before being reassigned to minor league camp (he’ll start the season at Double-A). He looks like a solid, productive hitter who could be a future middle of the order stick for the BoSox. The 21-year-old has certainly emerged as one of their best position player prospects after a season in which he did well at High-A and then was huge at Double-A, stepping up his power after the promotion.

18. Buster Posey, C, San Francisco Giants: Despite the fact that he wowed everyone this spring, the Giants have no plans to promote Posey to the majors at any point in 2009, and that’s a wise call. You would hate to see a promising offensive catcher like Posey’s development stunted because he was rushed. Besides, after giving him a club record $6.2 million signing bonus, the Giants obviously want to protect their investment and bring him along at a pace that is sensible. The Giants kept the Florida St. star around in Spring Training for a while and let him soak up as much as possible before they reassigned him to minor league camp (he’ll begin the season at High-A). Posey, who turned 22 last month, was very impressive in his 10-game pro debut last year between Rookie ball and Low-A, and the fifth overall pick from 2008 is part of an exciting young wave of talent coming up in the San Francisco system.

19. Chris Tillman, RHP, Baltimore Orioles: Tillman has future top-of-the-rotation pitcher written all over him. He was simply dominant at Double-A last year, fanning over 10 batters per nine innings, a performance that must have stung Mariner fans after Seattle dispatched this talented arm to Baltimore in the Erik Bedard deal. Sure, Seattle’s farm system is stacked with talent, but Tillman is one that might come back to haunt. Clearly, he’s ready for Triple-A where he’ll start the season, but it may not be long before he sneaks his way into the majors, making him a sleeper choice among rookies to watch. Tillman, who won’t be 21 until next week, can pound the strike zone with consistent 92 mph heat and has a hammer of a curveball that can be used as an out pitch.

20. Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pirates are expected to push their top pick from last season, but even though he hit the cover off the ball this spring, he was reassigned to High-A Lynchburg fairly early. I actually thought Alvarez might start his pro career at Double-A when I pimped him during the NL Central preview Podcast. This former Vanderbilt star has serious power potential, and by 2011, he should be a fantasy stud. Part of a 2008 draft class that was top heavy with corner infield power bats out of college, Alvarez finally signed a four-year, $6.355 million major league deal after a long battle between his agent Scott Boras (shocker, eh?) and the Bucs. If underachieving Andy LaRoche doesn’t get his shit together pretty darn soon, the Alvarez era may start earlier than we expect.

21. Matt LaPorta, 1B, Cleveland Indians: LaPorta showed tremendous extra-base pop this spring, living up to the hype he garnered as a 2008 Futures Game participant and member of the USA Olympic Team. Formerly Milwaukee’s top prospect, LaPorta went sent to Cleveland in the C.C. Sabathia deal, and at the time, we expected him to be aggressively promoted by the Tribe, but that didn’t happen as he was selected for the Olympic squad. This 24-year-old, the seventh overall pick in 2007, is a serious masher, and it’s just a matter of time before he’s taking aim at the fences for the Tribe. He’ll start the season at Triple-A.

22. Jarrod Parker, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks: After a solid pro debut in which he proved he was a winner and experienced a nice hike in K rate as the season progressed, Parker shot up from 31 on our list last season to pierce the top 25 this year. While some prefer Parker over Tillman as a long-term prospect, I ranked Tillman higher because he’s much closer to the majors, and the further a pitcher is out, the more things can potentially go wrong. Having said that, this 2007 first round pick out of an Indiana high school is universally lauded, with Baseball America ranking him as its 29th best prospect. Obviously the righty is Arizona’s top pitching prospect, and the idea that he, Brandon Webb and Max Scherzer will form the top of the D-Back rotation very soon must have Zona fans doing a jig of joy. Parker, who signed just before the deadline last year, looked good in his only appearance this spring, impressive for a 20-year-old kid. He’ll begin the season at High-A.

23. Eric Hosmer, 1B, Kansas City Royals: Hosmer was probably the top high school hitter of his draft class last year when KC plucked him third overall. His kind of talent is extremely rare to find, so that’s why many expect Hosmer to move through the Royal system quickly. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to see much action last summer, recording a mere 11 at bats at Rookie ball (though, of course, even in this small sample size, he raked). Hosmer is gifted with awesome power, and the combination of him and Moustakas at the corners for KC will guarantee that the Royals will finally have an offense worth crowing about in the very near future. Hosmer will start the season at High-A, but prospect lovers should keep an eye on him.

24. Justin Smoak, 1B, Texas Rangers: Smoak impressed the hell out of everyone this spring, and as a player we were quite excited about when he was drafted last summer, we expect him to move quickly. Some thing he’ll arrive in the majors by the end of the summer, although that’s a tad optimistic. Still, ownership loves Smoak, so you’ve got to figure he’ll definitely be in the mix in Texas by 2010. The former South Carolina star was reassigned to minor league camp last week. I expected him to start out at High-A after showing in a mere 14 games last season that he could hit Class-A pitching (three dingers, .304 BA), but the Rangers opted to move him all the way to Double-A, proving they are serious about having this kid on the fast track.

25. Brian Matusz, LHP, Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles are stacked with future top-of-the-rotation type staters, and Matusz, the No. 4 overall pick and first pitcher taken in the 2008 draft, could have the most upside. He signed too late to make his pro debut last season, so the Orioles wisely won’t thrust him directly into the majors, instead opting to get him the appropriate amount of seasoning necessary so that when Matusz arrives, he’ll be there to stay. Scout.com ranked him as its 14th best prospect, a higher ranking than we’ve given him, but if he’s a good as a pro as he was in college (when he fanned 12.1 per nine innings with incredible command his final season), he’ll easily be that high and probably higher by this time next year. Matusz has started the season at High-A.

26. Mike Stanton, OF, Florida Marlins: Stanton is a key member of the next great wave of Marlin prospects. This 19-year-old, taken in the second round of 2007 of out a California high school, is an absolute behemoth at 6’5”, 210. The kid is all about pop, displaying off-the-charts power potential. Case in point: playing in full-season ball as an 18-year-old last year, Stanton smacked 39 homers in Class-A. Yes, I said 39. He also showed good on-base skills, but definitely needs work on his contact rates.

27. Alcides Escobar, SS, Milwaukee Brewers: The dude is MLB-ready now, defensively, and last season’s breakout offensively at Double-A suggests that part of his game is catching up quick. Escobar earned a September callup, and hit well in limited action, well enough to earn a spot on our Top 10 Rookies list. There’s a rumour he may be sent to San Diego if the Brewers make a play for Jake Peavy, but for now, Escobar is at Triple-A to start the season. But if Rickie Weeks struggles again, Milwaukee may summon the 22-year-old Escobar and put either him or J.J. Hardy at second base (with Escobar taking over at short in the latter scenario). Escobar’s emerging extra-base pop earned him recognition as Minor League Baseball’s No. 8 prospect.

28. Wade Davis, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays: After a season in which his Double-A numbers slipped, we’ve dropped Davis down the list from his share of fifth place last year. He was farmed out last month, and has started the season at Triple-A again, where, ironically, he pitched much better than he had at Double-A. Still just 23, Davis has averaged almost a strikeout per inning in his pro career, so there’s no reason to worry about the slight hiccup he had in 2008. Ranked No. 32 on Baseball America’s list, Davis is just about ready to pitch in the bigs, but he wasn’t expected to stick in Tampa this spring considered how stacked the Rays’ rotation is.

29. Fernando Martinez, OF, New York Mets: Martinez is a rarity, in that he was No. 25 on our Top Prospects list in 2007 before falling off last season as injuries continued to slow him down (he had just 245 at bats in 2007). He was slightly healthier in 2008, playing 90 games and accumulating 366 at bats, and his numbers improved across the board at Double-A. But because of all the injuries, and also the fact that he’s been promoted so aggressively (the dude was playing in Double-A at the age of 18), we haven’t really been able to get a clear idea of how good Martinez can be, because translating what a kid that young does at the level he’s playing at is difficult. However, scouting reports from the Dominican Republic this winter were extremely positive about Martinez, so if he can finally stay healthy enough to play even 100 games, the Mets’ top prospect could be ready to employ his picture perfect swing to take the next step in his career and provide a return to the team for the $1.4 million it gave him when he was signed out of the Dominican in 2005 (an extremely large sum for that kind of signing). The Mets were ecstatic that they didn’t have to part with Martinez this winter when they went shopping for a new bullpen. He’s started the season at Triple-A.

30. Yonder Alonso, 1B, Cincinnati Reds: Part of a spectacular wave of college hitting talents soon to be making a name for themselves in the majors, Alonso was the seventh overall pick in the 2008 draft. He signed soon enough to see a small amount of action at High-A, showing a great batting eye and plenty of patience. He’s starting the season at that level again, but Cincy’s top prospect is expected to move fast, and could easily be at Triple-A before season’s end. We expect the U. of Miami product to emerge as a top run producer in the Show.

31. Josh Vitters, 3B, Chicago Cubs: In a Cub system that lacks prospects close to the bigs, Vitters is one of the few bright spots. Taken third overall in 2007, Vitters must deal with the pressure that he is not Matt Wieters, who was taken two picks later. However, last season Vitters showed some nice extra-base pop at low-A. He struggled to make contact after a brief promotion to Class-A, and that’s probably the main reason he’ll start out there again this season, even though many thought he was ticketed for High-A.

32. Mat Gamel, 3B, Milwaukee Brewers: Gamel has a power bat, but like a former Brewer third base prospect before him (Ryan Braun), he is limited defensively, so may not stick at the hot corner. The team’s fourth round pick in 2005, Gamel showed great pop last season at Double-A, averaged a hit per game in a brief stint at Triple-A, and even got into a couple of big league games. He’ll start the season at Triple-A, but we think he’ll see enough action this season to have ranked him among the top 40 third basemen for 2009. Some consider Gamel to the Brewers’ top prospect, but I prefer Escobar mainly because of the uncertainty of Gamel’s ultimate home on the diamond.

33. Brett Wallace, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals: Wallace will definitely be major league ready by 2010, but Troy Glaus’ injury opens the door for him to possibly make an impact this season, especially if Glaus winds up missing the whole year. In fact, we’re so bullish on Wallace’s prospects, that he made our top 10 rookie list even though he wasn’t drafted until last year (13th overall). Wallace hit extremely well at Class-A and then, after promotion all the way to Double-A, he showed even more extra-base pop. He’ll start out at Double-A again and should quickly establish himself as a leader on that team, but we don’t anticipate him staying there long. This 22-year-old is on the serious fast track. He’s an advanced left-handed bat that showed no problem hitting against lefties. In fact, at A-Ball, he scorched them to the tune of .370 on his way to making the AFL All-Prospect Team.

34. Derek Holland, LHP, Texas Rangers: Few prospects in the game made the kind of strides that Holland did last season. His breakout season made him look like an absolute steal as a 25th round pick back in 2006. Holland dominated Class-A and then was even more unhittable in five High-A starts. To cap the season, he averaged 10 Ks/9 in four starts at Double-A. Texas thinks enough of this 22-year-old, part of a great wave of young Ranger arms, that it’s put him at Triple-A, where he will team up with fellow uber prospect Neftali Feliz.

35. Austin Jackson, CF, New York Yankees: Jackson impressed many people during Spring Training with his great results, including a grand slam. An eighth round pick in 2005, Jackson has been quite durable during his minor league career, and he held his own in his first season at Double-A last year, showing decent extra-base pop while batting .285. The team’s top prospect will start the season at Triple-A, where he’ll look to establish himself as a potential option should the Yankees need outfield help.

36. Angel Villalona, 1B/3B, San Francisco Giants: I dropped Villalona from No. 22 on last season’s list, but he could easily be a top 10 prospect before the end of 2009. Originally signed out of the Dominican Republic, he showed nice extra-base pop while spending most of the season as a 17-year-old in full season ball. Power will definitely be Villalona’s calling card, and he’s been promoted to High-A this year, where as part of the Giants’ minor league resurgence, he’ll play on a prospect-stacked team that includes seven of the team’s top nine young stars (as per Baseball America rankings).

37. Elvis Andrus, SS, Texas Rangers: Always known for his defense, Andrus’ offense showed signs of life at Double-A, as he enjoyed a productive 2008, batting .295 with decent on-base skills. The Rangers were impressed enough by this 20-year-old phenom’s progress that they shifted Michael Young over to third to open up shortstop for the kid. Andrus hasn’t disappointed in the early going, a pleasant surprise that keeps making that Teixeira trade (in which Andrus was acquired from Atlanta) look better and better for Texas. One of the most dynamic shortstops in the minors, Andrus is now wowing them in the Show.

38. Gordon Beckham, SS, Chicago White Sox: After competing for the second base job this spring, it’s pretty clear that Beckham will be ready to help the Sox darn soon. Last season’s eighth overall pick showed patience and pop while hitting .310 in his pro debut at Class-A. He’s started this season at Double-A and despite the fact he has played just 14 professional games, Beckham is expected to move quick. In fact, he even made our top rookie list as a long-shot candidate.

39. Carlos Santana, C, Cleveland Indians: While I suspect his guitar skills can’t possibly match that of his more famous namesake, this Carlos Santana can flat out rake, as he proved during his superb breakout campaign in 2008. He should arrive in the majors fairly soon, and his offensive upside is among the best in the game as far as backstops go. Traded from the Dodgers to Cleveland in a mid-season deal, Santana was tearing up High-A before the deal, and was even better afterward, stepping up his power. He then got a little late-season taste of Double-A, where he has started this season in impressive fashion, homering and driving in four runs. Santana, who turned 23 Wednesday, has a bright future as a run-producing catcher.

40. Michael Bowden, RHP, Boston Red Sox: This 2005 sandwich pick did a great job of limiting the long ball in Double-A, and while he was easier to hit in his 40 Triple-A innings, he still enjoyed superb control. Bowden made his big league debut in late-August and fared well in a spot start. He’s back at Triple-A to begin the campaign, part of a fantastic Pawtucket rotation that also features Daniel Bard and Clay Buchholz. A 6’3” righty, Bowden has great promise – possibly even top of the rotation stuff – but the BoSox are stacked on the mound right now, so he could be used as trade bait, and that may be his quickest way back to the majors at this point.

Graduating from last year’s top 35 prospect list: Jay Bruce (1), Clay Buchholz (3), Evan Longoria (4), Clayton Kershaw (T-5), Homer Bailey (10), Franklin Morales (T-12), Andy LaRoche (T-12), Jacoby Ellsbury (14), Joba Chamberlain (T-15), Chase Headley (T-15), Carlos Gonzalez (T-18), Ian Kennedy (T-20), Joey Votto (T-26), Johnny Cueto (T-26), Jeff Clement (32), Daric Barton (T-33), Chin-Lung Hu (T-33) and Brandon Wood (35).

Dropping off the list this season: Jordan Schafer (2), Chris Marrero (11), Desmond Jennings (T-18), Nick Adenhart (23) (who tragically, was killed on Wednesday) and Reid Brignac (29).

Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of this weeks potential pickups.

Adam Jones, Baltimore, OF: Jones returned from the DL September 1 in rather fine style, hitting a homer in his first game back. Since then he has gone 0-for-13, and has struggled. He was heating up rather nicely until being sidelined by that fractured left foot at the beginning of August and is one of my “sleeper” picks to click heading into the 2009 season. Jones should be rostered in all AL-only formats and deep keeper leagues.

Mat Gamel, Milwaukee, 3B: The 23-year-old had a great year at Double-A Huntsville this year, batting .329 BA with 19 homers and 96 RBI. There is no doubt that he can be an offensive contributor for the Brew Crew, but with Milwaukee being in the heat of a pennant chase, Gamel is probably going to see limited at bats down the stretch. He’s a definite solid choice in all keeper formats and someone that should be on the radar for an increase in opportunities should the Brewers look to be resting regulars in those last few games of the season.

Matt Antonelli, San Diego, 2B: The release of Tad Iguchi this past week is giving Padre fans the opportunity to see the future at second base. Antonelli has had a very disappointing 2008, with a .215 BA, seven homers, 39 RBI, and only six thefts for the Triple-A Portland Beavers. Compare that his stellar 2007 campaign at Double-A, especially those 28 stolen bases, and there is certainly reason for concern. Since the call-up he does seem overmatched, with only one hit to date, but he is going to play, so for those playing in NL-only leagues and deep keeper formats, he is worth a gamble. Second base is not going to be a position with a surplus of talent heading into 2009.

Travis Snider, Toronto, OF: The 20-year-old Snider split his season between three levels in the minors this year. The combined .275 BA, 23 homers and 91 RBI are certainly very impressive credentials for a player just barely out of his teens. But that’s just it — he’s very young, and with a 2.5 K-to-BB ratio, he is definitely going to need some work on his strike zone judgment. Snider has the potential to be a regular fixture in the Jay outfield as early as next spring, but in all probability he is looking at some further time in the minors to start the 2009 campaign. He is going to see significant playing time down the stretch, making him a solid acquisition in all formats.

Brandon Morrow, Seattle, SP/RP: It would seem that the recent call-up of Morrow has not gone unnoticed and rightfully so. His ownership in CBS leagues has jumped 18 percentage points over the past two weeks, and with the stellar return to the rotation against the Yankees Friday, it certainly seems warranted. Morrow has allowed only 19 hits in 44 1/3 IP this year and seems to be giving Mariner fans a reason for some optimism heading into 2009. He’s a solid acquisition in all formats at this time.

Nate Schierholtz, San Francisco, OF: Schierholtz’s fine season for the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies warranted a call-up. After smacking 18 HR with 73 RBI and a .320 BA at Triple-A, he should be guaranteed some playing time down the stretch for the Giants, making him a solid acquisition in NL-only formats.

Brett Anderson, Oakland, SP: This one is for all of you guys playing in deeper dynasty formats. Anderson, part of the loot acquired in the Dan Haren deal with the Diamondbacks, is coming off a very solid year. The 20-year-old southpaw has struck out 118 in 105 IP with only 27 walks. A potential “ace,” Anderson could be a part of the A’s rotation as early as next spring.

Josh Anderson, Atlanta, OF: Anderson is another of those players that brings serious speed to the table. He managed 42 steals and a very solid .314 BA, playing for the Triple-A Richmond Braves this ayear. Since being recalled August 27, Anderson is hitting to the tune of a .297 BA, with seven runs scored and three stolen bases. Most importantly, he’s playing full-time and hitting in the lead-off slot. The Braves, in the midst of a rare off-season, look to be giving Anderson a serious preview for next spring. For those with the need for speed, Anderson is a solid acquisition.

Dallas McPherson, Florida, 3B: McPherson was recalled September 2 from Triple-A Albuquerque where he enjoyed a stellar season, batting .275 with 42 homers, 98 RBI and 14 stolen bases. It seems as if the chronic back problems that have sidelined his career are now behind him, and the Marlins should be giving the 28-year-old a good preview for the 2009 season, making him a solid grab in AL-only leagues.

Rajai Davis, San Francisco, OF: The name of the game for Davis is speed and Saturday he managed his fourth stolen base in five games. He is also in the midst of a nice little hitting streak, with a .333 BA over the past ten games and even managed to sneak in a pinch-hit grand slam against the O’s Friday. If your fantasy squad needs some last-minute stolen bases, Davis would be a great addition.

Takashi Saito, Los Angeles, RP: I must confess this one totally shocked me. Wandering through the list of closers currently on the DL in search of some last minute saves, I happened upon Saito and found that he is currently owned in only 22 per cent of all leagues playing over at CBS. He is eligible to come off the DL September 12, and although 2008 has not been a stellar campaign, he is still sitting with a 2.18 ERA, 17 saves, and 53 K in 41 1/3 IP. The Dodgers are currently in the heat of a pennant race and could certainly use this addition to their bullpen for the stretch run.

Steven Shell, Washington, RP: Shell picked up his second save Saturday when Joel Hanrahan struggled to get the job done against the Braves. The former Angel is currently sporting a 2.01 ERA in 40 1/3 IP, and has very quietly been getting the job done for the Nats. He would have to be considered the set-up man in Washington and the first in line for saves should Hanrahan falter down the stretch. He’s a solid grab in all leagues using holds and should be on the radar for that save potential.

Dennis Sarfate, Baltimore, SP/RP: This one is a bit of a reach, but with Jimmy Johnson sitting out the balance of the year, someone has to be pitching at the end of games for Baltimore. Sarfate walks too many, and his experience as a starter was horrible. But, again, who is going to be the set-up guy down the stretch, assuming that George Sherrill resumes closing as scheduled next week? Sarfate’s ERA was seriously inflated as a result of four starts at the beginning of August, but now that he’s back in the pen, he has been effective, with 83 K in 77 1/3 IP. If you are in a league that uses holds, and wish to gamble on the potential save opportunities, he is a decent option.

George Sherrill, Baltimore, RP: Sherrill is currently rostered in only 45 per cent of all leagues over at CBS. That would mean that almost half of all leagues are going to be missing out once he returns from that left shoulder inflammation, which is tentatively slated for next week. In the event that Baltimore can actually string together some wins, Sherrill is probably worth the investment if you require saves down the stretch.

Coco Crisp, Boston, OF: The forgotten man in the Boston outfield, Crisp has very quiety been hitting to the tune of .472 with one homer, ten runs scored, nine RBI and four stolen bases over the past ten games. As long as he’s hot, he’s going to be getting the at bats, giving J.D. Drew ample time to give that herniated disc a rest. Crisp makes for a solid option in all formats at this time.

Alfredo Aceves, New York Yankees, RP: The Yankees, tiring of Darrell Rasner, have decided to give Aceves a start this coming Tuesday. The 25-year-old right-hander was signed out of Mexico this past winter and went 8-6 with a 2.62 ERA over three levels in the minors in 23 starts this season. Since being promoted August 28 from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he has allowed only one earned run in seven IP, to go along with a strikeout per inning. In 140 2/3 IP he allowed only a scant 27 free passes this year, a very impressive stat. He’s a solid acquisition in AL-only leagues and should be on the radar in all formats.

So it is with great interest that I pour over some of the names of players drafted this year, which include over 20 sons of former or current big leaguers.

Some of the highlights:

Austin Yount is the son of Larry (who got hurt warming up, but is credited with one major league appearance) and nephew of Hall of Famer Robin. A 21-year-old outfielder, Yount was taken by the Dodgers in the 12th round out of Stanford, and has enjoyed a strong pro debut at Rookie-level Odgen, batting over .290 through 29 games.

Cutter Dykstra (how’s that for a perfect baseball name?) is the son of Lenny, one of my personal faves growing up. An infielder in high school, as a pro Cutter has been moved to centrefield, the same position his dad played. Taken by Milwaukee with the second of its three second-round picks (54th overall), Dykstra started his pro career with ten games for the Arizona League Brewers, scoring five runs and showing good patience at the plate. He was moved up to Helena of the Pioneer League, and the 19-year-old has started to show his power potential, while maintaining a decent BA.

The Pirates drafted a couple of offspring of former big leaguers. In the 22nd round, they took Patrick Palmeiro, a third baseman from a Texas high school who has yet to sign. Unfortunately, he has a legacy to live down, not to live up to. In the eighth round, the Bucs grabbed Jeremy Farrell, son of former Indian hurler and current Red Sox pitching coach John. Unlike his father, 21-year-old Jeremy is an infielder, and he wasted no time making a splash, batting .306 with 20 RBI in 46 games, good enough to earn a berth in the NYPL All-Star game.

Kyle Hurst, son of former Red Sox lefty Bruce, was taken by the Angels in the 36th round out of an Arizona community college. The 23-year-old righty was assigned to Oregon of the Pioneer League, but after struggling badly in a couple of games there, was demoted to the Arizona League. Hurst has fared much better, striking out 40 and walking just five in 34 1/3 IP.

Jesse Orosco Jr. was selected by the Diamondbacks in the 38th round, and the 21-year-old right-handed reliever is doing fairly well in his pro debut, pitching for the Missoula Osprey of the Pioneer League. His command needs refinement, but after a rough start, Jesse Jr. is definitely looking much stronger over the past month.

Jeremy Barfield was taken by the A’s in the eighth round and he’s the second son of Jesse to play professionally (Josh, of course, was a top prospect in the Padre organization, but his career is fizzling now that he’s with the Indians). Anyways, we have our doubts about how fuzzy and warm Jesse’s relationship is with Jeremy. You may recall that just over two years ago, Jeremy was arrested after pushing Jesse down a flight of stairs. At any rate, Jeremy has enjoyed a somewhat productive debut with the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League. He’s shown decent on-base skills, but the 20-year-old doesn’t appear to have his father’s power quite yet, unless, of course, you factor in family squabbles.

San Francisco selected Tyler Thompson, son of former Giant Robby, in the 42nd round, but the outfielder hasn’t signed and plans to head to the University of Florida to improve his draft stock down the road. Tyler was projected to go in the first five rounds, but signability was a big issue, as apparently the outfielder wanted first or second round money.

Although he was a decent player in his time, Robby was apparently far more prolific in the bedroom than he was on the diamond. Tyler’s twin brother Logan was also taken in the 42nd round, by the Indians. Logan is also currently unsigned. Older brother Drew was selected by the Twins in 2005 and is toiling in their system.

Kenny Williams Jr., son of Chisox general manager Kenny, was taken by his dad’s team in the sixth round (wouldn’t you have loved to be a fly on the wall for those contract negotiations?). Anyways, “Kenneth,” as junior is now known, is struggling as a 22-year-old outfielder in the Pioneer League. He was batting just .114 through his first 11 games, and is assumedly hurt (although he’s listed as active on MiLB.com), as he hasn’t played since late-June.

Speaking of negotiations that would have been fun to watch, how about those between the St. Louis Cardinals and their 35th round pick, Shane Boras, son of the beloved Scott Boras? Shockingly, Shane has yet to agree to a deal. It appears the second baseman has committed to USC next year and I wouldn’t be holding out for him to sign if I were a betting man.

Among active major leagues, Phillie reliever Tom Gordon’s son, Devaris Strange-Gordon, was selected in the fourth round by the Dodgers. The 20-year-old shortstop is turning heads at Rookie-level Ogden, batting .320 with good on-base skills through his first 55 professional games. He’s currently riding an eight-game hit streak, batting .432 during over this stretch.

Boras the Bastard Update

In other matters, as a followup to our article about Pedro Alvarez failing to report to the Pirates, Pittsburgh has now placed its first-round pick on the restricted list as Boras is attempting to renegotiate a deal that’s already been verbally agreed to.

The latest pawn in uber agent and asshole supreme Scott Boras’ ongoing power play with Major League Baseball is Pedro Alvarez, the Pirates’ first round pick in June.

The two sides agreed to a $6 million signing bonus (the largest in Pirate history) about a week and a half ago, but because of some apparent travel complications (how do travel complications set you back 11 days? Where are they traveling from? The Gobi desert? On a 58-year-old camel with dementia?), the actual contract hasn’t been signed. So Alvarez has yet to report for either a physical or to be formally introduced to the Pittsburgh media.

And now the Pirates are getting a bit frustrated by the latest Boras drama. The team still has no idea when Alvarez will actually show up, and at this point, there’s not enough time for him to make his pro debut with a minor league affiliate. So, as usual, Boras’ bullshit is hurting his client.

In fact, Bucco GM Neil Huntington intimated as much, saying “The longer the delay, the less likely it is we will send him to either Arizona or Hawaii” (for fall or winter ball).

As for as the legal rights Pittsburgh has to force him to report, while the contract hasn’t physically been signed, there is a verbal agreement and half the bonus has been paid, so for all intents and purposes, Alvarez is now an employee of the Pirates.

Ah yes…nothing like ingratiating yourself to your new boss before your first day of work. Imagine getting hired and taking a dump in your new supervisor’s car before you ever step foot in the office? That would go over well, don’t you think?

Just how many players will Boras transform into fuckfaces before he’s done?

For more on Alvarez’s on field ability, see our MLB Draft Recap.

This year was full of surprises at the Flyer prospect camp, some pleasant ones and some disappointing ones. Usually one or two players shine at the expense of others and vault their status with the club while inadvertently raising questions about the rest of the pack. This year there was no dominant player taking their game to new heights and forcing management to take note like Claude Giroux did last year, and Mike Richards and Jeff Carter did in their initial seasons.

Still, there were a lot of telling moments from key players.

James vanRiemsdyk did not shine, but played quite well and more importantly showed up in better shape than he did last year. Clearly, he spent the summer taking advantage of the fact the Flyer training facility is located just 85 miles up the road from his home. It looks as though vanRiemsdyk’s decision to play university hockey may not have been best one for his development, as he managed just one goal in his last 15 games there.

Flyer GM Paul Holmgren felt it was important for him to play with someone who will get him the puck, so John Matsumoto got the call.

Matsumoto had a strong camp, paying the price to fish out pucks for vanRiemsdyk and making creative passes often very late in the play as this pair showed good chemistry. Steve Downie was the other player on their line, and he played adequately. For Downie, this may have all been done before, but he still showed some fire, getting into a fight with Matt Clackson. Clackson, who has a limited skill set, may have been trying to show the Flyer brass that he was “bringing it” to camp with a serious attitude, but his judgment and timing of trying to instigate seemed a bit out of place at times. Finally, Garrett Klotz took Clackson on as well, displaying a clear understanding of the enforcer’s role.

Klotz is a great kid with a great attitude, but his skill set is also lower than the other prospects, so one wonders how far he and Clackson can go on their pugilistic abilities alone. Both appear to be strictly fighters at this stage in their careers.

Kevin Marshall did not stand out at camp, but shows very good work habits and was rewarded with a pro contract by the Flyers. Marc Andre Bourdon was hurt so he could not show much. He definitely needs to work on his speed and mobility before getting to the bigs.
 
There were some defensemen in the fold who raised a few eyebrows. Mike Ratchuk can burn it all the way up ice and consistently showed he could skate rings around most of the other prospects in a gear that they just simply don’t have. He made a couple of bad decisions, but for the most part he was flying in between traffic effortlessly. On the downside, he is not a gritty player and was also taken out with devastating checks more frequently than any other prospect. For instance, on the last day of camp, Giroux nailed him with a world-class hit that reminded people of Dale Hunter’s heyday. In fact, Grioux took Ratchuk out so badly, people thought he might not play ever again. However, to his credit, Ratchuk came back two shifts later.

Luca Sbisa also justified his first round selection to an extent. Unlike most players who seem strained and tend to force their reverse C-cuts in backward skating drills, Sbisa moved effortlessly and fluidly about twice as fast as most other prospects, finishing most backward skating drills about 20 paces ahead of the pack every time.

Sbisa played fairly well, displaying a good, crisp first pass, but he was looking to pinch too early and got burned several times. When he didn’t get caught, he was a key component in the offensive zone, but, clearly, he needs work on the decision making process. Still, he was one of the better players at the camp.

Ryan Parent was probably the best defender with his unspectacular, but highly efficient play.

Zac Rinaldo had a strong camp for a guy who most considered lucky to even be there. He is fast, feisty and intense. I’m not sure how he’d fair against established vets, but he definitely shows promise.

Rob Bellamy played pretty well, but seems to have hit his ceiling as a checker with limited offensive abilities.

Giroux played very consistently, but the expectations on him are through the roof so despite a strong camp he still didn’t dominate the way one might have hoped. He did make great passes and show off his moves and skating, while potting the odd goal. Giroux oozes with promise every time he is on the ice.

Anchored by organization-developed stars like Brian Roberts, Nick Markakis, Daniel Cabrera and Garrett Olson, a system that was in total disarray very recently is now at very least mediocre, and improving rapidly. The last three drafts have proved much more fruitful for the O’s, something that will stead this team well as it looks to make hay in the tough AL East in the coming years.

Let’s examine some of the future Orioles we’ll be hearing more about soon:

Colin Allen, a 21-year-old righty the O’s selected in the 22nd round last year, has been almost untouchable so far this season with the Rookie-level Bluefield Orioles. Armed with a go-to curveball and a 91 mph fastball, the converted outfielder has struck out 15 batters in a team-high 13 1/3 IP, limiting opponents to a BA under .175. Allen credits Bluefield pitching coach Troy Mattes with instilling in him the idea that pitchers shouldn’t give hitters too much credit – a concept that’s stead the youngster very well as he puts himself on the map as a prospect.

Lance West, a 39th round pick in last month’s draft, is proving to be a real great late-round steal so far, seamlessly making the transition to the pro game. The 20-year-old is hitting for power (four homers, .730 SLG), average (almost .300) and is showing on-base skills (with an OBP of almost .425). Coming off back-to-back multi-hit games, West is on a tear and may be a candidate to move to Class-A before season’s end.

Catcher Wally Crancer, a 12th round pick in 2007, has made great strides offensively this season. Through 45 games at Class-A Delmarva, he’s batting .296 with four homers and 16 walks. He’s been converted from the outfield to help advance his career, and so far, it has not affected his offense, a very common occurance when a player is shifted, especially behind the plate. Crancer has also played some left and right field, DH and even first base, so the team is doing whatever it takes to keep the soon to be 24-year-old’s bat in the lineup. He’ll need to move quickly to have a chance to become a prospect.

I love what I’m seeing out of Zach Britton, a third round pick in 2006. The 6’2” lefty has handled the move up to Delmarva with ease this season, going 7-5 with an excellent 2.85 ERA through 16 starts. He’s yielded just 76 hits and 25 walks in 88 1/3 IP, fanning 64. Just 20 years old, this is a kid that needs to be watched.

Jake Arrieta, the O’s fifth rounder last year, is performing quite admirably in his professional debut for the Class-A Frederick Keys. Despite some recent struggles, the 22-year-old righty is 5-4 with an ERA barely over 3.00 and 91 Ks in 89 2/3 IP. He’s allowed just 64 hits. At one time, Arrieta was expected to go in the top 20 picks of the draft, but he slipped all the way to the fifth round when he pitched very inconsistently in the month leading up to the draft. He could prove to be a serious steal, and is someone to watch in keeper leagues.

Matt Wieters, the fifth overall pick last year, signed too late to make his pro debut in 2007, but man, is he ever living up to the hype this year. The 22-year-old switch hitting catcher dominating High-A ball, batting .345 with 15 homers and 44 walks in 69 games before a recent promotion to Double-A Bowie. Clearly, the higher level is not intimidating Wieters, as he continues to wield a potent bat (.292) with power (one homer and three doubles in 24 at bats) and superior plate discipline (five walks, three strikeouts). Make no mistake: this kid is the real deal, and it wouldn’t shock me if he’s ready to challenge for a starting job in B-More as soon as next spring. In fact, I would be shocked if Wieters isn’t in the majors by this time next year. Expect to see him at the very top of most prospect lists heading into 2009.

David Hernandez, Baltimore’s 16th round pick in 2005, has arrived as a prospect this season after some very middling results his first two pro seasons. The 23-year-old righty has made the jump to Double-A – the toughest leap for a pitcher – look easy. He’s 5-1, 2.63 with 100 strikeouts in 89 innings, while limiting opponents to a .209 BAA. Hernandez has been especially untouchable in his last four starts (seven hits and two earned runs in 24 2/3 IP, showing near no-hit stuff in back-to-back starts), so if he can sharpen his control a smidgeon, we could have a serious prospect on our hands here.

Chris Tillman, Seattle’s second rounder in 2006 who came to the O’s in the Erik Bedard deal, has looked fantastic at Bowie. Just 20, this righty has a very bright future, and the fact that he’s been able to maintain a solid K rate (81 in 79 IP) despite the jump to a higher level at such a young age has me very impressed. Opponents are batting just .214 against Tillman, a name that needs to targeted in keeper leagues.

Outfielder Nolan Reimold, despite solid numbers, has been a bit of a disappointment at Double-A only because in his half-season there in 2007, he was fantastic. Still, he’s coming around of late and definitely looks to have his power mojo back with six dingers, a double and nine RBI in the last five games. If this keeps up, he could find himself at Camden before season’s end.

1. Tampa Bay Rays – Timothy Beckham, SS, Griffin HS (Georgia): This five-tool player was atop pretty much every pre-draft list, so this selection shocked exactly no one. As if the Rays didn’t have enough young talent already, within two or three years, this 18-year-old will be manning shortstop for this team. Beckham is a superb athlete who was the clear cut best available high school player this year.

2. Pittsburgh Pirates – Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Vanderbilt U.: Alvarez is another good athlete, and his bat is his best tool. From a very young age, this kid differentiated himself with his powerhouse tendencies. Considered the best third baseman in college ball, Alvarez is a good runner, and described by his coach as a real leader. The 21-year-old New York native was drafted by Boston in the 14th round in 2005 out of high school. Obviously, opting for college did him and his draft status wonders.

3. Kansas City Royals – Eric Hosmer, 1B, American Heritage School (Florida): This guy’s got some serious pop, even to the opposite field, and small wonder with a 6’4”, 215-pound frame that still has filling out to do at his tender age of 18. He’s blessed with a very natural left-handed swing that will probably require very little tinkering, so Hosmer has a chance to move through the Royals’ system quickly. He’s been lauded for owning a very advanced bat for a high school player.

4. Baltimore Orioles – Brian Matusz, LHP, U of San Diego: This 21-year-old southpaw, the first pitcher taken in the draft, has long been a fixture on the various pre-season college award watch lists. He’s reached 94 mph, but tends to comfortably pitch in the high 80s, low 90s. Matusz’s delivery seems fairly low-effort, so he should maintain the good health he’s experienced up until now. Matusz was a big-time high school prospect, but because of his salary demands, he slipped until the fourth round when he was first drafted, opting to go to USD when negotiations broke down with the Angels.

5. San Francisco Giants – Gerald Posey, C, Florida St. U: More commonly known as “Buster,” Posey is an All-American who has a chance to become the Giants’ starting catcher in the not-too-distant future. Certainly, there’s plenty of opportunity in this organization, still fairly barren, although on the rebound after years of being unable to produce position players. The 21-year-old not only can hit, but he has a chance to stay behind the plate, and that’s a rare commodity.

6. Florida Marlins – Kyle Skipworth, C, Patriot HS (California): The Giants started a mini run on catchers here, with the Marlins grabbing the first high school backstop in Skipworth. This continues a trend for Florida of selecting power hitting high school prospects in the first round, something the team also did last season. This 18-year-old has a nice line-drive stroke from the left side of the plate. Skipworth will face what most young catchers – especially from the high school ranks – have to deal with, specifically, questions about his ability to hit enough while also remaining behind the plate. However, Skipworth really opened eyes at the prospect showcases in the last year, soaring up the rankings in the process. At one point this season, he set a new state record with 18 consecutive hits, reaching base in 25 straight plate appearances along the way. I guess that’ll do.

7. Cincinnati Reds – Yonder Alonso, 1B, U of Miami: Alonso arrived in the U.S. from Cuba at the age of seven. Now 21, he’s coming off a season with the Hurricanes in which he was a Louisville Slugger Pre-season Second Team All-American, bagging a couple ACC Player of the Week Awards along the way. Alonso has good bloodlines, as his father was a professional catcher and first baseman in Cuba. He’s adept at driving the ball the other way, and projects as a tremendous run producer.

8. Chicago White Sox – James Beckham, SS, U of Georgia: The second Beckham taken (no relation) is also a middle infielder, an area the Sox have lacked depth at for some time. The A’s were said to be after him, hoping to convert Beckham into a second baseman, something that’s likely to happen to him in any organization. Apparently, he isn’t the type of prospect that will jump out at you at first blush, but he does a lot of things well, including hitting with some surprising power.

9. Washington Nationals – Aaron Crow, RHP, U of Missouri Columbia: This 21-year-old righty was another pre-season All-American. Crow first gained national attention by being named the top prospect of the Cape Code Summer League in 2007. Some have questioned how durable he’ll be as a pro, but he set a Missouri school record for starts in a season in 2007. Crow is able to crank it up to 96 mph – fast enough to become the first righty taken off the draft board this year.

10. Houston Astros – Jason Castro, C, Stanford: Castro, not to be confused with the American Idol contestant, believes he’ll sign with the Astros shortly after Stanford’s season ends, and you’ve got to believe Houston will be motivated to get his name on the dotted line after failing to sign its top pick last year. The third catcher taken in the top ten picks, Castro is enjoying a breakout year for the Cardinal, leading the team in hitting. Last month, he was named a semifinalist for the 2008 Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, given to the top collegiate catcher in the game. Houston surprised some by grabbing Castro this soon, especially considering he has shown himself to be vulnerable to change-ups.

11. Texas Rangers – Justin Smoak, 1B, U of South Carolina: The Rangers have done a great job restocking their farm system with recent trades. The selection of Smoak continues that process. Another pre-season All-American, Smoak was considered the third best college prospect heading into the season, but he slipped in the rankings. Regardless, Texas may have landed itself a steal in this 21-year-old, who was the 2006 Cade Cod League MVP. He certainly excited plenty of Gamecock fans with his power. Lauded for his swing mechanics, Smoak is a powerful switch-hitter in the Mark Teixeira/Chipper Jones mold. For the Rangers, it’s the ideal acquisition after they dealt away Teixeira last season.

12. Oakland A’s – Jemile Weeks, 2B, U of Miami: Like many first rounders, Weeks was a pre-season All-American. The 21-year-old is the younger brother of Rickie, currently manning second for the Brew Crew. A prototypical lead-off man, Weeks will add a dimension to the A’s they aren’t exactly known for in recent years – blazing speed. Here’s a closer look at the kid, who gained great big game experience in this year’s College World Series. The second of three Hurricanes to hear their name called in the first round, Weeks was originally selected by Milwaukee in the eighth round of the 2005 draft. But just like it did for his older brother, going to college really helped improve Jemile’s draft stock.

13. St. Louis Cardinals – Brett Wallace, 3B, Arizona St. U: The Cards were very intrigued with the bat this 21-year-old wields. The 2007 Pac 10 Player of the Year (and Triple Crown winner), Wallace is considered among the best hitters in college ball, known for his fantastic patience. Originally drafted in the 42nd round by the Jays in 2005, Wallace opted to go to college instead as he always wanted to be a Sun Devil. Smart call, as he’s now among the top power prospects in the game. He projects as a first baseman as a pro.

14. Minnesota Twins – Aaron Hicks, OF, Woodrow Wilson HS (California): This 18-year-old is considered a premium athlete and was lauded as the best two-way star in his draft class. His future is as an outfielder, however, not on the mound. Hicks was a run machine this year, scoring 50 times in just 34 games. He’s quite small right now, but some think he projects to have five-tool potential because of his incredible athleticism. For a high school player, this pick is a tremendously safe one for the Twinkies.

15. Los Angeles Dodgers – Ethan Martin, RHP, Stephens County School (Georgia): Martin, who turned 19 Friday, is all about power. He has a fantastic arm and can smack the hell out of the ball at the plate. Originally considered a two-way possibility, Martin’s maturation on the mound has dictated that his future will be as a pitcher. He was reaching 95 mph over a year ago, and has been clocked up to 96 more recently. Martin has the athleticism and confidence to rise quickly through a Dodgers system known for developing high school pitchers.

16. Milwaukee Brewers – Brett Lawrie, C, Brookswood SS (British Columbia): The fourth catcher taken in the first 16 picks – sensing a trend yet? – was the first Canadian taken off the board. Catcher is a position the Brewers have struggled to find consistent offense from for many years. Jason Kendall is obviously on his way out, and backup Mike Rivera, at 31, isn’t much younger. The team does have a couple of catching prospects in the pipeline, but Lawrie immediately takes the mantle as the catcher of the future. The highest Canadian position player taken in the draft since 1985, Lawrie could be part of the nation’s baseball entry at the Olympics this summer. This 18-year-old has strong hands and was the MVP of the Canadian National Junior Team, attracting plenty of media attention for his efforts.

17. Toronto Blue Jays – David Cooper, 1B, UC Berkeley: The Jays were said to be interested in Lawrie, but once he was taken off the board, they opted for the best available player remaining on their list in Cooper. The 2007 All-Pac 10 selection also took home the California Student-Athlete of the Week honour on March 31 of this year. Not only did he lead the Bears in home runs, but he also paced the team in walks – a very nice combination of power and patience. Cooper is known for his quiet and easy left-handed swing, but he’s capable of making plenty of noise on the stat sheet. His advanced bat is exactly what this team needs as it struggles on offense. Cooper should be able to move very quickly — the sooner, the better as far as Toronto is concerned.

18. New York Mets – Isaac Davis, 1B, Arizona St. U: Isaac Davis, the son of former Yankee pitcher Ron Davis, became the fifth first baseman taken. Adding a blue chip prospect like Davis is huge for the Mets, who have dealt away much of their system depth in recent years. Tampa Bay picked this now 21-year-old in the 19th round in 2005, but like many youngsters taken out of high school, opting for college was a wise move for Davis. He is projected to be able to hit for more power as he matures.

19. Chicago Cubs – Andrew Cashner, RHP, Texas Christian U: For the second straight season, the Cubs selected this 6’6” right-handed hurler. Last year, they took him in the 29th round, but he opted to head back to college. The year before, the Rox picked him in the 18th round. Apparently, the Cubs don’t believe signing the 21-year-old this time around will be problematic. The reliever has come a long way in the past year, upping his velocity to the 97-98 mph range, so surely the Cubbies will be falling over themselves to get Cashner’s John Hancock on a contract. College closers have made it to the majors very quickly in recent years, with mixed results. The Cubs seem content with Kerry Wood at closer for the time being, and have Carlos Marmol at the ready should he be needed when Wood breaks down again, so there’s no reason to rush Cashner. Of course, they have to sign him first.

20. Seattle Mariners – Joshua Fields, RHP, U of Georgia: Let the run on college closers begin! Taken by the Braves in the second round last year, Fields, who had a sos-so junior season, opted to head back for his senior season. Of course, the fact that he was represented by Scott Boras and negotiations didn’t go his way didn’t help matters. Now, Fields says he hopes to be in the majors by 2009. Here’s a look at him.

21. Detroit Tigers – Ryan Perry, RHP, U of Arizona: Perry, who can bring it at up to 100 mph, marks yet another college reliever plucked in this first round. This 6’4” 21-year-old has decent sink on his fastball when he keeps it down. Perry’s classic delivery allows him to generate serious heat. The selection of Perry continues Detroit’s trend of taking pitching in the opening round – this is the fifth time in the past six years the Tigers have taken an arm over a bat to start the draft. There’s still some debate about whether Perry will wind up as a reliever or possibly a top starter. The former option would be a quicker way to get him to the Show, but if Detroit opts to make him a starter, it will take some time before it sees the fruit of that labour.

22. New York Mets – David Havens, SS, U of South Carolina Columbia: Havens, 21, has shown nice improvement at the plate thanks to his patient approach. He doesn’t project as a serious power threat, but with his bat speed, he should be a modest source of double-digit dingers. Unfortunately, he doesn’t even rank out as an average runner, speed-wise, so don’t be looking to Havens as a source of steals. Boston almost grabbed this kid as a first-rounder three years ago when he was a very productive high school prospect, but even if the Sox had wanted him again, he was long gone by the time they picked at No. 30. The fact that the Mets, with their second first round pick, grabbed him this early is a surprise, especially given that Havens is projected to have to move to third, a position the Mets have sewn up pretty nicely these days.

23. San Diego Padres – Allan Dykstra, 1B, Wake Forest U: Dykstra, who turned 21 last month, is a powerful behemoth, standing 6’5” and weighing 240. He’s an advanced hitter who was among the top power bats in college baseball this year. That the Padres – desperately in need of pop – picked him wasn’t a shock. Except, of course, for the fact that they already have a pretty darned good young first baseman in Adrian Gonzalez. And don’t think for a second that Dykstra – the sixth first baseman taken in the opening round – is capable of handling another defensive assignment with his size, unless it’s with an AL team as a DH, of course. Oh, and by the way, in case you were wondering: he is not related to Lenny, despite the relative scarcity of that surname.

24. Philadelphia Phillies – Anthony Hewitt, SS, Salisbury School (New York): This Brooklyn native hit .496 for his undefeated high school team this season. Check out his sweet right-handed swing, lauded for becoming much cleaner and more efficient this season, here. The 19-year-old, expected to develop power as he matures, is currently blocked by Jimmy Rollins, but he’s got plenty of development time ahead of him either way, so I’m not immediately worried by that. I’m a bit surprised the Phils didn’t grab someone a bit more major-league ready, given their paucity of top prospects at higher levels, but Hewitt has some tremendous upside.

25. Colorado Rockies – Christian Friedrich, LHP, Eastern Kentucky U: This 6’3” southpaw, despite some control problems in 2007, was on the Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award watch list this season. I’m not overly worried about the walks, as long as he can continue to chalk up the Ks as he did in college (307 in 232 IP, including summer league play). Last summer, thanks to his tremendous curveball, Friedrich ranked fourth among Cape Cod League prospects.

26. Arizona Diamondbacks – Daniel Schlereth, LHP, U of Arizona: Schlereth, a 6’1” southpaw, is yet another college closer, one who set the Arizona record for saves in a season by a freshman back in 2006. He comes from a sports family (father Mark won three Super Bowl rings with the Broncos and Redskins). Daniel, who turned 22 last month, has been clocked as high as 97 mph with his fastball, which is complimented by a strong curve. Confidence isn’t his weakness; Schlereth thinks he can be in the majors by September; a lofty goal considering his college season hasn’t even ended yet.

27. Minnesota Twins – Carlos Gutierrez, RHP, U of Miami: Another trend has definitely emerged here with the Twins taking college closer Gutierrez, who returned this season from Tommy John surgery, a procedure that caused him to be redshirted in 2007. The third of a school-record three Miami players taken in the first round, Gutierrez was a surprise pick in this high a slot given his lack of a secondary pitch. He can bring the heat with his fastball, but doesn’t really have a second go-to pitch, and even as a reliever that’s a stretch. You certainly can’t argue with his college results, however; Gutierrez’s command at Miami was impeccable.

28. New York Yankees – Gerrit Cole, RHP, Orange Lutheran HS (California): This 17-year-old is gifted with an ideal pitcher’s frame (6’3”, 190) and an arm capable of reaching as high as 98 mph, but with a comfort zone in the 92 to 94 mph range. He has a commitment to UCLA, but given that he’s a lifetime Yankee fan, convincing him to turn pro shouldn’t be took difficult (assuming the right amount of zeros are tossed his way). Cole is considered the top right-handed pitching prospect to come out of Southern California since Phil Hughes. And now the Yankees have both of them as they continue to add young arms to the organization.

29. Cleveland Indians – Lonnie Chisenhall, SS, Pitt CC: Chisenhall comes with baggage, having been sent packing from the University of South Carolina after burglary/grand larceny charges last year. He was a high profile recruit for the Gamecocks, so the story made big news. Chisenhall wound up pleading guilty and getting six months of probation. Of course, this isn’t the first time Cleveland has brought in a player with a history. Remember Kaz Tadano and the gay porn scandal? At any rate, Chisenhall isn’t likely to stay at short, projecting at a third baseman as a pro. Let’s hope he sticks to stealing bases from this point on.

30. Boston Red Sox – Casey Kelly, SS, Sarasota HS (Florida): The son of former major leaguer Pat Kelly, Casey Kelly is a hell of an athlete, not only starring as a two-way talent in baseball, but also being a good enough quarterback to be ranked as the 31st best QB prospect by ESPN. Even as a junior at high school, the scouts were already drooling over Kelly. He enjoyed a productive senior year at the plate, and on the mound was dominating. It’s going to cost some bucks to lure him away from a football career, but assuming the Sox can do so, it will be interesting to see if they plan to use him as a shortstop or a pitcher. You can see him hit and pitch here.

Spikes Up, our exclusive baseball column, is pleased to unveil the fourth annual Spikes Up Top 35 Prospects List, once again beefed up from last year’s version.

This season, 11 players are back from the 2007 rankings, while another 15 (exactly half of last year’s list) have graduated to the major leagues. For the second straight year, just four slipped out of the rankings.

1. Jay Bruce, OF, Cincinnati – After placing 14th in our rankings last year, this tender-aged (just turned 21) flyhawk has shot to the top of the RotoRob Prospect List this year. Bruce is ticketed for a bit of seasoning at Triple-A, but don’t sleep on this guy. Expect him to arrive in Cincy by May or June and be capable of putting up some very strong numbers immediately. Sure, he’ll probably be prone to plenty of Ks, but Bruce is a star in the making, drawing comparisons to Larry Walker and Jeremy Hermida, among others. The only thing worrying me here is manager Dusty Baker’s propensity to screw up younger players.

2. Jordan Schafer, OF, Atlanta – There’s some debate whether Schafer is the top Braves’ prospect or even the best of the three great young outfield prospects in the organization (Schafer, Jason Heyward, Brandon Jones), but for my money, Schafer is the man. He’s the clear heir apparent to fill the void left in centrefield when Andruw Jones left town. Sure, Schafer is getting hyped by the Atlanta PR machine, but this 21-year-old, a third-round pick in 2005, is headed for greatness. Last season, he completely destroyed the Sally League, forcing an early-season promotion to High-A where he scored 70 runs in 106 games, showed some pop and some patience. Yes, I’d like to see him cut the strikeouts, and the HGH suspension will definitely delay in his arrival date, but it wouldn’t shock me if Schafer were starting in Atlanta by mid-season 2009, if not sooner.

3. Clay Buchholz, RHP, Boston — Although he struggled this spring, don’t let the bloated ERA fool you — Buchholz is among the top prospects in the game. He absolutely dominated in Double-A last season, earning recognition as a classification All-Star from Baseball America, before moving up to Triple-A. With Pawtucket, Buchholz had some issues with the long ball, but certainly held his own. Finally, he pitched extremely well with the BoSox (perhaps you heard a thing or two about that no-hitter?).

4. Evan Longoria, 3B, Tampa Bay – This power-hitting hot corner prospect enjoyed a big season as a Biscuit (mmm…biscuits) before moving up to Triple-A and continuing his power display. Our No. 20 prospect last year, the kid’s time has come, but the Rays decided to have him start at Triple-A even though he deserved to break camp with a job after such an impressive spring. Regardless, Longoria will definitely factor into the AL ROY race this season, especially now that he’s arrived in Tampa thanks to an injury to Willy Aybar.

T-5. Wade Davis, RHP, Tampa Bay – Davis soared up the prospect list in 2007, moving up to High-A and significantly improving his control without sacrificing the Ks. He then moved up and more than held his own at Double-A – one of the true acid tests for pitching prospects. Davis is starting the year back in Double-A, but I’m confident he’ll see time in the majors this year, making him an intriguing reserve pick. This 22-year-old is part of a treasure chest of talent that the Rays have hoarded, and is proof positive (along with Jake McGee and David Price) that the organization is finally capable of developing pitching prospects (although James Shields’ emergence last year helped begin that process).

T-5. Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers – Kershaw (our No. 24 prospect a year ago) just turned 20, so ideally the Dodgers will find a way to get him more seasoning, but with his dominance, they won’t be able to hold him back for long. LA’s top draft choice in 2006 (seventh overall), Kershaw has been dominant as a pro from day one, taking his place today as the team’s top prospect. Within three months, he’ll be in a Dodger uniform; within three years, he’ll be challenging for the Cy Young award.

T-7. Travis Snider, OF, Toronto — Snider is not expected to be a factor in the majors this year, but in keeper leagues, this is a guy you definitely want to tuck away. While there are some varying opinions of how good a prospect he’ll be, he impressed the hell out of most as one of the youngest players in the AFL last year. Snider, the 14th overall pick in 2006 after a dominating high school season in which he led his team to the Washington State championships, projects as a big-time power hitter down the road.

T-7. Colby Rasmus, OF, St. Louis – This 21-year-old centrefielder has left a wake of damage wherever he’s played. He led his team to the 1999 Little League World Series, and then in high school he mashed 24 homers, passing Bo Jackson for the second highest total in one season by an Alabama High School player. Last season, Rasmus led all Double-A players with 29 homers and looked solid in the AFL, convincing the Cards to clear the decks in CF by dealing veteran Jim Edmonds. St. Louis has opted to let this five-tool talent get a bit more seasoning in Triple-A, but rest assured, he’s going to be patrolling centre in Busch sooner rather than later. Don’t sleep on this kid.

9. Cameron Maybin, OF, Florida – The centrepiece of the package the Marlins received from the Tigers when they dispatched Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis north to Motown, the not yet 21-year-old Maybin is a future stud in centrefield. As if the Marlins didn’t have enough speed, this kid, potentially the future face of the organization, brings plenty to the table. Size, speed and power – Maybin has it all. Imagine him as the next Torii Hunter, except with a higher ceiling. No wonder Maybin’s already excited fans this spring. After his fast start, however, Maybin fizzled a bit, and will begin the year in Double-A. He’s up slightly from No. 10 on last year’s list.

10. Homer Bailey, RHP, Cincinnati – Despite some souring on him (we had him at No. 4 on the list last year), Bailey still looks like a future ace to me. Just 21, the kid only has 45 career innings under his belt, so I wouldn’t spend more than a buck on him for 2008. But in looking forward, let’s keep things in perspective. Recall that Johan Santana had a 6.49 ERA in 86 innings as a 21-year-old, so don’t panic if Bailey takes some lumps this year. Stay the course, and you’ll be rewarded.

11. Chris Marrero, OF, Washington – He’s only 19, but nothing is going to hold Marrero back for long. The team is expecting big things from their top prospect, and no one’s expectations are higher than Marrero’s – he wants to be in the bigs by the end of the season. I wouldn’t bet against this pure home run hitter arriving in Washington by September, even though he’s starting out at High-A. With a double in his only Spring Training at bat, Marrero already has downtrodden Nats’ fans getting excited.

T-12. Franklin Morales, LHP, Colorado – After enjoying a breakout season in which he was among the Texas League leaders in Ks before a promotion to Triple-A, Morales ultimately wound up in the majors and played a key role over the final two months as the Rox rolled into the playoffs. This 22-year-old lefty has a chance to be the next great Venezuelan pitcher, and he’s a name to watch after breaking camp with the fifth starter job for the Rockies. The team’s top pitching prospect, Morales is gifted with amazing stuff, including a knee-buckling 12-to-6 curve. I’d like to see him sharpen his control, but impressively, it was much less of an issue when he arrived in the majors – a truly excellent sign.

T-12. Andy LaRoche, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers – After another spectacular half-season at Triple-A, LaRoche made his MLB debut last year, and flashed his gap power. The 24-year-old, the Dodgers’ 39th round pick in 2003, has been riding high since his breakout 2005 season in which he mashed 30 dingers. Adam’s baby bro looked like the odds-on favourite to break camp as the team’s starting third baseman, but a thumb injury will sideline him for five-to-eight weeks. Don’t worry; he’ll be back, and will challenge for the NL ROY before it’s all said and done. LaRoche was our No. 6 prospect a year ago.

14. Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Boston – Everyone has already seen the impact this kid can have on a team after he took the BoSox by storm late last year and in the playoffs. A great contact hitter, Ellsbury is thought to be the first native Navajo player to ever take the field for a major league team. He’s going to split time in centre with Coco Crisp to begin the season, but Ellsbury’s ability to be an offensive instigator and his superb defensive work will force Crisp out of town sooner rather than later.

T-15. Joba Chamberlain, RHP, New York Yankees – Part of a trio of young Yank hurlers expected to form the nucleus of the pitching staff in years to come, Chamberlain burst on to the scene last season, spending the final two months as Mariano Rivera’s set-up man. This intense hurler gained cult status almost immediately. Ultimately expected to be a starter, that plan’s been put on hold for now as Chamberlain will begin the year out of the pen. But contrary to last season, he will not rely strictly on his fastball/slider combo, instead opting to use all four pitches this year.

T-15. Chase Headley, 3B, San Diego – The Padres’ second round pick in 2005 has ascended through the system and is now the organization’s top prospect. He’s a hard worker, but is currently blocked by Kevin Kouzmanoff. There was talk of either shifting Kouz to left field or converting Headley into an outfielder, but the team believes he’s not ready to play outfield in the majors so they optioned him to Triple-A. He’ll be back, making him a decent late-round flyer in this year’s drafts.

17. Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pittsburgh – The Pirates moved this young speedster up the ladder aggressively last year, and he struggled somewhat at Double-A. But make no mistake – with his power, makeup and strong defense, McCutchen will finally provide the answer the Pirates have been seeking for several years in centrefield very soon. Our No. 17 prospect from last season didn’t hit well in the AFL, but showed a good batting eye. McCutchen will start the year in Triple-A, but should make his MLB before the end of 2008, assuming he can adjust to the higher level as well as he did last year (.313 BA in limited Triple-A action).

T-18. Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Oakland – A key component of the package the A’s received from Arizona for Dan Haren, Gonzalez has emerged as one of the top CF prospects in the game. While there are questions about his attitude, it’s unclear if the 22-year-old Venezuelan is immature or actually has issues. Regardless, he’s a great prospect to tuck away in keeper leagues, although injury issues this spring burned his chances of break camp as the A’s everyday centerfielder. The 2005 Midwest League MVP has all the tools necessary to become a star, and after hitting .310 last season in a brief Triple-A trial, our No. 21 prospect from last year sure looks ready to contribute in the bigs.

T-18. Desmond Jennings, OF, Tampa Bay – As if the Rays needed another top prospect, Jennings burst onto the scene last year after barely being a blip on the Rays’ prospect list heading into 2007. After showing a bit of everything in the Sally League (.315 BA with 45 steals, gap power and patience), Jennings has soared up the charts. This one is strictly for keeper leagues, but if he can duplicate his breakout campaign, this kid will move fast and be knocking on the door of the bigs before you know it.

T-20. Ian Kennedy, RHP, New York Yankees – Another of the young Yankee arms charged with helping to lead the team back to the playoffs for a 14th straight time. This former USC product comes with some health risks, but he’s ascended the New York prospect list for a reason. Some think the Yanks reached a bit when they grabbed Kennedy with the 21st pick in 2006, but with Joba pen-bound, Kennedy landed a rotation spot this season, and judging by his superb spring showing, I’m expecting a solid rookie season.

T-20. David Price, LHP, Tampa Bay – The first overall selection in the 2007 draft was expected to move very quickly, but an injury this spring will slow down that timetable. He’s expected to miss about six weeks and then pitch at High-A, so Price will have to make a serious statement fast if he wants to pitch in the Show this year. He remains a fantastic keeper league prospect, but hoping for a contribution in 2008 now seems a stretch.

22. Angel Villalona, 3B, San Francisco – Could it be true? Could the Giants finally produce fantasy-worthy position prospect for the first time in a generation? Villalona is just 17, so let’s not get too ahead of ourselves, but considering he’ll likely play full-season ball at that age, it’s easy to get excited. A tremendous keeper prospect, Villalona’s long-term home is expected to be first base.

23. Nick Adenhart, RHP, Los Angeles Angels – Despite injuries to the team’s top two starters (John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar), the Halos opted to send their top pitching prospect to Triple-A to begin the season, where he’ll be part of a prospect-heavy Salt Lake squad. Adenhart’s results weren’t awful this spring (although he was a bit too hittable), but the Angels wisely decided to give the youngster more time to mature. After all, he has yet to pitch above Double-A. Keep an eye on Adenhart’s minor league numbers as out No. 22 prospect from last year has sleeper potential as a mid-season call-up.

T-24. Matt Wieters, C, Baltimore – Wieters, the fifth overall pick in last year’s draft, is the best catching prospect in the game. Now, the question is whether he’ll be able to live up to that $6 million bonus the O’s gave him – the biggest upfront payout in draft history. The Georgia Tech alumni and 2006 First Team All-American has the power and on-base skills needed to excel, but as we all know, well-hyped catching prospects often fade into obscurity (A.J. Hinch, anyone?).

T-24. Rick Porcello, RHP, Detroit – Porcello was the fifth highest ranked prospect heading into last year’s draft, but he slipped all the way to No. 27 because of signability issues (the fact that he was a Scott Boras client sure helped). The Tigers grabbed him and signed him to a record $7.28 million, four-year deal, way above bonus guidelines. Immediately, he became the jewel in a Tiger minor league system that is suddenly bereft of top prospects. The 6’5” Porcello was a big New Jersey high school star who was committed to UNC before penning a deal with Detroit. He did not pitch in the minors last year, so is making his pro debut this season at High-A Lakeland.

T-26. Joey Votto, 1B/OF, Cincinnati – Votto’s poor spring cost him the starter’s job in Cincy, but he still made the team and it shouldn’t take much for him to overtake Scott Hatteberg soon. The Toronto-born 23-year-old, drafted out of high school in the second round in 2002, broke through in 2006 as the Southern League MVP. He built on that last year by continuing to show good patience at Triple-A, and did extremely well after getting the late-season call to the Show. This dude is ready.

T-26. Johnny Cueto, RHP, Cincinnati – Much like Nook LaLoosh in Bull Durham, Cueto “announced his presence with authority.” Except, of course, Cueto has an idea where his fastball is going, and it’s usually in the strike zone. This 22-year-old kid from the Dominican Republic was playing in the FSL All-Star game in 2007, but now he’s in the Reds’ rotation and has become an immediate waiver wire favourite. This phenom has No. 1 starter stuff, making him a big part of a revitalized Reds’ system.

28. Neftali Feliz, RHP, Texas – This former top prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization was traded to the Rangers as part of the Mark Teixeira deal at the trading deadline last year. Moving to Class-A ball in Spokane after the deal, Feliz struck out 27 in only 15 innings pitched. Although he’s several years away from arriving in the Show, the kid with the mid-90s fastball has the long term potential to be a top-of-the-rotation starter.

29. Reid Brignac, SS, Tampa Bay – After that 2006 season, when he captured virtually every award available, it was assumed that Brignac would be on the fast track to the bigs. A funny thing happened in that second full season in Montgomery — he proved he was human. With the bar set so high in 2006, a .260 BA, with 17 HR, 81 RBI and 15 stolen bases would have to be considered somewhat disappointing. Expect a better overall performance in 2008 from this 22-year-old former second rounder, our No. 18 prospect from 2007.

30. Mike Moustakas, SS, Kansas City – Drafted second overall in the 2007 draft by the Royals, this 19-year-old shortstop signed for a reported $4 million bonus. Baseball America fingers Moustakas as having the best infield arm, best power and best batting average from the class of ‘07. A graduate of Chatsworth High in California, Moustakas batted .577 with a California prep record 24 homers in 97 at bats. He reported to the Idaho Falls Chukars in the Rookie Pioneer League and batted .293 with ten RBI in 11 games. Because Moustakas is a below average runner, with somewhat limited range, some believe that a change of positions might be in order down the road, but the Royals are planning for now to stick with the “Moose” at his natural position of shortstop.

31. Jarrod Parker, RHP, Arizona – Parker was drafted out of Norwell High in Ossian, Indiana, by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the ninth overall pick in the 2007 draft. The right-handed flamethrower signed just prior to the deadline for a reported $2.1 million bonus. Parker, the 2006-07 Gatorade Indiana Player of the Year, brings to the D-Backs a fastball in the 94-97 mph range, occasionally touching 98 mph. The fact that some scouts suggest he has the best arm action of any pitcher in the 2007 draft bodes well for Parker as he heads into his first full season in professional ball.

32. Jeff Clement, C, Seattle – Coming off a breakout 20-homer, 80-RBI campaign at Tacoma, this former third overall pick from the 2005 draft is looking at a return to Tacoma to commence the 2008 season. With incumbent Kenji Johjima heading into free agency next year, look for 2009 to be the year we see Clement assuming a full-time role. He’s a must-keep in deep dynasty formats.

T-33. Daric Barton, 1B, Oakland – Barton turned a very strong September 2007 into a job this spring at first base. The on-base skills are most certainly evident, although at this time the power seems a bit on the light side for a first baseman. The 22-year-old hit only nine home runs in 516 at bats for Sacramento last year and this apparent lack of power should be a concern heading into 2008.

T-33. Chin-Lung Hu, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers – A well-rounded player, Hu smacked 14 homers and drove in 62 runs with 15 stolen bases last year and has played in both the 2006 and 2007 Futures Games. Despite the fact that it would appear Hu is ready to contribute, with both Rafael Furcal and Jeff Kent signed for 2008, it looks like Hu will be starting the year coming off the bench in LA while he awaits an injury or trade.

35. Brandon Wood, 3B, Los Angeles Angels – It’s hard to believe that our No. 3 prospect from a year ago is still only 23. The memories of that awe-inspiring 2005, when he launched 43 homers and drove in 115 runs, seem like such a long time ago. Wood is starting the year at Triple A and moving back to his original shortstop position. The future still looks bright, but do beware that his K rates from the past three years in the minors are virtually identical. Have we seen the peak here or just a hiccup in the learning curve?

Graduating from last year’s top 30 prospect list: Delmon Young (1), Alex Gordon (2), Philip Hughes (5), Matt Garza (7), Yovanni Gallardo (8), Mike Pelfrey (9), Billy Butler (11), Troy Tulowitzki (13), Ryan Braun (15), Chris Young (16), Tim Lincecum (19), Justin Upton (23), Andrew Miller (26), Jason Hirsh (29), Hunter Pence (30).

Dropping off the list this season: Adam Miller (12), Fernando Martinez (25), Scott Elbert (27), Jose Tabata (28).

In one my 583 daily Google searches, I came across an interesting story about a Yankee farmhand who provided instant dividends after his first ever promotion to Triple-A last weekend.

On Sunday, infielder Juan Francia, called up from Double-A the day before, singled in the winning run for his first Triple-A hit in his first Triple-A start. Not bad for a guy hitting under .180 through 79 at-bats at Double-A.

Originally signed by Detroit in 1998 out of Venezuela, Francia looked like a mid-level prospect with top-of-the-order skills, stealing 53 bases with a .270 BA at the age of 20 in Low-A in 2002. Unfortunately, he stalled out in the Midwest League for three years, severely damaging his chances of ever becoming an everyday big league player.

Francia did break through in 2005 in his first action at High-A, batting .325 with 26 steals in 60 games before earning a promotion to Double-A, where he continued to excel with a .290 BA.

Last season, unfortunately, Francia took a big step backward. And when I say big, I mean Grand Canyon big. Try a 406 OPS at Double-A and a demotion back to High-A. It was looking like it would take some luck for him just to get to Triple-A. And if he did so, it would have to be with another organization after Detroit released him.

Despite switching to the Yankees organization this season, it didn’t look like much else had changed when he got out of the gates at Double-A Trenton with a whopping 419 OPS. But with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in need of a utility infielder, the now 25-year-old Francia got the call. So what happens? All Francia’s done is go 5-for-14 with five RBI, a walk and a steal in his first five games at Triple-A. If this keeps up, he may yet earn himself a cup of coffee in the Show one day.

Still with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, a much longer-serving Yankee farmhand is still awaiting his first shot at the majors. Outfielder Bronson Sardinha, a sandwich pick (34th overall) in 2001, is still very much in the team’s plans after being added to the 40-man roster in November. He tore through the low levels in the minors, but struggled after arriving at High-A in 2003. Sardinha adjusted and made it to Double-A in 2004, but then stalled out for a while.

However, after a strong debut at Triple-A last year (.286 BA, .365 OBP, six homers), Sardinha’s doing nothing this season to justify the Yanks’ faith in him. A .211 BA, including just a .195 mark against righties by the land-handed hitting Sardinha isn’t exactly going to help him keep his roster spot.

The Hawaii native, brother of minor leagers Dane and Duke, is just 24, so could still wind up as a fourth or fifth outfielder one day. But he’ll need to pick things up offensively. A mini explosion last week of five doubles in four games suggests he’s headed in the right direction, but Sardinha hasn’t done nearly enough yet this season to warrant a September callup.

Finally, there was one other name that jumped out at me on the SWB roster. Former Mariner prospect Jamal Strong, a dominant presence in his early professional days, is still kicking around, now with his fourth organization. The 28-year-old outfielder, a sixth rounder by Seattle in 2000, was an All-Star in 2000 at short-season Everett when he swiped 60 bases in just 75 games to go along with a .314 BA and 790 OPS.

The following season, he was again an all-star — in two leagues. First at Low-A Wisconsin, after scoring 41 runs, stealing 35 bases, drawing 40 walks and hitting better than .350 in 51 games. Strong moved up to High-A San Bernardino and turned in another stellar showing with 74 runs, 47 steals, 51 walks, a .311 BA and .411 OBP in 81 games. The kid looked like a future star.

Strong enjoyed another solid season in 2002 at Double, and continued his success into 2003, making his MLB debut. Unfortunately, injuries starting cropping up that season, and over the years, his speed totals waned dramatically. In 2005, he got another 16 games in the Show in what proved to be his final season in the Seattle organization. Strong hasn’t been back to the majors since. Last year, he split the season between the Triple-A teams of the Cubs and Braves, but his numbers were weak.

Now in the Yanks’ organization, Strong has split the season between Double-A and Triple-A. He remains someone capable of drawing a walk — 30 in 54 games combined for a .405 OBP, but with just two steals in 27 games at Triple-A, he’s no longer a feared man on the basepaths. At this point, Strong’s best hope is to land a fifth outfielder/pinch runner gig, certainly a massive disappointment for a player who looked headed to stardom earlier in his career.

• Mark Saccomanno hasn’t done much in his career to gain notoriety (and no, having the same last name as Kramer’s buddy Bob doesn’t qualify), but is enjoying a breakout year in his first season at Triple-A. As a 27-year-old corner infielder originally taken in the 23rd round in 2003, Saccomanno hardly qualifies as a prospect, but with the ‘Stros ranking in the bottom half of the NL in homers and near the bottom in BA, surely someone on the parent organization is taking note of his line (56 games, 190 at-bats, .300 BA, 14 doubles, 11 homers, 39 RBI). If you think Houston is having an emergency with its waning offense, Saccomanno’s OPS (911) seems rather appropriate. After Saccomanno became just the second Round Rock player to slug two homers in a game on Monday, Houston may soon be paying a bit more attention. A recent 14-game hitting streak doesn’t hurt, either. Saccomanno repeated Double-A last year, and, while he managed to hit just .245, he slammed 20 homers and 63 RBI despite missing two months with an injury. Well, he’s already more than halfway to matching those totals already and we still have plenty of ball to play. Saccomanno says his success this year is the result of laying off bad pitches. A Houston native, Saccomanno proved he can perform against the best in the world when he stroked two doubles and a homer in three games as a member of the Italian entry at the 2006 WBC. While he’s done the majority of his damage at home (.361 BA with seven of his 11 dingers), Round Rock is not a hitter-friendly park, so that bodes well for his ability to go yard in major league stadiums.
• Infielder Danny Klassen is the only other Express player to hit multiple dingers in a game this season. The 31-year-old Canadian is a true Quad-A player, having amassed 1,154 minor league games in his career with only 85 big league appearances and none at all since 2003. Originally a second rounder of the Brewers way back in 1993, Klassen’s been in the Houston system since 2005, but was out of baseball last year. In 2005, he enjoyed probably his finest Triple-A season ever with a 910 OPS, yet he didn’t get a sniff of the majors. A true shortstop who can also play second and third, Klassen is hitting well again this year with a .310 mark through 44 games, but he’s been out of the lineup since late-May. In 85 career big-league games, he’s put up a .226/.289/.341 line with six dingers. A recent surge by Houston shortstop Adam Everett has jacked his BA up to .230, but his overall offensive game has been in decline for three years now, and he was never really that good at his peak. Obviously, Everett’s defensive prowess is valuable to Houston, but surely Klassen could record a 600 OPS, a mark Everett currently remains shy of.
• One struggling Astro the team already divested itself of, Jason Lane, isn’t exactly playing like he’s desperate to get back to the Show. Since his demotion to Triple-A a week and a half ago, Lane is batting just .250 through five games, but he does have seven runs, a homer, four RBI and six walks against just one strikeout. He doubled and scored Monday in his first game at home since Houston farmed him out to make room for Chris Burke. During his time with the big club, Lane had the dubious distinction of being perhaps the least productive outfielder in the major leagues. In 36 games and 79 at-bats, he scored just five runs, which is even worse considering he had four homers. Lane drove in 10 runs and hit .165/.175/.354. He’s batting cleanup for Round Rock, so perhaps the 30-year-old — a sixth round pick in 1999 — will put up impressive enough numbers to get another look. Recall that Lane is capable of getting hot and producing, batting .305 with an 890 OPS in the second half in 2005. If he has another big half in him, the struggling Astros’ attack could sure use it now.

Welcome to the newest feature on RotoRob, Minor Matters, where we’ll periodically comb various levels of the minor leagues in search of players you need to pay attention to. To kick things off, let’s take a look at some Boston Red Sox prospects currently at the Triple-A level who have caught my eye over the past few days.

David Murphy, OF: With several Red Sox flyhawks struggling and/or hurt (Coco Crisp, J.D. Drew, Eric Hinske and Wily Mo Pena), how long will it be before we get another look at Murphy, who held his own in a 20-game trial last year? This 25-year-old, taken 17th overall by Boston in 2003, showed promise last season, improving as he moved up the ladder. A native of Houston, Murphy doesn’t have one dominant skill that he can hook his star to, so he may ultimately top out as a fourth outfielder, but with his improved play at Triple-A this year (826 OPS, 30 runs, 19 extra-base hits including four homers in 54 games with solid defense), he’s proving he could help Boston, should injury necessitate a call-up.

Jon Lester, SP: Currently rehabbing a foreman injury, Lester looks just about ready to rejoin the BoSox after throwing a complete game four-hitter to lower his Triple-A ERA to 1.26 through six starts. This 23-year-old lefty is unfortunately more famous for his bout with cancer that cut short a fantastic rookie season (7-2 with Boston after dominating at Triple-A). That, however, is about to change. Lester will get one more Triple-A start Saturday and is then expected to return to the Red Sox rotation, spelling the end of Julian Tavarez’s days as a starter. Boston’s second rounder in 2002, Lester was given a $1-million signing bonus ‘ the most for any second rounder that season. So far, he’s lived up to the deal, earning Pitcher of the Year honours in 2005 in the Eastern League and proving last season that he was a worthy choice as the top starting pitching prospect in the BoSox system. Lester may still wind up being a trade chip ‘ there’s a rumour he could be part of a package to bring Mark Teixiera to Boston ‘ but wherever he lands, he’s going to be someone you want to have on your squad. Lester may experience more growing pains, especially if he has more control issues, but I love his long-term prospects.

Jacoby Ellsbury, OF: While Murphy would be a logical short-term fill-in and, as discussed, profiles more as a fourth outfielder, Ellsbury is the team’s top prospect and centre fielder/lead-off hitter of the future, a future that appears to be coming very quickly. Taken 23rd overall in the 2005 draft, this 23-year-old has shot through the system, last year swiping 41 bases between High-A and Double-A and playing better at the higher level ‘ always a great sign. Ellsbury began this season back at Double-A but he was absolutely dominant, prompting a promotion after just a few weeks. Since landing in Triple-A, Ellsbury has more than held his own, batting north of .275 with 23 runs, 13 walks and 12 steals in 28 games. Combined, he’s batting .344 with 39 runs, 19 walks and 20 steals in 45 games. Sound like a capable lead-off man? Some are calling for him to be installed at the top of the BoSox order now with neither Julio Lugo nor Coco Crisp looking like they can effectively do the job. While Boston would likely need to include Ellsbury if it plans to land Teixiera, another option would be to ship Crisp out and let the Ellsbury era begin in Beantown now. Personally, I wouldn’t rush this phenom. He’s close ‘ real close, but could use a bit more seasoning judging by his .190 mark vs. lefties.

David Pauley, SP: Pauley, as we mentioned earlier this season, has looked fantastic this year. An eighth-round pick by the Padres in 2001, Pauley was acquired by the Sox in 2004 in the Dave Roberts trade. Last year, the righty was superb at Double-A, but had problems at Triple-A and made three uninspiring starts in Boston when David Wells got hurt. Pauley, who turns 24 in a couple of weeks, has looked vastly improved this season, going 2-1, 3.19 through 10 games (nine starts) with just 50 hits allowed in 59 1/3 innings and a fine ratio of 46 Ks vs. 14 walks. He’s limited opponents to a .221 mark. While Pauley is prone to occasional bouts of wildness, he’s been a much more composed pitcher this season and, unlike last year when he was thrown into the fire, he’ll be ready the next time Boston needs him.

Spikes Up, our exclusive baseball column, is pleased to unveil the third annual Spikes Up Top 30 Prospects List. There are five holdovers from last season’s list of 25 prospects; 16 others have graduated to the majors, while another four have slipped out the rankings.

1. Delmon Young, OF, Tampa Bay (3) ‘ The top pick from the 2003 draft has finally ascended to the top of the prospect heap. Once the Rays finally decided to bring the talented but troubled Young to the Show last season, he had no problem making the adjustment. And judging by his .320 mark this spring, Young continues to flourish. Expect a high BA and plenty of steals, with major power to follow in subsequent seasons as the 21-year-old matures. Young is the odds-on favourite to win the AL Rookie of the Year Award this season.

2. Alex Gordon, 3B, KC ‘ Gordon, taken second overall in the 2005 draft, will take over the hot corner in Kansas City this season. The Royals resisted bringing the 23-year-old up to the majors last September, but he proved there wasn’t a thing he couldn’t do in making his pro debut at Double-A last season. Gordon, batting .386 with power this spring, looks like the AL’s answer to David Wright and the ideal player to help lead the Royals back to respectability.

3. Brandon Wood, SS/3B, LAA (1) ‘ Our No. 1 prospect last season, Wood slipped slightly in the rankings this season as ‘ not surprisingly ‘ he was unable to duplicate his magical 2005 season last year at Double-A. The Angels say that Wood, who just turned 22 earlier this month, could still be a shortstop down the road, but all indications have him shifting to third base. It’s a road that will get him to the majors faster, but hurts his value as he’s no longer the next great power-hitting shortstop prospect.

4. Homer Bailey, P, CIN ‘ Bailey got slapped around this spring, so the Reds wisely farmed him out to Triple-A with orders to get his hair cut. When he returns ‘ and it won’t be too long ‘ he’ll be ready to stick around for a very long time. But at the age of 20, with all of 13 starts above A-ball (regardless of how dominant those starts were), Triple-A is the best place for Bailey now. Baseball’s best pitching prospect should be ready to ready to help the Reds’ rotation by the second half at the latest.

5. Philip Hughes, RHP, NYY ‘ It’s always easy to get carried away with Yankee prospects as they tend to be overhyped, but Hughes, 20, deserves his place as the AL’s top pitching prospect. The Yanks are having some health issues with their pitching staff, but I sure hope they don’t use that as an excuse to move Hughes up before his time. This kid has a bright future, but despite his domination of Double-A last season, I’d really prefer it if New York lets him to enjoy some Triple-A success before he takes the mound at Yankee Stadium.

6. Andy LaRoche, 3B, LAD (8) ‘ LaRoche, 23, clearly needs a bit more seasoning given his struggles this spring (.196), but the fact that he was able to improve his patience without sacrificing power when he moved up to higher levels last season impressed me. It also prompted a slight boost in the rankings for Adam’s little brother, a former 39th round pick who will make his MLB debut at some point this season.

7. Matt Garza, P, MIN ‘ No, Garza no longer qualifies as a rookie after reaching exactly 50 innings pitched last season, but he makes our prospect list regardless. Given that he’s already proved he can hold his own in the Show (and the fact that Francisco Liriano is lost for the season), Garza — unlike several of the prospects above him on this list — had a real chance to break camp with a job. Based on his spring results, the 23-year-old certainly deserved a rotation spot.

8. Yovanni Gallardo, RHP, MIL ‘ This 21-year-old got slapped around this spring, but after his dominating performance at Double-A last year, Gallardo has proved he’s a rising star in the Brewer system. If he’s half as good this season, watch for a September call-up for Gallardo.

9. Mike Pelfrey, P, NYM ‘ The ninth overall pick in 2005 proved he was more than ready for his pro debut last season, soaring through the system and landing at Shea for four late-season starts. The 23-year-old righty has carried that success into spring training, earning the fifth starter job with a superb training camp. While he’s fanned just five in 23 IP this spring, how about allowing just two walks? That control will stead Pelfrey well in his first full season, and he could definitely factor into the NL ROY race.

10. Cameron Maybin, OF, DET ‘ With a .429 BA and .905 SLG this spring, Maybin has proved that the wait for him to arrive in Detroit won’t be long at all. Just a week removed from his 20th birthday, Maybin brings a power-speed package to the table that, combined with good patience for such a young and inexperienced hitter, suggests that he will be a future stud.

11. Billy Butler, OF, KC (13) ‘ The only thing holding Butler back at this point is his defense in the outfield. After a fantastic season at Double-A last year and a ridiculous spring in which he hit .419 and slugged .774, it’s obvious there’s nothing Butler can’t hit. He won’t be 21 until next week, but he is ready to make an impact. Monitor his defensive development and get ready to pounce on Butler the moment he arrives in the Show.

12. Adam Miller, P, CLE ‘ This 22-year-old righty, a newcomer to the list, sure hasn’t hurt his chances this spring, tossing 14 shutout innings with just 10 hits allowed and 10 Ks. Unfortunately, there’s no spot for him on the Tribe, so he’s on his way to Triple-A to head Buffalo’s rotation. He will definitely be making his MLB debut at some point this season and should be a fixture in Cleveland for a very long time.

13. Troy Tulowitzki, SS, COL ‘ The Rockies’ first rounder in 2005, Tulowitzki made quick work of the system, arriving for a 25-game trial last summer and showing enough to render Clint Barmes as bench fodder. Tulowitzki, 22, won’t likely be a source for much pop, but as a high-average SS with a full-time gig in Colorado, he’s an attractive prospect for this season.

14. Jay Bruce, OF, CIN ‘ Bruce, who just turned 20, was given a quick look this spring, but he’s still a ways from becoming the next great Reds’ outfielder. The team’s first rounder in 2005, Bruce impressed me last season with his power, speed and OBP skills, but he’ll need to improve his contact rates as he moves up the ladder.

15. Ryan Braun, 3B, MIL ‘ Braun, another top pick from 2005 (fifth overall) is just about ready to make his mark, and with only Tony Graffanino, Craig Counsell and Corey Koskie in his way, it won’t be long before he’s in the Show. The 23-year-old has serious power potential, slamming 15 homers (and swiping 12 bases, to boot) in just 59 Double-A games last season, This spring, he put on a serious show with five dingers, 15 RBI and two steals in just 11 games. Braun is looking like a 30-30 candidate at the hot corner, which sounds like major fantasy gold to me. If he had been sharper defensively this spring, he might have earned the job right out of camp.

16. Chris Young, OF, ARZ (19) ‘ Part of a great collection of young D-Back flyhawks, Young’s performance last season earned him a bump in the charts this year. Although he has struggled this spring, he held his own in 30 games with Arizona last season and has fantastic power-speed possibilities. Expect Young to figure prominently in the NL ROY discussion this season.

17. Andrew McCutchen, OF, PIT ‘ Despite turning pro at the tender age of 18, McCutchen, another premium pick from the excellent 2005 draft, has soared through the Pirates system in just two years. Judging by his impressive spring training performance, McCutchen’s apprenticeship in the minors is almost done. I’d expect to see him up in Pittsburgh by around the All-Star game, maybe sooner if Chris Duffy and Nate McClouth struggle.

18. Reid Brignac, SS, TB ‘ Brignac still has some seasoning to do, and while the Rays gave him a taste of ST this year, he likely won’t see the light of day in the Show this year. But after a huge 2006 in which Brignac really shot up the charts, it’s obvious he’ll be arriving soon. Let’s just hope he handles the jump better (at least defensively) than the last ‘can’t miss’ shortstop prospect Tampa Bay had.

19. Tim Lincecum, RHP, SF ‘ The Giants’ first rounder last year, taken 10th overall, Lincecum is coming on fast, although he’ll spend a bit more time in the minors this season. He’s a short righty, which is usually not the type to draw such notice, but he has created waves this spring. In fact, Lincecum earned recognition from his teammates with the Harry S. Jordan Award, given to the player in his first big league camp deemed most impressive. This 22-year-old, who fanned 58 in 31 2/3 innings in his pro debut last season, will be in San Francisco very soon.

20. Evan Longoria, 3B, TB ‘ Longoria will team with Brignac to give the Rays a solid left side of the infield for years to come, but like Brignac, he needs a bit more time in the minors. This 21-year-old has tremendous power potential, however, so as soon as he adjusts to Double-A, you’ll be able to start counting the days before he arrives at Tropicana.

21. Carlos Gonzalez, OF, ARIZ ‘ The D-Backs uncovered a real gem when they signed Gonzalez out of Venezuela in 2002. Now 21, Gonzalez is coming off a fantastic season at High-A last year. He struggled somewhat after a late-season promotion to Double-A, but still showed a nice batting eye even when he wasn’t excelling. Gonzalez is ticketed for Double-A to start the year, and with the abundance of solid young outfielders in the Arizona system there’s no need to rush him, but judging by his .429 mark this spring, the wait shan’t be long.

22. Nick Adenhart, P, LAA ‘ The Angels rolled the dice and won when they plucked Adenhart with a 14th round pick in 2004. He was a first round talent who slid because he needed Tommy John surgery. The Angels opted to take him anyway and they are now being rewarded for their decision. The 20-year-old righty was almost untouchable at Low-A last season and more than held his own after shifting to High-A. For a kid who’s never pitched above A-ball, Adenhart sure has opened some eyes this spring, surrendering just four hits 9 2/3 innings. By next spring, he could have a legitimate chance at a rotation spot as part of a strong, young Angels’ staff.

23. Justin Upton, OF, ARZ ‘ The D-Backs weren’t about to go through with Justin what Tampa Bay went through with older brother B.J., namely take several years to decide his future wasn’t at shortstop. As an outfielder, the 19-year-old faces stiffer competition in the Arizona system, but he enjoyed a solid pro debut at Low-A, flashing power-speed potential and good patience. Some question his attitude, but no one doubts his ability. Upton is of interest only to keeper league owners, as he won’t see a major league at-bat for another 18 months or more.

24. Clayton Kershaw, LHP, LAD ‘ Kershaw, the seventh overall pick from last year’s draft, looks like he may be the next great Dodger pitching prospect after he made a mockery of the GCL last year, fanning 54 while walking just five in 37 innings. Having just turned 19 last month, this lefty has a long way to go before he arrives at Chavez Ravine, but if he can come close to duplicating his 2006 results in Class-A this year, expect him to move way up this list for 2008.

25. Fernando Martinez, OF, NYM ‘ After more than holding his own in full-season ball as a 17-year-old kid, Martinez looks poised to become the next great Latin American star. Because he’ll probably spend the entire season at High-A, Martinez is mainly of interest in keeper leagues with minor league protection slots. Long-term, once the Mets tire of Lastings Milledge’s act, Martinez will get his chance.

26. Andrew Miller, LHP, DET ‘ After just five professional innings, Miller found himself pitching in the bigs, but only because he had a clause in his contract that promised a September call-up last season. The 21-year-old lefty, taken sixth overall last year, had some minor control problems this spring and will start the season at High-A, but he won’t be there for long. This dude is going to move fast, so you need to monitor his progress this season as get ready to snap him up off the waiver wire.

27. Scott Elbert, LHP, LAD ‘ Elbert was treated rudely by opponents in his very brief taste of spring training this year, but fear not: this 21-year-old lefty is among the top young arms in the minors and yet another product of the great Dodger pitching machine. Elbert, also a football star in high school, is absolutely nasty against lefties. Once he improves his control at Double-A, he’ll be ready to take on major league hitters.

28. Jose Tabata, OF, NYY ‘ This kid is the real deal. He won’t be 19 until August, yet already has a year of full-season ball under his belt. Tabata was undeterred by his first taste of spring training, batting .429. The potential power-speed-average combo he brings to the table is scary good. Think Manny with stolen bases. Expect him to be at or near the top of this list in a year’s time.

29. Jason Hirsh, P, COL ‘ There’s nothing left for the 6′8′ Hirsh to prove in the minors after becoming the only pitcher to win Texas League Pitcher of the Year (2005) and Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year (2006) honours. Yet, his reward for that was being included in the deal that sent Jason Jennings from Colorado to Houston. Having to pitch at Coors dampens his prospects somewhat, but I am very bullish on Hirsh’s long-term prognosis and the fact that he’s won a job right out of ST bodes well for an immediate return.

30. Hunter Pence, OF, HOU ‘ The top prospect in the Astro system looks like a future star in the making. He’ll start out at Triple-A, but this second rounder from 2004, who turns 24 later this month, had 28 homers and 17 steals at Double-A last season with a good OBP and a nice BA. Any doubt that he’s close to the majors was eliminated this spring when he hit .571 in 19 games with 10 runs, four doubles, two triples, two homers, nine RBI and two steals. Slugging percentage? Try 1.071. Pence could very well be a factor this season.

Graduating from last year’s top 25 prospects: Francisco Liriano (2), Ryan Zimmerman (4), Howie Kendrick (5), Stephen Drew (9), Justin Verlander (10), Jeremy Hermida (11), Nick Markakis (12), Prince Fielder (14), Chad Billingsley (16), Matt Cain (18), Joel Guzman (19), Conor Jackson (21), Andy Marte (22), Kendry Morales (23), Hanley Ramirez (24) and Carlos Quentin (25).

Dropping off the list this year: Lastings Milledge (6), Jarrod Saltalamacchia (7), Ian Stewart (15) and Daric Barton (17).

• Kevin Nelson, a Yankee minor league catcher playing at Low-A Charleston, hit his first homer of the year and just the second of his pro career on the weekend. It’s hard to call Nelson a prospect, considering he went undrafted, is 25 and had hit .214 in 49 pro game heading into this season. But in part-time play this season, he’s batting over .300, showing great strike zone judgment and has fine looking percentages (.439 OBP, .465 SLG for a sweet 904 OPS). Of course, Nelson is way too old for the level he’s at. Send him up to High-A and give him some real PT before we’ll even write his name on our “kids to watch” list.
• Another Yankees farmhand that needs a new challenge is first baseman Ben Jones. He started the season at High-A, but after a .125 start through 40 at-bats, it was back down to Charleston to repeat the level. Through 339 at-bats, Jones is batting .286 with 55 runs and nice power numbers (14 doubles, a team-leading 20 homers, 75 RBI). He’s shown good patience with 54 walks and his 925 OPS suggests he’s ready for another crack at a higher level. But Jones, the Yanks’ 14th rounder in 2004, is also 25, and he’s hitting just .255 since the All-Star break after batting .329 in the first half. While he’s improved over last year’s 14-homer showing at Low-A ball, this two-time Southland Conference All-Star needs to get back to High-A pronto to have a shot at a career. Jones, by the way, got the win when he had to pitch two shutout innings in a 13-inning marathon contest earlier in the week, so if the bat doesn’t pan out, perhaps he’ll have a future on the mound. The pitching staff was stretched thin as it was their third straight game of at least 12 innings, so Jones was needed.
• Second baseman Tony Roth also had to pitch in relief for Charleston in that game. This is actually the second time Roth has been called on to throw in an emergency situation, also working in a late-May contest that went 18 innings. The 23-year-old hit .500 in five games at Staten Island of the NYPL to start the year, but in 46 games and 114 at-bats at Charleston, he’s batting under the Mendoza Line. Roth, a star at Creighton (two-time MVC All-Star and the 2002 conference Freshman of the Year), has a great batting eye (24 BB/21 K), but no power to speak of. He looks like an organizational player in the making.
• Shortstop Eduardo Nunez has failed to take a leap forward this year. After a tremendous season in 2005 when he had a .365 OBP as an 18-year-old playing in the NYPL, Nunez soared up the Yankee prospect lists. The team was very aggressive with him, sending him all the way to High-A to start the 2006 campaign. It didn’t work out well, as Nunez struggled with the stick, batting just .184 with five doubles but just a .340 slugging percentage. Since being demoted to Charleston, Nunez has been only marginally better, batting .221 in 79 games with 40 strikeouts and a horrible .290 slugging percentage. He’s got great speed, however, with 15 steals against just five times caught. The switch-hitting Nunez hits lefties better, but that’s not saying much at this point (.235). Still, we’re talking about a 19-year-old with great speed and high average potential that plays a premium position and is in his first year of full-season ball. (Can you tell RotoRob drafted him this year?) I truly believe he’s a name worth tucking away.
• Another shortstop in the Sally League is Ofilio Castro, playing for Washington’s affiliate, the Savannah Sand Gnats. Castro, who turned 23 last week, is repeating the level but has actually regressed from his 2005 performance when he hit .261 with a 699 OPS. In 111 games and 416 at-bats this year, he’s batting under .250 with no power (.344 SLG), but showing a very good batting eye that suggests he could hit for a higher average. Castro was signed by the Expos in 2000 out of Nicaragua and came into this season just a .241 career hitter in 230 professional games. He’s got some speed (11 steals), but strangely is batting just .190 against lefties this year even though he’s a right-handed stick. Again, this suggests to me that he’s capable of much higher averages, so keep an eye on Castro.