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2006 Top 100 Prospects: 51-100
February 22, 2006
Baseball America's 17th annual Top 100 Prospects list is based
on each player's long-term major league value, a combination of his
upside and his likelihood of reaching that ceiling. Consideration was
given to each player's physical skills as well as his track record of
performance. All players who haven't exceeded the rookie limits of 50
innings or 130 at-bats are eligible, regardless of their big league
service time. Founding editor Allan Simpson, editors in chief Will Lingo
and John Manuel, and executive editor Jim Callis compiled the top 100
after discussions with general managers, scouting directors, farm directors,
scouts, managers and instructors. The quotes on each player were gathered
by Baseball America staff and correspondents. Minor league managers
are identified with their 2005 clubs.
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51. BRIAN ANDERSON, of, White Sox
"He can do just about anything he wants to do on the field.
You don't find too many guys with all the tools to play any position
out there in the outfield."
--White Sox farm director David Wilder
ETA: 2006 |
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52. JASON HIRSH, rhp, Astros "He
really made huge strides. He really pitched inside effectively
and is able to locate his fastball anywhere he wants to. He really
stepped up this year and took the bull by the horns."
--Astros farm director Ricky Bennett
ETA: 2007 |
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53. JEREMY SOWERS, lhp, Indians "He just commands all his pitches well and finds a way to get
it done. Sometimes you don't know how he did it, but by that time you're
walking back to the dugout shaking your head."
--Winston-Salem manager Chris Cron
ETA: 2006 |
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54. CRAIG HANSEN, rhp, Red Sox "You
can see the kid has all the talent in the world. He's got a major
league arm and major league stuff."
--Red Sox manager Terry Francona
ETA: 2006 |
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55. SCOTT ELBERT, lhp, Dodgers "He made quick bats look like palm trees through peanut butter."
--Greenville manager Chad Epperson
ETA: 2008 |
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56. EDISON VOLQUEZ, rhp, Rangers
"He's got special arm speed, special arm strength, special talent
and special makeup. He's got a great temperament for the game and a
very special set of skills."
--Former Rangers farm director Dom Chiti
ETA: 2006 |
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57. JERED WEAVER, rhp, Angels "He's a polished pitcher with an innate feel for putting hitters
away."
--anonymous scout
ETA: 2006 |
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58. JASON KUBEL, of, Twins
"You never know how a player is going to rebound mentally from
injuries, but with Jason there's never been any doubt of where his desire
is. It's to be back on the field."
--Twins farm director Jim Rantz
ETA: 2006 |
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59. JOHN DANKS, lhp, Rangers
"He's always grouped with Thomas Diamond and Edison Volquez
because they've played together all year. But people need to realize
that he's playing with them and he's two years younger."
--anonymous scout
ETA: 2007 |
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60. JEFF MATHIS, c, Angels
"I've loved him forever. I think he's probably better defensively
than offensively because of his intangibles. I love his makeup."
--anonymous scout
ETA: 2006 |
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61. ELVIS ANDRUS, ss, Braves
"He has it all for his age. His whole game is very mature."
--GCL Tigers manager Kevin Bradshaw
ETA: 2009 |
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62. TROY PATTON, lhp, Astros "I think Troy is as good of a lefthander as we have brought into this
system since I've been here. His stuff is plenty good."
--Astros senior director of player personnel Paul Ricciarini
ETA: 2007 |
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63. JONATHAN BROXTON, rhp, Dodgers
"He blows it by people, has deception in his delivery, a power breaking
ball and a feel for it. Broxton looked like a bigger Bartolo Colon out there,
with a better body."
--anonymous scout
ETA: 2006 |
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64.
ADAM JONES, of/ss, Mariners
"He brings so much to every game. He'll find a different way to
beat you on any given day."
--Bakersfield manager Arnie Beyeler
ETA: 2007 |
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65. MARCUS SANDERS, ss/2b, Giants
"He runs down the line as fast as any guy I've seen in a long time. He's
one of those players who can change a game with his speed."
--Augusta manager Roberto Kelly
ETA: 2008 |
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66. KENJI JOHJIMA, c, Mariners
"He has a very quick release and a plus arm. He's a very confident kid
and he likes to run the game."
--Chiba Lotte Marines manager Bobby Valentine
ETA: 2006 |
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67.
DUSTIN NIPPERT, rhp, Diamondbacks
"He just kept pounding his fastball, and being a big guy, it came in at
a downhill plane. This guy is a power pitcher, a big guy with a good future."
--Jacksonville manager John Shoemaker
ETA: 2006 |
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68. COLE HAMELS, lhp, Phillies
"We don't want to get too excited because he hasn't pitched much the past
year and a half. By the same token, we don't want to hold him back if he's ready."
--Phillies assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle
ETA: 2006 |
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69. YUSMEIRO PETIT, rhp, Marlins
"When you throw 3-and-2 changeups down in the zone with late bite, it's
cheating. And he's doing all that off a plus fastball."
--Portland manager Todd Claus
ETA: 2006 |
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70. JEFF NIEMANN, rhp, Devil Rays
"He's so big and long, everything is just right on top of you. He has
huge upside."
--San Jose manager Lenn Sakata
ETA: 2007 |
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71. BRAD SNYDER, of, Indians
"He just carries himself differently. You see that maturity in his approach
at the plate, in the field. Just everything he does commands your attention."
--Winston-Salem hitting coach Andy Tomberlin
ETA: 2007 |
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72.
THOMAS DIAMOND, rhp, Rangers
"He's a big, strong Southern boy. There's little doubt in my mind,
he could come in and have a Jonathan Papelbon-type break-in and help us out
of the pen this year, but he's a starter."
--Rangers general manager Jon Daniels
ETA: 2007 |
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73. GIO GONZALEZ, lhp, Phillies
"His curve was unreal and he throws it anytime, anywhere."
--Savannah manager Randy Knorr
ETA: 2007 |
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74. JAVIER HERRERA, of, Athletics
"His best tool is everything. He can run, he has a phenomenal arm, he
has power and he can hit."
--Cedar Rapids manager Bobby Magallanes
ETA: 2008 |
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75. MATT MOSES, 3b, Twins
"He has some real life off of that bat. If it's a hittable pitch in the
zone, he puts the barrel on the ball, and that's not something you can teach."
--Fort Myers manager Riccardo Ingram
ETA: 2007 |
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76. JAY BRUCE, of, Reds
"He's a five-tool player, and they're kind of rare. He's a center fielder,
and the only question is if he grows out of it size-wise."
--Reds scouting director Terry Reynolds
ETA: 2008 |
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77. DUSTIN PEDROIA, 2b/ss, Red Sox
"Everyone scoffed at him and underestimated his ability to play at a high
level, but this guy is a winner. The more I watched him beat us in just about
every phase of the game, the more I began to realize how much this guy does."
--Norwich manager Dave Machemer
ETA: 2006 |
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78.
KENDRY MORALES, 1b, Angels
"He's a guy who can swing the bat pretty darn good. If the guy comes to
camp and shows us he's right to be in the major leagues, we'll find a way for
him to be in the major leagues."
--Angels general manager Bill Stoneman
ETA: 2007 |
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79. JASON HAMMEL, rhp, Devil Rays
"He went through his ups and downs when he got here, but his stuff plays
bigger than it is sometimes. And a 90-mph fastball with that hard curve is pretty
big already."
--Durham manager Bill Evers
ETA: 2006 |
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80. JOSH JOHNSON, rhp, Marlins
"He's a true power guy, with a fastball between 91-96. He goes at you
and isn't afraid to go inside."
--Tennessee manager Tony Perezchica
ETA: 2006 |
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81. HAYDEN PENN, rhp, Orioles
"The fastball's his best pitch, because he can throw it at any time and
to all parts of the zone with command. But he's also got an awfully good curveball."
--Orioles farm director David Stockstill
ETA: 2006 |
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82. BLAKE DeWITT, 3b, Dodgers
"He lets the ball get deep, shows the ability to drive the ball the other
way and has easy pull power. The bat will be there."
--anonymous scout
ETA: 2008 |
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83. CLIFF PENNINGTON, ss, Athletics
"He's a gamer with tools. He's as good a shortstop as I've seen for a while." --anonymous scout ETA: 2007 |
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84. JUSTIN HUBER, 1b, Royals
"He has worked hard on his stroke. Everyone in the organization is impressed
with the way he swings the bat." --Royals vice president of baseball operations George Brett ETA: 2006 |
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85. MARK PAWELEK, lhp, Cubs
"He has rare ability. He already throws 92-95 mph, and he'll throw even
harder." --Cubs farm director Oneri Fleita ETA: 2008 |
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86.
ERIC DUNCAN, 3b/1b, Yankees
"He had the kind of year you would expect a 20-year-old kid to have at
Double-A. When he is going good ,he is real good at laying off the changeup
and breaking ball, and he gets good cuts." --Trenton manager Bill Masse ETA: 2007 |
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87. RICKY ROMERO, lhp, Blue Jays
"In addition to all of his physical abilities, the thing we like the most
is his competitive nature, his will to win, which we kind of think sets him
apart." --Blue Jays scouting director Jon Lalonde ETA: 2007 |
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88. CESAR CARRILLO, rhp, Padres
"Carillo has an electric fastball, he locates it and he's aggressive.
And his curveball can be really good, too." --Padres scouting director Bill Gayton ETA: 2007 |
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89. ANDRE ETHIER, of, Dodgers
"You can't pitch him one way. You've got to throw everything
and the kitchen sink at him to get him out."
--Frisco manager Darryl Kennedy ETA: 2006 |
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90. NICK ADENHART, rhp, Angels
"He's getting there. His fastball was an easy 90-94. He just needs
to learn when to throw which pitch." --AZL manager Brian Harper ETA: 2008 |
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91. GLEN PERKINS, lhp, Twins
"He came to the park ready to pitch. He's a lefthander with a sneaky fastball
that always seems to jump up on the hitters." --Fort Myers manager Riccardo Ingram ETA: 2006 |
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92. RYAN SWEENEY, of, White Sox
"I'm confident Sweeney will hit for power. When he does, he'll have three
plus tools: hitting for average, hitting for power and arm." --anonymous scout ETA: 2008 |
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93. ANTHONY LEREW, rhp, Braves
"He's a power guy with a ton of potential he's just begun to tap into." --Richmond manager Pat Kelly ETA: 2006 |
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94. RONNY CEDENO, ss, Cubs
"He never missed a beat here. He has great physical skills, very good
hands and wrists, great talent and work ethic. He does so many things." --Iowa manager Mike Quade ETA: 2006 |
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95. TOM GORZELANNY, lhp, Pirates
"He has the stuff to win games in the big leagues. He has a chance to
be a good one." --Pirates farm director Brian Graham ETA: 2006 |
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96.
MATT KEMP, of, Dodgers
"He can throw, run, steal a base, hit for average, hit for power, he's
a good center fielder. He's got it all." --Brevard County manager John Tamargo ETA: 2007 |
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97. CHRIS VOLSTAD, rhp, Marlins
"I was the hitting coach for the Marlins in Double-A in 2004 and I didn't
see pitchers there with the command of all three pitches like he has." --GCL Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez ETA: 2008 |
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98.
CHUCK JAMES, lhp, Braves
"I don't want to face that guy no more. It's that changeup. He threw me
a 2-0 changeup and I thought I broke my bat on my back." --No. 1 prospect Delmon Young ETA: 2006 |
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99.
NOLAN REIMOLD, of, Orioles
"He's got five plus tools and he has a little bit more ability to use
them than maybe we knew. He was a good first-round talent that we got in the
second round. We're fortunate--really fortunate." --Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan ETA: 2007 |
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100. ANTHONY SWARZAK, rhp, Twins
"This guy pitches like he's a big league pitcher. With the exception of
John Danks last year, I haven't seen a high school kid polished like that. Nothing
shakes this guy." --Cedar Rapids manager Bobby Magallanes ETA: 2007 |
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