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2003 Futures Game: World Roster
World roster biographies for the fifth annual All-Star Futures Game. The RadioShack All-Star Futures Game will feature the top U.S. and international Minor League prospects competing against each other as part of RadioShack All-Star Sunday, July 13 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. The game will begin at 4:30 p.m. (CDT) and will be televised live on ESPN2. Click here for United States biographies Justin Huber c, Mets
Huber made his first Futures Game appearance last year in Milwaukee, going 0-for-2 in relief of World starting catcher Victor Martinez. It isn't often, however, that he takes an oh-fer or a backseat to anyone. He has established himself as one of the top catching prospects in the game by wielding a potent bat. Huber projects to hit for above-average power because of his strength and quick, compact stroke. A student of the game, Huber has learned from Mets incumbent Mike Piazza during spring training and has positioned himself as Piazza's long-term replacement. Guillermo Quiroz c Blue Jays
Quiroz has made significant progress since signing as a 16-year-old out of Venezuela for $1.2 million. Coming into the 2002 season, he carried a .202 average for three professional years. He proceeded to hit a career-high .260 with 12 home runs, prompting an emergency callup to Triple-A. He has continued to make strides this season in Double-A, again threatening his season highs in home runs at midseason. Defensively, Quiroz uses outstanding arm strength and agility behind the plate, and has learned to speak English fluently, which has helped improved his game-calling skills. Scott Thorman, 1b, Braves
Thorman missed all of 2001 following shoulder surgery, but rebounded strongly in 2002, leading the Sally League in doubles while smacking 16 home runs. A tireless worker, Thorman has as much raw power as anyone in the Atlanta system, but can get pull conscious. A converted third baseman, Thorman is still learning the intricacies of playing first base, but has all the skills to prosper there. Robinson Cano 2b, Yankees
The Yankees are one of the most active organizations in Latin America. While they have made significant big-ticket signings, their main philosophy is similar to that of Branch Rickey, "Develop quality from quantity." Cano separated himself as one of those quality prospects when he hit .276 with 25 doubles, 10 doubles and 15 home runs last year between low Class A Greensboro and short-season Staten Island. His swing and the way the ball jumps off his bat attracted attention before the season, and Yankees officials believe his best days are ahead as a power-hitting second baseman with the defensive versatility to play third, short and outfield. His father Jose pitched six games for the Astros in 1989. Jose Castillo ss, Pirates
After hitting .245-7-49 at Class A Lynchburg in 2001, Castillo had to repeat the level before moving on. But he got it right the second time around, hitting .300-16-81 with 27 steals. As shown by his .453 slugging percentage, Castillo packs serious pop for a middle infielder. He's built along the lines of Miguel Tejada, but Castillo needs to develop a more consistent approach in the field and at the plate. He has solid defensive tools including a plus arm, but needs to cut down on his errors. The Pirates have already experimented with him at second base, and some scouts project a shift to third base. Edwin Encarnacion 3b, Reds
The Reds had such high hopes for Encarnacion coming off his .282-17-73 effort in low Class A Dayton last season that they jumped him to Double-A Chattanooga to start this season. That was too much, so he has settled in at high Class A Potomac, and the ball was jumping off his bat again. Encarnacion, a throw-in in a deal with the Rangers for Rob Bell in June 2001, moved to shortstop to make better use of his range and arm strength during the final month of the 2002 season. He is back at third base this season, and he needs to show improvement with his glovework.
Pete LaForest 3b/c, Devil Rays
Pierre-Luc LaForest has had his shares of trials and tribulations since beginning his baseball career eight years ago. The Montreal Expos voided his contract soon after signing him in 1995 because a physical found bulging disks in his back, even though a number of other doctors found no such problem. This year, LaForest missed the first six weeks of the season due to a bizarre visa snafu. Signed by the Devil Rays in 1997, LaForest has made continued improvements in his offensive game, capped by a career-high 23 home runs in 2002. Converted to catching in 2000, he’s never been well-regarded defensively, and has spent much of this season as a designated hitter. Andy Marte 3b, Braves
Marte looked like a bust after hitting a disappointing .200 in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2001, months after the Braves handed him a $600,000 bonus. But he turned things around last year, emerging as one of the brightest young third base prospects in the minors by hitting .281-21-105 with 25 doubles in low Class A. Similarly, he returned to form after getting off to a slow start this season in high Class A. While his powerful bat will garner the most attention, Marte has the defensive tools to project as a Gold Glover. Ramon Nivar 2b, Rangers
Formerly known as Ramon Martinez, the Dominican native emerged as an intriguing prospect for the Rangers in 2002 when he spent his second straight season in Class A Charlotte. Nivar, originally signed as a shortstop, moved to second base and improved his average from .241 to .305 with a career-best 21 doubles. Nivar has flourished with a move to Double-A Frisco in 2003, ranking near the top of the Texas League batting race. The Rangers' depth at second base, coupled with Nivar's speed and instincts, prompted a shift to center field in June. Rene Reyes 1b/of, Rockies
Reyes was rated as the top hitting prospect in the Rockies system after his .292-14-54 season at Double-A Carolina in 2002. He spent most of that season at first base as he recovered from knee surgery that wiped out his 2000 season. Originally signed as a catcher, Reyes uses his athleticism in the field and on the bases, and he can drive the ball into the gaps from both sides of the plate consistently. He was building upon his career .326 mark by sitting atop the Triple-A Pacific Coast League batting race for most of the first half. Alexis Gomez of, Royals
Gomez was a member of the national volleyball team in the Dominican. His natural athleticism serves him well in the outfield too, but consistency at the plate has eluded him. Gomez hit just .254-1-33 with 21 steals in Class A Wilmington in 2000, but hit .302 to earn a promotion to Double-A Wichita midway through 2001. Between 2001 and 2002, Gomez hit .289 with 18 home runs for Wichita, earning a September callup last year. After a solid winter ball performance, Gomez was having difficulty adjusting to Triple-A during the first half of the 2003 campaign. Franklin Gutierrez of, Dodgers
Gutierrez' raw tools, especially his power potential, intrigued the Dodgers prior to this season, but they weren't sure exactly what to expect in the future. He opened the 2003 season at Class A Vero Beach with four home runs in his first six games. Something of a free swinger with a live bat, Gutierrez has mellowed from his torrid start but is one of the top sluggers in the minors. Felix Pie of, Cubs
At 18 years and six months old, Pie is the second-youngest player in Future Game history (Miguel Cabrera, 18 and three months, became the youngest in 2001). Pie burst onto the scene last year, claiming the Rookie-level Arizona League's MVP award in his pro debut. A premium athlete, his offensive tools are similar to 2002 Futures Game MVP Jose Reyes. Pie is a line-drive hitter, who projects power as he fills out, and he can fly on the bases and in center field. He hit 16 doubles and 13 triples in 218 at-bats in 2002. Alexis Rios of, Blue Jays
Drafted: First round, 1999, Martir HS, Guaynabo, P.R. Considered a reach as a first-rounder for the cash-strapped Blue Jays in 1999, Rios has developed into a premium prospect. He's developing power and plate discipline as he progresses towards Toronto. An outstanding all-around athlete at 6-foot-6, Rios has eclipsed his previous career home run total (six) for Double-A New Haven this season. He has excellent hand-eye coordination that allows him to be aggressive at the plate, yet make consistent contact and center the ball on the barrel of the bat. Rios is a basestealing threat and an above-average defensive center fielder. Denny Bautista rhp, Marlins
Bautista learned a thing or two about pitching from his cousins Pedro and Ramon Martinez while growing up in the Dominican Republic. Those lessons have served him well as he advances up the Marlins organizational ladder. His progress was stunted in 2002 after being delayed in the Dominican Republic with visa issues, though he has rediscovered his form in 2003, already earning a midseason promotion to Double-A Carolina. Bautista's fastball would make his big league cousins proud, as he's dialed it up to 97 mph this year. Travis Blackley lhp, Mariners
The Mariners came across Blackley while scouting Shin-Soo Choo, a 2002 Futures Gamer, in the 2000 World Junior Championship in Edmonton. Blackley has steadily elevated his prospect stock since, despite having his progress interrupted by a fractured elbow following his 2001 debut season. His stuff hasn't been affected, as shown by his 2002 campaign for Class A San Bernardino, where he had 152 strikeouts in 121 innings. Blackley has good command of a plus changeup, breaking ball and average fastball. Jorge de la Rosa lhp, Red Sox
The Red Sox signed de la Rosa from Monterrey of the Mexican League nearly a year after Monterrey purchased his contract from the Diamondbacks. He made his Futures Game debut last summer in Milwaukee, retiring the only two batters he faced. He brings power stuff from the left side, topping out in the mid-90s, along with a hard breaking ball. He is making his way through the system as a starter, but profiles as an overpowering reliever in the future. Angel Guzman rhp, Cubs
The Royals originally signed Guzman in 1999, before voiding the deal because of a preexisting injury, a move they will regret as the righthander rapidly ascends toward the big leagues for the Cubs. Guzman is following in the steps of Carlos Zambrano and Juan Cruz, who both enjoyed quick rises to Chicago, and some scouts believe Guzman might end up being the best of the trio. His fastball is lively, reaching 96 mph with little effort, and his breaking ball and changeup can be devastating. He only needs to fine-tune his command within the zone to take the final step. Rich Harden rhp, Athletics
Drafted: 17th round, Central Arizona JC, 2000 Harden came to the A's as draft-and-follow out of Central Arizona Junior College in 2001. He started the 2003 season with a bang, tossing 13 perfect innings in two starts, retiring the only 39 batters he faced in Double-A Midland before a quick promotion to Triple-A Sacramento. Harden has drawn comparisons to Tim Hudson for his slight build and overpowering arsenal. Harden has topped out at 99 mph and reaches the mid-90s consistently with little effort. He features a diverse four-pitch attack, including a splitter, short slider and changeup. Shawn Hill rhp, Expos
Drafted: Sixth round, 2000, Bishop Reding HS, Georgetown, Ontario A former shortstop as an amateur in Canada, Hill moved to the mound in 1998. He induces plenty of groundballs with his heavy 89-92 mph sinker, sharp curve and changeup. He has good command, issuing just 35 walks in 147 innings for low Class A Clinton last year when he posted a 12-7, 3.44 mark. For high Class A Brevard County in the first half, he has allowed just over one walk per start.
Ervin Santana rhp, Angels
Santana earned his prospect status in the Angels organization under the name Johan Santana until this spring. By any name his fastball is electric, reaching 97 mph, but it's his feel for pitching more than his pure arm strength that has the Angels brass anticipating his Anaheim arrival. Santana, who received a tutorial on changeups from former big league righthander Pascual Perez in the Dominican Republic before signing with the Angels as an 17-year-old in 2000, led the organization with 14 wins in 2002. He was averaging better than a strikeout an inning for Class A Rancho Cucamonga this season. Seung Song rhp, Expos
Song will be the first three-time Futures Game participant after representing the Red Sox organization in 2001 and 2002. He has two hitless innings and three strikeouts on his Futures Game resume. The Expos acquired Song and another former Futures Gamer, Sunny Kim, for Cliff Floyd in a deadline deal last summer. Song dominated the Double-A Eastern League with command of a 90-95 mph fastball, power curveball and changeup to earn a first-half promotion to Triple-A Edmonton. Chin-Hui Tsao rhp, Rockies
After signing with the Rockies for $2.2 million in 1999, Tsao was knocked off track by Tommy John surgery after his first season in the Rockies system, but he asserted himself in the second half last season in the Class A Carolina League. Continuing his encouraging comeback in Double-A Tulsa this season, Tsao was among the minor league strikeout leaders, ringing up more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings. He operates with a low- to mid-90s moving fastball and hard slider. Tsao could become the first Taiwanese pitcher to reach the majors. Merkin Valdez rhp, Giants
Known as Manuel Mateo during the offseason when the Braves included him in the Damian Moss-Russ Ortiz deal, Valdez has blossomed into a prospect under his new name. He first attended a tryout for the Braves as an outfielder, but when he ran the 60-yard dash in 7.8 seconds, scouts quickly converted him to the mound. Valdez has added nearly 20 mph to his heater since those days, and he is a strike-throwing machine with his sinking fastball, curveball and changeup. Chien-Ming Wang rhp, Yankees
Wang was considered a first-round talent when the Yankees signed him to a $1.9 million bonus in 2000. Major shoulder surgery prevented him from providing an immediate return. After leading short-season Staten Island to the New York-Penn League title in 2000, he spent the 2001 season rehabbing. Wang pitched Staten Island to the NY-P championship again in his comeback last year. More importantly, he showcased the return of his 90-95 mph sinking fastball, splitter and slider which prompted a two-level jump to Double-A Trenton this year. |
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July 11, 2003