By Aaron Fitt
September 23, 2004

Chat Wrap: Aaron Fitt took your New York-Penn League questions

TOP 20 PROSPECTS

1. Ambiorix Concepcion, of, Brooklyn 2. Anibal Sanchez, rhp, Lowell 3. Jason Vargas, lhp, Jamestown 4. Taylor Tankersley, lhp, Jamestown 5. Ben Zobrist, ss, Tri-City 6. Jesse Hoover, rhp, Staten Island 7. David Haehnel, lhp, Aberdeen 8. Tony Sipp, lhp, Mahoning Valley 9. Christian Lara, ss, Lowell 10. Jeff Marquez, rhp, Staten Island 11. Curtis Thigpen, c, Auburn 12. Mike Butia, of, Mahoning Valley 13. Hunter Pence, of, Tri-City 14. Tommy Hottovy, lhp, Lowell 15. Jon Fulton, ss, Jamestown 16. Argenis Reyes, of, Mahoning Valley 17. Blair Johnson, rhp, Williamsport 18. J.A. Happ, lhp, Batavia 19. Jake Mullinax, 3b, New Jersey 20. Jon Barratt, lhp, Hudson Valley

The short-season New York-Penn League was loaded with pitching in 2004, but a position player claimed the mantle of best prospect. There wasn't a manager in the league who questioned the remarkable talent of Brooklyn outfielder Ambiorix Concepcion.

The best player in the league was Tri-City shortstop Ben Zobrist, who led the NY-P in batting (.339) and on-base percentage (.438). But while he might be a safer bet than Concepcion, Zobrist was old for the league at 23, and his year must be viewed with that perspective.

Pitchers dominated the rest of our NY-P Top 10 Prospects list, claiming seven of the other eight spots. Lowell righthander Anibal Sanchez led that contingent, showing no ill effects from the elbow surgery that caused him to miss all of 2003. While Sanchez had the highest ceiling on the Lowell staff, several older and more advanced Spinners pitchers could beat him to the majors.

Jamestown (led by lefties Jason Vargas and Taylor Tankersley) and Staten Island (with righties Jesse Hoover and Jeff Marquez at the forefront) also had impressive pitching depth.

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