By John Manuel
October 4, 2004

Chat Wrap: John Manuel took your Texas League questions

TOP 20 PROSPECTS

1. Felix Hernandez, rhp, San Antonio 2. Dallas McPherson, 3b, Arkansas 3. Jeff Francis, lhp, Tulsa 4. Shin-Soo Choo, of, San Antonio 5. Denny Bautista, rhp, Wichita 6. Sergio Santos, ss, El Paso 7. Carlos Quentin, of, El Paso 8. Ezequiel Astacio, rhp, Round Rock 9. Ian Kinsler, ss, Frisco 10. Alberto Callaspo, ss/2b, Arkansas 11. Conor Jackson, of, El Paso 12. Chris Snyder, c, El Paso 13. Jeff Mathis, c, Arkansas 14. Willy Taveras, of, Round Rock 15. Jason Botts, 1b, Frisco 16. *Mark Teahen, 3b, Midland 17. Ryan Shealy, 1b, Tulsa 18. D.J. Houlton, rhp, Round Rock 19. John Hudgins, rhp, Frisco 20. Dustin Nippert, rhp, El Paso

The Texas League had a big talent year, right? After all, Tulsa lefthander Jeff Francis won Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year award. An 18-year-old phenom throwing 97 mph—San Antonio righthander Felix Hernandez—blazed through the league in the second half, part of a talent infusion that included El Paso outfielders Conor Jackson and Carlos Quentin and Frisco shortstop Ian Kinsler.

Nonetheless, managers were muted in their praise of TL prospects. None of the statistical leaders, including Francis, was seen as a sure-fire big league star. Arkansas prospects Casey Kotchman and Ervin Santana didn’t have enough time in the league to qualify for the list, and young players such as Travelers Alberto Callaspo and Jeff Mathis and El Paso shortstop Sergio Santos had some difficulty adjusting to the higher level of play.

“To me, it wasn’t a banner year talent-wise, especially (the lack of) power pitchers,” Frisco manager Tim Ireland said. “There were three or four big-time guys, but not the depth the league should have.”

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