Complete Index of League Top 20s

By Kevin Goldstein
September 30, 2005

---

Subscribers can access scouting reports on all twenty players. (How to subscribe)

---

Chat Wrap: Kevin Goldstein took your California League

---

TOP 20 PROSPECTS

1. Brandon Wood, ss, Rancho Cucamonga 2. Stephen Drew, ss, Lancaster 3. Howie Kendrick, 2b, Rancho Cucamonga 4. Ian Stewart, 3b, Modesto 5. Billy Bulter, 3b/of, High Desert 6. Daric Barton, 1b, Stockton 7. Edison Volquez, rhp, Bakersfield 8. Thomas Diamond, rhp, Bakersfield 9. Adam Jones, ss, Inland Empire 10. Eddy Martinez-Esteve, of, San Jose 11. John Danks, lhp, Bakersfield 12. Asdrubal Cabrera, ss, Inland Empire 13. Chris Iannetta, c, Modesto 14. Miguel Montero, c, Lancaster 15. Ubaldo Jimenez, rhp, Modesto 16. Nate Schierholtz, of, San Jose 17. George Kottaras, c, Lake Elsinore 18. Jim Miller, rhp, Modesto 19. Juan Morillo, rhp, Modesto 20. Chris Lubanski, of, High Desert

Scouts and managers agreed on the talent in the high Class A California League this season: a whole lot of hitting, not much pitching and next to no defense. As usual, the league was a hitter's paradise. Just six pitchers cracked our Cal League Top 20 Prospects list, and five of them were in Double-A by midseason.

The Rockies' Modesto affiliate garnered the most attention with five players in the Top 20. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, the seventh overall pick in the June draft, would have made it six if not for a torn quadriceps that prevented him from qualifying.

“He hit, he hit for power, he made all the plays in the field, and every time I saw him he was limping,” one American League scout said. “So once he’s 100 percent, he should be fantastic.”

The two top-rated prospects in the 2004 draft, righthanders Jered Weaver (Angels) and Jeff Niemann (Devil Rays), also left a strong impression during Cal League stints that were too brief for them to make this list. Weaver showed excellent command of a 90-92 mph fastball, a slider and a changeup. Niemann, who was never at 100 percent, had plenty of life and deception with his 90-93 mph fastball, but he still was well off the high-90s velocity he showed at Rice.

Subscribers can access scouting reports on all twenty players. (How to subscribe)