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By Josh Boyd
September 2, 2003
The Prospect Hot Sheet is our weekly update of which prospects are tearing up the minors. As the minor leagues wrap up their regular season schedules, we'll take a look back at the hottest prospects from 2003. That means we're bringing back names like Miguel Cabrera and Rich Harden, who dominated the PHS rankings in the first half before moving up to the majors.
Unlike our Top 100 rankings before the season, and our end-of-season Top 10s for leagues and teams, the Hot Sheet is not an attempt to rank prospects for their long-term potential. Instead, it's a chance to single out which prospects have done the most to distinguish themselves during the past week.
As a snapshot, the Hot Sheet is easily the most volatile list we put together at Baseball America. So before crafting that email asking why your favorite prospect has dropped off the list, check out what he did last week. A prospect can drop off the list with a bad week, then jump right back on the next week.
And do realize that this is the Prospect Hot Sheet. Fernando Seguignol may be on his way to the International League Triple Crown, but you won't often find a 28-year-old in the Hot Sheet.
We love to hear your opinions, so send your list to joshboyd@baseballamerica.com.
1. Jeremy Reed, of, Double-A Birmingham (White Sox)
Kept his average above .400 for the final 19 games of the year, while walking nearly twice as much as he whiffed |
2. Miguel Cabrera, 3b/of, Double-A Carolina (Marlins)
He was so good in the first half, slugging .609, the Marlins needed to see him play just three games in left field before making the 20-year-old the everyday left fielder in Florida |
3. Rich Harden, rhp, Triple-A Sacramento (A's)
Impossible to be hotter than Harden was in Double-A when he started the year by sitting down 39 straight hitters in 13 perfect innings |
4. Josh Barfield, 2b, Class A Lake Elsinore (Padres)
Barfield's RBI assault was relentless from wire to wire, and he finished with career highs in average, doubles, home runs and runs |
5. Joe Mauer, c, Double-A New Britain (Twins)
If he had the at-bats to qualify, Mauer would've led the Florida State League by 30 points in hitting, and would rank second in the Eastern League, but his most impressive accomplishment might be throwing out more than 50 percent of basestealers |
6. Zack Greinke, rhp, Double-A Wichita (Royals)
Jumped to high Class A less than a year after his high school graduation, but dominated the Carolina League and topped the PHS on a regular basis in the first half |
7. Travis Blackley, lhp, Double-A San Antonio (Mariners)
Started the season with a loss and was the losing pitcher in the Futures Game, but Blackley was a victory machine most of the season |
8. Fausto Carmona, rhp, Class A Lake County (Indians)
Mirrored Blackley's success with 17 wins, though he lost his fourth and final start and watched his ERA go over 2.00 for the first time all season |
9. Prince Fielder, 1b, Class A Beloit (Brewers)
In his first taste of pro ball, Fielder showed all of the same abilities of his father including outstanding power and solid command of the strike zone |
10. Casey Kotchman, 1b, Class A Rancho Cucamonga (Angels)
Scary to think about what Kotchman could do over a full season if he could just stay healthy--in 156 pro games, he's hit .326-16-96 with 47 doubles, 85 walks and 58 strikeouts |
11. Greg Miller, lhp, Double-A Jacksonville (Dodgers)
One of the most impressive breakthrough prospect campaigns of 2003 ended with a sore shoulder, but Miller overmatched Double-A hitters as an 18-year-old |
12. Alexis Rios, of, Double-A New Haven (Blue Jays)
Enjoyed a steady season while showing marked improvement in power and strike-zone judgment |
13. Dallas McPherson, 3b, Double-A Arkansas (Angels)
A back injury sidelined him early on, but didn't prevent him from crushing 60 extra-base hits in 105 games |
14. Cole Hamels, lhp, Class A Clearwater (Phillies)
Did most of his damage in the SAL where he allowed a stingy .136 average baffling opponents with his plus-plus major league changeup |
15. B.J. Upton, ss, Double-A Orlando (Devil Rays)
After hitting just .215 in April, Upton rallied with the bat and was holding his own in Double-A as an 18-year-old, clearly establishing himself as one of baseball's premium prospects |
16. Grady Sizemore, of, Double-A Akron (Indians)
Like Rios, Sizemore found so many different ways to help his team win during his breakout season |
17. John Maine, rhp, Class A Frederick (Orioles)
Fired a no-hitter in his first game for Frederick after going 7-3, 1.53 in low Class A Delmarva; Maine should move quickly next season after compiling 185 punchouts this year |
18. Bobby Jenks, rhp, Double-A Arkansas (Angels)
Overall, it was Jenks' most consistent season yet, only hampered early in the year by a sore elbow, he finished strong by allowing three earned runs in his last 39 innings |
19. Scott Olsen, lhp, Class A Greensboro (Marlins)
Called the steal of the draft last fall by Marlins exec Dan Jennings, Olsen emerged in the second half as a consistent performer with stuff that rivals higher profile lefties Scott Kazmir, Cole Hamels and Greg Miller |
20. Merkin Valdez, rhp, Class A Hagerstown (Giants)
Another Sally Leaguer, formerly known as Manuel Mateo, Valdez got a new name and earned the nickname Merkin the Magician, or El Mago in Spanish, during his hot start |
21. Dioner Navarro, c, Double-A Trenton (Yankees)
Hit .299 in Class A Tampa but got better with a promotion to Double-A as a 19-year-old before his season ended prematurely with a hand injury |
22. Franklin Gutierrez, of, Double-A Jacksonville (Dodgers)
Developed big time power and continued to make strides after a promotion to Double-A |
23. Jon Connolly, lhp, Class A West Michigan (Tigers)
Oddly didn't earn a promotion despite keeping his ERA under 1.00 until mid June |
24. Juan Dominguez, rhp, Double-A Frisco (Rangers)
Catapulted from Class A to Double-A to Triple-A and into the Rangers rotation in a couple months |
25. Ervin Santana, rhp, Double-A Arkansas (Angels)
It was a great year for Angels prospects who owned the PHS for most the year; Santana developed into one of the minor's elite prospects |
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Just Missing The Cut
Wladimir Balentien, of, Rookie-level AZL (Mariners)
Chadd Blasko, rhp, Class A Daytona (Cubs)
Craig Brazell, 1b, Triple-A Norfolk (Mets)
David Bush, rhp, Double-A New Haven (Blue Jays)
Alberto Callaspo, 2b, Class A Cedar Rapids (Angels)
Bobby Crosby, ss, Triple-A Sacremento (Athletics)
Victor Diaz, 2b, Double-A Binghamton (Mets)
Jake Dittler, rhp, Class A Kinston (Indians)
Eric Duncan, 3b, short-season Staten Island (Yankees)
Mike Fontenot, 2b, Double-A Bowie (Orioles)
Jeff Francis, lhp, Class A Visalia (Rockies)
Felix Hernandez, rhp, Class A Wisconsin (Mariners)
Mike Hinckley, lhp, Class A Brevard County (Expos)
Conor Jackson, 3b, short-season Yakima (Diamondbacks)
Wes Littleton, rhp, short-season Spokane (Rangers)
Mike Jacobs, c/1b, Double-A Binghamton (Mets)
Warner Madrigal, of, Rookie-level Provo (Angels)
Luis Martinez, lhp, Triple-A Indianapolis (Brewers)
Jeff Mathis, c, Double-A Arkansas (Angels)
Jayson Nix, 2b, Class A Visalia (Rockies)
Ian Oquendo , rhp, Double-A Altoona (Pirates)
Vince Perkins, rhp, Class A Dunedin (Blue Jays)
Jeff Salazar, of, Class A Visalia (Rockies)
Chad Tracy, 3b, Triple-A Tuscon (Diamondbacks)
Brandon Watson, of, Double-A Harrisburg (Expos)
Rickie Weeks, 2b, Class A Beloit (Brewers)
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