Click Here To Visit Our Sponsor
Baseball America Online - Leagues

scoreboards
Stats
features
columnists
news
draft
minors
NCAA
High School
store
contact
contact

   
   

Ask BA

By Josh Boyd
April 21, 2003

The Prospect Hot Sheet arrives every Monday to provide readers with a snapshot of baseball's best prospects, combining prospect status with performance. This list is not a replacement or an update to our Top 100, because it will often change drastically from week to week based on performance. We are not replacing Jose Reyes or Joe Mauer as the top prospects in baseball, rather we are giving you a snapshot of the hottest prospects. Keep up with news on these prospects plus many more on a daily basis with the Daily Dish.

We love to hear your opinions, so send your list to joshboyd@baseballamerica.com, but keep in mind there are only 12 spots on this list, and chances are there are more than 12 hot prospects during a week-long span. We aren't intentionally forgetting your guy, there's just only so much room. Also remember the key word in the title--prospect--so, 25-year-old Class A organizational players who are tearing the cover off the ball rarely apply.

Player
Trend
1. Rich Harden, rhp, Triple-A Sacramento (A's)
John Halama watch: 1-1, 3.60, .279 average against
2. Chad Tracy, 3b, Triple-A Tucson (Diamondbacks)
A red-hot hit machine, Tracy collected his 10th multi-hit game last weekend, and he's struck out just four times in 77 at-bats
3. Miguel Cabrera, 3b, Double-A Carolina (Marlins)
He's 8-for-14 since his 20th birthday last Friday
4. Vince Perkins, rhp, Class A Charleston (Blue Jays)
Still unscored upon through 17 1/3 innings, Perkins has given up one hit to righthanders in 27 at-bats
5. Kyle Davies, rhp, Class A Rome (Braves)
Was topping out at 93 mph as a 15-year-old; now Davies hasn't surrendered more than one hit in a start for Rome as a 19-year-old
6. Trevor Hutchinson, rhp, Class A Jupiter (Marlins)
A long contract holdout after last year's draft doesn't look like it's affected Chad Hutchinson's younger bro at all, and Trevor doesn't have the NFL on his mind
7. J.J. Hardy, ss, Double-A Huntsville (Brewers)
Not only is Hardy raking in Double-A, just two years removed from high school, he's showing improved plate discipline with more walks than Ks
8. Merkin Valdez, rhp, Class A Hagerstown (Giants)
Merkin the Magician is filling the strike zone with his upper-90s heat--two walks against 36 punchouts
9. Travis Hanson, 3b, Class A Peoria (Cardinals)
Second in the Midwest League in hitting to the PHS-charging John Baker (honorable mention), Hanson leads the minors with 10 doubles
10. Robinson Cano, 2b, Class A Tampa (Yankees)
With hits in 17 of first 18 games, Cano leads the Florida State League with 30 hits
11. Franklin Gutierrez, of, Class A Vero Beach (Dodgers)
The Dodgers are pleased with his improving approach at the plate after hitting six bombs in his first six games
12. Prince Fielder, 1b, Class A Beloit (Brewers)
Hasn't homered in six games after hitting five in nine games--that just means he's due for a power explosion

Other Hot Prospects To Watch

Travis Anderson, rhp, Class A Daytona (Cubs)
Garrett Atkins, 3b, Triple-A Colorado Springs (Rockies)
John Baker, c, Class A Kane County (A's)
Josh Barfield, 2b, Class A Lake Elsinore (Padres)
Jose Bautista, 3b, Class A Lynchburg (Pirates)
Neal Cotts, lhp, Double-A Birmingham (White Sox)
Zack Greinke, rhp, Class A Wilmington (Royals)
Bobby Jenks, rhp, Double-A Arkansas (Angels)
Adam LaRoche, 1b, Double-A Greenville (Braves)
Luis Martinez, lhp, Double-A Huntsville (Brewers)
Bubba Nelson, rhp, Double-A Greenville (Braves)
Dustin Nippert, rhp, Class A South Bend (Diamondbacks)
Alexis Rios, of, Double-A New Haven (Blue Jays)
Freddy Sanchez, ss, Triple-A Pawtucket (Red Sox)
Rusty Tucker, lhp, Double-A Mobile (Padres)
Derrick Turnbow, rhp, Double-A Arkansas (Angels)
Ryan Wing, lhp, Class A Winston-Salem (White Sox)
David Wright, 3b, Class A St. Lucie (Mets)
Delwyn Young, 2b, Class A South Georgia (Dodgers)

 
Copyright 2006 Baseball America. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Site Map | FAQ/Troubleshooting