By Josh Boyd
March 20, 2003

TAMPA--The Twins front office has quietly developed one of the most productive farm systems in the game.

General manager Terry Ryan, scouting director Mike Radcliff and farm director Jim Rantz have formed a stable foundation with more than 80 years combined in Minnesota. Ryan's braintrust of Bill Smith and Wayne Krivsky add another 20-something years of experience in the organization.

Last year their efforts nearly climaxed as the Twins fell just short of their first World Series appearance since 1991. Unlike many small-market teams, though, the Twins won't have to dismantle their 2002 club, and there is a farm system chocked full of prospects, meaning last year's success wasn't a one-and-done deal.

Outfielder Michael Cuddyer isn't staking claim to the right field job the way the Twins had hoped this spring, though 57 at-bats won't be enough to sway their opinion of their potential three-hole hitter of the present and future. He is at the forefront of the deepest crop of outfield prospects assembled in one organization.

Last season, Torii Hunter emerged as an all-star, Bobby Kielty and Dustan Mohr provided a reliable platoon, Michael Restovich, Lew Ford and Mike Ryan all debuted. Half of the Twins Top 10 prospects list consisted of outfielders, including Cuddyer, Restovich, 2002 first-rounder Denard Span, Jason Kubel and Ford. The rest of the top 30 featured four more.

Alex Romero, Trent Oeltjen, James Tomlin, Scott Whitrock, B.J. Garbe and Josh Rabe have all attracted attention as outfield prospects. Romero is the most complete package and could move fast after a breakthrough performance in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League last year.

The Twins have also stockpiled talent at first base despite Doug Mientkiewicz being entrenched in Minnesota through 2003 because of his $1.75 million contract. Todd Sears is hitting .368-5-13 in 38 at-bats this spring; Justin Morneau was finally optioned out after raking big league pitching. In 21 at-bats, he hit .429 with three homers, and that was after breaking his foot in the first week of camp.

Dusty Gomon emerged as a top prospect and another middle of the order power threat last summer in Rookie-level Elizabethton, but he's still a few years away. The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder measures up with the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Morneau and the 6-foot-5, 215-pound Sears, and Gomon still has plenty of room to fill out of his frame. He generates outstanding leverage and possesses tremendous raw power and lift in his swing.

Another first base prospect stepping forward, but still not in the same class as the aforementioned elite group, is 6-foot-4, 220-pound Garrett Jones. After launching a 400-foot bomb to right field on Tuesday, one Twins minor league instructor described it as "mutant power."

Jones, 21, was released by the Braves after three seasons in Rookie ball. He hit just .202 for Quad City in his first year in the Twins organization, but put his name in the record books by hitting four home runs in one game. "He has tremendous strength and power," Rantz said.

Pitching is another system strength for Minnesota, but admittedly many of their power arms are going to be relegated to relief roles. Righthander Adam Harben, who wasn't on the prospect radar prior to spring training, has been one of the hardest throwers in camp after showing up out of shape last year. Drafted in the 15th round out of the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, the 19-year-old Harben went 4-1, 3.20 in his pro debut in the GCL last summer. "He's making a charge," Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson said of Harben's chances to break camp with Quad City as opposed to staying behind in extended spring. "His delivery came a long way. We're working on his drive from the back side. He worked hard and came into camp in shape."

Harben was pumping 91-93 mph fastballs with good life, flashing a good 74-75 mph slider and mixing in a changeup with fading action. His arm works well and there is a lot of projection in his loose, athletic frame. "What more could you ask for in a prospect?" Anderson asked.

• Coming back from Tommy John surgery, Pirates catching prospect J.R. House experienced a setback during his throwing program and flew to Alabama to visit Dr. James Andrews.

• One of three Rule 5 picks still on the Tigers roster, lefty Wil Ledezma is an arm the Tigers won't want to forfeit. In 11 innings, he's allowed seven hits, seven walks and six strikeouts. Ledezma has displayed the power stuff that prompted at least one scout to call him the best prospect in the Venezuelan Winter League before it was shut down because political unrest. Ledezma was clocked at 91-93 with a free and easy arm action. "There's no way they can let an arm like that go," an official from another team said.

• The Tigers shipped lefty Eric Eckenstahler to minor league camp on Tuesday despite pitching well, which could bode well for Ledezma's chances. Eckenstahler was consistently 91-94 with his fastball. Righthander Shane Loux also was optioned to the minors. He sat at 88 and touched 91 mph, but was hittable again. Loux gave up 196 hits in 158 innings for Triple-A Toledo last year, and 12 in seven innings this spring.

• As long as he stays healthy, it's only a matter of time before righthander Franklyn German steals the Tigers closer role from incumbent Matt Anderson. German, who is an Armando Benitez clone on the mound, has been dominant in nine innings, punching out 14 while allowing just three hits. German registered 93-95 mph explosive heaters, sharp 86 mph sliders and diving 84 mph splitters.

• Tigers righthander Kenny Baugh, who missed last season with shoulder problems, made progress toward returning to game action by throwing a pain-free bullpen earlier this week.

• Ball State 2002 first-rounders Bryan Bullington (Pirates) and Luke Hagerty (Cubs) have been solid in their first spring training camps. Bullington threw well in exhibition games and tossed one hitless inning during his only regular spring outing. For Double-A Altoona on Tuesday, Bullington was clocked at 89-91 mph and touched 92. Hagerty has impressed pitching instructors and reportedly touched 95 with an 84 mph slider earlier this week in Mesa, Ariz.

• Pirates prospect Leo Nunez worked with a lively 91-94 mph fastball against low Class A Augusta. The slightly built 19-year-old has a lightning-quick arm. The Pirates wanted him to focus on developing his offspeed pitches after spending three years in Rookie ball. Nunez was regarded as one of the top prospects in the Gulf Coast League last year when he posted a 52 to 5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His slider showed flashes, but wasn't consistent and occasionally lacked bite, and his changeup is straight and could use more separation from his fastball. Nunez is projectable, but is all arm strength at this point and could benefit from learning a cutter for more movement and deception.