By Josh Boyd
March 26, 2003

MESA, Ariz.--The Cubs have managed to maintain their deep talent pool from year to year. Having extra draft picks--10 in the first four rounds last year--doesn't hurt one bit, but a major source of their talent influx is their flourishing Dominican Republic pipeline.

With Latin American scouting director Jose Serra securing the budding prospects and farm director Oneri Fleita helping pave the road for a smooth transition to the American lifestyle, the Cubs have a perfect plan in place.

Regarded as one of the top international scouts in the game today, Serra's efforts have netted righthanders Juan Cruz, Francis Beltran and lefty Felix Sanchez, and that doesn't even include his hauls over the last two seasons.

Serra delivered outfielder Felix Pie and third baseman Alfredo Francisco with high hopes last spring. Pie emerged as the top prospect and MVP of the Rookie-level Arizona League and will move up to low Class A Lansing this year. Francisco showed tremendous power potential in the same league.

This year's promising group is led by three 19-year-olds: outfielder Carlos Mejia, lefty Andy Santana and righty Juan Mateo. All three will start their career in the AZL.

Mejia has impressive power potential in a short stroke. "He's the kind of kid who can hit standing on his head," Fleita said.

"He's got the bat, a good arm, fields and can swing the stick," Serra added. "He's going to get some power. He shows some real life in his bat."

Santana has a polished, effortless delivery with an 87-92 mph fastball and above-average curveball, while Mateo is an "arm-strength guy," according to Fleita. Mateo still needs to develop his breaking ball.

With Arizona League manager Carmelo Martinez serving as a mentor to many of the young Dominican pupils, the Cubs believe they have established a blueprint for a smooth transition to their new surroundings.

"We know the players are in good hands with Carmelo," Fleita says. "The easiest time of the day for them is from when they arrive at the park until they leave."

The players find it more difficult when they return to their hotel rooms at night. All the TV is in English, they rarely call home because of the prohibitive cost and sending letters takes a long time.

• Fleita says righthander Angel Guzman has been the talk of big league camp. In 16 innings, he posted the best ERA (1.13) among pitchers with more than three innings. Guzman's electric stuff was clocked as high as 97 in his last major league appearance--five shutout innings in relief. The first day Guzman returned to minor league camp, he served as the batboy in the Double-A game. "That's just the type of person he is," Fleita said. Guzman made his first start back in the minors on Monday, working in the mid-90s with a hard curveball and changeup. He has a long, loose arm action with a quick arm and a solid delivery. His two-seamer features above-average life with sinking action, and his four-seamer has outstanding late life in the zone.

• After ending last season in low Class A Lansing, Felix Sanchez made the most out of a surprise big league spring invite. In 12 innings, he allowed seven hits and six walks while fanning seven. "His delivery is really smoothed out," Fleita said. "He's bigger and stronger and more mature. He's a young guy still growing into a long, lanky frame."

• Righthander Bobby Brownlie will be held back in extended spring training for two to three weeks before breaking camp. He has yet to throw in a live game situation.

• The Athletics brass is billing catcher Jeremy Brown as their system's best prospect less than a year after selecting him with the 35th pick out of Alabama. At 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds, Brown looks like a righthanded version of Jeremy Giambi. And with outstanding bat speed and pop to all fields, he might rake like a Giambi. He is a well below-average runner with fringy defensive skills and an average arm. But Brown can mash, and that's why he is held in such high esteem. He's slated for Double-A Midland after hitting .307-10-41 between short-season Vancouver and high Class A Visalia during his pro debut last summer.

• Rangers third baseman Mark Teixeira hit his seventh home run yesterday and is almost guaranteed to break camp on the 25-man roster.

• Brewers top prospect Brad Nelson collected two hits, including a triple, in a Double-A spring training game yesterday and swiped two bases.

• Yankees converted outfielder Yhency Brazoban has been turning heads in Tampa with his high-octane fastball. He was working between 94-97 mph yesterday against the Devil Rays.

• Indians righthander Travis Foley has a sore triceps and could be out for a month. Fellow righthander Jake Dittler will be sidelined temporarily with a strained oblique muscle.

• The Astros sent Rule 5 outfielder Victor Hall back to the Diamondbacks.