By Chris Kline
October 5, 2004

Since the Arizona Fall League first cranked up in 1992, it has featured many of the top prospects in the game each year. This year is no different, though in an interesting twist 29 players from last season return for more AFL time in 2004.

The first two picks of the 2003 draft headline the returnees, with Devil Rays outfielder Delmon Young and Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks back to try to speed their paths to the big leagues.

We'll have results and statistics at BaseballAmerica.com, and to get an expert view of the most interesting players to watch in the league this year, read on:

GRAND CANYON RAFTERS

Top Pitcher: Scott Baker, rhp, Twins. The best hurlers on the Rafters roster come from the Twins, with righthanders J.D. Durbin and closer Jesse Crain scheduled to join the roster. But Baker stands above the rest, moving from high Class A Fort Myers to Triple-A Rochester this season.

Top Position Player: Jason Kubel, of, Twins. The Rafters ought to have an awful lot of offense with Kubel, Eastern League home run champ Mitch Jones (Yankees) and outfielders Jeff Francoeur (Braves), Curtis Granderson (Tigers) and Fred Lewis (Giants).

Bouncing Back: Macay McBride, lhp, Braves. McBride was one of the top pitchers in the Braves system a year ago, but got hit hard in his first year in Double-A and moved to the bullpen by midseason. Though Braves officials said his stuff was still there—he struck out 102 in 103 innings—McBride went 1-7, 4.44. He finished the year strong, going 1-1, 3.23 in August and September, and looks to build on that momentum this fall.

Emerging: Brian McCann, c, Braves. McCann made a name for himself this season as the catcher on BA’s Minor League All-Star Team. A 20-year-old lefthanded-hitting catcher, McCann batted .277-15-65 at high Class A Myrtle Beach, a noted haven for pitchers. Drafted for his bat, McCann is far from one-dimensional and made a strong case for passing Brayan Pena as the best defensive catcher in the system, throwing out 30 percent (33 of 110) of basestealers this season.

MESA SOLAR SOX

Top Pitcher: Sean Marshall, lhp, Cubs. The Solar Sox also boast righthanders Adam Waiwright (Cardinals) and Jae Kuk Ryu (Cubs).

Top Position Player: Delmon Young, of, Devil Rays. Young is the clear choice here, even though Mesa will have Brian Anderson (White Sox) also manning the outfield.

Bouncing Back: Cory Sullivan, of, Rockies. Sullivan missed the entire season after having Tommy John surgery in May, so the Rockies sent him to the AFL to make up for missed at-bats. A two-way star at Wake Forest, Sullivan doesn’t have a standout tool, but he plays a solid center field with a strong arm and good instincts, and he has good leadoff skills. Sullivan led the Texas League with 167 hits in 2003 and hopes to take the first step toward getting back on track this fall.

Emerging: Brian Dopirak, 1b, Cubs. The 20-year-old blossomed in his first full season at low Class A Lansing, hitting .307-39-120. A second-round pick in 2002, Dopirak’s weakness remains plate discipline, as he struck out 123 times in 541 at-bats. Still, with a good fall he could skip high Class A next season and go straight to Double-A West Tenn. Scouts say Dopirak’s power will have to carry him, but he hit for the highest average in his career this season.

PEORIA JAVELINAS

Top Pitcher: Chris Oxspring, rhp, Padres. The Javelinas’ staff also includes righthanders Dan Denham (Indians), David Crouthers (Orioles) and lefthander Bill Bray (Expos).

Top Position Prospect: Shin-Soo Choo, of, Mariners. Second baseman Josh Barfield (Padres), catcher Ryan Garko (Indians) and first baseman Paul McAnulty (Padres) should get plenty of opportunities to drive in runs.

Bouncing Back: Jake Dittler, rhp, Indians. Back stiffness limited the 21-year-old this year, particularly during the first half. Dittler has outstanding stuff but needs a shot of confidence now, which the Indians are hoping will happen this fall. After going 5-1, 2.40 in 49 innings at Class A Kinston last season, Dittler went 5-12, 5.02 in Double-A this year.

Emerging: Mike Morse, ss, Mariners. Morse was the most accomplished shortstop in the White Sox system before he was dealt to Seattle along with outfielder Jeremy Reed and catcher Miguel Olivo, and he continued to improve this season. He hit a combined .281-17-71 in 366 at-bats in the Southern and Texas leagues. And at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, the power should continue to improve.

PEORIA SAGUAROS

Top Pitcher: Francisco Rosario, rhp, Blue Jays. Righthander John Hudgins (Rangers) and Adam Peterson (Blue Jays) bring nice balance to the Saguaros staff.

Top Position Player: Aaron Hill, ss, Blue Jays. Peoria’s outfield should also have some pop and speed, with Jason Botts (Rangers) and Nate McLouth (Pirates).

Bouncing Back: Bobby Bradley, rhp, Pirates. Bradley’s career has been stalled by a succession of injuries, but he has worked to put himself back on the radar. It didn’t hurt that his friend and former high school teammate Sean Burnett reached the big leagues and tasted success with Pittsburgh this season. Pirates officials saw a different demeanor from Bradley in the second half of the season at Double-A Altoona after Burnett’s callup.

Emerging: Ian Kinsler, ss, Rangers. Kinsler wasn’t ranked among the Rangers’ top 30 prospects heading into the season, but he had an undeniable breakout year between Class A Clinton and Double-A Frisco. Kinsler more than held his own in the Texas League, hitting .300-9-46 in 271 at-bats and .345-20-99 overall. His doubles total between both leagues was ridiculous: 51 in 129 games.

PHOENIX DESERT DOGS

Top Pitcher: Huston Street, rhp, Athletics. Righthanders Brian Bass (Royals), Keith Bucktrot (Phillies), and Trevor Hutchinson (Marlins) all will eat up innings for Phoenix.

Top Position Prospect: Jeremy Hermida, of, Marlins. Expect no power outages from a lineup that includes first baseman Ryan Howard (Phillies), third baseman Mark Teahen (Royals), and Nick Gorneault (Angels).

Bouncing Back: Eric Reed, of, Marlins. Reed was off to a torrid start at Double-A Carolina before a broken wrist cut his season short. A speedster who is close to an 80 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale, Reed is also an excellent bunter. He is the best defensive outfielder in the Marlins system, showing remarkable range and jumps in center field.

Emerging: Ryan Howard, 1b, Phillies. Howard established himself as one of the premier power threats in the minors this year, bashing 46 home runs between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to lead the minor leagues. Howard has been widely discussed in trades, and with Jim Thome entrenched at first at Philadelphia the plan is to try him in the outfield this fall—something the Phillies had been reluctant to do until now.

SCOTTSDALE SCORPIONS

Top Pitcher: Jared Gothreaux, rhp, Astros. Two Reds’ prospects are in Scottsdale to get more work in, with Daylan Childress and Dustin Moseley on the roster.

Top Position Prospect: Rickie Weeks, 2b, Brewers. The Scorpions aren’t short on tools, with Weeks joined by outfielders Charlton Jimerson and Willy Taveras (Astros) and Marland Williams (Diamondbacks).

Bouncing Back: James Loney, 1b, Dodgers. Loney broke his finger this spring, and it became infected and required minor surgery, so he wasn’t really in game shape until mid-June. Loney is a disciplined hitter with good pitch recognition and a classic stroke, and he should be an above-average defensive first baseman as well.

Emerging: Carlos Quentin, of, Diamondbacks. You could take either Quentin or fellow Diamondbacks outfielder Conor Jackson in this category, but most scouts say that Quentin has the higher ceiling and classic right-field tools. In his first full season as a pro, Quentin jumped from high Class A Lancaster to Double-A El Paso and batted .331-21-89 overall. A fearless hitter, he was hit by 43 pitches this season, setting a minor league record.