Gulf Coast League Top 20 Prospects List
Recent draftees impress in debut
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Though major league owners contemplated dissolving both complex-based
Rookie leagues, the Arizona and the Gulf Coast, that proposal was
tabled and the circuits operated as usual in 2006. For the second year
in a row, the GCL was loaded with prospects, many of whom reported to
Florida after being drafted in the early rounds in June. Seven
first-rounders, including No. 7 overall selection Clayton Kershaw, made
their pro debuts in the GCL.
A Dodgers lefthander, Kershaw was the unequivocal No. 1 prospect, dominating the league right out of high school. Three other first-round choices--Twins outfielder/first baseman Chris Parmelee, Nationals outfielder Chris Marrero and Red Sox outfielder Jason Place--ranked among the GCL's top five prospects.
The league's Latin American contingent was equally promising. Tigers outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, a 19-year-old from Venezuela, won the batting title. Hernandez' teammate, Audy Ciriaco, was one of several Latino shortstops who drew consideration for the list, along with Francisco Lizarraga (Dodgers), Carlos Rivero (Indians), Danny Garcia (Marlins) and Jose de los Santos (Pirates).
"I thought players got better and the level of play got better from the beginning to the end," Indians manager Chris Tremie said, "and to me that's a sign of a productive league."
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Recent draftees impress in debut
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PrintSubscribers can read scouting reports on all 20 players
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subscribe)| TOP 20 PROSPECTS |
| 1. Clayton Kershaw, lhp, Dodgers |
| 2. Chris Parmelee, of/1b, Twins |
| 3. Gorkys Hernandez, of, Tigers |
| 4. Chris Marrero, of, Nationals |
| 5. Jason Place, of, Red Sox |
| 6. Dellin Betances, rhp, Yankees |
| 7. Adrian Cardenas, ss, Phillies |
| 8. Neftali Feliz, rhp, Braves |
| 9. Jhonny Nunez, rhp, Dodgers |
| 10. Tom Hickman, of, Marlins |
| 11. Preston Mattingly, ss, Dodgers |
| 12. Kyle Drabek, rhp, Phillies |
| 13. Steven Evarts, lhp, Braves |
| 14. Jesus Sanchez, c, Phillies |
| 15. Chad Rodgers, lhp, Braves |
| 16. Josue Calzado, of, Yankees |
| 17. D'Arby Myers, of, Phillies |
| 18. Zach McAllister, rhp, Yankees |
| 19. Carlos Monasterios, rhp, Yankees |
| 20. Joe Benson, of, Twins |
A Dodgers lefthander, Kershaw was the unequivocal No. 1 prospect, dominating the league right out of high school. Three other first-round choices--Twins outfielder/first baseman Chris Parmelee, Nationals outfielder Chris Marrero and Red Sox outfielder Jason Place--ranked among the GCL's top five prospects.
The league's Latin American contingent was equally promising. Tigers outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, a 19-year-old from Venezuela, won the batting title. Hernandez' teammate, Audy Ciriaco, was one of several Latino shortstops who drew consideration for the list, along with Francisco Lizarraga (Dodgers), Carlos Rivero (Indians), Danny Garcia (Marlins) and Jose de los Santos (Pirates).
"I thought players got better and the level of play got better from the beginning to the end," Indians manager Chris Tremie said, "and to me that's a sign of a productive league."
Subscribers can read scouting reports on all 20 players
(Click here to
subscribe)
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