New York-Penn League Top 20 Prospects List
New York-Penn League boasts plenty of catching talent
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Pitchers and catchers stood out the most in the short-season New
York-Penn League, where the position talent was on par with most years
and the pitching seemed a bit stronger than normal, albeit with a
paucity of quality lefthanders.
The best player in the league probably was Hudson Valley third baseman Evan Longoria, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2006 draft. He dazzled in his pro debut with 21 homers overall, including four in eight NY-P games before moving on.
"I only saw him for three games, but he just jumped out at me," said a scout who popped in for some rare NY-P coverage. "He really opened my eyes with his power. He just really handled a wood bat very well."
Longoria may not even have been the best third-base prospect. Aberdeen's Billy Rowell, the ninth overall pick, showed similar hitting ability from the left side as a 17-year-old. As with Longoria, Rowell's 11-game cameo was too short to qualify him for this list, but he left an impression nonetheless.
"He opened my eyes right away," Vermont manager Jose Alguacil said. "He hit the ball with real authority."
The league's most intriguing prospect may have been Longoria's Renegades teammate, outfielder Josh Hamilton. The No. 1 overall pick in 1999, Hamilton played low Class A ball with his Hudson Valley manager, Matt Quatraro. Hamilton hit a soft .260 before needing arthroscopic knee surgery, another obstacle on his long road to recovery from back and shoulder injuries and drug addiction.
"All the tools are still there," Quatraro said. "He's more mature, more patient at the plate now. He's better equipped now to deal with it all. It's just a shame he got hurt."
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New York-Penn League boasts plenty of catching talent
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PrintSubscribers can read scouting reports on all 20 players
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subscribe)| TOP 20 PROSPECTS |
| 1. Jeremy Hellickson, rhp, Hudson Valley (Devil Rays) |
|
2. Pedro Beato, rhp, Aberdeen (Orioles) |
| 3. Matt McBride, c, Mahoning Valley (Indians) |
| 4. Max Sapp, c, Tri-City (Astros) |
| 5. Kris Johnson, lhp, Lowell (Red Sox) |
| 6. Justin Masterson, rhp, Lowell (Red Sox) |
| 7. Jordan Parraz, of, Tri-City (Astros) |
| 8. Adam Ottavino, rhp, State College (Cardinals) |
| 9. Scott Sizemore, ss/2b, Oneonta (Tigers) |
| 10. Joe Smith, rhp, Brooklyn (Mets) |
| 11. Tim Norton, rhp, Staten Island
(Yankees) |
| 12. Mark Hamilton, 1b, State College
(Cardinals) |
| 13. Justin Maxwell, of, Vermont
(Nationals) |
| 14. Jason Berken, rhp, Aberdeen
(Orioles) |
| 15. George Kontos, rhp, Staten Island
(Yankees) |
| 16. Chris Vinyard, 1b, Aberdeen (Orioles) |
| 17. Mitch Hilligoss, ss/3b, Staten Island
(Yankees) |
| 18. Chris Salamida, lhp, Tri-City (Astros) |
| 19. Wilmer Pino, 2b, Staten Island (Yankees) |
| 20. Neil Wagner, rhp, Mahoning Valley
(Indians) |
The best player in the league probably was Hudson Valley third baseman Evan Longoria, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2006 draft. He dazzled in his pro debut with 21 homers overall, including four in eight NY-P games before moving on.
"I only saw him for three games, but he just jumped out at me," said a scout who popped in for some rare NY-P coverage. "He really opened my eyes with his power. He just really handled a wood bat very well."
Longoria may not even have been the best third-base prospect. Aberdeen's Billy Rowell, the ninth overall pick, showed similar hitting ability from the left side as a 17-year-old. As with Longoria, Rowell's 11-game cameo was too short to qualify him for this list, but he left an impression nonetheless.
"He opened my eyes right away," Vermont manager Jose Alguacil said. "He hit the ball with real authority."
The league's most intriguing prospect may have been Longoria's Renegades teammate, outfielder Josh Hamilton. The No. 1 overall pick in 1999, Hamilton played low Class A ball with his Hudson Valley manager, Matt Quatraro. Hamilton hit a soft .260 before needing arthroscopic knee surgery, another obstacle on his long road to recovery from back and shoulder injuries and drug addiction.
"All the tools are still there," Quatraro said. "He's more mature, more patient at the plate now. He's better equipped now to deal with it all. It's just a shame he got hurt."
Subscribers can read scouting reports on all 20 players
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subscribe)
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