Eastern League Top 20 Prospects List
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The 2007 season was one few
in Trenton will ever forget.
The Thunder, once known for having the minors' ugliest logo, got off to a blistering 17-2 start thanks to a standout pitching staff. Trenton's arms carried the team throughout the Double-A Eastern League season, posting a 3.18 team ERA that ranked second behind only low Class A Augusta (3.02) among full-season minor league teams.
The Thunder then beat Akron for the Eastern League championship. Their playoff title was all the more impressive considering that Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy already had graduated to the Yankees, while the Indians sent top arms Adam Miller and Jeremy Sowers down from Triple-A for the EL postseason.
Kennedy and EL pitcher of the year Alan Horne represented Trenton on this Top 10 list, and Chamberlain would have joined them had he not fallen just short of qualifying. New Britain righthander Nick Blackburn also came up a few innings shy after showing, to much less fanfare, quality stuff and command.
None of those pitchers could match the total package of Portland righty Clay Buchholz, the league's No. 1 prospect. He showed what he could do with a no-hitter against the Orioles in his second big league start.
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| 1. Clay Buchholz, rhp, Portland Sea Dogs (Boston) |
| 2. Andrew McCutchen, of, Altoona Curve (Pirates) |
| 3. Fernando Martinez, of, Binghamton Mets |
| 4. Asdrubal Cabrera, ss, Akron Aeros (Indians) |
| 5. Ian Kennedy, rhp, Trenton Thunder (Yankees) |
| 6. Jair Jurrjens, rhp, Erie SeaWolves (Tigers) |
| 7. Alan Horne, rhp, Trenton Thunder (Yankees) |
| 8. Jed Lowrie, ss, Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox) |
| 9. Neil Walker, 3b, Altoona Curve (Pirates) |
| 10. Collin Balester, rhp, Harrisburg Senators (Nationals) |
| 11. Jordan Brown, 1b/of, Akron Aeros (Indians) |
| 12. Radhames Liz, rhp, Bowie Baysox (Orioles) |
| 13. Justin Masterson, rhp, Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox) |
| 14. Kyle Kendrick, rhp, Reading Phillies |
| 15. Chuck Lofgren, lhp, Akron Aeros (Indians) |
| 16. Jeff Larish, 1b, Erie SeaWolves (Tigers) |
| 17. Brian Barton, of, Akron Aeros (Indians) |
| 18. Brian Duensing, lhp, New Britain Rock Cats (Twins) |
| 19. Mike Costanzo, 3b, Reading Phillies |
| 20. Nolan Reimold, of, Bowie Baysox (Orioles) |
The Thunder, once known for having the minors' ugliest logo, got off to a blistering 17-2 start thanks to a standout pitching staff. Trenton's arms carried the team throughout the Double-A Eastern League season, posting a 3.18 team ERA that ranked second behind only low Class A Augusta (3.02) among full-season minor league teams.
The Thunder then beat Akron for the Eastern League championship. Their playoff title was all the more impressive considering that Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy already had graduated to the Yankees, while the Indians sent top arms Adam Miller and Jeremy Sowers down from Triple-A for the EL postseason.
Kennedy and EL pitcher of the year Alan Horne represented Trenton on this Top 10 list, and Chamberlain would have joined them had he not fallen just short of qualifying. New Britain righthander Nick Blackburn also came up a few innings shy after showing, to much less fanfare, quality stuff and command.
None of those pitchers could match the total package of Portland righty Clay Buchholz, the league's No. 1 prospect. He showed what he could do with a no-hitter against the Orioles in his second big league start.
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