Arizona Fall League Rosters
A guide to prospects you'll want to keep tabs on in Arizona
Rosters for the Arizona Fall League have been announced. To get you ready for the Fall League, we've singled out some players who are using their trip as a last tune-up for the big leagues, others who are trying to put bad 2008 seasons behind them, and some who may be emerging onto the prospect scene.
Major League Tune-Up: Braves righthander Tommy Hanson coasted through high Class A Myrtle Beach, and then continued his success upon a promotion to Double-A Mississippi. With 105 strikeouts in 93 innings at Mississippi, a low-90s fastball, a plus curve and the ability to command the strike zone, Hanson could find himself in the mix for a spot in Atlanta's rotation at some point in 2009 . . . After a nice season with Double-A Reading and after playing in Beijing for Team USA, Phillies catcher Lou Marson will get more at-bats behind the plate in the AFL. He's still growing into his power and learning to get more loft in his swing, but Marson has good plate discipline and puts the ball in play.
Forget The Regular Season: Marlins lefthander Aaron Thompson had his control escape him this season with Double-A Carolina, which has resulted in a 6.03 ERA in 15 starts. When Thompson shut out Mobile earlier this month for seven innings with no walks and eight strikeouts, the more than half a dozen scouts in attendance were impressed. He then proceeded to allow 12 runs in 7 2/3 innings over his next two starts. The stuff is still there for Thompson, who still has a clean delivery and the ability to induce plenty of ground balls. His slider is a plus pitch and he has a good changeup that he could mix in more frequently to complement his tailing 88-91 mph fastball . . . Outfielder Brandon Jones looked like he could be a solid big leaguer this year for the Braves. Instead, Jones started the year with Triple-A Richmond after a rough spring training. After hitting .278/.316/.463 with one unintentional walk and 16 strikeouts in a June big league stint, Jones found himself back in the minors, where he hit .260/.343/.405 in 346 at-bats. Jones, 24, finds himself jockeying for position in the Braves system with outfielders Jason Heyward, Jordan Schafer and Gorkys Hernandez breathing down his neck.
Keep An Eye On: The Rockies traded righthanded reliever Zach Simons to the Tigers earlier this season for Jason Grilli, and the Tigers like what they have seen so far. In 52 2/3 innings for high Class A Lakeland, Simons has a 2.22 ERA and 61 strikeouts thanks to a 92-95 mph fastball that touches 97. At 23, Simons' control still lags behind the curve, as he's also walked 28 batters in the Florida State League . . . Marlins outfielder Scott Cousins was having a nice season with high Class A Jupiter before he hit a wall at Carolina. The 2006 third-round pick will look to get back on track in the AFL, while Jupiter first baseman Logan Morrison will try to continue his rapid ascent. Morrison, who just turned 21 on Monday, has established himself as a top first base prospect, hitting .334/.404/.500 with a good approach at the plate and a sound swing.
X-Factor: Braves catcher Tyler Flowers might be the high Class A Carolina League MVP. Flowers, 22, hit .285/.427/.485 while playing his home games a difficult park for hitters at Myrtle Beach, showing power and the patience to draw walks, with 96 of them to go with 98 strikeouts. It looks like Flowers' bat would play at any position, but the Braves want him to stick at catcher. Of course, with Brian McCann under contract through 2012 with a club option for 2013, they certainly have the luxury to be patient with Flowers.
Major League Tune-Up: Daniel Murphy already has reached the majors and has contributed for the Mets. He's not likely to dislodge franchise cornerstone David Wright from third base but looks to get reps at second base with the Saguaros; he played 17 games at second in Double-A this season . . . Lefthander Aaron Poreda, a 2007 first-round pick, was considered for a big league start or two this summer by the parent White Sox, thanks to a fastball that sits around 96 mph, even as a starter. He's 7-9, 3.19 overall this season between high Class A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham, with 113 strikeouts and just 39 walks in 155 innings. He's yielded just six home runs.
Forget The Regular Season: Righthanders Cesar Carrillo (Padres) and Adam Ottavino (Cardinals) both were first-round picks (in '05 and '06, respectively) out of college, but neither has progressed as planned. Coming off Tommy John surgery, Carrillo has struggled at high Class A Lake Elsinore, posting a 6.46 ERA, .306 opponent's average and 28-31 walk-strikeout numbers, which would be OK if he were a hitter, but since he's not, it's kind of a problem. Ottavino, whose fastball still reaches 96 mph, has struggled with his mechanics this season while going 2-7, 5.48 for Double-A Springfield. Texas Leaguers are hitting .298 against him.
Keep An Eye On: First baseman Kyle Blanks has hit since Yavapai (Ariz.) JC and through A-ball, but now that he's doing it in Double-A, he's gaining more converts. The 6-foot-6, 280-pounder moves well for his size and makes consistent hard contact, leading to his .320/.399/.503 line at Double-A San Antonio. If he learns to hit lefthanded pitching (.687 OPS), the Padres will have to find a spot for him in their offense-starved lineup. Listed as an outfielder, the Nationals' Leonard Davis has played third base, left field and second base since a promotion to Triple-A Columbus. The 24-year-old started this year in high Class A and has hit .311/.369/.561 with 23 homers between three stops. LHP Justin Fiske, a former indy leaguer, has vexed lefthanded hitters in Organized Baseball and has 90 strikeouts in 73 innings while pitching in the 86-88 mph range with his fastball. He has moved into the rotation at Double-A Springfield of late but profiles better as a lefty reliever.
X-Factor: Peoria's roster has a pair of 2008 first-round picks in White Sox shortstop Gordon Beckham and Cardinals third baseman Brett Wallace. Beckham was off to a fast start (11-for-36, one home run) at low Class A Kannapolis after signing earlier this month, but Wallace's start has been beyond any expectations. The former Arizona State All-American hit eight homers in his first 48 games (including three in seven Double-A games) and was hitting .339/.428/.550 through 180 at-bats.
Major League Tune-Up: While Mat Gamel's future big league position may be in question, his bat is big league ready. He'll get a chance to continue working on his defense at the hot corner. Gamel's Brewers' teammate Angel Salome has nearly matched him hit for hit at Double-A Huntsville. Brewers starting catcher Jason Kendall just reached a games provision that ensures his 2009 option will be picked up, but Salome, who has made some defensive improvements this year, isn't far away.
Forget The Regular Season: OK, so making it to St. Petersburg as a starting pitcher these days is a trial of survival of the fittest, but righthander Chris Mason has gone from Double-A star to Triple-A bullpen filler in just one year. Mason's savvy was always his best attribute, but he needs to show in the AFL that his stuff plays up in the bullpen, something it hasn't done in Durham. Righthander Gaby Hernandez' performance has gone backward as he's progressed through the minors. A trade to the Mariners gave him a second chance, but he's struggled in Double-A since joining West Tenn (1-1, 5.53). He needs to give his new team something to be get excited about.
Keep An Eye On: Javelinas' pitchers won't have to worry about doubles to the gaps, as Austin Jackson, Greg Halman and Drew Stubbs will give them an outfield manned by three center fielders. Stubbs struck out far too much in low Class A last year—a true sign of trouble for a first-round pick out of college. But after offseason surgery to fix a toe problem, Stubbs has shown improved plate coverage this year as he's climbed from high Class A to Triple-A. He still has the 3.7 speed to first base and plus arm that makes him a potential Gold Glover in center field. Halman was demoted to short-season ball last year after hitting .182 at low Class A Wisconsin. He proceeded to demolish the Northwest League in 2007 and he's kept right on hitting this season. Halman has shown the speed and power that the Mariners were hoping for when they signed him out of the Netherlands. With a week to go in the season, Halman is only one home run short of a 30-30 season (29 home runs, 31 stolen bases).
X-Factor: The Brewers promoted hard-throwing righthander Jeremy Jeffress to Double-A specifically because they wanted to send him to the Arizona Fall League. He's responded by going 2-0, 1.93 in three starts with Huntsville. No starting pitcher in the minors throws harder than Jeffress, who's been clocked at 100-102 mph this year depending on which radar gun you're reading. Adam Moore is facing a logjam at catcher, but the Mariners prospect has established himself as one of the minors' best backstops with a .313/.393/.494 season at Double-A West Tenn.
Major League Tune-Up: The Blue Jays aggressively promoted several of their top prospects this season, with two of them landing on the Desert Dogs' roster—perhaps in advance of making the big league club next spring. Double-A New Hampshire catcher J.P. Arencibia's year may be overshadowed by the exploits of Matt Wieters, but the 22-year-old Toronto farmhand has hit an aggregate .300/.322/.535 with 27 home runs and 102 RBIs in 493 at-bats this season. The 2007 first-round pick spent half the year at high Class A Dunedin. Though Blue Jays outfielder Travis Snider may be just 20, he'll be making his second AFL appearance. The youngest regular in the International League, he's been anything but overmatched there, batting .328/.365/.466 through his first 16 games. The fact that Toronto has pushed Snider to Triple-A already suggests he may not be far from getting a big league look . . . Rockies righthander Casey Weathers may use the AFL to put the finishing touches on his minor league resume. After all, the 2007 first-rounder was expected to move quickly, and after striking out 48 batters in 40 innings for Double-A Tulsa, and then pitching out of Team USA's bullpen in the Olympics, the 23-year-old may not be far off from Denver.
Forget The Regular Season: Rockies shortstop Chris Nelson's 2007 campaign (.289/.358/.503 in the Cal League) offered a glimmer of hope that the 2004 first-round pick had figured things out. The success didn't take, though, as the soon-to-be 23-year-old scuffled through an injury-riddle campaign in Double-A. Nelson batted .228/.319/.336 in 259 at-bats for Tulsa.
Keep An Eye On: A pair of Twins righthanded relievers could make names for themselves with strong AFL campaigns. Rob Delaney, 24 this fall, has top-of-the-line command of an 89-93 mph fastball and a solid-average slider. He struck out a combined 10.13 batters per nine innings at high Class A and Double-A, while walking a miniscule 1.27 per nine. Anthony Slama, 24, has used an aggressive demeanor and an average to slightly above fastball/slider combo.
X-Factor: The Athletics will have to get creative in deploying their prospects in the AFL. Catcher Josh Donaldson, who came over in the Rich Harden trade, is listed as an infielder on the Phoenix roster. The 2007 supplemental first-rounder found the Cal League to his liking after the trade, but his first-half struggles in the Midwest League have kept his season line at .268/.330/.443 through 400 at-bats. Sean Doollittle, an elite defensive first baseman, will ply his trade as an outfielder this fall. Improved power production has increased the 22-year-old's visibility—he's batting an aggregate .287/.359/.506 with 22 homers through 512 at-bats—and he spent the season's second half in Double-A. Lefty-hitting Adrian Cardenas, who turns 21 this fall, has spent all his time for Double-A Midland at shortstop since coming over in the Joe Blanton deal. With shortstops Chris Nelson and Steve Tolleson (part-time anyway) also on the roster, Cardenas figures to see time at both middle infield positions—which is fine because his bat is well ahead of his glove at this point.
Major League Tune-Up: Third baseman Chris Johnson has established himself as one of the Astros' top prospects again after hitting .324/.364/.506 at Double-A Corpus Christi. The former Stetson infielder has struggled since a promotion to Triple-A (16-for-83, 21 strikeouts), but Houston's big league options at third are all similar (Ty Wigginton) or on the down side of their careers (Mark Loretta, Geoff Blum).
Forget The Regular Season: Righthander Nick Green, just 24, has had a harsh welcome to Triple-A. While his changeup is supposed to be his best pitch, he's struggled to command it and his fastball with Salt Lake this season, as lefthanded hitters are raking him at a .310/.355/.529 clip. He was 8-7, 5.13 overall this season . . . Catcher Mark Wagner got off to a fast start, trying to establish himself as Jason Varitek's heir in Boston. He's hit just .169 since the all-star break with three extra-base hits, however, while still getting the job done defensively. He leads the Eastern League's catcher with a .997 fielding percentage (just two errors) and has thrown out 42 percent of opposing basestealers (33 of 79), second in the league.
Keep An Eye On: First baseman Mark Trumbo was a two-way prospect in high school whom the Angels signed for a $1.425 million bonus, a record for the 18th round. Trumbo struggled as a full-time hitter until this season, as he entered this season as a career .254 hitter with 37 home runs and 264 strikeouts as a pro, mostly at low Class A. This season, he's hit 32 homers to go with 35 doubles, a .282 average and a reasonable 93 strikeouts in 517 at-bats. Just 22, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Trumbo was maintaining his performance in his first trip to Double-A . . . Pirates second baseman Shelby Ford missed most of the season's first two months due to a hip injury, but he's hit since returning, including a .327/.370/.604 finishing kick in August for Altoona. Eastern League managers also noted his improvement defensively at second base, and he's strong baserunner (16-for-21 on stolen bases).
X-Factor: Outfielder Brian Bogusevic hit .330 in three seasons at Tulane while also pitching. The Astros, like most teams, liked him better on the mound and took him as a first-rounder in 2005, but he's thrived much more since being switched to hitting midway through the 2008 season. After a 5-for-23 start at high Class A Salem, he was tearing up Double-A Corpus Christi, hitting .369/.453/.550 through 111 at-bats. He was a plus runner in college and seems to have retained his speed while showing remarkable plate discipline (20 walks, 22 strikeouts) for a player who essentially took three years off from hitting . . . The Scorpions had nine TBA spots on their roster, including three outfielders, three infielders and three pitchers. The TBAs include four Giants and likely will include several players already with major league time, such as third baseman Ryan Rohlinger, shortstop Emmanuel Burriss and outfielder/first baseman John Bowker.
Major League Tune-Up: Matt Wieters probably doesn't need a tune-up, but the AFL should give him the opportunity to annihilate another group of pitchers. Wieters should be in the mix to be the Orioles starting catcher in 2009. When he does join the big league squad, whether it's April or June, he should immediately become one of the best catchers in the majors . . . The contracts of Rafael Furcal and Jeff Kent expire after this season, while Nomar Garciaparra and Casey Blake also will be free agents. There's plenty of room for a young infielder to step into the Dodgers infield, but whether second baseman/shortstop Ivan DeJesus will be ready is unclear. He controls the strike zone well and has good bat speed, but he's mostly a singles hitter who may get exploited by more advanced pitchers. At 21, DeJesus still has time to gain strength and mature physically, but a spot on the big league roster in 2009 looks to be within his grasp.
Forget The Regular Season: Indians lefthander Chuck Lofgren has struggled to make adjustments to Double-A competition. His command, which has never been his strength, spiraled backwards this season, when Lofgren walked 42 batters in 58 2/3 innings as a starter for Akron and posted a 6.29 ERA. Lofgren moved to the bullpen in July, where he's been better: a 2.66 ERA with a 17-5 K-BB mark in 23 2/3 innings . . . Dodgers catcher Lucas May started the year with one of the best performances in the Southern League, hitting .323/.403/.631 in April for Jacksonville. His performance has declined precipitously since then, as he's now hitting .224/.290/.388 and struggling with his receiving skills. May, 23, has shown some power, but he'll try to get his hitting back on track and refine his defensive skills with Surprise.
Keep An Eye On: Outfielder Andrew Lambo, a fourth-round pick in 2007, went out and demolished the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in his debut, and he didn't skip a beat this year in the low Class A Midwest League. Lambo batted .288/.346/.462 in 123 games for Great Lakes, before earning a late-August promotion to Double-A, skipping high Class A completely. Keep in mind that dominating the MWL is not always the easiest thing for a 19-year-old California kid to do in his first full season. Lambo has an advanced feel for hitting and is still growing into his 6-foot-3, 195-pound power-hitting frame . . . Royals righthander Dan Cortes will work on his command in the AFL after a solid season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas. The 21-year-old struck out nearly a batter per inning this season, using a lively low-to-mid 90s fastball and a sharp curveball. He also walked 53 and struggled against lefties (.869 OPS vs. .667 to righties), which isn't too surprising at this point considering his changeup isn't up to par with the rest of his offerings.
X-Factor: When lefthander Scott Elbert smoked through high Class A Vero Beach and Jacksonville in 2006 as a 21-year-old, his future looked almost as bright as any pitching prospect's. Then Elbert went down early last season and had scar tissue removed from the labrum of his left shoulder. He returned this year in June, though he has worked as a reliever. Elbert still is striking out batters—46 in 41 1/3 innings—but his control (20 walks) was a problem before the injury, so he will try to make progress in that area in the AFL.
A guide to prospects you'll want to keep tabs on in Arizona
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PrintRosters for the Arizona Fall League have been announced. To get you ready for the Fall League, we've singled out some players who are using their trip as a last tune-up for the big leagues, others who are trying to put bad 2008 seasons behind them, and some who may be emerging onto the prospect scene.
| MESA SOLAR SOX | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club | |
| Justin Berg | CHC | R | R | 6-5 | 216 | 06/07/84 | Antigo, WI | Iowa (AAA) | |
| Joe Bisenius | PHI | R | R | 6-5 | 210 | 09/18/82 | Sioux City, AL | Lehigh Valley (AAA) | |
| Andrew Carpenter | PHI | R | R | 6-3 | 230 | 05/18/85 | Fairfield, CA | Reading (AA) | |
| Rudy Darrow | DET | R | R | 5-10 | 180 | 02/11/84 | Stillwater, OK | Erie (AA) | |
| Todd Doolittle | FLA | R | R | 5-10 | 175 | 11/01/82 | Meridian, MS | Carolina (AA) | |
| Sergio Escalona | PHI | L | L | 6-0 | 178 | 08/03/84 | El Tocuyo, VZ | Reading (AA) | |
| Casey Fien | DET | R | R | 6-2 | 195 | 10/21/83 | Santa Rosa, CA | Toledo (AAA) | |
| Deunte Heath | ATL | R | R | 6-4 | 215 | 08/28/85 | Atlanta, GA | Mississippi (AA) | |
| Tommy Hanson | ATL | R | R | 6-6 | 220 | 08/28/96 | Tulsa, OK | Mississippi (AA) | |
| Stephen Marek | ATL | R | R | 6-2 | 200 | 09/03/83 | Houston, TX | Mississippi (AA) | |
| Luis Marte | DET | R | R | 5-11 | 170 | 08/26/86 | San Cristobal, DR | Erie (AA) | |
| Kris Medlen | ATL | S | R | 5-10 | 185 | 10/07/85 | Artesia, CA | Mississippi (AA) | |
| Patrick Overholt | PHI | R | R | 6-0 | 190 | 02/08/84 | Salt Lake City, UT | Reading (AA) | |
| Rocky Roquet | CHC | R | R | 6-2 | 210 | 11/06/82 | San Luis Obispo, CA | Tennessee (AA) | |
| Zach Simons | DET | L | R | 6-2 | 187 | 05/23/85 | Glenns Ferry, ID | Lakeland (HiA) | |
| Aaron Thompson | FLA | L | L | 6-3 | 195 | 02/28/87 | Santa Fe, NM | Carolina (AA) | |
| Donald Veal | CHC | L | L | 6-4 | 231 | 09/18/84 | Jackson, MS | Tennessee (AA) | |
| Tim Wood | FLA | R | R | 6-1 | 185 | 11/16/82 | Tucson, AZ | Carolina (AA) | |
| TBA | FLA | ||||||||
| Catchers | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club | |
| Lou Marson | PHI | R | R | 6-1 | 195 | 06/26/86 | Scottsdale, AZ | Reading (AA) | |
| Tyler Flowers | ATL | R | R | 6-4 | 245 | 01/24/86 | Roswell, GA | Myrtle Beach (HiA) | |
| Infielders | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club | |
| Darwin Barney | CHC | R | R | 5-10 | 175 | 11/08/85 | Portland, OR | Daytona (HiA) | |
| Jason Donald | PHI | R | R | 6-1 | 195 | 09/04/84 | Fresno, CA | Reading (AA) | |
| Jeff Larish | DET | L | R | 6-2 | 200 | 10/11/82 | Iowa City, IA | Toledo (AAA) | |
| Logan Morrison | FLA | L | L | 6-2 | 215 | 08/25/87 | Kansas City, MO | Jupiter (HiA) | |
| Van Pope | ATL | R | R | 6-0 | 210 | 02/26/84 | Jackson, MS | Mississippi (AA) | |
| Nate Spears | CHC | L | R | 5-11 | 174 | 05/03/85 | Fort Myers, FL | Tennessee (AA) | |
| TBA | DET | ||||||||
| Outfielders | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club | |
| Quintin Berry* | PHI | L | L | 6-0 | 170 | 11/21/84 | San Diego, CA | Clearwater (HiA) | |
| Tyler Colvin | CHC | L | L | 6-3 | 190 | 09/05/85 | Augusta, FA | Tennessee (AA) | |
| Scott Cousins | FLA | L | L | 6-2 | 190 | 01/22/85 | Sparks, NV | Carolina (AA) | |
| Brandon Jones | ATL | L | R | 6-1 | 210 | 12/10/83 | Panama City, FL | Atlanta (MLB) | |
| John Raynor | FLA | R | R | 6-2 | 185 | 01/04/84 | Memphis, TN | Carolina (AA) | |
| Jeremy Slayden | PHI | L | R | 6-0 | 185 | 07/28/82 | Paducah, KY | Reading (AA) | |
| Clete Thomas | DET | L | R | 5-11 | 195 | 11/14/83 | Jacksonville, FL | Toledo (AAA) | |
| Manager: Rocket Wheeler (Braves). Pitching coach: Ray Burris (Tigers). Coach: Ryne Sandberg (Cubs). | |||||||||
| * Taxi Squad | |||||||||
Major League Tune-Up: Braves righthander Tommy Hanson coasted through high Class A Myrtle Beach, and then continued his success upon a promotion to Double-A Mississippi. With 105 strikeouts in 93 innings at Mississippi, a low-90s fastball, a plus curve and the ability to command the strike zone, Hanson could find himself in the mix for a spot in Atlanta's rotation at some point in 2009 . . . After a nice season with Double-A Reading and after playing in Beijing for Team USA, Phillies catcher Lou Marson will get more at-bats behind the plate in the AFL. He's still growing into his power and learning to get more loft in his swing, but Marson has good plate discipline and puts the ball in play.
Forget The Regular Season: Marlins lefthander Aaron Thompson had his control escape him this season with Double-A Carolina, which has resulted in a 6.03 ERA in 15 starts. When Thompson shut out Mobile earlier this month for seven innings with no walks and eight strikeouts, the more than half a dozen scouts in attendance were impressed. He then proceeded to allow 12 runs in 7 2/3 innings over his next two starts. The stuff is still there for Thompson, who still has a clean delivery and the ability to induce plenty of ground balls. His slider is a plus pitch and he has a good changeup that he could mix in more frequently to complement his tailing 88-91 mph fastball . . . Outfielder Brandon Jones looked like he could be a solid big leaguer this year for the Braves. Instead, Jones started the year with Triple-A Richmond after a rough spring training. After hitting .278/.316/.463 with one unintentional walk and 16 strikeouts in a June big league stint, Jones found himself back in the minors, where he hit .260/.343/.405 in 346 at-bats. Jones, 24, finds himself jockeying for position in the Braves system with outfielders Jason Heyward, Jordan Schafer and Gorkys Hernandez breathing down his neck.
Keep An Eye On: The Rockies traded righthanded reliever Zach Simons to the Tigers earlier this season for Jason Grilli, and the Tigers like what they have seen so far. In 52 2/3 innings for high Class A Lakeland, Simons has a 2.22 ERA and 61 strikeouts thanks to a 92-95 mph fastball that touches 97. At 23, Simons' control still lags behind the curve, as he's also walked 28 batters in the Florida State League . . . Marlins outfielder Scott Cousins was having a nice season with high Class A Jupiter before he hit a wall at Carolina. The 2006 third-round pick will look to get back on track in the AFL, while Jupiter first baseman Logan Morrison will try to continue his rapid ascent. Morrison, who just turned 21 on Monday, has established himself as a top first base prospect, hitting .334/.404/.500 with a good approach at the plate and a sound swing.
X-Factor: Braves catcher Tyler Flowers might be the high Class A Carolina League MVP. Flowers, 22, hit .285/.427/.485 while playing his home games a difficult park for hitters at Myrtle Beach, showing power and the patience to draw walks, with 96 of them to go with 98 strikeouts. It looks like Flowers' bat would play at any position, but the Braves want him to stick at catcher. Of course, with Brian McCann under contract through 2012 with a club option for 2013, they certainly have the luxury to be patient with Flowers.
| PEORIA SAGUAROS | ||||||||
| Pitchers | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club |
| Greg Burke | SDP | R | R | 6-4 | 204 | 09/21/82 | Bellmawr, NJ | San Antonio (AA) |
| Cesar Carillo | SDP | R | R | 6-3 | 177 | 04/29/84 | Chicago, IL | Lake Elsinore (HiA) |
| Adam Carr | WAS | R | R | 6-1 | 185 | 04/01/84 | Felton, CA | Harrisburg (AA) |
| Mike Ekstrom | SDP | R | R | 6-0 | 185 | 08/30/83 | Portland, OR | San Antonio (AA) |
| Justin Fiske | STL | L | L | 5-11 | 185 | 09/03/84 | Columbus, GA | Springfield (AA) |
| Brad Furnish | STL | S | L | 6-1 | 185 | 01/19/85 | Wichita Falls, TX | Springfield (AA) |
| Lucas Harrell | CWS | S | R | 6-2 | 200 | 06/03/85 | Springfield, MO | Birmingham (AA) |
| Wilton Lopez | SDP | R | R | 6-0 | 160 | 07/19/83 | Leon, Nicaragua | Lake Elsinore (HiA) |
| Tyler Norrick | STL | L | L | 6-3 | 210 | 09/17/83 | Festus, MO | Springfield (AA) |
| Adam Ottavino | STL | R | R | 6-5 | 215 | 11/22/85 | New York, NY | Springfield (AA) |
| Aaron Poreda | CWS | L | L | 6-6 | 240 | 10/01/86 | Walnut Creek, CA | Birmingham (AA) |
| Derek Rodriguez | CWS | R | R | 5-10 | 190 | 05/17/83 | Apple Valley, CA | Charlotte (AAA) |
| Tobi Stoner | NYM | S | R | 6-2 | 190 | 12/03/84 | Landstuhl, GER | Binghamton (AA) |
| Carlos Torres | CWS | R | R | 6-2 | 180 | 08/22/82 | Santa Cruz, CA | Birmingham (AA) |
| Cory Van Allen | WAS | L | L | 6-3 | 180 | 12/24/84 | Bakersfield, CA | Harrisburg (AA) |
| Jason Vargas | NYM | L | L | 6-0 | 215 | 02/02/83 | Apple Valley, CA | New York Mets (MLB) |
| Zech Zinicola | WAS | R | R | 6-1 | 220 | 03/02/85 | San Bernardino, CA | Columbus (AAA) |
| TBA | NYM | |||||||
| TBA | NYM | |||||||
| TBA | WAS | |||||||
| Catchers | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club |
| Cole Armstrong | CWS | L | R | 6-3 | 220 | 08/24/83 | Surrey, CN | Charlotte (AAA) |
| Steven Hill* | STL | R | R | 5-11 | 190 | 03/14/85 | Nacogdoches, TX | Palm Beach (HiA) |
| Josh Thole | NYM | L | R | 6-1 | 190 | 10/28/86 | Breese, IL | St. Lucie (HiA) |
| Infielders | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club |
| Gordon Beckham | CWS | R | R | 6-0 | 190 | 09/16/86 | Atlanta, GA | Kannapolis (LoA) |
| Kyle Blanks | SDP | R | R | 6-6 | 270 | 09/11/86 | Sellersville, PA | San Antonio (AA) |
| Shawn Bowman | NYM | R | R | 6-2 | 190 | 12/09/84 | New Westminster, CN | Binghampton (AA) |
| Ian Desmond | WAS | R | R | 6-2 | 185 | 09/20/85 | Sarasota, FL | Harrisburg (AA) |
| Tyler Green | STL | R | R | 6-2 | 185 | 08/17/83 | Raleigh, NC | Memphis (AAA) |
| Dan Murphy | NYM | L | R | 6-1 | 210 | 01/01/85 | Jacksonville, CA | New York Mets (MLB) |
| Bill Rhinehart | WAS | L | L | 6-0 | 202 | 09/11/86 | Roseville, CA | Harrisburg (AA) |
| Brett Wallace | STL | L | R | 6-2 | 235 | 08/26/86 | Sonoma, CA | Springfield (AA) |
| Outfielders | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club |
| Mike Baxter* | SDP | L | R | 6-0 | 190 | 12/07/84 | Queens, NY | San Antonio (AA) |
| Leonard Davis | WAS | L | R | 5-10 | 195 | 12/24/83 | Los Banos, CA | Columbus (AAA) |
| Stefan Gartrell | CWS | R | R | 6-2 | 220 | 01/14/84 | San Francisco, CA | Birmingham (AA) |
| Sean Kazmar | SDP | R | R | 5-9 | 160 | 08/05/84 | Valdosta, GA | San Diego (MLB) |
| Chad Huffman | SDP | R | R | 6-1 | 205 | 04/29/85 | Missouri City, TX | San Antonio (AA) |
| Shane Robinson | STL | R | R | 6-2 | 185 | 08/17/83 | Raleigh, NC | Memphis (AAA) |
| Manager: Ron Warner (Cardinals). Pitching Coach: Wally Whitehurst (Padres). Coach: Rick Eckstein (Nationals). | ||||||||
| * Taxi Squad | ||||||||
Major League Tune-Up: Daniel Murphy already has reached the majors and has contributed for the Mets. He's not likely to dislodge franchise cornerstone David Wright from third base but looks to get reps at second base with the Saguaros; he played 17 games at second in Double-A this season . . . Lefthander Aaron Poreda, a 2007 first-round pick, was considered for a big league start or two this summer by the parent White Sox, thanks to a fastball that sits around 96 mph, even as a starter. He's 7-9, 3.19 overall this season between high Class A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham, with 113 strikeouts and just 39 walks in 155 innings. He's yielded just six home runs.
Forget The Regular Season: Righthanders Cesar Carrillo (Padres) and Adam Ottavino (Cardinals) both were first-round picks (in '05 and '06, respectively) out of college, but neither has progressed as planned. Coming off Tommy John surgery, Carrillo has struggled at high Class A Lake Elsinore, posting a 6.46 ERA, .306 opponent's average and 28-31 walk-strikeout numbers, which would be OK if he were a hitter, but since he's not, it's kind of a problem. Ottavino, whose fastball still reaches 96 mph, has struggled with his mechanics this season while going 2-7, 5.48 for Double-A Springfield. Texas Leaguers are hitting .298 against him.
Keep An Eye On: First baseman Kyle Blanks has hit since Yavapai (Ariz.) JC and through A-ball, but now that he's doing it in Double-A, he's gaining more converts. The 6-foot-6, 280-pounder moves well for his size and makes consistent hard contact, leading to his .320/.399/.503 line at Double-A San Antonio. If he learns to hit lefthanded pitching (.687 OPS), the Padres will have to find a spot for him in their offense-starved lineup. Listed as an outfielder, the Nationals' Leonard Davis has played third base, left field and second base since a promotion to Triple-A Columbus. The 24-year-old started this year in high Class A and has hit .311/.369/.561 with 23 homers between three stops. LHP Justin Fiske, a former indy leaguer, has vexed lefthanded hitters in Organized Baseball and has 90 strikeouts in 73 innings while pitching in the 86-88 mph range with his fastball. He has moved into the rotation at Double-A Springfield of late but profiles better as a lefty reliever.
X-Factor: Peoria's roster has a pair of 2008 first-round picks in White Sox shortstop Gordon Beckham and Cardinals third baseman Brett Wallace. Beckham was off to a fast start (11-for-36, one home run) at low Class A Kannapolis after signing earlier this month, but Wallace's start has been beyond any expectations. The former Arizona State All-American hit eight homers in his first 48 games (including three in seven Double-A games) and was hitting .339/.428/.550 through 180 at-bats.
| PEORIA JAVELINAS | ||||||||
| Pitchers | Team | B | T | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club | |
| Omar Aguilar | MIL | R | R | 5-11 | 236 | 03/31/85 | Merced, CA | Huntsville (AA) |
| Charles Fisher | CIN | R | R | 6-4 | 220 | 02/22/83 | West Covina, CA | Louisville (AAA) |
| Gabriel Hernandez | SEA | R | R | 6-3 | 215 | 05/21/86 | Miami, FL | West Tennessee (AA) |
| James Houser | TB | L | L | 6-4 | 185 | 12/15/84 | Sarasota, FL | Montgomery (AA) |
| Jeremy Jeffress | MIL | R | R | 6-0 | 190 | 09/21/87 | South Boston, VA | Huntsville (AA) |
| Robert Manuel | CIN | R | R | 6-3 | 190 | 07/09/83 | Houston, TX | Chattanooga (AA) |
| Chris Mason | TB | R | R | 6-1 | 190 | 07/01/84 | Gastonia, NC | Durham (AAA) |
| Alex Periard | MIL | L | R | 6-1 | 205 | 06/15/87 | Montreal, CN | Huntsville (AA) |
| Ryan Reid | TB | R | R | 6-0 | 210 | 04/24/85 | Portland, ME | Montgomery (AA) |
| Justin Thomas | SEA | L | L | 6-3 | 220 | 01/18/84 | Toledo, OH | Tacoma (AAA) |
| Pedro Viola | CIN | R | L | 6-1 | 185 | 06/29/83 | San Juan de la Maguna, DR | Chattanooga (AA) |
| Sean Watson | CIN | R | R | 6-2 | 215 | 07/24/85 | Miami, Fl | Chattanooga (AA) |
| David Welch | MIL | R | L | 6-4 | 215 | 06/02/83 | Sydney, AU | Huntsville (AA) |
| Mike Wlodarczyk | TB | L | L | 6-5 | 230 | 12/02/82 | Marlton, NJ | Vero Beach (HiA) |
| Joe Woerman | SEA | R | R | 6-3 | 200 | 12/12/82 | Edmonds, WA | West Tennessee (AA) |
| Brae Wright* | MIL | L | L | 6-4 | 205 | 11/01/83 | Laurel, MS | Huntsville (AA) |
| TBA | NYY | |||||||
| TBA | NYY | |||||||
| TBA | NYY | |||||||
| TBA | NYY | |||||||
| TBA | SEA | |||||||
| Catchers | Team | B | T | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club | |
| Adam Moore | SEA | R | R | 6-3 | 220 | 05/08/84 | Longview, TX | West Tennessee (AA) |
| Angel Salome | MIL | R | R | 5-7 | 200 | 06/08/86 | Santo Domingo, DR | Huntsville (AA) |
| Matt Spring | TB | R | R | 6-2 | 215 | 11/07/84 | Phoenix, AZ | Montgomery (AA) |
| Infielders | Team | B | T | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club | |
| Mat Gamel | MIL | L | R | 6-0 | 205 | 07/26/85 | Jacksonville, FL | Huntsville (AA) |
| Sean Henry* | CIN | R | R | 5-10 | 154 | 08/18/85 | San Francisco, CA | Chattanooga (AA) |
| Rhyne Hughes | TB | L | L | 6-2 | 175 | 09/09/83 | Picayune, MS | Montgomery (AA) |
| Kevin Russo | NYY | R | R | 5-11 | 190 | 07/08/84 | West Babylon, NY | Trenton (AA) |
| Justin Turner | CIN | R | R | 5-11 | 180 | 11/23/84 | Long Beach, CA | Chattanooga (AA) |
| Chris Valaika | CIN | R | R | 6-1 | 180 | 08/13/85 | Santa Monica, CA | Chattanooga (AA) |
| TBA | NYY | |||||||
| TBA | SEA | |||||||
| Outfielders | Team | B | T | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club | |
| J.T. Hall | TB | L | R | 6-3 | 225 | 05/19/84 | Port Gibson, MS | Montgomery (AA) |
| Greg Halman | SEA | R | R | 6-4 | 192 | 08/26/87 | Haarlem, NL | West Tennessee (AA) |
| Austin Jackson | NYY | R | R | 6-1 | 185 | 02/01/87 | Denton, TX | Trenton (AA) |
| Drew Stubbs | CIN | R | R | 6-4 | 200 | 10/04/84 | Texarkana, TX | Louisville (AAA) |
| Manager: Darren Brown (Mariners). Pitching coaches: Scott Aldred (Yankees), Ted Power (Reds). Coach: Ozzie Timmons (Rays). | ||||||||
| * Taxi Squad |
||||||||
Forget The Regular Season: OK, so making it to St. Petersburg as a starting pitcher these days is a trial of survival of the fittest, but righthander Chris Mason has gone from Double-A star to Triple-A bullpen filler in just one year. Mason's savvy was always his best attribute, but he needs to show in the AFL that his stuff plays up in the bullpen, something it hasn't done in Durham. Righthander Gaby Hernandez' performance has gone backward as he's progressed through the minors. A trade to the Mariners gave him a second chance, but he's struggled in Double-A since joining West Tenn (1-1, 5.53). He needs to give his new team something to be get excited about.
Keep An Eye On: Javelinas' pitchers won't have to worry about doubles to the gaps, as Austin Jackson, Greg Halman and Drew Stubbs will give them an outfield manned by three center fielders. Stubbs struck out far too much in low Class A last year—a true sign of trouble for a first-round pick out of college. But after offseason surgery to fix a toe problem, Stubbs has shown improved plate coverage this year as he's climbed from high Class A to Triple-A. He still has the 3.7 speed to first base and plus arm that makes him a potential Gold Glover in center field. Halman was demoted to short-season ball last year after hitting .182 at low Class A Wisconsin. He proceeded to demolish the Northwest League in 2007 and he's kept right on hitting this season. Halman has shown the speed and power that the Mariners were hoping for when they signed him out of the Netherlands. With a week to go in the season, Halman is only one home run short of a 30-30 season (29 home runs, 31 stolen bases).
X-Factor: The Brewers promoted hard-throwing righthander Jeremy Jeffress to Double-A specifically because they wanted to send him to the Arizona Fall League. He's responded by going 2-0, 1.93 in three starts with Huntsville. No starting pitcher in the minors throws harder than Jeffress, who's been clocked at 100-102 mph this year depending on which radar gun you're reading. Adam Moore is facing a logjam at catcher, but the Mariners prospect has established himself as one of the minors' best backstops with a .313/.393/.494 season at Double-A West Tenn.
| PHOENIX DESERT DOGS | ||||||||
| Pitchers | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club |
| Hector Ambriz | ARI | L | R | 6-1 | 210 | 05/24/84 | Orange, CA | Mobile (AA) |
| Andrew Bailey | OAK | R | R | 6-3 | 230 | 05/31/84 | Voorhees, NJ | Midland (AA) |
| Tony Barnette | ARI | R | R | 6-1 | 192 | 11/09/83 | Anchorage, AK | Mobile (AA) |
| Brooks Brown | ARI | L | R | 6-3 | 212 | 06/20/85 | Statesboro, GA | Mobile (AA) |
| Andrew Carignan | OAK | R | R | 6-0 | 220 | 07/23/86 | New London, CT | Midland (AA) |
| Rob Delaney | MIN | L | R | 6-3 | 231 | 09/08/84 | Westwood, NJ | New Britain (AA) |
| Zach Dials | TOR | R | R | 6-1 | 210 | 07/22/85 | Wabash, IN | New Hampshire (AA) |
| Kyle Ginley | TOR | R | R | 6-2 | 195 | 09/01/86 | St. Petersburg, FL | Dunedin (HiA) |
| Daryl Harang | TOR | L | L | 6-2 | 215 | 11/19/82 | San Diego, CA | New Hampshire (AA) |
| Tim Lahey | MIN | R | R | 6-4 | 267 | 02/07/82 | Worcester, MA | Rochester (AAA) |
| Shane Lindsay | COL | R | R | 6-1 | 212 | 01/25/85 | Melbourne, AU | Asheville (LoA) |
| Mike MacDonald | TOR | R | R | 6-1 | 185 | 10/29/81 | Camden, ME | New Hampshire (AA) |
| Reid Mahon | ARI | R | R | 6-3 | 215 | 06/01/83 | St. Paul, MN | Tucson (AAA) |
| Jeff Manship | MIN | R | R | 6-2 | 204 | 01/16/85 | San Antonio, TX | New Britain |
| Ryan Mattheus | COL | R | R | 6-2 | 220 | 11/10/83 | Elk Grove, CA | Tulsa (AA) |
| Chaz Roe | COL | R | R | 6-4 | 175 | 10/09/86 | Lexington, KY | Tulsa (AA) |
| Anthony Slama | MIN | R | R | 6-3 | 201 | 01/06/84 | Orange, CA | Ft. Myers (HiA) |
| Casey Weathers | COL | R | R | 6-1 | 205 | 06/10/85 | Elk Grove, CA | Tulsa (AA) |
| TBA | OAK | |||||||
| TBA | OAK | |||||||
| Catchers | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club |
| J.P. Arencibia | TOR | R | R | 6/01/08 | 210 | 01/05/86 | Miami, FL | New Hampshire (AA) |
| John Hester | ARI | R | R | 6-4 | 210 | 09/14/83 | Atlanta, GA | Mobile (AA) |
| Mike McKenry | COL | R | R | 5-10 | 200 | 03/04/85 | Knoxville, TN | Modesto (HiA) |
| Infielders | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club |
| Scott Campbell | TOR | L | R | 6-0 | 190 | 09/25/84 | Auckland, NZ | New Hampshire (AA) |
| Adrian Cardenas | OAK | L | R | 6-0 | 185 | 10/10/87 | Miami, FL | Midland (AA) |
| Josh Donaldson | OAK | R | R | 6-0 | 211 | 12/08/85 | Pensacola, FL | Stockton (HiA) |
| Chris Nelson | COL | R | R | 5-11 | 176 | 09/03/85 | Escondido, CA | Tulsa (AA) |
| Rusty Ryal | ARI | R | R | 6-2 | 200 | 03/16/83 | Ponca City, OK | Mobile (AA) |
| Steve Tolleson | MIN | R | R | 5-10 | 172 | 11/01/83 | Spartanburg, SC | New Britain (AA) |
| Danny Valencia | MIN | R | R | 6-2 | 205 | 09/19/84 | Boca Raton, FL | New Britain (AA) |
| Outfielders | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club |
| Sean Doolittle | OAK | L | L | 6-3 | 208 | 09/26/86 | Rapid City, SD | Midland (AA) |
| Evan Frey | ARI | L | L | 5-11 | 166 | 06/0/86 | Edwardsville, IL | Visalia (HiA) |
| Dustin Martin | MIN | L | L | 6-2 | 210 | 04/04/84 | Burnet, TX | New Britain (AA) |
| Travis Snider | TOR | L | L | 6-0 | 230 | 02/02/88 | Kirkland, WA | Syracuse (AAA) |
| Eric Young | COL | S | R | 5-9 | 187 | 05/25/85 | New Brunswick, NJ | Tulsa (AA) |
| Manager: Stan Cliburn (Twins). Pitching coach: Doug Linton (Rockies). Coach: Charles Poe (Blue Jays). | ||||||||
| * Taxi Squad | ||||||||
Major League Tune-Up: The Blue Jays aggressively promoted several of their top prospects this season, with two of them landing on the Desert Dogs' roster—perhaps in advance of making the big league club next spring. Double-A New Hampshire catcher J.P. Arencibia's year may be overshadowed by the exploits of Matt Wieters, but the 22-year-old Toronto farmhand has hit an aggregate .300/.322/.535 with 27 home runs and 102 RBIs in 493 at-bats this season. The 2007 first-round pick spent half the year at high Class A Dunedin. Though Blue Jays outfielder Travis Snider may be just 20, he'll be making his second AFL appearance. The youngest regular in the International League, he's been anything but overmatched there, batting .328/.365/.466 through his first 16 games. The fact that Toronto has pushed Snider to Triple-A already suggests he may not be far from getting a big league look . . . Rockies righthander Casey Weathers may use the AFL to put the finishing touches on his minor league resume. After all, the 2007 first-rounder was expected to move quickly, and after striking out 48 batters in 40 innings for Double-A Tulsa, and then pitching out of Team USA's bullpen in the Olympics, the 23-year-old may not be far off from Denver.
Forget The Regular Season: Rockies shortstop Chris Nelson's 2007 campaign (.289/.358/.503 in the Cal League) offered a glimmer of hope that the 2004 first-round pick had figured things out. The success didn't take, though, as the soon-to-be 23-year-old scuffled through an injury-riddle campaign in Double-A. Nelson batted .228/.319/.336 in 259 at-bats for Tulsa.
Keep An Eye On: A pair of Twins righthanded relievers could make names for themselves with strong AFL campaigns. Rob Delaney, 24 this fall, has top-of-the-line command of an 89-93 mph fastball and a solid-average slider. He struck out a combined 10.13 batters per nine innings at high Class A and Double-A, while walking a miniscule 1.27 per nine. Anthony Slama, 24, has used an aggressive demeanor and an average to slightly above fastball/slider combo.
X-Factor: The Athletics will have to get creative in deploying their prospects in the AFL. Catcher Josh Donaldson, who came over in the Rich Harden trade, is listed as an infielder on the Phoenix roster. The 2007 supplemental first-rounder found the Cal League to his liking after the trade, but his first-half struggles in the Midwest League have kept his season line at .268/.330/.443 through 400 at-bats. Sean Doollittle, an elite defensive first baseman, will ply his trade as an outfielder this fall. Improved power production has increased the 22-year-old's visibility—he's batting an aggregate .287/.359/.506 with 22 homers through 512 at-bats—and he spent the season's second half in Double-A. Lefty-hitting Adrian Cardenas, who turns 21 this fall, has spent all his time for Double-A Midland at shortstop since coming over in the Joe Blanton deal. With shortstops Chris Nelson and Steve Tolleson (part-time anyway) also on the roster, Cardenas figures to see time at both middle infield positions—which is fine because his bat is well ahead of his glove at this point.
| SCOTTSDALE SCORPIONS | ||||||||
| Pitchers | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club |
| Ryan Aldridge | LAA | R | R | 6-2 | 210 | 09/10/83 | Jessup, GA | Arkansas (AA) |
| Jimmy Barthmaier | PIT | R | R | 6-5 | 220 | 01/06/84 | Atlanta, GA | Indianapolis (AAA) |
| Chris Blazek | HOU | L | L | 6-0 | 195 | 03/02/84 | Littlefield, CT | Corpus Christi (AA) |
| Barret Browning | LAA | L | L | 6-1 | 170 | 12/28/84 | Brunswick, GA | Arkansas (AA) |
| Nick Green | LAA | R | R | 6-4 | 180 | 08/20/84 | Tifton, GA | Salt Lake (AAA) |
| David Herndon | LAA | R | R | 6-5 | 200 | 09/04/85 | Panama City, FL | Rancho Cucamonga (HiA) |
| Jared Hughes | PIT | R | R | 6-7 | 230 | 07/04/85 | Stanford, CT | Altoona (AA) |
| Brad James | HOU | R | R | 6-2 | 200 | 06/19/84 | Prosper, TX | Corpus Christi (AA) |
| T.J.Large | BOS | R | R | 6-4 | 185 | 05/28/83 | Clearwater, FL | Portland (AA) |
| Ryne Lawson | BOS | L | R | 6-2 | 180 | 06/21/85 | Scottsboro, AL | Portland (AA) |
| Bud Norris | HOU | R | R | 6-0 | 195 | 03/02/85 | Greenbrae, CA | Corpus Christi (AA) |
| Sergio Perez | HOU | R | R | 6-3 | 230 | 12/05/84 | Tampa, FL | Corpus Christi (AA) |
| Jeff Sues | PIT | R | R | 6-4 | 228 | 06/08/83 | Edison, NJ | Altoona (AA) |
| Beau Vaughan | BOS | S | R | 6-4 | 230 | 06/04/81 | Phoenix, AZ | Pawtucket (AAA) |
| Michael Crotta | PIT | R | R | 6-7 | 225 | 09/25/84 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | Lynchburg (HiA) |
| TBA | BOS | |||||||
| TBA | SF | |||||||
| TBA | SF | |||||||
| Catchers | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club |
| Tim Duff | LAA | R | R | 6-2 | 210 | 06/26/81 | Coatsville, PA | Arkansas (AA) |
| Steve Lerud | PIT | L | R | 6-1 | 205 | 10/13/84 | Reno, NV | Altoona (AA) |
| Mark Wagner | BOS | R | R | 6-1 | 205 | 06/11/84 | Long Beach, CA | Portland (AA) |
| Infielders | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club |
| Shelby Ford | PIT | S | R | 6-3 | 190 | 12/15/84 | Fort Worth, TX | Altoona (AA) |
| Chris Johnson | HOU | R | R | 6-3 | 180 | 10/01/84 | Naples, FL | Round Rock (AAA) |
| Mark Ori* | HOU | L | R | 6-4 | 225 | 12/16/83 | Chicago, IL | Salem (HiA) |
| Drew Sutton | HOU | S | R | 6-3 | 185 | 06/03/83 | Nashville, TN | Corpus Christi (AA) |
| Mark Trumbo | LAA | R | R | 6-4 | 220 | 01/16/86 | Orange, CA | Arkansas (AA) |
| TBA | BOS | |||||||
| TBA | SF | |||||||
| TBA | SF | |||||||
| Outfielders | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club |
| Brian Bogusevic | HOU | L | L | 6-3 | 215 | 02/15/84 | Palos Heights, IL | Corpus Christi (AA) |
| Chris Pettit | LAA | R | R | 6-0 | 193 | 08/15/84 | Pasadena, CA | Arkansas (AA) |
| TBA | BOS | |||||||
| TBA | PIT | |||||||
| TBA | SF | |||||||
| Manager: Shane Turner (Giants). Pitching Coach: Ray Searage (Pirates). Coach: Eric Owens (Pirates) | ||||||||
| * Taxi Squad | ||||||||
Major League Tune-Up: Third baseman Chris Johnson has established himself as one of the Astros' top prospects again after hitting .324/.364/.506 at Double-A Corpus Christi. The former Stetson infielder has struggled since a promotion to Triple-A (16-for-83, 21 strikeouts), but Houston's big league options at third are all similar (Ty Wigginton) or on the down side of their careers (Mark Loretta, Geoff Blum).
Forget The Regular Season: Righthander Nick Green, just 24, has had a harsh welcome to Triple-A. While his changeup is supposed to be his best pitch, he's struggled to command it and his fastball with Salt Lake this season, as lefthanded hitters are raking him at a .310/.355/.529 clip. He was 8-7, 5.13 overall this season . . . Catcher Mark Wagner got off to a fast start, trying to establish himself as Jason Varitek's heir in Boston. He's hit just .169 since the all-star break with three extra-base hits, however, while still getting the job done defensively. He leads the Eastern League's catcher with a .997 fielding percentage (just two errors) and has thrown out 42 percent of opposing basestealers (33 of 79), second in the league.
Keep An Eye On: First baseman Mark Trumbo was a two-way prospect in high school whom the Angels signed for a $1.425 million bonus, a record for the 18th round. Trumbo struggled as a full-time hitter until this season, as he entered this season as a career .254 hitter with 37 home runs and 264 strikeouts as a pro, mostly at low Class A. This season, he's hit 32 homers to go with 35 doubles, a .282 average and a reasonable 93 strikeouts in 517 at-bats. Just 22, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Trumbo was maintaining his performance in his first trip to Double-A . . . Pirates second baseman Shelby Ford missed most of the season's first two months due to a hip injury, but he's hit since returning, including a .327/.370/.604 finishing kick in August for Altoona. Eastern League managers also noted his improvement defensively at second base, and he's strong baserunner (16-for-21 on stolen bases).
X-Factor: Outfielder Brian Bogusevic hit .330 in three seasons at Tulane while also pitching. The Astros, like most teams, liked him better on the mound and took him as a first-rounder in 2005, but he's thrived much more since being switched to hitting midway through the 2008 season. After a 5-for-23 start at high Class A Salem, he was tearing up Double-A Corpus Christi, hitting .369/.453/.550 through 111 at-bats. He was a plus runner in college and seems to have retained his speed while showing remarkable plate discipline (20 walks, 22 strikeouts) for a player who essentially took three years off from hitting . . . The Scorpions had nine TBA spots on their roster, including three outfielders, three infielders and three pitchers. The TBAs include four Giants and likely will include several players already with major league time, such as third baseman Ryan Rohlinger, shortstop Emmanuel Burriss and outfielder/first baseman John Bowker.
| SURPRISE RAFTERS | ||||||||
| Pitchers | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club |
| John Bannister | TEX | R | R | 6-4 | 198 | 01/20/84 | Tucson, AZ | Frisco (AA) |
| Daniel Cortes | KC | R | R | 6-5 | 210 | 03/04/87 | Pomono, CA | Northwest Arkansas (AA) |
| Scott Elbert | LAD | L | L | 6-2 | 205 | 08/13/85 | Joplin, MO | Jacksonville (AA) |
| Willie Eyre | TEX | R | R | 6-4 | 207 | 07/21/78 | Fountain Valley, CA | Oklahoma (AAA) |
| Rowdy Hardy | KC | L | L | 6-4 | 170 | 10/26/82 | Dallas, TX | Northwest Arkansas (AA) |
| Chris Hayes | KC | R | R | 6-1 | 195 | 02/05/83 | Arlington Heights, IL | Northwest Arkansas (AA) |
| Beau Jones | TEX | L | L | 6-1 | 215 | 08/25/86 | Metairie, LA | Frisco (AA) |
| Andrew Laughter | TEX | R | R | 6-4 | 227 | 02/24/85 | Longwood, FL | Frisco (AA) |
| Brent Leach | LAD | L | L | 6-5 | 223 | 11/18/82 | Flowood, MS | Jacksonville (AA) |
| Chuck Lofgren | CLE | L | L | 6-3 | 190 | 01/29/86 | Redwood, CA | Akron (AA) |
| Chris Nicoll | KC | R | R | 6-3 | 190 | 10/30/83 | Whittier, CA | Northwest Arkansas (AA) |
| Justin Orenduff | LAD | R | R | 6-4 | 207 | 05/27/83 | Portsmouth, VA | Las Vegas (AAA) |
| Travis Schlichting | LAD | R | R | 6-4 | 188 | 10/19/84 | Denver, CO | Jacksonville (AA) |
| Tony Sipp | CLE | L | L | 6-0 | 185 | 07/12/83 | Pascagoula, MS | Akron (AA) |
| Erik Stiller | CLE | R | R | 6-5 | 200 | 07/10/84 | Bryan, TX | Akron (AA) |
| Neil Wagner | CLE | R | R | 6-0 | 195 | 01/01/84 | Minneapolis, MN | Akron (AA) |
| TBA | BAL | |||||||
| TBA | BAL | |||||||
| TBA | BAL | |||||||
| TBA | BAL | |||||||
| Catchers | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club |
| Lucas May | LAD | R | R | 6-0 | 200 | 10/24/84 | Las Vegas, NV | Jacksonville (AA) |
| Russ Mitchell* | LAD | R | R | 6-1 | 202 | 02/15/84 | Rome, GA | Jacksonville (AA) |
| Matt Wieters | BAL | S | R | 6-4 | 230 | 05/21/86 | Charleston, SC | Bowie (AA) |
| Infielders | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club |
| Blake Davis | BAL | L | R | 5-11 | 170 | 12/22/83 | Newport Beach, CA | Bowie (AA) |
| Ivan De Jesus, Jr. | LAD | R | R | 5-11 | 193 | 05/01/87 | Guaynabo, PR | Jacksonville (AA) |
| Wes Hodges | CLE | R | R | 6-1 | 205 | 09/14/84 | Chattanooga, TN | Akron (AA) |
| Chris McConnell | KC | R | R | 5-9 | 169 | 12/18/85 | Philadelphia, PA | Wilmington (HiA) |
| Beau Mills | CLE | L | R | 6-3 | 220 | 08/15/86 | Visalia, CA | Kinston (HiA) |
| Josh Rodriguez | CLE | R | R | 6-0 | 185 | 12/18/84 | Houston, TX | Akron (AA) |
| Brandon Snyder | BAL | R | R | 6-2 | 215 | 11/23/86 | Las Vegas, NV | Frederick (HiA) |
| Chad Tracy | TEX | R | R | 6-3 | 200 | 07/04/85 | Arlington Heights, IL | Frisco (AA) |
| John Whittleman | TEX | L | R | 6-2 | 195 | 02/11/87 | Houston, TX | Bakersfield (HiA) |
| Outfielders | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2008 Club |
| Julio Borbon | TEX | L | L | 6-1 | 180 | 02/20/86 | Santo Domingo, DR | Frisco (AA) |
| Joe Dickerson | KC | L | L | 6-1 | 190 | 10/03/86 | Yorba Linda, CA | Wilmington (HiA) |
| Stephen Head* | CLE | L | L | 6-3 | 200 | 01/13/84 | Jackson, MO | Akron (AA) |
| Jaime Hoffmann* | LAD | R | R | 6-3 | 228 | 08/20/84 | New Ulm, MN | Jacksonville (AA) |
| Andrew Lambo | LAD | L | L | 6-3 | 190 | 08/01/88 | Beverly Hills, CA | Great Lakes (LoA) |
| Brian McFall | KC | R | R | 6-2 | 217 | 03/17/84 | Flagstaff, AZ | Northwest Arkansas (AA) |
| Nolan Reimold | BAL | R | R | 6-4 | 210 | 10/12/83 | Greeneville, PA | Bowie (AA) |
| Manager: Gary Alleson (Orioles). Pitching coaches: Danny Clark (Rangers), Ruben Niebla (Indians) . Coach: Terry Bradshaw (Royals). | ||||||||
| * Taxi Squad | ||||||||
Major League Tune-Up: Matt Wieters probably doesn't need a tune-up, but the AFL should give him the opportunity to annihilate another group of pitchers. Wieters should be in the mix to be the Orioles starting catcher in 2009. When he does join the big league squad, whether it's April or June, he should immediately become one of the best catchers in the majors . . . The contracts of Rafael Furcal and Jeff Kent expire after this season, while Nomar Garciaparra and Casey Blake also will be free agents. There's plenty of room for a young infielder to step into the Dodgers infield, but whether second baseman/shortstop Ivan DeJesus will be ready is unclear. He controls the strike zone well and has good bat speed, but he's mostly a singles hitter who may get exploited by more advanced pitchers. At 21, DeJesus still has time to gain strength and mature physically, but a spot on the big league roster in 2009 looks to be within his grasp.
Forget The Regular Season: Indians lefthander Chuck Lofgren has struggled to make adjustments to Double-A competition. His command, which has never been his strength, spiraled backwards this season, when Lofgren walked 42 batters in 58 2/3 innings as a starter for Akron and posted a 6.29 ERA. Lofgren moved to the bullpen in July, where he's been better: a 2.66 ERA with a 17-5 K-BB mark in 23 2/3 innings . . . Dodgers catcher Lucas May started the year with one of the best performances in the Southern League, hitting .323/.403/.631 in April for Jacksonville. His performance has declined precipitously since then, as he's now hitting .224/.290/.388 and struggling with his receiving skills. May, 23, has shown some power, but he'll try to get his hitting back on track and refine his defensive skills with Surprise.
Keep An Eye On: Outfielder Andrew Lambo, a fourth-round pick in 2007, went out and demolished the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in his debut, and he didn't skip a beat this year in the low Class A Midwest League. Lambo batted .288/.346/.462 in 123 games for Great Lakes, before earning a late-August promotion to Double-A, skipping high Class A completely. Keep in mind that dominating the MWL is not always the easiest thing for a 19-year-old California kid to do in his first full season. Lambo has an advanced feel for hitting and is still growing into his 6-foot-3, 195-pound power-hitting frame . . . Royals righthander Dan Cortes will work on his command in the AFL after a solid season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas. The 21-year-old struck out nearly a batter per inning this season, using a lively low-to-mid 90s fastball and a sharp curveball. He also walked 53 and struggled against lefties (.869 OPS vs. .667 to righties), which isn't too surprising at this point considering his changeup isn't up to par with the rest of his offerings.
X-Factor: When lefthander Scott Elbert smoked through high Class A Vero Beach and Jacksonville in 2006 as a 21-year-old, his future looked almost as bright as any pitching prospect's. Then Elbert went down early last season and had scar tissue removed from the labrum of his left shoulder. He returned this year in June, though he has worked as a reliever. Elbert still is striking out batters—46 in 41 1/3 innings—but his control (20 walks) was a problem before the injury, so he will try to make progress in that area in the AFL.
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