MiLB Top 10 Prospects Flashback: 1995 Gulf Coast League

The Rookie-level Gulf Coast League is where many high school and international prospects make their first domestic pro appearances. The GCL is where superstars ranging from Sammy Sosa (1986) to Andruw Jones and Vladimir Guerrero (1994) to Clayton Kershaw (2006) to Juan Soto (2016) first gained helium.

In 1995 the Gulf Coast League featured 10 first-round picks from that year’s draft, including No. 1 prospect Chad Hermansen, No. 2 Andy Yount, No. 5 Roy Halladay and No. 6 Michael Barrett. Halladay developed into a Hall of Famer, while two of the best prospects in the league turned out to be not draft picks but Venezuelan shortstops Alex Gonzalez (No. 3) and Carlos Guillen (No. 4).

1995 Gulf Coast League Top 10 Prospects

Halladay showcased a “93-94 mph fastball” and “above-average curve and slider,” though “nerves got the better of him” in his first few outings before he settled in. He struck out 48 batters and recorded a 3.40 ERA in 50 innings.

Beltran earned a comparison to a young Eric Davis from his own manager, because he had “exceptional speed and throws well.” Beltran hit .278 with five steals in 52 games in his pro debut but did not yet show the power he would later develop.

Guillen missed 1994 with a shoulder injury and did not play the field in 1995 because of an elbow injury. Injuries would continue to plague him throughout his 14-year big league career. In the GCL, Guillen showed “power to all fields,” was an “above-average basestealer” and had a “rifle arm.”

Managers singled out Gonzalez for his “exceptional hands, range, quickness and arm strength,” which were the foundation of his 16-year big league career.

Gulf Coast League All-Time BA No. 1 Prospects

Players listed with career major league plate appearances/innings and FanGraphs WAR. Stats for active players current through mid August.

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