#30 | Matt Wieters | Catcher | Baltimore Orioles
Age: 21
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'5''
Wt: 230 lbs.
Wieters is a very good young catcher who for his size, may still be able to provide gold glove cailber defense behind the dish. He's a switch hitter and has good power from both sides of the plate and can spray the ball to all parts of the field. Although he hasn't played any games of professional baseball, he will probably start the 2008 season with the Class-A Delmarva Shorebirds, and if all goes good, he'll probably advance through the system fairly quickly.
ETA: 20102007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBINCAA 57 218 .358 .480 .592 1.072 10 59
#29 | Ross Detwiler | Pitcher | Washington Nationals
Age: 22
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
Ht: 6'5''
Wt: 185 lbs.
Detwiler is a crafty southpaw pitcher who uses four pitchers all fairly well. He has a two and a four-seam fastball and he also mixes in a change-up and curve ball. He should progress fast through the Nationals system and he could be starting games for the Nationals by seasons end. His size is of question due to his height and low weight. He should probably start the '08 season in Advanced-A with the Potomac Nationals, but could start with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators.
ETA: 2008Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9R 4 0 0 2.25 12.0 15 3 11.25A+ 5 2 2 4.22 21.1 13 9 5.48MLB 1 0 0 0.00 1.0 1 0 9.00
#28 | Jacob McGee | Pitcher | Tampa Bay Rays
Age: 21
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Ht: 6'3''
Wt: 190 lbs.
McGee is one of the reasons why the Rays should feel optimistic of their future rotation. McGee along with Matt Garza and Scott Kazmir alone would make a potentially great 1-3 in a rotation, but believe me, they aren't done with pitchers. He mixes a mid-90's fastball with a hard curve ball and a good change up. All 3 are plus pitches. I think a very fitting comparison is his future teammate Scott Kazmir, both southpaws have very lively arms. McGee should probably start the '08 season in Double-A with the Montgomery Biscuits as he hasn't had a lot of seasoning there, but it shouldn't be too long before he's in Triple-A Durham.
ETA: 2009Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9A+ 21 5 4 2.93 116.2 145 39 11.19AA 5 3 2 4.24 23.1 30 13 11.57
#37 | Wade Davis | Pitcher | Tampa Bay Rays
Age: 22
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'5''
Wt: 220 lbs.
Like I said, they aren't done. Davis has emerged as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. His great 9.42 K/BB ratio though his minor league career and ability to control the strike zone makes him an intriguing pitching prospect to say the least. He throws in the upper 90's and has a great curve ball. With his repertoire of pitches and his size, it makes one think he'll become a front of the rotation starter to accompany Scott Kazmir and the newly acquired Matt Garza. Wade and McGee should be in Tampa by the middle of the 2009 season. Right around the time another prospect (check back on Friday to see who) should also be arriving. Wade will start the '08 season in Triple-A with the Durham Bulls, but he could see his first taste of the Big Leagues by the end of the season.
ETA: Late 2008Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9A+ 13 3 0 1.84 78.1 88 21 10.11AA 14 7 3 3.15 80.0 81 30 9.11
#26 | Andy LaRoche | Third Base | Los Angeles Dodgers
Age: 24
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 5'11''
Wt: 180 lbs.
LaRoche is and has been ready to prove himself at the major league level. Unfortunately, the Dodgers already have Nomar Garciaparra at third base and his only other options are to go to second base which is already occupied by Jeff Kent and first base which is held by James Loney. I think the Dodgers would be best off trading Garciaparra. LaRoche I think could help them this year, and although I think that every good team needs depth, I'm not sure Garciaparra would accept a bench role and LaRoche deserves to start. Nomar isn't chopped-liver, but I definitely think he's better served as a role player right now than an everyday player. LaRoche should be with the Dodgers from the start of the 2008 season. Even if LaRoche isn't the opening day starter, he'll get his fair share of at bats with Garciaparra more than likely missing some time to rest or because of injury. Although I must add that LaRoche's inability to also stay healthy might be a reason why the Dodgers platoon both players in '08 with LaRoche taking over full-time duties in '09.
ETA: 20082007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIAAA 73 265 .309 .399 .589 .988 18 48MLB 35 93 .226 .365 .312 .677 1 10
#25 | Travis Snider | Outfield | Toronto Blue Jays
Age: 20
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Ht: 5'11''
Wt: 230 lbs.
Snider, the Jays first round pick in the 2006 draft has played incredibly well at both levels of professional baseball. He hit .325/.412/.567 with 11 home runs and 41 RBI in 194 at bats in Rookie ball in '06. The biggest thing I see he needs to improve on is his plate discipline. He had an unspectacular 2.66 K/BB ratio in '07. Of course it's not bad, since he was only 19, but it's something that he'll have to improve on as he continues to develop. He also has a very strong arm which the Blue Jays can look forward to in the future. I see him becoming a potential #1 prospect if he can continue to develop like he has. He'll probably start the '08 season in Single-A with the Dunedin Blue Jays.
ETA: Late 20102007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIA 118 457 .313 .377 .525 .902 16 93
#24 | Reid Brignac | Shortstop | Tampa Bay Rays
Age: 22
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'3''
Wt: 170 lbs.
The Rays have to be feeling good about their farm system right now. At this time, they probably aren't favorites to win the division, or even finish in higher than 5th place for that matter, but let me tell you, they are definitely improving. Brignac is one of the reasons why I'm so high on the Rays. he displays a great bat while playing a premium position at shortstop. The Rays have so many up and comers that they'll likely have to find new homes for their current players or even better, trade them to fill an existing hole. Brignac figures to be the shortstop of the future, even though the club just traded for Jason Bartlett. Bartlett might be better served at second base due to his errors on routine plays. On top of the great young batters, the team is also in discussion to build a new stadium. The laughing stock of the league could quickly become a contender, and Brignac is one of the reasons why I feel so optimistic of their future. Brignac will more than likely start the '08 season in Triple-A with the Durham Bulls.
ETA: Late 20082007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIAA 133 527 .260 .328 .433 .761 17 81
#23 | Carlos Triunfel | Shortstop | Seattle Mariners
Age: 18
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 5'11''
Wt: 175 lbs.
Triunfel could potentially be an 18 year-old at Double-A at the start of the 2008 season. That along with solid minor league numbers is the reason why I have ranked him in the top 25. He's a raw player who has a lot of potential at shortstop. He may never develop power, but his plus range with solid glove make him a potential gold glove winner at the major league level. He could move up multiple levels again in '08, although I think they should take it slow as the Mariners already have Yuniesky Betancourt at shortstop and he's doing a find job.
Level G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIR 3 11 .273 .231 .273 .504 0 3A 43 152 .309 .342 .388 .730 0 14A+ 50 208 .288 .333 .356 .689 0 22
ETA: 2010
#22 | Ian Stewart | Second Base | Colorado Rockies
Age: 22
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'3''
Wt: 205 lbs.
Stewart has been up and down on the Top Prospect list ever since the Rockies selected him with the 10th pick in the 2003 draft. He's consistently displayed good power at each level he's played. But something that he's been consistent with that isn't a good thing is his poor plate discipline. He has a good .295 average with a .374 on-base percentage in 2040 MiLB AB's, but he's also struck out about twice as many times as he's walked. His glove has improved, but he's still not exactly polished on defense. He could start '08 with the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox, but the biggest reason for that is that there really isn't room for him on the team and he should play everyday. Garrett Atkins is currently the third baseman for the Rockies, which now they have a decision to make. Do they look to trade one of them to improve their rotation? Or do they move Stewart to another position (second base) where they have a hole at and where he can play everyday. Those questions should be answered by the times the season starts.
ETA: 20082007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIAAA 112 414 .304 .379 .478 .857 15 65MLB 35 43 .209 .261 .372 .633 1 9
#21 | Mike Moustakas | Shortstop | Kansas City Royals
Age: 19
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'0''
Wt: 195 lbs.
Moustakas was one of the best hitters in the draft last June, although some thought "Moose" wasn't even the best player on his own high school team. Juan Dominguez, Moustakas' teamate was later selected by the Florida Marlins with the 12th overall pick. I think that the Royals choice for choosing Moustakas over a guy like Josh Vitters who was probably the best hitter in the draft, was the fact that the team already has Alex Gordon at third base and they plan on keeping him there. Adding a shortstop of Moustakas' caliber should put the vastly improving Royals in good shape for their infield for the next decade or so. Moose will probably start the '08 season with the Single-A Burlington Bees.
ETA: 20112007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIR 11 41 .293 .383 .493 .822 0 10
Part 4 (11-20) tomorrow...
Stay tuned.
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