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Minor League Report
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Published: August 21, 2006
1. Delmon Young, OF, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
The only criticism of Young is his poor character. After being suspended 50 games for throwing his bat at an umpire, Young, probably the best minor league prospect in the last five or six years, has hurt his chances for helping the Rays this season. A five-tool stud with an endless ceiling of potential, Young will likely be starting in Tampa Bay's outfield on Opening Day 2007.
2. Mike Pelfrey, SP, New York Mets
The prize piece of the Mets' farm system is Pelfrey, who is currently being mentioned in trade rumors. Pelfrey is highly touted for his ability to use four solid pitches to get outs and he utilizes his fastball in all situations. Starting the season in Single-A St. Lucie and now playing in Double-A, Pelfrey has allowed just 19 runs in 14 starts and has 87 strikeouts in 76 innings. Pelfrey is a great minor league prospect because he has shown the durability needed for a successful major league career.
3. Justin Upton, SS/OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
The first overall pick in the 2005 draft, Upton is quickly moving up in the Diamondbacks' system. Upton has played in the outfield lately, hoping it will give him a faster track to the big leagues. Playing for Single-A South Bend, Upton has shown flashes of why he is such a highly-rated minor league prospect this season, hitting .279, 4 HR, 29 RBI and 6 SB.
4. Brandon Wood, SS, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The hype for Wood is so strong people are already comparing him to the likes of Cal Ripken Jr. This is no small feat. Wood is arguably the best power-hitting minor league prospect and, so far with Double-A Arkansas, he has 15 home runs and 26 doubles in just 79 games.
5. Stephen Drew, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks
Drew, the 13th overall pick of the 2004 draft, has become a great minor league prospect and could see major league time this season if things keep going well. So far in 72 games for Triple-A Tucson, Drew has 9 HR and 40 RBI while hitting .290.
6. Howie Kendrick, 2B, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Angels offense cannot do anything right these days, which is why everyone is calling for Kendrick, the Angels most major league-ready minor league prospect to be promoted. Kendrick is an offensive machine. So far for Triple-A Salt Lake, Kendrick has hit .384, 10 HR, 50 RBI, 49 R and 8 SB. Absolutely explosive, he is a great minor league prospect.
7. Alex Gordon, 3B, Kansas City Royals
The second overall pick in the 2005 draft, Gordon has blossomed into an impressive minor league prospect and has given the depressing Royals a reason to hope. With 10 HR and 32 RBI to go along with his average of .300 at Double-A Wichita, Gordon could be residing in Kansas City as early as Opening Day 2007.
8. Andy Marte, 3B, Cleveland Indians
Now with his third organization in two years, Marte looks to find a home in Cleveland. Playing for Triple-A Buffalo, Marte is hitting .270 with 11 HR in just 69 games. The Dominican stud has been traded twice as the prized minor league prospect coveted by many teams. He had a cup of coffee in the big leagues with Atlanta last year and he looks to be in the Indians' lineup later this season.
9. Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies
Another player who does it all, Tulowitzki has a mighty bat as well as a fantastic glove to make him a well-rounded minor league prospect. Playing for Double-A Tulsa, Tulowitzki has been solid, hitting .274 with 9 HR and 35 RBI in 62 games.
10. Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B, Cleveland Indians
Flying under everyone's radar and hitting .428 at the same time is a tough task. Kouzmanoff is off to an absolutely sizzling start for Double-A Akron. Hitting .428 in 50 games with 9 HR and 38 RBI, the Indians have an ace in their back pocket with this up-and-coming minor league prospect. Kouzmanoff's future is bright.
11. Jeff Niemann, SP, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
In the Devil Rays' short existence, Niemann looks to be the best pitching prospect they have had. Coming out of Rice in the first round of the 2003 draft, Niemann has intimidating size and pitches hard enough to make him an appealing minor league prospect. He just began his season after battling injuries for Double-A Montgomery, but do not be surprised to see him in Tampa Bay in September.
12. Felix Pie – OF, Chicago Cubs
Pie is the best offensive minor league prospect to come along in the Cubs system in the last decade. Although Pie is raw, he is an extremely gifted five-tool player. He has a knack for being overly aggressive at the plate and striking out too much, but, as he continues to play every day, he will improve exponentially.
13. Billy Butler, OF, Kansas City Royals
Along with Alex Gordon, Billy Butler gives Royals fans a lot to be excited about. Blessed with great discipline and patience, Butler is a fantastic minor league prospect who only continues to get better. Playing for Double-A Wichita, Butler has hit .323 so far this season, with 10 HR and 52 RBI.
14. Luke Hochevar, Kansas City Royals
Drafted by the Dodgers in the first round in 2005, Hochevar did not get a deal he liked, so he went back into the draft and ended up going first overall in the 2006 draft. Hochevar is the best-looking minor league prospect among pitchers the Royals have had in recent years. He has more poise and savvy than most recent draftees. Hochevar could be in the big leagues this time next season and, at the latest, Opening Day 2008.
15. Tim Lincecum, SP, San Francisco Giants
The 2006 Golden Spikes Award winner for best collegiate baseball player, Lincecum went tenth overall to the San Francisco Giants in the 2006 draft and could be used as a relief pitcher for the time being. Although small in stature (5'10', 175), Lincecum is immediately the best minor league prospect the Giants have and, if he signs soon enough and shows the Giants' front office that his stuff is for real, he could be making an appearance in San Francisco as early as this August or September.
The only criticism of Young is his poor character. After being suspended 50 games for throwing his bat at an umpire, Young, probably the best minor league prospect in the last five or six years, has hurt his chances for helping the Rays this season. A five-tool stud with an endless ceiling of potential, Young will likely be starting in Tampa Bay's outfield on Opening Day 2007.
2. Mike Pelfrey, SP, New York Mets
The prize piece of the Mets' farm system is Pelfrey, who is currently being mentioned in trade rumors. Pelfrey is highly touted for his ability to use four solid pitches to get outs and he utilizes his fastball in all situations. Starting the season in Single-A St. Lucie and now playing in Double-A, Pelfrey has allowed just 19 runs in 14 starts and has 87 strikeouts in 76 innings. Pelfrey is a great minor league prospect because he has shown the durability needed for a successful major league career.
3. Justin Upton, SS/OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
The first overall pick in the 2005 draft, Upton is quickly moving up in the Diamondbacks' system. Upton has played in the outfield lately, hoping it will give him a faster track to the big leagues. Playing for Single-A South Bend, Upton has shown flashes of why he is such a highly-rated minor league prospect this season, hitting .279, 4 HR, 29 RBI and 6 SB.
4. Brandon Wood, SS, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The hype for Wood is so strong people are already comparing him to the likes of Cal Ripken Jr. This is no small feat. Wood is arguably the best power-hitting minor league prospect and, so far with Double-A Arkansas, he has 15 home runs and 26 doubles in just 79 games.
5. Stephen Drew, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks
Drew, the 13th overall pick of the 2004 draft, has become a great minor league prospect and could see major league time this season if things keep going well. So far in 72 games for Triple-A Tucson, Drew has 9 HR and 40 RBI while hitting .290.
6. Howie Kendrick, 2B, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Angels offense cannot do anything right these days, which is why everyone is calling for Kendrick, the Angels most major league-ready minor league prospect to be promoted. Kendrick is an offensive machine. So far for Triple-A Salt Lake, Kendrick has hit .384, 10 HR, 50 RBI, 49 R and 8 SB. Absolutely explosive, he is a great minor league prospect.
7. Alex Gordon, 3B, Kansas City Royals
The second overall pick in the 2005 draft, Gordon has blossomed into an impressive minor league prospect and has given the depressing Royals a reason to hope. With 10 HR and 32 RBI to go along with his average of .300 at Double-A Wichita, Gordon could be residing in Kansas City as early as Opening Day 2007.
8. Andy Marte, 3B, Cleveland Indians
Now with his third organization in two years, Marte looks to find a home in Cleveland. Playing for Triple-A Buffalo, Marte is hitting .270 with 11 HR in just 69 games. The Dominican stud has been traded twice as the prized minor league prospect coveted by many teams. He had a cup of coffee in the big leagues with Atlanta last year and he looks to be in the Indians' lineup later this season.
9. Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies
Another player who does it all, Tulowitzki has a mighty bat as well as a fantastic glove to make him a well-rounded minor league prospect. Playing for Double-A Tulsa, Tulowitzki has been solid, hitting .274 with 9 HR and 35 RBI in 62 games.
10. Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B, Cleveland Indians
Flying under everyone's radar and hitting .428 at the same time is a tough task. Kouzmanoff is off to an absolutely sizzling start for Double-A Akron. Hitting .428 in 50 games with 9 HR and 38 RBI, the Indians have an ace in their back pocket with this up-and-coming minor league prospect. Kouzmanoff's future is bright.
11. Jeff Niemann, SP, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
In the Devil Rays' short existence, Niemann looks to be the best pitching prospect they have had. Coming out of Rice in the first round of the 2003 draft, Niemann has intimidating size and pitches hard enough to make him an appealing minor league prospect. He just began his season after battling injuries for Double-A Montgomery, but do not be surprised to see him in Tampa Bay in September.
12. Felix Pie – OF, Chicago Cubs
Pie is the best offensive minor league prospect to come along in the Cubs system in the last decade. Although Pie is raw, he is an extremely gifted five-tool player. He has a knack for being overly aggressive at the plate and striking out too much, but, as he continues to play every day, he will improve exponentially.
13. Billy Butler, OF, Kansas City Royals
Along with Alex Gordon, Billy Butler gives Royals fans a lot to be excited about. Blessed with great discipline and patience, Butler is a fantastic minor league prospect who only continues to get better. Playing for Double-A Wichita, Butler has hit .323 so far this season, with 10 HR and 52 RBI.
14. Luke Hochevar, Kansas City Royals
Drafted by the Dodgers in the first round in 2005, Hochevar did not get a deal he liked, so he went back into the draft and ended up going first overall in the 2006 draft. Hochevar is the best-looking minor league prospect among pitchers the Royals have had in recent years. He has more poise and savvy than most recent draftees. Hochevar could be in the big leagues this time next season and, at the latest, Opening Day 2008.
15. Tim Lincecum, SP, San Francisco Giants
The 2006 Golden Spikes Award winner for best collegiate baseball player, Lincecum went tenth overall to the San Francisco Giants in the 2006 draft and could be used as a relief pitcher for the time being. Although small in stature (5'10', 175), Lincecum is immediately the best minor league prospect the Giants have and, if he signs soon enough and shows the Giants' front office that his stuff is for real, he could be making an appearance in San Francisco as early as this August or September.
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