October, 1999
compiled by Ron Cox and Daniel Skidmore-Hess
Baltimore Hons
This seven-year franchise that started in New York in the second year of the SJL changed ownership after the 1999 season and moved to Baltimore. Former GM Sam Sayre left the new GM Al Melchior in a difficult position, as many of the top prospects, including Eric Chavez and Miguel Tejada, were dealt for veterans with high salaries. The adoption of the salary cap has led Melchior to be active in charting a new direction for the organization, as the young GM has been among the most aggressive on the trading market, picking up dollars and pitchers (Brett Tomko and prospect Buddy Carlyle) while dumping salary in preparation for next season. There is still considerable talent at the major league level, especially in the pitching department with Randy Johnson, Andy Pettitte, Kenny Rogers, Kent Bottenfield and the newly acquired Tomko. But Melchior will continue to be open to deals that allow his team to get younger while continuing to shed salary, as the trades of Barry Bonds and Kenny Lofton indicated.
Strengths
From Little League World Series hero to the top prospect in the Hons' organization, 19 year-old thirdbaseman Sean Burroughs had an outstanding debut in the minor leagues, showing considerable plate discipline (74 walks in 359 atbats) and power potential with 30 doubles to go along with a .359 average. Firstbaseman Calvin Pickering, 23, has added another year of minor league experience to his resume, with 20 doubles, 16 homers, and 60 walks at AAA. There's not much left for Pickering to prove, other than an ability to keep his weight under control as he tries to become the firstbaseman of the future for the Hons. The organization also has a nice catching prospect in Humberto Cota, courtesy of the 1999 SJL draft. Cota has all the tools to be an outstanding defensive catcher and has put up good power numbers (32 doubles, 11 homers) at low A ball in 1999. The addition of Buddy Carlyle, whose 1999 stats look better when considering that he pitched in a hitters' league, provides Baltimore with one decent pitching prospect. Carlyle changes speeds well, and his 138 Ks/42 Bbs ratio at AAA was impressive, although his lack of heat has some scouts concerned about his potential as a major league starter.
Weaknesses
There is little pitching or outfield depth in the minor leagues, as Carlyle is the only pitching prospect and outfielder Edgard Clemente's name change has not changed his status as a C-level prospect. But the organization is in better shape than a year ago, with the emergence of additional infield and catching talent.
Grade: C+
Top Prospects
Sean Burroughs, 3B, B+
Calvin Pickering, 1B, B+
Humberto Cota, C, B
Buddy Carlyle, RHP, B-
Edgard Clemente, OF, C+
Dennis Abreu, 2B, C
A.J. Pierzynski, C, C
Richard Almanzar, 2B, C-
Glenn Williams, 2B, C-
Bird-In-Hand Hexers
The Hexers have seen considerable improvement in their minor league pitching talent over the past year. No one has been surprised by the rapid emergence of top prospect Rick Ankiel, but GM Peter Hess has added a number of quality arms to the Hexers' minor league stockpile in recent drafts, including Jung Bong, Aaron Myette and John Sneed. Meanwhile, the organization has a group of young pitchers at the major league level that have a chance to excel, including Ankiel, Jeff Suppan, Ryan Dempster, and the likely return of Matt Morris to the rotation in 2000 to go along with veteran Andy Benes. That being said, the once powerful Hexer offense is now at its lowest level, with a lack of quality prospects in the pipeline. The bright spots include the emergence of 3B Corey Koskie and the recently acquired CF Jacques Jones who add youth and promise to the starting roster.
Strengths
Pitching is clearly the strength here, with phenom Rick Ankiel ready to make the move to the starting rotation of the Hexers in 2000. The 20 year-old Ankiel dominated at every level in the minors, striking out 119 while walking 46 in 88 innings of AAA ball. He has an outstanding fastball and curve and a solid changeup, although scouts still say that he has a tendency to telegraph the change. There are several other solid arms in the system, including 22 year-old Aaron Myette, who combines a 94 MPH fastball with a good slider and solid control. Lefthander Jung Bong, 19, had a solid year in low A ball, registering 100 strikeouts in 109 IP with a 3.98 ERA, while 23 year-old John Sneed also impressed at A, with 143 Ks in 125 innings. Outfielder Adam Dunn, 19, is the best offensive prospect in the system, posting a .307 Avg. with 11 homers, 46 walks and 21 steals in 313 atbats in A ball.
Weaknesses
The Hexers lack depth at catcher and infield positions, especially with the decline of one-time solid prospects Pat Cline, now a 25 year-old catcher putting up subpar numbers at AAA in a hitters' league, and 22 year-old Jhonny Perez, struggling offensively at AA this past season. At 25, 2B Chris Ashby is old for his stay in AAA and produced mediocre numbers in 1999. With a bonafide prospect in Adam Dunn and help arriving in CF Jacques Jones, look for the organization to try to shore up its catching and infield situation in future drafts or through future trades. With the emergence of rookie Corey Koskie, GM Peter Hess could afford to deal veteran Todd Zeile for some young infield prospect.
Grade: C+
Prospects:
Rick Ankiel, lhp, A
Aaron Myette, rhp, B+
Adam Dunn, OF, B
Jung Bong, LHP, B
John Sneed, RHP, B-
Clint Johnston, LHP, C+
Dave Coggin, RHP, C-
Jason Middlebrook, RHP, C-
Pat Cline, C, C-
Jhonny Perez, IF, C-
Harrisburg Heroes The Heroes continue to have a number of solid prospects in their organization, although the two best prospects from 1998, 3B Troy Glaus and of J.D. Drew, have graduated to the major leagues. The ascendancy of Billy Koch and Kevin McGlinchy also illustrates the success of this franchise in producing quality major league talent from the farm. The 1999 crop of minor leaguers has no A grade prospects, but instead several high B prospects top the list�including a number of quality pitching and infield prospects.
Strengths
GM David Hess has had a recent string of success with young pitchers, especially relievers Koch and McGlinchy. There are four other pitching prospects on the horizon that could pay additional dividends for the organization, led by hard-throwing righthander Gil Meche, 21, who posted a 3.05 ERA in AA with 56 Ks in 59 IP and a 3.19 ERA in a short stint in a hitters' AAA league, thereby earning himself a promotion to the big show. The righty brings the fastball at 95 MPH with a big breaking curve ball and slider to complement his number one. Right alongside Meche is righthander Wade Miller, 23, who pitched well in a AAA hitters' league, registering 135 Ks in 162 IP with a 93-95 MPH sinking fastball, a promising slider and an adequate changeup. The younger ones look promising as well, with 21 year-old Jason Marquis still considered by most scouts to be a good AA pitching prospect, although he suffered through some injury trouble this year and did not post very impressive numbers. Luis Rivera, also 21, was solid in A ball with 81 Ks in 67 innings of work. The offensive production was led by a trio of infielders, including 3B Michael Cuddyer, who continues to impress as he was promoted to high A ball, drawing an impressive 76 walks, while blasting 24 doubles and 16 homers. Secondbaseman Marcus Giles has thus far proved the "tools" scouts wrong by having another solid year, blasting 40 2Bs, 7 3Bs and 13 homers, while drawing 54 walks in 497 atbats in high A ball. Add 21 year-old ss/3B Alfonso Soriano (.305, 20 2Bs, 15 Hrs, 24 SBs) to the list and you have a solid set of infield prospects, although Eric Munson's numbers at A ball were only average given his shift from catcher to 1B.
Weaknesses
The organization has little depth in the outfield, with only two marginal prospects in Bubba Crosby and Jaime Jones. Meanwhile with Munson's shift to firstbase, there is no catching prospect in the organization.
Grade: B-
Prospects:
Gil Meche, RHP, B+
Wade Miller, RHP, B+
Marcus Giles, 2B, B+
Alfonso Soriano, 3B, B+
Luis Rivera, RHP, B
Eric Munson, 1B, B
Jason Marquis, RHP, B-
Bubba Crosby, OF, C+
Jaime Jones, OF, C
Moline Greens
The organization that has produced a long line of great players, including Derek Jeter [editor's note: actually acquired through trade with KC and originally drafted by NY], Scott Rolen, Carlos Delgado, Manny Ramirez and Vladimir Guerrero, has generally gone the other way with pitchers in recent years, preferring to draft proven big league veterans instead of risking picks on minor leaguers. So far the strategy has produced three division titles and a World Series, with a major league pitching staff anchored by star veterans. After many of the minor leaguers have been promoted to the big leagues in recent years, the organization has already begun to rebuild its minor league system, stockpiling an array of infield talent that includes several high grade prospects, along with a notable catcher and a high-ceiling outfield prospect. What the organization does not have is any prospects in the pitching department, preferring instead to draft young pitchers that have some experience in the big show, such as Sidney Ponson and Dennis Reyes.
Strengths
Of/1B Pat Burrell, 23, is the gem of this minor league system for the second year in a row, posting a .333 Avg. with 28 2Bs, 28 Hrs, and 79 Bbs in AA this season. Burrell is flanked by 2B Brent Abernathy, whose .291 Avg. combined with 42 2Bs, 13 Hrs and 55 BBs to give the 22 year-old a solid season in AA. At 3B, 19 year-old Drew Henson has emerged as a good prospect with a .280 Avg., 12 2Bs and 13 Hrs, although his K/BB ratio is a bit on the high side. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins, 20, gives the Greens still more infield depth with exceptional defensive range to go along with improved offensive numbers at AA: .273 Avg., 21 2Bs, 11 Hrs, and 51 Bbs. At the lower levels, 3B Jose Santos has impressed at high A ball with 30 2Bs, 5 3Bs, 19 Hrs and a whopping 83 Bbs. Outfielder Chad Hermansen, 22, continues to rebound from some temporary setbacks, mashing 32 Hrs and 27 2Bs at AAA, although his plate discipline remains a concern. Another outfield prospect is Aaron Rowand, whose 37 2Bs and 24 HRs at high A ball are some evidence that the bat is equal to the hype. Catcher Jason Larue, at 25 a bit old in the tooth, rounds out the prospect list, although he can hit better than he can field.
Weaknesses
The lack of young pitching prospects may or may not be a burden for this franchise, as Moline has plenty of pitching depth at the major league level. Still, the absence of any pitching prospects in the minors has to raise some concerns, and, with the exception of Pat Burrell, there are no grade A prospects in the organization right now. SS Pablo Ozuna and outfielders Darnell McDonald and Ntema Ndungidi have all taken steps back. The bottom line, though, is that this team has so much offensive depth and so much great starting pitching, aided by the emergence of Sidney Ponson and Kris Benson, that it will be great for a good while.
Grade: B
Prospects:
Pat Burrell, OF, A
Brent Abernathy, 2B, B+
Aaron Rowand, OF, B+
Jimmy Rollins, SS, B+
Chad Hermansen, OF, B+
Drew Henson, 3B, B
Pablo Ozuna, SS, B
Jose Santos, 3B, B
Jason LaRue, C, B
Darnell McDonald, OF, C+
Ntema Ndungidi, OF, C+
Pennsylvania Plutonium
The Plutonium may have to be investigated by the International Atomic Energy Agency, as the organization has exploded with talent over the past two years under the direction of GM Jim Brown. Led by a wealth of starting pitching prospects, one A grade pitcher and five in the B range, plus a solid prospect at catcher, infield and outfield, the Plutonium should be able to mount a solid run at the dominant Greens in the near future.
Strengths
The organization is led by two star prospects in righthanded hitting outfielder Ruben Mateo, a 21 year-old tools player whose minor league numbers have been very good, and Matt Riley, a 20 year-old lefthanded starting pitcher whose repertoire includes a 95 MPH fastball, an outstanding curve and a good changeup. The big step for Riley was improving his control numbers in 1999, with an excellent K/BB ratio of 131 Ks and 42 Bbs in 126 Ips at AA. In addition to Riley, the Plutonium have another hard thrower in Ryan Anderson, although he lacks Riley's composure and statistical success at this stage. But the 20 year-old can sure bring the fastball, as 162 Ks in 134 innings will attest, but his wildness remains a concern: 86 walks in 134 innings. Want additional hard throwers with great promise, this organization has them in Micah Bowie and A.J. Burnett, as Bowie continued to improve his numbers as he stepped up the ladder to AAA. Burnett, on the other hand, slumped terribly in AA while rebounding at the big league level in a few appearances in 1999. And, lo and behold, 20 year-old Dicky Gonzalez appears to have an adequate fastball now, as scouts report that he has gained velocity to go with his impeccable control and change of speeds that brought him solid numbers at A ball and a quick, if brief, promotion to AAA. The other noteworthy prospects include catcher Ben Petrick, putting together a .312 Avg, with 19 HRs in AAA, albeit in a hitters' league. The emergence of Petrick has allowed GM Brown to deal Jason Varitek, since the organization also has Mitch Meluskey and the veteran Darrin Fletcher in the big show. Secondbaseman Adam Kennedy, 23, put together a nice year in AAA, marred a bit by a low walk total, but aided by the fact that Kennedy seems very capable of putting the ball in play consistently, as his .327 Avg. and low stikeout totals (36) attest.
Weaknesses
Outside of Mateo, the organization has little depth in the outfield, although that's partially offset by the emergence of Carlos Beltran. While there are no 3B or SS prospects in this system, the organization does have the luxury of having Michael Barrett in the big show, and Tony Batista at SS. Still, the club has at least one solid prospect at catcher, infield and outfield, with several highly regarded pitching prospects waiting in the wings. In addition, the Plutonium are one of only two teams to have two A-rated players in their farm system, which counts for a lot.
Grade: A-
Prospects:
Matt Riley, LHP, A-
Ruben Mateo, OF, A-
Ryan Anderson, LHP, B+
Ben Petrick, C, B+
Micah Bowie, RHP, B
A.J. Burnett, RHP, B
Dicky Gonzalez, RHP, B
Adam Kennedy, 2B, B
Jon Garland, RHP, C
Maurice Bruce, 2B, C
Jason Dellaero, SS, C
Matt White, RHP, C-