By David Rawnsley

1. Pat Burrell, 1B-OF
Age: 23��B-T: R-R��Ht: 6-4��Wt: 225
Drafted: Miami, 1997 (2nd round)��Signed by: Miguel Machado

Top Prospects of the 90s 1990 Damon Flambeau, lhp 1991 Damon Flambeau, lhp 1992 Derek Bell, of 1993 Chipper Jones, ss 1994 Manny Ramirez, of 1995 Chipper Jones, ss 1996 Derek Jeter, ss 1997 Andruw Jones, of 1998 Mark Kotsay, of 1999 Pablo Ozuna, ss

Background: The Greens drafted Burrell after a stellar freshman year at Miami during which the Californian became the first freshman to win an NCAA batting title. He never reached those heights again in college, but he was still a stellar hitter during his college days, combining power, average, and strike zone judgment. As a professional in his first full season last year, he was voted the High Plains League's top prospect at AA Topeka.

Strengths: At the plate, there are few better. The ball explodes off Burrell�s bat with the special sound scouts look for but rarely find. Watching Burrell take batting practice can be reminiscent of a Mark McGwire show. Burrell is more than brute strength, though. He is adept at lining pitches down and away to right-center field, works counts like a leadoff hitter and adjusts his swing to different pitchers and situations. He has significantly improved his ability to get his hands through the hitting zone on plus inside fastballs.

Weaknesses: Burrell is solid defensively at his natural position, which is first base. With the departure of Dave Justice, the Greens are hoping that Burrell can establish himself in left field before Manny Ramirez departs for free agency money elsewhere. Although his below-average speed limits his potential in left, Burrell has shown surprising agility and instincts in tracking fly balls. He still needs work on going back on the ball. Burrell�s arm is solid average and will be a benefit in left field as he improves his accuracy and ability to throw to the right base.

The Future: Dominating at AA is encouraging, but the Greens can afford to give Burrell a full season at AAA as well, as much to keep his service time clock from ticking as to give him ample playing time. There's little he needs to add to his game as a hitter.

1999 Club           AVG   AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB
Topeka (AA)        .333  417  84 139  28   6  28   90  79 103   3
Winnipeg (AAA)     .152   33   4   5   0   0   1    4   4   8   0

Background: Though he posted good numbers and made his big league debut, Bergeron did not have an easy year. He injured his right shoulder, restricting him to left field and DH, and had postseason surgery to repair a torn labrum. It's encouraging that he posted strong numbers despite not playing at full strength.

Strengths: Bergeron has the makings of an ideal leadoff hitter: above-average speed, an excellent eye, the best bunting ability in the system and enough power to drive the ball in the gaps. Scouts say Bergeron should mature into his power with experience.

Weaknesses: Arm strength was never his best tool, even before his shoulder injury, He has the speed and instincts to play center field but is now looked at as a left fielder. On the basepaths, he needs to get better reads on pitchers and better jumps.

The Future: If Bergeron shows he can play in center field, he'll have some hope for sticking with the club rather than becoming trade bait. On another team, his chances would be better, but his speed advantage over fellow outfielder Burrell doesn't compensate for a bat that projects only middling power.

1999 Club         AVG   AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB
Ottawa(AA)       .327  162  29  53  14   2   4   18  24  29   9
Winnipeg(AAA)    .314  194  36  61  12   3   3   20  23  40  14
Moline           .244   45  12  11   2   0   0    1   9   5   0

3. Ramon Ortiz, RHP
Age: 24��B-T: R-R��Ht: 6-0��Wt: 165
Drafted: January, 2000�(1st round)�Signed by: Jose Gomez

Background: Ortiz�s roller-coaster career reached its pinnacle last August when he made his major league debut. After leading the minor leagues in strikeouts in 1997, he missed all but seven starts of 1998 due to a stress fracture in his right elbow. The Greens kept Ortiz out of winter ball in his native Dominican to increase his chances of avoiding injury in 2000.

Strengths: Ortiz has the stuff to be a No. 1 starter in the big leagues. He throws a heavy, sinking fastball in the mid-90s that results in an above-average number of ground balls. His biggest improvement in 1999 was in his changeup, which went from being his third-best pitch to arguably his most effective weapon. Ortiz� breaking ball has been called both a curveball and a slider, and in reality is a mix between the two. When he maintains a consistent release point on the pitch, he gets a big, sharp curveball break at a speed closer to what you expect from a slider. He has many similarities to former Reds ace Mario Soto.

Weaknesses: Ortiz was clearly tired at the end of last season, which calls into question his health and the durability of his valuable right arm. He piled up a lot of innings before his injury. If you include winter ball from 1998-99, spring training and the 1999 regular season, he threw more than 250 innings. On the mound, the most important step for Ortiz will be to develop a consistent release point on his breaking ball, which would give him three plus pitches. His higher walk totals last September and difficulty with lefthanded hitters are likely due to a tired arm and trouble spotting his breaking ball.

The Future: Ortiz is part of a stable of young starters poised to take the mantle from the team's elder starters, Roger Clemens and Kevin Brown. Ortiz will begin in the bullpen. His injury history is an ongoing concern and will remain so until Ortiz shows himself hearty enough to be a rotation regular.

1999 Club         W  L   ERA   G  GS  CG  SV   IP   H  BB  SO
Topeka (AA)       9  4  2.82  15  15   2   0  102  88  40  86
Winnipeg (AAA)    5  3  4.05   9   9   0   0   53  46  19  64
Moline            2  3  6.52   9   9   0   0   48  50  25  44

Background: Hermansen has been one of the Greens� top prospects since being picked 5th overall in the 1997 draft. He was a shortstop in 1995 and 1996, then moved to center field and second base in 1997. Early in �98, he moved to left field before settling into center field for the entire 1999 season. Hermansen had 113 minor league home runs, including 60 in two Triple-A seasons, before the age of 22.

Strengths: Hermansen has a good combination of power and speed. He has been able to hit Triple-A pitching hard and seems poised to handle major league pitchers. He is particularly adept at turning on inside fastballs. In his four full minor league seasons, Hermansen has averaged 18 stolen bases. He has the ability to steal even more as he continues to improve his technique and learn pitchers� pickoff moves. Hermansen is also an intelligent player with an even temperament, which enables him to handle the ups and downs of professional baseball better than most young players.

Weaknesses: Hermansen strikes out a lot and tends to give away at-bats from time to time. Specifically, he must learn to lay off high fastballs and breaking pitches in the dirt. He has struck out at least 121 times in each of his four full professional seasons. He has stopped drawing walks at the clip he showed lower down in the minors. Hermansen also is still getting comfortable in the outfield, though he needs to take charge of the fly balls more, especially when he is playing center field.

The Future: Hermansen would start for other clubs, but in Moline, he'll be a bench player until he shows that he can outperform established starters there. Hermansen should easily be a 20-20 player on a consistent basis, maybe even hitting 30-30. If he ever learns to cut down the strikeouts, he could also emerge as a potential .300 hitter, though he's pretty far down his development curve for that to happen.

1999 Club           AVG   AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB
Winnipeg  (AAA)    .270  496  89 134  27   3  32   97  35 119  19
Moline             .233   60   5  14   3   0   1    1   7  19   2

Background: Despite never attending a spring training or instructional league and having only 36 Rookie-level at-bats, Henson adjusted well to the Grain Belt Association during his 1999 summer vacation and was named to first team of the Howe Sportsdata All-Teen Team. As a high schooler, Henson was perhaps the best athlete in the history of Michigan, earning designation as Baseball America's High School Player of the Year in 1998. He signed to play football at Michigan, though he's done little quarterbacking there.

Strengths: Henson�s basic tools bear a strong resemblance to those of Caracas's No. 1 pick in January, Josh Hamilton. Henson, the most decorated high school player of the decade, can hit the ball as far as any minor leaguer. The surprise is that he shows skills both at the plate and in the field. Strangely, despite his high school prowess as pitcher and his QB status in Ann Arbor, Henson shows only average arm strength, but his lateral quickness and agility are excellent.

Weaknesses: Any major weakness Henson has is due to lack of instruction time and repetitions. He struck out once a game in 1999 and didn't walk a whole lot, but these numbers figure to improve with more baseball experience. He�s avoided injury, and his weight program is designed more for baseball.

The Future: The Greens' gambled in drafting Henson. Discouraged by his sparse playing time at Michigan, Henson is leaning towards baseball. A strong season in Topeka may help tilt the balance further in baseball's favor. With Scott Rolen and Chipper Jones in front of him, Henson need not be rushed.

1999 Club           AVG   AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB
Waterloo (A)       .280  254  37  71  12   0  13   37  26  71   3

Background: After two quiet years in the BRA, Betemit emerged as a true prospect last year, hitting .320 and ranking as the Lake Michigan Circuit's number two prospect behind outfielder Josh Hamilton. After Moline had drafted him, major league baseball revealed that Betemit had been signed illegally as a 14 year old, meaning he'd played the 1999 season as a 17 year old, the same age at that level as Rafael Furcal and Andruw Jones, heady company indeed.

Strengths: Betemit has the complete package for a shortstop. He has pop from both sides of the plate and should develop more power as he fills out his lanky frame. Betemit showed good hands, good range and a strong arm in the field. He was the managers� consensus choice as the top defensive shortstop in the league.

Weaknesses: Betemit didn't show the strike zone judgment of Furcal, but Betemit is young enough to improve on that. He runs well, though that has not translated into many stolen bases yet. He'll never be the basestealer that Furcal is.

The Future: Betemit has the glove to stay at short throughout his climb up to Moline. He'll play in low A ball as an 18 year old, a mark of prospect status in itself. His ceiling is as high as that of any player on this list.

1999 Club           AVG   AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB
Manitowoc (R)      .320  259  39  83  18   2   5   53  27  63   6           

Background: After a stellar collegiate career at LSU, Yarnall has moved steadily through the minors. He led the Continental League in ERA in 1999, leading to a September call-up.

Strengths: Yarnall�s money pitch is an extremely deceptive 89-92 mph fastball. He hides the ball well and has almost lethargic body action. But his arm stroke is smooth and quick, and the ball explodes with late life at the plate. He dominates lefties (only six home runs in 162 innings last year).

Weaknesses: Yarnall�s curve and changeup are good major league pitches, but he has to use them to set up his fastball.

The Future: Yarnall and fellow January draftee Ortiz look to join Kris Benson and Pedro Martinez in the Greens' rotation within the next few years. For now, he'll break into the majors by way of the bullpen.

1999 Club         W  L   ERA   G  GS  CG  SV   IP   H  BB  SO
Winnipeg (AAA)   13  4  3.47  23  23   1   0  145 136  57 146
Moline            1  0  3.71   5   2   0   0   17  17  10  13

Background: While visiting former teammates in the far east, Greens' coach discovered Snelling playing the Sydney Storm in the Australian Baseball League. Snelling came to the United States a scrawny 17-year-old, but hit with authority and intelligence in his first professional experience in a league of players some years older.

Strengths: Snelling is at least average in all five tools. He takes good routes in center field and throws with accuracy. He has the speed and patience to hit leadoff, but could develop enough power to hit farther down in the order. Most of all, the Greens love his aggressiveness and heads-up attitude.

Weaknesses: Snelling has no glaring weaknesses and just needs time to climb the ladder.

The Future: Snelling has a chance to make the biggest impact of any position player from Australia since one-time Green Dave Nilsson. He�s already found more success than Glenn Williams, a ballyhooed prospect whose greatest claim to fame in Moline is having been drafted in the round just after the Greens drafted Andruw Jones.

1999 Club           AVG   AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB
Manitowoc (R)      .306  265  46  81  15   3  10   50  33  24   8

Background: The Greens doubted Rollins after a mediocre 1998 season and a perceived lackadaisical attitude. Rollins improved his skills on the field and became a leader on both teams he played for.

Strengths: Though only 5-foot-8, Rollins plays with the skills of a bigger player. He is smooth and quick in the infield with a plus arm. Rollins is equally proficient from both sides of the plate and has surprising pop for his size. He stays under control at the plate and doesn�t overswing.

Weaknesses: As long as Rollins maintains a solid approach, continues to polish his skills on routine plays and learns the nuances of baserunning and situational hitting, he has a bright big league future. He has all the tools.

The Future: Rollins has been among the youngest players at each minor-league level. He hasn't hit with great authority, but he has held his own. For the moment, his chances to become a starter in Moline lie in the loss of Jeter to free agency or injury.

1999 Club           AVG   AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB
Topeda (AA)        .273  532  81 145  21   8  11   56  51  47  24
Winnipeg (AAA)     .077   13   0   1   1   0   0    0   1   1   1

Background: The son of a fisherman, Ozuna developed his wiry strength while working the docks as a boy. Ozuna set the Grain Belt League on its ear in 1998, batting .357 with 62 stolen bases and leading the minors in hits. The team's number one prospect a year ago, Ozuna found AA pitching considerably more difficult.

Strengths: Ozuna has plus speed and range and the hand-eye coordination to put the bat on almost everything he swings at. He handles inside pitches well and has gap power. He is open to instruction and plays the game with obvious joy.

Weaknesses: His average arm caused the Greens to convert him from shortstop to second base during instructional league. His basestealing numbers dropped as he faced more developed catchers in Double-A. He must learn to take more pitches, something he improved during winter ball in the Dominican League.

The Future: Ozuna will return to Double-A as he works to master his new position. He has better tools than Brett Abernathy, but Abernathy has better skills.

1999 Club         AVG   AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB
Topeka (AA)      .281  502  62 141  25   7   7   46  13  50  31

11. Brett Abernathy, 2B
12. Jeff Goldbach, C
13. Aaron Rowand, OF
14. Maicer Isturiz, SS
15. Sean DePaula, RHP