By Will Lingo

Top Prospects 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 2000 Pat Burrell, 1b/of 2001 Wilson Betemit, ss

1. Wilson Betemit, ss
Age: 20 B-T: B-R Ht: 6-2 Wt: 170
Drafted: January, 2000 (2nd round) Signed by: Vincente Rosario

Background: In his first full season, Betemit reached the major leagues when rosters were expanded in September. Signed prior to his 16th birthday in violation of baseball rules, Betemit sued the Greens during the spring of 2000 before reaching a contract agreement shortly thereafter. He was the top prospect in the short-season Lake Michigan Circuit that year, then jumped to high Class A Wauwatosa to start 2001, after being lost to the Greens in expansion and then reacquired in the Manny Ramirez trade. Promoted to Double-A Topeka in July, Betemit rose to the occasion and improved in all phases of his game. Suburban League managers rated Betemit as their top prospect, while High Plains League skippers ranked him third.

Strengths: Betemit is a natural baseball player and a budding five-tool talent who's still maturing. His body will only get stronger, which should enable him to hit for power from both sides of the plate. He hits to all fields with his line-drive stroke. He has outstanding athleticism, as evidenced by the Ozzie Smith-style flip he sometimes makes when taking the field. Betemit also has slightly above-average speed that should allow him to steal 15 bases a year. Defensively, he has good range, a strong arm and soft hands. Betemit thrives on challenges and raises his game to the level of the competition.

Weaknesses: Betemit lost his focus on occasion at shortstop, leading to careless mistakes. Some scouts say he will outgrow the position, necessitating a move to third base. He might be better there because it's a reaction position instead of one that requires concentration. His plate discipline is still rudimentary and may be exploited by pitchers at higher levels, something for minor-league hitting coach Randy Bass to work on.

The Future: Betemit will begin the year at AAA Winnipeg. He matches tools with performance like few middle infielders in the minors.

2001 Club           AVG   AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB
Moline             .000    3   1   0   0   0   0    0   2   3   0
Topeka             .355  183  22  65  14   0   5   19  12  36   6
Wauwatosa          .277  318  38  88  20   1   7   43  23  71   8

Background: Some Moline officials thought Snelling was undersized when they signed him, but he has played big. A member of Australia's 2000 Olympic team, he was rated the best position prospect in the Grain Belt Association that year. Last season he won the Suburban League batting title while playing through a stress fracture in his right ankle.

Strengths: Hitters don't come much purer than Snelling, but his best attributes might be his confidence and instincts. He has no trouble making hard contact or handling lefthanders. He controls the strike zone as well any any current minor leaguer. Despite average speed, he's a terrific center fielder because of his jumps and direct routes to balls. He has enough arm to play in right.

Weaknesses: Snelling often gets compared to Lenny Dysktra, and like Dykstra he plays so aggressively that he beats himself up. He broke his hand and injured his wrist diving into a wall in 2000, then hurt his ankle last year. While he has good gap power, he may not hit more than 15-20 homers a season in the majors.

The Future: Snelling's broken thumb will delay his debut at AA Topeka. Although Moline has promoted Snelling aggressively, he hasn't been fazed. Don't bet against him reaching Triple-A this year or challenging for a big league job in 2003. Whiff-prone Pat Burrell may be pushed to a reserve role unless the one-time top Greens' prospect tightens his strike zone. Even then, Snelling will compete for the left-field job fairly soon.

2001 Club           AVG   AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB
Wauwatosa(A)       .336  450   90 151 29  10   7   73  45  63  12

3. Nick Johnson, 1b
Age: 23 B-T: L-L Ht: 6-3 Wt: 224
Drafted: 1999 (1st round, Savannah) Signed by: Ralph Peer

Background: Johnson missed the entire 2000 season with a mysterious wrist injury that originated with a checked swing in spring training. Healthy again, he made his second trip to the Futures Game last summer. His game is reminiscent of Don Mattingly, whom Johnson has worked with in recent spring trainings. He is a nephew of Larry Bowa. He was acquired from Savannah in the salary-shedding Carlos Delgado trade last summer.

Strengths: Johnson retained his uncanny knack for getting on base. He's an ultra-patient hitter who uses the whole field, waits for a pitch in his zone and isn't afraid to hit deep in the count. He has been more conscious of turning on pitches and lifting balls. Johnson is a slick fielder with natural actions and good footwork around first base.

Weaknesses: Johnson doesn't clog the bases, but he's a below-average runner.

The Future: Salary demands being what they are, Johnson figures to replace incumbent Mike Sweeney as soon as the end of next year. He'll always strike out a fair bit, but his high walk totals will offset that limitation.

2001 Club           AVG   AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB
Winipeg (AA)        .256  359 68  92  20   0  18   49  81 105  9
Moline              .194  67   6  13   2   0   2    8   7  15  0                

Background: Following a breakout performance in 2000, Cruz was following up with a solid performance as one of the younger pitchers in the High Plains League. Like a slew of other Dominican ballplayers, spring training added years to his earlier listed age, making Cruz less precocious than he looked last year.

Strengths: Cruz has what scouts call "filthy stuff." His 94-96 mph fastball has great life. He has the best change-up in the system. Cruz gives the team faith that they have another solid starter, one younger than the suddenly aged Ramon Ortiz, another Dominican prevaricator.

Weaknesses: Cruz just needs to put finishing touches on his command and pitching savvy. Like any rookie pitcher, he'll have to make some adjustments, particularly against lefties. His control needs some work. Some opposing High Plains League managers thought he was immature, but Moline hopes that the two years aging during the offseason will ameliorate that problem. A bigger concern might be his frame, given the imperilled state of Cruz's doppleganger, Moline ace Pedro Martinez.

The Future: He has enough moxie to be inserted directly into the rebuilt Greens rotation. If he improve his command, he could fall behind Buhrle in the strong Moline staff of the years to come.

2001 Club          W   L   ERA    G   GS   CG   SV   IP    H   BB   SO
Topeka (AA)        9   6  4.01   23   23    0    0  121  107   60  137

Background: A late bloomer on the San Diego scene, Gonzalez rocketed to the top of the 2000 draft. His older brother Edgar was a 30th-round pick and signed with the Devil Rays. Their father David was a top first baseman in Mexican semipro leagues into his early 40s.

Strengths: Gonzalez isn't intimidated by any pitcher or situation. Intelligent and confident, he publicly set a goal of hitting .420 in 2001 but was far from a disappointment. He knows his swing and the strike zone better than anyone else in the system and makes quick adjustments. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of pitchers, which should serve him well down the road. He has soft hands, decent range and saves plenty of errors with his glove.

Weaknesses: Gonzalez has gap power but doesn't project as more than a 20-homer threat. He has a tendency to drift with his hips, allowing pitchers to jam him with hard stuff inside. He wore down under the grind of his first full pro season, and his speed is well below-average.

The Future: In an organization full of first basemen, Gonzalez is second only to Nick Johnson, though that may portend a future trade. Gonzalez already has moved past fellow first-sacker Jason Stokes, who has been limited by injuries. Gonzalez will jump to AA Topeka to start the 2002 season.

2001 Club           AVG   AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB
Waterloo (A)       .312  516  86  161 37   1  17  103  57  83   5

Background: Cust has established himself as one of the few legitimate cleanup-hitting prospects in the minors. His younger brother Kevin was drafted in the 11th round in 2000 and made his pro debut in 2001, while brother Michael turned down the Cardinals as a 35th-rounder and will attend Seton Hall.

Strengths: Cust is a batting cage rat who wants to hit around the clock. He has uncommon strike-zone judgement and rarely chases bad pitches, especially early in the count. He looks for pitches to drive and has well-above-average power to all fields. His power comes from his compact, muscular frame and a natural lefthanded uppercut stroke.

Weaknesses: Cust has been labeled a DH since he was drafted and has struggled in the field. Reports on his improvement in the outfield have been mixed. He often swings from his heels trying to hit every ball out of sight, leading to his lofty strikeout totals, which are offset by his high walk totals.

The Future: Pat Burrell fans as much as Cust, but if Pat the Bat can't adjust, he may be pushed aside for the bruiser Cust, who won't be graceful but who will club and walk his way in the hearts of Moline fans. Cust may also end up as trade bait, given the glut of lumbering OF/1B types assembling in the Greens' minor-league system. For now, Cust will spend another year at AAA, paring down his strikeouts.

2001 Club           AVG   AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB
Winnpeg  (AAA)      .278 442  81 123  24   2  27   79 102 160   6
Moline              .500   2   0   1   0   0   0    0   1   0   0

Background: After hitting .250 in rookie ball in 2000, Reyes placed fifth in the Grain Belt Association in hitting, ranked second in the minors in triples and emerged as the league's best defensive shortstop. Managers rated him the second-best prospect in the league. Despite close scrutiny of his documentation, no INS investigation showed him to be any older than his listed age of 18.

Strengths: A good contact hitter from both sides of the plate, Reyes can drive the ball and make things happen with his above-average speed. His glove is his forte, as he has outstanding range, a plus arm and soft hands. He committed just 18 errors at Waterloo and led Grain Belt Association shortstops with a .964 fielding percentage.

Weaknesses: Reyes has strong legs but needs to add strength to his upper body. He also lacks patience at the plate, but should improve as he gains experience.

The Future: Defensively, Reyes is close to ready. Alhough incumbent Moline shortstop Derek Jeter is going nowhere just yet, salary demands may force DJ somewhere else. When that happens, Reyes is as likely as Betemit to be there to take over the position.

2000 Club           AVG   AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB
New Boston(R)      .384  190  32  73  13   1  13   50  18  38   6
Manitowoc (A)      .143   28   1   4   1   0   0    0   2  12   1    

Background: The Greens are wary of drafting low-minors pitching, and in Claussen they are consistent with that philosophy. Dewitt Oglethorp spotted Claussen at Howard Junior College in Texas. Claussen's 220 strikeouts led the minors in 2001.

Strengths: Claussen has increased his velocity during his ascent through the minors. He works his 89-94 mph fastball to both sides of the plate, and he had more success locating it last year than in the past. His knockout pitch is a quality slider with excellent two-plane depth.

Weaknesses: Claussen's changeup came on last season but still needs improvement to become more than a show-me pitch. He issued a few too many walks once he reached Double-A.

The Future: Claussen will begin 2002 in Triple-A and is in line for a promotion later in the year. The salary-driven shakeup in Moline means that many starting spots in the next few years are up for graps. Claussen may claim one.

2001 Club          W   L   ERA    G   GS   CG   SV   IP    H   BB   SO
Wauwatosa (A)      5   2   2.73   8    8    0    0   56   47   13   69
Topeka (AA)        9   2   2.13  21   21    0    0  131  101   55  151

Background: Rowand spent more than half of last season with the Greens, but still qualifies for this list. The most memorable moment of his first season came when he crashed into a wall taking away an extra-base hit to temporarily preserve a Mark Buehrle bid for a no-hitter. Rowand played with a sore shoulder and watched his batting average slide from .316 on Sept. 1.

Strengths: Rowand is a promising run producer who shortened his swing with big league batting coach Jimmy Wynn. Rowand also tightened his strike zone, chasing fewer pitches, although he doesn't show signs of ever being a high OBP guy. Rowand has hit at least 20 homers in each of the last three seasons, but is a line-drive hitter. He has spent most of his career playing the outfield corners, but did a decent job in center for the Greens. He has a strong arm.

Weaknesses: He doesn't truly fit any of the outfield positions. Rowand runs OK but not as well as a typical center fielder. He also doesn't have quite the home-run power of a corner outfielder.

The Future: Roward will serve a reserve role for the moment. If he can show himself capable of staying in center field, he may be the successor to Andruw Jones. Rowand is only a few months' younger than AJ, but he is considerably cheaper.

2001 Club           AVG   AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB
Winnipeg (AAA)     .295  329  54  97  28   0  16   48  21  47   8
Moline             .288   73   9  21   6   0   1   10   9  18   0

Background: After he passed for 2,146 yards and 18 touchdowns at Michigan in 2000, football experts projected Henson as No. 1 pick material for the 2002 NFL draft. Henson favored baseball but wanted to be a Green, so the Reds dealt him back to Moline, along with outfielder Michael Coleman, for outfielder Wily Mo Pena and $1.9 million in March. Henson signed a six-year, $17 million major league contract and left the gridiron for good after the trade. Five games into last season, a pitch broke his left wrist and sidelined him for two months. He thinks himself more capable than he has yet proven himself to be.

Strengths: Henson has special power potential. His raw power rates near 80 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale, and he has launched mammoth, 500-foot blasts since he was a high school freshman. He established the national high school record for home runs. He's a unique physical specimen, with unusual athleticism for his size. He's not ready to play third base in the majors yet but has the tools to be an above-average defender. He has plus-plus arm strength and soft hands.

Weaknesses: Henson lost valuable experience by splitting his time between two sports, and it shows most in his pitch recognition and plate discipline. He should improve with a full season of at-bats. The Greens rushed Henson to Triple-A last year, and he would have been better served spending a full year in Double-A. The holes in his swing were exposed as he struck out once every three at-bats during the regular season and in the Arizona Fall League.

The Future: Henson's .314-6-33 performance in the AFL spurred speculation he was ready to take over for Scott Rolen. Betemit may yet move to third when Rolen's contract becomes too hefty. Henson has a chance to be a franchise player because he works hard, but unless he learns to hit curveballs and control the strikezone, he'll be nothing more than a reserve in Moline.

2001 Club           AVG   AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB
Wauwatosa (A)      .143   21   2   2   0   0   1    3   2   7   1
Topeka (AA)        .268   19   2   7   1   0   0    2   1   4   0
Winnipeg (AAA)     .222  270  29  60   6   0  11   38  10  85   2 

11. Omar Infante, SS
12. Tony Blanco, 3B
13. Nic Jackson, OF
14. Corey Smith, 3B
15. J.J. Johnson, OF