October 5, 200421 yr 2004 Arizona Fall League Preview By Chris Kline October 5, 2004 Since the Arizona Fall League first cranked up in 1992, it has featured many of the top prospects in the game each year. This year is no different, though in an interesting twist 29 players from last season return for more AFL time in 2004. The first two picks of the 2003 draft headline the returnees, with Devil Rays outfielder Delmon Young and Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks back to try to speed their paths to the big leagues. We'll have results and statistics at BaseballAmerica.com, and to get an expert view of the most interesting players to watch in the league this year, read on: GRAND CANYON RAFTERS Top Pitcher: Scott Baker, rhp, Twins. The best hurlers on the Rafters roster come from the Twins, with righthanders J.D. Durbin and closer Jesse Crain scheduled to join the roster. But Baker stands above the rest, moving from high Class A Fort Myers to Triple-A Rochester this season. Top Position Player: Jason Kubel, of, Twins. The Rafters ought to have an awful lot of offense with Kubel, Eastern League home run champ Mitch Jones (Yankees) and outfielders Jeff Francoeur (Braves), Curtis Granderson (Tigers) and Fred Lewis (Giants). Bouncing Back: Macay McBride, lhp, Braves. McBride was one of the top pitchers in the Braves system a year ago, but got hit hard in his first year in Double-A and moved to the bullpen by midseason. Though Braves officials said his stuff was still there—he struck out 102 in 103 innings—McBride went 1-7, 4.44. He finished the year strong, going 1-1, 3.23 in August and September, and looks to build on that momentum this fall. Emerging: Brian McCann, c, Braves. McCann made a name for himself this season as the catcher on BA’s Minor League All-Star Team. A 20-year-old lefthanded-hitting catcher, McCann batted .277-15-65 at high Class A Myrtle Beach, a noted haven for pitchers. Drafted for his bat, McCann is far from one-dimensional and made a strong case for passing Brayan Pena as the best defensive catcher in the system, throwing out 30 percent (33 of 110) of basestealers this season. MESA SOLAR SOX Top Pitcher: Sean Marshall, lhp, Cubs. The Solar Sox also boast righthanders Adam Waiwright (Cardinals) and Jae Kuk Ryu (Cubs). Top Position Player: Delmon Young, of, Devil Rays. Young is the clear choice here, even though Mesa will have Brian Anderson (White Sox) also manning the outfield. Bouncing Back: Cory Sullivan, of, Rockies. Sullivan missed the entire season after having Tommy John surgery in May, so the Rockies sent him to the AFL to make up for missed at-bats. A two-way star at Wake Forest, Sullivan doesn’t have a standout tool, but he plays a solid center field with a strong arm and good instincts, and he has good leadoff skills. Sullivan led the Texas League with 167 hits in 2003 and hopes to take the first step toward getting back on track this fall. Emerging: Brian Dopirak, 1b, Cubs. The 20-year-old blossomed in his first full season at low Class A Lansing, hitting .307-39-120. A second-round pick in 2002, Dopirak’s weakness remains plate discipline, as he struck out 123 times in 541 at-bats. Still, with a good fall he could skip high Class A next season and go straight to Double-A West Tenn. Scouts say Dopirak’s power will have to carry him, but he hit for the highest average in his career this season. PEORIA JAVELINAS Top Pitcher: Chris Oxspring, rhp, Padres. The Javelinas’ staff also includes righthanders Dan Denham (Indians), David Crouthers (Orioles) and lefthander Bill Bray (Expos). Top Position Prospect: Shin-Soo Choo, of, Mariners. Second baseman Josh Barfield (Padres), catcher Ryan Garko (Indians) and first baseman Paul McAnulty (Padres) should get plenty of opportunities to drive in runs. Bouncing Back: Jake Dittler, rhp, Indians. Back stiffness limited the 21-year-old this year, particularly during the first half. Dittler has outstanding stuff but needs a shot of confidence now, which the Indians are hoping will happen this fall. After going 5-1, 2.40 in 49 innings at Class A Kinston last season, Dittler went 5-12, 5.02 in Double-A this year. Emerging: Mike Morse, ss, Mariners. Morse was the most accomplished shortstop in the White Sox system before he was dealt to Seattle along with outfielder Jeremy Reed and catcher Miguel Olivo, and he continued to improve this season. He hit a combined .281-17-71 in 366 at-bats in the Southern and Texas leagues. And at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, the power should continue to improve. PEORIA SAGUAROS Top Pitcher: Francisco Rosario, rhp, Blue Jays. Righthander John Hudgins (Rangers) and Adam Peterson (Blue Jays) bring nice balance to the Saguaros staff. Top Position Player: Aaron Hill, ss, Blue Jays. Peoria’s outfield should also have some pop and speed, with Jason Botts (Rangers) and Nate McLouth (Pirates). Bouncing Back: Bobby Bradley, rhp, Pirates. Bradley’s career has been stalled by a succession of injuries, but he has worked to put himself back on the radar. It didn’t hurt that his friend and former high school teammate Sean Burnett reached the big leagues and tasted success with Pittsburgh this season. Pirates officials saw a different demeanor from Bradley in the second half of the season at Double-A Altoona after Burnett’s callup. Emerging: Ian Kinsler, ss, Rangers. Kinsler wasn’t ranked among the Rangers’ top 30 prospects heading into the season, but he had an undeniable breakout year between Class A Clinton and Double-A Frisco. Kinsler more than held his own in the Texas League, hitting .300-9-46 in 271 at-bats and .345-20-99 overall. His doubles total between both leagues was ridiculous: 51 in 129 games. PHOENIX DESERT DOGS Top Pitcher: Huston Street, rhp, Athletics. Righthanders Brian Bass (Royals), Keith Bucktrot (Phillies), and Trevor Hutchinson (Marlins) all will eat up innings for Phoenix. Top Position Prospect: Jeremy Hermida, of, Marlins. Expect no power outages from a lineup that includes first baseman Ryan Howard (Phillies), third baseman Mark Teahen (Royals), and Nick Gorneault (Angels). Bouncing Back: Eric Reed, of, Marlins. Reed was off to a torrid start at Double-A Carolina before a broken wrist cut his season short. A speedster who is close to an 80 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale, Reed is also an excellent bunter. He is the best defensive outfielder in the Marlins system, showing remarkable range and jumps in center field. Emerging: Ryan Howard, 1b, Phillies. Howard established himself as one of the premier power threats in the minors this year, bashing 46 home runs between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to lead the minor leagues. Howard has been widely discussed in trades, and with Jim Thome entrenched at first at Philadelphia the plan is to try him in the outfield this fall—something the Phillies had been reluctant to do until now. SCOTTSDALE SCORPIONS Top Pitcher: Jared Gothreaux, rhp, Astros. Two Reds’ prospects are in Scottsdale to get more work in, with Daylan Childress and Dustin Moseley on the roster. Top Position Prospect: Rickie Weeks, 2b, Brewers. The Scorpions aren’t short on tools, with Weeks joined by outfielders Charlton Jimerson and Willy Taveras (Astros) and Marland Williams (Diamondbacks). Bouncing Back: James Loney, 1b, Dodgers. Loney broke his finger this spring, and it became infected and required minor surgery, so he wasn’t really in game shape until mid-June. Loney is a disciplined hitter with good pitch recognition and a classic stroke, and he should be an above-average defensive first baseman as well. Emerging: Carlos Quentin, of, Diamondbacks. You could take either Quentin or fellow Diamondbacks outfielder Conor Jackson in this category, but most scouts say that Quentin has the higher ceiling and classic right-field tools. In his first full season as a pro, Quentin jumped from high Class A Lancaster to Double-A El Paso and batted .331-21-89 overall. A fearless hitter, he was hit by 43 pitches this season, setting a minor league record. The team in bold is the team that includes marlins prospects.
October 5, 200421 yr Should be interesting to see how Reed bounces back. He was tearing it up before the injury.
October 5, 200421 yr I love Reed. Would like to see Hermida show some power, too. Hutchinson has his work cut out for him. Could be our #5 this coming season.
October 5, 200421 yr If Reed is productive it opens the possibility of trading Juan to free some cash. Probably won't happen but it will give us more toys to play with.
October 5, 200421 yr I'd like to see us take a step back and not expect any serious contributions from these guys until 2006. We can't make these guys our everyday anything next year and expect to be competitive. Do I hope they prove me wrong? Sure, but I don't think Hermida is going to be raking big-league pitching until the middle of next year at the earliest, and there's no need to go through growing pains with him when our outfield situation is all locked up contract wise for next year. Hate on Encarnacion all you want, but him healthy is more of a sure thing than any of our minor league talent for 2005.
October 5, 200421 yr I'd like to see Wilson, Hutch and Reed get a serious look at Spring Training for the team...Better then Mordi and Encarnacion.
October 5, 200421 yr If Reed is productive it opens the possibility of trading Juan to free some cash. Probably won't happen but it will give us more toys to play with. 583133[/snapback] Thats my biggest hope in this AFL. Is J-Will going to play? When does it start?
October 5, 200421 yr tswift, who are you even talking about? 583461[/snapback] Whoa, calm down. I'm talking about the faction on this board that wants to see Encarnacion, Lo Duca, Conine, Castillo etc. go to make room for the "youth movement." Our minor league roster is bereft of that can't miss big thing for next year. I love a lot of our young guys and expect them to be big (especially Scott Olsen and Hermida). There is no one in our minor league system who is convincingly better than who we have under contract next year as a starter (and stop this Willingham over Lo Duca talk because we've already indicated that we're keeping Lo Duca. Is he worth $6 million - I don't know, but he's a respected veteran and we already let the best catcher maybe ever leave...we'renot making the same mistake twice). I hate watching the playoffs knowing that our team is just as good as the teams in it...I want to win, and going with a youth movement will not get it done.
October 6, 200421 yr Author tswift, who are you even talking about? 583461[/snapback] Whoa, calm down. I'm talking about the faction on this board that wants to see Encarnacion, Lo Duca, Conine, Castillo etc. go to make room for the "youth movement." Our minor league roster is bereft of that can't miss big thing for next year. I love a lot of our young guys and expect them to be big (especially Scott Olsen and Hermida). There is no one in our minor league system who is convincingly better than who we have under contract next year as a starter (and stop this Willingham over Lo Duca talk because we've already indicated that we're keeping Lo Duca. Is he worth $6 million - I don't know, but he's a respected veteran and we already let the best catcher maybe ever leave...we'renot making the same mistake twice). I hate watching the playoffs knowing that our team is just as good as the teams in it...I want to win, and going with a youth movement will not get it done. 583489[/snapback] Yeah some youth movement we're talking about. It's 1 player, and his name is Josh Willingham. It's pretty obvious why people wouldn't want Enc back, he's overpaid and underproductive. I've never said I wanted Conine to leave, and the only time I considered getting rid of Castillo is if the FO decided that Willy was unable to play catcher and they had to keep Lo Duca. And another thing don't compare Pudge and Lo Duca. Lo Duca isn't close to being half the player Pudge is or was.
October 6, 200421 yr tswift, who are you even talking about? 583461[/snapback] Whoa, calm down. I'm talking about the faction on this board that wants to see Encarnacion, Lo Duca, Conine, Castillo etc. go to make room for the "youth movement." Our minor league roster is bereft of that can't miss big thing for next year. I love a lot of our young guys and expect them to be big (especially Scott Olsen and Hermida). There is no one in our minor league system who is convincingly better than who we have under contract next year as a starter (and stop this Willingham over Lo Duca talk because we've already indicated that we're keeping Lo Duca. Is he worth $6 million - I don't know, but he's a respected veteran and we already let the best catcher maybe ever leave...we'renot making the same mistake twice). I hate watching the playoffs knowing that our team is just as good as the teams in it...I want to win, and going with a youth movement will not get it done. 583489[/snapback] calm down?... i didnt think i sounded like i was getting worked up over it... i was just wondering what players you were talking about in this youth movement
October 6, 200421 yr Admin Beinfest sat in with Dave Van Horne and Jon "Back to my room?" Sciambi and was optimistic that Hermida and Hutchinson could make a jump to the big leagues by next summer.
October 6, 200421 yr Admin Beinfest sat in with Dave Van Horne and Jon "Back to my room?" Sciambi and was optimistic that Hermida and Hutchinson could make a jump to the big leagues by next summer. 583614[/snapback] mr. ferry do you know when the AFL starts and if j-willy is partaking in the fun?
October 6, 200421 yr The games started today, I can't seem to find any box scores yet though. 583636[/snapback] Thanks FF. Cant wait to see the results. Whos else is there? Messenger?
October 6, 200421 yr Author The games started today, I can't seem to find any box scores yet though. 583636[/snapback] Thanks FF. Cant wait to see the results. Whos else is there? Messenger? 583638[/snapback] AFL
October 6, 200421 yr The games started today, I can't seem to find any box scores yet though. 583636[/snapback] Thanks FF. Cant wait to see the results. Whos else is there? Messenger? 583638[/snapback] Fulchino, Hutch, McNutt, Mess, Hermida, Wilson, and Reed
October 6, 200421 yr Last game today started at 9 PM EST. I wouldn't expect an update from MLB or Baseball America until tomorrow morning.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.