January 25, 200422 yr Thursday, July 10 Updated: November 21, 4:23 PM ET Meet the potential '08 All-Stars -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By John Sickels Special to ESPN.com Through sub-atomic manipulation of the quantum ether, and advanced subspace tunneling, I have managed to take a peek into the future at the 2008 All-Star teams. Of course, this is just one possible future. By writing this article, I'm changing the future from what it was supposed to be. Or maybe not ... temporal mechanics give me a headache. Anyhow, the point here is to look at current minor-league prospects who have a good chance of becoming All-Stars by '08. Obviously, this will not include guys who are already established stars and who will still probably be active at that time. Joe Mauer likely will be the Twins baby-face backstop next season. Putting A-Rod on this list is pointless. Also, there will probably be guys drafted in 2004 or 2005 who could be All-Stars by '08. I won't talk about them either, since my time-bending abilities only work so much. I'm avoiding anyone who has received full playing time in the majors this year: no Hank Blalock, who isn't a "prospect" anymore. I'm not putting any 2003 draftees on the list, since we don't have much data to work with for them yet. This list is meant to be fun. If your favorite prospect isn't here, don't be offended. This is just one possible reality, after all. The future is infinite. Finally, a special hello to Doc Peck and his comrades of Bravo Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance, United States Marine Corps, currently serving in Iraq. Hang tight, guys. Catcher Joe Mauer (Minnesota) and Justin Huber (New York Mets) Both of these guys were recently promoted to the Double-A Eastern League from Class A, and both are holding their own so far. Mauer is the premier catching prospect in the game, with strong defensive skills and a proven ability to hit for average and get on base. His power has not fully developed, but that should come with time. Huber has better pop right now and also hits for a decent average, but his overall ceiling isn't quite in Mauer's class. Honorable mentions: Victor Martinez, Cleveland, is a great hitter, though he may be a first baseman or DH by 2008. Jeff Mathis, Anaheim, has more power than Mauer does right now and is almost as refined in other ways. He is one of the best-kept secrets in the minor leagues. First base Justin Morneau (Minnesota) and James Loney (Los Angeles) I'm cheating a bit by putting Morneau here, as he is currently in the Show, though he hasn't exceeded rookie qualifications yet. If he stays healthy and maintains his current approach, he will be an All-Star, no question. Loney is further back, still in A-ball, but he's made rapid progress considering he was just drafted out of high school in 2002. He is playing well in the Florida State League after a slow start, and combines power, decent plate discipline, and strong athletic tools. Honorable mention: Prince Fielder, Milwaukee, has enormous power and has hit very well this year, but will have a harder time than Loney finding a position, and could be a DH by '08. But his bat is terrific. Second base Russ Adams (Toronto) and Josh Barfield (San Diego) Adams is an on-base machine, a sparkplug at the top of the order who draws walks, steals bases, and hits for average. If he can develop a bit of power, he will be an all-around player. Josh Barfield is Jesse's son, but is a middle infielder rather than an outfielder. He is hitting .345/.390/.547 in the Class A California League this year, with 10 steals. If he can improve his defense at second base, he will be a mainstay in the middle infield. Third base Kevin Youkilis (Boston) and Chad Tracy (Arizona) Youkilis is a sabermetric darling, due to his incredible plate discipline. He has 70 walks with just 35 strikeouts to go with a .313 average in Double-A this year. He won't have bunches of power, and he could end up being a useful player like Bill Mueller, but not a star. But the crystal ball says he has one All-Star season in him, and it might as well be '08. Tracy doesn't have Youkilis' eye, but he is a sweet swinger himself, with "potential batting champion" written all over him according to scouts. Shortstop B.J. Upton (Tampa Bay) and Khalil Greene (San Diego) The second player picked in the '02 draft, Upton is having a solid year in the Class A Sally League, hitting .263 but with 29 steals and plenty of walks. His power should increase with time, and his defense is well-regarded. Greene doesn't have Upton's physicality, but is much closer to being ready, playing well right now in Triple-A. The Padres are optimistic he can remain at shortstop, and he has the sort of quick bat and compact stroke that should produce both batting average and power production. Outfield Laynce Nix (Texas), Gabe Gross (Toronto), Nick Swisher (Oakland) Miguel Cabrera (Florida), Scott Hairston (Arizona), Jeff Francouer (Atlanta) Nix hasn't received much attention yet, but he is a fine prospect who combines both tools and skills, and is having a solid year in Double-A. His name has popped up in trade rumors, but the Rangers may end up keeping him. Gross has rebounded from a poor 2002 season to play well in '03. Like Nix, he has tools and skills, though he doesn't quite have Nix's raw power. Swisher is a Billy Beane favorite, recently promoted to Double-A a year after being drafted in the first round. He is a switch-hitter with power, patience, and fine defensive outfield skills. On the National League side, we will cheat a bit and slot in Cabrera, currently playing with the Marlins but still technically a rookie. He was developed as a third baseman but looks to be in the outfield by '08. Like Morneau, his bat is very special, and he deserves mention on this list. Hairston, one of the baseball playing Hairston family, is currently a second baseman, but could move to the outfield eventually. His bat is excellent. Francouer is a toolsy product of the Braves system, playing well in the Sally League. There are numerous promising outfielders at the A-ball level who could be mentioned here, but Francouer has a terrific ceiling, and has shown signs of being able to reach it. Starting pitchers Zack Greinke (Royals), Rich Harden (Oakland) John VanBenschoten (Pittsburgh), Adam Wainwright (Atlanta) I profiled Greinke in Down on the Farm this week. Click here for the full report. Harden, meanwhile, continues to strike people out at a good clip in Triple-A, though he hasn't been quite as overpowering as he was early in the season. He is still an outstanding long-range prospect, and as good a bet as any minor-league pitcher to be a future All-Star. Other AL pitching prospects to watch include Kris Honel (White Sox), Jason Arnold, Dustin McGowan, and Brandon League of Toronto, and Brandon Claussen of the Yankees. VanBenschoten, an '01 first-round pick and former college outfielder, has proven the Pirates were right about moving him to the mound full-time, confounding skeptics (like me) who thought it was a mistake. Wainwright, a Braves prospect, should continue Atlanta's tradition of developing starters in the Kevin Millwood/Jason Schmidt mode. The aging of the Braves rotation will, perhaps, keep them from trading Wainwright and other impressive arms they have collected. Gavin Floyd of Philadelphia, Edwin Jackson and Joel Hanrahan of Los Angeles, and Aaron Heilman of the Mets are other possible NL stars. Relief pitchers Dan Denham (Indians) and Scott Kazmir (Mets) Denham is currently a starting pitcher, but his sinking fastball and good slider could make him a dominant relief pitcher. Kazmir was compared to Billy Wagner when he was drafted, and projecting similar performance from him isn't hard to do as long as he stays healthy. Many relief pitchers were starters in the minors, so it would be no surprise if some of the All-Star bullpenners in '08 were actually minor-league starters in '03. Conclusion Exercises like this are fun, but they don't tell us a whole lot about what will actually happen in 2008. Injuries will intervene, especially for the pitchers. Prospects can and will come out of nowhere. "Can't miss" guys can miss, and miss badly. And surely someone drafted in 2004 or 2005 will develop very quickly and make an '08 All-Star team. But peeking into the future is what I do here at Down on the Farm, and rest assured at least some of the names listed above will make the '08 teams. At least in the universe I accessed with my time machine. I'm suprised we didn't have more than just Miggy
January 25, 200422 yr Author Dontrelle isn't listed because he was an All-Star in 2003. it doesnt say that, but you might be right But what about Jeremy Hermida? Jeff Allison? (i'm not sure if he was drafted at the date of this article) Jason Stokes? They at least deserve an honorable mention
January 25, 200422 yr Author 2008? Cabrera can be a potential all-star in 2004 or 2005 don't forget, this was written in July Cabrera was in the Bigs, but he hadn't broke out. he might be an all star in '05, but he'll be one in '08 also, so why not put him on the list?
January 25, 200422 yr Hermida will be good, and I think that Allison will most definately be a major league All-Star at some point in his lifetime. Stokes is up in the air as of now. Miguel will be an All-Star in 2004 if he has anywhere near numbers that can somewhat pass for AS caliber, because Jack will pick him no question. I'm sorry, but I hope every single player on this team that has deserved an AS spot in the past and deserves one this year makes it because of Jack, to make up for the past, just like Mike did with the Angels and Dusty did last season with the Giants and Cubs.
January 25, 200422 yr He can be there in 04, maybe that's a stretch, but not impossible If he has a very good first half, I would put money on it. Remember who is managing the club. Oh, and I think Juanpy will be amongst our all stars this year. Maybe not starting (I'm voting for him), but I think he'll be there for sure. And with the publicity Beckett has gotten since the beginning of the playoffs, I think if he does well enough in the first half he could start the all star game.
January 25, 200422 yr Oh, and I think Juanpy will be amongst our all stars this year. Maybe not starting (I'm voting for him), but I think he'll be there for sure. And with the publicity Beckett has gotten since the beginning of the playoffs, I think if he does well enough in the first half he could start the all star game. Agreed, 100%. If Juan is batting .240, I still see him getting picked. Jack could always say, "Hey, I want to be prepared for everything. He is my pinch runner" or something. But he'll make it, just because Jack knows how hard he works. And I see Beckett there as well if he has anywhere near decent AS-caliber stats.
January 25, 200422 yr For some reason, i see lowell have better numbers next season than this season... (unlike some have said). But JP numbers wont Drop. I could even see a higher avg or more steals. He could be better now at Pro Player since last season he had to adapt to that stadium. Beckett will be a All-Star Barring Injury. Without an Injury he is a Cy Young Canidate.
January 25, 200422 yr Author Lowell, JP, and Luis are shoo ins, especially with Jack we'll definetly have more, just depends on who's playing well
January 25, 200422 yr Author will jack be here in 2005? hopefully, i think he's only here through this year (i think) But he could always decide to stay *prays*
January 25, 200422 yr Author Whenever he leaves I think Davis should become the coach. he's in line to
January 25, 200422 yr Whenever he leaves I think Davis should become the coach. he's in line to Jack's succesor
January 25, 200422 yr Author Whenever he leaves I think Davis should become the coach. he's in line to Jack's succesor he's supposed to be
January 25, 200422 yr Whenever he leaves I think Davis should become the coach. he's in line to Jack's succesor he's supposed to be he should be......anybody else here except for me and heckeroo
January 25, 200422 yr Author Whenever he leaves I think Davis should become the coach. he's in line to Jack's succesor he's supposed to be he should be......anybody else here except for me and heckeroo sure doesn't seem like it
January 25, 200422 yr Whenever he leaves I think Davis should become the coach. he's in line to Jack's succesor he's supposed to be he should be......anybody else here except for me and heckeroo sure doesn't seem like it Echo *echo echo echo echo*
January 25, 200422 yr Author Whenever he leaves I think Davis should become the coach. he's in line to Jack's succesor he's supposed to be he should be......anybody else here except for me and heckeroo sure doesn't seem like it Echo *echo echo echo echo* :lol *tumbleweed (or whatever it's called) rolls across screen like in western movies*
January 25, 200422 yr Whenever he leaves I think Davis should become the coach. he's in line to Jack's succesor he's supposed to be he should be......anybody else here except for me and heckeroo sure doesn't seem like it Echo *echo echo echo echo* :lol *tumbleweed (or whatever it's called) rolls across screen like in western movies* :lol :lol classic
January 25, 200422 yr Whenever he leaves I think Davis should become the coach. he's in line to Jack's succesor he's supposed to be he should be......anybody else here except for me and heckeroo sure doesn't seem like it Echo *echo echo echo echo* :lol *tumbleweed (or whatever it's called) rolls across screen like in western movies* :lol :lol classic Jeff Conine is the next Marlins Manager :o
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