Revisit - Hatt best prospects (2B)

Hatt - Second Base might be the most crowded position in the GAP, with a collection of prospects that would make Billy Beane drool. On Base Percentages are well over .400 and the collective OPS is known to sky past 1.000. Watch out in a couple years, as these guys fight for All-Star and Silver Slugger positioning, and look to power some very promising organizations.

I have to agree with hatt, this was the deepest of the bunch. Tough to really say who the best player is. May has the most power and Taylor is best at getting on base.

AAA – Norm May (23) Arizona Diamondbacks

Highly regarded as one of the better prospects in all of the Great American Pastime going into Season 1, May has not disappointed. Working his way up the ladder in Arizona, May has a career OPS of 1.065 and has 332 RBI in only 282 career games. His most impressive stat, though? 187 walks and a career OBP of .419, making him one of the most versatile players in the GAP, as he could sit nearly anywhere in the D-backs lineup when he finally gets the call.

Hitting: 1559G, 933R, 1672H, 351HR, 976RBI, 2-7 SB/CS, .281/.344/.513 Ave/OBP/Slg

Fielding: 2B - 1192G, 10263 innings, 13/28 +/-, .981 field%, 5.94 range

AA – Jim Jacome (21) Chicago White Sox

The “Bad Guys” first round pick in Season 2 has paid instant dividends, smacking the ball wherever he plays. Chicago is having a hard time deciding on a level for him, simply because wherever he lands, he just seems a little too talented to be there. This shouldn’t last too long as Jacome could very well see the big leagues by Season 4, especially if he keeps up his .338 minor league average.

Hitting: 1341G, 781R, 1506H, 106HR, 580RBI, 98-97 SB/CS, .283/.352/.400 Ave/OBP/Slg

Fielding: 2B - 623G, 5545 innings, 8/4 +/-, .989 field%, 5.73 range

HiA – John Mahoney (20) Charlotte Dukes

The up and coming Dukes are probably the major’s biggest surprise this year, and their farm system isn’t too shabby either, especially with prospects like John Mahoney. This future all-star is one of the better line drive hitters in the minors, holding an impressive career average of .368 with 199 runs scored in 206 career games played. He’s still pretty raw, but given a couple years, Mahoney could become a solid leadoff man for a stacked Charlotte squad.

Hitting: 156G, 66R, 135H, 10HR, 45RBI, 0-0 SB/CS, .265/.314/.377Ave/OBP/Slg

LowA – Pat Taylor (20) Cleveland Indians

They may be in the cellar of the AL East, but the people of Clevelandhave a lot to look forward to with a stacked system and a devoted GM.The most exciting prospect has to be Pat Taylor, who is lined up to be one of the best utility men once he hits the majors. Taylor has power to all corners of the field, and a batting eye unmatched by anyone in the league. This former Season 2 first round pick has torn up Rookie and Low A ball in an equivalent of one full minor league season, hitting .331/.441/.578/1.019 and scoring 129 runs in 117 games.

Hitting: 1271G, 881R, 1345H, 142HR, 582RBI, 171-104 SB/CS, .296/.396/.463 Ave/OBP/Slg

Fielding: 2B - 1198G, 9662 innings, 21/15 +/-, .983 field%, 5.89 range

Revisit - Hatt best prospects (1B)

Amazing, that for such an easy position to find good hitters, that Hatt only hit on one good prospect. All the others were either decent (Norman) or just not good enough to stick at the ML level (Morales and Atkins). Bonilla is a HOFer though.

AAA – Al Bonilla (22) San Diego Padres

$12.3 million seemed outrageous for the first true international GAP prospect, but spending has increased over the first couple seasons, and it looks like right about where he would have landed for today. Bonilla was immediately thrown into the fire at AAA, and has flourished since day one. Al has been a terror at the plate, holding a career OPS of 1.127 and smacking 88 homers in only 221 career games. Season 3 looks to really be his breakout year, as he has already compiled a .385 avg with 18 HR and 48 RBI thus far.

Hitting: 1532G, 1007R, 1631H, 441HR, 1170RBI, 1-32 SB/CS, .285/.378/.575 Ave/OBP/Slg

AA – Joey Norman (22) Chicago Cubs

Norman, a Season 1 first rounder out of Central City, IA, was one of Vancouver’s prized prospects for the first couple seasons, but ended up in Chicago during the Season 2 playoffs in a blockbuster deal. Norman has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the minors, and should be hitting the majors by next season. He holds a career OPS of 1.065 and is hitting .348 so far between High A and AA in Season 3.

Hitting: 954G, 573R, 1044H, 152HR, 615RBI, 70-55 SB/CS, .285/.348/.487

HiA – Don Atkins (20) San Diego Padres

A steal as a 6^th round pick in the Season 2 draft, Atkins has made the most of his time in the Padres system, blasting 37 HR and 145 RBI in only 109 career games. Atkins is still 2 or 3 years off from seeing the big club, but he should be an impressive cleanup hitter when his time comes.

Hitting: Played 30 games and hit .189. Thats all you need to know

LowA – Damaso Morales (20) St. Louis Cardinals

Admittedly, Cubs management didn’t quite know what they were giving up when they traded Morales during the 2^nd GAP playoffs. An early international prospect who was paid only a $2.1 million bonus, Morales has been nothing short of spectacular when given the opportunity. Through the same amount of games as Atkins, Morales holds a career average of .365 with 38 HR and 146 RBI. Even more impressive is his career OBP of .459 and OPS of 1.211. Oh yeah, he’s only 20 years old...

Played in 4 games in the big leagues.

Revisit - Hatt best prospects (C)

I decided to take a look back at the Hatt prospect review section. Mostly just a comparison of stats.

Not much separation of the catching bunch so far other than number of games played. Juarez is the best hitter of the best and Baez has probably been the most reliable from a defensive and number of games he can play every year - though he is no Joe Mauer. Would love some comments.

AAA - Torey Camacho (24) Arizona Diamondbacks

(Hatt)One more year should be all it takes before “Macho” Camacho finally hits the big show. He has decent power for a gap hitter, but his real strength lies in his pitch calling. D-Back’s management has never seen a youngster call a game quite like Camacho, and that could be the edge Arizonaneeds in a crowded NL West.

Hitting: 797G, 279R, 635H, 83HR, 314RBI, 0-4 SB/CS, .274/.332/.434 Ave/OBP/Slg

Fielding: 710G, 5320 innings, 52PB, 369SB - 69CS, .998 field%, 4.48ERA

AA - Max Baez (20) Cleveland Indians

You won’t find a better pure Catcher in the entire GAP than Baez.Comparisons to Joe Mauer might not even do him justice, as Baez has earned his nickname of “The Natural” in just a few short years. He’s only 20 years old, but could see the majors as soon as next year.

Hitting: 1422G, 636R, 1493H, 129HR, 588RBI, 0-3 SB/CS, .288/.349/.399 Ave/OBP/Slg

Fielding: 1405G, 11860 innings, 73PB, 634SB - 285CS, .997 field%, 4.39ERA

HiA – Bobby Ray Dixon (21) Oakland Athletics

For a signal caller, Dixon is merely average, but as a power hitter, he is well above that. Bobby Ray has a knack for crushing RHP, and it all stems from his presence in the batter’s box. A’s scout Ralph O’Connor put it best, “He may not be too physically imposing, but Bobby Ray doesn’t back down to anyone.” His most famous moment came in Season 2, when he was plunked in the head in a game against Seattle and went on to hit 2 HR’s in his next two AB’s.

Hitting: 987G, 373R, 697H, 102HR, 397RBI, 1-4 SB/CS, .262/.346/.425 Ave/OBP/Slg

Fielding: 845G, 6011 innings, 57PB, 450SB - 113CS, .998 field%, 3.97ERA

LowA – Juan Juarez (19) Toronto Blue Jays

Although he’s only played one game, Juarez could very well be the best Catcher/DH prospect in the entire GAP (yes, even challenging “Mighty” Max Baez). At only 19, this Venezuelen natural is ready to take on the GAP with excellent power to all fields and a batting eye rivaling Barry Bonds. Don’t look for this kid to be at Low A for too long.

Hitting: 849G, 536R, 871H, 192HR, 557RBI, 0-3 SB/CS, .275/.380/.507 Ave/OBP/Slg

Fielding: 698G, 5952 innings, 50PB, 494SB - 120CS, .997 field%, 4.81ERA