June 17th- With the Minor League All Star games fast approaching, we at TPFS bring you our Mid-Season All Stars through all three levels of the Minors. There were a lot of tough omissions, and it’s too bad for this columnist’s sake that studs like Gordon Beckham (Chisox) and Daniel Bard (BoSox) were promoted to “The Show” before we could include them on this list. Nevertheless, there’s still a ton of talent in today’s Minor League’s and without further ado, here are our present day (maybe future) All Stars:
Catcher:
C – Yankees, Jesus Montero (HighA/AA) | .344 BA 8 HR 38 RBI 18 BB 29 K .399 OBP .538 SLG .937 OPS
Montero “The Impaler” keeps ascending the ranks of all Minor League players with his dominating league leading batting average in the tough FSL as a 19 year old. He was so impressive, that the Yankees brass just recently promoted him to AA. With Matt Witters now in Baltimore, Montero is now the best catching prospect in the minors.
(Honorable Mention)
C – Mets, Josh Thole (AA) | .348 BA 1 HR 23 RBI 26 BB 21 K .418 OBP .459 SLG .877 OPS
Thole edges out SF Giants Buster Posey, simply because raking in the first half of the year in the Eastern League is extremely hard with all the weather conditions, and heavy air as opposed to the friendly Cal League (A). He’s also been stellar behind the plate leaving off where he left off last year as the FSL’s best fielding percentage catcher. Watch for him.
First Base:
1B – Orioles, Brandon Snyder (AA) | .349 BA 10 HR 45 RBI 116 TB .421 OBP .604 SLG 1.025 OPS
The Orioles 1st rd pick in 2005 (13th overall) hasn’t had a month in which he hasn’t hit under .330. Wantt more impressive numbers? With runners on base he’s hitting .362 with an OPS of 1.097. It’s been a banner year for Orioles prospects, and Snyder is definitely one of them. Welcome to the squad, Brandon.
(Honorable Mention)
1B – Rangers, Justin Smoak (AA) | .325 BA 6 HR 25 RBI 32 BB 30 K .444 OBP .503 SLG .947 OPS
The Rangers 1st rd pick (11th overall) in 2008 has been paying dividends ever since he signed last year out of the University of South Carolina. He slumped a bit during May, but his defense never wavered and he still racked up the walks, showing a great understanding of the strike zone.
Second Base:
2B – Tigers, Scott Sizemore (AA/AAA) | .309 BA 9 HR 33 RBI 36 BB 46 K .405 OBP .539 SLG .944 OPS
Sizemore is the prototypical professional baseball player. He does nothing flashy, but gets results no matter what. He’s becoming a legit offensive second baseman with good hands, and a high IQ for the game. We like gamers here at TPFS, so Scott, come on board.
(Honorable Mention)
2B – Angels, Alexia Amarista (LowA) | .322 BA 21 RBI 100 TB 22 SB 27 BB 29 K .401 OBP .841 OPS
It’s been a down year for offensive second baseman, but this team needs some speed, scrappiness, and versatility so we’ve called on the diminutive Venezuelan. Amarista has seen action in the outfield and at 2nd base, where he has great range and a very good arm. He’s already stolen 22 bases through 60 games, but needs to work on his craft a little more, as he’s been caught 10 times. Where do the Angels get these guys?
Shortstop:
SS – Brewers, Alcides Escobar (AAA) | .310 BA 3 HR 22 RBI 25 SB .350 OBP .442 SLG .782 OPS
It’s only a matter of time before Escobar takes over for the very average James Hardy at Shortstop. Not only has Escobar handled his own with the bat as a 22 yr old in AAA, but his defense is getting better and better, and that’s a scary thought. He’s also a savvy base stealer, as he’s only been caught stealing 6 times so far. Last year he was only caught 8 times in 42 attempts. Could he be Jeter II?
(Honorable Mention)
SS – Mariners, Ramon Santana (LowA) | .338 BA 5 HR 29 RBI 25 BB 38 K .437 OBP .532 SLG .970 OPS
With Carlos Triunfel out for the season with a broken ankle, Santana has emerged as possibly the heir to the frustrating Yuniesky Betancourt in Seattle. Santana is small in stature (5’9” 155 lbs), but has surprising power that could make him a premium hitter playing in a premium position, even though he profiles more as a 2nd baseman in the Majors.
Third Base:
3B – Cubs, Josh Vitters (LowA) | .320 BA 13 HR 39 RBI 126 TB .360 OBP .553 SLG .913 OPS
The Cubs 3rd overall pick in the 2007 Draft is starting to hit like everyone thought he would coming out of HS in California. Vitters had a torrid month of May as he set the Peoria Chiefs franchise record for homers with 12 while hitting .386. Vitters is here!
(Honorable Mention)
3B – Mariners, Alex Liddi (HighA) | .335 BA 15 HR 57 RBI 151 TB .382 OBP .616 SLG .999 OPS
Liddi has seemingly come out of nowhere in the 1st half of the season, and his stats can’t get ignore. Signed out of Italy as a 17 year old, the young Liddi is terrorizing the Cal League while filling out his 6’4” frame. He’s a big time power prospect that Mariners fans should keep an eye on.
Outfield:
OF – Reds, Chris Heisey (AA) | .362 BA 13 HR 37 RBI 146 TB 31 BB 28 K .441 OBP .621 SLG 1.062 OPS
It’s a great time to be a Reds Minor League fan with so many positional prospects shining early in the ’09 season. None has shined brighter than the 6 foot Heisey. The 17th round choice in the 2006 Draft has been raking the Southern League leading the circuit in batting average, home runs, total bases, ops, and is just seven RBI’s off the RBI lead in his chase for the triple crown.
OF – Phillies, Michael Taylor (AA) | .332 BA 10 HR 42 RBI 22 BB 33 K 10 SB .401 OBP .555 SLG .955 OPS
The 6’6” 250 lb Taylor is an imposing talent that evokes Frank Thomas type visions with his awesome strike zone judgement, and ability to make adjustments at the plate. He’s a true 5 tool talent that can only get better as he moves through the Phillies system. Jayson Werth’s days are numbered, folks!
OF – Rays, Desmond Jennings (AA) | .327 BA 6 HR 31 RBI 22 SB 29 BB 35 K .403 OBP .518 SLG .921 OPS
Our leadoff hitter is probably my favorite player in the Minors today. Jennings has come back with a vengeance in 2009 after a injury riddled 2008 campaign that deprived fans from seeing one of the more exciting players in all of baseball today. It’s only a matter of time before he gets the call up to Tampa Bay, adding one more exciting player into the Rays stable.
(Honorable Mention)
OF – Yankees, Austin Jackson (AAA) | .345 BA 1 HR 27 RBI 105 TB .415 OBP .459 SLG .873 OPS
Its very impressive that Jackson is leading the International League in hits (79) and OBP (.415) while having the second best batting average throughout the first half of the season as a 22 year old. He’s also flashing a Gold Glove caliber glove in CF, and is an injury or two away from getting the call up to the NY Yankees. He’s a perfect 4th OF for the TPFS roster.
Pitchers:
SP – Reds, LHP Travis Wood (AA) | 6-3 W-L 1.11 ERA 1 CG 81 IP 50 H 31 BB 69 K .181 BA
The 5’11” 165 lb Wood has been nearly unhittable in the Southern League, and most definitely deserves to be on this prestigious list. His best pitch has been a straight/circle change that he throws to right handers, and is considered one of the better secondary offerings in the Minors. His fastball sits around 90-91 mph, and his much improved curveball has demolished SL hitters.
SP – Phillies, RHP Kyle Drabek (HighA/AA) | 6-1 W-L 2.60 ERA 1 CG 79.2 IP 67 H 31 BB 86 K
The Phillies 18th overall pick in the 2006 Draft is starting to pan out into the pitcher everyone thought he’d be pre 2008 Tommy John Surgery. He’s actually come back stronger flashing a mid 90’s fastball, that’s topped out at 97mph, along with a spike curveball and a better than average changeup. After dominating the FSL, the Phillies promoted Drabek to AA and so far he’s 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts. Could a rotation of Hamels, Drabek, Bastardo, Carrasco, and Happ be in the Phils future? Scary.
SP – Orioles, RHP Jake Arrieta (AA/AAA) | 6-4 W-L 2.49 ERA 65 IP 47 H 23 BB 76 K .199 BA
After handling the Eastern League for 11 starts, the Orioles promoted the talented right hander to their AAA club. The 6’4” 225 lb 5th rd pick in the 2007 Draft has dominated his Minor League competion since signing, and his rapid rise signals a renaissance for the Orioles organization. Arrieta is an aggressive bulldog type of pitcher who goes right after hitters with his mid 90’s fastball, great slider, and developing changeup that he sparingly uses, but has shown great depth this year. One shouldn’t be surprised he if he got a call up in September.
SP – Giants, LHP Madison Bumgarner (HighA/AA) | 7-2 W-L 2.01 ERA 58.1 IP 48 H 14 BB 55 K .223 BA
Is there anything Bumgarner can’t do? It seems he’s always putting up amazing numbers, and this year is no different. In late May the Giants decided to challenge the phenom by sending him to AA, and in five starts there he’s compiled a very good 4-1 2.38 ERA. No one can square up on his pitches, as he’s only allowed one HR this year and four HR’s total in the last 200 innings! It’s safe to say the Giants have another gem, and he’s TPFS’ All Star starter.
SP – Padres, RHP Mat Latos (HighA/AA) | 6-1 W-L 0.84 ERA 53.1 IP 28 H 11 BB 61 K 10.29 K/9
Latos dominated the Midwest League so much that the Padres brass decided on promoting the big burly 6’6” 225 pounder to AA, completely bypassing HighA ball. Opponents in both leagues are hitting a measly .153 off him, and he’s just getting stronger. Picked in the 11th round of the 2006 Draft, the big righty sports a dominating fastball and surprises many with pin point command on each side of the plate, as his 1.69 BB/9 ratio depicts. He seems like a high riser, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he gets the call up sooner than later for the struggling Pads.
(Honorable Mention)
SP – Yankees, RHP Zach McAllister (AA) | 5-2 W-L 1.60 ERA 67.1 IP 54 H 20 BB 49 K .220 BA
The Eastern League’s ERA leader definitely deserves a spot on this roster. Mostly a pitcher who pitches to contact by throwing a 91-93mpg two-seam fastball that contains heavy sink, along with a very good slider and changeup. He profiles as a middle of the rotation starter for now, but the 6’6” 230 lb righty still has some room to grow and add an inch on his fastball, which would make him a prospect to watch for in the 2nd half of the season and beyond.
Closer – Yankees, RHP/LHP Pat Venditte (LowA) | 2-1 W-L 0.64 ERA 20 Saves 28 IP 38 K .196 BA
We love Venditte because he’s the games only ambidextrous pitcher, and he’s having a hell of a year leading the South Atlantic League in 20 saves. We like that, so Tony Larussa, please eat your heart out!
