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2002 season Final Report National League Central
Cubs - Free from the injuries that plagued him last fall, Hee Seop Choi (1B) put together a monstrous AFL season. He was part of a three-man homerun race until missing time to a nasty case of the flu late in the year. Choi hit .345/.456/.714. The slugging percentage would have been a new league record if Scottsdale first baseman Ken Harvey hadn't topped it with a mark of .757. He hit eight HRs in 84 ABs, many of them powerful shots to right field. Choi also showed that he's a solid defensive first baseman. He still has holes in his swing which major league pitchers may find ways to exploit. Choi struck out 24 times, but also drew 17 walks. The Korean left-handed hitter absolutely crushes the ball if the pitcher makes a mistake. He is expected to be Chicago's starting first baseman in 2003 ... Ryan Gripp (3B) was a utility player who didn't pay much for the Mesa Solar Sox, so he never had the chance to get into a groove. But he also hasn't solved AA pitching after one and a half seasons, so more work is required. Gripp was subsequently traded to the Milwaukee Brewers ... Ray Sadler (OF) spent most of 2002 in Class A, so not a lot was expected from him in the AFL. But he hit reasonably well (.286/.318/.369 in 84 ABs). Sadler needs to cut down on his strikeouts and walk more (22-4 K/BB ratio) ... The Dutch southpaw Ferenc Jongejan (P) got hit hard (5.09 ERA, .338 OBA), but didn't walk many hitters (six in 17.2 IPs) and kept the ball in the park ... Jon Leicester (P) struggled in all aspects (8.29 ERA, .341 OBA, 20 BBs and four hit batters in 33.2 IPs). Three of those hit batters came in one disastrous inning. Leicester pitched better in high Class A and AA in 2002, although his command was still an issue ... Todd Wellemeyer (P) was one of the top right-handers in the league. In nine starts, he held hitters to a .190 OBA, fanned 40 and walked 12 in 34.2 IPs. His AFL performance was even more impressive considering he's only appeared in eight games above A ball. At 24, he could move through the Cubs organization quickly.
Reds - Cincinnati contributed a number of strong players to the division-winning Scottsdale Scorpions ... Dane Sardinha (C) silenced the critics who maintained the native Hawaiian was more of a defensive catcher and would not hit enough to be a big league regular. Sardinha put together a fine season as the Scorpion catcher, both behind and at the plate. He hit for both average and power (.311/.349/.495, four HRs, seven doubles in 103 ABs). The native Hawaiian has a quick release on throws to second base. At the plate, he has a nice, compact stroke with power to the opposite field. He still needs to make better contact and be more selective, but the AFL season was a big jump forward for Sardinha ...Something's not working for Gookie Dawkins (SS). Once considered Cincinnati's shortstop of the future, he spent as much time coaching first base as actually playing this fall. His meager offensive numbers (.200/.313/.257) show that he's just not developing into a major league hitter. The defense is still there, but he's looking more like a utility type instead of a major league regular ... AFL fans were eager to follow the progress of super-hyped prospect Wily Mo Pena (OF), but the Dominican native played only three games before tearing a hamstring, an injury that required surgery and put the 20-year-old out for the entire winter season. In his brief appearance, Pena showed good bat speed and slammed one impressive opposite field homerun ... Stephen Smitherman (OF) came in as a replacement for Pena midway through the season and didn't see a lot of action. But he followed his strong California League season with a nice performance in the AFL (.351/.455/.486 in 37 ABs). He's a big man (6'4", 230) who runs well. Smitherman is already 24, so he needs to get off to a quick start in AA next year ... Bobby Basham (P) was one of the stronger pitchers in the league (2.16 ERA, 1.17 WHIP), impressive considering he has only 19 regular season games of pro experience, with none above the low Class A level. The most eye-popping stat from the 22-year-old Virginian is his 33-4 K/BB ratio. Basham obviously knows how to pitch. Reds fans have to be excited about his future ... Another strong performance from a Reds right-hander came from Luke Hudson (P), although the 25-year-old pitcher is more experienced than Basham. Acquired from Colorado in the last off-season, Hudson saw some limited action with Cincinnati. Using a fastball clocked in the mid-90s, he fanned 41 batters in 28.2 IPs. His 4.40 ERA was bloated by a bad outing, but otherwise Hudson pitched well ... John Koronka (P) is a left-handed starter who has bounced around the Reds organization for five years. He split the 2002 regular season between high Class A, where he posted an 11-0 record, and AA. Koronka pitched well in Arizona, holding batters to a .212 OBA while striking out 32 batters in 36 IPs. He was selected by Texas in the Rule 5 draft, but is not likely to stick on the major league roster ... Mike Neu (P) is not your typical closer, standing only 5'10". But his numbers tell a different story. The 24-year-old right-hander pitched very well for Scottsdale; in 18.2 IPs, he held opposing hitters to a .247 batting average and struck out 24 while walking only eight batters. The Oakland A's grabbed Neu in the Rule 5 draft; he stands a better chance of making a major league roster in 2003 than Koronka.
Astros - Tommy Whiteman (SS) was one of the two best shortstops in the AFL, especially impressive since he's played only 19 games above low Class A (Houston did not have a high Class A affiliate in 2002, causing Whiteman to repeat the Low A level instead of advancing). The Oklahoma native played well in all facets of the game. He hit .330/.389/.474 with a little power, and demonstrated good range and a strong arm in the field. After leaving Whiteman in Class A for two years, it's time for Houston to accelerate him through the farm system ... John Buck (C) struggled with a nagging injury in his second go-around in the AFL. He did not have as strong of a season as last year, when he was the league's top catching prospect. In 82 ABs this season, he hit .256/.292/.354. Questions have been raised about his footwork behind the plate. Buck is only 22 and has the physical skills, so he's still a highly-rated prospect. Good health and a strong AAA season in 2003 will keep him on the road to the regular catching job in Houston ... Mike Hill (OF) filled a part-time role for the Mesa team and hit fairly well (.265/.321/.429, eight doubles in 98 ABs). The biggest concern with Hill is that he's already 26 and only just finished AA ... Southpaw Mike Gallo (P) came in late after Tom Shearn was removed from the roster. He pitched well in his short visit to Arizona, with a 1.64 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 11 IPs ... Former second round pick Chad Qualls (P) came to the AFL after a full season in AA and, on the most part, pitched effectively (4.45 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 19 Ks in 28.1 IPs).
Brewers - The team with one of the worst records in baseball in 2002 has at least a few bright prospects coming through their system. Milwaukee sent both of their potential future shortstops to the AFL, and it was clear who is the better prospect ... Bill Hall (SS) took a big step backwards after a strong 2001 season. He didn't play well in AAA nor did he do much in his second AFL year after coming to Arizona midway through the fall season, hitting .175 with only one extra base hit in 57 ABs . His ability to play shortstop at the major league level has also been questioned ... The younger J.J. Hardy (SS), who reached AA in July, showed much more potential than Hall. While hitting only .221 in 68 AFL ABs, Hardy smacked a couple of homeruns. He has nice bat control and a good swing. He's also a better defensive player and, at 20, is three years younger than Hall ... Corey Hart (3B/1B) was Milwaukee's best player in the AFL; he hit .275/.327/.443 with 10 doubles, three triples and three homers in 149 ABs. The lanky corner infielder also stole five bases. He's got a nice stroke and can go to all fields, but needs to cut down on the strikeouts (46 Ks in 149 ABs). It's uncertain whether Hart, who played most of 2002 in high Class A, can play third base at the major league level. With Richie Sexson entrenched at first base, perhaps a move to the outfield is in Hart's future ... Dave Krynzel (OF), one of Milwaukee's top-ranked prospects, played well in limited time, batting .361/.452/.500 in 36 ABs. The left-handed hitter brings a nice combo of gap power and speed to the game. There's no reason to think Krynzel won't be Milwaukee's starting center fielder by 2004, perhaps even sooner ... Mike Adams (P) jumped three levels for the Brewers in 2002, pitching well out of the bullpen for both A teams and Class AA Huntsville. He continued his solid work in the AFL, pitching 17 strong innings (2.65 ERA, .254 OBA, 21-8 K/BB ratio). At 24, Adams needs to keep moving quickly through the system. As a non-drafted player, he could be a sleeper ... Ryan Miller (P) came in late as a replacement for Matt Childers and pitched well, with only one shaky outing. The right-hander struck out 12 in 10.2 IPs. Control was an issue for Miller, as he walked nine batters. He will be 25 next spring ... David Pember (P) received a call-up to Milwaukee after a strong AA season, but something wasn't working for him in the AFL. In five starts, he recorded a 12.89 ERA and a .451 OBA. This is a very small sampling, so there's no need to panic yet.
Pirates - Mike Gonzalez (P) put in his second straight strong AFL season; the left-hander was again one of the league's top relievers. His velocity has increased to the mid 90s, now making the 24-year-old Houston native more of a power pitcher. In 17 IPs, Gonzalez posted a 1.06 ERA, .167 OBA and 23-5 K/BB ratio. He'll be given the chance to jump past AAA and earn a spot in the Pirates bullpen, especially if Scott Sauerbeck is traded ... J.J. Davis (OF) is a big, strong guy with loads of power but a long swing. After a September call-up to Pittsburgh, he hit .247/.319/.400 with three homeruns in 85 ABs in the AFL. He also struck out 27 times. Davis has a strong arm from right field, but not a great amount of range ... Shawn Garrett (OF) had a decent season in AA, but didn't hit well in Arizona (.229/.309/.300). He's got very good range in the outfield, and showed it by making one of the nicest catches of the season, a leaping, over the shoulder grab at the warning track. At 24, Garrett needs to show more at the plate if he moves up to AAA ... Australian lefty Adrian Burnside (P) was traded to the Detroit organization shortly after the end of the AFL season. He was used in short relief in Arizona after starting games at AA in 2002. While not an overpowering pitcher, Burnside posted a very nice 14-2 K/BB ratio in 13.1 IPs. He could get the opportunity to make the jump to the Tigers with a strong spring training, at which time he will have turned 25 ... Native Arizonan Danny Carrasco (P) has bounced around the Pittsburgh organization in five years. At 25, he spent all of 2002 in high Class A. Carrasco put in a nice AFL performance in 21 relief innings (1.29 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 24 Ks, seven BBs). He was recently selected by Kansas City in the Rule 5 draft. If he doesn't cut it in KC and is returned to Pittsburgh, he could possibly make the jump to AAA in 2003 ... The third Pittsburgh pitcher to leave the organization since the fall season ended is 25-year-old power pitcher Chris Spurling (P), who was taken by the Braves in the Rule 5 draft. He's been stuck at AA for two years, but had a nice 2002 season as a closer for Altoona. Spurling pitched well in limited AFL action (15 IPs, .241 OBA, 11-3 K/BB ratio).
Cardinals - At 33, So Taguchi (OF) was the oldest player in the AFL. After a disappointing first season in the United States (how much was related to the Japan native's cultural adjustment?), Taguchi put it all together in the fall season. The slightly built (5'10", 165) right-handed batter hit well (.301/.383/.416, 14-14 K/BB ratio). He's even better defensively, with good range in center field and a strong throwing arm. The biggest concern is whether he has the size to hold up in a full major league season. But isn't that what everyone wondered about Ichiro? ... John Gall (1B/OF) didn't hit as well in his second time in the league (.229/.265/.365, three HRs in 96 ABs). But he had a very good AA season. At 25, Gall is looking more like a backup if he makes it to the big leagues ... Dee Haynes (OF) is another right-handed hitter that had a strong year in AA. His performance in Arizona was not overwhelming (.263/.306/.386, two HRs in 114 ABs), but undoubtedly a good learning experience ... While Cheyenne Janke (P) has the size of a power pitcher, he's more of a control guy whose fastball doesn't get out of the 80s. The right-hander had a few good performances, but also several rocky outings. His final numbers came to a 5.88 ERA, 21-9 K/BB ratio and a .345 OBA. Janke had a good AA season in 2002. He'll be 26 next year, so he needs to show he can do it in AAA ... Kevin Joseph (P), a power pitcher who throws in the high 90s, is in his second organization, having once represented the Giants in the AFL. He had a good year out of the bullpen in AAA, but struggled against AFL hitters (4.19 ERA, .358 OBA). For someone who throws as hard as Joseph, he doesn't strike out a lot of hitters (11 in 19.1 AFL innings, 14 in 35.2 AAA innings) ... St. Louis' 2001 first rounder, Justin Pope (P), came to Arizona after having pitched in low Class A this year. Despite Pope's lesser experience, the 23-year-old right-hander held his own this fall (4.46 ERA, .274 OBA, 20-6 K/BB ratio in 36.1 IPs) ... Steve Stemle (P) came to Arizona after a good season with AAA Memphis, but didn't do well in his six AFL starts (7.45 ERA, .326 OBA, 13 BBs in 19.1 IPs). --- Bill Mitchell Player
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