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2003 season Final Report National League Central
Cubs - The Chicago contingent was highlighted by the surprising MVP season from Jason Dubois (OF), who hit .358/.379/.717. The 24-year-old right-handed hitter led the league with nine HRs and added 12 doubles and 29 RBIs. The only concern is that he drew only two walks while striking out 27 times. But plate discipline has never been a problem for Dubois, so this performance is more indicative of a hot batter swinging aggressively. The Cubs added Dubois to the 40-man roster so as not to lose him in the Rule 5 draft. He'll undoubtedly start the '04 season with AAA Iowa ... Dubois will be joined in AAA by Brendan Harris (3B), who hit well in the AFL, batting .302/.358/.469 with three HRs in 96 ABs. He struck out only 12 times and committed just one error in the field ... Casey Kopitzke (C) played sporadically, batting .180/.254/.230. He's never been known for his offense, having hit only one HR in five minor league seasons, but his only AFL extra-base hit was a homer ... John Webb (P) pitched very well, recording a 4-0 record, 2.42 ERA and 18-6 K/BB totals. He was healthy in '03 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2001. He'll move to AAA next season ... Ben Christensen (P) hasn't really been completely healthy since the first round draft choice signed with the Cubs in 1999. He pitched only one AFL game before being shut down. Time may be running out for Christensen ... Jason Szuminski (P) struck out 19 batters in 19.1 IPs, posting a 4.19 ERA. He was selected by Kansas City in the Rule 5 draft and subsequently traded to San Diego ... Ryan Theriot (SS/2B) saw limited action for two different AFL teams, batting .240 in 25 ABs.
Reds - Sadly, the Cincinnati organization's 2003 AFL season was marked by the senseless murder of Dernell Stenson. May he rest in peace ... Dane Sardinha (C), for some odd reason, always hits better in the AFL than during the regular season, disproving the theory that catchers are usually too worn down to produce well in the Fall. The native Hawaiian batted .346/.358/.654 with three HRs and seven doubles in only 52 ABs. However, his 13-1 K/BB ratio is not a good trend. The 24-year-old right-handed hitter made his big league debut this year; he will likely start the 2004 season at AAA ... Stephen Smitherman (OF) also received a late season call up in 2004. The 26-year-old outfielder spent most of 2003 in AA, but struggled in a brief AAA trial. Smitherman did well in his second AFL season, batting .295/.398/.500 with three HRs in 88 ABs. He drove in 20 runs and walked 13 times ... Joe Valentine (P) was one of the more effective closers in the AFL, recording five saves and a 3.46 ERA that was inflated by one bad outing. The right-hander struck out 16 batters in 13 innings. Consistency has been a problem in the past for Valentine. He'll contend for a bullpen spot with the parent club in spring training ... Southpaw David Gil (P) split the season between AA and AAA, pitching effectively at both levels. He also did well in his second AFL season, finishing with a 3.72 ERA, although his command was a little off.
Astros - The Houston organization didn't have any high profile prospects to offer to the Scottsdale Scorpions this year. Greg Powell (P), who had a decent but not spectacular season in AA, pitched well at times in the AFL. The finesse pitcher posted a 3.69 ERA with a .266 OBA and an impressive 17-1 K/BB ratio in 32.1 IPs. He's already 25 and shouldn't be regarded as a potential starter candidate with Houston ... Mike Gallo (P) is showing signs of developing into a good left-handed relief specialist. He posted solid numbers at three levels in 2003, including 30 IPs with the Astros. In 10.2 AFL innings, Gallo fanned 11 batters and did not issue a walk; his ERA was a microscopic 0.84. He'll be 27 by opening day, but age isn't as much of a factor for lefty relievers. He'll likely earn a role in the Houston bullpen next spring ... Colin Porter (OF) played solid defense in center field for the Scorpions, while hitting .292/.304/.404 in 89 ABs. It would be nice to see him get on base more often to take advantage of his speed; he drew only one walk in the AFL. Porter recently turned 28, so a fifth outfielder role is probably his major league ceiling ... Two other Houston players that spent part of 2003 with the Astros, Eric Bruntlett (SS/2B) and Nate Bland (P), put up poor numbers in the AFL.
Brewers - The Milwaukee farm system is on the rise, and it showed in the quality of players sent to the AFL. Most notable was Rickie Weeks (2B), one of the top prospects in all of professional baseball. The 2003 #1 draft pick (second overall) didn't disappoint, batting .319/.440/.431 with 12 walks and nine SBs in 72 ABs. His one homerun was a fierce line drive shot; that ability to turn on the ball and his doubles power indicates that the homerun totals should increase in time. The biggest question mark is his defense, as he made eight errors. Weeks may eventually change positions, but for now expect him to move up to the major league level fairly quickly. What's not to like about this guy? ... Ben Hendrickson (P) opened quite a few eyes with one of the AFL's top pitching performances (2.03 ERA, 21-2 K/BB, .229 OBA). The 22-year-old right-hander has one of the best curve balls in the minor leagues. If he keeps pitching this well, don't expect Hendrickson to spend much time in AAA ... Kade Johnson (C) didn't get much playing time for the AFL Saguaros but he made good use of his 38 ABs, batting .395/.452/.526. Johnson struggled in AA after a strong first half in High Class A, but he was a little old for that level at 24. Next season will be a key year for the former second round choice ... David Krynzel (OF) is becoming an enigma. The left-handed hitting center fielder had a strong first half in AA, then slumped badly in the latter months of the season. He showed the same inconsistency in Arizona, batting .233/.295/.314 in 86 ABs; he was successful in only three of his nine stolen base attempts. The kid's got a lot of talent and a good attitude on and off the field, so something isn't quite right. Krynzel just turned 22, so he's still got time to get it all together ... Brad Nelson (OF) was coming off a lost season after surgery to repair a broken hamate bone robbed the left-handed hitter of his bat speed and power . Nelson batted only .220/.304/.232 with one extra-base hit in 82 ABs, but he shouldn't be judged on these numbers. Wait and see how he does in AA next season ... Tim Bausher (P) pitched effectively out of the Peoria bullpen (1.98 ERA, 14-3 K/BB, 264 OBA, 13.2 IPs), especially considering he spent all of the regular season in Low Class A after sitting out 2002.
Pirates - As a lifelong Pittsburgh fan, it pains me to see the way this club is being run. Five of the top six Rule 5 selections were taken from the Pittsburgh organization. Granted, there weren't any potential superstars in the bunch, but they may lose some decent role players that potentially would have contributed at the major league level. Most notable is Rich Thompson (OF), who was one of the most exciting players in this year's Arizona Fall League. The left-handed hitter would have made a good spare outfielder next season; he undoubtedly would have been a fan favorite --- and Pittsburgh fans need players with whom they can identify. Thompson batted .346/.417/.510 with four triples and 13 stolen bases in 104 ABs in the AFL, in addition to playing great defense in center field. He's an overachiever who would have been a better addition to the Pittsburgh roster than some of the overpriced free agents they've signed in the past. He'll instead make a nice role player for Kansas City ... Other AFL players taken by other organizations in the Rule 5 draft were relief pitchers Jeff Bennett (2.57 ERA) and southpaw Frank Brooks (5.79 ERA, but a very good 22-3 K/BB ratio in 18.2 IPs) ... On the bright side, former top prospect J.R. House (C/1B), who has been plagued by injuries the past two seasons, had an excellent year in the AFL, batting .338/.386/.730 with 10 doubles, five HRs and 20 RBIs in 74 ABs. He capped the season by hitting for the cycle on his 24th birthday. House increased his versatility by seeing time at first base, which will be helpful since it's questionable whether his body will hold up under a full season behind the plate. 2004 will be a key year for House ... Ryan Doumit (C) was a member of the Mesa Desert Dog taxi squad, eligible to play only on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The irregular playing time didn't affect the switch-hitting catcher's performance; he batted .346/.438/.769 with two HRs in 26 ABs. Doumit spent the entire 2003 season in High Class A, so he likely will start out next year in AA ... Chris Duffy (OF) is a very similar player to Rich Thompson --- good on-base skills, good speed, consistent contact hitter, nice batting stroke, not much power. The switch-hitter came on strong in the second half of the Fall season, batting .348/.416/.438 with three triples and six stolen bases in 89 ABs. He's ready for a move to AAA, and could be a sleeper ... Lefty Mike Johnston (P) pitched well out of the bullpen, posting a 2.55 ERA with 14 strikeouts and a .231 OBA in 17.2 IPs. His AFL performance came on the heels of a very good season in AA.
Cardinals - None of the St. Louis players in the AFL made much of an impression. Former first round pick Shaun Boyd (OF) showed good on-base skills, walking 13 times. But he needs to make better contact to take advantage of his speed. Boyd's final numbers (.219/.315/.333) weren't good. He stole only one base ... Skip Schumaker (OF) is almost a mirror image of Boyd. He hit only .220/.330/.293 with four stolen bases in 82 ABs, but drew 13 walks while striking out just eight times ... Josh Axelson (P) put in a good season in AA in 2003, but got battered by AFL hitters to the tune of a 7.36 ERA and .343 OBA ... Southpaw Tyler Johnson (P) was impressive in a relief role, striking out 15 and walking five batters in 14.1 IPs. Opposing hitters batted .241 against him. Johnson was very impressive after a mid-season promotion to Class AA ... Brad Thompson (P) came to Arizona after spending most of the regular season in Low Class A, but looked like he belonged in the advanced league. The 21-year-old right-hander put up a 2.00 ERA and held hitters to a .200 average in 11.1 IPs. --- Bill Mitchell Player
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