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2003 season Final Report National League East
Braves - The Braves received strong showings from the middle infielders for the champion Mesa Solar Sox. Richard Lewis (2B) took a big jump forward, nailing down a spot on the Atlanta 40-man roster, by leading the league in batting with a .404 average. The 23-year-old Georgia native also hit three HRs in 89 ABs and finished with a solid .573 slugging percentage. He made only one error in the field ... Infield mate Kelly Johnson (SS) batted .303/.364/.573 with five HRs in 89 ABs, and was the glue up the middle for the Solar Sox, despite committing 10 errors. The power boost was the best news for Johnson, as he had hit only seven homeruns during the regular season. He'll be ready for AAA in '04 at the age of 22 ... Adam Stern (OF) missed much of the 2003 season to injury, and was also out for a few weeks during the AFL campaign. The left-handed hitter batted .316/.333/.386, but drew only two walks in 57 ABs. He'll be 24 next season and still hasn't seen AA ... There were some positive signs to Brett Evert's (P) season, as the big right-hander struck out 34 batters in 29.1 IPs while walking only 10. Opposing batters hit .286 off Evert, who repeated AA this past season. He just turned 23 ... Kevin Barry (P) was back for his second AFL season, and got hit hard (.364 OBA) in his 12.1 IPs. He also walked seven batters and struck out eight ... Alec Zumwalt (P) is still learning to pitch after switching from the outfield two years ago. He had a fine season in both High A and AA this year. Zumwalt posted a 4.87 ERA, striking out 18 and walking eight in 20.1 IPs in the AFL. He was the third player selected in the recent Rule 5 draft, going to the Tampa Bay organization.
Marlins - Chris Aguila (OF) put in a surprisingly good performance after a strong year at AA, batting .257/.333/.514 with three triples, five HRs and 13 walks in 109 ABs. He brings a nice mix of power, speed and plate discipline to the game. Aguila will be 25 next season, so he may be given a shot at a reserve outfield spot next spring ... Highly rated prospect Jason Stokes (1B) showed the effects of a lingering wrist injury, batting a meager .145/.169/.290. He walked only once while striking out 22 times in 62 ABs. Stokes is still only 21, so he gets a mulligan for this Fall ... Josh Willingham (C) had a nice season, batting .313/.444/.516 with three HRs and an 18-13 K/BB ratio in 64 ABs, as he worked on his conversion to the catching position. The excellent plate discipline bodes well for his future, although he's still got some holes in his swing. Willingham will be 25 next season, but the move behind the plate lessens the concern that he needs at least half a season in Class AA ... Lincoln Holdzkom (P) is a big, hard thrower, with an intimidating presence at 6'4", 240 pounds. His 6.11 ERA and .329 OBA is not a concern considering he spent most of 2003 in Low Class A and was participating in the AFL at the age of 21. He fanned 20 batters in 17.2 IPs. Holdzkom is an intriguing relief prospect ... Trevor Hutchinson (P), younger brother of former AFL pitcher and current NFL quarterback Chad Hutchinson, had a fine first pro season, split between High Class A and AA. His AFL numbers (7.15 ERA, .379 OBA, 13-8 K/BB ratio in 22.2 IPs) weren't good, but shouldn't be of major concern since he's still relatively inexperienced ... Southpaw Todd Moser (P) got into only nine IPs in Arizona, too small of a sampling to provide much insight. He pitched well at High Class A and AA, but is already 27.
Expos - Despite the paucity of talent in their minor league system, Montreal sent an interesting crop of players to the Arizona Fall League. Josh Labandeira (SS/3B) was just plain fun to watch. The 5'7" right-handed hitter batted .307/.354/.493 with three HRs and only six strikeouts in 75 ABs, and always hustled on and off the field. The scrappy Labandeira could be a valuable utility player in the big leagues as a classic overachiever. He'll be 25 next season, so it would be nice to see him move to AAA after half a season at AA ... Former third round pick Larry Broadway (1B) played irregularly for the Peoria Javelinas, batting .230/.309/.377 with two HRs in 61 ABs. He played well after a late season promotion to AA, but may return there since he'll only be 23 next season ... Another infielder converting to the catching position is Josh McKinley (C). The switch-hitter only batted 44 times, hitting .250/.320/.364. McKinley is coming off a strong season in AA; at 24, he is likely ready for a move to AAA ... Towering Chris Young (P) put in a decent year in the AFL, finishing with a 3.75 ERA in 24 IPs. He gave up only one homerun ... Chris Schroder (P) had a nice season with AA Harrisburg at the age of 24, but his success didn't carry over to the AFL, where he posted an 8.47 ERA in 17 IPs ... Lefty Benji DeQuin (P) struggled with his command, walking 11 batters in 14.2 IPs; he finished with a 4.30 ERA.
Mets - The Mets sent one of the brightest prospects in baseball to the AFL in 20-year-old David Wright (3B). Despite having never played above the High A level, Wright excelled by hitting .341/.427/.489 with two HRs and seven doubles in 88 ABs. He walked more often than he struck out (10-13 K/BB ratio). Wright looks like he enjoys every single minute he's on the field. His AFL season was every bit as good as that of Albert Pujols, the last 20-year-old Class A third baseman to thrive against the advanced competition in the AFL. That's not to say that Wright will jump to the big leagues as quickly as Pujols, but he's a fine prospect that should be watched closely ... Justin Huber (C) returned to the AFL after another long season behind the plate, and the wear and tear showed as he hit just .233/.365/.300. Huber continues to show the ability to get on base, a valuable skill as he advances through the Mets' minor league system ... Former second rounder Matt Peterson (P) pitched well in High A and AA this season, but struggled in the AFL at the age of 21. He finished with a 6.35 ERA in 22.2 IPs ... Joselo Diaz (P), acquired mid-season from the Dodgers in the Jeremy Burnitz deal, was too inexperienced to be in the AFL. He posted an 8.62 ERA in 15.2 IPs, striking out 16 but also walking 14 and hitting three batters ... Two of the Mets' AFL pitchers, Len DiNardo (P) and David Mattox (P) were taken in the recent Rule 5 draft. Southpaw DiNardo struck out 27 batters in 18 IPs while walking only three; he's got a decent chance of making the Boston roster with a strong spring training. The 23-year-old Mattox, who pitched in AA in 2003 and was selected in the Rule 5 by Cincinnati, had trouble with his command in the AFL, walking 13 batters in 20 IPs. His ERA was 6.75.
Phillies - The Philadelphia AFL contingent was limited by injuries. Travis Chapman (3B) got into only seven games, batting .200/.259/.200 in 25 ABs ... Keith Bucktrot (P) pitched just one game before being shut down after feeling pain in his elbow ... Bucktrot's roster replacement, lefty Matt Squires (P), took full advantage of the opportunity by pitching 12.1 scoreless innings. He held opposing batters to a .150 average. Squires isn't a hard thrower, but he knows how to work hitters. He pitched very well in High Class A this year. He'll be 25 next season, so the Phillies may try to get him to AAA quickly ... Former Red Sox farmhand Josh Hancock (P) pitched well in a starting role (3.43 ERA, 22-9 K/BB, .253 OBA, 21 IPs); the former Red Sox pitcher was called on by the Desert Dogs to start the league championship game against the eventual champion Solar Sox ... Greg Kubes (P) got rocked by AFL hitters, who pounded the sidearmer for a .333 average and 8.56 ERA ... Bobby Korecky (P) pitched well, holding opposing batters to a .239 average. He was effective in the closer role in High Class A in 2003 ... Dan Giese (P) pitched well in AAA after being acquired from the San Diego organization, but got hit hard in the AFL. On the positive side was his 14-3 K/BB ratio. --- Bill Mitchell Player
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