For
the week of :
July 29, 2002
Arizona
Rookie League Update
Interview
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Minor League Ramblings is produced by Bill Mitchell for Minor League Watch.
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Arizona
Rookie League mid-season update
Left-handed pitching has dominated the rookie level Arizona League through the first half of the 70-game schedule. But there are also quite a few promising position players worth watching. The most impressive southpaw has been 17-year-old Giants' pitcher Jesse English. The California high school product throws several good pitches, including a devastating changeup. After seven starts, English has a 1.40 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 25.2 innings. Although he's been out of action recently, Cubs' 19-year-old left-hander Jonathan Ramos has pitched well, with a 3-0 record, 0.95 ERA and a nice 25-6 strikeout to walk ratio. The White Sox' strong pitching staff is led by a couple of lefties, Daniel Haigwood and Ryan Rodriguez. Haigwood, an Arkansas native, sports a 2.03 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 40 innings. Also putting together a nice season in his professional debut is 6-8 right-hander Brandon McCarthy, who ranks second in the league in strikeouts with 47 in 42.2 innings. Leading the Arizona League in strikeouts with 50 is one of the Angels' brightest pitching prospects, right-hander Rafael Rodriguez. While the 17-year-old Dominican has been inconsistent in several outings, he's been brilliant in others, mixing a low-90s fastball with a tough slider.
By far, the most effective closer has been the Angels' Daniel Arias, leading the league with 10 saves and a microscopic 0.98 ERA. The 20-year-old right-hander, in his second Arizona League season, checks in with a very impressive 22 strikeouts in 18.1 innings while walking only three batters. Another strong relief prospect is Brewer left-hander Gabriel Mendoza. The 20-year-old Venezuelan has fanned 23 batters in 22.1 innings, putting up a 1.21 ERA. Second round draft choice Billy Petrick made his professional debut earlier this week with a strong three-inning outing for the Cubs. The Illinois high school product pitched three innings, with his velocity increasing into the low to mid-90s as he progressed through the game. Petrick yielded only one hit, walked one and struck out five.
Switching over to the hitters, the Cubs' Arizona League entry captured the first half championship while compiling a team batting average of over .300. Leading the league is former college player Matt Creighton, now at an even .400 with nine doubles and five homeruns. The 23-year-old right-handed hitter has split his time between first and second base. Close behind Creighton in the batting race is Cub shortstop Jemel Spearman, with a .375 average, 20 stolen bases, and a solid 20-11 walk to strikeout ratio. The most impressive part of Spearman's game has been his defense, with the Georgia native making quite a few dazzling plays while committing only four errors in his first 31 games. The Cub hitter with the most potential is 17-year-old center fielder Felix Pie. The five-tool prospect is hitting .357 with 14 stolen bases, five triples and two homeruns, and has shown tremendous improvement since first arriving in Arizona at the start of spring training. At 6-2 and 165 pounds, Pie has a projectable body. A raw talent in the White Sox organization is right fielder Jhonny Rivera, batting .309 with seven doubles and six stolen bases. Rivera's teammate, third baseman Micah Schnurstein, ranks in the top ten in hitting with a .365 batting average and three homeruns.
Two Oakland farmhands having good seasons are 18-year-old Venezuelan Luis Perez, hitting .353 with eight doubles and three homeruns while dividing his time between second base and left field, and free agent centerfielder Nick Rogers. The latter, a 22-year-old from Florida State University, is hitting .390 with a .500 on-base percentage and .510 slugging percentage. Rogers has stolen 11 bases. A pair of Angel position players, Australian catcher Mike Collins and third baseman Matt Brown, are both faring better in their second Arizona League season. Collins has excelled defensively and is hitting a solid .292. Brown batted .361 with a pair of homers prior to being promoted to Provo of the Pioneer League. Outfielder Josh Ellison, another returnee from last season, leads the Mariners in hitting at .360 and a solid .457 on-base percentage. Teammate Michael Wilson, a 2000 second round draft choice, started slowly due to a toe injury, but is now hitting .338 with three homers. Flashy outfielder Carlos Sosa stands out in the Giants' lineup, hitting .328 with four homeruns. --- Bill Mitchell
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