Bill Mitchell's Minor League Ramblings

Minor League Ramblings

For the week of :
July 14, 2003

Minor League Ramblings is produced by Bill Mitchell for Minor League Watch.

Arizona League full of hot prospects this year
July 15, 2003

Mitch Maier

An inordinate number of high draft choices are on the rosters of the rookie level Arizona League's nine teams this season.

Three first round choices have already seen action this year. The overall number five choice and the top ranked pick to sign a contract since last month's draft, Royals outfielder Chris Lubanski, is playing center field for one of the two Kansas City-sponsored teams based at the Royals' Surprise complex. Lubanski, who was interviewed in a previous ML Ramblings column, is hitting .284/.341/.469, with eight extra base hits, in his first 19 pro games.

Anaheim's top pick, shortstop Brandon Wood, possesses impressive skills for a player just out of high school. The native Arizonan is batting .309/.338/.441, while showing the ability to make the big plays in the field.

Kansas City selected University of Toledo catcher Mitch Maier with the final pick of the first round. Maier is obviously overqualified for the Arizona League, but with the Royals having no Low A team this season, the left-handed hitter may spend the entire summer in Arizona. Maier is hitting .382/.434/.500.

Felix Sanchez

Two other first round picks are in Arizona, but have not yet seen action. Cubs outfielder Ryan Harvey, the sixth overall choice, is rehabilitating a knee injury and will not see game action until the Fall Instructional League. The Texas Rangers' first pick, southpaw pitcher John Danks, taken ninth overall, signed just last week and has yet to appear in a game.

In addition to Lubanski and Maier, the league-leading Royals-1 team is loaded with top talent. Other high draft picks on the roster are shortstop Michael Aviles (7th), closer Ryan Braun (6th), catcher Adam Donachie (2nd in 2002), pitcher Chris Goodman (5th), first baseman Brian McFall (3rd), second baseman Brandon Powell (8th) and outfielder Kenard Springer (8th in 2002). Aviles, third baseman Alexander Batista, Springer and Maier all rank in the top ten in batting average.

In addition to the high profile draft choices dotting the Arizona League rosters, there have also been a number of big leaguers and high profile minor league players participating in the Arizona League while re-habbing injuries. Major league experienced players that have appeared in games to date include Olmedo Saenz (Athletics), Dee Brown (Royals), Kyle Snyder (Royals) and Jeffrey Hammonds (Giants).

Among the advanced minor leaguers that have played in the Arizona League are Jovanny Cedeno (Royals), Felix Sanchez (Cubs), Bobby Jenks (Angels), Joe Torres (Angels), Ben Christensen (Cubs), Ryan Christensen (Mariners) and Jamal Strong (Mariners).

Scott Feldman

One of the more impressive professional debuts this summer is from Giants third baseman Nathan Schierholtz. The left-handed hitter, drafted in the second round out of a junior college in California, batted .400 in 11 games after signing with the Giants. Schierholtz has since been promoted to Low Class A Salem-Keizer.

Another California juco product, Rangers pitcher Scott Feldman, had a strong minor league debut on Sunday against the Giants. The right-hander with a three quarters sidearm delivery pitched two perfect innings in a relief appearance, retiring four batters on ground outs and fanning the other two hitters he faced. The final batter he faced was college teammate Michael Mooney, who hit a hard smash down the third base line. Rangers third baseman Alex Guerra made a nice grab and threw Mooney out at first. Feldman's best pitches are reported to be a two-seamer that he throws in the low 90s and an effective changeup.

Another pitcher making a strong pro debut is Cubs draft and follow choice Ronald Bay. The lanky right-hander from Houston has gone 4-0 with a 1.29 ERA and an impressive 27/4 K/BB ratio in his first four games.

--- Bill Mitchell