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July 5, 2004

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

 

Who's Hot and Who's Cold
July 6,  2004

This week's HOT report looks at the younger prospects playing in the rookie level Arizona League.

HOT 

  1. Miguel Vega, 1B/3B – Kansas City – The Royals' 2003 #4 draft choice struggled in his first taste of pro ball, but looks like a much different hitter this season. The Puerto Rican native is leading the league with five homeruns, including a pair yesterday against the Brewers. The big, strong right-handed hitter is batting .360/.448/.860 after his first 50 ABs.


    2. Miguel Vega hitting his fifth homerun of the young AZL season

  2. Hernan Iribarren, 2B - Milwaukee - Second base seems to be the strongest position in the Arizona League so far this year; the best of the crop, and perhaps the best all-around hitter in the league, is Venezuelan Iribarren. After two seasons in the Dominican Summer League, in which he hit .314 and .344, Iribarren is flirting with the .500 mark. The left-handed stick is batting .471/.500/.627 with five stolen bases.

  3. Mark Rogers, P - Milwaukee - The 18-year-old right-hander is the highest draft pick in the Arizona League, having been taken fifth overall in the 2004 draft. The Maine high school product has made only one appearance so far, but fanned five of the six batters he faced.

  4. Eric Hurley, P - Texas - The other 2004 #1 choice (30th overall) on an AZ League roster is also off to a good start, not yielding a run in his first 3.1 IPs while recording a 6/1 K/BB ratio.

  5. Alexi Ogando, OF- Oakland - This second year pro started the season in the short season Northwest League, but has burned up the Arizona League in his first few games back. The tall, rangy outfielder has gone 8 for 12 with four doubles and a homerun. Keep an eye on this youngster.

  6. Bruce McCleland, P - Kansas City - This 19-year-old native of South Africa is showing much better pitching skills in his second season in Arizona, posting a 1.42 ERA and an impressive 16/1 K/BB rate in his first four appearances. At 6'5" and 210 pounds, the right-handed McCleland has the size that teams like in their pitchers.

  7. Joshua Johnson, SS - Kansas City - The Florida high school product, drafted in the 3rd round, is showing a nice blend of speed, defense and plate discipline in his initial professional experience. The 18-year-old switch-hitter is batting .250/.483/.400 with seven stolen bases and 15 walks in 40 ABs.

  8. Francisco Gerez, 2B - Seattle - Another hot-hitting second baseman is finding no difficulty with Arizona League pitchers, batting .415/.455/.463 with five stolen bases.

  9. Dan Santin, C - Seattle - The best catcher in the league so far has been the Mariners' "draft and follow" selection from Miami. The left-handed hitting Santin is batting .444/.500/.778 with a pair of long balls in 27 ABs.

  10. Jason Snyder, P - Seattle - The Mariners may have scored with another "draft and follow," as the 2003 17th rounder has given up only one run in his first nine innings while striking out eight batters.

Other names to watch:

Anthony Whittington, SP - Angels
Wilber Perez, 2B- Athletics
Alexander Valdez, 2B - Athletics
Carlos Gallardo, 1B - Brewers
Rafael Lluveres, SP - Brewers
Zane Green, OF - Cubs
Jake Marcello, RP - Cubs
Andy Santana, SP - Cubs
Daniel Desouza, OF - Giants
Marcus Sanders, 2B - Giants
Juan Farach, P - Giants
Julio Cruceta, OF - Padres
William Killian, C - Padres
Yordany Ramirez, OF - Padres (5 triples!)
Kelvin Vazquez, 2B - Padres
Ian Gac, 1B - Rangers
Juan Maldonado, OF - Rangers
Freddy Thon, 1B - Rangers
Michael Padgett, P - Rangers
Irving Falu, 2B - Royals

 --- Bill Mitchell
 

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