Thank you Mike - exactly what I was looking for.

Mike - you hit two of my favorite players in baseball with the first two guys you mentioned - awesome!

I believe Ka'aihue actually signed with Boston - but the contract was voided over injury concerns (leaving him ineligible to play D1 ball). My worry with him is that he's a bit of a guess hitter - my understanding is that that caused some of his troubles in Myrtle. Normally, this bugs me considerably more than it does with him - I think he has the bat speed and the smarts to overcome it. (Although, his brother Kila has stalled in AA.)

FWIW, Baeza had TJ surgery as a juco guy (where he was awesome) and other more minor injuries before that. He's going to have to prove he can stay healthy - but I love his stuff and smarts.

A couple of other sleepers in the Arizona system:

Gerardo Parra

Another great find in the Latin American market. The kid has excellent plate discipline at a really young age and he's got great tools to boot. Exactly what the Dbacks need: another OF prospect.

Kyler Newby

A draft and follow reliever (50th round pick in 2004) who dominated this year as the closer in South Bend after a stellar rookie campaign in 2005. He's also been striking out tons in Hawaii, and hasn't allowed a home run in 60+ innings this year. Newby may get sent to AA Mobile in 07.

One breakout candidate (who's not really a sleeper but will surprise quite a few people next year):

Matt Torra

Yes, I'm a believer.

Thanks, Mike, for the interesting list.

I've followed Nick Evans, as I do for all the interesting Mets prospects, and I'm not impressed. He hits for some power, and he was the only decent bat in Hagerstown last year. But that spoke more of the pathetic lineup they kept trotting out in low A. Unimpressive discipline and no speed.

I don't think Evans' defense is highly thought of - they've used him at DH frequently in his 3 years in the system. Unless he completes rakes this year, I think his ceiling is the high minors.

For a sleeper in the Mets system, I'd go with Emmanuel Garcia. 20 yo still in the NYPL, but a SS with decent defensive metrics. Good batting eye and a decent average. Somewhere along the way, he'll have to figure out how to hit for more power.

Garcia, incidentally, was one of the guys who went undrafted out of Canada during/because_of the visa shortage a few years back. Astute pickup by the Mets.

especially those of you who follow specific teams on a regular basis and know the third-string catcher on the short-season team.

Hey, I resemble that remark!

For a sleeper in the Mets system, I'd go with Emmanuel Garcia. 20 yo still in the NYPL, but a SS with decent defensive metrics. Good batting eye and a decent average. Somewhere along the way, he'll have to figure out how to hit for more power.

That last comment is an understatement - he'll have to figure out how to hit for "some" power. I thought about Garcia, but players with his profile rarely succeed, because once the pitchers figure out that they can't be hurt significantly they just throw strikes and dare him to hit it.

-- MWE

I agree with you 120% on Smith, Mike.

Also, a request: At some point, could we get an open thread to talk about Rule V possibilities?

At some point, could we get an open thread to talk about Rule V possibilities?

As soon as I compile a more complete list of who they are (next couple of days). Rule 5 isn't until next week.

-- MWE

Love the minor league split site.

What stands out, for me, in the splits for Mike Costanzo, are the BB-K numbers. For the first two months at CLW they were 16-63 and for the last two months they were 43-46. Not surprisingly he had more power and hit for a higher avg too, but it's the dramatic shift in BB-K numbers that have me hopeful that Costanzo can be a player (he'd be a great platoon match with Helms too).

I met and interviewed Cody Strait in Arizona. Here's a link incase you want to know more... Cody Strait Interview on MiLB.com.

I'm nominating Omar Aguilar as the Brewers' Deep Sleeper.

Love Aguilar's velocity - but he struggled a bit with control even when healthy, if I recall. Let's give him more than a handful of complex ball innings before he makes this list.

Not really ideal for this thread, but I'm not sure where else to put it... the Cards picked up Fernando Salas from Saltillo of the Mexican League for ~200 K, per scout.com. Those are pretty good numbers for 21-year old kid - and he reportedly has solid stuff ... he might be a better get than the much more expensive Oscar Rivera.

Does anyone know why the D-Backs cut Eddie Baeza in ST (he was picked up by the Nats and is now in the Sally league)?

Also (not related to the above), Jack Cust is raking for Portland (.339/.468/.823 in 62 AB). Apparently, he had surgery for carpal tunnel in both hands prior to last season - this may explain his seeming resurgence.

The Astros have a history of placing their position players at least a level below where they should be given their age.

mike,

i do not mean this to be a smart ass remark, but i honestly want to know why they think this is a good idea. i mean is there any good reason here?

the only thing i can think of is that they want to make sure they get the player in the majors for ALL of his age 26-32 years so they won't lose any time to FA.

i mean i know the hanging onto biggio for the last 3 years screwed up burke, but besides him????

i mean i know the hanging onto biggio for the last 3 years screwed up burke, but besides him????

Ensberg played his entire age 23 season in the FSL, then
Ensberg played his entire age 24 season in the Southern League and hit .300/.416/.545
then he played in AAA at ages 25 & 26 (He's probably been the same MLB hitter he is now since age 24...)

Jason Lane hit .316/.407/.608 during his age 24 season in AA
then spent 25/26 in AAA (mostly)

Berkman spent his age 22 season in AA with a late promotion to AAA
he spent his age 23 season in AAA with a late promotion to the MLB
he started his age 24 season in AAA

With Lane and Ensbeg I think it's clear the organization did not (and in the case of Lane does not) believe in them- their belated promotions had to do with their repeatedly hitting the snot
out of the ball at each level- and you don't release guys putting up 1.000 OPS numbvers in teh high minors (up and out)

Berkman's placement SEEMS age/level appropriate until you factor his unique talent into the equation- he's a career 148 OPS+ mlb hitter, a 1st round draft pick, a guy who belted minor league pitching to the tune of a 1.000 OPS, some organizations would have had him starting his
age 23 season in the majors, and virtually all would have had him starting by opening day of his age 24 season.

ensberg -
well you know, he's like almost a different case. in 2000, mo and a bunch of other minor leaguers were held up in the team hotel, almost murdered. the organization almost immediately got rid of every one of em. and from that day, they just kept hoping ensberg would fail and used every excuse to get him to quit - playing such outstanding players as geoff blum and chris truby instead.

lane to me is the poster boy for the 12 lane hershey highway.

agree that it was idiotic to keep berkman down at age 24.

but it still don't tell me WHY???

I'm nominating Omar Aguilar as the Brewers' Deep Sleeper.

Told ya.