Highlighting top Diamondbacks prospects for '09
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We are breaking down the top five prospects for each organization for 2009,
taking into consideration: games, at-bats, innings and major-league service
time. We expect these players to have rookie status remaining heading into
next year.
According to MLB rules: "A player shall be considered a rookie unless, during
a previous season or seasons, he has (a) exceeded 130 at-bats or 50 innings
pitched in the major leagues; or (b) accumulated more than 45 days on the
active roster of a major league club or clubs during the period of 25-player
limit (excluding time in the military service and time on the disabled list)."
Note: Statistics are those at each stop in the minors this season and age
represents how old they will be on opening day 2009.
Arizona Diamondbacks
It has to be really hard to swallow missing the postseason this year. The
D-Backs put a lot of their eggs in the basket to win in 2008.
They traded almost all of their top prospects for Dan Haren and sent Carlos
Quentin to the White Sox in an ill-advised deal to get another piece -- Chris
Carter -- to deal to the A's for Haren. Then, they dealt Micah Owings, Dallas
Buck and Wilkin Castillo -- future major leaguers, all -- to the Reds for Adam
Dunn.
The D-Backs are still a stock to buy, because of all their young talent still
developing in the major leagues, but their farm system was robbed blind. One
bright spot, Max Scherzer -- who exhausted his rookie eligibility this year --
should be another big-time arm in an already front-loaded rotation.
1. RH SP Jarrod Parker, 20
Parker held up nicely as a teenage professional and should continue to get
stronger as he grows. If you are looking for an elite pitching prospect who
will fly under the radar a little because he is a few years away, Parker is
your guy. We see him opening 2009 in high Class A, but his talent suggests he
could handle the majors by the end of the year. He will be one to watch the
progress of closely next summer.
2. RH SP Cesar Valdez, 24
Proximity and need actually makes Valdez the best pitching prospect in the
system right now. Valdez had a breakthrough year and could even compete for a
rotation spot in spring training. Failing that, Valdez will have a shot at
impacting any Fantasy league before the end of 2009. His ceiling is not quite
that high, but he could still pay some immediate dividends.
3. 1B Josh Whitesell, 26
Whitesell strikes out too much, but the power makes him intriguing, especially
if they decide to move Conor Jackson to the outfield. Whitesell could make the
team as a reserve first baseman, but his inexperience and tough/deep position
makes him someone to expect little out of in the Fantasy near term.
4. 3B Jamie D'Antona, 26
It was a banner year for the "Three Amigos" -- Carlos Quentin, Jackson and
D'Antona -- who used to mash together in the lower levels. Quentin was an AL
MVP candidate, Jackson made great strides as a run producer and D'Antona ...
well ... at least his Triple-A numbers were outstanding. D'Antona can hit, but
we are not sure there is a position he can play in Arizona at this point --
catcher, first base or third base. Maybe they move him to the outfield and/or
use him as a super utility man who plays three or four games a week.
5. OF Gerardo Parra, 21
He had a relatively disappointing season, considering his hype, but his bat
speed suggests he will improve as he matures. Right now he is little more than
an NL-only Rotisserie prospect, but his prospect name makes him someone to
watch closely in the minors in the first half.
Best of the rest: SP Tony Barnette, SP Brooks Brown, 3B Rusty Ryal, 2B Taylor
Harbin, SP Matt Torra, SP Trevor Harden, SP Billy Buckner, SS Pedro Ciriaco,
SP Barry Enright, 1B Ryne White, C Rossmel Perez, RP Bryan Shaw, RP Daniel
Schlereth, SP Wade Miley, SP Juan Gutierrez, SP Hector Ambriz, RP Reid Mahon,
SS Reynaldo Navarro, SP Wes Roemer, SS Justin Parker, SP Esmerling Vasquez, OF
Collin Cowgill, SS Mark Hallberg, RP Jailen Peguero, SP Daniel Strange, 1B
Javier Brito, RP Connor Robertson, RP Leyson Septimo, SP Matt Green, SP Sean
Morgan and SP Kevin Eichhorn.
2008 rookies to exhaust eligibility: SP Max Scherzer, RP Leo Rosales (service
time) and OF Alex Romero.
Last year's top five here: Scherzer, OF Carlos Gonzalez (traded to OAK for Dan
Haren), SP Greg Smith (traded to OAK for Haren), SP Brett Anderson (traded to
OAK for Haren) and OF Aaron Cunningham (traded to OAK for Haren).
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