Carolina League Top 20

[Rex Hudler]

Well here is the Carolina League list.......

 

TOP 20 PROSPECTS

1. Jeff Francoeur, of, Myrtle Beach

2. Michael Aubrey, 1b, Kinston

3. Brian Anderson, of, Winston-Salem

4. Zach Duke, lhp, Lynchburg

5. Kyle Davies, rhp, Myrtle Beach

6. Brandon McCarthy, rhp, W-S

7. Ryan Sweeney, of, Winston-Salem

8. Brian McCann, c, Myrtle Beach

9. Richie Gardner, rhp, Potomac

10. Fernando Nieve, rhp, Salem

11. Tom Gorzelanny, lhp, Lynchburg

12. Josh Fields, 3b, Winston-Salem

13. Ryan Garko, 1b/c, Kinston

14. Brad Eldred, 1b, Lynchburg

15. Anthony Lerew, rhp, Myrtle Beach

16. Chris Ray, rhp, Frederick

17. Sean Tracey, rhp, Winston-Salem

18. Rajai Davis, of, Lynchburg

19. Hayden Penn, rhp, Frederick

20. Mitch Maier, 3b, Wilmington

 

Sox get five players on the list, starting with Brian Anderson at #3.

 

If someone thinks it would be better to transfer this to a new thread, feel free.

Edited September 30, 2004 by Rex Hudler

[Rex Hudler]

3. Brian Anderson, 6'2" 205 Age: 22

 

Another five-tool player who jumped to Double-A at midseason, Anderson was one of the most exciting players in the league. He started off slow, still recovering from minor wrist surgery, but by the time May rolled around, Anderson kicked it into overdrive. A polished hitter who works himself into deep counts, Anderson also proved to be a plus defender in center field for the Warthogs.

 

“To me, if you want to compare them, Anderson and Francoeur are similar, but Anderson is more disciplined around the zone,” an AL scout said. “Francoeur is more of a free-swinging guy and Anderson is going to make more consistent contact. He doesn’t have quite the arm Francoeur does, but his speed makes up for it where he plays.”

[Rex Hudler]

6. Brandon McCarthy, 6'7" 200 Age: 21

 

Described as a blue-collar version of former White Sox righthander Jack McDowell, McCarthy doesn’t back down from anyone. Physically, he also resembles McDowell, with a 6-foot-7, 200-pound frame. His stature allows him to throw on a downward plane, and he repeats his delivery well.

 

“He’s got exceptional command for a tall guy,” Lovekamp said. “He creates such good angles and works down in the zone. Coming from as high as it does, the ball tends to get on you quickly and looks really small as it sinks down at you.”

[Rex Hudler]

7. Ryan Sweeney, 6'4" 200 Age: 19

 

Sweeney, like Anderson, jumped from the Rookie-level Pioneer League to high Class A to start the season. Anderson moved up to Double-A during the season, but unlike Anderson, Sweeney is still a teenager. And as a 19-year-old among older, more experienced players, Sweeney held his own.

 

Considered a second-round steal out of an Iowa high school last year, Sweeney’s season was not without its struggles. Still, some scouts who saw both players said they preferred Sweeney.

 

“He hasn’t shown great bat speed—more slider bat speed to me, but that should change with more at-bats,” one AL scout said. “It could be a comfort thing. You get offspeeded to death in this league—especially guys like him. But if you know he can’t get around on the fastball, it makes it easier to set him up.”

[southsider2k5]

I like the idea of a separate thread...

 

Anyway, it is a big surprise to people that Anderson still ranked ahead of McCarthy? Just curious, because I have no idea.

[Rex Hudler]

ss2k, looks like another change is necessary. Sox got 5 players in the top 20 instead of 4. I totally missed Fields when originally scanning the list.

 

12. Josh Fields, 6'2" 210 Age: 21

 

The eighteenth overall pick in this year's draft out of Oklahoma State jumped right into high Class A--which shows you what the White Sox think of their first-round pick. Fields starred as a quarterback in college, setting school records for touchdown passes (55) and a Cotton Bowl mark for passing yards (307), yet he chose baseball over the gridiron.

 

At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Fields doesn't have the prototype NFL quarterback size and wasn't a big-time football prospect. But in his first taste of professional baseball, he showed that he should hit for power and average as well. Fields is raw at the corner right now, but managers and scouts said he should be a solid defender down the road.

 

"I like him there," said an AL scout. "He's got good size and a strong, accurate arm. His footwork could be a little better, though, and his reaction time hasn't been exceptional. He needs more time there to really feel it out."

[southsider2k5]

No problem, thanks for the info Rex

[Rex Hudler]

17. Sean Tracey, 6'3" 210 Age: 23

 

After a difficult 2003 season in which he posted a 9.50 ERA in the South Atlantic League, Tracey established himself as one of the best arms in the CL this season, ranking second in the league in strikeouts and ERA. A power pitcher with great confidence, Tracey's location and command drew comparisons to Indians righthander Adam Miller.

 

Though he is four years older than Miller, the stuff certainly is comparable between the two. Tracey's fastball sits at 93-94 mph, touching 97, and he has an above-average power slider and changeup to go along with it.

 

Tracey's poise and demeanor make him one of the best arms in the White Sox system. A major question mark remains his mechanical delivery, however; Tracey’s arm action includes a “stab” in the back, which can lead to control issues.

 

"He always wants the ball," Winston-Salem manager Nick Leyva said. "His velocity shot up as he's honed his mechanics some, and he's had a breakout year for us."

[Rex Hudler]

In my mind there was some surprise at Anderson being ranked so high, but then again, he spent the 2nd half of the year in AA so it is easy to forget what he did in W-S. Again, keep in mind that McCarthy didn't spend a lot of time in Winsto-Salem either, so it is likely that not all managers saw him. Plus, my guess is that there is the typical "prospect bias" with BA and Anderson was a first round draft pick, so he gets a little more weight. More likely I think it is just the amount of time he spent there.

[MnSoxFan]

I got my hard copy in mail yesterday. At Birm we got Anderson, Munoz and Morse all in 11-20 somewhere, not top 10.

 

At Charlotte I think Reed at 5 was only pick

 

5 years ago in the Carolina League, Kip Wells was 1st, Garland 6th and ARow 9th.

[winninguglyin83]

Five picks in the top 17 players = Anderson, McCarthy, Sweeney in the top seven. Fields and Tracy in the next wave.

 

everybody but Rogowski made it.

 

get ready for the Kids Can Play, Part IX

 

3. BRIAN ANDERSON, of, Winston-Salem Warthogs (White Sox)

Age: 22 Ht: 6-2 Wt: 205 B-T: R-R Drafted/Signed: White Sox '03 (1)

 

 

AB: 254

R: 43

H: 81

2B: 22

3B: 4

HR: 8

RBI: 46

BB: 29

SO: 44

SB: 10

CS: 1

AVG: .319

OBP: .394

SLG: .531

Another five-tool player who jumped to Double-A at midseason, Anderson was one of the most exciting players in the league. He started off slow, still recovering from minor wrist surgery, but by the time May rolled around, Anderson kicked it into overdrive. A polished hitter who works himself into deep counts, Anderson also proved to be a plus defender in center field for the Warthogs.

 

“To me, if you want to compare them, Anderson and Francoeur are similar, but Anderson is more disciplined around the zone,” an AL scout said. “Francoeur is more of a free-swinging guy and Anderson is going to make more consistent contact. He doesn’t have quite the arm Francoeur does, but his speed makes up for it where he plays.”

 

6. BRANDON McCARTHY, rhp, Winston-Salem Warthogs (White Sox)

Age: 21 Ht: 6-7 Wt: 210 B-T: R-R Drafted/Signed: White Sox '02 (17)

 

 

W: 6

L: 0

ERA: 2.08

G: 8

SV: 0

IP: 52.0

H: 31

HR: 3

BB: 3

SO: 60

AVG: .171

Described as a blue-collar version of former White Sox righthander Jack McDowell, McCarthy doesn’t back down from anyone. Physically, he also resembles McDowell, with a 6-foot-7, 200-pound frame. His stature allows him to throw on a downward plane, and he repeats his delivery well.

 

“He’s got exceptional command for a tall guy,” Lovekamp said. “He creates such good angles and works down in the zone. Coming from as high as it does, the ball tends to get on you quickly and looks really small as it sinks down at you.”

 

7. RYAN SWEENEY, of, Winston-Salem Warthogs (White Sox)

Age: 19 Ht: 6-4 Wt: 200 B-T: L-L Drafted/Signed: White Sox '03 (2)

 

 

AB: 515

R: 71

H: 146

2B: 22

3B: 3

HR: 7

RBI: 66

BB: 40

SO: 65

SB: 8

CS: 6

AVG: .283

OBP: .342

SLG: .379

Sweeney, like Anderson, jumped from the Rookie-level Pioneer League to high Class A to start the season. Anderson moved up to Double-A during the season, but unlike Anderson, Sweeney is still a teenager. And as a 19-year-old among older, more experienced players, Sweeney held his own.

 

Considered a second-round steal out of an Iowa high school last year, Sweeney’s season was not without its struggles. Still, some scouts who saw both players said they preferred Sweeney.

 

“He hasn’t shown great bat speed—more slider bat speed to me, but that should change with more at-bats,” one AL scout said. “It could be a comfort thing. You get offspeeded to death in this league—especially guys like him. But if you know he can’t get around on the fastball, it makes it easier to set him up.”

 

12. JOSH FIELDS, 3b, Winston-Salem Warthogs (White Sox)

Age: 21 Ht: 6-2 Wt: 210 B-T: R-R Drafted/Signed: White Sox '04 (1)

 

 

AB: 256

R: 36

H: 73

2B: 12

3B: 4

HR: 7

RBI: 39

BB: 18

SO: 74

SB: 0

CS: 0

AVG: .285

OBP: .333

SLG: .445

The eighteenth overall pick in this year's draft out of Oklahoma State jumped right into high Class A--which shows you what the White Sox think of their first-round pick. Fields starred as a quarterback in college, setting school records for touchdown passes (55) and a Cotton Bowl mark for passing yards (307), yet he chose baseball over the gridiron.

 

At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Fields doesn't have the prototype NFL quarterback size and wasn't a big-time football prospect. But in his first taste of professional baseball, he showed that he should hit for power and average as well. Fields is raw at the corner right now, but managers and scouts said he should be a solid defender down the road.

 

"I like him there," said an AL scout

 

17. SEAN TRACY, rhp, Winston-Salem Warthogs (White Sox)

Age: 23 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 210 B-T: L-R Drafted/Signed: White Sox '02 (8)

 

 

W: 9

L: 8

ERA: 2.73

G: 27

SV: 0

IP: 148.1

H: 108

HR: 5

BB: 69

SO: 130

AVG: .212

After a difficult 2003 season in which he posted a 9.50 ERA in the South Atlantic League, Tracey established himself as one of the best arms in the CL this season, ranking second in the league in strikeouts and ERA. A power pitcher with great confidence, Tracey's location and command drew comparisons to Indians righthander Adam Miller.

 

Though he is four years older than Miller, the stuff certainly is comparable between the two. Tracey's fastball sits at 93-94 mph, touching 97, and he has an above-average power slider and changeup to go along with it.

 

Tracey's poise and demeanor make him one of the best arms in the White Sox system. A major question mark remains his mechanical delivery, however; Tracey’s arm action includes a “stab” in the back, which can lead to control issues.

 

"He always wants the ball," Winston-Salem manager Nick Leyva said. "His velocity shot up as he's honed his mechanics some, and he's had a breakout year for us."

[YASNY]

DAMN! KW sure has raped the Sox farm system!