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Rotoworld Top 10 AL Central Prospects-by team

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http://rotoworld.com/content/story.asp?spo...B&storyid=19516

 

Chicago White Sox

 

1. Brian Anderson - OF - DOB: 03/11/82 - ETA: Now

.295/.360/.469, 16 HR, 57 RBI, 115/44 K/BB, 4 SB in 448 AB for Triple-A Charlotte

.176/.176/.382, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 12/0 K/BB, 1 SB in 34 AB for Chicago (AL)

 

Anderson was less than outstanding in a friendly offensive environment at Charlotte last year and looked overmatched at times in the majors, but the White Sox believe he’s ready now, trading Aaron Rowand to the Phillies for Jim Thome to make room for him. He will play a solid defensive center field. Since Chris Young was involved in a separate deal, it should be Anderson’s long-term position. Speculation was that he’d likely move to a corner when Young arrived, but he has the range to be an asset and a strong arm (he was also a reliever at the University of Arizona). Offensively, he projects as a .280-25-80 guy, though it’s highly unlikely to happen for him in 2006. He could be well below average this year before stepping up in 2007.

 

2. Ryan Sweeney - OF - DOB: 02/20/85 - ETA: 2008

.298/.357/.371, 1 HR, 47 RBI, 53/35 K/BB, 6 SB in 429 AB for Double-A Birmingham

 

Sweeney didn’t hit his first Double-A homer until Aug. 28 of last season. He might have drilled a few more had he remained at Single-A Winston-Salem, but the White Sox have had him a level ahead of where he should have been ever since drafting him in the second round three years ago. The expectation is that Sweeney will eventually develop 20-homer power. It’d be nice if he walked more, but he keeps the strikeouts down and his batting average up. He also projects as a very good defensive right fielder. He’s going to need at least two more years in the minors, but it remains likely that he’ll develop into a regular.

 

3. Ray Liotta - LHP - DOB: 04/03/83 - ETA: July 2007

8-3, 2.26 ERA, 108 H, 107/35 K/BB in 115 1/3 IP for low Single-A Kannapolis

6-2, 1.45 ERA, 46 H, 37/16 K/BB in 49 2/3 IP for Single-A Winston-Salem

 

Liotta, a 2004 second-round pick, made surprising progress in his first full season, winning 14 games with a 2.02 ERA. A modest groundball pitcher with an 88-91 mph fastball and a plus curve, he would seem to have at least No. 3-starter ability. He’ll have to keep improving his changeup as he works his way though the minors, but he’s on the fast track. In another organization, an arrival in the second half of this year might be a possibility.

 

4. Josh Fields - 3B - DOB: 12/14/82 - ETA: 2008

.252/.341/.409, 16 HR, 79 RBI, 142/55 K/BB, 7 SB in 477 AB for Double-A Birmingham

.256/.317/.489, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 22/9 K/BB, 2 SB in 90 AB for Peoria Saguaros (AFL)

 

Fields, a star quarterback at Oklahoma State before being drafted 18th overall in 2004, had problems with the strikeout but still showed a fair amount of potential in his first full pro season. He should possess 30-homer power in time, and it’s likely that he’ll be able to say at third base, though his defense still looks rough at times. Joe Crede’s September surge and brilliant postseason may be end up helping Fields, as the White Sox will no longer be tempted to rush him. He might join the team this September, but he shouldn’t be up for good until 2008.

 

5. Jerry Owens - OF - DOB: 02/16/81 - ETA: April 2007

.331/.393/.406, 2 HR, 52 RBI, 72/52 K/BB, 38 SB in 522 AB for Double-A Birmingham

 

Unlike Bobby Jenks, Owens wasn’t directly the result of a waiver claim. However, the Nationals’ No. 9 prospect a year ago was acquired in exchange for a waiver claim, Alex Escobar. It was another unheralded pickup by Ken Williams, but a very astute one. Owens went on to have a breakthrough season in Double-A, and he kept it going by hitting .356/.429/.467 with 11 steals in the Venezuelan Winter League. Owens is no lock to become a regular, mostly because his speed hasn’t turned him into a very good center fielder. It might be that he’ll end up as a quality fourth outfielder. First, he’ll try to knock off the heavily favored Anderson in a center-field competition this spring.

 

6. Lance Broadway - RHP - DOB: 08/20/83 - ETA: 2008

1-3, 4.58 ERA, 68 H, 58/20 K/BB in 55 IP for Single-A Winston-Salem

 

Broadway, who went 15-1 with a 1.62 ERA in his final season at TCU, was the 15th overall selection in the 2005 draft. He’s probably just a future fourth starter with his 90-92 mph fastball, excellent curve and average change, but he’s capable of moving quickly. He might be the White Sox’s best trade bait when it’s time to upgrade in July. If he stays in Chicago, it could be a long time before there’s a rotation spot open for him.

 

7. Sean Tracey - RHP - DOB: 11/14/80 - ETA: May 2007

14-6, 4.07 ERA, 154 H, 106/76 K/BB in 163 2/3 IP for Double-A Birmingham

1-1, 7.16 ERA, 18 H, 11/7 K/BB in 16 1/3 IP for Peoria Saguaros (AFL)

 

Tracey couldn’t build on a strong 2004 season in his first attempt a Double-A, so it may be that the conversion to relief will come this year. It’s a role in which he could excel. Tracey would probably throw his moving fastball in the mid-90s with regularity while working an inning or two at a time out of the pen, and his slider is a quality second pitch. While it’s unlikely that he’ll make an impact this year, he could be a replacement for Cliff Politte in 2007.

 

8. Charles Haeger - RHP - DOB: 09/19/83 - ETA: 2008

8-2, 3.20 ERA, 82 H, 64/40 K/BB in 81 2/3 IP for Single-A Winston-Salem

6-3, 3.78 ERA, 84 H, 48/45 K/BB in 85 2/3 IP for Double-A Birmingham

 

Haeger has supplanted Boston’s Charlie Zink as the top knuckleball prospect in the minors. The 2001 25th-round pick actually retired briefly in 2003 and he had little success while spending most of 2004 in Rookie ball, but he earned a spot on the White Sox’s 40-man roster with his surprising performance last year. Along with his knuckler, Haeger mixes in fastballs and curves. It could be years before he achieves the command and consistency to succeed in the majors and he’s certainly not someone fantasy leaguers should invest in, but he has a chance at a career.

 

9. Robert Valido - SS - DOB: 05/16/85 - ETA: 2009

.288/.320/.417, 8 HR, 59 RBI, 64/21 K/BB, 52 SB in 513 AB for Single-A Winston-Salem

 

Valido hit .251/.313/.332 as a 19-year-old at Single-A Kannapolis in 2004. The White Sox moved him up last season anyway, and he got off to a terrific start, hitting .313/.366/.450 for Winston-Salem before it was announced on May 12 that he had flunked a steroids test. He continued to play pretty well immediately after finishing his 15-game suspension, but he faded as the season wore on. Valido’s glove and youth give him a spot of this list. Whether he’ll ever hit without receiving illegal assistance remains to be seen. He’s not going to develop a lot of power, but respectable batting averages are possible.

 

10. Chris Getz - 2B - DOB: 08/30/83 - ETA: 2009

.333/.346/.375, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 2/1 K/BB, 2 SB in 24 AB for Rookie Great Falls

.304/.407/.397, 1 HR, 28 RBI, 10/35 K/BB, 11 SB in 214 AB for low Single-A Kannapolis

 

Hard not to like that K/BB ratio. The scrappy Getz was a 2005 fourth-round pick out of the University of Michigan. The power is never going to come, but since he’s fast and he’s a fine defender at second base, it’s possible that his on-base skills will get him to the majors. 2006 will help determine whether he has a chance to become a regular. He has the arm to play shortstop, so he could help as a utilityman.

 

Next five - OF Aaron Cunningham, C Fernando Martinez, 1B Casey Rogowski, RHP Jeff Bajenaru, OF Brandon Allen

 

Note - Bobby Jenks spent too much time on the roster last season to qualify for this list.

 

2005 top 10: Brian Anderson, Brandon McCarthy, Ryan Sweeney, Chris Young, Kris Honel, Josh Fields, Gio Gonzalez, Sean Tracey, Bobby Jenks, Felix Diaz

 

2004 top 10: Jeremy Reed, Joe Borchard, Kris Honel, Neal Cotts, Jon Rauch, Ryan Wing, Brian Anderson, Ryan Sweeney, Corwin Malone, Chris Young

 

2003 top 10: Joe Borchard, Joe Rauch, Kris Honel, Anthony Webster, Miguel Olivo, Corwin Malone, Arnaldo Munoz, Felix Diaz, Micah Schnurstein, Tim Hummel

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