Triple-A baseball has begun, and there is plenty of great talent to look for in both the Pacific Coast League and International League. Here’s a list of players to keep your eye on as the season progresses. Some have a chance to play their way onto the major league roster and others will be a key cog for their Triple-A squad.
Daric Barton, 1B, SAC – ‘06 stats: (SAC) 147 ABs, .259/.389/.395, 2 HR, 6 2B
Barton told me that he is 100% recovered from the broken left elbow he
suffered last season and feels as good as ever. He is expected to spend
most of the year leading the River Cats offense. But it may not be long
before he replaces Todd Walker’s overall mediocrity and puts up annual
.300/.400/.450 lines in Oakland with his short, fluid swing.
Kurt Suzuki, C, SAC – ’06 stats: (Midland) 376 AB, .285/.392/.415, 7 HR, 26 2B
Oakland ’s third-best prospect according to Baseball America, Suzuki is
a hard worker with developing skills in all facets of the game. He
should eventually reach the majors as a line-drive hitting catcher once
Jason Kendall is gone (after 2008).
Jeff Clement, C, TAC – ’06 stats: (TAC) 245 AB, .257/.321/.347, 4 HR, 10 2B
Clement has great power potential but has to work himself back up after
being plagued by injuries the last couple years. With Kenji Johjima
cemented behind the plate in Seattle, Clement could have a chance to
develop his game with another year of maybe even two in the minors.
Adam Jones, OF, TAC – ’06 stats: (TAC) 380 AB, .287/.345/.484, 16 HR, 19 2B, 13 SB, 4 CS
Jones had a fantastic brief season with Tacoma in 2006 in which he
flashed all five of his excellent tools. He’s the victim of an outfield
logjam in Seattle, but could force himself onto the major league roster
sometime this season if he keeps up his strong Triple-A play.
Andy LaRoche, 3B, LV – ’06 stats: (LAS) 202 AB, .322/.400/.550, 10 HR, 14 2B
Failing to beat out Wilson Betemit for the Los Angeles’ starting third
base job in Spring Training, LaRoche will harness his 30-HR potential
in the PCL for now. If Betemit flops or an outfield spot opens up, look
for the Dodgers call up their top prospect.
James Loney, 1B, LV – ’06 stats: (LAS) 366 AB, .380/.426/.546, 8 HR, 33 2B, 9 SB, 5 CS
Loney surprised everyone with an eye-popping .380 average in the PCL
last year. Nomar Garciaparra is no sure thing at first base; Loney will
find himself with a major league starting position by year’s end.
Felix Pie, OF, IOW – ’06 stats: (IOW) 559 AB, .283/.341/.451, 15 HR, 33 2B, 17 SB, 11 CS
It’s hard not to be awed by Pie’s skill set. He’s a great athlete with
tools that could allow him to become a flashy big leaguer. Pie doesn’t
have a spot in the Cubs outfield right now, but he will be given a
chance if Jacque Jones is traded or an injury comes up.
Adam Miller, SP, BUF – (Akron) 2.75 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 153.2 IP, 157/43 K/BB
Armed with high 90s heat and an incredible slider, Miller has clear ace
potential. After straining an elbow ligament in 2005, Miller returned
to put up a fabulous 2006 campaign in Double-A. The Cleveland rotation
is hardly set in stone and Miller nearly earned a major league call-up
when C.C. Sabathia was questionable for his first start of the season.
Miller will see the major leagues this season.
Shin-Soo Choo, OF, BUF – (TAC) 375 AB, .323/.394/.499, 13 HR, 21 2B, 26 SB, 4 CS
Somewhat overshadowed by Adam Jones in Tacoma last year, Choo put up an
impressive season before being traded to Cleveland. A crowded Tribe
outfield will keep Choo from the majors, but he could be called up at
some point and earn regular playing time.
Ryan Sweeney, OF, CHA – ’06 stats: (CHA) 449 AB, .296/.350/.452, 13 HR, 25 2B, 7 SB, 7 CS
With a swing that reminds scouts of Harold Baines, Sweeney has a chance
to be an above-average outfielder in the major leagues. If Darin
Erstad’s ankle fails to hold up or Scott Podsednik’s hamstrings act up,
Sweeney will find himself in the Chicago outfield.
Josh Fields, 3B, CHA – ’06 stats: (CHA) 462 AB, .305/.379/.515, 19 HR, 32 2B, 28 SB, 5 CS
Blocked in the majors by Joe Crede, Fields may spend most of the year
in Charlotte – barring a trade. If he does get traded, he could
immediately help out a major league club with 20 HR potential at the
hot corner.
Jeff Niemann, SP, DUR – ’06 stats: (MON) 2.68 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 77.1 IP, 84/29 K/BB
Niemann has top-of-the-rotation potential with a fastball that runs
from 92-96 mph, a low-80s slider, and an improving curveball and
change. If he can shake off the injury bug, look for him to slide into
the Tampa Bay rotation at some point in 2006.
Philip Hughes, SP, SWB – ’06 stats: (SWB) 2.25 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 116.0 IP, 138/32 K/BB
Arguably the top pitching prospect in all of baseball, Hughes recently
made his Triple-A debut with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and
looked solid. However, he could use some more time to develop and
probably won’t be up in the Big Apple until midseason at the earliest.
Homer Bailey, SP, LOU – ’06 stats: (CHA) 1.59 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 68.0 IP, 77/28 K/BB
Combining with Hughes to make the best pair of pitching prospects the
International League has seen in some time, Bailey already has the
stuff and aura of a star. If the Reds are making a push in the second
half of this season, they will call Bailey up and he could dominate
hitters his first time through the league.
Adam Lind, OF, SYR – 06’ stats: (NH) 348 AB, .310/.357/.543, 19 HR, 24 2B
Perhaps undervalued because he was only a third round draft pick –
solid for a 6-foot, draft-eligible sophomore without a good defensive
reputation – Lind mashed his way from Double-A to Toronto last season.
The lefty may ultimately wind up at DH or 1B, but he could be an
above-average big league hitter.
Ray Lin can be reached at raylin@gmail.com.