10 Minor Leaguers Waiting in the Wings

10 1B Kendry Morales - AA Arkansas (Angels)
.306 Avg, .349 OBP, .530 SLG, 47 R, 17 HR, 54 RBI
Well it took a while for the paper work to be filed and contracts to be signed but as soon as this Cuban defector got to play he started hitting. Morales is fundamentally sound from both sides of the plate with good power potential and had drawn strong comparisons in his homeland to Omar Linares prior to his defection (Omar Linares could well have been the best third baseman since Mike Schmidt if not for the Cuban embargo) so we can but wait to see how true that is.
Defensively he has already impressed many with his soft hands and ability to haul in errant throws (not that he should have to do that much with the array of infield talent Anaheim has assembled).

9 SS Erick Aybar - AA Arkansas (Angels)
.303 Avg, .350 OBP, .445 SLG, 101 R, 9 HR, 54 RBI, 49 SB
There aren’t enough Erick Aybar’s in the world. A flashy shortstop with speed and athleticism, Aybar makes things happen both in the field and at the top of the order and really harkens back to the really traditional view of everything you would want from shortstop before the likes of A-Rod, Nomar and Tejada made everyone think that defence up the middle should be sacrificed for another bat and the sad thing is that with Orlando Cabrera locked up for the next few years with the big club and Brandon Wood ripping the seams off the ball Aybar could end up being the odd man out.
There aren’t enough Erick Aybar’s in the world.

8 LHP Chuck James - AAA Richmond (Braves)
13-7, 2.12 ERA, 193 K, 36 BB, 161 IP, .179 avg
Chuck James might not have five A’s in his name or be a good hitting catcher but he is a dominating leftie who played at three different levels in the Braves system this year and across the three he was the toughest pitcher to hit in minor league baseball. His fastball isn’t overpowering but he mixes it well with his off speed stuff and locates in the style that has become typical of Braves pitching over the last decade. All in all not a bad year from a guy who managed to injure both his arms jumping from a roof before being drafted (apparently his ability to aim himself at swimming pools isn’t as good as his ability to aim his pitches).

7 SS Marcus Sanders - Low A Augusta (Giants)
.300 Avg .407 OBP .400 SLG 86 R, 5 HR, 40 RBI, 57 SB
His shoulder is still bothering him which might mean a move to second is likely, the Giants are hopeful it won’t continue to hamper his power. As it stands right now he is stupid quick with great hands and feet in the field and a disciplined hitter capable of getting on and making life hell for pitchers. If the power comes then the Rickey comparisons will continue.

6 2B Howie Kendrick - AA Arkansas (Angels)
.367 Avg, .406 OBP, .614 SLG, 104 R, 19 HR, 89 RBI, 25 SB
Possibly the best pure hitter in the minors, his manager has compared his smooth swing to that of Tony Gwynn which is quite something to say about a guy in AA. He allows to ball to get deep on him and finds a way to get the sweet spot of the bat on the ball and drive it. It doesn’t look likely that he’ll develop much power but if continues to be among the leaders for average in every league he plays I don’t think anyone will mind.

5 RF Carlos Quentin - AAA Tucson (Diamondbacks)
.301 Avg, .422 OBP, .520 SLG, 98 R, 21 HR, 89 RBI
This is the sort of guy that would have Billy Beane drowning in his own drool. Quentin has a great natural power swing and makes the most of it with great plate discipline and on top of that he’s a solid right fielder who has spent some time at centre. Not bad eh?

4 C Jarrod Saltalamacchia -High A Myrtle Beach (Braves)
.314 Avg, .394 OBP, .519 SLG, 70 R, 19 HR, 81 RBI
There are a three things that really are hard for teams to find that every team wishes they could have. These include hard throwing lefties, players with five A’s in there name and power hitting catchers with at least an average glove and Saltalamacchia is two of those.
Likened to Jason Varitek, Saltalamacchia is a switch hitter with power from both sides who has worked hard on his receiving skills and footwork. He only managed to throw out 26% of would be base stealers but with his work ethic that could also improve.

3 RHP Joel Zumaya - AAA Toledo (Tigers)
9-5, 2.74 ERA, 199 K, 76 BB, 151 IP, .189 Avg
This guy is nasty. Only Francisco Liriano struck out more hitters in minor league ball than Liriano.
Zumaya comes at you with a fastball that can get into triple digits and he complements that with a decent curve. He’s starting now but is expected to make a switch to the bullpen at some time (heck, one of those flamethrowers Detroit are churning out these days has to go there) so think a right handed Billy Wagner.

2 SS Brandon Wood - AAA Salt Lake (Angels)
.321 Avg, .379 OBP, .667 SLG, 110 R, 43 HR, 116 R
Little can be said about the year Brandon Wood has had in ‘05. Drafted as a glove man, Wood erupted with an almighty display of power for Rancho Cucamonga in The Cali with 101 extra base hits (next best in the minors was Andy Green with 78). The unparalleled depth the Angels have in the middle infield throughout the system means there are a few questions as to how they’ll handle guys like Wood but you know he’ll be given a good look next year and should be with the big league team at some point next season.

1 RF Delmon Young - AAA Durham (Devil Rays)
.285 Avg, .303 OBP, .447 SLG, 33 R, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 7 SB
Gave the Southern League a good whooping for most of the year before being moved up to Durham. Tampa haven’t endeared themselves to him by not calling him up in September but with the big shake up in the front office you can expect Mr Young to be a major front runner for Rookie of the Year in ‘06.