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Top 10 shortstop prospects
Posted: Sunday January 19, 2003 9:19 PM
BOSTON (Ticker) -- Over the last 10 years, the middle-infield positions have undergone drastic changes.
As discussed with the top second base prospects, the middle of the infield not only houses players who are defensive whizzes, but top-of-the-line hitters at the plate.
A bevy of shortstops at the minor league level have the initial make up and the potential to fit this new mold up the middle. The Mets' Jose Reyes and Cleveland's Brandon Phillips headline this list, mainly because each has a chance to find himself in the big leagues on Opening Day.
Both Reyes and Phillips possess five-tool characteristics that make scouts and opposing clubs green with envy.
Aside from the visible intangibles that are present among the top 10 shortstops, the youth of the group jumps to the forefront as much as the statistics. The 19-year-old Reyes might be the most polished of the group, but the Mariners also have a 19-year-old who may turn out to be even better offensively than Reyes.
After just two seasons as a professional, Jose Lopez's ability at the plate has certainly begun to turn heads. He led all minor league shortstops with a .324 batting average at San Bernardino of the Class A California League last season.
Youth, speed, outstanding defense and terrific hitting ability have come to redefine the role of a shortstop. This year's crop of talent showcases all of the above.
Top 10 shortstops
(Note: Players with less than 200 major league at-bats were considered)
1. Jose Reyes, Mets
With the New York Mets trading Rey Ordonez to the Tampa Bay
Devil Rays in mid-December, the path has been all but cleared
for Reyes to step in and become the everyday shortstop in
Flushing, N.Y. The 19-year-old Reyes hit .287 with 58 stolen
bases between Class A and Double-A, earning him SportsTicker's
2002 Teenager of the Year honors. Primarily a leadoff-type
hitter, Reyes has not put up power numbers to date but should
develop more pop as his body matures. In 65 games at Double-A,
Reyes batted .308 in 198 at-bats against left-handers, his first
full season as a switch hitter. Defensively, the native of the
Dominican Republic had his error total increased to 29 this
year, but he has good range and tremendous arm strength.
2. Brandon Phillips, Indians
From the Indians' standpoint, Phillips was the cornerstone of the
Bartolo Colon deal last June. A shortstop throughout his minor
league career, the 21-year-old is being groomed to play second
base alongside perennial Gold Glove winner Omar Vizquel.
Cleveland fans and the organization received a taste of how well
the duo could play together in Phillips' September callup last
season. Between Double-A and Triple-A this past season, the
right-handed-hitting Phillips batted a combined .302 with 31
doubles, 18 homers and 67 RBI. His defense has become suspect
over the past three seasons, evidenced by an average of 31.6
errors per year, and his passion for making the routine play
look flashy is part of the reason.
3. Omar Infante, Tigers
A defensive standout, Infante has been one of the youngest
players in each league he's appeared during his four-year
career. The 21-year-old, who excelled in the Double-A Eastern
League in 2001 with a .302 average and 21 doubles, played in the
Triple-A International League for the first time this past
season. The native of Venezuela hit .268 before a September
callup to Detroit and his .281 career mark projects for a decent
average in the majors because he makes consistent contact. The
downside is that Infante rarely walks and has little power.
Since being signed in 1999, he has drawn just 103 walks with
eight career home runs and 52 doubles. He is a fluid fielder
with good range and excellent actions, but has committed 53
errors over his last two minor league seasons.
4. Jose Lopez, Mariners
In only two seasons as a professional, the 19-year-old Lopez has
more than held his own. He was the second-youngest player in
the California League last season and led the league with 169
hits, 39 doubles and one strikeout every 12.49 at-bats. However,
the right-handed hitting Lopez's ability to make contact so
effectively has resulted in a lack of deep counts. The native
of Venezuela has drawn only 40 walks over his first two seasons.
Defensively, he has a strong arm, soft hands and plenty of
range.
5. Wilson Betemit, Braves
Originally signed by the Braves prior to his 16th birthday,
Betemit will be entering his seventh season in Atlanta's
organization. A member of SportsTicker's All-Prospect Team in
2001 while at Double-A, he has excellent skills, especially a
power bat and arm. The now 21-year-old battled injuries during
the 2002 season and hit just .245 with eight home runs in 93
games in the Triple-A International League. In addition, the
switch-hitting Betemit rarely walks, which will minimize his
offensive potential. Defensively, the Dominican Republic native
has good range and soft hands to go along with a strong arm.
6. Jose Castillo, Pirates
Appearing in the Class A Carolina League for the second
consecutive year, the 21-year-old Castillo posted his first .300
season and matched career highs with 16 homers and 81 RBI. The
native of Venezuela runs well after reaching the 20-plus stolen
base plateau for the third time in five years. He continues to
improve defensively with above average range, soft hands and a
strong arm than enables him to throw from deep in the hole at
short.
7. Kelly Johnson, Braves
Another in the long line of talented young infielders in the Braves
organization, Johnson was a first-round selection in the 2000
draft. In 2001, Johnson had his best season, hitting .289 with
23 homers and 66 RBI for Macon in the lower-level Class A South
Atlantic League. This past year, the 20-year-old struggled in
his first full season in the advanced Class A Carolina League,
but he was the third-youngest player in the circuit at the
outset of the year. The left-handed-hitting Johnson batted just
.255 with 12 homers and 49 RBI while seeing his on-base
percentage drop 79 points. After 45 miscues in 2001, Johnson
nearly chopped his error total in half, making only 24 mistakes
in 512 chances.
8. Angel Berroa, Royals
After a breakout season in 2001 in which he hit .310 with 38
doubles and 67 RBI, Berroa was hampered by injuries this past
season. The 24-year-old missed the first two months of the
season after arthroscopic knee surgery in April and was battling
nagging back, leg and hamstring injuries the remainder of the
way. The right-handed-hitting Berroa has proven that he can hit
for average, but in an effort to make up for lost time, the 6-0
170-pounder became homer happy last season. He had eight home
runs in just 77 games, but fanned a career-high 84 times in only
297 at-bats. In the field, he has great hands with a plus arm,
but commits a high amount of errors due to his
aggressiveness. With the release of Neifi Perez, the shortstop
position in Kansas City is the Dominican Republic native's to
lose.
9. Bobby Crosby, Athletics
A first-round pick by Oakland in the 2001 draft, Crosby had a
tremendous first full season between Class A Modesto of the
California League and Midland in the Double-A Texas League. The
right-handed-hitting Crosby batted .307 for the A's with 17
doubles and 38 RBI before being promoted in late June. The then
22-year-old batted .281 in 59 games and increased his power
production, hitting seven home runs. Crosby, whose father is a
former A's scout and is now with the Diamondbacks, has tremendous
baseball instincts, a strong arm and an ability to read balls
well in the field. If the Athletics lose Miguel Tejada to free
agency after the 2003 season, Crosby could be in line to
replace him.
10. Anderson Machado, Phillies
Machado is coming off his first full season at the Double-A
level, his highest since joining the organization in 1998. The
Venezuelan native batted .251 with a career-high 12 homers and
77 RBI. Throughout his career, he has been known for his
defensive prowess and the ability to make the difficult plays
look routine. Offensively, the soon-to-be 22-year-old
switch-hitter will get better with more playing time. He needs
to cut down on his 118 strikeouts from last season, without
losing sight of the 72 walks that he drew.
© 2003 SportsTicker Enterprises, LP
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