The Ones To Watch

Los Angeles wants Konerko in its lineup so badly it has persuaded him to try three positions in his four seasons in the minors and even deployed former manager Tommy Lasorda to the Triple A All-Star Game to encourage the prodigy.

Konerko, who had 26 homers and 89 RBIs at week's end, was drafted out of Chaparral High in Scottsdale, Ariz., as a catcher but switched to first because the Dodgers already had Mike Piazza. L.A. then signed first baseman Eric Karros through the year 2000, so Konerko was moved to third, where the Dodgers already had free-agent third baseman Todd Zeile, who had signed a three-year deal.

What's important to note, however, is that Zeile and Karros signed deals that allow Los Angeles to trade them. The way Konerko has been hitting might force the Dodgers to do something drastic. "I'd play outfield, anything, if it would get me to the big leagues," he says.

•Kris Benson, righthanded pitcher, Double A Carolina Mudcats (Pirates).

Benson, Pittsburgh's No. 1 pick in the 1996 draft, has been climbing rapidly through the minor league system. He was promoted from Class A Lynchburg in late May after putting together a 5-2 record with a 2.58 ERA and an eye-popping 72 strikeouts against 13 walks in 59⅓ innings.

An All-America at Clemson in 1996 and an Olympian later that year, Benson has been hampered by a strained hamstring since moving up to Double A and was 2-4 with a 7.18 ERA for Carolina through Sunday. The Pirates, always on the lookout for young talent, aren't worried, however. The 6'4", 190-pound Benson already has a major league curve and a fastball that's been clocked in the high 90s. He has also developed an effective changeup that he throws 15 to 20 times a game. Pittsburgh will move Benson to its Triple A affiliate in Calgary later this summer, and if he fully masters the changeup he could make his third jump this season—to the majors.

High-Priced Loaner

Of all the prospects toiling away in the minors, perhaps none is more deserving of a shot at the big leagues this summer than first baseman Travis Lee. The only problem is, Lee doesn't have a major league team to jump to.

The 1996 winner of the Golden Spikes Award as the nation's top amateur player while at San Diego State, the lefthanded-hitting Lee was the second player chosen in last year's draft, by the Twins. But Minnesota failed to tender him a formal, written contract within 15 days of the draft; as a result, under Major League Rule 4 (E), Lee was declared a free agent. He accepted a contract with the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks (who do not begin play until next year) for a then record $10 million signing bonus—five times the amount any other drafted player had ever been given.

Playing in the minors with that kind of cash has been a little strange for Lee. For starters he now drives a silver BMW—a four-door because, Lee says, "I figured in the minors I'd be hauling guys around." Lee also decided to donate his hat money—a tradition in some minor league cities in which fans collect cash for any player who hits a homer—to local charities.