3-2 Changeup
01-23-2003, 09:03 PM
OK, so this is a fantasy league draft report, but it still speaks well of Castillo and makes one wonder if this is true, what Jack Flash's future holds.
2003 Prospect Rankings
January 23, 2003 Print It
David Srinivasan
Sporting News
OK, it's time to start beating around the bush(es). The Fantasy Source staff is well into its preparations for the 2003 baseball season. I finally decided to get in the swing of things and rank some prospects to help you get a jump on your draft lists.
This week, I've written bios on six prospects. In addition, below you'll find a link to the 2003 prospect rankings. Click that, and you'll see links to our preseason Top 150 (a misnomer--there are actually 186 guys ranked) and position-by-position rankings. If you have any feedback (or want to add someone for consideration), please drop me a line at dsrinivasan@sportingnews.com.
Check out the 2003 prospect rankings now!
Jason Arnold, RHP, Blue Jays, Age: 23. Arnold is very smart, has a hard-moving fastball that hits 90-93, a good slider, and uses a palmball as his changeup. Between high Single-A and Double-A, Arnold went 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA in 155.1 innings. He allowed 123 hits, including five homers, and had a 154-51 K/BB ratio. The A's dealt Arnold to Toronto in the offseason, so he will get a clear shot at a spot in the Jays' iffy rotation this year. He could easily start 2003 at Triple-A Syracuse, but there is a chance he'll get 25-30 big-league starts. If he shows command this spring, be prepared to grab him.
Jeremy Bonderman, RHP, Tigers, Age: 20. Bonderman might be the best pitching prospect in baseball by the end of this season. Bonderman signed as a high school junior and made his pro debut in the high Single-A California League, which is kind of like learning to drive on the NASCAR circuit. Despite his inexperience, Bonderman went 9-8 with a 3.61 ERA. In 144.2 innings, he allowed 129 hits, including 15 homers, and had an impressive 160-55 K/BB ratio. Bonderman has a low-90s fastball, a good changeup and a nice hard breaking ball. He almost immediately jumps to the head of the class in Detroit. Bonderman appears 2-4 years from the majors, but he should add velocity. He is very bright, and the sky is the limit.
Marlon Byrd, OF, Phillies, Age: 25. Byrd batted .297-15-63 with 15 steals and a 98-46 K/BB ratio for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season. Much more impressive is Byrd's off-the-charts work ethic. The Phillies love his passion to improve, and he appears to have a lock on the center-field job heading into spring training. Byrd could develop into a .300-25-100 player and steal 25 bases. He should get at least 400 at-bats with the Phils this season.
Jose Castillo, SS, Pirates, Age: 22. Castillo is one of the best middle-infield prospects in the minors. He batted .300-16-81 with 27 steals and a 95-49 K/BB ratio in 503 at-bats in the high Single-A Carolina League. Castillo has great defensive skills, too, so he should remain at shortstop. Castillo will start in Double-A, but he could make the majors in the second half. He could also be Pittsburgh's starter in 2004.
Rich Harden, RHP, Athletics, Age: 21. Harden finished second in the minors in strikeouts last season, going 12-6 with a 2.94 ERA in 153.1 innings between high Single-A and Double-A. He allowed 116 hits, including six homers, and had a 187-76 K/BB ratio. His command obviously needs work because he walked 52 in 85.1 innings at Double-A Midland. Still, Midland is a rough place in which to pitch, and Harden went 8-3 there, striking out 10.8 batters per nine innings. His fastball hits 96 mph, he has a great cutter, and his splitter and curveball all have fine potential. He has the makings of a dominant big-league hurler, but needs at least half a year in Triple-A to hone command. He could also become a dominant closer.
Jason Kubel, OF, Twins, Age: 20. Kubel is a relative unknown in prospect circles, but his combination of youth and talent make him a tremendous sleeper. He batted .321-17-69 in 424 at-bats at low Single-A Quad City. He hit 26 doubles, four triples and had a very solid 48-41 K/BB ratio. Kubel is 2-3 years from the bigs, but he is one player to watch like a hawk if you are in a deep, deep league.
Miguel Olivo, C, White Sox, Age: 24. Olivo is a superb defensive catcher who might be the biggest fantasy sleeper of 2003. There are a metric ton of caveats here, but we are talking about a guy who batted .306-6-49 with excellent bat control (66-40 K/BB ratio) and good extra-base power (24 doubles, 10 triples). And oh, did I mention the 29 steals (13 caught stealing)? That performance at Double-A Birmingham is about the same as going .289-7-57 in a full season (464 at-bats) at Comiskey Park. Of course, that also includes 30 doubles, 10 triples and 35 steals. Basically, Olivo looks like Jason Kendall Jr. He probably won't steal more than 15 bags in the majors, but he has a good shot at starting in Chicago this season.
2003 Prospect Rankings
January 23, 2003 Print It
David Srinivasan
Sporting News
OK, it's time to start beating around the bush(es). The Fantasy Source staff is well into its preparations for the 2003 baseball season. I finally decided to get in the swing of things and rank some prospects to help you get a jump on your draft lists.
This week, I've written bios on six prospects. In addition, below you'll find a link to the 2003 prospect rankings. Click that, and you'll see links to our preseason Top 150 (a misnomer--there are actually 186 guys ranked) and position-by-position rankings. If you have any feedback (or want to add someone for consideration), please drop me a line at dsrinivasan@sportingnews.com.
Check out the 2003 prospect rankings now!
Jason Arnold, RHP, Blue Jays, Age: 23. Arnold is very smart, has a hard-moving fastball that hits 90-93, a good slider, and uses a palmball as his changeup. Between high Single-A and Double-A, Arnold went 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA in 155.1 innings. He allowed 123 hits, including five homers, and had a 154-51 K/BB ratio. The A's dealt Arnold to Toronto in the offseason, so he will get a clear shot at a spot in the Jays' iffy rotation this year. He could easily start 2003 at Triple-A Syracuse, but there is a chance he'll get 25-30 big-league starts. If he shows command this spring, be prepared to grab him.
Jeremy Bonderman, RHP, Tigers, Age: 20. Bonderman might be the best pitching prospect in baseball by the end of this season. Bonderman signed as a high school junior and made his pro debut in the high Single-A California League, which is kind of like learning to drive on the NASCAR circuit. Despite his inexperience, Bonderman went 9-8 with a 3.61 ERA. In 144.2 innings, he allowed 129 hits, including 15 homers, and had an impressive 160-55 K/BB ratio. Bonderman has a low-90s fastball, a good changeup and a nice hard breaking ball. He almost immediately jumps to the head of the class in Detroit. Bonderman appears 2-4 years from the majors, but he should add velocity. He is very bright, and the sky is the limit.
Marlon Byrd, OF, Phillies, Age: 25. Byrd batted .297-15-63 with 15 steals and a 98-46 K/BB ratio for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season. Much more impressive is Byrd's off-the-charts work ethic. The Phillies love his passion to improve, and he appears to have a lock on the center-field job heading into spring training. Byrd could develop into a .300-25-100 player and steal 25 bases. He should get at least 400 at-bats with the Phils this season.
Jose Castillo, SS, Pirates, Age: 22. Castillo is one of the best middle-infield prospects in the minors. He batted .300-16-81 with 27 steals and a 95-49 K/BB ratio in 503 at-bats in the high Single-A Carolina League. Castillo has great defensive skills, too, so he should remain at shortstop. Castillo will start in Double-A, but he could make the majors in the second half. He could also be Pittsburgh's starter in 2004.
Rich Harden, RHP, Athletics, Age: 21. Harden finished second in the minors in strikeouts last season, going 12-6 with a 2.94 ERA in 153.1 innings between high Single-A and Double-A. He allowed 116 hits, including six homers, and had a 187-76 K/BB ratio. His command obviously needs work because he walked 52 in 85.1 innings at Double-A Midland. Still, Midland is a rough place in which to pitch, and Harden went 8-3 there, striking out 10.8 batters per nine innings. His fastball hits 96 mph, he has a great cutter, and his splitter and curveball all have fine potential. He has the makings of a dominant big-league hurler, but needs at least half a year in Triple-A to hone command. He could also become a dominant closer.
Jason Kubel, OF, Twins, Age: 20. Kubel is a relative unknown in prospect circles, but his combination of youth and talent make him a tremendous sleeper. He batted .321-17-69 in 424 at-bats at low Single-A Quad City. He hit 26 doubles, four triples and had a very solid 48-41 K/BB ratio. Kubel is 2-3 years from the bigs, but he is one player to watch like a hawk if you are in a deep, deep league.
Miguel Olivo, C, White Sox, Age: 24. Olivo is a superb defensive catcher who might be the biggest fantasy sleeper of 2003. There are a metric ton of caveats here, but we are talking about a guy who batted .306-6-49 with excellent bat control (66-40 K/BB ratio) and good extra-base power (24 doubles, 10 triples). And oh, did I mention the 29 steals (13 caught stealing)? That performance at Double-A Birmingham is about the same as going .289-7-57 in a full season (464 at-bats) at Comiskey Park. Of course, that also includes 30 doubles, 10 triples and 35 steals. Basically, Olivo looks like Jason Kendall Jr. He probably won't steal more than 15 bags in the majors, but he has a good shot at starting in Chicago this season.