Panzram
03-15-2006, 03:14 PM
J.J. Hardy SS Milwaukee Brewers
Hardy was limited to 124 games in 2005 due to injury, but still managed a modest 9 HR and 50 RBI as a rookie. He's just 23 and has a chance to evolve in to a solid offensive SS. Hardy had only a .247 BA on the season, but had a strong second half including 5 HR & 19 RBI with a .305 BA in 82 September AB.
11/23/05
AL
Brandon Wood SS Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
This is a long-term sleeper as Wood is targeted to spend 2006 in the minors. Wood emerged as one of the top prospects in baseball during 2005 hitting 43 HR with 115 RBI and a .321 BA in 536 high A at bats. The 20-year-old then hit 14 HR in 114 Arizona Fall League AB. If Wood continues to produce at AA and/or AAA in 2006 he could potentially garner a starting major league job in 2007. He'll have to move off SS as he's blocked by Orlando Cabrera and 3 years remaining on his contract. Wood could be the Angels' future thirdbaseman with Dallas McPherson moving to DH.
NL
Hanley Ramirez SS potentially the Florida Marlins
The deal isn't official yet, but if the Marlins do get Ramirez in the Beckett deal the the soon to be 22-year-old could open 2006 as the Marlins' regular SS. Ramirez' tools are ahead of his production currently as he hit only .271 with 6 HR and 52 RBI in 465 AA at bats in 2005. The top prospect did steal 26 bases and has the potential to be above average defensively. Despite the mediocre AA numbers, Ramirez has a high ceiling offensively and could evolve in to a productive SS.
11/16/05
AL
B.J. Upton SS Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Upton would probably be a regular in the majors already if it weren't for erratic defense at SS. The D'Rays need to figure out how to get this potential top of the order menace in the lineup. The 21-year-old Upton held his own in 159 major league AB in 2004 with 4 HR and 12 RBI with 4 SB. He returned to the minors in 2005 and continued to rack up errors at SS, but built on his offensive potential hitting .303 in 545 AB with 18 HR, 74 RBI and 44 SB. It currently doesn't make sense how Upton fits in to the D'Rays plans, but his hitting ability could get him in the lineup sometime during 2006.
NL
Ronny Cedeno SS Chicago Cubs
Cedeno is a late blooming prospect that could end up as the Cubs' regular SS in 2006. The Cubs re-signed Neifi Perez which appears to have regulated Cedeno to a utility role. However, Perez isn't an offensive force blocking Cedeno. Also, Todd Walker is rumored to be dealt with Perez moving to 2B and Cedeno taking over at SS. The 22-year-old Cedeno is a plus defender who emerged offensively in 2005 hitting .300 in 80 AB in the majors, preceeded by a .355 BA in 245 AAA AB with 8 HR and 11 SB. Another scenario is the Cubs signing Rafael Furcal to play SS, which could result in Cedeno moving to 2B, Todd Walker traded and Neifi Perez a utility role.
Hardy was limited to 124 games in 2005 due to injury, but still managed a modest 9 HR and 50 RBI as a rookie. He's just 23 and has a chance to evolve in to a solid offensive SS. Hardy had only a .247 BA on the season, but had a strong second half including 5 HR & 19 RBI with a .305 BA in 82 September AB.
11/23/05
AL
Brandon Wood SS Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
This is a long-term sleeper as Wood is targeted to spend 2006 in the minors. Wood emerged as one of the top prospects in baseball during 2005 hitting 43 HR with 115 RBI and a .321 BA in 536 high A at bats. The 20-year-old then hit 14 HR in 114 Arizona Fall League AB. If Wood continues to produce at AA and/or AAA in 2006 he could potentially garner a starting major league job in 2007. He'll have to move off SS as he's blocked by Orlando Cabrera and 3 years remaining on his contract. Wood could be the Angels' future thirdbaseman with Dallas McPherson moving to DH.
NL
Hanley Ramirez SS potentially the Florida Marlins
The deal isn't official yet, but if the Marlins do get Ramirez in the Beckett deal the the soon to be 22-year-old could open 2006 as the Marlins' regular SS. Ramirez' tools are ahead of his production currently as he hit only .271 with 6 HR and 52 RBI in 465 AA at bats in 2005. The top prospect did steal 26 bases and has the potential to be above average defensively. Despite the mediocre AA numbers, Ramirez has a high ceiling offensively and could evolve in to a productive SS.
11/16/05
AL
B.J. Upton SS Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Upton would probably be a regular in the majors already if it weren't for erratic defense at SS. The D'Rays need to figure out how to get this potential top of the order menace in the lineup. The 21-year-old Upton held his own in 159 major league AB in 2004 with 4 HR and 12 RBI with 4 SB. He returned to the minors in 2005 and continued to rack up errors at SS, but built on his offensive potential hitting .303 in 545 AB with 18 HR, 74 RBI and 44 SB. It currently doesn't make sense how Upton fits in to the D'Rays plans, but his hitting ability could get him in the lineup sometime during 2006.
NL
Ronny Cedeno SS Chicago Cubs
Cedeno is a late blooming prospect that could end up as the Cubs' regular SS in 2006. The Cubs re-signed Neifi Perez which appears to have regulated Cedeno to a utility role. However, Perez isn't an offensive force blocking Cedeno. Also, Todd Walker is rumored to be dealt with Perez moving to 2B and Cedeno taking over at SS. The 22-year-old Cedeno is a plus defender who emerged offensively in 2005 hitting .300 in 80 AB in the majors, preceeded by a .355 BA in 245 AAA AB with 8 HR and 11 SB. Another scenario is the Cubs signing Rafael Furcal to play SS, which could result in Cedeno moving to 2B, Todd Walker traded and Neifi Perez a utility role.