Prince Fielder

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Brewers committed

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A minor setback

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Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks Makes All-Star Futures Game

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Minor League: All-Stars

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Nelson, Fielder Make All-Star Squad

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Prince Fielder, like dad, is a powerful presence

HOUSTON - When he was 12 years old, Prince Fielder received his first opportunity to take batting practice on a big-league field. At the old Tiger Stadium, the pre-teenager smoked a home run into the rightfield overhang.

At that point, Fielder said, "I thought I was going to be all right."

Cecil Fielder's son now plays for the Milwaukee Brewers' Double-A affiliate in Huntsville, Ala., and yesterday the 20-year-old took part in the All-Star Futures Game at Minute Maid Park. A first baseman (like his father) and a lefty hitter (unlike his father), the 6-foot, 260-pound Fielder went 1-for-3.

His third year of professional ball has been his most challenging. He is hitting .256 with 60 strikeouts in 312 at-bats, although he also has 14 homers and 46 RBIs.

"He's got another half a season to play," said Cecil Fielder, who made his name with the Tigers and played for the Yankees in 1996 and 1997. "Where he's sitting, he can hit almost 30 homers. He's going to be fine."

Old man Jeter

Derek Jeter turned 30 last month, but that's not the only sign that he's no longer a youngster in the baseball world. Devil Rays shortstop B.J. Upton, who is at Triple-A Durham, said Jeter was his favorite player "when I was growing up."

"I played shortstop," said Upton, 19. "I was an inside-out hitter. Watching him, that was the way I approached things."

Extra bases

Both Yankees prospects, catcher Dioner Navarro and second baseman Robinson Cano, played for the "World" Team. Navarro started and went 0-for-2. Cano also went hitless in two at-bats. Class A righthander Yusmeiro Petit represented the Mets along with third baseman David Wright. Petit threw two-thirds of an inning for the World team, allowing no runs and a hit . . . Former players and B-list celebrities participated in the "Celebrity/Legends Softball Game" after the Futures Game. Former Astros pitcher

and manager Larry Dierker won Most Valuable Player honors in the National League's 15-8 victory.

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Huntsville's Price Fielder Rated #2 Top First Baseman In Minors

Baseball America is rating the top prospects in the minor leagues according to position.

Many of these prospects have been or can be seen in person when their team plays the Lookouts at BellSouth Park.

Jason Stokes, #7 prospect, has been in Chattanooga since Friday night with the Carolina Mudcats.

Tomorrow evening (Tuesday), #4 prospect, James Loney, and the Jacksonville Suns come to BellSouth Park to take on the Lookouts in a four-game series.

* * * *

1. Casey Kotchman, Salt Lake (Angels)

2. Prince Fielder, Huntsville (Brewers)

The son of former big league slugger Cecil Fielder is a completely different hitter than his dad. He bats lefthanded, hits for average, covers the plate well and goes the other way with pitches.

Even though he just turned 20 in May, Fielder is one of the premiere position prospects in the game. Few hitters with his youth or power are as accomplished and as knowledgeable.

For all his power, Fielder will take a walk when pitchers decide to work around him and his pitch recognition and quick bat make him a multiple threat at the plate.

Fielder admittedly didn't work much on his defense in high school, but he made great strides with Beloit manager Don Money last year. The work has paid off--Fielder has committed just five errors in 75 games with Double-A Huntsville this season.

He's held his own offensively in the Southern League despite being one of the league's youngest players (he's two days older than James Loney), but with Lyle Overbay posting a .943 OPS in Milwaukee, the Brewers don't need to rush Fielder.

3. Justin Morneau, Rochester (Twins)

4. James Loney, Jacksonville (Dodgers)

Loney has had an uphill climb this season after injuring his middle finger. The finger became infected and required minor surgery, and he is just now returning to game shape. He had one of the best outings of anyone in the minors during spring training in the Dodgers big league camp, but the finger injury and subsequent surgery put him behind in the development process.

A disciplined hitter with good pitch recognition and a classic stroke that reminds scouts of Mark Grace, Loney sprays line drives to all fields and has significant power to the alleys. He's still growing into his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame and projects to hit 30 homers each year.

Defensively, he works well around the bag and is arm is as good as it gets at first base. His instincts and makeup are off the charts and he, like Fielder, just turned 20 in May.

5. Michael Aubrey, Akron (Indians)

6. Brad Nelson, Hunstville (Brewers)

The Brewers tried moving Nelson to the outfield last season in an effort to clear the way for Fielder at first base. He has played all 75 games in left field this year, but projects better at first than the outfield. Nelson was the Brewers' 2002 minor league player of the year after leading the minors with 49 doubles and 116 RBIs at age 19.

He broke the hamate bone in is wrist early last season and his recovery took time. He went to the Arizona Fall League to try to make up for lost time but struggled there as well.

When healthy, Nelson has a solid approach at the plate. He uses the entire field and can hit for power the other way. The hamate injury robbed Nelson of his power last year, but it is all the way back this season. Nelson is hitting .270-15-45 in 282 at-bats at Huntsville.

7. Jason Stokes, Carolina (Marlins)

Light-tower power remains Stokes' greatest tool. He's cranked some mammoth shots and has shown good plate judgment in the past, though he has regressed somewhat in that area. He struck out 135 times at Class A Jupiter last season and has fanned 78 times in 228 at-bats so far this season.

He has decent hands at first base and had passed Adrian Gonzalez in the Marlins plans before they dealt Gonzalez to the Rangers, though now he has to contend with Hee Seop Choi's presence.

The ball flies out of Five County Stadium--much more than it did for Stokes last season in the Florida State League--so his natural power should be rewarded.

Stokes is batting .272-16-59 for the Mudcats this season, but is back on the disabled list with discomfort in his left wrist, the same one that was surgically repaired in 2002.

8. Ryan Howard, Reading (Phillies)

9. Adrian Gonzalez, Oklahoma (Rangers)

10. Dan Johnson, Sacramento (Athletics)

BEST OF THE REST

Jason Botts, Frisco (Rangers)
Craig Brazell, Norfolk (Mets)
Larry Broadway, Harrisburg (Expos)
Brian Dopirak, Lansing (Cubs)
Joey Votto, Dayton (Reds)

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Minors: Brewers 2005 Top 10 Prospect List Features Soon-To-Be Sounds

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Prominent newcomer

Prince Fielder has a new reason to scurry home after spring workouts: his son, Jadin. He was born last Aug. 17 -- "I homered that day," Fielder said. Jadin's godfather is Fielder's minor league teammate and fellow top prospect, Rickie Weeks.

Jadin weighed less than 8 pounds at birth, but he has since caught up to his big-boned lineage.

"He's pretty big now," joked Prince, who is listed at 260 lbs. "He's almost my size."

Lyle Overbay, Junior Spivey and Chad Moeller are among the Brewers who welcomed children into the world during the offseason. Carlos Lee's first son is due next month.

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Weeks, Fielder inseparable

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Yost sends message to prized prospects

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Minors: Top Prospects To Begin Season With Sounds

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Is Milwaukee next?

First base prospect Prince Fielder went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs in his Triple-A debut Thursday night, a 7-3 Nashville win called after six innings by rain. He now has homered in his first game with all four of his Brewers affiliates (also 2002 at rookie Ogden and Single-A Beloit, 2004 at Double-A Huntsville).

Pitching prospect Jose Capellan left the game after 4 1/3 innings with a blister on his pitching hand, according to Brewers general manager Doug Melvin, who was at the game. Capellan surrendered two runs on five hits.

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Mashing in Nashville

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The Ballplayer Currently Known as Prince

When you think of the name “Fielder,” you think of 50 homeruns, towering flyballs, and a giant of a man. What came to mind about “Fielder” ten years ago is likely to linger for many more years to come. But it may not be Cecil that will carry on this legacy. It may not be the man who went from Toronto to Japan only to return to the States to mesmerize fans on his way to a 50 home run season. And no, it may not be the rock of a man I ran into at the 1991 All-Star game in Toronto or the 1993 All-Star game in Baltimore.



No, instead, it may be his son, a giant in his own right and quite possibly, a more complete ballplayer. Prince Fielder may not yet be the king his dad once was, but he’s well on his way to a star-studded career of his own. For all that Cecil Fielder has accomplished, the comparisons the younger Prince must face are bound to put pressure on the kid. Instead, he takes it all in stride. “I’m not worried about the pressure that is put on me. I’m out here to establish my own name, be my own player,” says Prince. “I can only play my game. I don’t want to just be known as Cecil Fielder’s son.”



Regardless of the comparisons, the 6’ 0” 240lb man is a real presence on the field and instills fear into pitchers just like dear old dad. Yet, when you ask Prince if he considers himself a power hitter, he dismisses the notion. “I consider myself a line drive hitter. If I swing the bat like I can, the power numbers will come. If I try to pull the ball and hit home runs all the time, I’ll wind up a .120 hitter.” Fielder possesses tremendous bat speed and has a knack for recognizing pitches. His patience has paid off as well, allowing him to maintain a solid average even while striking out a fare share of the time.



Prince is as mature and in control as any 21 year-old ballplayer you’ll ever meet. Maybe it comes from being around Major League Baseball all his life. He’s confessed to learning a lot from major league stars such as Ken Griffey Jr. and Mo Vaughn. He’s dedicated to becoming a well-rounded player. “I want to work on all facets of my game to be the best I can be overall,” the young slugger says. “I don’t want any parts of my game lagging behind any other parts. That way when I get to the next level, I won’t have any real weaknesses. I can be a complete player.”



As young as Prince is, he’s become relatively immune to the competitive challenges thrown his way. Faced with the daunting task of facing major league caliber pitchers this spring, Fielder came away unfazed. “Some guys have more experience than others. Some pitchers get the ball over the plate more often. If I play up to my ability, everything will take care of itself. Baseball is baseball.”



The sky appears to be the limit for Prince Fielder. Some major league execs wonder what the Brewers will do with Fielder if Lyle Overbay continues to put up big numbers for Milwaukee. Prince isn’t worried. “I’ll let my game speak for itself,” he says. “I’ll just keep doing what I’m capable of doing. The Brewers will decide where I go next.” For the sake of Milwaukee fans, this writer sure hopes the Brewers realize the true talent Prince Fielder is. But if Prince isn’t worried, neither am I.