rdivaldi
12-15-2004, 05:59 PM
Can't say I really agree with the list or their assessments, but it's still an interesting read:
1. Brian Anderson, OF: The White Sox top pick in the 2003 draft, Anderson looks like a solid yet unspectacular prospect. He hit over .300 in High-A last season before hitting .270 in Double-A. He is a contact hitter that does not draw a great deal of walks, but 12 homers and 13 steals show that he is a well rounded athlete. With the trade of JeremyReed, he is the best option in Chicago if JoeBorcharddoes not hit.
ETA: 2006
2. Kris Honel, SP: Honel was a top pitching prospect coming into last season, but he hurt his elbow and had a much abbreviated season. The White Sox are worried that their supposed future ace could no longer be a prospect, as his velocity is way down following the injury. This is one of the reasons teams such as the A's draft college pitchers instead of high schoolers.
ETA: 2005
3. Brandon McCarthy, SP: McCarthy has intimidating stature and has improved as the year has progressed. The 6-7 right-hander had an ERA below 4.00 in three levels this season including Double-A at the age of 21. He has pinpoint control and very good strikeout rates due to a solid repertoire that includes a low-90s fastball. As a 17th round pick, the White Sox may have found a diamond in the rough.
ETA: 2006
4. Chris Young, OF: Many are yet to hear about him, but this former 16th round pick has solidified himself as one of the top outfield prospects in the game. He just turned 21 in September and had an incredible year in the Sally League hitting .263-24-56 with 31 steals in 40 attempts. Strikeouts are the only big concern right now with 145 K's in 465 at-bats at such a low level, but he still draws plenty of walks. Young has the ability to be Torii Hunter offensively if he is able to progress his contact rate.
ETA: 2007
5. Ryan Sweeney, OF: The White Sox second round pick in the 2003 draft had a solid first full pro season. He hit .283-7-64 with eight steals and decent plate discipline numbers in Low-A. The lefty is another good contact hitter that has potential to start in the majors, but he is not there yet.
ETA: 2007
6. Josh Fields, 3B: The White Sox 2004 first round pick was immediately called up to Single-A, but the Oklahoma St. alum played well. The college middle infielder was shifted third base and hit .285-7-35 in less than 300 at-bats, but his 18/74 BB/K ratio was atrocious. He must take better control of his strike zone as he moves up.
ETA: 2006
7. Ray Liotta, SP: The White Sox are very excited about their second round pick of the recent draft following his excellent debut. The lefty had a 2.54 ERA in Rookie Level with more than a strikeout per inning. Control is already a concern with 28 walks in 63.2 innings pitched, but the lefty already is considered to have major league stuff. Look for the 21-year-old out of Tulane to move up quickly.
ETA: 2006
8. Arnie Munoz, SP: Munoz was converted to starting from relief last season with mixed results. While he dominated in Double-A with an ERA near 3.00, he had more trouble throwing strikes in Triple-A and the majors. Munoz's curveball is often compared to that of BarryZito, but it is arguably his only plus pitch. It is unclear whether the White Sox plan on using him as a reliever in the majors, but another effective pitch might be needed for him to be effective.
ETA: 2005
9. Mike Spidale, OF: The White Sox could very well have a major league leadoff hitter in Spidale. The 22-year-old hit .304-7-47 with 26 steals and a 61/72 BB/K ratio in 484 at-bats. The fact that he was caught stealing 15 times is a concern, but his increased batting average and improved plate discipline is encouraging.
ETA: 2005
10. Andy Gonzalez, 3B/SS: The White Sox were happy to see Gonzalez's power develop last season, but he has a long way to go before reaching the majors. His plate discipline continues to impress, but he struggles to hit the ball on the button on a consistent basis and he did not show much confidence in his base stealing abilities last season. The biggest concern continues to be his low batting average, as he hit just .170 in 112 at-bats upon his call-up to Double-A last season and has not batted .300 since the year of his pro debut. The 22-year-old's 12 home runs and great contact ability leaves room for optimism, but he is quickly escaping the prospect map.
ETA: 2006
1. Brian Anderson, OF: The White Sox top pick in the 2003 draft, Anderson looks like a solid yet unspectacular prospect. He hit over .300 in High-A last season before hitting .270 in Double-A. He is a contact hitter that does not draw a great deal of walks, but 12 homers and 13 steals show that he is a well rounded athlete. With the trade of JeremyReed, he is the best option in Chicago if JoeBorcharddoes not hit.
ETA: 2006
2. Kris Honel, SP: Honel was a top pitching prospect coming into last season, but he hurt his elbow and had a much abbreviated season. The White Sox are worried that their supposed future ace could no longer be a prospect, as his velocity is way down following the injury. This is one of the reasons teams such as the A's draft college pitchers instead of high schoolers.
ETA: 2005
3. Brandon McCarthy, SP: McCarthy has intimidating stature and has improved as the year has progressed. The 6-7 right-hander had an ERA below 4.00 in three levels this season including Double-A at the age of 21. He has pinpoint control and very good strikeout rates due to a solid repertoire that includes a low-90s fastball. As a 17th round pick, the White Sox may have found a diamond in the rough.
ETA: 2006
4. Chris Young, OF: Many are yet to hear about him, but this former 16th round pick has solidified himself as one of the top outfield prospects in the game. He just turned 21 in September and had an incredible year in the Sally League hitting .263-24-56 with 31 steals in 40 attempts. Strikeouts are the only big concern right now with 145 K's in 465 at-bats at such a low level, but he still draws plenty of walks. Young has the ability to be Torii Hunter offensively if he is able to progress his contact rate.
ETA: 2007
5. Ryan Sweeney, OF: The White Sox second round pick in the 2003 draft had a solid first full pro season. He hit .283-7-64 with eight steals and decent plate discipline numbers in Low-A. The lefty is another good contact hitter that has potential to start in the majors, but he is not there yet.
ETA: 2007
6. Josh Fields, 3B: The White Sox 2004 first round pick was immediately called up to Single-A, but the Oklahoma St. alum played well. The college middle infielder was shifted third base and hit .285-7-35 in less than 300 at-bats, but his 18/74 BB/K ratio was atrocious. He must take better control of his strike zone as he moves up.
ETA: 2006
7. Ray Liotta, SP: The White Sox are very excited about their second round pick of the recent draft following his excellent debut. The lefty had a 2.54 ERA in Rookie Level with more than a strikeout per inning. Control is already a concern with 28 walks in 63.2 innings pitched, but the lefty already is considered to have major league stuff. Look for the 21-year-old out of Tulane to move up quickly.
ETA: 2006
8. Arnie Munoz, SP: Munoz was converted to starting from relief last season with mixed results. While he dominated in Double-A with an ERA near 3.00, he had more trouble throwing strikes in Triple-A and the majors. Munoz's curveball is often compared to that of BarryZito, but it is arguably his only plus pitch. It is unclear whether the White Sox plan on using him as a reliever in the majors, but another effective pitch might be needed for him to be effective.
ETA: 2005
9. Mike Spidale, OF: The White Sox could very well have a major league leadoff hitter in Spidale. The 22-year-old hit .304-7-47 with 26 steals and a 61/72 BB/K ratio in 484 at-bats. The fact that he was caught stealing 15 times is a concern, but his increased batting average and improved plate discipline is encouraging.
ETA: 2005
10. Andy Gonzalez, 3B/SS: The White Sox were happy to see Gonzalez's power develop last season, but he has a long way to go before reaching the majors. His plate discipline continues to impress, but he struggles to hit the ball on the button on a consistent basis and he did not show much confidence in his base stealing abilities last season. The biggest concern continues to be his low batting average, as he hit just .170 in 112 at-bats upon his call-up to Double-A last season and has not batted .300 since the year of his pro debut. The 22-year-old's 12 home runs and great contact ability leaves room for optimism, but he is quickly escaping the prospect map.
ETA: 2006