Next: The American League

Sure, the bitterly biased Yankee devotee within me reveals a practical grouch when a columnist, or innocent bystander, dares compare limitless Jose Reyes to Hall of Fame lock Derek Jeter, or even, gasp, the chosen one, Alex Rodriguez.

Honestly, it’s quite frightening. It only seems a second ago that Reyes was a rumor, the mysterious jewel of the Mets’ farm system during the bygone Steve Phillips era.

Scary thought, time.
But, after initial reaction fades, it becomes impossible not to acknowledge the improvement exhibited by Reyes, or even comprehend the infinite height of his ceiling. He takes pitches now, savvy and deadly. His arm at short a cannon, careless errors are becoming a memory, maybe even necessary youthful indiscretions.

Reyes was an unknown once, a vague curiosity amid an amazing mess. Major League baseball is blessed with an obscene level of prospective talent, another wave worthy of Reyes, and Jeter before him, on the immediate horizon.

Sometimes it’s obvious. The special ones often ooze electricity, a frenetic perfection to completely unique to them.

For all the psalms preaching professionalism, style makes this game, unfiltered self-expression.

As we appreciate Albert Pujols’ dignified resolve and Carl Crawford’s smooth athleticism, it never stops us from wondering who could possibly be next, on equal footing, or even better.

A scary thought indeed.

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Who qualifies as next? Those on the cusp of making the wildest dreams of fans, and management, blaze into reality. Hope is an equally dispersed commodity, from the top to the dredges, Anaheim to Washington.

Here’s to the future.

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American League East:

Boston Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury
Outfielder
Bats: L Throws: L

Compared in many circles with former New England icon Johnny Damon, Ellsbury projects as a top flight lead off man, with an excellent eye and blistering speed. Growing increasingly restless with Coco Crisp, the impatient among Red Sox nation already pine for Jacoby’s time. Ellsbury is universally hailed as an excellent fielder, and shouldn’t have much difficulty adjusting to the wild caroms created by the crevices of Fenway’s Green Monster.

Baltimore Orioles: Brandon Erbe
Starting Pitcher
Bats: R Throws: R

Erbe is from central ace casting: Standing at 6’4, possessing filthy stuff, Brandon is a shining beacon amid a pedestrian Baltimore system. While his secondary pitches aren’t polished to Major League standards yet, these fragments could eventually form an arsenal, with time and patience. Understandably, the O’s keep Erbe on a strict pitch count, protecting his priceless right arm. Check back in 2009.

Toronto Blue Jays: Adam Lind
Designated Hitter, Corner Outfielder, First Baseman
Bats: L Throws: L

Adam Lind is a hitter, pure and simple, boasting a minor league stat line loaded with .300 averages. His somewhat stalled progress, in spite of an impressive offensive skill set, is attributable to defensive struggles. Lind’s weakness with the leather is pronounced.  The Jays didn’t even attempt to play him in the field upon a brief promotion.  Adam’s limited dimension damages his overall value, and endangers his opportunity to become an everyday player. His chance to make a major contribution in `07 dwindled even further after Toronto surprisingly signed Frank Thomas.

Despite these drawbacks, his talent at the plate is impossible to disregard. Even if he doesn’t find an every day niche, Adam is capable of a career similar to Matt Stairs.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Delmon Young
Outfielder
Bats: R Throws: R

Delmon Young’s bat whips through the strike zone with equal fluidity and ferocity. A long reach and superior coordination has actually damaged his plate discipline. How is this kid supposed to exercise patience when he can literally hit anything?

Young’s burden lies with hype, shouldering the pressure of being blessed before debut, expected to dominate. His maturity has shown through, impressing teammates and coaches at every corner of his still developing career.

Young nearly flushed his deserved accolades, with one horrendous decision made in the heat of rage. The date was April 26th, 2006, and Delmon had been called out on strikes early in a contest between Durham and Pawtucket. After appearing to civilly disagree with what was a truly awful call by the plate umpire, Young was ejected from the game.

Following his vacating of the batter’s box, back turned, he flippantly flipped his bat, an irresponsible move exacerbated when the projectile nailed the ump, prompting a long and justified suspension.

Hopefully, Delmon learned a lesson from this isolated incident, and will keep maturity on his mind.

New York Yankees: Phil Hughes
Starting Pitcher
Bats: R Throws: R

The top pitching prospect in Baseball, Phil Hughes is a precocious talent. So dominating was the right-hander in 2006 that he never even dealt with a bases loaded situation. Featuring a high nineties fastball and a devilishly bending curve, Hughes is reintroducing the slider, his secondary pitch in High School, into an already loaded repertoire. He’s also in the process of crafting a change-up.

The pressure on Hughes, from fans and media, could suffocate many, but a calm demeanor and cool disposition should benefit. Whether Hughes can harness the eclectic energy of New York is a question yet to be answered, but the existing framework couldn’t exude more promise.

American League Central:

Minnesota Twins: Matt Garza
Starting Pitcher
Bats: R Throws: R

Do these guys slide from an assembly line? Another hulking right-handed power pitcher, Garza is far more polished than the majority of his brethren, complementing a high-octane fastball with in an impressive array of breaking pitches.

Why a retread such as Sidney Ponson has a spot in a suspect Twins rotation instead of Garza, primed to contribute on the professional level and frustrated by his puzzling demotion, is something radically beyond my comprehension.

Chicago White Sox: Ryan Sweeny
Outfielder
Bats: L Throws: L

In his first professional season, Chicago White Sox prospect Ryan Sweeny was invited to Spring Training. A rookie in this position is apt to keep a low profile, listen, learn, and leave, maybe slightly impress along the way. Not so, for Sweeny. He was the talk of White Sox camp, exhibiting maturity well surpassing his tender age. He was so good, a picture perfect left-handed stroke swatting line drives and home runs with equal ease, that the timetable set for his ascent was rapidly accelerated.

Sweeny has mildly disappointed, since his brief role as ” The Natural” a couple of springs ago. His power hasn’t developed as originally anticipated, but he still can smoke any fastball for a solid line drive. Following the trend of White Sox bred outfield prowlers; Sweeny is an able glove man, in the vein of Brian Anderson and departed Chris Young.

With the Sox opening ’07 with a tenuous left/center combo of Scott Podsednik and Darin Erstad, Sweeny could make his mark very soon.

Kansas City Royals: Alex Gordon
Third Baseman
Bats: L Throws: R

How highly thought of is Alex Gordon, already immortalized by glory starved Royal fans and press? His most common comparison is with none other than the best player in franchise history, George Brett.

After all, they both play third base, and both hit left-handed. While Gordon probably won’t accumulate batting titles, a George Brett trademark, he does project as a better power hitter, displaying perfect balance at the plate, his legs and hands synchronized to produce a swing nothing short of stunning.

Kansas City management won’t dare ask Gordon to be Brett, but they have put a degree of heat on him by forcing their most productive ’05 player, Mark Teahen, into an uncomfortable outfield arrangement. Given Gordon’s importance, the move was sensible, but he might press in an effort to justify his team’s faith.

A similar circumstance occurred years ago in San Diego, when the Padres rearranged their entire infield to accommodate Sean Burroughs, now adrift as a journeyman.

These are just mere observations, of course. Gordon is far more skilled than Burroughs at this stage of his career, and after an initial adjustment, that talent will shine through, for years and years.

Cleveland Indians: Adam Miller
Starting Pitcher
Bats: R Throws: R

Injuries are the principal deterrent which derail pitching prospects. Countless Hall of Fame talents have been led astray by a surgeon’s knife, career ruined and never recovered. In Adam Miller’s case, however, an arm injury served as a means to justify an end, in the case, the expansion and fine-tuning of an incomplete war chest.

Arm woes in ’05 forced a change in Adam Miller. His strength sapped, he was forced to deploy guile and rely on cunning, leaning on off speed pitches to maintain effectiveness. When his arm recovered, Miller had evolved from a thrower to a pitcher, and forged his status as the Indians’ top prospect.

Detroit Tigers: Cameron Maybin
Outfielder
Bats: R Throws: R

Cameron Maybin is athleticism personified. Maybin’s most distinct quality is explosiveness, found in every facet of his game.  

Maybin’s lofty statistics are even more impressive upon consideration that he played home games in a pitcher’s paradise. A .330 batting average on the road may reflect his true ability.

Maybin was right at home with the veterans during Spring Training, and could find a place on the big league roster by 2008.

American League West:

Anaheim Angels: Nick Adenhart
Starting Pitcher
Bats: R Throws: R

It’s no mystery why the Angels are a top-flight organization. Sure, they could be more aggressive on the trading market, and yeah, the Gary Matthews Jr. contract is still beyond belief, but Anaheim is adept at fortification, constantly replenishing a highly ranked system. Evidence: Nick Adenhart.

The Angels gambled, expending a late pick on Adenhart, a Tommy John patient. They guided Adenhart through recovery and rehab, rebuilding him.

And now, he projects as a number two starter. It’s not luck, people.

Seattle Mariners: Adam Jones
Outfielder
Bats: R Throws: R

The Mariners’ are beginning to acquire a reputation for rushing their prospects, throwing them into the fire without proper seasoning. Adam Jones had such an experience in ’06, summoned from Double A to start in center field.

Jones clearly wasn’t prepared, but the move did speak volumes regarding the organization’s admiration of his raw skill. Jones could develop into speed and power hybrid, a player who could contribute via various methods. He’ll start in Triple A, rough edges still requiring smoothing.

Don’t call him Pac Man.

Oakland A’s: Travis Buck
Corner Outfielder
Bats: L Throws: R

Travis Buck’s first highlight is telling: In his Major League debut, an early April game against Anaheim, Buck earnestly pursues a foul pop tumbling toward the right field seats. He reaches the warning track in foul territory and stretches into a dive, without a care to his head, which bangs into the padded wall separating the fans and field, or his body, which slams into the dirt.

He made the catch.

Getting it done is what Buck does. Though he doesn’t have the power to be considered an elite corner prospect, or the speed to make a successful transition to centerfield, Buck is a doubles machine that could blossom and fit a Paul O’Neill profile.  

Texas Rangers: Edinson Volquez
Starting Pitcher
Bats: Right Throws: Right

Volquez is beginning to truly confound the Rangers, for a wide variety of reasons. First, he shifted identities, losing the moniker Julio Reyes in the memorable summer of 2003, when immigration cracked down on green card violations. Now, he’s simply becoming an enigma, dominating in the minor leagues without showing a sliver of that prowess in the show. The Rangers could be beginning to lose faith, and young Eric Hurley is on the verge of overtaking him as the organization’s best pitching prospect, but his Minor League track record, albeit against inferior competition, is too consistently outstanding to ignore. They hope a light goes off in the artist formerly known as Julio Reyes, before he is forgotten by any name.