Note: Stats are current through Friday, April 21st, 2006.
This list is not a ranking of the 30 top prospects, but instead of the 30
hottest prospects in the organization, the ones making the most of their opportunities.
Players with a significant amount of Major League Service time are usually not
eligible, though in certain situations (change of position, change of role)
exceptions may be made. Agree? Disagree? Bored? Email
questions, comments, and concerns to FutureBacks@cox.net
table border="1" width="100%">
| Rank |
Name |
Team |
Comment |
Last Week |
| 1 |
Adam Bass |
Tenn |
The first #1 of the year in the Power Rankings is the
man who, to the surprise of many, got the opening day start in
Tennessee. That day Bass lasted for 4.1 innings, allowing six
runs. Since then he's allowed only two earned runs in 16.2
innings, including two starts this week, that resulted in two wins.
This is the second year in a row that Bass debuts at #1, last year it fell apart. This year Bass is looking to gain consistency and stay
near the top. |
| 2 |
Stephen Drew |
Tuc |
Drew nearly made the big league club, and his current
mission appears to be making it hard as possible for the D'Backs front
office to keep him in the system. He goes off this week, going
11-26 with three homers, five runs scored and seven RBI. Perhaps
the only knock on him last year offensively was that he didn't display
his speed, but he picked up a stolen base this week. |
| 3 |
Carlos Quentin |
Tuc |
Quentin got off to a rough start, but this week
raised his average 127 points after a 10-24 week that included four
doubles, a homer and seven RBI. He walked as often as he struck
out (4/4) and stole a base as well with the Sidewinders running wild. |
| 4 |
Chris Rahl |
Lan |
The young outfielder knows that his time in center
could be limited now that Justin Upton has arrived in South Bend, but
the coaches will find at bats for him as long as he continues to hit,
which he did this week, extending his hitting streak to 10 games with a
10-26 |
| 5 |
Miguel Montero |
Tenn |
Just 6-22 this week, but two runs scored, two
doubles, a homer and five RBI keep him high on the list, as does his 16
RBI in 16 games this year and his .417 average with runners in scoring
position, and amazing .571 with runners in scoring position and two out. |
| 6 |
Brandon Burgess |
Lan |
Burgess has been a hot prospect since his draft, but
injuries have slowed him, now fully healthy he's showcasing why he might
end up being a star going 8-17 this week with two solo homers and four
funs scored. A move toward the top of the order might be coming as
he was 3-4 in stolen base attempts but is hitting just .111 RISP and has
just three RBI on the year despite hitting fifth in the order. |
| 7 |
Micah Owings |
Tenn |
Our second highest rated pitcher this week is no
surprise, as Owings is expected to rocket through the system. In
two starts this week he picked up one win and one no decision, throwing
12.1 innings and allowing just two earned runs while walking five and
striking out 12. |
| 8 |
Mike Schultz |
Tenn |
Three appearances, three innings pitched, one save on
one hit and one walk. Schultz is not the #1 closer on the
Tennessee roster, but could be soon, as opponents are hitting just .087
against him for the year. |
| 9 |
Frank Curreri |
South Bend |
A six game hit streak this week during a 6-14 week in
which he scored three, drove in one, had a pair of doubles, a walk and
two strikeouts. Though he listed as a catcher, Curreri has
appeared in eight games, six as the DH. |
| 10 |
Mark Reynolds |
Lan |
Once a top shortstop prospect, Reynolds has now moved
into a utility role, but he's excelling there. With games at
second, short, and third already this year, Reynolds has not brought
that inconsistency to the plate, where he was 6-12 this week with a
double, two homers and six RBI. He scored four times this week and
walked twice while striking out three times. |
| 11 |
Tony Pena |
Tenn |
Last year coming out of spring training Tony Pena was
challenging for a spot in the D'Backs starting rotation. This
year, he's not even in the Double-A Smokies starting rotation, he's
their #1 closer. In three appearances this week Pena worked 4.1
innings and allowed just three hits and two walks, collecting a win and
a save. One down side is that this year opponents are hitting .429
in the 9th inning. That does not bode well for a closer. |
| 12 |
Matt Elliott |
Lan |
Elliott was the best closer in the system last year
in South Bend, and appears on his way to hold on to that crown this
year. He's 4-4 in save opportunities this season in Lancaster, and
this week in two appearances he picked up two more, allowing just one
run and three hits while striking out two. |
| 13 |
Matt Chico |
Lan |
If the power rankings had started after the first
week of the season it would have been impossible to put anyone but Chico
at number one, since his opening day start consisted of five innings of
no hit ball. This week he had one start, allowing four runs on
seven hits in 5.1 innings pitched. He walked one and struck out
six, and stays this high because it was the first outing of the year
where Chico had allowed a run (four starts). |
| 14 |
Enrique Gonzalez |
Tuc |
Don't let the record fool you. Though Gonzalez
is just 1-2 in his first three starts, he's carrying a 2.65 ERA.
Six innings this week allowing eight hits and four runs (three earned),
walking two and striking out four. Arguably the best starter in
Triple-A despite the record. |
| 15 |
Pedro Ciriaco |
SB |
Ciriaco had a four game hitting streak entering this
week, make that eight games now. This week he was 8-25 with three
runs scored, two doubles, and three RBI. He walked twice (against
four Ks) and stole a base. Ciriaco is a known quantity among the
D'Backs front office, but might not be a secret around baseball for too
much longer. |
| 16 |
Danny Richar |
Tenn |
When FutureBacks learned that Danny Richar was going
to be hitting leadoff in Tennessee everybody in office had a collective
moment of "Whaaaat?" Apparently that's why we're not coaching pro
ball, Richar was 6-19 this week with a double, a RBI, and three runs
scored, but more important was his eight walks against only three
strikeouts placing his OBP at .397. |
| 17 |
Doug Slaten |
Tenn |
The lanky lefty was surprise addition to the Arizona
Fall League last year, and had a great spring. He's carried that
momentum into the season, with two innings pitched in two appearances,
allowing only one hit and no runs. He's also throwing strikes,
having not allowed a walk while striking out five (yes, that's five of
the six outs he recorded) and dropped his ERA to a masterful 1.23 for
the season. |
| 18 |
Vincent Bongiovanni |
SB |
Two appearances, three innings pitched, three hits,
one walk, three Ks and zero runs. That zero runs is the key, as it
applies not just to this week, but to all four appearances (8.1 innings
pitched) he's had this year. |
| 19 |
Greg Thomson |
SB |
Though he was just 5-21 this year, he collected three
RBI, and has been clutch in those situations, hitting .526 with RISP
this season. Contact will be the key, as he struck out six times
this week against just one walk. |
| 20 |
Jonaton Valverde |
SB |
The familiar name comes with a familiar spot, the end
of the game. Valverde has been installed as the closer in South
Bend, and despite taking the loss in one of his two outings this week,
he's converted three saves on the season and carries a .180 ERA. |
| 21 |
Rusty Ryal |
Lan |
The Oklahoma State product is off to a good start,
showcasing all aspects of his game. He's challenging Brian Barden
as the best defensive third baseman in the game, and was 6-19 this week
with a double, three triples, a RBI, six runs scored and he stole a
base. |
| 22 |
Bill White |
Tenn |
Two appearances, 1.2 innings pitched, one hit, no
runs. There's something in the Tennessee water that lefties are
liking, as he carries just a 2.70 ERA for the year. |
| 23 |
Kenny Perez |
Tuc |
Between Drew, Alberto Callaspo, Richar, Reynolds and
the rest it seems like there might not be a spot in the organization for
Kenny Perez, but if he continues to have weeks like this past one (7-18
with two RBI) the D'Backs will have no choice but to make room for him. |
| 24 |
Derek Bruce |
Lan |
He was five for 19 with a run and two doubles but
hitting up in the order is where Bruce could have the most success, and
he'll have to become more selective to get there, he's yet to walk this
season but has 12 strikeouts. |
| 25 |
Ryan Coffin |
Lan |
Two appearances, 4.2 innings pitched, three hits, and
one was a solo homer, the only earned run he allowed this week.
His 1.93 ERA for the season is a good sign of things to come. |
| 26 |
Scott Hairston |
Tuc |
Hairston has proclaimed that he would be healthy by
opening day, and he's proving it. This week he was 6-26, but he had two
doubles and a solo homer, and scored four runs. In a crowded
Diamondbacks outfield system, Hairston may be doing nothing more than
increasing his trade value, but it's rising. |
| 27 |
Forrest Cory |
SB |
Cory was undrafted, and didn't even have a job last
year. The Diamondbacks took a shot, and it appears to be paying
off. This week two appearances, 2.1 innings pitched, two hits and
one run (unearned). In four appearances this season he's yet to
allow and earned run, and one figures this is a lefty with a lot to
prove. |
| 28 |
Matt Morgan |
Tenn |
Matt Morgan is listed as the second catcher in
Tennessee, but if you look at the depth chart he's probably the #2
option for Smokies Manager Bill Plummer at least three positions.
This year he's already played four different positions, and when he's
playing, he's mashing, going 5-12 this week with a RBI, and two runs. |
| 29 |
Carlos Gonzalez |
Lan |
The top prospect in the organization hasn't started
particularly hot, but one incredible day gets him on this list. He
was 5-19 this week with three runs scored, two homes and five RBI.
The fact that both homers and all the RBI came in one game is irrelevant
here, he's hitting .321 with runners on base for the year, and there
will be many more games like that to come. |
| 30 |
Emilio Bonifacio |
Lan |
Bonifacio makes the list for the same reason he's
likely to make the bigs. Speed. Though he was just 4-15 this
week he walked three times and was 3-3 in stolen bases, making him 8-9
in steals on the young season. Expect him to move up the list as
quickly as he moves from base to base. |