FutureBacks Power Rankings: Week 2

We present a free preview of the FutureBacks Power Rankings this week. Despite the Arizona Diamondbacks minor league system struggling as a whole, there are several prospects enjoying fantastic starts in 2008.

The four full season affiliates have had a rough start to the 2008 campaign.  Tucson's 2-16 record is the worst in team history through 18 games, Visalia has gone 3-11 since beginning the year 4-0, and South Bend is off to an even colder start than usual at 2-14.  Only the Mobile BayBears are holding their heads high with a 9-8 record.  As a result, we're only listing 20 prospects this week rather than our usual 25.

It's no secret that the Arizona Diamondbacks traded away several great prospects this winter.  While a stellar draft by Tom Allison has replenished the system, many of these players are playing at higher levels than they would have done if the organizational depth were as strong as before.  There are still plenty of great prospects in the organization, but several of them are struggling out of the gate due to their aggressive affiliate placement.  

One prospect in particular stands out.  Max Scherzer is not only the hottest and best prospect in the Diamondbacks organization, but the hottest in all of baseball, and certainly ranks among one of the best.

Remember, these rankings chronicle the hottest organizational prospects who are making the most of their opportunity, not the best prospects overall.  For the top 50 prospects in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, click here.

Note: Stats are accurate as of Sunday, April 20th.   

Rank	Prev	Name	Team	Comment
1	1	SP Max Scherzer	Tuc	Adds another unbelievable start, now 17 IP, 29 K, 3 BB, 7 H, 0.00 ERA
2	3	SP Matt Torra	Mob	3-0, 0.75, 13 K, 0 BB - Would rank #1 in almost any other organization
3	2	OF Gerardo Parra	Vis	3 triples and 3 more walks than strikeouts headline Parra's achievements
4	-	3B Ricardo Sosa	Vis	14-for-his-last-26 (.538) with 2 HR & 6 RBI
5	6	SP Cesar Valdez	Vis	Now 3-0 with 1.96 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and nearly a strikeout per inning
6	11	3B Cesar Nicolas	Mob	Batted .500 during 7-game hit streak before he got hit in the elbow during BP
7	9	1B Mike Mee	SB	Leads Hawks with absurd .470 OPB: 13 BB, 6 K
8	17	RP Josh Ellis	Vis	11 scoreless innings, 6 base runners allowed
9	14	SS Yunesky Sanchez	Mob	Still hasn't walked, but you can't argue with batting .417 after skipping a level
10	13	RP Abe Woody	Mob	Un-scored upon through 10.2 innings
11	-	C Wilkin Castillo	Tuc	Batting .407 over his last 10 games
12	4	OF Evan Frey	SB	BA falling, but still has 10-game hit streak
13	21	IF Matt Oxendine	SB	Hitting .324; could be promoted soon
14	22	RP Forrest Cory	Mob	Now 9-0 since June of last year
15	-	SP Josh Collmenter	SB	Last 2 starts: 10 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 10 K, 1 BB
16	24	RP Chad Beck	SB	1.42 ERA, 0.87 WHIP in 12.2 workhorse relief innings
17	10	SP Adam Howard	Mob	Fell back to Earth in his last start, but overall numbers still impressive
18	-	RP Jose Marte	Vis	Nippert's replacement is unscored upon in his last 7 innings
19	-	OF Aaron Hanke	SB	Low BA, but drawing walks, showing some pop, and has 3 outfield assists already
20	15	OF Peter Clifford	Vis	Cooling off, but still has 5 doubles, 10 walks

Three To Watch:

- SP Tony Barnette (Mobile), who has allowed just two earned runs in his last two starts (2.44 ERA)

- SP Bryan Augenstein (South Bend), who rebounded in Kane County after a disastrous start in Lansing

- RP Thomas Layne (South Bend), who pitched three scoreless frames on Sunday and has a 2.57 ERA over his last three appearances

Falling Off:

- SS Pedro Ciriaco (12) may be tiring, playing shortstop every day with Mark Hallberg (hand) injured.

- C Ed Easley (8) went 0-for-6 Saturday and has just one extra base hit in his last 8 starts.

- OF Tim Raines (7) saw his BA fall from .448 to .291 in one week - you do the math.

- 1B Josh Whitesell (5) hit three home runs early, then no extra base hits since April 11.

Disagree with our rankings?  Have a question about a prospect?  Just plain lonely?  Email with your concerns.