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Top Prospect Alert Archive
10/26/06 - 11-05-06
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2007 Top 100 Major League Baseball Prospects

2007 Top 10 Prospects By Team
American League East Teams
Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
New York Yankees
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Toronto Blue Jays
National League East Teams
Atlanta Braves
Florida Marlins
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Washington Nationals
Top 10 Prospects By Team For
American League Central
Chicago White Sox
Cleveland Indians
Detroit Tigers
Kansas City Royals
Minnesota Twins

Coming Next Week:
Monday: National League Central
Tuesday: American League West
Wednesday: National League West

11-5-06
Prospect of the Day
Sergio Pedroza

Tampa Bay Devil Rays outfield prospect Sergio Pedroza was the other guy in the Julio Lugo for Joel Guzman trade deadline deal this past summer, however if he continues to swing his stick the way he did in 2006, he may become The Guy. A third round pick of the Dodgers out of Cal-State Fullerton in 2005, Pedroza broke into professional baseball with an up and down season. After batting .500 in 12 games at Rookie League Ogden, Pedroza was promoted to Low-A Columbus where he hit just .207 the rest of the year, while striking out 58 times to just 16 walks. While the average was missing, the power was there as he blasted 16 homeruns in just 61 combined games. This past season, Pedroza took a step forward. He hit a combined .277 with 28 homeruns and 93 rbi's in 131 games split between Columbus, High-A Vero Beach, and High-A Visalia. In addition to regaining his ability to hit for average, Pedroza also regained some plate discipline, striking out 131 times to 101 walks, a vast improvement over 2005. Following the trade to Tampa Bay, he lit up the California League batting .313 in the final 29 games of the year. Expect Pedroza, who will turn 23 by opening day, to start 2007 in Montgomery, and likely play a full season there, with the possibility of a late call-up to Triple-A.

11-5-06
Bellhaven College Baseball Player Shot & Killed While Sitting In Traffic
--WLBT.com

11-5-06
At 28, Eric Edelstein Is Among The Youngest GM's In Minor League Baseball
--NWANews.com

11-5-06
Many Baseball Players Are Turning To Yoga
--SOOToday.com

11-5-06
More On Hunter Pence's DUI Arrest
--Caller.com

11-5-06
Buck O'Neil Among Those Honored At MLBPAA Legends Dinner
--MLB.com

11-5-06
Springdale Arkansas Residents Share Their Ideas For The Design Of New Minor League Baseball Stadium
--NWANews.com

11-5-06
Former Reds Farmhand Eric LeBlanc's Now A Firefighter
--PE.com

11-5-06
Baseball Card Made In 1887 Selling For Big $$
--Ebay.com

11-4-06
Prospect of the Day
Scott Moore

Scott Moore has gone from a former top 10 pick who never panned out, to becoming a fairly decent prospect once again. Given up on by the Detroit Tigers, who had drafted him as the 8th overall pick out of 2002 draft, Moore was traded to the Cubs in a deal for Kyle Farnsworth prior to the 2005 season. After batting a combined .251 in three years in the Tigers organization, Moore has seen his average rise as well as his power production in the last two seasons as a member of the Cubs organization. The 23 year old infielder batted .276 with 22 homeruns and 75 rbi's at Double-A West Tennessee in 2006. He was rewarded with a call to Chicago where he batted .263 with 2 homeruns and 5 rbi's in 36 big league at-bats. Depending on what the Cubs offseason holds, there is a chance Moore could make the team out of spring training. However do not be surprised if Moore spends some time at Triple-A Iowa to begin the season, before landing with the Cubs later in the year.

11-4-06
Houston Astros Prospect Hunter Pence Arrested For DUI, Sent Home From Arizona Fall League
--MinorLeagueBaseball.com

11-4-06
Florida Prep Coach Fired For Having 8th Grade Player Run Laps In Underpants While Sucking Thumb
--Local6.com

11-4-06
David Eckstein Jumps Into Missouri Stem Cell Research Debate
--LifeNews.com

11-4-06
Cape Cod League Names 2006 Hall Of Fame Class
--CapeCodOnline.com

11-4-06
Chicago Cubs Scouting Assistant Steve Hinton Talks About His Role
--SuburbanChicagoNews.com

11-4-06
Washington Nationals Front Office Trying To Make People Believe They Are Capable Of Running A Major League Team
--WashingtonTimes.com

11-4-06
Dodgers Fantasy Camp Begins Next Week
--Dodgers.com

11-4-06
Story On White Sox Farmhand C.J. Lang
--CSTV.com

11-4-06
Minor League Stadiums Forced To Offer Big League Amenities
--Charlotte.com

11-4-06
Former Padres Skipper Greg Riddoch To Manage Eugene Emeralds In 2007
--RegisterGuard.com

11-4-06
Vintage Advertising Items Featuring Baseball Players Being Reproduced & Sold On Ebay As The Real Thing
--AmericanChronicle.com

11-4-06
Former Cleveland Indians Player Brook Jacoby Talks About His New Role As Reds Hitting Coach
--CincinnatiReds.com

11-4-06
ATV Signed By 2006 Minnesota Twins Team
--Ebay.com

11-3-06
Prospect of the Day
Alexi Casilla

One of the least known names to make his major league debut in 2006, Minnesota Twins infielder Alexi Casilla may not be under the radar for much longer. Aquired from the Angels in the winter of 2005 for J.C. Romero, the 22 year old Casilla was recently named the Twins Minor League Player of the Year. Casilla is a lifetime .307 hitter in the minors and stolen an average of 50 bases a season as a pro. This past season combined between Single-A Ft. Myers and Double-A New Britain, Casilla batted .318 with 1 homerun, 46 rbi's, 22 doubles, 50 stolen bases, while scoring 84 runs on the year. In addition to his ability to hit for average and steal bases, Casilla rarely goes down on strikes, drawing 106 walks to 110 strikeouts during his minor league career. Casilla picked up a hit and drew a pair of walks during his "cup of coffee" appearance with the Twins in September. While he does have an outside chance of making the Twins roster in the spring, most likely look for Casilla to begin 2007 at Triple-A Rochester where he will have the ability to play every day.

11-3-06
Operation FALCON III Nabs Lee Smith's Brother In Shreveport
--ShreveportTimes.com

11-3-06
Chaos For White Sox In Venezuelan Winter League As Razor Shines Is Fired & Brian Anderson Leaves After Dropping 20 Pounds
--ChicagoSports.com

11-3-06
Hyun-Jin Ryu Becomes First Player To Win Korean League MVP & Rookie Of The Year In The Same Season
--Donga.com

11-3-06
Trey Hillman Talks About Interviewing For Three Big League Manager Jobs In Three Days
--InsideBayArea.com

11-3-06
Chris Valaika Named Topps Pioneer League Player Of The Year; Joey Votto Gets Southern League Award
--BillingsGazette.com

11-3-06
New Zealand Hoping For Jump In Popularity Of Baseball In Country Dominated By Men's Fastpitch Softball
--NorthernAdvocate.co.nz

11-3-06
Tampa Bay Devil Rays Pitching Prospect Jeff Niemann Chats With Fans
--DevilRays.com

11-3-06
Atlanta Braves Hire Seattle Mariners Castaway Dave Brundage To Manage Triple-A Richmond
--TimesDispatch.com

11-3-06
Independent League Pensacola Pelicans Finances 12,000 Square Foot Indoor Baseball Academy
--PensacolaNewsJournal.com

11-3-06
Ty Cobb Domino Disc From 1909
--Ebay.com

11-2-06
Prospect of the Day
Ryan Patterson

Toronto Blue Jays outfield prospect Ryan Patterson is putting together a nice minor league career. The Blue Jays fourth round pick in the 2005 draft out of LSU could end up as the 2007 version of Adam Lind. Patterson batted a combined .277 with 25 homeruns, and 89 rbi's, while adding 39 doubles in a season split between Single-A Dunedin and Double-A New Hampshire. It was a great sophomore campaign for Patterson who hit .339 with 15 homeruns and 65 rbi's in his pro debut in 2005 playing for Auburn in the short season New York-Penn League. Expect the 23 year old Patterson to start the year in Syracuse, and likely be in Toronto by the middle to end of the 2007 season.

11-2-06
Florida Marlins 2003 Top Pick Jeff Allison Busted Again, This Time On Heroin Possession Charges, Possession Of Stolen Vehicles & More
--Sun-Sentinal.com

11-2-06
Participants Recall Playing A U.S. Prep Record 25 Inning High School Baseball Game Back In 1975
--InsideBayArea.com

11-2-06
Former Big Leaguer Bob Oldis Donates His Memorabilia To The Iowa Hall Of Pride
--DesMoinesRegister.com

11-2-06
Juan Encarnacion Attempting To Purchase Land From Accused Drug Trafficer
--DominicanToday.com

11-2-06
Story On Baseball Memorabilia Collector Harvey Wildstein
--TheSTLCardinals.com

11-2-06
Tim Flannery Follows Bruce Bochy To San Francisco
--SignOnSanDiego.com

11-2-06
Seattle Mariners Fear Pitcher Mark Lowe's Elbow Injury Could Be Career Threatening
--TheNewsTribune.com

11-2-06
USC Set To Get New Baseball Stadium
--MyrtleBeachOnline.com

11-2-06
Former Red Sox Farmhand Dale Plummer To Coach Colby College Baseball Team
--BangorDailyNews.com

11-2-06
Interview With Cubs Prospect Donald Veal
--BaseballAmerica.com

11-2-06
Bomb Goes Off At Ebay's Paypal Headquarters In San Jose
--CBS5.com

11-2-06
New York Yankees 1996 World Series Diamond Studded Pendant Presented To Player Wives
--Ebay.com

11-1-06
Prospect of the Day
Scott Elbert

Scott Elbert may very well be the best left handed pitching prospect in all of baseball. When he is on, he's almost unhitable. Since being drafted as the 17th overall pick out of a Missouri high school by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2004, Elbert has dominated the minor leagues averaging over a strikeout per inning during his three professional seasons. In 2006 Elbert split time between Single-A Vero Beach and Double-A Jacksonville. For the year he went a combined 11-9 with a 2.90 ERA and 173 strikeouts in 146 innings of work. Opposing batters hit just .190 against him on the year. The one flaw on an otherwise remarkable season was his propensity to give up the long ball in Double-A. He gave up 11 home runs in just 62 innings of work at Jacksonville. Expect Elbert to begin the year in Triple-A Las Vegas and for him to make his big league debut sometime late in 2007, similar to what Chad Billingsley did this past season.

11-1-06
Oldest Negro Leaguer Silas Simmons Dies At Age 111
--TampaBays10.com

11-1-06
2KSports To Release "The BIGS" Baseball Game In 2007
--PS3News.ca

11-1-06
Astros Players Reflect Upon The Career Of Jeff Bagwell
--Chron.com

11-1-06
Chris Carpenter Talks About Winning The World Series & Landing On A Wheaties Box
--UnionLeader.com

11-1-06
Feds Charge Sports Agent With Smuggling Cuban Ballplayers
--MiamiHerald.com

11-1-06
Prep Star D.J. Leonard Injures Spinal Cord During Home Plate Collision With Catcher At World Wooden Bat Tournament In Florida
--PalmBeachPost.com

11-1-06
Pittsburgh Pirates Players & Coaches Talk About Their Hawaii Winter League Experience
--Post-Gazette.com

11-1-06
Money Secured For New Columbus Clippers Stadium Set To Open In 2009
--BizJournals.com

11-1-06
Public Opposes New Minor League Baseball Stadium For Fort Wayne Wizards
--FortWayne.com

11-1-06
Harley Davidson Gas Tank Autographed By St. Louis Cardinals Team
--Ebay.com

10-31-06
Prospect of the Day
Travis Buck

Looking for the 2007 version of Andre Ethier, a prospect who comes up midseason and goes on a tear that puts his team in playoff contention? You should be able to find him in Travis Buck. A first round pick of the Oakland A's out of Arizona State, Buck is an outfielder that hits for power, average, and has pretty solid speed. He was a member of the star studded US National Team in 2004 that featured the likes of Alex Gordon and Ryan Zimmerman. Splitting an injury (groin) shortened year between High-A Stockton and Double-A Midland, Buck batted a combined .320 with 7 homeruns, 48 RBI's, 39 Doubles, and 11 stolen bases in just 84 games. Buck rarely strikes out, 57 times in 338 at-bats. He's currently batting just .250 in the Arizona Fall League, but three of his six hits have been for extra bases. Expect Buck, who turns 23 next month, to begin the 2007 season at Triple-A Sacramento, and to be the "it" guy in Oakland by the end of the season if he stays healthy.

10-31-06
Harold Reynolds Set To Sue ESPN
--CBC.ca

10-31-06
Lyle Overbay Looking Forward To Touring Japan
--SLAMSports.com

10-31-06
Joe Niekro Remembered By His High School
--WTOV9.com

10-31-06
White Sox Bullpen Coach Man Su Lee Talks About His Return To Coaching In Korea
--DongA.com

10-31-06
Jose Oquendo & Trey Hillman On Padres Short List Of Candidates To Replace Bruce Bochy
--SignOnSanDiego.com

10-31-06
City Of Ottawa Not Sure What To Do With Lynx Stadium Once Triple-A Team Leaves
--OttawaBusinessJournal.com

10-31-06
Dave Dombrowski May Use AL Title To Help Land New Job
--Freep.com

10-31-06
Former Astros Manager Larry Dierker's Baseball Blog
--Chron.com

10-31-06
Hair From Race Horse Secretariat
--Ebay.com

10-30-06
Prospect of the Day
Fernando Martinez

Signed by the Mets for a $1.4 Million signing bonus out of the Dominican Republic as a 16 year old in December of 2004, Fernando Martinez came to the U.S. with huge expectations and pressure placed on him. Martinez, a future franchise outfielder, who just turned 18 this month, had a nice, if not spectacular season this past year between Low-A Hagerstown and High-A St. Lucie. As young a player as there was in either the South Atlantic or Florida State League, Martinez combined to hit .279 with 10 homeruns and 39 rbi's in 76 games in a season that was slowed by a thumb injury at the midway point. Martinez dominated the Sally League batting .333 over 45 games at Hagerstown. Things got tougher in the Florida State League as his average dipped to .193 in 30 games, however he was able to equal the home run total he had at Hagerstown in 15 less games. Look for Martinez, who will play all of 2007 as an 18 year old, to begin and most likely play the entire season at St. Lucie. Also expect Martinez, who is currently batting under .200 in the Arizona Fall League, to make some spring training appearances with the Mets this March. Without a doubt, Martinez could easily be one of the Top 10 prospects in baseball this time next year.

10-30-06
World Series MVP David Eckstein Stays Very Close With Minor League Foster Mom
--DelmarvaNow.com

10-30-06
Virginia Law Professor Questions Baseball As America's Pasttime
--Virginia.edu

10-30-06
Brewers Prospect Ned Yost IV Talks About Playing College & Pro Baseball
--AdvanceTitan.com

10-30-06
Former Negro League Player Carlos Suarez Dies At Age 97
--HeraldTribune.com

10-30-06
Elite Youth Sports To Gain College Scholarship; Good Or Bad Investment
--PhillyBurbs.com

10-30-06
St. Louis Cardinals Players Get To Share World Series Victories With Their Families In The Stands
--CasperStarTribune.net

10-30-06
Remembering New York Yankees Manager Billy Martin
--ContraCostaTimes.com

10-30-06
Services Held For Tampa Bay Devil Rays Minor Leaguer Erik Walker
--WXII12.com

10-30-06
Hotel Mogul John Q. Hammons Is A Huge Baseball Fan
--AL.com

10-30-06
Jeff & Jered Weaver Talks About Their Whirlwind Seasons
--OCRegister.com

10-30-06
Vintage Joe Dimaggio Trophy Pin
--Ebay.com

10-29-06
Prospect of the Day
Michael Garciaparra

It's taken a long time to happen, probably much longer than the Seattle Mariners expected, but their will likely be two Garciaparra's playing Major League Baseball in 2007. Michael Garciaparra, a shortstop, ten years the junior of brother Nomar, is on the brink of becoming a big leaguer in what will be his sixth professional season. Drafted by Seattle with the 36th overall pick in the 2001 draft, Garciaparra posted his best season as a pro in 2006. Combined between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Tacoma, as well as a four game rehab stint in the Arizona League, Garciaparra batted .311 with 3 homeruns and 28 RBI's in 74 games. These numbers built upon a .298 season at High-A in 2005. Prior to which Garciaparra had batted just .242 in his first three professional seasons. Expect Garciaparra, who will turn 24 in April, to start in Tacoma and make his big league debut at some point during the 2007 season.

10-29-06
Tony LaRussa Becoming St. Louis Cardinals Legend
--STLToday.com

10-29-06
Don Larson's Cousin Talks About The Impact Larson's 1956 World Series Perfect Game Had On His Life
--WashingtonTimes.com

10-29-06
Albert Pujols Celebrates Being A World Series Champion
--MercuryNews.com

10-29-06
St. Louis Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty Talks About The World Series Win
--MercuryNews.com

10-29-06
Tsuyoshi Shinjo Says He's Not Running For Political Office In Japan
--Yomiuri.co.jp

10-29-06
Red Sox Farmhand Michael Lennox Could Be The Next Great Baseball Player To Come From Australia
--SMH.com

10-29-06
Roland Hemond Talks About His Career As A Baseball Executive
--AZCentral.com

10-29-06
Palm Beach Hopeful Of Returning To Affiliated Baseball
--TheDesertSun.com

10-29-06
Mike Hargrove's Wife Sharon Talks About Being A Baseball Wife
--MadFriars.com

10-29-06
Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig One Of A Kind Upper Deck Autographed Baseball Card
--Ebay.com

10-28-06
No Update Today. Enjoying Cardinals World Series Victory. TPA Returns To Normal Sunday Morning!!!

R.I.P. Joe Niekro

10-27-06
Prospect of the Day
Brandon Erbe

Brandon Erbe can deal. The Baltimore Orioles third round pick in the 2005 draft is as good as any pitching prospect under 20 years of age currently pitching in the minor leagues. Drafted out of a Maryland high school, Erbe burst onto the scene in 2005 striking out 48 batters in just 23.1 innings in rookie ball. While he wasn't quite that good in 2006, Erbe was not bad by any means. The 18 year old right hander went 5-9 with a 3.22 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 114.2 innings pitched at Low-A Delmarva. He walked just 47 batters and allowed only two homeruns all season. Expect Erbe to get the test at High-A Frederick where he will likely be one of the youngest players in the Carolina League next season.

10-27-06
Body Of Missing Devil Rays Minor League Pitcher Erik Walker Found
--ZWire.com

10-27-06
UNCC Campus Reacts To Erik Walker's Death
--CSTV.com

10-27-06
Interview With Former Pitching Great Dave Stewart
--All-Baseball.com

10-27-06
Major League Baseball Shuts Down Cardinal Fan Selling Kenny Rogers Cheated T-Shirts
--Reuters.com

10-27-06
Mitch Albom Finding Success With Book Written About Fictional Baseball Player
--News1130.com

10-27-06
Blown Call By Don Denkinger Caused Chaos In Missouri In 1985
--ColumbiaTribune.com

10-27-06
Story On Detroit Tigers Farmhand Mark Haske
--CSTV.com

10-27-06
Former Mets Star Tsuyoshi Shinjo's Wins Japanese League Title In His Final Pro Game
--Yomiuri.co.jp

10-27-06
Robert Redford To Play Branch Rickey In Upcoming Jackie Robinson Movie
--Cinematical.com

10-27-06
Story On Former Detroit Tiger Great Willie Horton
--WoodTV.com

10-27-06
Two Female Baseball Coaches In New York Make Headlines
--TimesUnion.com

10-27-06
1935 Detroit Tigers World Series Scrapbooks
--Ebay.com

10-26-06
Prospect of the Day
Jeremy Slayden

Jeremy Slayden was the Player of the Year in the state of Tennessee in 2001 while at Murfreesboro Oakland high school, and was drafted by the Padres following his senior year. Rather than go pro, Slayden elected to go to Georgia Tech. The left handed hitting outfielder, was an eighth round pick of the Phillies in the 2005 draft. In his first full season as a pro, Slayden was one of the best hitters in the South Atlantic League this past season. With Lakewood, Slayden batted .310 (second in the league), with 10 homeruns, 81 rbi's, and was tied for the Sally League lead with a club record 44 doubles. At 24, Slayden was one of the leagues oldest players, but without a doubt one of the best. Slayden likely will open 2007 at High-A Clearwater, however, the Phillies may elect to test Slayden at Double-A Reading should he have a strong spring.

10-26-06
Giants Rookie Fred Lewis Talks About Being In Tragic Car Accident Five Years Ago That Took The Lives Of Three Friends
--SFGiants.com

10-26-06
Detroit Tiger Players Reveal Their Baseball Heroes Growing Up
--DETNews.com

10-26-06
Andy MacPhail Talks About His Future Plans
--ChicagoSports.com

10-26-06
St. Louis Cardinals Pitcher Jeff Suppan To Appear In Television Ad Opposing Stem Cell Research
--NYTimes.com

10-26-06
Dave McKay Talks About Coaching In His Fifth World Series
--Canada.com

10-26-06
Baltimore Orioles Hoping 2006 First Round Pick Billy Rowell Will Be The Team's Star Of The Future
--BaltimoreSun.com

10-26-06
Frank Torre Celebrates 10 Years With His New Heart
--Newsday.com

10-26-06
Major League Baseball Has The Most Up To Date Technology Available To Fans On The Internet Compared To Any Other Professional Sport
--GlobeAndMail.com

10-26-06
Look At The Impact Baseball's New Labor Agreement Will Have On The Draft & Minor Leagues
--InsideTheDome.com

10-26-06
Dave Roberts & Jerry Remy To Join Boston Red Sox Hall Of Fame
--RedSox.com

10-26-06
Tigers Reliever Jason Grilli Remembers His Days As A Giants Farmhand In Shreveport
--ShreveportTimes.com

10-26-06
Jeff Brantley To Join Reds Broadcast Team
--Cincinnati.com

10-26-06
Lady From Hawaii Has Appendectomy On Sunday; Flies To St. Louis Monday Morning To See Game Three Of The World Series
--STLCardinals.com

10-26-06
Lance Broadway Hopes To Make Big League Debut Soon
--WhiteSox.com

10-26-06
Story On Financial Advisors To Pro Athletes
--OnWallStreet.com

10-26-06
Former Cleveland Indians Great Al Rosen Talks About His Era Of Baseball
--MLB.com

10-26-06
You Can Be A Minor Leaguer For A Day
--VermontGuardian.com

10-26-06
Andy Van Slyke Happy To Be In World Series Against His Hometown Cardinals
--USAToday.com

10-26-06
Former Cardinals Pitcher Matt Kinzer Is Now A Sports Agent Who's Clients Include Ryan Howard & Torii Hunter
--FortWayne.com

10-26-06
Kurt Suzuki & Other Prospects From Hawaii Talk About Their Minor League Seasons
--StarBulletin.com

10-26-06
Organ Used At Fenway Park During 2004 World Series
--Ebay.com

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