Top Prospect Alert Archive 11-06-2006 / 11-15-2006
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The Cincinnati Reds seem to always be in the market for bullpen help. In 2007, they may be able to look into their system for some middle relief help. David Shafer posted an outstanding season as the closer for Double-A Chattanooga in his second stint with the club. The 24 year old righthander went 1-2 with 26 saves and a 2.36ERA in 49.2 innings of work. He struck out 52 batters, and opponents hit just .204 against him. Shafer, who was a 32nd round pick in the 2001 draft out of an Arizona JUCO, does not project as a big league closer, but is someone who could help eat innings out of the pen. Expect Shafer to get a look in spring training, likely begin the year in Triple-A and make his big league debut at some point towards the middle of the 2007 season.

At 26, Nate Gold has not exactly blazed through the Texas Rangers system. However the team's 10th round pick in the 2002 draft did have one heck of a 2006 season. The Gonzaga product dominated Texas League pitching batting .292 with a league leading 34 homeruns and 103 rbi's. While his age puts him in the same mold as many other big hitting first baseman that have little chance of making the majors, the one thing that separates Gold is that he doesn't strike out very often. He fanned just 85 times in 452 at-bats while drawing 55 walks. Gold will turn 27 in June, and will pretty much lose what little prospect status he has left, however if he continues to hit for both power and average, he could be a nice sleeper pick as a productive big league designated hitter somewhere down the line.

Signed by the Florida Marlins as an non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2003 outfielder Jose Campusano has made a steady rise through the team's minor league system, and has improved his numbers at every stop. The switch hitter who came into pro ball as a shortstop was converted to outfield this past season at Double-A Carolina. The position change did not affect his hitting as Campusano posted a career high .283 average with 1 homerun and 15 rbi's and 45 runs scored in 99 games batting primarily out of the leadoff spot. Campusano also swiped a career high 37 bases. Expect the 23 year old to begin 2007 at Triple-A Albuquerque.

Drafted as the 1180th overall pick in the 2002 draft, Bryan LaHair would have figured to have as much of a chance of making the majors as the person running this website. However unlike myself, LaHair appears to be on the brink of becoming 39th round success story. After a rough debut in 2003, all LaHair has done since is hit, and has developed some nice power along the way. The 6'5" first base/outfielder who bats left handed put himself on the prospect map with a .310, 22 homerun, 110 rbi season at Island Empire in 2005. As an encore, LaHair batted a combined .309 with 16 homeruns and 77 rbi's between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Tacoma this past season. Most impressive was the .327 clip he put up at Tacoma the final 54 games of the year. Expect LaHair to get a look from the Mariners during spring training, and if he does not make the club, the 24 year old should be one of the first call-ups from Tacoma should anyone go down during the early part of the season in Seattle.

Mitch Talbot is another in a long line of Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitching prospects. Acquired from the Astros along with Ben Zobrist, Talbot had an outstanding 2006 season, and positioned himself as a player to watch in the Devil Rays organization. Combined between Double-A Corpus Christi and Montgomery, Talbot went 10-7 with 2.76ERA while striking out 155 batters in 156.2 innings. Talbot's best numbers came after joining the Devil Rays, as batters hit just .214 against him at Montgomery. Look for Talbot, who was Houston's second round pick in the 2002 draft, to begin 2007 at Tampa Bay's Triple-A affiliate in Durham. However with a strong spring, Talbot could make the Devil Rays roster as a fourth or fifth starter. Either was expect the 23 year old Talbot to make his big league debut at some point in the 2007 season.

There are currently three Brian Anderson's in affiliated baseball. Two of them are in the major leagues. The third is a 23 year old closer in the San Francisco Giants system that is making a strong case to be on the fast track to join the other two Anderson's in the majors. Anderson, who was drafted by the Giants out of Long Beach State in the 14th round of the 2005 draft has been spectacular since turning pro. Following a 3-1, 19 save, 1.95 ERA, performance at Short Season Salem Keizer in 2005, Anderson was even better this past season. At High-A San Jose, Anderson went 1-1 with 37 saves, a 1.86ERA, and struck out 85 batters in 62.2 innings of work. Look for Anderson, who is currently doing well in the Hawaii Winter League, to start 2007 at Double-A Connecticut. With a good start I would expect Anderson to move to Triple-A by mid-season and to have an outside shot at seeing time as a situational set-up man for the Giants by season's end.

Taken as a 4th round pick in the 2005 draft, Brett Lillibridge had a breakout season in 2006. After batting under .250 at Short Season Williamsport last year, Lillibridge rebounded to bat over .300 this past season. Combined between Low-A Hickory and High-A Lynchburg, Lillibridge batted .305 with 13 homeruns, and 71 rbi's, with 53 stolen bases on the season. Lillibridge was a star on the 2003 US National team that featured the likes of Jered Weaver and Justin Verlander. If Lillibridge continues his outstanding offense, it won't be too long before he joins his former teammates in the majors. Expect Lillibridge to begin 2007 at Double-A Altoona, and have a chance at a September call-up with a solid season.

Just about everyone believes professional wood bats have less pop then their collegiate metal counterparts. Oakland A's third base prospect Jeff Baisley may tell you otherwise. After a solid four year career at South Florida in which he hit a total of 23 homeruns, Baisley exploded for 22 longballs last year at Kane County in his first year as a pro. Overall the 12th round pick in the 2005 draft batted .296 with those 22 homeruns and a Midwest League leading 110 rbi's. He also finished third in the league in doubles with 35, while striking out just 86 times in 466 at bats, a pretty good ratio for a power hitter. Because of his age, he will be 24 next month, and his four years of collegiate experience, the A's may be tempted to have Baisley skip a level and begin 2007 at Double-A Midland. If Baisley can continue his power surge at the higher level of the minors, he could vault himself towards the top of the projectable players in Oakland's farm system.

Here is a sleeper pick for you. San Diego Padres farmhand Joe Thatcher had one of the best seasons for a reliever in the minors in 2006. The 25 year old went 5-4 with 12 saves while posting a 1.37ERA and striking out 80 in 65.2 innings of work across three levels. Thatcher's best performance came at High-A Brevard County where he went 3-1 with 0.29 ERA over 30.2 innings. The Indiana State product was unsigned out of college and was playing for the River City Rascals of the Frontier League when the Brewers signed him in 2005. Thatcher has continued his successful season in the Hawaii Winter League posting a 0.53ERA in 17 innings of work. As unlikely as it sounds, expect Thatcher to get a bit of a look during spring training, likely start the year at Double-A Huntsville, and possibly have a chance to pitch his way to the Milwaukee bullpen by the end of the 2007 season.

How does a player who will be 25 years old on opening day, who just completed his second season of Double-A baseball, and for his career has stuck out once in every three at-bats, all of a sudden become one of the hottest names in baseball? Chip Cannon can raise his hand and tell you the correct answer is, you hit 10 homeruns in 72 at-bats in the Arizona Fall League. That will get you some pretty solid press even if you strike out in 21 of those same 72 at-bats. Cannon, the Blue Jays' eighth round pick in the 2004 draft out of the Citadel has, established himself as the breakout star in the AFL this season. While the power surge is nice, keep in mind the AFL is predominantly a hitters league with the final score of most games being able to substitute for that of a football game. In a full season at Double-A New Hampshire, Cannon batted .248 with 27 homeruns, 69 rbi's and 158 strikeouts in 475 at-bats. He is a Brad Eldred type of hitter who can go on a tear, as he's done this month, or not make contact for two weeks. While he brings with him a lot of risk, Cannon does have some reward as he's a 6'5" first baseman who can provide power from the left side. Should Cannon be able to become more disciplined at the plate, then he's got a chance at a nice big league future, however if he maintains his propensity to strikeout, he'll likely be a cup of coffee big leaguer who hits 30 homeruns a year in Triple-A for most of his career.