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2007 Top 10 Prospects By Team
American League East
Baltimore Orioles · Boston Red Sox · New York Yankees
Tampa Bay Devil Rays · Toronto Blue Jays
American League Central
Chicago White Sox · Cleveland Indians · Detroit Tigers
Kansas City Royals · Minnesota Twins
American League West
Los Angeles Angels · Oakland A's · Seattle Mariners · Texas Rangers
National League East
Atlanta Braves · Florida Marlins · New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies · Washington Nationals
National League Central
Chicago Cubs · Cincinnati Reds · Houston Astros
Milwaukee Brewers · Pittsburgh Pirates · St. Louis Cardinals
National League Central
Arizona Diamondbacks · Colorado Rockies · Los Angeles Dodgers
San Diego Padres · San Francisco Giants

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Top Prospect Alert Archive 12-22-06 / 12-31-06
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12-31-06
Prospect of the Day
Burke Badenhop

Detroit Tigers pitching prospect Burke Badenhop has one of the best names in the organization and in 2006 had one of the best winning percentages in the Midwest League to go with it. Drafted out of Bowling Green in the 19th round of the 2005 draft, Badenhop had a breakout season with West Michigan this past year. He posted a 14-3 record with a 2.84 ERA in 27 starts in his first full season of pro baseball. Badenhop struck out 124, and allowed just 31 walks and six homeruns in 171 innings of work. Expect the Bowling Green native who will turn 24 in February to begin 2007 at High-A Lakeland and likely find his way to Double-A Erie by season's end.

12-31-06
Hagerstown Suns Minor League Team Admits Serving French Fries Doused In Oven Cleaner To Pair Of Fans In 2003
--WCBSTV.com

12-31-06
Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry Talks About His Active Off Season
--Pantagraph.com

12-31-06
Interview With Creator Of Backyard Baseball Video Game Series
--TheStar.com

12-31-06
Story On Cincinnati Reds Prospect Adam Pointer
--BayCityTribune.com

12-31-06
Bruce Bochy Not Worried About Having To Manage Barry Bonds In San Francisco
--SignOnSanDiego.com

12-31-06
Former Big Leaguer Steve Hosey Learning The Ropes Of Being A Fireman
--FresnoBee.com

12-31-06
Former St. Louis Cardinals Farmhand Sam Martin Stepping Down As East Area Director Of Fellowship Of Christian Athletes In North Carolina
--Reflector.com

12-30-06
Prospect of the Day
Alexander Smit

After a rough second half of the 2005 season, the abilities of Minnesota Twins pitching prospect Alexander Smit were doubted by some. However in 2006 Smit once again proved he deserved to be considered among the top young left handed pitching prospects in baseball. The Netherlands native began his pro career as 17 year old back in 2003. In 2005 after a very strong 6-1, 1.97ERA start at Elizabethton, Smit was promoted to Low-A Beloit where the wheels came off. During the remainder of the season with the Snappers he posted a 1-9 record with a 5.98 ERA and allowed 9 homeruns in just 49.2 innings of work. The Twins gave Smit another shot at Beloit in 2006 where he began in the bullpen before being placed back in the rotation at midseason. He responded by going 7-2 with a 2.99 ERA and 141 strikeouts in 108.1 innings pitched. Smit held opposing hitters to a .199 batting average and gave up just 6 homeruns. Expect Smit, who turned 21 in October to begin, and likely play all of 2007 at High-A Fort Myers.

12-30-06
High Ranking Baseball Official Involved In Ongoing Tax Scandal In Guam
--GuamPDN.com

12-30-06
Daisuke Matsuzaka Appearing In Red Sox Uniform On Japanese TV Ads
--Boston.com

12-30-06
Former Kansas City Royals Setup Man Rusty Meacham Talks About His New Role As A Coach
--TCPalm.com

12-30-06
Story On San Francisco Giants Prospect Brian Bocock
--RocktownWeekly.com

12-30-06
Colorado Rockies Second Baseman Jeremy Carroll To Have High School Jersey Retired
--14WFIE.com

12-30-06
Check Out The Official Website Of New York Yankees Pitching Prospect Philip Hughes
--PhilipHughes.net

12-30-06
St. Louis Cardinals Infielder Aaron Miles Visits His Grandmother's Retirement Home
--TracyPress.com

12-30-06
Former Boston Red Sox GM Dan Douquette Helping Select Talent For New Israel Baseball League
--BostonHerald.com

12-30-06
Cleveland Indians Bullpen Gambles Have Historically Paid Off
--News-Herald.com

12-29-06
Prospect of the Day
Jack Egbert

Drafted by the Chicago White Sox back in 2004, pitcher Jack Egbert is beginning to make a name for himself within the organization. The Rutgers product just completed his third successful season as a professional. Overall Egbert is 23-16 for his career and has posted a very respectable 2.97 ERA in his three seasons as a pro. In 2006, the Staten Island native posted his best season yet. Combined between High-A Winston Salem and Double-A Birmingham, Egbert went 9-10 with a 2.69 ERA and a career high 144 strikeouts in 161.2 innings of work. He allowed just two home runs on the year. Expect the 23 year old Egbert to return to Birmingham to begin the 2007 season and likely make it to Triple-A Charlotte by the end of the summer.

12-29-06
Arrest Warrent For Former Marlins First Round Pick Jeff Allison
--FlaMarlins.com

12-29-06
Mark Teixeira To Speak At Georgia Tech Kickoff Banquest
--CSTV.com

12-29-06
New Era To Produce Winter League Caps
--HispanicBusiness.com

12-29-06
New Midland Michigan Minor League Stadium Taking Shape
--ABC12.com

12-29-06
Frank Howard To Speak At Salem-Roanoke Hall Of Fame Induction
--MainStreetNewspapers.com

12-29-06
Red Sox Prospect Jed Lowrie Hosts Baseball Camp In Oregon
--StatesmanJournal.com

12-29-06
Story On Goldy's Sports Collectibles In New Jersey
--APP.com

12-29-06
Every MLB Player Probably Wishes Scott Boras Was Their Agent
--PoconoRecord.com

12-28-06
Prospect of the Day
Chris Davis

One of the more potent offensive performers in the Northwest League during 2006 was Texas Rangers prospect Chris Davis. The left handed hitting corner infielder was the Rangers fifth round pick out of Navarro (TX) College. Davis had previously been drafted out of high school by the New York Yankees in the 50th round of 2004 and by the Los Angeles Angels in the 35th round of the 2005 draft. In his pro debut at Short-A Spokane, the Longview, TX native batted .277 with 15 homeruns and 42 rbi's in 69 games, earning him player of the week and all-star honors during the 2006 season. Expect Davis, who will turn 21 in March to begin and play most of 2007 at Low-A Clinton.

12-28-06
38 Year Old Outfielder Tomoaki Kanemoto Becomes Japan's Highest Paid Player
--Mainichi.co.jp

12-28-06
Museum To Be Made In Honor Of Former Baseball Player Turned Evangelist Billy Sunday
--TimesWRSW.com

12-28-06
Jim Eisenriech Writes Forward For 9 Year Old's Book About Living With Tourette Syndrome
--FastPitchNetworking.com

12-28-06
Tony Gwynn Talks About Likely Entering The Hall Of Fame & The Influence Of His Late Father
--Padres.com

12-28-06
Barber Shop Frequented By Bill Veeck & Many Old Time White Sox Players Forced To Move
--ChicagoTribune.com

12-28-06
18 Year Old Woman Baseball Player Amanda Asay Up For Canadian Player Of The Year Award Against Justin Morneau, Jason Bay, & Others
--GloveandMail.com

12-28-06
Story On Elite Level Sports Memorabilia Company Dreams Inc.
--Miami.com

12-28-06
Former San Francisco Giants All-Star Chris Brown Dies From Burns Suffered During House Fire
--ABC13.com

12-28-06
Look At Growth Of Canadians In Professional Baseball
--HamiltonSpectator.com

12-27-06
Prospect of the Day
Adam Cowart

Which team landed the biggest steal of the 2006 draft thus far? The San Francisco Giants could make a strong case with their 35th round selection Adam Cowart. Taken with the 1046th overall pick out of Kansas State University, Cowart dominated the Low-A Northwest League upon arrival. He had a mediocre season at K-State in which he went 6-7 with 3.12 ERA. Cowart blew up upon turning pro, going 10-1 with a 1.08 ERA in 15 starts for Salem Keizer. The 23 year didn't exactly blow people away, striking out just 55 batters in 83.1 innings of work, however he doesn't issue free passes either, allowing just 8 walks on the season. Look for Cowart to get a shot at High-A San Jose during 2007.

12-27-06
Former Negro League Player Bucky Williams Celebrates 100th Birthday
--PittsburghCatholic.com

12-27-06
White Sox Farmhand Matt Skrmetta To Help Boy Who Lost Legs To Bacterial Meningitis
--FloridaToday.com

12-27-06
Interview With MLB 2007 The Show Producer Jody Kelsey
--SportsGamer.com

12-27-06
Story On White Sox Pitching Prospect Lance Broadway
--WaxahachieDaylight.com

12-27-06
Twins GM Terry Ryan Tries To Stay Step Ahead Of Competition
--KnoxNews.com

12-27-06
Goose Gossage Talks About His Chances At Hall Of Fame Induction
--Padres.com

12-27-06
Former Philadelphia Athletics Outfielder Sam Chapman Dies At Age 90
--MarinIJ.com

12-27-06
New York Yankee Andy Phillips To Speak In Tuscaloosa Alabama Youth Extravaganza
--TuscaloosaNews.com

12-27-06
ESPN Hottie Erin Andrews Talks About Her Life In Sports
--AJC.com

12-26-06
Prospect of the Day
Jamie Richmond

Jamie Richmond was one of if not the best pitcher in the Appalachian League in 2006. The Toronto native was the Atlanta Braves 31st round pick back in 2004. He debuted as pro in 2005 posting a 2-0 record with a 3.09 ERA in eight games out of the bullpen for the Gulf Coast League Braves. Richmond was converted to a starter in 2006 and responded by going 7-1 with a 1.21 ERA and 52 strikeouts 67 innings of work for Danville. Most impressive is that the righthander has yet to allow a homerun as a professional. Expect Richmond, who will turn 21 in March to open the 2007 season at Low-A Rome and likely be in position to earn a mid to late season call-up to High A Myrtle Beach at some point during the season.

12-26-06
Los Angeles Angels Prospect Hank Conger Has Deep Family Bonds
--OCRegister.com

12-26-06
Harmon Killebrew Sounds Off On Wide Range Of Topics
--TwinCities.com

12-26-06
Hall Of Fame Voter Reveales His Selections For Class Of 2007
--DailyBulletin.com

12-26-06
Nevada Baseball Greats To Turn Out For Clinic In Reno To Benefit Boys & Girls Club
--NevadaAppeal.com

12-26-06
Minnesota Twins Pitcher Johan Santana Named Latin America Sports Person Of The Year
--Periodico.cu

12-26-06
Dave Parker Talks About His Chances For Cooperstown Induction
--MLB.com

12-26-06
Former Red Sox Pitcher Ken Ryan, Twins Prospect Jay Rainville, & Rockies Rookie Chris Iannetta Hold Roundtable Discussion On Baseball
--ZWire.com

12-26-06
Story On Early Days Of Hall Of Famer Ray Dandridge
--BismarkTribune.com

12-25-06
Prospect of the Day
Ryan Braun

In his short professional career, Ryan Braun has made a habit of playing at two levels during one season. Last year it took Braun only 10 games to make the jump from Rookie Ball at Helena to Low-A West Virginia. He combined to bat .352 with 10 homeruns over the two levels. 2006 brought much of the same. Braun, the Milwaukee Brewers first round pick and fifth overall pick of the 2005 draft, batted .276 with 7 homeruns and 37 rbi's in 59 Florida State League games. That offensive output was enough to earn the midseason call to Double-A Huntsville where Braun was even better. He batted .303 with 15 homeruns and 40 rbi's for the Stars. Combined this year the third baseman, who played collegiately at the University of Miami, batted .289 with 22 homeruns, 31 doubles, and 77 rbi's while adding 26 stolen bases. Expect the 23 year old to begin next season in Triple-A and be in the majors by year's end.

Merry Christmas From Top Prospect Alert

12-25-06
Oakland A's Outfielder Nick Swisher Named Sportsman Of The Year By Charleston Gazette
--WVGazette.com

12-25-06
Kansas City Royals Try To Figure Out What To Do With Buck O'Neil's Seat At Kauffman Stadium
--MercuryNews.com

12-25-06
Screenshots & More Info On MLB 2007 The Show Video Game
--GameInfoWire.com

12-25-06
Alex Gordon To Head To Spring Training In Mid-January
--KansasCity.com

12-25-06
New York Prep Baseball Player Dies In Car Accident
--Syracuse.com

12-25-06
Story On Minor League Players From South Carolina
--GoUpstate.com

12-24-06
Prospect of the Day
Randy Roth

Despite not turning pro until age 23, St. Louis Cardinals catching prospect Randy Roth has been making up for lost time. Roth who will turn 25 in March, has breezed through four levels of the Redbirds organization since being drafted in the 10th round back in 2005. In his professional debut, Roth combined to hit .286 with 10 homeruns, 19 doubles, and 41 rbi's in 67 games between Rookie League Johnson City and Short-A New Jersey. 2006 saw the Louisiana native continue his success at a higher level of competition. In his first full season as a pro, Roth batted a combined .305 with 20 homeruns and 80 rbi's while spending three quarters of the year at Low-A Quad Cities before earning a promotion to High-A Palm Beach. Expect Roth to make the jump to Double-A Springfield in 2007 and have a fairly good chance of ending the year at Triple-A Memphis and possibly earn a September call-up to St. Louis should the Cardinals become thin behind the plate late in the season.

12-24-06
We Have Updated Our Chicago White Sox &
Texas Rangers Top 10 Prospect Lists To Reflect The Trade Of John Danks To Chicago.

12-24-06
One Man Show Focuses On Baseball According To Yogi Berra
--HulIQ.com

12-24-06
People In Sesser Illinois Make Video To Get Oprah Winfrey To Read Book About Local Man Who Was Brooklyn Dodgers Prospect Before Going To Fight In World War II
--TheSouthern.com

12-24-06
Six Team In New Isreal Professional Baseball League To Share Three Fields
--JPost.com

12-24-06
Big Leaguers Share Their Christmas Memories
--MLB.com

12-24-06
Statue Honoring Negro League Players Unveiled In Florida
--Jacksonville.com

12-24-06
Padres Reliever Brian Sweeney Headed To Japan
--TheJournalNews.com

12-24-06
Josh Beckett Adjusts To New Supporting Role In Boston Red Sox Rotation
--BostonHerald.com

12-23-06
Prospect of the Day
Chad Huffman

The San Diego Padres selected Chad Huffman with the 53rd overall pick in the 2006 and in his short pro career, the former TCU Horned Frog has done nothing but impress. The 21 year old outfielder dominated Conference USA pitching during his collegiate career and capped it by batting .388 with 18 homeruns and 71 RBI's in 2006. Huffman was just as solid in the minors. Combined between Short-A Eugene and a short stint at Low-A Fort Wayne, the Texas native batted .335 with 9 homeruns and 40 rbi's, and struck out just 36 times in just 212 at-bats. Look for Huffman to begin 2007 back at Fort Wayne and likely finish the season at High-A Lake Elsinore.

12-23-06
Dontrelle Willis' Mother Speaks Out On Her Son's DUI Arrest
--SunSentinal.com

12-23-06
Q&A With New San Francisco Giants Manager Bruce Bochy
--DailyDemocrat.com

12-23-06
Texas Prep Stars Dismissed From Team After Making Myspace Profile Of Their Coach & Leaving "Kind Of Mean" Comments
--Courier-Gazette.com

12-23-06
Cleveland Indians Pitching Prospect Aaron Laffey Talks About Getting Invited To Big League Camp
--Times-News.com

12-23-06
Australian Red Sox Front Office Men Play Large Role In Signing Of Daisuke Matsuzaka
--News.com.au

12-23-06
Baseball Digest Daily Rankings Of Top 50 Prospects In Baseball
--BaseballDigestDaily.com

12-23-06
Early Look At 2007 June Draft Prospects
--SFDugout.com

12-23-06
Reds Prospect Brendan Harris Likely To Be Traded To Make Room Jeff Conine
--PostStar.com

12-23-06
Former Kansas City Royals Skipper Tony Muser To Manage AZL Padres
--SignOnSanDiego.com

12-23-06
Oakland Athletics Add Former Slugger Erubiel Durazo
--InsideBayArea.com

12-23-06
Former Lipscomb University Baseball Player Buddy Harston Survives Champions Tour Q-School
--PGATour.com

12-23-06
Pittsburgh Pirates Star Freddy Sanchez To Have High School Jersey Retired
--BurbankLeader.com

12-23-06
Mark Loretta Talks About Being Left Out Of Baseball's Free Agent Frenzy
--NCTimes.com

12-23-06
"Moneyball" Author Michael Lewis Writes Football Book
--IndyStar.com

12-22-06
Prospect of the Day
Mark Alexander

One of the more impressive performances by a closer last season came via the arm of Dodgers farmhand Mark Alexander. The 26 year old out of was a 20th round pick out of the University of Missouri back in 2004. Alexander had a solid year in 2005, in which he went 5-4 with 23 saves and a 3.03 ERA to go along with 91 strikeouts in 65.1 innings at High-A Vero Beach. In 2006, Alexander was even better. Combined between Double-A Jacksonville and Triple-A Las Vegas, the righthander went 5-3 with 27 saves and a 1.47 ERA. He struck out 85 in 61.1 innings of work and held opposing hitters to a .171 batting average. Most impressive was his stint at Jacksonville where he posted a 0.96 ERA while recording 26 of his 27 saves on the year. For his efforts, the Dodgers selected Alexander as their 2006 Branch Rickey Minor League Pitcher of the Year award winner. Look for Alexander to have an outside shot of winning a spot in the Dodgers bullpen out of spring training, but likely start 2007 in Las Vegas before making his major league debut later in the year.

12-22-06
Johnny Damon & 13 Other Major Leaguers Launch Pro Baseball Gaming League
--PBGL.com

12-22-06
Arizona Diamondbacks Hitting Coach Mike Aldrete Resigns To Become Assistant Baseball Coach At His Sons' High School
--MercuryNews.com

12-22-06
Terry Francona To Speak At UCONN Preseason Banquet
--UCONNHuskies.com

12-22-06
Q&A With Twins Pitcher Pat Neshek
--CSTV.com

12-22-06
Preparations For Spring Training Already Being Made San Francisco Giants Complex In Scottsdale
--EastValleyTribune.com

12-22-06
Gabe Kapler Talks About Making The Transition From Big League Player To Minor League Manager
--EagleTribune.com

12-22-06
Mike Lansing Earns Induction Into Wichita State Shockers Sports Hall Of Fame
--Kansas.com

12-22-06
Brooks Robinson To Speak At University Of Utah Fundraiser
--DesertNews.com

12-22-06
Longtime Peoria Chiefs GM Pete Vonachen To Be Honored With Dizzy Trout Award
--OurSportsCentral.com

12-22-06
Pitcher Pedro Luis Lazo Named 2006 Best Player In Cuba
--PLEnglish.com

12-22-06
Download Demo Of PureSim Baseball 2007
--Gamezone.com

12-22-06
Lee Mazzilli Is Happy To Be Back In The Broadcast Booth
--Acorn-Online.com

12-22-06
Making Pitch To Put Al Oliver In Cooperstown
--BlackAthlete.net

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