Lance Broadway

Prior to Lance Broadway’s trade to the Mets (in return for Ramon Castro) he actually put up some decent numbers at Charlotte including a 3.75 SO/BB rate and an 8.4 SO/9, by far the best strikeout rate he had posted since his debut season. The ERA was high but there was reason to be encouraged. After the trade, however, Broadway was awful, the strikeouts plummeted, the walks rose as did the ERA and WHIP. Broadway has made several appearances with the Mets but his performances have been weak, he’s giving up an extreme amount of hits, which either says his stuff is very hittable or he has been very unlucky. Time is running out for this former first round pick and he will need to make some significant improvements next year if he wishes to be successful.

Brandon Allen

Brandon Allen’s trade has been spoken about often, by a lot of people including me, here, so I’ll try and keep his review brief. After being traded to Arizona for Tony Pena, Allen went on a 38 game tear at Reno showing great power and strike zone judgement. Soon after, Allen received the call from the D’Backs and thus far has done exactly what I would have expected from him, and that is hit for power and strike out… a lot. I still don’t think Allen will become a star but he is very capable of becoming a solid regular in the Majors and he has had a very good season.

Aaron Poreda

Aaron Poreda’s season prior to his trade was going quite well, his K rate had spiked to 9.1 SO/9 with Birmingham after a somewhat disappointing 6.6 SO/9 in 2008 and his ERA sat at an impressive 2.38. After the trade, however, his control disappeared completely as he walked 37 batters in 32.2 IP, leaving him with a disastrous 0.81 SO/BB and 7.16 ERA. Reports indicate that Poreda’s slider has made significant improvements over the last year and the limited Pitch f/x data we have of him would seem to agree but his control still needs a lot of work, as does his change. Poreda looks like a definite reliever to me at this point.

Clayton Richard

Clayton Richard was traded to the Padres off the back of two straight 8 inning, 1 run performances which led to many people hailing him as a potential frontline starter, I remained unconvinced, and thus far he has performed more of less how I would have expected with an ERA in the mid 4’s. His strikeout rate has been better than expected and his walk rate worse than expected. I think both his K rate and BB rates will fall slightly next year, but overall it should result in his ERA remaining around the 4.50 range. I still see a career as a useful backend starter for Richard as his stuff just isn’t good enough for him to be more than that.

Dexter Carter

I noted Dexter Carter as the wild card of the Peavy trade at the time it happened but so far he his post-trade performances have been disappointing, and like Poreda his control has vanished. An awful 21 inning stretch with Fort Wayne, which included a 6.4 BB/9 and a 12.86 ERA doesn’t sway me from my projection of him as a potential mid rotation starter, but the control and changeup must both improve for this to happen. Carter’s fastball/curve combo could be enough for him to make it in the bullpen if he can’t improve the aforementioned aspects of his game.

Adam Russell

Like Dexter Carter, Adam Russell hasn’t pitched much since being traded and walks have continued to be a problem for Russell in the limited action he has seen. Control has always been a weakness for Russell but he was doing a good job of limiting the free bases prior to his trade, but as with several prospects who were traded to San Diego, his control fell apart and he walked 15 batters in 20.2 IP. Russell is capable of making a name for himself in a Major League bullpen but he still has lots of work to do before that becomes a reality.

Michael Dubee

Michael Dubee was more of an after thought when he was traded to Pittsburgh in return for Andy Phillips all the way back in April, but he has opened eyes since the trade. In 23 appearances with Lynchburg he posted a sparkling ERA (1.05) and SO/BB rate (17.33) with 54 K’s to just 3 BB’s. At 23, he was old for the Carolina League and after his promotion to Double-A the numbers tailed off, but they still remain good as his K/BB rate sat at 2.80 and his ERA at 2.91. Dubee will probably need to spend all of 2010 in the Minors but if continues to pitch like this we’ll be seeing him pitch out of a Major League bullpen sooner rather than later.

Stats accurate as of 9/17

The Birmingham Barons were one of Minor League Baseball’s best teams this year and their 92-47 record was the best in the team’s history. Their roster at the start of the season was stacked with many of the organizations top prospects including Gordon Beckham, Tyler Flowers, Brandon Allen, Dayan Viciedo, Aaron Poreda and John Shelby, and as you would have expected, they made light work of opposing Southern League teams. Promotions, trades and call-ups removed many of their best players from the first couple of months of the season but they were replaced, and replaced well, by players such as Christian Marrero, Jordan Danks and Charlie Shirek, added to that, mainstays such as John Ely and C.J. Retherford ensured that the Barons didn’t skip a beat in the second half. Now ready to make a run for the Southern League crown, the Barons will start their best of 5 series with Jacksonville Suns on Thursday.

The Winston-Salem Dash make their way into the playoff largely thanks to playing in a very weak Carolina League South. You may think that’s a little unfair, saying they’re only in the playoff due to playing in a weak division, but when you have a 4.30 ERA (2nd worst in the CAR) and are just midpack in runs scored, it’s unlikely that you were a good team. The Dash actually allowed more runs (642) than they scored (626). Winston-Salem’s offense has been led by a personal favourite of mine, Seth Loman, and postseason All-Star at 3B, Brent Morel, they also have Carolina League manager of the year Joe McEwing in their corner as well as a rotation led by Justin Edwards and Dylan Axelrod. The Dash will play their first postseason game tomorrow night against the Salem Red Sox, who are expected to start Daisuke Matsuzaka, and while anything can and often does happen in the playoffs, don’t expect the Carolina League crown to be coming the Dash’s way.

The Kannapolis Intimidators’ season has been all about their fantastic second half, in which they have a 45-24 record and a .652 winning percentage. Pitching was this team’s M.O. as they led the whole of the South Atlantic League with 530 runs allowed thanks to a rotation fronted by two of this organizations more intriguing starters, Charlie Leesman and Stephen Sauer (having Dexter Carter and Dan Hudson for a time didn’t hurt either). Even with losing one of it’s better arms, Charlis Burdie to the Dash, the Intimidators have one of the most formidable bullpen’s in the Minors, backed by Dan Remonowsky, ’09 draftee Kyle Bellamy and late season promotion Santos Rodriguez. Other ’09 draftees have played large parts in this team’s second half run, most notably two early round picks Jared Mitchell and Josh Phegley but also one later round pick, Joe Serafin. The Intimidators will play their first postseason game tomorrow against the Lakewood BlueClaws, with Charlie Leesman getting the start.

The final Sox affiliate to make the playoffs are the defending Pioneer League champions Great Falls, who swept their way past the Orem Owlz in the 2008 championship series behind the arms of Dan Hudson and Dexter Carter. This years Voyagers have been led by a steady dose of pitching and offense where the rank 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Pioneer League. The Voyagers have an old team for a rookie ball affiliate and as it stands Trayce Thompson is the only teen on their roster, he’s also roughly 2 ½ years younger than anyone else on the team, and it is partly for this reason that they don’t appear to be brimmed with future Major Leaguers. The Great Falls Voyagers will call upon it’s offensive stars Jose Vargas, Nick Ciolli, Johny Celis and Kyle Colligan to lead the team to victory when they start their playoff run against the Missoula Osprey’s this Saturday the 12th.

The White Sox have sent four pitchers to San Diego. Clayton Richard, who has a 4.65 ERA in 89 innings with the Sox, was scheduled to start tonight, but is said to be part of the deal. Aaron Poreda, who just threw 6 innings and allowed just 1 run for the AAA Charlotte Knights last night, is also part of the deal. Poreda had trouble with his control with the Sox, but was adjusting to being used out of the bullpen. Poreda’s fastball is a plus pitch (typically sitting in the mid 90s), but his secondary stuff needs work. It is assumed his stuff will translate better out of the bullpen, but the Sox have used him as a starter in the minors. The two lefties are the center pieces of the deal, but they weren’t the only valuable pieces traded.

Dexter Carter is a more interesting name from the minor league perspective. He has dominated at Low-A Kannapolis this season, but hasn’t been promoted because the White Sox wanted him to work on his changeup more. He was rated #6 in our midseason rankings. Carter has struck out an impressive 143 batters in 118 innings, good enough to lead the South Atlantic League. He has a 3.13 ERA and has walked 34 giving him a K:BB ratio over 4 to 1.

Carter has a fastball in the 91-93 range and a good curveball that has become more consistent. His changeup is a work in progress, and some have questioned his ability to remain in the rotation as he moves up the minors because of his lack of a solid changeup. After posting an ERA over 8 his junior year of college, the Sox drafted Carter in the 13th round and turned him around quickly in Rookie Great Falls by tinkering with his delivery. He still needs to work on his delivery. Carter has struggled to come straight towards the plate. With former Old Dominion teammate Dan Hudson ripping up the minors, Carter seemed more expendable and is still very raw for a pitcher his age. He has talent and has performed in Kannapolis, but still has a long way to go.

Adam Russell, currently pitching out of the Charlotte ‘pen, is the fourth pitcher being reported as going to San Diego. In 56.1 innings with the Knights, Russell has a 3.20 ERA with 51 strikeouts and 18 walks. Last season Russell made his Major League debut and posted a 5.19 ERA in 26 innings in relief. He was used as a starter until 2007 in Birmingham, where he split time between the rotation and the ‘pen. He hasn’t made a start since that season. Russell, 6′8″, has a low 90s fastball and a good curveball. Russell changes arm angles and sometimes throws from a 3/4 slot, unusual for such a tall pitcher. His value is pretty minimal at this point, but Russell does have talent.

It will be interesting to see who takes the rotation spot from Richard. With Bartolo Colon having a sore elbow, Richard was going to rejoin the rotation after the Sox originally said they would move him to the bullpen. Carlos Torres has already made a spot start for the Sox, but last pitched on the 27th meaning he is on three days rest. D.J. Carrasco makes the most sense of what the Sox have available.

What has the White Sox organization told you about your timetable? Were you expected to move up from Kannapolis all the way to Birmingham like you have thus far?

I don’t really think there is any specific timetable with me but I really wasn’t expecting to be called up to B-Ham this year. Not because I didn’t think I wasn’t ready for the moves, but because I was already one of the younger guys on Winston’s staff so I figured I was a little lower on the totem pole then the older guys that were there. But jumping to Birmingham from K-Town was definitely a surprise to me but I’ll take it!

What has been the biggest difference between A ball hitters and AA hitters? What has been the thing you needed to work on most when moving up leagues?

The biggest difference I have noticed between A ball and AA hitters is definitely the patience at the plate. AA hitters don’t chase bad pitches a lot of the time like a lot of the more undisciplined A ball hitters do. I had to learn and am still in the process of learning how to be more effective within the strike zone while still not throwing too many good pitches to hit.

In 2008 you were drafted with fellow college teammate Dexter Carter. How have the two of you adjusted from the jump of college to rookie ball? Has the familiarity of being drafted with a college teammate helped with your progress?

Dex and I are good friends and still keep up with each other frequently even though he is still in K-Town. Being drafted together and assigned to the same team definitely helped the transition from college to pro ball because the game can get pretty individualized especially in the lower levels because everyone wants to move up before the other guy. It’s good to have someone there rooting for you and vice-versa. Personally I don’t know why he is still in k-town because he seems to be dominating that league with the k’s. The only thing I could guess is that they want to keep him a starter and his change up is still sort of a work in progress.

Judging by your numbers in college, it looked like you had mixed results. How has the White Sox organization helped you in becoming a more consistent pitcher?

Yeah my junior year was terrible. Haha. I really couldn’t have had a worse year in my draft year I don’t think. It all worked out though by slipping to the Sox. I really click with the pitching coaches in the organization and they are getting me to work over the ball a lot better and get downhill more consistently. My arm angle tends to drop sometimes and my stuff will really flatten out in the zone. When I get over the ball really well everything I throw has hard downward movement.

No one really knows what your breaking pitch is and there have been reports saying it’s a curve and others saying its a slider. So, what is your breaking pitch?

I throw both a slider and a curveball, but I really haven’t had the feel for my curveball in a long time for some reason so I have been throwing a lot more sliders. The curveball has been coming along recently though. Its definitely not a put away pitch, but more of a get-me-over a couple times in a game type pitch.

We’ve had a report saying you topped out at 98 in Birmingham. Does that sound right to you? Has your velocity increased in the past year+ since college? Where does your fastball usually sit at?

Yeah, I caught a glimpse of the scoreboard during my first outing and saw 98 up there. I don’t throw quite that hard so that gun was a little juiced that night haha. But the guys on the charts did come in and tell me I hit 96 a few times in my first outing. I don’t know what I have been at recently but I would guess I am probably in the 90-94 range.

Can you tell us some more about your pitching arsenal? What other pitches do you throw? Which pitch do you consider your out pitch?

I throw a 4-seam fastball, slider, circle change and my curve. I have confidence to throw the first three in any count to any hitter. I usually use my changeup against lefties more though because I get really good action on it down and away to them. I get them to swing over it or hit weak groundballs a lot of the time. If I had to pick one pitch in a clutch situation I would probably use my fastball. I feel like I throw hard enough to get it by a lot of hitters.

Do you consider yourself more of a finesse or a power pitcher?

I don’t think I am either a power or a finesse pitcher. I don’t really throw in the mid 90’s that often but I also don’t throw soft enough to be called a finesse pitcher either. I guess I am sort of a hybrid of the two haha. I usually get a good amount of groundballs every game but I also get a lot of strikeouts. I locate most of my pitches a lot of the time but also feel I can blow it by you if I need to.

Can you hit at all, or would you look clueless at bat?

I love answering this question haha. I haven’t tried recently but my senior year of high school I was second team all-state as a first baseman. I hit .400 something with 9 homeruns. For some reason my college coach never gave me a chance to take bp. We had pitcher’s bp in the Cape and I hit a few bombs in a pretty big park with wood. I’m not going to say I could still hit now, but if you gave me an at-bat tomorrow I don’t think I would look too terribly bad up there. It’s like riding a bike right?

Is there a pitcher in the MLB that you compare yourself to? Is there a certain pitcher in the MLB that you love to watch or grew up idolizing?

I don’t really compare myself to anyone pitching in the bigs, but I love watching Josh Beckett pitch. His demeanor on the mound is awesome and I like to think I have that bulldog mentality as well. There’s no one else I would rather have on the mound in a must win game than him.

Have you spent much time with White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper or some of the veteran pitchers (most notably Mark Buehrle) on the staff during Spring Training? If so, what was that like? Did they give you any advice that has helped you this season?

I haven’t really spent a lot of time with Coop or any of the guys on the big league staff. I have met Coop before and he has seen me throw but I haven’t talked to him about pitching or anything like that yet. Hopefully that will change this spring training though.

What do you think of Ozzie Guillen? Did you get to spend any time with Ozzie during Spring Training?

I think Ozzie is awesome and I can’t wait to play for him. I love playing for and watching managers who work really hard for their players whether it’s getting in the umpires face and getting tossed or sitting you down and sharing his knowledge of the game with you. I met him a couple times in spring training but never really talked to him unfortunately. I kind of just get what I need to get done, done then go about my business haha.

What was your favorite team growing up?

I was a big fan of the Braves growing up and my favorite player was Chipper Jones. They were always on tv on TBS so I would watch them everyday. I never really started following the Sox until I got drafted by them but I can tell you I already love watching the Cubs lose.

If you weren’t playing baseball, what would you be doing?

I really don’t know what I would be doing if I wasn’t playing baseball. I was a sports management major at school so it would be something in the sporting industry.

Now for the fun questions:

Favorite Athlete: Lebron James

Favorite Movie: Too Many, but #1 is probably Major League

Favorite Food: Anything with bacon on it….

Favorite Song: Figure.09 by Linkin Park (my walkout song)

Dream Vacation: Anything tropical

Best Baseball Memory: Coming back from being down 8-0 after three innings then winning 11-10 in 12 innings in the state championship my senior year. (I was intentionally walked and the guy behind me got the walkoff hit… that might help answer the hitting question… haha)

Best Prank You’ve Pulled (Or seen pulled): I put icy hot on the brim of one of my teammates hats once… he had a nice red line on his forehead for a while.

Hobby Outside of Baseball: I like to play golf even though I’m not very good. I also play video games too. I am also I big Redskins fan and watch every game in the offseason.

FutureSox.com would like to thank Dan Hudson for the interview and wish him nothing but the best of luck in his professional career.

We included the player’s rank from our preseason rankings and his range in our ballots. The ranges show how consistent or inconsistent we were. Some of our voters love one guy for one reason or another and the rest of us may think he is nuts. The parentheses after the highest and lowest votes show how many people had that player ranked in that position.

An exciting thing at FutureSox that we have been working on, and teased during the Brandon Allen trade, is our prospect profiles. They include biographical information, previous FutureSox rankings, scouting reports and other information. The profiles that we have already created are linked below the player’s name on this list. You can also view them by clicking the “Prospect Profiles” link at the top of any FutureSox.com page. We will add more profiles as we go and a few more will be coming soon so check them out!

Leave us some comments and tell us what you think about our rankings or join in the discussion at Soxtalk. If you think we are out of our minds, let us know where we screwed up!

1. Tyler Flowers, C, AAA Charlotte
Age: 23
Range: 1st (5) to 2nd (4)
Previous rank: 5th
Player Profile

2. Dayan Viciedo, 3B, AA Birmingham
Age: 20
Range: 1st (3) to 3rd (3)
Previous: T-2nd
Player Profile

3. Jordan Danks, CF, AA Birmingham
Age: 22
Range: 1st to 4th
Previous: 6th
Player Profile

4. Dan Hudson, RH SP, AA Birmingham
Age: 22
Range: 4th (7) to 5th (2)
Previous: 12th
Player Profile

5. Jared Mitchell, OF, Low-A Kannapolis
Age: 20
Range: 3rd to 8th
Previous: Not yet in system
Player Profile

6. Dexter Carter, RH SP, Low-A Kannapolis
Age: 22
Range: 5th (2) to 14th
Previous: 8th
Player Profile

7. John Shelby III, OF, AA Birmingham
Age: 23
Range: 8th to 18th
Previous: 7th
Player Profile

8. Josh Phegley, C, Low-A Kannapolis
Age: 21
Range: 7th to 16th
Previous: Not yet in system
Player Profile

9. Brian Omogrosso, RH SP/RP, AAA Charlotte
Age: 25
Range: 6th to 21st (2)
Previous: 19th

10. Charlie Shirek, RH SP, AA Birmingham
Age: 23
Range: 6th to unranked
Previous: 24th

11. C.J. Retherford, 3B/2B, AA Birmingham
Age: 24
Range: 5th to unranked
Previous: T-25th
Player Profile

12. Nathan Jones, RH RP, High-A Winston-Salem
Age: 23
Range: 6th to 21st
Previous: 23rd
Player Profile

13. Jon Link, RH RP, AAA Charlotte
Age: 25
Range: 4th to unranked
Previous: 17th

14. Carlos Torres, RH SP, AAA Charlotte
Age: 26
Range: 7th to unranked
Previous: UR

15. Lucas Harrell, RH SP, AAA Charlotte
Age: 24
Range: 8th to unranked
Previous: 14th

16. Steven Upchurch, RH SP, Rookie Bristol
Age: 19
Range: 10th to unranked
Previous: 18th
Player Profile

17. Brent Morel, 3B, High-A Winston-Salem
Age: 22
Range: 9th to unranked
Previous: 11th

18. Justin Greene, OF, Low-A Kannapolis
Age: 23
Range: 17th to unranked (2)
Previous: UR

19. John Ely, RH SP, AA Birmingham
Age: 23
Range: 10th to unranked (3)
Previous: 20th

20. Charlie Leesman, LH SP, Low-A Kannapolis
Age: 22
Range: 9th to unranked (5)
Previous: UR

21. Jon Gilmore, 3B, Low-A Kannapolis
Age: 20
Range: 14th (2) to unranked (2)
Previous: 22nd

22. Stephen Sauer, RH SP, Low-A Kannapolis
Age: 22
Range: 13th to uranked (3)
Previous: UR

23. Stefan Gartrell, OF, AA Birmingham
Age: 25
Range: 9th to unranked (4)
Previous: UR

24. Jack Egbert, RH SP/RP, AAA Charlotte
Age: 26
Range: 11th to unranked (4)
Previous: 9th
Player Profile

25. Jhonny Nunez, RH RP, AAA Charlotte
Age: 23
Range: 12th to unranked (3)
Previous: UR

Trayce Thompson, OF*
Age: 18
Range: 7th to unranked
*We included Trayce Thompson in our ballots because we believe he will sign, but since he hasn’t yet, we won’t include him in the final rankings. If we were to include him, he would have slid in at 13th, ahead of Jon Link.

Here is a quick look at how each of our top 25 is doing so far this season as well as what direction they would be moving on the list as a result of what we’ve seen in April and May. FutureSox will be posting updated rankings at the midway point of the season.

1. Gordon Beckham (White Sox) Pos: IF Bat-Throw: R-R Stock up
Beckham did well enough in AA Birmingham to earn a promotion to Charlotte in late May and got off to a hot start with the Knights. His Major League debut came after just 7 AAA games. You could argue his stock is up since the start of the season, even though he was already the Sox top prospect by a wide margin, since he got to the big league club a lot sooner than originally expected. He switched to 3B with the Knights and will play a bit there with the Sox, for now. The move doesn’t seem like a natural fit for Beckham, whose arm has been in question, but it got him to the Majors sooner.
T-2. Dayan Viciedo (AA Birmingham) Pos: 3B B-T: R-R Stock unchanged
At 20 years old, holding your own in AA is impressive and that’s what Dayan has done so far. He hit just .234 in April, but showed significant improvement in May, posting a .297 batting average. Patience and power have not come yet (just six walks and 11 extra-base hits in over 200 AB), but as long as steady improvement remains evident it appears Viciedo is on track to do what the Sox thought he would.
T-2. Brandon Allen (AA Birmingham) Pos: 1B B-T: L-R Stock unchanged
The 6′2″ 235 pound slugger has done more of the same that we’ve seen from him the last two seasons. Allen has a batting average hovering around .300, a decent eye at the plate and notable power so far in his transition to AA.
4. Aaron Poreda (AA Birmingham) Pos: LHP Stock unchanged
The flame throwing lefty has done well in Birmingham dating to his mid-season promotion to the Barons last year. The White Sox are taking it slowly with him, but he likely will make his Major League debut this season in some fashion. The strikeouts are still there (better than one per inning), but his walks are up which is a concern. It still remains uncertain whether or not he will be a starter or a reliever in the Majors, but the Sox will give him every chance to be a starter.
5. Tyler Flowers (AA Birmingham) Pos: C B-T: R-R Stock unchanged
Despite a less than spectacular batting average, Flowers has a .439 OBP. It’s hard not to love that from a catcher, especially with a lot of power to go with it (15 XBH in 148 AB).
6. Jordan Danks (AA Birmingham) Pos: CF B-T: L-R Stock up
The younger Danks overcame a high strikeout rate when he started the season at Winston-Salem to earn a promotion to join the prospect-laden Barons. He’s hit for a high average and drawn a lot of walks for both clubs. Also, Jordan is hitting for the power scouts worried might never show up for him. The extremely athletic, slick fielding outfielder is now looking at an ETA of early or mid 2010 instead of 2011.
7. John Shelby (AA Birmingham) Pos: OF B-T: R-R Stock down
Shelby is still hitting for power and is drawing more walks, but is hitting just .246 in AA. The lack of contact is worrisome, but he has been hitting better in the last several games.
8. Dexter Carter (low-A Kannapolis) Pos: RHP Stock unchanged
The 6′6″ righty put up staggering numbers for Great Falls (89 K in 68.2 IP with a 2.23 ERA) after being drafted in the 13th round of last year’s draft. So far this year it’s more of the same for the Intimidators. The strikeouts are still coming in bunches and his walks are even down a bit from last season.
9. Jack Egbert (AAA Charlotte) Pos: RHP Stock down
Egbert got called up to the Sox in late April and got roughed up in two outings from the bullpen. Quickly he was sent back down and his numbers in AAA have not been encouraging. Recently he was put back into the Knights’ rotation for the first time since being a full time starter last year. The results have been better so far.
10. Jeff Marquez (AAA Charlotte) Pos: RHP Stock down
Four awful starts preceded an injury that has kept him out of action since April 28. It doesn’t look like Marquez has much of a future, which is a quick change from the Spring Training rumblings. If he can get healthy there might be hope, but it’s hard to like Marquez’s prospects right now.
11. Brent Morel (high-A Winston-Salem) Pos: 3B Stock unchanged
The Sox 3rd rounder last year has struggled with contact, but has brought some power and good defense. He’s not a top tier prospect, but adds some depth in the system at the hot corner.
12. Dan Hudson (high-A Winston-Salem) Pos: RHP Stock up
Along with his former Old Dominion teammate, Carter, Hudson put up sparkling numbers at Great Falls after being drafted in the 5th round last year. He started this year for the I’s and had a jaw dropping 30-2 strikeout to walk ratio in 22 innings. That was good enough to get him moved up to the Dash, where he has been less impressive. So far he has walked 10 in 24 innings, which is odd considering the great control he showed between two levels as a pro.
13. Eduardo Escobar (low-A Kannapolis) Pos: SS B-T: S-R Stock down
Escobar has to be one of the biggest disappointments of the young season in the White Sox system. A hot start at Great Falls earned him a promotion to Kannapolis last year with below average results. At only 20 years old, he got some attention on the prospect radar, but this season he has regressed. Escobar got rave reviews for his defense, but will have to hit better for his glove to carry him if it is as good as advertised.
14. Lucas Harrell (AA Birmingham) Pos: RHP Stock down
More of the same for Harrell, good production with mediocre peripherals. He has bounced back decently from his shoulder injuries that cost him all of 2007 and two months in 2008. Still though, it’s hard to see Harrell as much of a prospect, but if he continues to pitch like this he has a slim chance at getting a look as the last guy in the bullpen down the road a la Egbert or Wes Whisler.
15. Jose Martinez (low-A Kannapolis) Pos: OF B-T: R-R Stock unchanged
Martinez has been hurt all year.
16. Justin Cassel (AAA Charlotte) Pos: RHP Stock down
Justin is 1-6 so far for the Knights. It’s too soon to completely write him off, but several guys have passed him on the White Sox depth chart.
17. Jon Link (AAA Charlotte) Pos: RHP Stock up
After leading the minors in saves last year with 35, Link is doing ever better this year for the Knights. With a sub 2 ERA and a K-BB ratio over 3 to 1, he should at least be on the radar of the White Sox.
18. Steven Upchurch (extended Spring Training) Pos: RHP Stock unchanged
Upchurch will likely pitch for Great Falls after pitching for Bristol last year.
19. Brian Omogrosso (AA Birmingham) Pos: RHP Stock up
Omogrosso has been converted into a full-time starter this season. His ERA is below 4, but he is walking far too many to be considered a good prospect as a starter. It’s not unthinkable that he has a moderate future as a reliever though. His mid 90s fastball keeps him on the Major League radar.
20. John Ely (AA Birmingham) Pos: RHP Stock up
Ely has transitioned well to AA this year. He’s not blowing away the competition, but he is outperforming a few other Barons’ starters.
21. Lance Broadway (Mets organization) Pos: RHP
Broadway was traded to the Mets for catcher Ramon Castro after splitting time between the Knights and the Sox. It seems like a good return for Broadway, who has a limited future in the Majors.
22. Jon Gilmore (low-A Kannapolis) Pos: 3B B-T: R-R Stock unchanged
This far down the list, expectations aren’t that high, but Gilmore has big upside. He’s been streaky this season and has shown improvement as the season has gone on, but his overall numbers still remain poor.
23. Nathan Jones (high-A Winston-Salem) Pos: RHP Stock up
Another high upside guy towards the bottom of our rankings, Jones has Major League stuff with no control. The control has been improving this season and he earned an early promotion from Kannapolis. He has given up just two hits and no walks in his first 7.1 IP for the Dash. Hopefully Jones has begun to figure it out.
24. Charlie Shirek (high-A Winston-Salem) Pos: RHP Stock unchanged
Shirek is replicating his Kannapolis stats from a year ago. If he continues this at AA next season, he will shoot up the prospect rankings.
T-25. David Cook (AA Birmingham) Pos: OF B-T: R-R Stock unchanged
Cook isn’t hitting for a high average, but his OBP and power remain high. He is barely a prospect as is because of his age (27), but he keeps performing well.
T-25. C.J. Retherford (AA Birmingham) Pos: IF B-T: R-R Stock up
Retherford has hit well at every level, especially so far this season with the Barons. It might be time to think about him as a possible utility player in the Majors.