Cardinals Sign LaRue

The St. Louis Cardinals have re-upped with catcher Jason LaRue, bringing back the veteran for a third season as Yadier Molina’s backup, and they have signed six-year free agent Ruben Gotay to a minor-league deal that comes with an invitation to major-league spring training.

Both players were signed to one-year deals, the club announced this afternoon.



The return of LaRue was reported earlier here at Cardinal Beat and also this morning on the club’s official Twitter feed (@MLBSTLCardinals). The Cardinals had expressed an interest in exploring options at backup catcher, possibly looking for an offensive upgrade or a catcher that could handle more innings. Molina led the National League in starts at catcher this past season, and he finished second in the NL in innings caught to Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Russell Martin.



Financial terms of the deals were not immediately known. LaRue is coming off a deal that paid him $950,000.



Gotay, 26, spent last season with Class AAA Reno, where he played both second base and third base. Gotay has nearly years of major-league experience, including stints with the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets. In 2009, he hit .272 in Triple-A with a compelling .429 on-base percentage and a .450 slugging. He had 11 home runs and 29 doubles for Reno, but he also had more walks (102) than hits (101). He struck out 69 times. As a switch-hitter who can play multiple positions in the field he fits the mold of players who have made the major-league roster out of spring training before, from Abe Nunez and Aaron Miles to lefthanded-hitting Joe Thurston.

                        Gotay has a career average of .255 with a career .315 on-base percentage in 316 big-league games.

Chicken Scratch of the Day

Tashard Choice is the 3rd option for running back with the Dallas Cowboys. He has seen some sporadic playing time this year and has been a reliable running back when called upon.
While his signature seems a bit classy at first glance, Tashard does not sign his full name. It seems like he just initials it as T.CO. One upstroke is that Tashard has no fumbles on the field this year. Unfortunately, he does have a fumble for his lovely signature effort. For this he receives "one sharpie".

Stats Overview	Rushing					Receiving					Fumbles
SPLIT	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	REC	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	FUM	LST
2009	58	330	5.7	66	3	15	132	8.8	28	0	0	0

State of the System: Los Angeles Dodgers

Quick Look

Coming off consecutive trips to the NLCS, it goes without saying the Dodgers are a talented team. Excellent work by the scouting and player development departments has produced Matt Kemp, Chad Billingsley, James Loney, and the rest of L.A.'s nucleus of young stars. The Dodgers should remain in contention in the AL West for the foreseeable future, but their system is just starting to be replenished after graduating so many core players.

Top Prospects

Chris Withrow, rhp

Age: 20 Level: Double-A-Triple-A

Injuries limited the 2007 1st-rounder to just 13 innings in his first two pro seasons, but Withrow got back on the fast track this year, reaching Double-A at age 20. Withrow was inconsistent (11.7 BB%), but his pure stuff was electric. His fastball ranged from 92-96 mph and occasionally hit the high-90s. His curveball is also a plus pitch, and the 6-3, 195-pounder has a smooth delivery. Withrow has major work to do on his changeup and command, but time is on his side. Logging a fully healthy campaign in 2010 will be another step in the right direction for Withrow, a high-risk, high-reward prospect.

Dee Gordon, ss

Age: 20 Level: Low A-Double-A

Gordon, the son of former major league reliever Tom, burst onto the radar after sneaking past most teams in the 2008 draft. He has hit .311 with 91 steals in his first two seasons. Gordon is a wiry athlete with plus-plus speed. His range and defense are above-average, although he gets out of control and makes too many errors at this point. Gordon has a quick swing and hand-eye coordination. Just 150 pounds, he needs to drive the ball more to make good on his offensive potential. Gordon has the tools to become a standout big leaguer, but he is raw and lacks any signs of future power. He'll move on to High A Inland Empire next season.

Aaron Miller, lhp

Age: 22 Level: Low A-Double-A

I never thought I'd be ranking Miller as a pitching prospect, seeing how he arrived at Baylor three years ago as a productive right fielder. After somewhat underachieving, Miller got on the mound this year, and his live arm enticed the Dodgers to grab him with their first pick (36th overall). He is fairly raw, but Miller has serious arm strength (91-94 mph) and some aptitude for spinning a sharp slider. His athleticism and strong frame should serve him well. Miller has a lot of work to do, though. He has no changeup to speak of, his command needs major work, and he needs to upgrade his pitchability. He has the talent to reach Double-A in his first full pro season.

Andrew Lambo, of

Age: 21 Level: Double-A-Triple-A

Lambo was an astute draft pick for the Dodgers, as he lasted until the 4th round of the 2007 draft. He tore apart low-level competition (.343/.440/.519 in the GCL and .295/.351/.482 in the MWL, with a combined 50 doubles and 23 home runs) before merely staying afloat (.256/.311/.407) as one of the younger players in Double-A in 2009. Los Angeles pushed him aggressively because of Lambo's strong, advanced lefthanded stroke and gap power. He could develop into a .290 hitter with 40 doubles and 20 homers a year, but the California native needs a more sound approach (39-95 BB-K). Lambo is heavy-footed and limited athletically, so he needs to produce more offensively to be more than a spare part. He has promise, but Lambo simply needs to regain the life in his bat that he showed frequently in 2008. Repeating Double-A wouldn't be a disappointment.

Garrett Gould, rhp

Age: 18 Level: Rookie-Low A

The Dodgers bought Gould, a 2nd-round pick this year, out of a Wichita State commitment for $900,000. Although his career has barely begun, it is apparent the Kansas native has a huge ceiling. Gould's fastball often sits 91-94 mph, and his power curveball is an even deadlier pitch. He is also athletic and has an ideal pitcher's body at 6-4, 190. Scouts do worry about Gould's herky-jerky, max-effort mechanics, and he'll need to improve his changeup and command to stay in the rotation. Gould should move to the Midwest League for his first full season.

Ivan De Jesus, Jr., ss/2B

Age: 22 Level: Double-A-MLB

De Jesus unfortunately missed the 2009 season after breaking his leg in Spring Training. He was coming off a .324/.419/.423 campaign the year before. De Jesus is a steady middle infielder in all phases of the game. He plays an adequate shortstop, but because he lacks overwhelming physical gifts, some like him better at second base. At the plate, De Jesus pairs a controlled, line-drive stroke with excellent strike zone judgment. He drew 76 walks in 2008. His instincts and baseball IQ help him get everything out of his tools, and he is bilingual with good makeup and leadership skills to boot. De Jesus won't be a star because he has modest power and speed, but he should be a useful player once he returns to health.

Josh Lindblom, rhp

Age: 22 Level: Triple-A-MLB

Lindblom, a Purdue product, did a respectable job in the starting rotation in Double-A this year (4.71 ERA, 46-14 K-BB ratio in 57 IP), but he was much better after a promotion to Triple-A and a switch to the bullpen. Lindblom posted a 2.54 ERA and raised his strikeout rate, although his walk rate worsened. With a plus fastball (88-94 mph with life), slider, splitter, and changeup, the Dodgers envision him as a future starter, but Lindblom probably fits better in the bullpen. His fastball is crisper in that role (up to 96) and he doesn't need to worry about his command as much. The 6-5 Lindblom will reach Los Angeles at some point in 2010.

Ethan Martin, rhp

Age: 20 Level: Low A-Double-A

Martin was a high-profile two-way prep player and went 15th overall in the 2008 draft as a pitcher. His high-octane stuff (mid-90s fastball and vicious, if inconsistent, curveball) was on display in Low A this year. The Georgia native posted an outstanding 26.8 K%, but also a similarly eye-popping 13.6 BB%. Martin struggles to find the zone at times, and the quality of his pitches wavers as well. The 6-2, 195-pounder also has his work cut out for him in the changeup department. Martin has a long ways to go, and I see him as a future power-armed reliever.

Allen Webster, rhp

Age: 19 Level: Rookie-Low A

Webster was a complete unknown before his scintillating showing in 2009. Divided between the AZL and the Pioneer League, Webster tossed 68 innings and maintained a 2.36 ERA with a 77-18 K-BB ratio. More importantly, the 6-2 native of North Carolina showed the tools to project as a future MLBer. Webster touches 94-95 mph with has fastball and has solid control in the low-90s. He flashes a changeup, and his curveball is a strikeout pitch. He needs to continue progressing to augment his recent gains (and do more than just decimate Rookie- ball), but Webster has frontline starter upside.

Scott Elbert, lhp

Age: 24 Level: MLB

Elbert has been hanging around forever. The constants throughout his 6-year career have been a good ERA, high strikeout rate, high walk rate, and bouts with injuries. The 2004 1st-rounder from a Missouri high school has made 29 appearances in the majors, all of them out of the bullpen. Despite 84 MiLB starts, that looks to be his future role. Though his development has been agonizingly slow, Elbert still has wicked raw stuff. His fastball cooks in the low- to mid-90s and his mid-80s downer curveball is a plus pitch. He has a bulldog mentality and has flashed a decent changeup. On the other hand, Elbert has max-effort mechanics and struggles with both control and command. It would be great if L.A. stuck him in the major league bullpen and just let him have a steady year. Elbert could be a #2 starter, but his record points to a career as a valuable lefty fireman.

Blake Smith, of

Age: 21 Level: Rookie-High-A

Smith, drafted out of Cal this year, has been on the prospect map for a while. He starred in high school and played for Team USA. Smith's long swing hinders his ability to make consistent contact and tap into his plus raw power, and he hasn't shown the ability to make many adjustments. (Case in point: the major college product put up a .619 OPS in Rookie-ball in his debut.) He has prototype right field tools, but I'd be more intrigued if Smith headed to the mound to see how his mid-90s heat fares in the pro ranks.

Others: RHPs Brett Wallach and Kenley Jansen; C Tony Delmonico; OFs Xavier Paul, Trayvon Robinson, and Jonathan Garcia

Impact Talent: C-

Depth: C

2010 Breakout Prospect

Angelo Songco, of

Age: 22 Level: Low A-High A

Songco was drafted in the 4th round this year after a standout career at Loyola Marymount. The 6-0 lefty-swinger was assigned to the Pioneer League (an inferior circuit for a top college product), where he slugged to the tune of .306/.361/.583 with a .401 wOBA. However, Songco had some scary peripherals (26.1 K% and .372 BABIP) and tanked once promoted to Low A (.150/.226/.258 over 134 plate appearances). Songco certainly has room for improvement in terms of his contact ability. He is also just passable defensively and will be a leftfielder in the long term. Nonetheless, I like Songco's power potential. He employs a distinctive setup to generate serious pop, and the thunder in his bat could alone get him to the majors. He is capable of making adjustments, and Songco is bound to open some eyes either in the Cal League or back in the Midwest League in 2010.

The Dodgers have several other outfield prospects of this ilk. Brian Cavazos-Galvez, a 2009 draftee from New Mexico, has classic rightfield power and a strong arm, but also has issues with a long swing and high K totals. And Kyle Russell is the king of the three true outcomes club; he put up some astonishing numbers in 2009 (some good and some bad). I don't think Russell will ever become a major league hitter with his track record of whiffs by the truckload.

Hall Of Fame Ballot Announced

Today, the Baseball Hall of Fame announced its 2010 ballot which contains 27 players. Any player getting votes on 75% of the ballots submitted will be admitted to the Hall in the Class of 2010. Here's the complete list:
*Roberto Alomar
*Kevin Appier
Harold Baines
Bert Blyleven
*Ellis Burks
Andre Dawson
*Andres Galarraga
*Pat Hentgen
*Mike Jackson
*Eric Karros
*Ray Lankford
*Barry Larkin
*Edgar Martinez
Don Mattingly
*Fred McGriff
Mark McGwire
Jack Morris
Dale Murphy
Dave Parker
Tim Raines
*Shane Reynolds
*David Segui
Lee Smith
Alan Trammell
*Robin Ventura
*Todd Zeile

In this 2010 class of Hall Of Fame Players I only see maybe a handful of players that ight get some consideration. Here are my picks.

Seventeen years in the bigs and a seven time All-Star MVP puts Roberto into the limelight. He had 11 Gold Gloves in a row from 1991 to 2001.  He has maintained high batting averages in his career and was always known as one of the best defensive fielding 2B during the 90's. My pick would be with Alomar.

Barry Larkin batted .295 with 198 home runs and 960 RBIs over his 19-year career with the Reds. Barry would also get voted in at the top.









Here are my maybes:
Andre Dawson
Fred McGriff
Lee Smith

I was a Lee Smith fan when he was a Cardinal, so I do wish him a lot of luck in getting into the Hall. Heres to you Lee Smith!!!

Here's To Lee Smith!!

Thanks Giants.... Another LOSS

The way the GIANTS are playing I expect them to finish out the year at 8-8.

Brandon Jacobs needs to learn to block.

Danny Ware started for an injured Ahmed Bradshaw. Probably will be the last time too thanks to the coughed up fumble.

Eli Manning looked like a "deer in the headlights" when it came to the pressure from the Broncos defense. Piss poor judgment throws. Receivers can't catch the ball when it's always at their feet. Perhaps Manning should be benched and let Carr make a few starts to see if that helps any.

Lack of communication on the defense led to a WIDE OPEN Brandon Stokley Touchdown.

Dallas, Philadelphia at home next. Then it's at Washington, Carolina at home, and then close out at Minnesota.

Perhaps we might see a 7-9 record but who knows. Right now this is not a playoff caliber team and they need to get reorganized and bounce back quickly.

Cardinal Team Report

Now that Pujols has captured his third National League Most Valuable Player award and second in succession, the temptation is to turn to Pujols’ contract status. But the 29-year-old slugger, signed for 2010 with a club option for 2011, says he’s in no hurry to negotiate an extension.
“They don’t need to deal with me right now,” Pujols said. “They need to deal with their free agents (such as Matt Holliday. What do we need? Or what did we miss to get to the next level, which is the World Series? That’s kind of where I am.
“This is my place. This is where I want to be. I don’t hide that. I’m still going to be a Cardinal for two more years and hopefully 15 more years—if I can play that long —and retire as a Cardinal.”
General manager John Mozeliak said he has received the same message from Pujols’ representatives, the Beverly Hills Sports Council. There is no rush to push for an extension.
“I think our goals are all the same,” Mozeliak told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “We’re going to want him to be here.
“We want to do it when we think the time is right. Right now, he does not want the organization to feel that we need to be focusing on anything else but putting our club together.”
Pujols, who tied Cardinals Hall of Famer Stan Musial at three MVP awards, won his first NL home run title this year with 47. He also hit .327 with 135 RBIs, and he led the league with a .443 on-base percentage and a .658 slugging percentage.

General manager John Mozeliak did not make any offers in the early going of free agency. “There’s a level of patience right now,” he said. “There’s a sense. … that the (market) might be slow to develop.”

Of their own free agents, the Cardinals would have the most interest, in order, in LF Matt Holliday, INF/OF Mark DeRosa and RHP John Smoltz. With David Freese likely to get a shot to be the regular at third base next spring, DeRosa would be perceived as either a utility player or a fall-back in left field if Holliday isn’t re-signed.

The Cardinals have large interest in keeping Holliday and DeRosa and some interest in both LaRue and Smoltz. The others probably are gone.

Schumaker will make more as a second baseman than an outfielder. Ludwick likely will get close to $7 million and might have to be traded for payroll relief if Holliday signs a multiyear deal.

OF Ryan Ludwick, a candidate to be traded last year, could be dealt this time. RHP Josh Kinney, a playoff hero in 2006, probably won’t return.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Offseason Starting Quietly

Although the Major League Baseball off-season isn't quite a full-month old yet, I'm pretty surprised at how quiet things have been. As far as the Giants are concerned, the only news to come from them in recent weeks, besides Tim Lincecum winning his second consecutive Cy Young award, has been Brian Sabean hinting that they'll steer clear of the top offensive free-agents, Matt Holliday and Jason Bay, this offseason.

Now, this shouldn't come as a surprise to Giants fans, the team hasn't added a big time offensive player in decades, but for a team that has a need for offensive as much as the Giants do, I am a little surprised that Brian Sabean is already dismissing the idea of pursuing either of them. I made a post here a couple weeks back comparing Jason Bay and Matt Holliday here, so I'm not going to be comparing them as players today, but I'm just not sure what the Giants are waiting for in terms of building their offense? One bat like Holiday's or Bay's would certainly give this team an offensive boost, maybe even make them the favorites in their division. They have such a good pitching staff, that even a league average offense would probably be good enough to keep this team atop the NL West. Now, I understand that Bay and Holliday are far and away the best offensive players in this free agent market, and whoever gets them will wind up spending some serious dough, but that doesn't mean the Giants should completely remove them from their plans.

The Giants pitching staff is on the rise and is one the best in baseball, but they're not going to have Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, Madison Bumgarner, Jonathon Sanchez, Brian Wilson, Jeremy Affeldt ect... all together forever. When these guys become free-agents, they're not going to want to stick around if the Giants are still hovering around .500 and struggling to score runs. At some point they're going to have to figure out whether they'll need to deal from within or use free agency in order to get some offense, cause they're going to need it. I'm not talking about dealing for a Ryan Garko or Freddy Sanchez, I'm talking about making a play for a Prince Fielder or Adrian Gonzalez. They need someone who will come in and anchor their offense, much like Barry Bonds did during his 16 year stay in San Francisco. I think Matt Holliday is that type of player and could impact the team in a way that Gonzalez or Fielder could. Is he the best player in baseball? No, he's probably not even in the top-15, but he's a legit middle of the order hitter who is going to be good for a while, and he would allow the Giants to hold onto Cain, Bumgarner and Wilson.

Hail, Hail King Albert!!!

As he explained why he would intentionally walk Albert Pujols even when baseball tradition and accepted strategy screamed not to, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre offered a seven-word defense of his action: “Albert is in a class by himself.” If Pujols wasn’t then, he took a step closer to it Tuesday.
The St. Louis Cardinals first baseman won his second consecutive and his third career National League MVP Award, sweeping the first-place votes from all 32 writers around the NL cities. The Baseball Writers’ Association of America made the announced Tuesday afternoon on its Web site. The vote, as expected, wasn’t close, with Pujols out-distancing other candidates such as Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder and Florida’s Hanley Ramirez.
Pujols becomes the 10th player in the eight decades of the award to win three MVPs. Only Barry Bonds, who has seven MVPs in his career, has more than Pujols, Stan Musial and the seven other players also tied with three.
Only Musial and Mickey Mantle have three MVPs and three runnerup finishes like Pujols. Musial finished second in the voting four times. Pujols has eight top-five finishes in the MVP voting, and that ranks third behind Musial’s nine top-five finishes and Mantle’s nine top-five finishes.
Pujols is the first unanimous selection since Bonds in 2002. He is the seventh player to win the NL award unanimously, joining fellow Cardinal Orlando Cepeda (1967), Bonds and four others: Carl Hubbell (1936), Mike Schmidt (1980), Jeff Bagwell (1994) and Ken Caminiti (1996).
The MVP punctuates an offseason that has included the annual harvest of awards for Pujols. Earlier this month, he won a Silver Slugger, the Hank Aaron Award for the NL and, this past weekend in St. Louis, a National Sportsmanship Award.
Pujols joins Musial as the only Cardinals to win three MVPs in their career. Only the Cardinals and the New York Yankees now can boast multiple three-time winners in their club’s history.

Anaheim Angels Give Hudler Some Wings

According to a statement from Fox Sports and sent, it says, on behalf of Fox Sports West and the Angels, Rex Hudler and Steve Physioc will no longer cover Angels games for the local sports network.

The statement read:

"We are going in a different direction next season and will use single announcing teams on TV and radio that will include Rory Markas and Mark Gubicza on Fox Sports West and KCOP and Terry Smith and Jose Mota calling the action on radio (KLAA AM 830). We believe this approach will create greater consistency on our telecasts, as well as a deeper familiarity with fans and viewers. We would like to thank Rex Hudler and Steve Physioc for their contributions through the years and we wish each of them well."

Royals Sign Brad Thompson

The Royals, anxious to deepen their pitching options, have agreed to a Minor League contract with former Cardinals right-hander Brad Thompson.
He was a free agent after five years with St. Louis.
Thompson, 27, had a 2-6 record and a 4.84 ERA last season in 32 games including eight starts for the Cardinals.
He will not go on the 40-man roster but is expected to be invited to the Major League Spring Training camp.
In five years with the Cardinals, Thompson compiled a 21-17 record and 4.36 ERA in 185 games (32 starts). He posted his best numbers as a rookie in 2005 when he was 4-0 with a 2.95 ERA and his only big league save in 40 relief appearances.
Thompson has postseason experience including two-thirds of a scoreless inning in the 2006 World Series against Detroit. He appeared in the National League Division Series and League Championship Series in 2005 and 2006.

Brazilian Baseball

Brazilians may one day join other Latin Americans as top major league baseball players if an academy to be opened by the Tampa Bay Rays in Marilia is successful. "We feel Brazil can be a real hotbed for baseball talent," Rays' Senior Vice President Gerry Hunsicker said on Tuesday at a news conference to announce the Rays would be the first Major League Baseball team to open a training camp in Brazil.
Andres Reiner, a Rays' special assistant, said there was no reason why Brazil could not produce top baseball players since the country has champion athletes in sports such as soccer, basketball, tennis, volleyball and motor racing.
"I an convinced there is a tremendous potential there. We need to teach the youngsters because they don't know the game," Reiner said.
No Brazilian has ever played Major League Baseball but a few have played in the minor leagues.
The Rays recently signed their first Brazilian player, 19-year old Leonardo Reginatto, who plays in Venezuela.
Baseball is mainly played in the southern half of Brazil where it is popular among the country's Japanese community.
The Marilia academy will be similar to those the Rays and other major leagues teams have in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
The $750,000 facility will have four baseball fields and dormitory rooms for 40 players. Two of the fields will be used to coach young Brazilians between the ages of six and 13.
Marilia Mayor Mario Bulgarelli said he was happy to have the academy in his city of 250,000, which is about 230 miles northwest of Sao Paulo.
"Marilia can be the center to develop baseball," Bulgarelli said through a translator as he signed an agreement with the Rays for the academy.

Baseball Bloopers

State of the System: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Quick Look

The Angels continue to be a power at the major league level, having won the AL West 5 of the last 6 AL West seasons, although they have not reached the World Series since '02. The farm system is average, but much less promising than years past, when the Halos were consistently near the top of organization talent rankings. Los Angeles bolstered its pipeline with a solid draft haul this year (6 of 10 on this list came from this year's draft), taking advantage of compensation picks for the loss of Francisco Rodriguez and other free agents. The Angels have solid depth, but they lack a bona fide blue-chip prospect at this point.

Top Prospects

Mike Trout, of

Age: 18 Level: Rookie-Low A

Trout has a grinder mentality that allows him to get the most of his tools, which are impressive in the first place. The #25 pick this year, Trout got a taste of the Midwest League at the end of 2009, and should spend his first full pro season there next year. The New Jersey native has a quick righthanded stroke and raps out hits to all fields. For a player his age, he has solid strike-zone judgment, pitch recognition, and gap power. Trout has plus speed and runs the bases with reckless abandon, always looking to steal or take an extra base. He is steady defensively in center field and has strong competitive makeup. Trout will enter 2010 looking to prove his bat is legitimate. Coming from a Northern background, his bat was perceived at draft time as potentially a bit raw, and the .918 OPS Trout posted in his AZL debut was propped up by an unsustainable .430 BABIP. He is an excellent prospect, however, and his full-season debut bears close watching.

Hank Conger, c

Age: 21 Level: Double-A-Triple-A

Conger seems like he has been around forever, but the 2006 1st-rounder doesn't turn 22 until January. He has been hampered by injuries his entire career, relegating him to frequent DH duty and taking away vital development time. Conger's below-average defense has not had much chance to improve, as this year's 87 games played behind the plate nearly doubled his previous high. He'll always be a bat-first player, but some are at least hopeful that Conger will be able to stick at catcher. There is less doubt surrounding Conger's offensive production. He's aggressive, has a quick bat, and generates plus power. Conger is capable of a .280/.340/.480 line with 20 homers a year at his peak, but his health and ability to catch will determine his ultimate ceiling.

Tyler Skaggs, lhp

Age: 18 Level: Rookie-Low A

A Santa Monica native who the Angels acquired via the supplemental round this year, Skaggs is thin and projectable. His lanky frame could support significantly more muscle, meaning Skaggs could increase the velocity on his currently 88-91 mph fastball. His big rainbow curveball is a swing-and-miss pitch, and his changeup and slider show potential. Skaggs has a pretty easy arm action, but sometimes overthrows. The Angels will need to exhibit patience in developing Skaggs, but he could become a Cole Hamels- or Barry Zito-type pitcher.

Trevor Reckling, lhp

Age: 20 Level: Double-A-Triple-A

Reckling flew under the radar as a New Jersey high schooler and early in his pro career. He has thrown 150+ effective innings each of the last two seasons (and reached Double-A at age 19), however, and has cemented his position as a legitimate prospect. Reckling has an average 87-91 mph fastball to go with a plus hook and a dependable changeup, making him the rare young hurler with a trio of average-or-better pitches. He has an odd motion, however, and his walk rate has gotten progressively worse as he has climbed the ladder. Reckling is athletic and his mechanics are deceptive for batters, but I worry about control, among other things. He projects as a #3, and could reach the majors for good in 2011.

Peter Bourjos, of

Age: 22 Level: Double-A-Triple-A

Bourjos is a plus-plus runner and a true centerfielder. His arm suits the position well, and he is capable of making exciting plays. His speed makes him a threat to steal, and he could steal 50 bases a year in the majors. Offensively, Bourjos has a funky swing, lacks pitch recognition skills, and seldom draws walks. He has bat speed and some gap power, but has never amassed double-digit homers in a year in his career. Bourjos' progress over the last couple years is encouraging, but I don't expect him to be an above-average hitter. Taking his whole package into consideration, though, he should be a solid regular well-suited for the Angels.

Garrett Richards, rhp

Age: 21 Level: Rookie-High A

Richards had a wildly inconsistent collegiate career at Oklahoma, struggling in spite of a high-octane repertoire (6.57 ERA over three seasons). He made strides in his debut (albeit against low-level competition), lending some hope for the future. Richards' explosive fastball sits at 93-94 mph and has touched the high-90s in the past. His hard curveball has plus potential and depth. He also uses a mid-80s slider and flashes a strong changeup. He has a durable frame and throws downhill. Richards has the raw stuff to be unhittable at times, but he won't be a frontline starter unless he makes drastic improvement with his control and consistency. He'll be an interesting player to monitor next season.

Randal Grichuk, of

Age: 18 Level: Rookie-Low A

Grichuk was a surprise first-rounder this year, a righthanded pull hitter with minimal tools outside of his plus power. Grichuk stood out with a strong debut in the Arizona League, however, hitting .322/.352/.551 with 30 extra-base hits in 236 ABs. He showed fringe-average speed, athleticism, and arm strength, but he'll be a leftfielder in the long term. The biggest concern I have about the Texas native is his aggressive approach and poor contact skills. Future big leaguers don't post a 3.5 BB% and 25.1 K% in Rookie-ball.

Tyler Kehrer, lhp

Age: 21 Level: Rookie-Low A

Kehrer, an Eastern Illinois product, was drafted in the supplemental round this year. His best attributes are arm strength, size (6-3, 210), and sound mechanics. Kehrer loves to establish his fastball, an outstanding offering that sits in the low-90s and tops out at 96 mph. His secondary pitches lag behind at this point, primarily because Kehrer hasn't worked on them as much as his heater. His slider has occasional sharp break, but it is inconsistent, and his changeup is even less refined. He has poor command. I like Kehrer more than most, but he'll go to Low A next year with a laundry list of finer points to master.

Pat Corbin, lhp

Age: 20 Level: Rookie-High A

Corbin, a 2nd-rounder in June out of powerhouse Chipola JC, has all the ingredients of a steady future starting pitcher. The former basketball player is projectable and athletic at 6-3, 170. His fastball sits at 90-91 mph with life, his slurvy breaking ball is a decent pitch, and he has flashed plus feel for an improving changeup. Corbin throws strikes but his command naturally needs work. He'll head to A-ball next season.

Will Smith, lhp

Age: 20 Level: Low A-Double-A

Smith looks like a power pitcher at 6-5, 230, but he keeps batters at bay by changing speeds and hitting spots. The Gulf Coast CC product has uncanny command for a pitcher his age, explaining his career 3.49 ERA and remarkable 171-30 K-BB ratio. That dominance is all at lower levels, however, and Smith lacks a put-away pitch to point to for future success. His arsenal consists of a high-80s fastball (that touches the low-90s), a solid curveball, and a changeup. Smith has pitchability, but he will need to keep proving himself. He does not have a tremendous ceiling, but he is a pretty good bet to pitch at the game's highest level.

Others: RHPs Fabio Martinez, Trevor Bell, Ryan Chaffee, and Jordan Walden; OF Chris Pettit; C Carlos Ramirez; 2B Alexia Amarista; 1B Mark Trumbo

Impact Talent: C-

Farm System Depth: C

2010 Breakout Prospect

Jean Segura, 2B

Age: 19 Level: Rookie-Low A

Segura put himself on the map with a strong '09 campaign (.354/.395/.514 with 11 steals in 43 games), and his toolset is very intriguing. The undersized Dominican has a quick, direct swing and is a superb contact hitter. (He whiffed just 11 times in 162 ABs in the Pioneer League.) He made exceptional contact this year, though he was impatient (5.6 BB%). Segura showcased plus-plus speed before a broken finger ended his season in early August. He projects to have respectable power, although he currently sticks to line drives. Despite his mix of tools, Segura is most likely limited to second base, where he is passable. I fully expect Segura to lay waste to the Midwest League next season, and vault up prospect lists in the process.

Where Are They Now?............Gregg Jefferies

The man who once was The Next Great Met and the player Davey Johnson thought could hit .300 standing on his head is "just Gregg" now, the affable high school coach who also runs his own baseball school.
"I'm busier now than when I played," Gregg Jefferies says during a break from his work at Total Players Center in Pleasanton, Calif., the town about 90 minutes outside Sacramento where he lives and also coaches the Foothill High varsity. "I teach hitting and see a different part of the game. We've got a 10,000 square foot facility. My high school team was 20-5 last year after going 12-12. I really enjoy working with the kids."
Jefferies, now 41, has kids of his own, too - 15 and 13, from a previous marriage, a 16-month-old with his wife of four years and another child on the way. He's turned down big-league coaching jobs because "I'm happy," he said. "It's flattering, but I don't want to be away."
Jefferies was the much-hyped hitter who the Mets were eager to get to the major leagues in the late 80s after he was twice the minor-league player of the year, though they were unsure where he'd play. He made his major league debut at 20 in 1987 and ultimately replaced Wally Backman at second base.
But he had a tumultuous tenure, marred by unmet expectations. He was criticized by teammates and fans and in 1991 read an open letter on WFAN asking for an end to the turmoil.
He was traded that winter to the Royals with Kevin McReynolds in the Bret Saberhagen deal and, he says, never got to accomplish what he wanted to in New York. But he was an All-Star twice with the Cardinals in 1993-94. His career ended in 2000 after parts of 14 seasons when he tore his right hamstring, an injury he still feels when surfing or walking up steep hills.
Now, though, Jefferies mostly holds good memories of being a Met, so much so that he and his wife nearly named their son, "Shea" (they opted for Luke instead). "We went to New York two years ago and I was a little leery of the response I'd get, but when I walked around, it was nice," Jefferies says. "People were doing double takes and coming up to me."
Looking back on his career, Jefferies says, "There was stuff I wouldn't have changed and stuff I would've. I would've loved to have won the World Series. I was spoiled on the Mets in 1988, getting to the playoffs that early.
"I broke in early; I had some immaturities. I had a temper and I wish I had learned to tone that down. I did later. But I had a great time in New York. It gave me my name."
Asked if his career might have been different had Met teammates treated him differently, Jefferies says, "Yeah, it could've. It was a veteran team. I blame nobody. I was a young kid replacing Wally Backman not long after a World Series. I could understand the resentment. When I got a little older and learned the game and put up some years, when I played against those guys, they were very friendly."
Jefferies laughs when he's asked why when he threw a bat he was perceived as a baby and, since then, players like Paul O'Neill have been seen as "warriors." "When I stopped, I got criticized for not caring," Jefferies said. "But when I did it in St. Louis, it was the Paul O'Neill thing - look, Jefferies cares.
"I was always very fiery. I had to be because I wasn't good enough to just throw the bat out there. Did it hurt me sometimes, being an emotional player? Yeah. But people tell me now that I always played hard and that they loved the intensity. It's always like that - the longer you're retired, the better player you were."

Happy Birthday to Stan the Man

                                       Happy Birthday Stan Musial!!!
November 21 is Stan's 89th Birthday. It was great to see him at the All-Star Game. I always remember two Cardinal players that my dad was a huge fan of, Enos Slaughter and Stan Musial. Here at the McBrayer-Baseball Blog wishes Stan the Man a wonderful Birthday.

Tim Lincecum Cy Young Award Winner

So I take this simple formula: Tim Lincecum + Marijuana = Cy Young Award

Good times.... Good times

Lincecum Wins Consecutive CY Young Awards

Tim Lincecum has done something that no other Giants pitcher in history has done, win two consecutive Cy Young Awards. In fact, the only two NL pitchers to ever win the award in consecutive seasons were Randy Johnson and Sandy Koufax.

It was definitely a close call though, and by no means did the 25 year-old ace run away with the award. Adam Wainright, who led the NL in wins with 19 and innings pitched with 233, received 12 first-place votes, one more than Lincecum's 11. However, Lincecum received more second place votes and more total points. Chris Carpentar finished second in the voting with Wainright coming in third. Atlanta's Javier Vazquez and Arizona's Dan Haren also received votes. Lincecum only finished the year with 15 wins, but his 261 strikeouts, 1.05 WHIP and his .206 BAA made up for the lower win total. The lanky one who most call "The Freak", but I call "The Franchise", struggled a bit down the stretch and went just 1-3 with a 3.60 era in September. I thought at the time that his slow finish may hurt his chances for the award, but he did enough in the first half of the year (10-2, 2.33 era before all-star break) to allow some sputtering towards the end. The scary part about this kid is that he's still getting better and better and probably a couple of years away from his peak.

I think all Giants fans knew there was something special about this kid when he first started dominating in the minors after the Giants drafted him, but I don't think anyone could have predicted 2 Cy Young awards within his first 2 full-seasons at the major league level. The future of the Giants pitching staff is about as bright as it can be at this point. Matt Cain didn't get any Cy Young consideration this year, but I really think this is the year the Cain broke out and realized that he could be a dominant pitcher in this league. He's been well above league average over the last couple of seasons, and has never been an easy assignment for opposing batters, but this year he seemed to really learn more how to pitch rather than trying to just throw the ball by every batter. Between Cain and Lincecum, the Giants have a duo of right-handed power arms that should contend for Cy Young award for the next 10 seasons. They'll also soon be joined by a left-handed phenom as well, as Madison Bumgarner could do in 2010 what Linceucm did in 2007 (become a full-time member of the rotation by May-June). And these 3 guys could form the best young rotation in all of baseball.

Cardinals Getting Ready For Rule 5 Draft

Allen Craig

 The Cardinals completed some roster housekeeping on Wednesday, adding eight players to their 40-man roster in advance of next month's Rule 5 Draft.

Now officially protected from the Rule 5 are pitchers Tyler Norrick, Adam Ottavino and Francisco Samuel, catcher Bryan Anderson, first baseman Mark Hamilton and outfielders Allen Craig, John Jay and Darryl Jones. Players selected in the First-Year Player Draft in 2006 (for college draftees) or 2005 (for high school selections) must be added to the 40-man roster this week to avoid being exposed to the Rule 5 Draft.
Among the more notable additions were Craig and Ottavino. Craig was named the organization's Minor League Player of the Year following a big season at Triple-A Memphis. He is likely to compete for a spot on the Major League active roster in the spring. Ottavino was the Cardinals' first-round pick in the 2006 Draft.
With the additions, the Cardinals now have 34 players on their 40-man roster.
The Rule 5 Draft takes place on Dec. 10, the final day of baseball's annual Winter Meetings in Indianapolis. Last year, St. Louis lost right-handed reliever Luis Perdomo in the Rule 5 after acquiring Perdomo the previous summer for former top prospect Anthony Reyes.

Ravishing Relic of the Week

Mr. Guzman was 3 for 5 in hitting with two singles and one double and one strikeout on the night of may 28, 2008. Wow... topps got this card right...for once. He actually played on the date that's listed on the ticket.

Giants Showing Interest in Uggla, Damon

It's been a couple of weeks since the start of free agency filing, and the Giants apparently are wasting no time making contact with potential help for their ball-club. The team is apparently interested in free agent Johnny Damon, and have had talks with the Marlins about a potential Dan Uggla trade.

The Giants have been interested in Uggla, it seems, for the better part of the last two years. The Marlins are always looking for ways to cut payroll if they can, and Uggla is entering the expensive phase of his career. He's got 2 more years of arbitration left and then will be a free agent after the 2011 season. The Giants desperately want and need his power, but they'd need to do some shifting in the infield if they were indeed going to make a major play for Uggla. Yahoo Sports reported yesterday that Uggla doesn't want to change positions if he's dealt, which means the Giants would have to move Freddy Sanchez to the hot-corner, while placing Pablo Sandoval over at first full-time. Although, I would have my questions about how that infield set-up would play defensively. Uggla isn't a very mobile second basemen, and Edgar Renteria is declining quickly, so they'd lack range up the middle. I think Sanchez would be OK at third base, he's played there for long stretches of time at few different points in his career and handled it well. I also think Sandoval would be a fine first basemen full-time, although he doesn't have ideal size for the position. I also wonder what the Marlins would want for Uggla. I think the Giants may be able to start a package around Jonathan Sanchez, but the Marlins would probably want a young positional prospect as well, possibly Emmanuel Burris. We'll definitely keep our eye on the Giants/Marlins discussions over the next few weeks to see if anything becomes serious.

On the Johnny Damon front, I haven't seen too much out there that links him to San Francisco, but KNBR did report over the week that the Giants have interest and plan to speak with Damon's agent. The Damon report kind of had me scratching my head a little bit. I don't know why the Giants would want to spend big dollars on a 36 year-old outfielder who hits left-handed and doesn't posses the type of power they're seeking. Don't get me wrong, Damon is a fine player, and would definitely help any team that he lands on, but if this Giants team is planning on spending big money on an outfielder, why not just go all the way and get Matt Holliday? So take the Damon rumor with a grain of salt, because I'm hoping Sabean won't continue to make the same mistakes. In this free agent market, the only outfielder the Giants should be considering giving multi-years to is Matt Holliday. Jason Bay was really struggling for Pittsburgh before being dealt to Boston, and I just don't think he'd be a good fit back in the NL in the spacious AT&T Park. Holliday knows this division all to well, and no, I don't think a dropped line drive in the NLCS vs. the Dodgers last month should detour the Giants from pursuing the .318 lifetime hitter who's averaged 30 homers and 110 RBI over the last 4 seasons and hasn't even had his 30th birthday yet.

Note: Angel Villalona has had his US Visa taken away by Domincan Republic officials and won't be allowed to join the Giants even if he does avoid prison. This situation continues to look worse and worse for the 19 year-old, but we'll keep an eye on it and relay any new info as it comes.

State of the System: Kansas City Royals

Quick Look

It goes without saying that the Royals are one of the worst teams in baseball. This year they put together one of the worst offenses an MLB team can possibly assemble, and team brass has made some real head-scratchers (see: Betancourt, Yuniesky). KC is in the same boat as Pittsburgh and Washington: it will be several years or more until they can even think about contending. On the minor league side, the Royals' Top 10 is competitive, but they don't have a deep system, and most of their impact players are concentrated in the lower levels. In short, it just isn't pretty to be a Royals fan.

Top Prospects

Mike Montgomery, lhp

Age: 20 Level: High A-Double-A

Montgomery, the second pick in my hypothetical draft, has all the ingredients to become a frontline starting pitcher. His arsenal consists of a 90-92 mph fastball that touches 95, a devastating changeup, and an inconsistent, but improving, curveball. A projectable 6-5 lefty with a good delivery, Montgomery's pitches will improve even more once he fills out and gains experience. He's on track to reach Kansas City by his 22nd birthday.

Aaron Crow, rhp

Age: 23 Level: none-Double-A

Crow was in the mix to be the #1 overall pick in the weeks leading up to the 2008 draft, but he ultimately fell to #9 and couldn't come to terms with the Nationals. The former Missouri ace then pitched in indy ball in preparation for this year's draft, when the Royals took him 12th. Crow has a plus-plus fastball, featuring velocity (92-95 mph), excellent life, and command. He also snaps off a plus slider that gives batters fits, and has made progress with his changeup. Most of the questions with Crow center around his slight build and a wrap in the back of his arm swing that impedes his command and perhaps puts more stress on his arm. If he shakes off the rust and sharpens his change, Crow will zoom up the ladder.

Wil Myers, c

Age: 18 Level: Rookie-Low A

Myers makes it 3 straight years that the Royals have taken a touted prep batter early in the draft (after Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer). He made a stellar first impression, tearing up Rookie-ball to the tune of .369/.427/.679 in 22 games. Myers is an athletic, versatile player with an infectious enthusiasm for the game. He shows a good arm behind the plate and will try to make it as a catcher. Even if he doesn't, his quick hands, sharp stroke, and provocative power should carry him at another position. Next year, in his first full pro season, he'll try to overcome the Midwest League doldrums that plagued his predecessors.

Tim Melville, rhp

Age: 20 Level: Low A-Double-A

Melville showed promise, and also some rough edges, in Low A this year. The former high-profile prepster runs his fastball up to 95 mph, and works comfortably in the low-90s. He also has a close-to-plus 12-6 curveball and is refining his changeup. Melville's control needs work, but he shows a willingness to soak in instruction and adjust, so that shouldn't hamper him long-term. He also has a textbook pitcher's frame and a smooth delivery.

Danny Duffy, lhp

Age: 20 Level: High A-Triple-A

I liked Duffy coming out of high school, and he has been brilliant for 3 seasons. The California native doesn't have a true knockout pitch, but his mid-70s curveball induces strikeouts, and his 88-93 mph fastball is more than enough for a lefty. His changeup is a bit firm, but has become a decent third pitch. Some scouts are turned off by Duffy's mechanics (he throws across his body), but he has still consistently improved his strike-throwing ability, and hasn't had any injury setbacks. Duffy will move up to what should be a prospect-laden Double-A Northwest Arkansas team in 2010.

Eric Hosmer, 1B

Age: 20 Level: High A-Double-A

Hosmer went 3rd overall in last year's draft. The lefty bludgeoned amateur competition and was hailed as one of the top first base prospects in the minors. His first full pro season didn't quite go to plan, though. Playing in the hitter's graveyard that is the MWL, Hosmer slumped to a .734 OPS, which was propped up mostly by walks. The bulk of that struggling was done against southpaws (.138/.205/.200) and before Hosmer got LASIK eye surgery. And in an inexplicable move by the Kansas City front office, the then-19-year-old was promoted to High A just as he was getting acclimated to Low A. Hosmer probably deserves a mulligan for the 2009 season, but 2010 will be a crucial test to see if his amateur scouting reports (which projected a .300-35 HR hitter with a chance to play the outfield) hold up.

Mike Moustakas, 3B

Age: 21 Level: High A-Double-A

Moustakas was a high school stud--and the #2 pick in the 2007 draft--but he has endured some struggles in pro ball. Moustakas is a big third baseman, but he has the potential to avoid a switch to first base or the outfield because of his decent hands and plus-plus arm. Offensively, he has a fundamentally sound swing and awe-inspiring raw power (he holds the California HS single-season and career home run records). Moustakas is undermined by a lack of plate discipline, though; his 32-90 BB-K ratio contributed to a disappointing .250/.297/.421 line this year. He has championship-caliber upside, but I think 2010 and Double-A will go a long way in telling if Moustakas is a big leaguer or a bust.

David Lough, of

Age: 23 Level: Double-A-MLB

Lough, the pride of Mercyhust (Pa.) College, is a gritty overachiever who has hit his way to onto the prospect radar. The former three-sport star hits for average from the left side, and is capable of 10-15 homers per year (although with 24 walks in 458 ABs, he needs a more patient approach). He put up a fantastic line of .325/.370/.496 between High A and Double-A in 2009. A good runner, Lough gets the job done in the outfield. I like Lough's all-around skills and track record, but some see him as a tweener. Then again, that's good enough to be an All-Star candidate if he doesn't change organizations.

Chris Dwyer, lhp
Age: 21 Level: Rookie-High A
The only draft-eligible freshman I've ever seen, Dwyer signed for $1.45 million out of Clemson in 2009. The 6-3, 210-pounder has the potential for two knockout pitches in his 90-94 mph fastball and hammer curveball. He has major work to do with his changeup and command, however. Dwyer will need some time to harness his stuff and become more consistent, but he has premium upside.

Jeff Bianchi, ss

Age: 23 Level: Double-A-MLB

The 2005 2nd-rounder's career took a nosedive in 2007, but he got back on track this year, going .308/.358/.435. Bianchi has a line-drive, all-fields approach at the dish. His quick hands make it successful, although his below-average power and lack of patience do their best to thwart him. He is steady up the middle, and his average speed and good instincts make him a threat to steal. Bianchi is not flashy, and he projects as a spare infielder on a championship team. In other words, he'll be the Royals' starting shortstop within 2 years.

Kila Ka'aihue, 1B

Age: 25 Level: MLB

The Royals unfathomably brought aboard Mike Jacobs before this season in spite of a glut of first basemen. Ka'aihue should have been given the chance to get some MLB ABs in, but he was relegated to a full season in Triple-A, where the Kila Monster did what he always does: draw 100 walks, flash plus power, and not much else. The huge Hawaiian could be Jack Cust with less strikeouts if he ever gets a chance.

Others: LHP John Lamb; RHPs Carlos Rosa, Louis Coleman, and Tyler Sample; C Salvador Perez

Impact Talent: B+

Farm System Depth: C-

2010 Breakout Prospect

Cole White, rhp

Age: 21 Level: Low A

The New Mexico product was taken in the 6th round of the draft this year. He has control problems to overcome (as evidenced by 20 BBs in 30 IP for the Royals this year), but his power stuff is undeniable. His fastball sits at 91-94 mph and touches 97 mph, and his breaking ball shows signs of being a plus pitch. His repertoire is rounded out with a nascent changeup that will be superfluous if he stays in the bullpen.

State of the System: Houston Astros

Quick Look

The good news for Astros fans: Houston no longer has the game's worst farm system. The bad: It still doesn't look very pretty, and owner Drayton McLane doesn't figure to spend enough to build it up anytime soon. The Astros haven't made the playoffs since 2005, and their laggard of a minor league system isn't going to provide a whole lot of help after the first few on this list.

Top Prospects

Jason Castro, c

Age: 22 Level: Double-A-MLB

Castro is one of the least flashy #1 prospects out there. His ceiling is an above-average major league starting catcher, while his "floor" is a decent big leaguer. The Stanford product has a balanced approach at the plate, hitting line drives and occasional home runs. He has improved his defense since college; he now shows solid athleticism, a throwing arm and release capable of keeping the running game in check, and leadership skills. If Castro can hit .285/.335/.450 annually with steady defense, the Astros will be elated. He could reach Houston as soon as this year.

Jio Mier, ss

Age: 19 Level: Rookie-Low A

The pre-draft book on Mier, the 21st overall pick in '09, was that he was a classic good glove, no-hit shortstop. Mier, a SoCal native, is blessed with a plus arm, good footwork, and range, but many think he has a lot of work to do offensively. He showed at Rookie-level Greeneville, however, that he does have some aptitude at the plate, and even a bit of speed and power potential. Mier and Castro are far and away the top two position prospects for the 'Stros. The former, in fact, compares favorably to Tim Beckham.

Jordan Lyles, rhp

Age: 19 Level: Low A-Double-A

Young for his class, and considered a major overdraft in the supplemental round last year, Lyles nonetheless went out and rolled through the South Atlantic League. The South Carolina prepster put up a 3.24 ERA with an outstanding 167-38 K-BB ratio in 144 IP. Lyles does a stellar job working off his fastball, an 89-93 mph pitch with good life that he commands to both sides of the plate (he also mixes in a 2-seam variation). The 6-4, 185-pounder usually goes to an average changeup as his #2 pitch. Lyles also throws a slow curve and a slider, neither of which are plus pitches at this point. He needs to improve his groundball and line-drive rates.

Ross Seaton, rhp

Age: 20 Level: Low A-High A

I like Seaton, who had a 3.29 ERA over 136 IP in the South Atlantic League this year. He wasn't as overpowering as I had expected coming into 2009, but he still has a solid repertoire and got the job done. Seaton's fastball was down from the consistent low-90s stuff he had shown in the past. He has flashed a quality slider and feel for a changeup, but neither were difference-makers this year. The Houston native is projectable and has some pitchability, but he simply needs to miss more bats to be effective at higher levels--he fanned just 5.8/9 IP in 2009. Seaton is a good prospect, but fellow '08 draftee Jordan Lyles has passed him.

Tanner Bushue, rhp

Age: 18 Level: Rookie-Low A

Bushue, like many recent Houston draftees, was not a consensus high-rounds pick in the draft this year. The Astros grabbed him in the 2nd round, however, signing the Illinois prepster for $530,000 and letting him get his feet wet with an assignment to the Gulf Coast League, where the early returns were positive. Athletic and working with a smooth, repeatable delivery, Bushue's fastball currently sits at 88-90. He touches the low-90s and has projectability remaining. Bushue needs to use his secondary offerings (decent curveball, underdeveloped changeup, slider) more often. He'll presumably head to the South Atlantic League for 2010 with his eye on justifying Houston's faith like Jordan Lyles did this season.

Chia-Jen Lo, rhp

Age: 23 Level: Double-A-MLB

The Taiwanese-born righty had a memorable first season in the United States, pitching in the Futures Game and posting a 2.10 ERA (with 10.5 K/9 and 4.6 BB/9) while reaching Double-A. Lo relies heavily on a 91-95 mph fastball, sometimes even to the detriment of his curveball, which has a chance to be a plus pitch. Lo still needs to sharpen his command and continue adjusting to the new culture, but he should be a big league reliever in short order.

Jonathan Meyer, inf

Age: 19 Level: Rookie-Low A

The Astros bought Meyer out of a Cal State Fullerton commitment, a decision he may be rethinking after a miserable debut in the Appalachian League (.190/.301/.299 with 69 Ks in 221 ABs). Debuts tell little, though (just ask Derek Jeter and Chipper Jones), and Meyer still could have a bright future. Houston shifted him from shortstop to third base and had him hit exclusively from the right side this year. He struggled with the adjustments, but should be fine in the long run. Meyer has strong hands and shows some power potential. He has a plus arm and projects as a strong defender at the hot corner (some have tinkered with the idea of moving him behind the plate as well). He is an average runner. Meyer needs several years in the minors, but I like his potential.

Chris Johnson, 3B

Age: 25 Level: MLB

Johnson, a 2006 draftee from Stetson, has a power bat. His pull-happy, over-aggressive approach and vulnerability to breaking pitches saps his output, however. (His OPS has been steady around .800 the last two seasons.) He isn't a lumberer, but his below-average athleticism limits his range. Johnson does have a very strong arm. The 6-3, 220-pounder got a cup of coffee last year, and is ready to get an extended look in Houston. He could end up having a career similar to that of Ty Wigginton.

Jay Austin, of

Age: 19 Level: Low A-High A

Austin has wondrous tools, but showed his lack of polish with a .267/.320/.360 showing in his first full pro season this year. The Atlanta native has outstanding speed, but was only 23-for-36 stealing bases. The 5-11, 170-pounder also only hit one home run. It wasn't surprising; despite some bat speed and hand-eye coordination, Austin tries to swing for the fences and strikes out too much. He is a plus runner and capable of becoming an asset in the outfield. He has the quick swing to be a potentially decent hitter, and the hitter-friendly California League will do nothing but boost his confidence when he plays there next year. He needs much more refinement, but Austin's best-case scenario is a Michael Bourn-type.

Jon Gaston, of

Age: 23 Level: High A-Double-A

Gaston shared for the minor league lead in homers (35) in 2009, a feat that can be partly attributed to the Cal League launching pads in which he played, particularly his home park. The Arizona product does have legitimate power, but the barrel-chested 6-footer is not going to be whacking 81 extra-base hits a year at higher levels. Gaston has a few usable secondary tools, but his all-or-nothing approach and propensity for strikeouts (164 this year) severely limits his future. He is sure to regress next year; how much so will determine if he has a shot to at least play in the big leagues, or if he was simply a Lancaster mirage.

Others: RHP Sammy Gervacio; LHPs Polin Trinidad and Brad Dydalewicz; OFs Collin DeLome and T.J. Steele; SS Tommy Manzella

Impact Talent: C

Farm System Depth: D

2010 Breakout Prospect

Erik Castro, c/3B

Age: 22 Level: Short-Season-High A

Castro (6-4, 200 lbs.) has a chance to hit from the left side. He has a feel for the strike zone, a sound stroke, and some raw power. He caught for Stephen Strasburg at San Diego State, so handling high-end velocity won't be a problem. He also plays third base. The 10th-rounder is not a top-flight prospect, but I view him as a sleeper capable of contributing in the big leagues. He'd turn some heads with a breakout next year--he could definitely explode if he's placed in the Cal League.