State of the System: Oakland A's

Quick Look

Even after graduating Brett Anderson, Trevor Cahill, Vin Mazzaro, and Andrew Bailey to the majors, Oakland's farm system is in solid shape. The likes of Chris Carter and Grant Desme tore it up this year, and prospects such as Michael Taylor and Grant Green were added to the organization. The A's have the personnel to contend in the future, but they will have to rely almost solely on young talent for their success.

Top Prospects
Michael Taylor, of

Age: 24 Level: Triple-A-MLB

Somewhat of an underachiever at Stanford, Taylor has put it all together as a pro (his full-season wOBA is well over .400). He came over from the Phillies in the Roy Halladay extravaganza. A massive (6-6, 250) righthanded hitter, Taylor has a good stroke and projects to make consistent contact and potentially above-average power. He moves well and his instincts make him a strong defender on a corner. Taylor has outstanding makeup to boot. Taylor has produced at high levels and is basically a surefire bet to be at least an average big leaguer. His bat won't make him a superstar, but he's a likely All Star.

Chris Carter, 1B

Age: 23 Level: Double-A-MLB

A 2005 White Sox draftee, Carter was involved in the Carlos Quentin and Dan Haren trades. The Las Vegas native has gone deep 67 times in his first 2 seasons for the A's and 118 times as a professional. The 6-4, 225-pounder has accumulated a .252 IsoP as well; his strength and loft give him plus-plus raw power. Carter has worked hard and made strides in terms of his ability to make contact (26.2 K% in 2008 and 20.4 K% in 2009), but his power will always come at the expense of his contact. He has fanned 100+ times the last 3 seasons. Defensively, Carter has little range and his hands are a liability. He has played multiple positions, but may be a DH long-term. Carter's ability to maintain his power production while making enough contact and getting by defensively will determine his ultimate worth. He should see Oakland in 2010.

Grant Green, ss

Age: 22 Level: none-Double-A

The multi-tooled middle infielder has been likened to a Troy Tulowitzki/Evan Longoria hybrid, although it takes some hyperbole to go that far. Green, a USC product, has skills on both sides of the ball and went in the middle of the 1st round this year even after a down junior season. He makes contact with ease and projects to be a productive hitter, although he lacks plate discipline and his medicore power will limit his offensive star potential. The 6-3, 180-pounder has the size to add pop. Green has steady hands and fluid actions at short. His range draws mixed reviews, but I believe Green will stick up the middle. He could move quickly.

Max Stassi, c

Age: 18 Level: none-Low A

Stassi was one of the best talents in a bumper crop of high school catchers this year. The California native slipped to the 4th round and signed for an above-slot $1.5 million. Oakland is optimistic he will develop into a starting catcher. Stassi has an excellent feel for the game and is an advanced hitter. He uses the whole field and is an offensive asset for a catcher, though his power is limited. The compact (5-10, 190) Stassi does not stand out behind the plate, but he should at least remain there. His instincts help him in all phases of the game. He figures to spend the 2010 campaign in Low A.

Jemile Weeks, 2B

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

Weeks, the younger brother of Brewers 2B Rickie, was the 12th overall pick out of Miami in 2008. A short, athletic switch-hitter, Jemile is like his brother in that he has the tools to be an above-average big leaguer. Weeks has the bat speed to hit for average and surprising power. His solid plate discipline and plus speed boost his offensive package. He is quick, but has room for improvement on defense. Weeks struggled with injuries and upon a promotion to Double-A this season, but those are issues he should be able to overcome. His ETA is 2011.

Adrian Cardenas, 2B/ss

Age: 22 Level: Triple-A-MLB

Cardenas moved from Philadelphia to Oakland in the Joe Blanton deal. Similar offensively to Weeks, Cardenas has a sweet lefthanded stroke and makes contact with ease. He is precocious at the plate and had a strong season in the upper minors at age 21. He doesn't have much home-run power, but Cardenas frequently peppers the gaps. His foot speed and defensive chops aren't spectacular, though his instincts aid him. The 2006 Baseball America High School Player of the Year, Cardenas lacks the range for short and the power to profile at the hot corner, but he could be an offensive second baseman.

Grant Desme, of

Age: 23 Level: High A-Triple-A

I singled out Desme as a sleeper candidate coming into the 2009 season, and the 6-2, 205-pound outfielder did not disappoint. A 2007 2nd-rounder who missed nearly all of his first 2 pro seasons due to injuries, Desme blasted 31 homers and swiped 40 bases. The Cal Poly product has above-average raw power and the arm to be a threat on a corner. He also runs well, though his elevated stolen base total was primarily a byproduct of his savvy on the basepaths. Desme's offensive approach, however, is sorely in need of an overhaul. A poor contact hitter (26.8 K%), he sells out for power and lacks pitch recognition skills. He has excellent upside, but Desme's chances of becoming even a solid regular are diminished by the fact that elite pitching baffles him and consistent contact skills elude him. Double-A will be a nice test of his abilities.

Josh Donaldson, c

Age: 24 Level: Double-A-Triple-A

Donaldson offers an unusual skillset for a catcher. The 6-1, 215-pound Auburn product is an offense-first player with decent athleticism. He draws his share of walks, and his .280/.374/.456 career line represents his offensive ceiling. The 2007 supplemental-rounder has performed inconsistently with the bat as a pro, though, and Donaldson's defense is even more uneven. He has experience at 3rd base, but the A's are looking at him behind the plate. Donaldson will play at Triple-A in 2010; if he produces with the bat, he'll be a solid big leaguer.

Sam Demel, rhp

Age: 24 Level: Triple-A-MLB

Demel excels at missing bats. Working off a 93-94 mph fastball and a vicious slider, the TCU product has posted a 25.3 K% as a pro. Demel's command often deserts him, however, and he walks too many (11.9 BB%). His max-effort mechanics and 6-0, 200-pound frame aren't optimal either. Demel isn't perfect, but he'll be pitching the 7th inning or later in the big leagues soon.

Pedro Figueroa, lhp

Age: 24 Level: High A-Triple-A

It took the Dominican lefty until he was 23 to reach full-season ball, but he finally looks ready to start rising rapidly. Figueroa was effective over 152 innings this year (3.46 FIP along with a 22.1 K%, but also with a 10.1 BB%). Despite a 6-1 frame, Figueroa generates filthy stuff. His fastball sits at 92-95 mph and he has a power slider. His changeup has potential, but it is unclear whether he will stay in the rotation, as his inconsistent delivery and control plague him. Figueroa needs another year in the minors.

Others: RHPs Tyson Ross, Michael Ynoa, Clayton Mortensen, and James Simmons; SS Dusty Coleman; OFs Shane Peterson and Corey Brown; 1B Sean Doolittle
Impact Talent: C+
Farm System Depth: C+

2010 Breakout Prospect
Ian Krol, lhp
Age: 18 Level: none-Low A

Krol was a coveted high school hurler who dropped to the 7th round in this year's draft mainly because he was suspended his entire senior season. The Illinois native, who signed for an above-slot $925,000 and spurned Arizona, has the nice 3-pitch mix to get back on track. Krol throws strikes with all his pitches (high-80s fastball, excellent curveball, solid changeup). His modest velocity and size make him a mid-rotation piece at best, but I'm looking forward to monitoring Krol's first full pro season.

World Team Takes Futures Game, 7-5

Today was one of the best days of the year for any avid prospect-follower: it was the Futures Game! There was a 4+ hour rain delay in the middle of the first inning, which unfortunately cut the game down to 7 innings, but there was still some good action.

Chris Tillman, a righty on the cusp of the big leagues for the Orioles, got the start for the U.S. His command looked shaky, and he allowed a walk, 2 hits, and 2 runs. Chalk it up to nerves; it seems like every hurler that takes the mound in top of the first of the Futures Game is a bit off his game. To be fair, one of the hits was just a dribbler in front of the plate, and Tillman did flash a low-90s fastball and a 12-to-6 knee-buckler.

Rangers RHP Neftali Feliz, on the other hand, looked to be in complete control in the bottom half. (Feliz wasn't slated to start, but the rain delay wiped out Red Sox RHP Junichi Tazawa's scheduled inning.) Working exclusively from the stretch as he prepares to join the Rangers' big league bullpen, Feliz gassed up Rockies 2B Eric Young, Jr., Rays OF Desmond Jennings, and A's 1B Chris Carter. His only blemish was a 10-pitch walk to Cardinals 3B Brett Wallace. Feliz took the prize for highest radar gun reading of the day, too, reportedly touching triple digits. He had his trademark smooth motion and lightning-quick arm, but I didn't see any secondary pitches of note. (He didn't need them today.)

Rockies RHP Jhoulys Chacin was the only other World pitcher who had a stellar outing. He walked one, but he also fanned 2 and breezed through a scoreless frame. Chacin caught several batters out in front on his changeup, a plus pitch for the 21-year-old.

On the U.S. side, several pitchers looked good, and none moreso than Phillies RHP Kyle Drabek. The 2006 1st-rounder and Tommy John alum whipped through a 10-pitch second inning. He touched 96 with his fastball, tossed at least one nasty curve, and showed substantially better command and maturity than I expected.

Mat Latos, in the midst of a breakout year for the Padres, also handled an inning of work with ease. It only took the 6-foot-6 righty 8 pitches (all sinking fastballs from 94-96 mph) to retire the World in order. I wasn't all that high on Latos coming into the year, but I can't argue with his Futures Game performance or his 8-1, 1.37 (and 6.1 K-BB ratio) performance in the minors this year.

Red Sox RHP Casey Kelly, who used just 9 pitches to work through a perfect 6th inning for the U.S. team, also came as advertised. Despite being just 19 years old and a part-time shortstop, he had an easy delivery, 92-93 mph fastball, good curveball, poise, and control. (He's shaping up to be one of the very best pitching prospects in the game with the year he's had.) Kelly induced a groundout and a pair of flyouts before leaving.

Mariners OF Tyson Gillies was one of the primary offensive stars for the World, as he electrified the game with his speed. He got to first in 3.4 seconds on a drag bunt, and he also swiped a couple of bases. Jennings actually one-upped Gillies, stealing 3 on the day.

Besides that, the biggest storyline of the game was shoddy defensive play. C Tyler Flowers (White Sox) and 2B Jemile Weeks (A's) both committed throwing errors for the U.S., as did 3B Dayan Viciedo (White Sox) for the World team. All of those errors came in crucial spots and led to runs. Weeks tried to come up with a spectacular play on a grounder up the middle, but tossed it past SS Danny Espinosa (Nationals). That helped the 4-run 7th-inning outburst that led the World to victory. Chris Carter also couldn't glove a ball down the line that inning, and it resulted in a go-ahead double. It was a tough play, but the defensively-challenged Carter would've done well to at least block it up and prevent a run. That ball was tagged by pinch-hitter Rene Tosoni, earning the Twins outfielder MVP honors for the game.

Before the World comeback, U.S. backstop Jason Castro was in line for the post-game hardware. In addition to throwing out Padres speed demon Luis Durango at 3rd base, Castro smacked a go-ahead 3-run homer in the 5th inning (one of two shots in the game, along with Young's 3rd-inning shot off Cardinals RHP Francisco Samuel). Castro, the 10th overall pick last year out of Stanford, is having a solid year overall, batting .304/.383/.478, albeit in hitter-friendly conditions.

A couple other players who I was impressed with were Cubs IF Starlin Castro, Braves OF Jason Heyward, and Brewers 2B Brett Lawrie. You can also check out the box score for all the details.

And before I wrap it up, I want to express a problem I have with the Futures Game format: Why are organizations limited to only 2 participants? And related to that, why does each organization and as many different countries as possible need to be represented? We got to witness today what mess it can cause. While prospects like Buster Posey, Tim Alderson, Wade Davis, and Michael Taylor sat at home and watched, players such as Chia-Jen Lo, K.D. Kang, and Luis Perez played poorly as their organization or country's lone rep. I think it'd be great to allow deep organizations to fill more than 2 roster slots. It would just illustrate how their system is thriving. Same with the countries. Instead of having a mediocre Korean representative, the Dominican Republic or Venezuela should take up another roster spot, assuming the top available talent is from there. If 2/3 of the roster was from the D.R., that just shows how much of a hotbed it is. And if a team or a country can't muster up a competent player, then just shut them out of the game to show its current quality. Seriously, who would rather have those players in the game than Buster Posey? For the sake of having the absolute cream of the crop and not just a certain number from each team, the cap should be lifted. Other than that, this year's Futures Game was amazing yet again.

Neftali Feliz

Casey Kelly

Jason Heyward

*Photos courtesy of www.yahoo.com and www.mlb.com