Sadly, much of the talk this season has been about injuries. As the season winds down, down down.... I will do a run down of our top prospects, giving an update on their performance this season and the injury problems they might have had. The rankings came from Baseball America.
1. Daric Barton - Played well in Sacramento for a month and a half (.381 OBP in 147 ABs) before fracturing his elbow. Started Arizona rehab on Tuesday, but status remains uncertain for rest of the season.
2. Javier Herrera - After a promising year in the Midwest League, Herrera misses all of 2006 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
3. Cliff Pennington - Bothered by hamstring all season, posted sub-.600 OPS in 177 at-bats for Stockton. Currently rehabbing in Arizona. Has missed about two and a half months with his injury.
4. Andre Ethier - Traded to Dodgers for Bradley and Perez. While Bradley has had injury problems, both he and Ethier are playing very well. Ethier has been Dodger's hottest hitter over the past few months.
5. Travis Buck - Having breakout year, but has been out since July 13 with hernia. Was mashing doubles at alarming rate when healthy.
6. Kevin Melillo - After leading the system in home runs last season (24), he has struggled a bit in Midland. Second half numbers (19 extra-base hits since July 1) show improvement.
7. Santiago Casilla - Ready for Major League action once he gets healthy. Has missed most of 2006 with shoulder tendonitis, and after he experienced pain in his shoulder during a bullpen this season, he has been shutdown until next year.
8. Craig Italiano - Pitched briefly in 2006, but is out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery.
9. Shane Komine - Good numbers in 2006, especially in second half (4-0, 3 R in 30 1/3 innings since July 1), which got him a brief Oakland call-up.
10. Vincent Mazzaro - Not great numbers in Kane County, but it is his first taste of professional baseball. Has stayed healthy all season.
11. Kurt Suzuki - Good on-base numbers in Midland with very few strikeouts and a little bit of power. Has thrown out 47% of would-be base stealers, and allowed just six passed balls with two errors. Missed just 10 days with a hand injury in August. Gone for rest of season after joining US Olympic qualifying team.
12. Jared Lansford - Odd numbers, but had good results in Kane County. Has been blistered in his first two Stockton starts. He has curiously given up 28 runs in the fifth inning, vs. 14 in all others combined.
13. Richie Robnett - Posted respectable numbers in Stockton before getting bumped to Midland and breaking hand in mid-July. Out for season.
14. Dan Putnam - Struggled in Midland before going out with a strained PCL in late-May. Played well in Stockton rehab and is now back in Midland.
15. Jason Windsor - 16-1 record in the minors this season. Last loss came in his first start of the season, April 6. 11-0 with Sacramento, 3.60 ERA and more than 9 K/9 innings. Had a few starts in Oakland with some success.
16. Gregorio Petit - Healthy in Stockton all season, has flashed some power, but just average statistical season. His strength remains his defense.
17. Justin Sellers - Respectable first full season in Kane County. OPS just over .700, but nearly as many walks (55) as strikeouts (59).
18. Jimmy Shull - Two impressive starts in April before having Tommy John surgery.
19. Dallas Braden - After missing the first half with shoulder issues, Braden is on his way back. After making a few starts in Stockton, he was called up to Midland, where he has yet to appear.
20. Landon Powell - He has staved off the injury bug, but has yet to find his stroke. While he has hit 15 home runs, he has just 12 doubles and an OBP below .350 for Stockton. Thrown out 50 of 97 base stealers in Cal League. Promoted to Midland over the weekend.
21. Dan Meyer - Rehabbing from a shoulder injury, has missed all of 2006.
22. Jason Ray - Pitched well for Kane County, earning a promotion in mid-June. After struggling in Stockton, was moved to bullpen.
23. Brant Colamarino - The 25 year-old is hitting .289/.368/.489 for Midland and has struck out 101 times. Uninspiring numbers from a first baseman in his third Double-A season.
24. Connor Robertson - Nice year with Midland, posting 89 strikeouts against 22 walks in 78 2/3 innings in relief.
25. Brian Stavisky - After struggling in Sacramento in the first two months of the season, he was sent down to Midland. With the `Hounds he has a .439 OBP with four homers and 19 doubles in 254 at-bats.
26. Freddie Bynum - Sent to Cubs as part of trade to get Juan Dominguez from Rangers. Neither player has been of much use this season.
27. John Rheinecker - Part of the above-mentioned trade. Has 6.03 ERA for Rangers in 13 starts.
28. Mike Madsen - Has been torched in Stockon and was even worse in his two starts with Midland.
29. Ramon Alverado - Traded for Kazuhito Tadano. Alverado has three home runs in 31 games in the Appy League and oddly enough, they all came in one game. Is currently batting just .194. Tadano is performing well in Sacramento and may prove to be useful.
30. Jeff Baisley - Raking in Kane County, but is old for Low-A.
Yes yes, don't tell me I left people out, I know. I'm sure some people will take that as a homework assignment.
