We have cobbled together the Top 100 prospects to target on Draft Day.
It's not strictly a top prospects list, but instead a ranking of Draft
Day value. We take into account talent, opportunity and proximity to
having an impact in 2006 in order to give you a guide of fliers to take
a chance on deeper leagues this March.
The top 10 are certain to be picked in most leagues, while Nos. 11-19
are fliers and those ranked 20-25 are outstanding long-term keepers. The
rest of the Top 100 will have varying degress of pertinence in your
leagues throughout the season. Get used to those names, because many of
them will be midseason surprise call-ups that impact your league
standings, a la Huston Street, Ryan Howard, Robinson Cano, Jeff
Francoeur, Dan Johnson, Zack Duke or Felix Hernandez of a
year ago.
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Top 100 Rookies to Target on Draft Day
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Rookies/Prospects
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Age
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Pos.
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2005 high
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Destination
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1
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Delmon Young, TB
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20
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OF
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Triple-A
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Majors
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Ranking is based on (hope?) Rays slotting him in RF on opening day
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2
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Jeremy Hermida, FLA
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22
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RF
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Majors
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Majors
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A Jeff Francoeur with high OBP and SB potential. Wow!
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3
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Prince Fielder, MIL
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21
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1B
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Majors
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Majors
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Big-time prospect has more power than Hermida right now
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4
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Matt Cain, SF
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21
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RH RP
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Majors
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Majors
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Dynamite September left him barely eligible to be NL ROY
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5
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Francisco Liriano, MIN
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22
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LH SP
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Majors
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Majors
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Got a taste of the majors in '05, hopes to stick in '06
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6
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Anthony Reyes, STL
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24
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RH SP
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Majors
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Majors
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Cardinals are annually a 13-game winner breeding ground
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7
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Ian Kinsler, TEX
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23
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2B
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Triple-A
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Majors
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He can hit, field and steal bases -- what's not to like?
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8
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Conor Jackson, ARI
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23
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1B
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Majors
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Majors
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Big right-handed potential power hitter who doesn't K; sign him up
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9
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Jeff Mathis, LAA
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23
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C
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Majors
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Majors
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Can manage pitchers and will provide solid pop at position
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10
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Ryan Zimmerman, WAS
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21
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3B
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Majors
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Majors
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Almost straight from draft to big leagues; should develop power
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11
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Mike Jacobs, FLA
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25
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1B
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Majors
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Majors
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Sweet-swinger with big-time power: 11 HRs in 100 ABs!
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12
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Kenji Johjima, SEA
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29
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C
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Japan
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Majors
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Older than most rooks, but perennially hit .300 in Japan with power
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13
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Josh Barfield, SD
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22
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2B
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Majors
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Majors
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Starting 2B job is his, as long as he doesn't trip over himself
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14
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Jason Kubel, MIN
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23
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OF
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Majors
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Triple-A
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Knee issues aside, his bat can surprise people early this season
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15
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Josh Willingham, FLA
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27
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C
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Majors
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Majors
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Chris Shelton-like bat is very intriguing among Fantasy Cs
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16
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Brian Anderson, CHW
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23
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OF
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Majors
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Majors
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White Sox showed confidence in him by trading Aaron Rowand this
winter
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17
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Hanley Ramirez, FLA
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22
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SS
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Double-A
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Majors
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This ranking assumes he's good enough to be Marlins starting SS
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18
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Andy Marte, CLE
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22
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3B
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Majors
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Triple-A
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Could surprise to make team this season; if not, he's first called
up
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19
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Scott Olsen, FLA
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22
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LH SP
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Majors
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Majors
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Has many top prospects to beat out, but he's best of bunch
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20
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Brandon Wood, LAA
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21
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SS
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Triple-A
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Double-A
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A top power prospect, Wood should arrive sometime in '06
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21
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Stephen Drew, ARI
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23
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SS
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Double-A
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Triple-A
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It won't be long (May?) before he's a stud Fantasy shortstop
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22
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Carlos Quentin, ARI
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23
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OF
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Triple-A
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Triple-A
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We say even batter than Jackson, but he needs an OF vet traded
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23
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Andy LaRoche, LAD
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22
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3B
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Double-A
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Triple-A
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Adam LaRoche's younger brother could be starter by midseason
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24
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Billy Butler, KC
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19
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OF
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Double-A
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Double-A
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One of minors' top OPS talents, but still extremely raw
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25
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Justin Verlander, DET
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23
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RH SP
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Majors
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Majors
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Can throw 99 mph, but struggled in MLB debut last year
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26
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Eric Reed, FLA
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25
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OF
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Triple-A
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Triple-A
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Speedy outfielder is sleeper for serious SB help in Rotisserie
leagues
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27
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Paul Maholm, PIT
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23
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LH SP
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Majors
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Majors
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Not as top shelf as Zack Duke, but still solid ROY candidate
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28
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Kendry Morales, LAA
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22
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DH
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Double-A
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Triple-A
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Cuban defector could be in mix to open as Angels' everyday DH
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29
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Ryan Shealy, COL
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22
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1B
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Majors
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Majors
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Potential sleeper's bat would play nicely in RF (Brad Hawpe
platoon?)
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30
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Jonathan Papelbon, BOS
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25
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RH SP
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Majors
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Majors
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Could begin the year as a reliever, but end as a starter
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31
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Joel Guzman, LAD
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21
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SS
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Double-A
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Triple-A
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Furcal blocks him at SS, LaRoche at 3B, so OF is his ticket in '06
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32
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Thomas Diamond, TEX
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22
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RH SP
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Double-A
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Triple-A
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Physical pitcher whose fastball (91 mph) needs some mustard
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33
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Edison Volquez, TEX
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22
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RH SP
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Majors
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Triple-A
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Has gotten hit a little, but has best heat among Rangers SP
prospects
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34
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Jason Hirsh, HOU
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24
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RH SP
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Double-A
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Triple-A
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Has been awesome in the lower levels, but spring hugely important
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35
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Corey Hart, MIL
|
24
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3B/OF
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Majors
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Majors
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Blocked all around, but has decent speed and power in waiting
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36
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Justin Huber, KC
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23
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1B
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Majors
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Majors
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Aussie prospect is likely waiting for Mike Sweeney trade or injury
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