The staff at SportsTicker has identified 20 prospects from the
American and National Leagues who we fell may impact the Major
Leagues by September 2000 or 2001. 

AMERICAN LEAGUE 

SEPTEMBER 2000 

1. NICK JOHNSON (1B) -- NEW YORK YANKEES 

Already considered one of the best prospects in the farm system,
Johnson established himself as one of the top prospects in the
game in 1999, earning a spot on the HOWE SPORTSDATA All-Prospect
Team. 

The Double-A Eastern League's third youngest hitter won the
batting crown and led the minor leagues in walks (123), on base
percentage (.525) and hit by pitch with an Eastern League record
37. He set a league record by reaching base in 63 straight games
on his way to becoming the only minor leaguer this decade to
post an on-base percentage of .500. The 21-year-old finished the
season at .345 with 33 doubles, 14 homers and 87 RBI. He hit
.376 against fellow lefthanders, .375 with runners on base and
.377 the last 55 games of the season. 

The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder has a sweet stroke and uses the entire
field. Some have questioned his over-the-fence power but that
will come for him once he learns to pull the ball more often and
adds some strength. Defensively, Johnson has made 48 errors the
past three years but more than makes up for it with his range
and ability to make a great play. 

Johnson, who has been among the youngest players in each league
he has appeared, has hit .308 in his four-year career. He has
led three leagues in on-base percentage, posting a .460 career
mark. If he doesn't arrive sooner, Johnson will definitely be
ready to take over first base when Tino Martinez's contract
expires after this season. 

2. BARRY ZITO (LHP) -- OAKLAND ATHLETICS 

Much like Mark Mulder, Zito was an obscure undrafted high school
pitcher who turned down the Texas Rangers after being selected
in the third round in '98. He cashed in a year later after being
the ninth overall player chosen last season. Because of Zito's
success in his first half season of pro ball (6-1, 3.16 ERA with
97 strikeouts in 68 innings) and Oakland's need for quality
pitchers, Zito has been placed on the fast track. 

Zito was 3-0, 2.45 ERA in eight starts at Class-A Visalia,
including six straight starts in which he allowed exactly one
run. He was 2-1, 4.91 ERA in four starts at Double-A Midland,
fanning the first five batters he faced there, and he won his
only regular season start at Triple-A. Zito fanned 10 batters in
three of his 13 starts and he dominated fellow lefties, holding
them to six hits in 39 at-bats while striking out 18. 

The 6-foot-4, 205-pounder has size, a big leg kick and an
outstanding curveball he mixes with a 90 mph fastball. After
pitching at UC Santa Barbara and two junior colleges, Zito
enrolled at Southern California and earned All-American honors
in his only season there in 1999. He went 11-2, 3.46 ERA with
141 strikeouts in 96 innings for the Trojans, earning Conference
Pitcher of the Year honors and first team All-American honors.
He won 10 straight starts in one stretch and became just the
third pitcher in conference history to go undefeated in
conference games. The 21-year-old had three 16-strikeout
performances, including two straight. 

3. MATT RILEY (LHP) -- BALTIMORE ORIOLES 

Riley, one of the best young lefthanders in the game, continued
to impress the organization as he quickly worked his way up the
ladder in 1999. A member of HOWE SPORTSDATA's All-Prospect team
and a post-season selection to the Double-A Eastern League's
All-Star squad, Riley has dominated with a low to mid-90's
fastball and a lethal curveball. While his three September
starts in the majors showed that he still has some things to
work on, the 20-year-old will be counted upon to solidify the
Orioles' rotation in the near future. A long shot to make the
club out of spring training, Riley showed some of his immaturity
by being late to several practices in March. 

Riley ranked fifth in the minors with 189 strikeouts over two
levels in 1999. He began in the advanced Class-A Carolina League
and went 3-2, 2.61 ERA in eight starts, fanning 58 and yielding
just 34 hits in 52 innings. He struck out 11, including six in a
row, over five innings of one-hit, scoreless ball in his second
start, and he achieved double-digit strikeouts twice more before
getting the call to Double-A in May. Riley won six of his first
seven decisions there, en route to posting a 10-6, 3.22 ERA. He
pitched three complete games in a span of four starts in June
and worked at least seven innings in nine of his first 11 starts
with Bowie. The lefthander ranked second among Eastern League
starters with 9.38 SO/9 IP and fourth in ERA. 

In addition to the fastball and curveball, Riley has an
improving changeup to complete his arsenal. The fastball has
good movement and the overhand curve, perhaps his best pitch,
has very sharp break. Riley is a good athlete and, although he
is a bit of a free spirit off the field, is always serious about
pitching and improving his game. He typically gets ahead of
hitters and has a SO/BB ratio of better than 3:1 in his two
minor league seasons. He also showed improvement with holding
runners on base. 

Drafted by the Orioles in the third round of the 1997 draft,
Riley pitched for the U.S. National Junior Team and led
Sacramento City JC to a championship before signing prior to the
1998 draft. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder has struck out 325 batters
and allowed just 189 hits in 260 minor league innings. He went
5-4 with an incredible 1.19 ERA in the Class-A South Atlantic
League in 1998. 

4. JON GARLAND (RHP) -- WHITE SOX 

Garland has a 16-21 career record in his three-year career but
the 20-year-old has made a distinctive impression anyway,
earning a spot on the HOWE SPORTSDATA All-Prospect Team. 

Garland was 5-7, 3.33 ERA in 19 starts at Class-A Winston Salem
and 3-1, 4.38 ERA in seven starts at Double-A Birmingham as the
youngest pitcher in both the Carolina and Southern Leagues.
Furthermore, he joined Triple-A Charlotte and pitched 7 2/3
scoreless-innings in a Triple-A World Series appearance. He was
the youngest player to appear in that event. 

Garland, originally drafted with the 10th pick in 1997 by the
Cubs and acquired the following season for Matt Karchner, is
looking like a steal. He has a 6-foot-6 frame with room to fill
out and a 93-mph sinking fastball that yields more than three
times as many groundballs as flyballs. The righthander also has
a decent breaking ball and changeup and uncommon poise. The key
last season was returning to his two-seam sinker, a pitch that
the Cubs tried to get him away from. Garland will need to find
an answer against lefthanders, however. They hit .320 against
him last season. 

The California High School Player of the Year at Kennedy High
School in Granada Highlands, Garland passed up a scholarship to
Southern California to turn pro. He was 3-2, 2.70 ERA in the
rookie level Arizona League that summer and a combined 5-11,
5.10 ERA for two Class-A clubs in '98. 

5. ALFONSO SORIANO (SS) -- NEW YORK YANKEES 

A natural shortstop with an awesome offensive package, Soriano
was the Eastern League's most impressive talent from day one of
the 1999 season, and he earned a spot on HOWE SPORTSDATA's
All-Prospect Team.  In 89 games at Double-A Norwich, Soriano
batted .305 with 20 doubles, 15 homers, 68 RBI and 24 stolen
bases. 

Soriano capped off a great first half by blasting two home runs
in the Futures Game, part of the All-Star festivities at
Boston's Fenway Park. However, he injured his side on a swing in
that game and spent the next three weeks on the disabled list.
After a week of rehab in the Gulf Coast League, the baby-faced
21-year-old batted .183 in 20 games at Triple-A before belting
an 11th-inning, game-winning homer for his first and only major
league hit, against Tampa Bay in September. 

The 6-foot-1, 160-pound righthanded hitter is the complete
package offensively. He's an outstanding hitter with a quick
bat, awesome power potential and speed. Soriano has the
qualities that would fit into the middle of any lineup. 

Defensively, the native of the Dominican Republic has shown
outstanding skills. He has a strong arm, good range to both
sides and the ability to track down fly balls in short left
field. However, like most youngsters, his focus and fundamentals
need attention, and he has a tendency to be flamboyant. Soriano
can make the spectacular play but sometimes struggles with the
routine, evidenced by his 31 errors in just 105 games. With
there being very little likelihood of Derek Jeter moving off
shortstop anytime soon, Soriano has seen some time at second
base and left field, two likely moves. 

6. RYAN ANDERSON (LHP) -- SEATTLE MARINERS 

Anderson, a member of HOWE SPORTSDATA's All-Teen team the past
two seasons, is one of the best pitching prospects in baseball.
Despite struggling at times in his first crack at Double-A ball,
the 6-foot-10 lefty has the size and stuff to become an impact
player in the major leagues. 

The 20-year-old Anderson had a very rough introduction to the
Double-A Eastern League as he was shelled for nine earned runs
and eight hits over two innings in his first start. After ending
April with an ERA over 10.00, he posted a 3.31 ERA with 77
strikeouts in 65 1/3 innings over his next two months. Though it
started rough with an ERA of 8.00 over two starts, July was a
special month for Anderson. He was given HOWE SPORTSDATA's Star
of Stars Award as the Eastern League's All-Star Game MVP, July
14, after he pitched a perfect inning with two strikeouts.
Anderson, who also represented the United States in the Futures
Game during All-Star Weekend at Fenway Park in Boston, then
pitched for Team USA in the Pan Am Games, going 1-0, 1.35 ERA
with nine strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. 

He returned to the Eastern League in early August and finished
the season strong, winning four of his final five starts and
striking out 10 or more in each of his final three. His final
numbers included a 9-13 record, 4.50 ERA and 162 strikeouts,
which were tops in the league and second among all Double-A
pitchers. Anderson also led his league with a New Haven
franchise-record ratio of 10.88 SO/9 IP before going on to post
a 1-0 record, 2.91 ERA and 29 strikeouts in eight Arizona Fall
League starts. 

A power pitcher who has drawn comparisons to ex-Mariners' lefty,
Randy Johnson, Anderson has a fastball that is consistently in
the mid-90's and approaches the century mark at times. The
Michigan native also has a very good curveball and a developing
changeup. Improvements need to be made in his command and
control, however, as he has ranked in the top five in walks in
both of his professional seasons. Though very coordinated for a
man of his size, Anderson needs to work on his mechanics, which
were altered three times last season. He has a sling-shot type
motion and throws from different arm angles, including sidearm. 

The Mariners' first-round pick in the 1997 draft, Anderson made
his professional debut in the Class-A Midwest League in '98,
going 6-5, 3.23 ERA with 152 strikeouts in 111 1/3 innings. His
most impressive performance to date came during the playoffs
that season as he struck out 18 batters, including eight in a
row, and took a perfect game into the seventh inning. 

7. DERNELL STENSON (1B) -- BOSTON RED SOX 

Stenson, who was a member of HOWE SPORTSDATA's All-Teen Team as
an outfielder in 1998, made a very shaky transition to first
base last season but maintained his status as the organization's
top power source. The 21-year-old committed an astounding 34
errors, the most in the Triple-A International League at any
position, but he hit .270 with 18 homers and 82 RBI as the
youngest everyday player in the circuit. With his awesome power
and good plate discipline, Stenson will be given an opportunity
to contribute to the Red Sox' offense in the near future, even
if it is strictly as a desigated hitter. 

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Stenson followed up a season in which he
led the organization with 24 homers by getting off to a slow
start, hitting .136 with one home run in April. Stenson quickly
elevated his hitting and production, posting 12 homers, 56 RBI
and a .336 average over the next three months. A dislocated
finger on his left hand sidelined him for three weeks and he
batted just .213, including 34 at-bats in the Gulf Coast League,
upon returning. Including his rehab stats, Stenson ranked fourth
in the organization with 89 RBI and reached the 20-homer plateau
for the second consecutive season. He went on to play in the
Dominican Republic in the offseason and batted .262 with a pair
of homers and 12 RBI in 36 games. 

An adequate outfielder with a strong arm, Stenson was moved to
first base due to a need for a power hitter at that position.
His errors, which destroyed Pawtucket's franchise record of 20
in one season by a first baseman, were spread out between
pop-ups, ground balls and making and receiving throws. While
there is no question that serious work needs to be done,
Stenson's work ethic and determination should lead to noticeable
improvement over time. The Georgia native has power to all
fields and isn't a liability against fellow lefthanders. 

Stenson, drafted in the third round of the 1996 draft, emerged
as a top prospect by hitting .291 with 15 homers, 35 doubles and
80 RBI as a teenager in the Class-A Midwest League in 1997. He
was an Eastern League All-Star the following year as he more
than held his own with the bat and displayed a strong arm and
improved defense in the outfield. Last season, Stenson received
honorable mention on HOWE SPORTSDATA's All-Prospect team. 

8. DEE BROWN (OF) -- KANSAS CITY ROYALS 

Much like Carlos Beltran, who returned to Class-A ball in in
1998, Brown returned to Wilmington in '99 and dominated there
for two months. He then hit strongly at Double-A before ending
the season in the major leagues. It's unlikely Brown will follow
Beltran to the majors this season because he's not as polished
defensively or experienced, but Brown is an offensive force to
be reckoned with in upcoming years. It seems that the club
record of 36 homers won't last much longer with Brown, who
believes he's ready for the big leagues, waiting in the wings. 

After batting .259 with 10 homers at Wilmington in the Carolina
League in 1998 (he was batting just .138 on May 25 but hit .304
the rest of the season), the 6-foot, 215 pounder returned to hit
.354 with a minor league-leading seven homers and 20 RBI in his
first 12 games. He hit for the cycle and drove in seven runs in
one game, then belted ninth and 11th-inning homers the next
night to win a game. After being selected league Player of the
Month for April, the 21-year-old matched his '98 homer output of
10 by May 4, and he was leading the league in runs (49), was
second in slugging (.548), third in home runs (13) and sixth in
batting (.308) when promoted to Double-A in mid-June. 

Brown took advantage of the abundance of hitter-friendly parks
in the Texas League, batting .353 with 14 doubles, 12 homers and
56 RBI in 65 games, including one stretch in which he went
25-for-47. Overall, the lefthanded hitter batted .331 and drove
in 102 runs, second highest in the organization, and swiped 30
bases, fifth best in the system. He also hit .348 with runners
in scoring position. Brown then continued his success in the
Arizona League, batting .324 with three homers and 28 RBI in 28
games.  A .239 hitter with 17 strikeouts in 46 at-bats against
fellow lefties at Wilmington, Brown improved to .282 with 14
strikeouts in 85 at-bats against lefthanders at Wichita. 

A native of Orlando, FL and a highly touted running back recruit
by the University of Maryland, Brown has all the tools to be an
offensive force. He can hit for average and power, especially to
left field, and runs well. He has a great offensive upside since
he was one of the youngest players in both leagues he appeared
in '99. Defensively, Brown is challenged in left field and needs
a lot of work. He cut his errors from 13 to seven last season,
and his arm remains below average. 

Brown, the 1996 first-round draft pick, earned Northwest League
MVP honors in '97 (.326, 13 HR, 73 RBI, 17 SB) at age 19, before
stumbling in '98. 

9. SETH ETHERTON (RHP) -- ANAHEIM ANGELS 

The Angels' first-round pick in the 1998 draft, Etherton pitched
very well in his first full season as a professional and should
enter the starting rotation within the next year or two. The
23-year-old went 10-10, 3.27 ERA in 24 Double-A starts last
season before being given a four-start stint at the Triple-A
level. 

Etherton, who has not pitched below the Double-A level in his
two professional seasons, was a workhorse in the Eastern League
last season. He pitched at least seven innings in 16 of his
starts and completed four games, ranking tied for third in the
league. The USC product struck out a career-high 13 batters in
pitching his first professional shutout, July 11, and matched
that total in a three-hit complete game in August. After a
promotion to Edmonton in mid-August, Etherton went 0-2, 5.48 ERA
in four Triple-A starts. He finished the season with a combined
total of 172 strikeouts, ranking 15th among all minor league
pitchers. His 153 whiffs were leading the Eastern League at the
time of the callup and his 10.68 baserunners/9 IP ranked second
among league starters. 

While not overpowering, Etherton has the command of three
pitches necessary to compensate. He has posted good strikeout
totals with a fastball that gets only as high as the low 90's
and above average curve and changeup offerings. Etherton is
adept at getting hitters to swing at pitches out of the strike
zone, gradually working the ball up and away. Just four hit
batsmen in 237 1/3 professional innings is an indication that he
seldom pitches inside, something that he'll need to do more of
as he advances. 

Etherton, who led the Trojans to the College World Series title
as a senior in 1998, ended his college career as the Pac-10's
all-time leader with 420 strikeouts. His 182 punchouts in '98
led all Division I pitchers and his mark of 13-3, 3.23 ERA
earned him Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year honors for the second
time. After being selected with the 18th overall pick, Etherton
went 1-5, 6.14 ERA in nine outings at Midland of the Double-A
Texas League. 

OPENING DAY 2001 

1. ERIC MUNSON (1B) -- DETROIT TIGERS 

Munson, the third overall player taken in the 1999 draft, is an
advanced hitter with power potential and a chance to move
quickly. He wasted little time adjusting to pro ball, getting
four hits and driving in five runs in just his 11th game. He
added a five-hit game 11 days later. 

Despite playing just 67 games, Munson led the Class-A West
Michigan club with 14 home runs. He added 16 doubles and batted
.266 in 252 at-bats. The lefthanded slugger continued to hone
his batting skills in the Arizona Fall League, batting .292 with
five homers and 22 RBI in 34 games. 

Munson was an All-American catcher at the University of Southern
California. He has a very quick bat but can be pull-conscious at
times. He missed 21 games last season with the Trojans because
of a broken bone in his right hand. Although he wants to remain
behind the plate, his questionable defensive skills and vast
hitting potential will make him a first baseman permanently.
Detroit wants to put him at the position that will get him to
the major leagues the quickest. 

The 22-year-old signed a four-year major league contract for
$6.75 million, becoming just the ninth player in the history of
the draft to sign a major league deal. His deal was similar to
the one Pat Burrell signed, and the Tigers hope he has the same
success. 

2. MICHAEL CUDDYER (3B) -- MINNESOTA TWINS 

Cuddyer, the ninth overall pick in the 1997 draft, made a smooth
transition from shortstop to third base last season and is
considered one of the top hitting prospects in the game. 

The 20-year-old followed up a debut season in which he posted a
Class-A Fort Wayne franchise-record 81 RBI (.276, 37 2B, 12 HR,
16 SB) with solid numbers against older competition at advanced
Class-A Ft. Myers. Cuddyer batted .298 with 24 doubles, 16
homers and 82 RBI while leading the Florida State League with 76
walks. The Chesapeake, VA native hit in 23 of 24 games in one
stretch and batted .331 in his final 76 games. 

The righthanded hitter combines the ability to hit for average
and power with strong plate discipline and the willingness to
hit the ball with power to all fields. After finishing second in
the minor leagues with 61 errors in '98, the 6-foot-3,
210-pounder moved to the hot corner last year. Cuddyer had seven
errors in his first 21 games but settled down soon after, going
32 straight games without a miscue in one stretch. He finished
the season with 28 errors in 128 games. Cuddyer has a strong
arm, good range and the necessary reactions to make the
transition. He also receives high grades in work ethic and
intangibles. 

3. C.C. SABATHIA (LHP) -- CLEVELAND INDIANS 

Without a doubt, Sabathia has the best long range potential of
any pitcher in the organization. He is 6-foot-7 and has the
makings of an overpowering fastball consistently in the 92-94
mph range. The Indians feel that once his mechanics are
straightened out and he refines all of his pitches, he could be
a dominant pitcher. The 19-year-old must also watch his weight. 

Sabathia's progress was delayed over two months in 1999 when he
injured his left elbow in spring training. He reported to
Class-A Mahoning Valley in the New York - Penn League for six
starts and posted a 1.83 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 20 innings. He
then allowed two earned runs in three starts at Class-A Columbus
before going to Class-A Kinston. The 19-year-old went 3-3, 5.34
ERA in seven starts there. He had two bad games but pitched well
there in five games. 

The Indians received some early returns on their investment in
1998 when he fanned 35 batters in 18 innings at rookie-level
Burlington. Sabathia struck out ten batters over four innings in
one outing, including six straight, and then fanned 13 batters,
including eight straight outs via the strikeout, over 5.2
innings in his final appearance of the season. 

A three-sport star in high school, Sabathia played tight end in
football, power forward for a state championship basketball team
and went 6-0, 0.77 ERA as a pitcher while hitting .586 as a
first baseman. 

4. MIKE RESTOVICH (OF) -- MINNESOTA TWINS 

A second-round draft pick in '97, Restovich joins LeCroy and
Cuddyer in forming the explosive nucleus of an impact draft
class. The Rochester, MN native won the MVP award in the rookie
level Appalachian League in '98 (.355, 13 HR, 64 RBI) and earned
Class-A Midwest League All-Star and Twins' Minor League Player
of the Year honors last summer. 

The just-turned 21-year-old batted .312 with 30 doubles, 19
homers and 107 RBI for Quad City, finishing second in the league
in RBI and fourth in home runs. He responded well to his first
professional slump -- an 0-for-24 skid in May that extended to
25-for-177 -- by hitting .310 the rest of the season. The
righthanded hitter led the league with 35 RBI in July, belting
three grand slams from July 8-21. He also drove in seven runs in
another game last season and hit .335 with runners in scoring
position. He hit just one home run after July 21, however. 

The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder is an excellent hitting prospect. He
has a level stroke, hits for average and power, has a firm
command of the strike zone and surprising speed (he had 18
infield hits). He will hit for even more power once he starts
pulling the ball more often. Defensively, the right fielder has
a pretty good arm but he needs work tracking fly balls. The
Twins feel that his athleticism will eventually shine through. 

A two-sport star in high school, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound
Restovich was known more as a basketball star as a prepster. The
19-year-old turned down a chance to play baseball for Notre
Dame, where his father, George, played. 

5. JOE CREDE (3B) -- CHICAGO WHITE SOX 

Crede, who fell two homers shy of winning the Class-A Carolina
League Triple Crown in 1998, entered last season as the youngest
hitter in the Double-A Southern League. Though an injury ruined
his '99 season, Crede is still considered the White Sox' third
baseman of the future. 

The 21-year-old Crede got off to a great start with Birmingham,
hitting .337 with 21 RBI through his first 24 games. He suffered
through some horrible slumps, however, including a 3-for-29 skid
in early May and a 20-game spell without an extra-base hit in
June. Bothered by a stress fracture in his toe, Crede was shut
down for the season after just one game in July. The injury,
which was initially sustained in late May, caused problems with
both his hitting and defense. He committed just five errors in
his first 47 games but was saddled with 15 in his final 27
contests while hitting at a .208 clip. Over the winter, he
managed only 15 at-bats in the Venezuelan League before the toe
gave him problems, ending his stint there as well. 

When healthy, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Crede is a line-drive
hitter who can take the ball the other way with authority. Since
drawing just 33 walks in his first 169 professional games, he
has become more patient at the plate and less susceptible to bad
pitches. Crede has put in a lot of hard work defensively and was
making great plays look routine at third base before the injury.
He has a strong throwing arm and always demonstrates an
aggressive style of play. Lacking foot speed, Crede has
attempted to steal just 30 times over his four-year career,
being successful in half. 

The White Sox' fifth-round pick in the 1996 draft, Crede hit
.281 over his first two professional seasons. The Carolina
League's Most Valuable Player in 1998, he hit .315 with 20
homers and 88 RBI that season with a league-leading 92 runs
scored. 

6. JASON STANDRIDGE (RHP) -- TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS 

After struggling through his first two seasons of rookie ball,
Standridge put up numbers in the Class-A South Atlantic League
that warranted his first-round selection. The 21-year-old, who
went 9-1, 2.19 ERA as a senior at Hewitt-Trussville (AL) High,
went 9-1, 2.02 ERA for Charleston-SC, earning recognition as the
league's Most Valuable Pitcher. 

Standridge was nothing short of dominant in his 18 starts in the
South Atlantic League. He sported the league's best ERA and
afforded just a .197 average to the opposition, third among
league starters. Standridge went 5-0, 1.13 ERA over his final
eight starts, including a no-hitter on June 28 in the midst of
28 2/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. He
ranked second among league starters with just 9.16 baserunners/9
IP and first with three shutouts. After being summoned to the
advanced Class-A Florida State League in mid-July, Standridge
went 4-4, 3.91 ERA in eight starts to finish with an overall
2.57 ERA, tops in the system. 

Armed with a 94-mph fastball and a bulldog mentality, Standridge
is a formidable foe on the mound. He is not afraid to pitch
inside and remains focused and determined even during adversity.
The biggest change in the 6-foot-4, 205-pounder over his first
two seasons was a lowering of his arm slot, giving more life to
his fastball. He now throws two and four-seam fastballs, which
have tremendous movement from that angle. In addition to the
hard stuff, Standridge has solid curveball and changeup
offerings. He also helps himself out by keeping runners close
and making all the fielding plays at his position. Standridge
has made just one error in 72 professional chances. 

Auburn's top quarterback recruit in 1997, Standridge elected to
sign for $700,000 with the Devil Rays, who took him with the
31st overall pick in that year's draft. He went 0-6, 3.59 ERA in
his first season and shouldered a 7.00 ERA in his second before
righting the ship in 1999. 

7. DREW HENSON (3B) -- NEW YORK YANKEES 

With only 10 games of pro experience prior to 1999, Henson
showed a power bat and superb hitting skills in an advanced
Class-A League last season, earning HOWE SPORTSDATA All-Teen
honors. He batted .280 with 13 homers over 69 games in the
spacious Florida State League parks. 

The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder slugged 11 homers in his last 38 games
and batted .356 in the month of July before heading back to Ann
Harbor in August to resume his college career as the backup
quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines. 

The 19-year-old was drafted in 1998, and he was signed for $2
million dollars -- a record for a third-round pick -- after
setting national high school records with 70 homers, 10 grand
slams, 290 RBI and 259 runs. He was also a great pitcher. After
signing with the Yankees last July, Henson hit .316 (12-38) with
a homer and a pair of RBI in 10 games in the Gulf Coast Rookie
League. The righthanded hitter has all the tools to become a
major league star if he decides to concentrate full time on
baseball. 

8. STEVE LOMASNEY (C) -- BOSTON RED SOX 

A strong-armed backstop with good pop in his bat, Lomasney has
displayed all the tools of a quality receiver while reaching the
20-homer plateau in each of his last two seasons. 

The 22-year-old Lomasney began last season on the disabled list
with an abdominal strain but returned to reach base safely in
each of his first 27 games. After hitting .270 with eight homers
and 28 RBI in 55 games with Class-A Sarasota, he was promoted to
Double-A Trenton, where he connected for four homers in his
first four games. Despite a .211 average over his final 30 games
with the Thunder, lowering his overall average with the club to
.245, Lomasney homered once every 12.6 at-bats there. He then
got off to a hot start in the Arizona Fall League and ended his
campaign there with a .284 average, six homers and 21 RBI in 27
games. 

The 6-foot, 185-pound Lomasney has a good build, soft hands and
improved defensive consistency to go along with his above
average arm strength behind the plate. He gunned down 48 percent
of attempted basestealers, ranking fourth among Florida State
League catchers, and threw out another 30 percent in Double-A.
He will however need to improve on 21 errors, which ranked
second among minor league catchers last season. While Lomasney
has shown more patience with the bat, he has struck out once
every 3.24 at-bats in his five professional seasons, including
101 times in 340 at-bats in '99, and owns a .235 career average.
He hits to all fields but has a propensity of hitting too many
fly balls. 

Lomasney, a two-sport star at Peabody (MA) High School, turned
down a football scholarship to Boston College in order to sign
with the Red Sox, who selected him with their fifth pick in the
1995 draft. He managed just a .147 average over his first two
seasons before breaking out with a .275 average, 12 homers and
51 RBI at Class-A in 1997. The next season he set a Sarasota
franchise record with 22 homers, which was broken by Morgan
Burkhart in '99. 

9. AARON ROWAND (OF) -- CHICAGO WHITE SOX 

Perhaps the best all-around position player in the Class-A
Carolina League last season, Rowand hit for average and power,
played a decent right field and showed plus speed. 

Following up an impressive debut season (.342, 5 HR, 32 RBI in
61 games at Class-A Hickory), the 1998 supplemental first-round
pick batted .279 with 37 doubles, 24 homers and 88 RBI in 133
games at Winston-Salem. The all-star led the league in total
bases (258), extra-base hits (64) and runs (96), was second in
doubles and homers and fourth in RBI. He hit in 19 of 20 games
in one stretch and homered in four straight games in another.
Rowand, who took advantage of the short porch in left field with
16 homers at home, batted .310 the first three months and .240
the last two. He picked it up again in the Arizona Fall League,
batting .309 with five homers and 23 RBI in 29 games. 

Rowand, who uses a Jeff Bagwell-like crouch at the plate, has a
level swing and uses the whole field. Defensively, the
22-year-old product from California State plays a more than
adequate right field and possesses a powerful throwing arm. He's
also a very hard worker. 

10. JAYSON WERTH (C) -- BALTIMORE ORIOLES 

The Orioles' first pick in the 1997 draft, Werth is a very
athletic catcher with a 6-foot-6 frame and plenty of tools with
which to work. The 20-year-old, a member of HOWE SPORTSDATA's
All-Teen team in '98, has steadily progressed behind the plate
and, once he fills out, is expected to be a potent offensive
threat as well. 

Werth hit a combined .294, seventh among minor league catchers,
over two levels in 1999. He began the season in the advanced
Class-A Carolina League and performed well enough through 66
games to get promoted to Double-A. Werth hit .306 with 16 stolen
bases, as many walks as strikeouts and a .403 on-base
percentage. He batted over .300 for most of his stay in the
Eastern League but a 7-for-43 finish to the season left his
average there at .273. Werth stole another seven bases to lead
all minor league catchers with 23 thefts on the season. He
posted just a slugging percentage of .381 at the two levels and
has not cracked .400 in that category in any of his three
professional seasons. 

Though very young, Werth has an advanced understanding of the
game. He handles the pitching staff well and has good discipline
at the plate. While he is credited with having a strong throwing
arm, Werth threw out just under 25 percent of attempting
basestealers in '99, down from his .394 mark in '98. He also
committed two more errors in 26 fewer games than in the previous
season and needs to work harder on his overall game.
Offensively, Werth has shown he can go the other way but needs
to drive the ball more often as he has collected just 61
extra-base hits in 872 career at-bats. His good speed, which led
to a stolen base success rate of 85 percent, was also evident in
his 20 infield hits last season. It has been said that if things
don't work out for Werth behind the plate that his legs could
earn him a job in the outfield. 

Werth, whose mother was a world class sprinter and whose step
father played for the Yankees, has hit .278 in his three
professional seasons. In his first full season, 1998, he
recorded career highs with eight home runs, 22 doubles and 54
RBI, mainly while playing in the Class-A South Atlantic League. 

NATIONAL LEAGUE 

September 2000 

1. PAT BURRELL (OF/1B) -- PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES 

One of the most dangerous hitters in the history of college
baseball, Burrell established himself as one of the top hitting
prospects in all of professional baseball last season. 

The first overall pick in the '98 draft was selected the Minor
League Player of the Year by the Phillies after batting .333
with 28 doubles, 28 homers and 90 RBI at Double-A Reading. He
recorded the franchise's second-highest batting average ever and
the fourth-best single-season home run mark -- the highest since
1983. In addition, he joined Greg Luzinski, a player that
Burrell has drawn a lot of comparisons to, as the only hitters
in franchise history to bat over .300 and hit 25 homers in the
same season. He was selected Rookie of the Year and Player of
the Month for July (.360, 9 HR, 31 RBI) and was named to the
post-season all-star squad. He finished second in the league in
slugging (.631) and third in homers, batting and on-base
percentage (.438). 

The 23-year-old hit .152 in 10 Triple-A games in September but
then went 12-for-23 with three homers in the playoffs. Playing
in the Arizona Fall League, the 6-foot-4, 230-pounder hit .296
with seven homers and 24 RBI in 39 games. 

Although Burrell entered pro baseball with a reputation as a
great hitter, he showed the organization that he was a "baseball
player". The collegiate third baseman moved across the diamond
and played an adequate first base, scooping low throws very
well. At the end of the season, the slugger showed his
surprising athletic ability by making a more than adequate
transition to left field. He made all the routine plays, showed
some lateral movement and displayed an average left field arm.
He also impressed the organization with strong base running
instincts, though he's not a burner, and his all business-like
demeanor once he steps on the field. However, it's still the
hitting ability that will carry him far in the major leagues.
The righthanded swinger hits for average and power to all
fields, has a level swing and understands the strike zone. 

A 43rd-round draft pick out of high school, Burrell led the
nation in batting as a freshman at the University of Miami in
1996 (.484, 23 HR, 64 RBI) while posting the second-highest
slugging percentage in NCAA history (.888). He was also selected
College World Series Most Outstanding Player (7-14, 2 HR, 8
RBI). He signed for a $3.15 million signing bonus and was given
a five-year major league contract. 

2. BEN PETRICK (C) -- COLORADO ROCKIES 

Petrick earned HOWE SPORTSDATA All-Prospect Team honors when he
set career-highs with a .311 average, 23 homers and 86 RBI in
350 at-bats between Double-A and Triple-A last season. A .240
hitter with 47 homers in his first three years, Petrick hit .309
with four homers and 22 RBI in 20 games at Double-A and .312
with 19 homers and 64 RBI in 84 games at Triple-A. He finished
the season in Colorado, batting .323 with four homers and 12 RBI
in 19 games, firmly establishing himself as the Rockies "catcher
of the future". 

The 22-year-old finished among the top four in the organization
in batting, homers and RBI. He reached base safely by hit or
walk in his last 34 starts. Petrick also excelled with runners
in scoring position, batting a combined .380 between the two
minor league stops. 

While the 1995 second-round draft pick showed much improved
progress with the bat, using the entire field and commanding the
strike zone, his throwing ability continued to raise concerns.
An excellent athlete who has drawn comparisons to Craig Biggio,
Petrick threw out just 17 percent of attempted base stealers for
the second straight season. Despite a strong arm, Petrick has a
hitch in his throw which results in a slow release and uncertain
accuracy. His receiving skills need some polish but he has the
agility to develop in that area. 

The four-year pro earned Class-A South Atlantic League All-Star
honors in '96 (.235, 24 2B, 14 HR, 52 RBI, 19 SB) and Class-A
Carolina League All-Star honors the the following year (.248, 15
HR, 56 RBI, 30 SB). He has been one of the youngest players in
each league he's appeared. 

3. CHAD HUTCHINSON (RHP) -- ST. LOUIS CARDINALS 

St. Louis' second-round draft pick in the 1998 draft, Hutchinson
tossed aside his final season as a quarterback at the University
of Stanford and a potential NFL career to ink a multi-million
dollar deal with the Cardinals. After going 2-1 between two
Class-A clubs in 1998, Hutchinson was able to focus only on
baseball last season for the first time. 

Starting at Double-A Arkansas, Hutchinson went 7-11, 4.72 ERA
with 150 strikeouts in 141 innings. He was promoted to Memphis
and fanned the first six batters he faced in Triple-A. He won
both of his starts in Memphis and limited Pacific Coast League
hitters to a .100 average against while fanning 16 in 12 1/3
innings. He joined St. Louis in September but did not pitch for
the Cardinals. 

A first-round draft pick of the Braves in 1995, Hutchinson opted
for Stanford and the chance to play two sports instead. In his
collegiate career, the 6-foot-5, 220-pounder was 25-11 despite
all of his time with the football team. 

The 23-year-old throws in the mid-90's and his fastball has good
movement. Additionally, Hutchinson has a hard breaking ball that
is also a plus pitch. However, he does not have a lot of
pitching experience and inconsistency with his mechanics have
led to control problems. He allowed 93 walks in 153 1/3 innings
last year. Hutchinson also had a big home/road split in 1999,
posting a 3.73 ERA at home but a 6.02 mark elsewhere, a strong
indication that he needs more experience at the minor league
level. 

4. JORGE TOCA (1B/OF) -- NEW YORK METS 

Toca, a Cuban defector who signed for $1.4 million, is an
outstanding hitter with the best power in the organization. In
his first season, Toca batted over .300 at both Double-A
Binghamton and Triple-A Norfolk before getting called up to the
majors. He finished second among Mets' farmhands in homers (25)
and RBI (96) while showcasing a compact swing with little
extraneous movement. 

Though listed as being 24 years old, rumors have been
circulating that Toca is actually 28 or 29 years old. A former
member of the Cuban National team, he was removed due to fears
that he would defect during an international tournament. Prior
to signing with the Mets in September of 1998, Toca had a
nine-month layoff from competition and his rust showed as he
batted just .235 in the Arizona Fall League. 

The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder showed what he could do last season,
batting .308 with 20 home runs and 67 RBI at Binghamton, where
he was a mid-season Double-A All-Star. Toca, who hit grand slams
in back-to-back innings of a game against Reading in June, was
fourth in both homers and RBI when promoted to Triple-A. He
continued his hot hitting at Norfolk, where he batted .335 with
five homers and 29 RBI in 176 at-bats. Toca showed good balance
during the season, handling both righties and lefties well and
batting over .300 both at home and on the road. Selected to play
for the World Team in the inaugural Futures Game, Toca produced
a home run. 

While no one doubts his ability to hit, there are questions
about where Toca will fit into the lineup defensively. He played
both left field and first base, where he looked more comfortable
due to his lack of speed and suspect arm. With his defensive
shortcomings, Toca will have to rely on his bat to make him into
a successful major leaguer. 

5. MILTON BRADLEY (OF) -- MONTREAL EXPOS 

Montreal's second-round pick in the 1996 draft, Bradley is an
impact-type player who has just started to display his full
talents. He finished fourth in the Double-A Eastern League with
a .329 average and established a career-high with 12 home runs
despite being limited to 346 at-bats. In addition to playing the
entire season as a 21-year-old at Double-A, Bradley was a member
of the Pan American games over the summer. 

The 6-foot, 170-pounder had an eventful post-season. He hit two
home runs, including a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth
inning that clinched the Eastern League title for the Senators.
Bradley capped his year with a fine showing in the Arizona Fall
League, hitting .352, which placed eighth in the league, with
four homers and 18 RBI. 

A switch-hitter with excellent bat speed, he hit over .300
against both lefties and righties in 1999. He had four hitting
streaks of eight or more games, highlighted by a 16-game streak.
Bradley moved up and down the top half of the lineup last year
and batted .369 (38-103) as a leadoff man. He makes decent
contact and has the speed to steal bases but will need to be
more selective at the plate. A solid defensive player, Bradley
has both the speed and a strong arm for a center fielder. The
only question mark surrounding Bradley is his temper as he has
been suspended for run-ins with umpires. 

6. TRAVIS DAWKINS (SS) -- CINCINNATI REDS 

The 20-year-old played at Class-A, Double-A, the major leagues
and for Team USA in the Pan American Games last season and
impressed all with his outstanding defensive skills, stolen base
ability and improved bat. Dawkins, who batted .264 with just
seven doubles and one homer in 367 at-bats in the Class-A
Midwest League in 1998, hit .300 at two levels with 17 doubles,
10 homers and 53 stolen bases last season. He led the
organization in steals for the second straight year. 

After being bothered by bunions all of '98 and having his season
end in late July due to a fractured toe, Dawkins returned to the
Class-A Midwest League last season and hit .272 with 10 doubles,
six triples, eight homers and 38 stolen bases. He then played at
Double-A Chattanooga the first week of July before joining the
Pan Am Team. Dawkins spent three weeks with that club, playing
everyday and hitting .273 in 22 at-bats before returning to
Chattanooga, where he ended up batting .364 with 15 steals. He
hit in 19 of 20 games in one stretch, batted .390 in August and
stole four bases in one game, including three in one inning. The
Chappells, SC native received seven at-bats with Cincinnati in
September. 

"Gookie" has similar skills to Pokey Reese but projects to be a
better hitter because he's more selective and makes more
consistent contact. He had 49 walks and 57 strikeouts last
season. Dawkins has great speed, which translated into 27
infield hits, and he uses the entire field but would be more
effective if he hit the ball on the ground more often. He's
ready for the major leagues now defensively, cutting his error
totals from 36 in '98 to 20 last season. The 6-foot-1,
180-pounder is quick, agile and smooth with good range, a strong
arm and soft hands. The Reds compare him to Derek Jeter. 

7. PABLO OZUNA (2B/SS) -- FLORIDA MARLINS 

Skipping a level to Double-A, Ozuna overcame a trade and a
horrible start to post a respectable season, batting .281 with
seven homers and 31 stolen bases. Acquired from the Cardinals as
the feature piece in the Edgar Renteria deal, Ozuna earned
All-Star status in his first two professional campaigns.
Additionally, he was honored with spots on both HOWE
SPORTSDATA'S All-Teen and All-Prospect teams for his astounding
season at lower level Class-A Peoria in 1998, when he batted
.357 with 122 runs scored and 62 steals. 

Batting just .137 last season in late April, Ozuna proceeded to
hit over .300 the next two months.  He posted two separate
14-game hitting streaks and was selected to play in both the
Futures Game and the Pan Am games. He batted .500 in the Pan Am
Games. 

The 21-year-old makes good contact, hits the ball the other way
and has some pop but is not a patient hitter.  After drawing
only 29 walks in 1998, Ozuna walked just 13 times in 538 plate
appearances last year, a major concern.  The leadoff hitter
compiled a paltry .315 on-base percentage but led Portland with
34 infield hits. 

Defensively, the 6-foot, 160-pounder has good range but he's
raw, makes questionable decisions and probably does not have the
arm to play shortstop. However, Ozuna is still incredibly young
and talented. He is being converted to second base this season
where the Marlins feel he projects better. 

8. GEORGE LOMBARD (OF) -- ATLANTA BRAVES 

One of the most highly touted outfield prospects in baseball
heading into 1999, Lombard struggled with the bat and injuries
all season before turning his fortunes around in the Arizona
Fall League. Healthy for the first time in months, the Atlanta
native flashed the form that made him a Southern League All-Star
in 1998, batting .302 and leading the AFL with 11 home runs and
37 RBI while adding 10 steals in 37 games. 

After a breakthrough season in 1998 at Double-A Greenville where
he hit .308 with 22 home runs and 35 steals, Lombard was
expected to challenge for a spot with the Braves. But he
struggled with the bat in April, opening with 21 strikeouts in
39 at-bats. Lombard's troubles continued with two separate trips
to the disabled list with a pulled groin and he was never able
to get untracked. The lefthanded hitter finished 1999 batting
just .206 with 98 strikeouts in 233 at-bats. 

A tailback in high school, Lombard turned down a scholarship to
Georgia to sign with the Braves in 1994. In addition to his
athletic ability, the 24-year-old has impressed the organization
with his makeup and leadership qualities.  The quintessential
"tools" player, Lombard had made steady progress both at the
plate and in the field while advancing through the farm system. 

The 6-foot lefty has been plagued with strikeouts throughout his
career. In five minor league seasons covering 600 games, he's
fanned 687 times. Additionally, he has struggled against
southpaws the past two seasons, batting just .201 with 56
strikeouts in 144 at-bats. Defensively, Lombard has made great
progress in the field with his jumps, but his arm is his weakest
tool and limits him to left field. 

9. ADAM EATON (RHP) -- SAN DIEGO PADRES 

Eaton, the key to the deal that sent ace starter Andy Ashby to
the Phillies, has a fastball that can reach the low to mid-90's
and is a fierce competitor. A first-round pick in the 1996
draft, he climbed from Class-A to Triple-A last season and was
honored with the Paul Owens Award as the Phillies' Pitcher of
the Year. 

The 22-year-old Eaton began the season in the advanced Class-A
Florida State League and allowed seven earned runs over one
inning of work in his first outing. After going 1-4, 5.22 ERA
through his first six starts, he went 4-1, 2.95 ERA over his
next seven to earn a promotion to Double-A Reading. In his first
game there, Eaton tossed the Eastern League's first no-hitter
since 1996, striking out a career-high 12 batters over eight
innings, on June 22 but lost to Norwich, 1-0. Holding opponents
to a .214 average and posting a mark of 5-4, 2.92 ERA in 12
starts, Eaton was promoted to the Triple-A International League,
where he went 1-1, 3.00 ERA in three starts. Over the three
levels, Eaton fanned a career-high 127 batters and uncorked just
two wild pitches in 167 innings. Participating in the Arizona
Fall League in the offseason, he posted a 4.78 ERA in eight
appearances. 

While the 6-foot-2, 190-pound Eaton has a live arm, the velocity
on his fastball takes a little time to get going. Habitually, it
registers only in the mid-80's in the early innings before
warming to the 90's by the middle frames. Even in the no-hitter,
the fastball started at around 91 and got to around 95 by the
fourth inning. Eaton has a good changeup, the makings of a good
curve and an air of confidence on the mound. He also has a good
pick-off move which translated into less than 50 percent of
would-be basestealers being successful with him on the mound
last season. Though Eaton's motivation had been questioned
earlier in his career, it appears to have increased with the
challenges of the higher levels. 

In his first two professional seasons, Eaton managed a record of
14-14 with a 4.34 ERA. The Washington native lowered his career
ERA to 3.91 with last season's exploits. 

10. RUBEN QUEVEDO (RHP) -- CHICAGO CUBS 

Acquired last season along with lefties Micah Bowie and Joey
Nation in a deadline deal that sent Jose Hernandez and Terry
Mulholland to the Braves, Quevedo impressed the Cubs enough to
be included on their 40-man roster. After going 6-5, 5.37 ERA in
21 starts at Triple-A Richmond, he rebounded to go 3-1, 3.45 ERA
in seven Pacific Coast League starts, striking out 50 batters in
44 1/3 innings, with his new organization. 

Skipping over Double-A to become the International League's
youngest player, Quevedo had trouble with the long ball. The
6-foot-1, 180-pounder surrendered 26 homers in just 105 1/3
innings, including four in one start and an alarming five over
just 2 1/3 frames on July 5. He allowed 17 home runs in his five
defeats and just three in his six victories while with Richmond.
After allowing a home run 12 batters into his stint with Iowa,
he did not yield another in his final 41 1/3 innings of the
season. He won each of his first two starts in the PCL, posting
his first career shutout, a two-hitter, in his second. Quevedo,
who didn't pitch more than six innings in any of his starts with
Richmond, pitched into the seventh three times with Iowa. He
went on to post an ERA of 0.90 over two starts in his native
Venezuela over the winter. 

Quevedo, who turned 21 on January 5, has a low-90's fastball
that sneaks up on batters thanks to a fluid delivery and a loose
arm. He also has decent curve and changeup offerings, giving him
three solid pitches. Quevedo had good success against lefthanded
hitters for both clubs in '99, affording them just a .206
average. 

Signed by the Braves at age 16, Quevedo entered 1999 with a 3.12
ERA in three pro seasons. In '98, he ranked fourth among Atlanta
farmhands with a 3.24 ERA and fifth with 152 strikeouts between
two Class-A stops. 

Opening Day 2001 

1. COREY PATTERSON (OF) -- CHICAGO CUBS 

The third overall pick in the 1998 draft, Patterson had a truly
remarkable debut season in '99, earning recognition as one of
baseball's most promising players. The Class-A Midwest League's
Prospect of the Year and a member of HOWE SPORTSDATA's
All-Prospect and All-Teen teams, he batted .320 with 20 homers,
79 RBI and 33 steals in 112 games. As impressive as his on-field
skills was a level of maturity that could not have been expected
from a guy just out of high school. 

Patterson began slowly, collecting just three hits without an
RBI in his first 22 at-bats after missing a week with a hand
laceration. That proved to be just the calm before the storm as
the 20-year-old hit .314 the rest of April, including his first
pro home run on the month's final day, and batted at least .310
in each full month thereafter. He finished first in his league
with 72 extra-base hits and a .592 slugging percentage, ranking
eighth and 12 in the minors in those categories, respectively. 

Patterson put together a 15-game hitting streak from May 20-June
20, during which he missed time with a fractured finger on his
left hand. He hit for the cycle as part of a 5-hit game on July
5, added four hits and four RBI the following game and hit .352
average with seven homers and 25 RBI during the month. Though
Patterson took advantage of his hitter-friendly home park with a
.318 average and 45 extra-base hits, he batted .323 with eight
homers on the road. He continued to impress as the youngest
player in the Arizona Fall League, ranking fourth with a .368
average and third with a .581 slugging percentage. 

The son of a former NFL defensive back, Patterson has tremendous
all-around skills. His speed was present on the basepaths, where
he legged out 17 infield hits, ranked second in the minors with
17 triples and placed second in the organization in steals. He
also showed some range in center field, though his overall
defense is not up to speed with his offense quite yet. The
5-foot-10, 175-pounder generates good bat speed and has shown
ability to hit to all fields, especially to center. He will need
to make some adjustments against lefthanded pitchers, who held
him to a .201 average. 

A baseball and football star at Kennesaw (GA) High School,
Patterson hit .528 with 22 homers in just 123 at-bats and 38
steals during his senior year. He was also heavily recruited to
be a wide receiver at Georgia Tech. 

2. SEAN BURROUGHS (3B) -- SAN DIEGO PADRES 

Burroughs, the ninth overall pick in the 1998 draft, had an
outstanding debut season in '99 to earn spots on HOWE
SPORTSDATA's All-Teen and All-Prospect teams. The 19-year-old,
who drew acclaim years prior for being a hero in the Little
League World Series, ranked second in the minors with a .363
average, placed third with a .467 on-base percentage and reached
base safely in each of his final 54 regular season games. 

Taking a little time to get acquainted with wood bats, Burroughs
hit just .247 through the season's first two months at lower
level Class-A Fort Wayne. After warming up to the tune of a .359
average in July, he batted .439 between July and August.
Burroughs' 54-game streak of reaching base began in the form of
a 23-game hitting streak from July 8-August 1. He went on to hit
safely in 36 of 37 games and collected four hits in a game three
times over an 11-game span in late August. Called up to the
advanced Class-A California League at the end of August, he hit
safely in all six games at a .435 clip and reached base safely
in all five if his playoff games. Burroughs' .359 average ranked
second in the Midwest League and his 85 RBI overall were good
for second in the organization. 

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Burroughs showed amazing plate
discipline for a teenager, setting a Fort Wayne franchise record
with 74 walks, and was adept at taking the ball the other way in
his premier season. Though he hit just six home runs, he
projects to hit with power as his body matures and he begins to
turn on the ball more. Burroughs does not have blazing speed but
did leg out 27 infield hits and can turn it on between first and
third base. His defense, evidenced by 37 errors and a .900
fielding percentage, lags behind his offense at this point.
Burroughs has been inconsistent with his throws but has shown an
eagerness to improve. He has shown quickness at the hot corner
and does charge the ball well on bunts. 

Burroughs, whose father, Jeff, was the first overall pick in the
1969 draft and an American League MVP, received a club-record
$2.1 million bonus but signed too late to play in '98. 

3. CHIN-FENG CHEN (OF) -- LOS ANGELES DODGERS 

The first native of Taiwan to play professionally in the United
States in 24 years, Chen exceeded all expectations with a
monster season in 1999, earning Most Valuable Player honors in
the advanced Class-A California League. With 31 home runs and 31
stolen bases, he became the first player in league history to
post a 30-30 season. Chen tied for the league lead with 123 RBI,
finished second in homers, and his .316 average tied for 10th in
the loop. A member of HOWE SPORTSDATA'S All-Prospect Team, he
set San Bernardino club records for home runs and RBI. 

Translated from Mandarin Chinese, Chin-Feng means "Golden
Blade". "The Blade" features a quick bat with power to all
fields. Chen posted two 12-game hitting streaks during the
season and hit safely in 21 of 22 games from April 18-May 11.
Despite playing his home games in the toughest home run park in
the league, he batted .364 with 14 home runs at San Bernardino. 

The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder has great speed and was successful on
82 percent of his steal attempts. The organization felt his
baserunning instincts trailed his raw speed and mentioned that
as one of the reasons he remained in Class-A all year. Chen's
arm limits him to left field, where he made strides defensively
during the year, making several spectacular plays. 

A member of Taiwan's 1990 Little League World Series champion
team, Chen left San Bernardino to play for his native country in
the Asian Cup, the Olympic qualifying tournament for Asia. He
did not play in the post-season for the California League
champions. Just 22-years-old, Chen is adapting well in his
adjustment to life in this country. He has learned some English
and Spanish and has remained in Los Angeles in the offseason to
further acclimate himself. 

4. ALEX ESCOBAR (OF) -- NEW YORK METS 

Considered to be the Mets' top prospect and one of the most
exciting players in the minor leagues, Escobar was limited to
just three games in 1999 with back and shoulder injuries. When
healthy, he hits for both average and power, has the speed to
steal bases and can make highlight-reel plays in center field. 

The native of Venezuela has played professionally for four years
but has been healthy for only one. In that season, 1998, he
batted .310 with 27 home runs, 91 RBI and 49 stolen bases at
Class-A Columbia. He finished among the top five in the South
Atlantic League in homers, RBI and steals, including a 1998
minor league high of swipes in seven consecutive games from May
9-19. Escobar was selected to HOWE SPORTSDATA's All-Prospect and
All-Teen teams that season. 

5. BEN SHEETS (RHP) -- MILWAUKEE BREWERS 

The 10th overall player selected in the 1999 draft, the Brewers
need Sheets to relocate from the campus of Northeast Louisiana
to the mound in Milwaukee as soon as possible. 

A late bloomer, Sheets wasn't drafted out of high school or
pursued by any big time college programs so he went to Northeast
Louisiana. After going 6-7, 4.50 ERA as a sophomore in '98, the
6-foot-2, 195 pounder went to the summer Cape Cod League and was
selected to the all-star squad, going 4-1, 2.51 ERA. He returned
to Northeast for his junior season and went 14-1, 3.11 ERA with
31 walks and 158 strikeouts in 116 innings, leading his club to
the Southland Conference championship and earning Player of the
Year honors and a first team All-America selection. The cousin
of big league infielder Andy Sheets won his first 14 decisions
and fanned 20 batters in a win against Louisiana Tech. 

Sheets allowed just a run and hit with eight strikeouts over
five innings in his first pro game at rookie level Ogden. He
moved up to Class-A Stockton and fanned 14 batters and allowed
one hit over 7 2/3 innings in his second to last start. 

With a fastball in the 92-93 mph range, an 80-mph sharp bender,
decent changeup and pretty good command, the Brewers see Sheets
as a future staff leader. His curve was particularly effective
in his 14-strikeout performance. 

6. JACK CUST (OF) -- ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS 

A first-round pick in the 1997 draft, Cust has shown superior
hitting ability thus far with a .326 career average and
eye-popping power numbers. The organization's Player of the Year
for 1999, Cust ranked in the top 12 among all minor league
hitters in eight different offensive categories. He ranked
second in the Class-A California League in average (.334), first
in homers (32) and fourth in RBI (114). His .651 slugging
percentage was also tops in his league and third in the minors
while his 77 extra-base hits and .450 on-base percentage each
ranked tied for fourth in the minors. 

Though he collected just three singles in his first 16 at-bats
last season, Cust finished April with a .351 average. With just
seven homers through the first three months of the season, he
began to turn on the ball more and belted 11 homers with 38 RBI
in July before exploding for 14 roundtrippers and 29 RBI in
August. His RBI total in July was the fourth best in the minors
and his home run production in August, which included eight over
an eight-day span, was tied for td hitter put together two
separate streaks of at least 28 games in which he rehed base
safely by hit or walk, collected at least five RBI in a game
five tim and scored a run in 10 consecutive games from August
10-20. After going hitleayoff at-bats, Cust went on to bat .267
with eight homers, 28 RBI and a .542 sentage in the Arizona Fall
League. 

A slugger who combines unbelievable power with uncanny plate
discipline, Cust has a .589 slugging percentage and a .463
on-base percentage since being the 30th overall pick in the '97
draft. With quick hands, he can crush the ball to right field
but has also shown an ability to take pitches the other way. The
6-foot-1, 205-pounder took advantage of his home park, which is
one of the most hitter-friendly in baseball, hitting over 100
points higher at High Desert (.383) than on the road (.282), and
will have to prove he can perform in more neutral surroundings
as he advances. Cust is far short of being gifted defensively
but has shown signs of becoming at least serviceable in left
field. 

7. MARCUS GILES (2B) -- ATLANTA BRAVES 

The lowly 53rd-round draft choice in 1996 continued to prove
scouts wrong by winning his second consecutive league MVP honor
in 1999 and being selected to the HOWE SPORTSDATA All-Prospect
Team. 

Giles led the advanced Class-A Carolina League in batting (.326)
and doubles (40) last season while homering 13 times and driving
in 73 runs, numbers especially impressive since his home park in
Myrtle Beach favored pitchers. Hitting out of the second spot in
the batting order, the 21-year-old batted a team-leading .379
with runners in scoring position and pounded southpaws for a
.374 average and .603 slugging percentage. Giles batted .308
with a team-best six RBI in the playoffs. 

The native of El Cajon, California led the lower level Class-A
South Atlantic League in 10 categories in 1998, batting .329
with 38 doubles, 37 homers and 108 RBI. He came within 12 points
of winning the Triple Crown. Giles set a Macon club record for
homers and a league record with 78 extra base hits and 321 total
bases. 

The righthanded hitter uses the whole field, has average speed
and knows the strike zone, leading to a career .418 on-base
percentage. A scrappy, smart player, Giles had been viewed as a
defensive liability at second base.  The 21-year-old worked with
former Braves second basemen Glenn Hubbard and Jeff Treadway and
has made major improvements in the field. Last year he showed
better range than expected and was above-average turning the
double play. After committing 25 errors in 1998, Giles made just
eight last year and led the league with a .985 fielding
percentage. 

Much like his brother Brian, Giles did not appeal to pro scouts
coming out of high school because of his build. So instead of
signing, the 5-foot-8, 180 pounder used the slight as motivation
and opted for Grossmont Junior College and an extensive workout
regimen. After batting .489 with 20 homers, he signed with the
Braves for $75,000 the following year -- mid-round money --
instead of re-entering the draft. Giles batted .348 with 45 RBI
in 55 games in the rookie level Appalachian League that summer. 

8. ERIC VALENT (OF) -- PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES 

Valent, a supplemental first-round pick in 1998 and the all-time
home run leader in Pac-10 history (69), has done some impressive
hitting since leaving the campus of UCLA. 

In his first month of pro ball, July of 1998, the 6-foot,
200-pound right fielder was selected HOWE SPORTSDATA Player of
the Month, batting .427 with 12 doubles, eight homers and 28 RBI
at Class-A Piedmont. Last season, the 22-year-old batted .288
with 31 doubles, 20 homers and a league-leading 106 RBI in the
Class-A Florida State League. The league all-star was tied for
first in extra base hits (60), was second in total bases (259),
fourth in homers, fifth in hits (150) and fifth in triples (9). 

He got off to a great start, driving in 20 runs in his first 14
games, but then had just six in his next 22, including five in
one game. The lefthanded hitter had his best month in August,
batting .321 with seven homers and 28 RBI, including a game in
which he hit for the cycle. He hit .324 with runners in scoring
position and held his own against fellow southpaws, batting
.244. 

The 6-foot, 195-pounder has a lift in his swing, hits mostly
from left center to right and understands the strike zone. The
right fielder has decent athletic ability and a pretty strong
arm as his 17 outfield assists attest, but the bat is by far his
best attribute. Valent struggled in the Arizona Fall League,
batting .171 with 31 strikeouts in 105 at-bats. 

Valent, who hit 30 homers his senior season at UCLA, batted .394
in the World Jr. Championships in '95 and .345 with seven homers
and 34 RBI for Team USA in '97. 

9. WES ANDERSON (RHP) -- FLORIDA MARLINS 

Anderson, a 14th-round pick in 1997, has given the organization
a rising star to enter the new millennium with. The 20-year-old
has stepped forward as the best righthander in the low minors,
holding hitters to a .213 average over his two-year career. 

Anderson, who spent last season in the low Class-A Midwest
league, finished fourth among league starters in average against
(.222) and fifth in SO/9 IP (8.78). The 6-foot-4, 175-pounder
posted a 9-5 record with a 3.21 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 137
innings. Anderson, who was tough against righties, holding them
to a .211 average with 91 strikeouts in 308 at-bats, collected
13 quality starts on 23 outings.  He won four straight starts in
June, allowing just one run over 29 innings with 31 strikeouts. 

Anderson, who finished first in the rookie level Gulf Coast in
ERA with a 1.39 in 1998, possesses an above-average fastball
that explodes into hitters. He also commands an average to above
average slider, but his changeup will need improvement if he is
to continue this type of success at higher levels. Anderson, who
received a six-figure bonus when he signed with the Marlins, has
a free and easy delivery that could have him on the fast track
to South Florida. 

10. KURT AINSWORTH (RHP) -- SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS 

Much like 1998 first-round pick Nate Bump, Ainsworth, a '99
first-rounder, made an immediate impression in the professional
ranks. He went 3-3, 1.61 ERA in 10 starts at Class-A
Salem-Keizer, missing out on the Northwest League ERA title by
17 innings. During the regular season, the 21-year-old recorded
12 and 11-strikeout performances in back-to-back outings in
August. 

Ainsworth then went 2-0, 0.44 ERA in three Class-A California
League playoff starts, allowing seven hits in 20 innings while
striking out 27. He carried a one-hitter into the seventh inning
in one start and allowed one hit over seven scoreless in
another, retiring the final 16 batters. 

Because of Tommy John elbow surgery and a heavy workload at LSU
in 1999, the Giants used a pitch count. Ainsworth originally
injured his elbow in the summer of 1997. He was limited to six
innings for the Tigers in '98 but earned All-American honors
last season, going 13-6, 3.45 ERA. He led the Southeastern
Conference in wins and strikeouts (157) and was the Most
Outstanding Player in his NCAA Regional after firing a five-hit
shutout. 

The 6-foot-4, 185-pound righty has a free and easy motion. He
throws his fastball in the 92-93 mph range, has two plus
breaking balls, a projectable changeup and an advanced feel for
pitching. 
 
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