baseball prospects

Let’s kick off our Prospect Tracker by looking at the early production of a dozen prospects.  Have they excelled?  Will they soon be pushing for a roster spot?  Let’s take a look (remember, who we look at will rotate on a weekly basis, so check back every Friday for the latest):

Carlos Santana - Cleveland Indians - Catcher

New York Mets’ prospect Ike Davis made his major league debut against the Cubs Monday night.

The 23-year-old left-handed first baseman recorded a hit in his first at-bat, a bloop single to right. In the seventh inning, Davis drove in Jason Bay on a hard-hit grounder up the middle off southpaw Sean Marshall. Davis finished the night 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The Down on the Farm series began last week, as I examined the Tigers' top pitching prospects entering the 2010 season. Today, we briefly examine some position players to keep an eye on this season.     

COMING SOON:

1B/DH RYAN STRIEBY
2009: AA Erie 
Stats: .303 average, .427 OB% 
18 doubles, 1 triple, 19 home runs, 58 RBI

The 2010 season is officially on its way in San Francisco, with the home opener against Atlanta looming tomorrow.

While opening week is near the end of its run in the major leagues, today the Giants' minor league organizations begin their own Opening Days.

What should Giants fans expect this season, after the Giants' combined farm system finished with the best record out of any other organization in baseball?

Drafted: First Round, 2008 (Sarasota, FL)

Height: 6′3″; Weight: 195 lbs

Born: Oct. 4, 1989

It seems pre-ordained. It seems like only a matter of time before pitcher Casey Kelly develops into a star. When the Red Sox talk trade with other major league clubs, opposing GMs ask Theo Epstein to include the 20-year-old right-hander in the deal. Epstein declines and declares Kelly untouchable. He and Ryan Westmoreland appear to be the ONLY prospects who cannot be had in a deal. Period.

Drafted: First Round, supplemental, 2005 (Aurora, IL)

Height: 6′3″ Weight: 215 lbs

Born: September 9, 1986

The 23-year-old righty put together another strong season in Triple-A last year, going 4-6, 3.13, in 126 IP…but he struggled in a brief promotion with the big league club (1-1, 9.56).

2010 Top 50 Twins Prospects | No. 5 | Kyle Gibson

Position | Pitcher

Bats/Throws | Right/Right

Born | October 23, 1987 (Greenfield, Indiana)

Drafted: Undrafted international free agent

Height: 5′11″ Weight: 175 lbs

Born: January 5, 1990

Iglesias broke into Cuba’s top league at the tender age of 17, and then defected during the World Junior Championships. He signed with the Red Sox last September for four years and $8.25 million (a deal that included a team-record $6.25 million signing bonus).

Drafted: First Round 2009 (Fernando Callejo HS, in Manati, Puerto Rico)

Height: 6′0″ Weight: 170 lbs.

Born: Feb. 12, 1991

Fuentes is a cousin of NY Mets CF Carlos Beltran. He is just the sixth Puerto Rican to be drafted in the first round of the First-Year Player Draft.

He has drawn comparisons to former Red Sox CF Johnny Damon, but at the moment doesn’t show the power that Damon possesses—he likely will be more of a contact hitter with gap power.

When you see Jesus Montero step to the plate, you see more of an NFL linebacker than a baseball player. The 6'4'', 225 pound, 20-year-old catcher hails from Guacara, Venezuela. Signed as a 16-year-old by the New York Yankees in 2006, Montero was tagged as the heir to Jorge Posada—high standards for just a teenager.