With future all-stars Deivi Tapies and Sean Pulsipher now in The Show, loyal Sea Monkey fans wonder which minor league prospects are most likely to one day call Salt Lake City home. Here are the organization's top prospects:
1. Ricardo Candelaria. This slick-fielding shortstop appears destined for stardom. Snatched last season from the Dominican Republic, the 22-year-old Candelaria learned to play shortstop using nothing more than a milk carton for a glove. It's baffling how international scouts didn't come across him until he was 21, because Candelaria has the potential to be the best defensive shortstop in the league. Coupled with a decent bat (he's hitting nearly .400 in AAA), Ricardo is expected to join the Sea Monkey lineup in season 11.
2. Our first-round pick in Season 9, Miguel Armas is struggling to learn the AAA game. The 23-year-old native of Rochelle, Ga., is a nifty 3-1 through five starts, despite a 5.72 ERA and 1.76 WHIP. Batters are hitting .352 off of him. Pitching coach Carlos Diaz is working with Armas on his placement, convinced that he has electric stuff that will get hitters out on the big league level. If Diaz can turn things around, he has a shot of making the big league team in Season 11.
3. Stephen West. This second-round draft choice in Season 8 has been a surprise success in the minors, hitting .355 with 15 HRs and 15 SBs in Low A in Season 9. West is now in HiA, where he's showing great speed and a .300 average. If he keeps this development going, he could compete for a major-league job by Season 13.
4. Kordell Person is the forgotten man in the Sea Monkey system. Now 29, Person possesses all the skills for a major league role -- glove, range, bat, speed. But he just doesn't have a place to go.
Next time: the big league report.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
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