Time for the AL South Prospect list (we'll get to ya NL, don't worry!). Once again we start off with the position players and count down the top 5!
(Note: Since the list has been complied one player has been traded but will still be shown on the AL South List)
5) Esteban Johnson - Houston
Johnson comes in at the #5 prospect on the list. Johnson currently plays ss for the Double-A affiliate of the Houston texans. Johnson is an excellent fielder, has good contact potential and hits from both sides of the plate. What keeps him from being any higher on this list is his inability to hit from the right side of the plate and neither great power nor great speed. Expect it to be a few seasons before we see Johnson on the ML level.
4) Alex Alvarez - Salem
Coming in as the #4 prospect is another ss and formally mentioned traded player, Alex Alvarez, who was traded from Tampa to Salem just a few days ago. Alvarez is a solid fielder, although not as good Johnson. He has average contact and below average power but is more patient at the plate then his critics give him credit for. Alveraz is still a few years from the Majors and it is unknown what his final position will be.
3) Kenneth Quinn - Jacksonville
#3 on the list is Kenneth Quinn currently playing for the High A affiliate of the Jacksonville Dolphins at cf. He is a power hitter who hits better from the left side of the plate then the right. Quinn also has good speed and has the potential to use his speed to steal quite a few bases once he improves his baserunning. Expect a few years before Quinn is getting his shot at the Major League Level.
2) Dion Heathcott - Houston
Coming in at #2 and our second player from the Houston franchise is Dion Heathcott who is currently playing cf at the teams High A affilate. Dion has great contact but doesn't have much
power in his bat. But what he lacks in power he makes up for in speed. Expect a few more seasons before Dion gets a shot at the Majors.
1) Steven Jackson - Houston
And our #1 prospect also hails from the Houston farm system. Jackson is currently playing ss for the teams Triple-A affiliate. He is a solid fielder for his postion and has an all around good bat, average contact and good power. He has good speed and should be able to steal bases once he gets to the majors, which is likely at least a year away.
Next we move on to the Pitcher Prospect Ratings, it is a very deep field in this division and many of these pitchers would be higher ranked or even #1 in other divisions, the pick for #3 was a very tough one.
5) Gorkys Gonzales - Iowa City
Gonzales comes in as our #5 pitching prospect. He really doesn't have any flaws, just doesn't have anything elite either. He pitches to both righties and lefties well has the potential to improve his control with the right coaching and already throws the ball with great velocity. He has 1 + pitch to go with 3 other average to below average pitches. Gonzales is currently pitching at Iowa Cities Double-A affilate and it should be at least two to three seasons before we see him making a push for the major league team.
4) Walter Russell - Tampa Bay
Walter Russell comes in as the #4 prospect and he eaisly could end up being the best of the bunch here. Like Gonzalez, Russell has no glaring weaknesses. He pitchesto righties and lefties well, has good control and velocity, which will continue to develop as he works his way through the minors. Russell has 2 + pitches and can pitch deep into games when needed. Russell is currently pitching for the Low A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Waves and it will be a few years untilhe is ready for the big show.
3) Terry Durham - Jacksonville
The first of two players from the Jacksonville farm system is our #3 pitcher and top relief prospect in the AL South, Terry Durham. Terry is currently playing for the Low A affiliate of the Dolphins. Terry has the potential to have elite velocity behind his pitches and throws great to both righties and lefties, a must for a ML closer. Terry's control canbe a bit erratic at times but as he develops he should grow out of that. Terry's go to pitch is his + four seamer, which he compliments with a good slider. Terry is still a few years away from being ML closer material but he could see the Majors as a setup man sooner then that.
2) Pete Kirk - Jacksonville
Our second Jacksonville player is Pete Krik, who is currently pitching for the teams Low A affilate. Kirk could be a pheominal pitcher at the Major League level, his only question mark is his lack of stamina. Some wonder whether or not he will be able to be an effective starter due to the limited innings he can pitch per apperance. But when you take a look at the rest of his make-up it's hard to predict anything other then stardom. Kirk has 2 + pitches (4-seamer/slider) and he has near elite control/velocity combo which should make him leathal as he develops. He also pitches great to both lefties and righties.
1) Red Hitchcock - Tampa Bay
And our #1 pitcher is from Tampa Bay, where he currently pitches for the teams Double-A affiliate. There is nothing not to like about this kid. The only thing he lacks is a dominant pitch. He has complete control of his pitches, elite velocity and can pitch inning after inning. He is still (most likely) at least a year away from the majors, although he could be an effective starter today if Tampa decided to choose that route.
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