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| Hardball Dynasty's |
| Ken Winston |
40. Ken Winston, 1B, San Francisco
Triple A, 25, R/R
So, how many prospect win the MVP award of Triple A and not even earn a sniff at the MLB level the next year? Winston did just that, and pouted with a sub-par season with a .301 average. Including in the antics were spray painting GM Xandor’s Escalade and urinating in Juan Moya’s locker. Can anyone say Jeff Kent-Barry Bonds?
ETA: Season 5
Projection: Cleanup hitter
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41. Clay Simms, P, Pit
Double A, 22, L/L
A crafty lefty, Simms opted to pursue baseball instead of follow brother Chris on the gridiron. Turns out Clay may have a longer career on the diamond. Three solid pitches, great command, good splits and likely going to hit his potential.
ETA: Season 5
Projection: Closer
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42. Carlos Perez, UT, Tacoma
Triple A, 23, R/R
A leadoff hitter by initial viewing, Perez doubles as a human contortionist for Ringling Bros circus. Perez got stuck in the pretzel for three days two winters ago, but got untangled with a crowbar and KY. The flexibility allows Perez to play all but catcher and pitcher for the T-Birds.
ETA: Season 5
Projection: Tony Phillips with speed
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43. Tomas James, P, Durham
Triple A, 22, L/L
James is a gamer. Whether in the back end of the rotation or the long man, “The Georgia Beach” gets it done. His listed weight of 228 falls 20 pounds shy of his actual scale-tipping figures. Some say he looks like another Javy Vazquez. Others say he looks like the alien farmer bad guy in "Men in Black".
ETA: Season 5
Projection: #5 starter or long man
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44. Wendell Phelps, RP, Philadelphia
Triple A, 23, L/L
Many touted Phelps to be the next Bob Gibson – until he lost his right arm in a combine accident his junior year in high school. What was a brotha’ doing on a farm anyway? No one knows. But Phelps persisted and has emerged as a durable short man, possibly even closer material. Just bench him in the Colorado clashes with those fly balls.
ETA: Season 6
Projection: Set up man or closer
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45. Chad Johnstone, P, San Francisco
Triple A, 22, S/L
Johnstone doubled as a chef until Gordon Ramsey recently lashed out so much on “Hell’s Kitchen” that Johnstone hung up the apron for good. Front office personnel remain optimistic he wasn’t so belittled that he hangs up the glove too.
ETA: Season 5
Projection: Set up / Closer
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46. Cliff Schalk, P, New Orleans
Double A, 22, L/L
Many liken Schalk to Dontrelle Willis with his frame and quirky delivery. Others say it’s the bad teeth. Either way, Schalk will be drawing a big league check soon. Likely two years to let his command progress.
ETA: Season 6
Projection: #5 starter
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47. Bey Kelly, C, Philadelphia
Triple A, 23, L/R
Man, can this guy call a game. Legend has it, in high school, Kelly called three no-hitters in a 5-game series. The final one was a lottery for a student at a pep rally, turning out to be the principal’s daughter taking the hill. Yes, he’s that much of a mastermind behind the plate. At the plate, well, he could take a few batting lessons from the daughter.
ETA: Season 7
Projection: Starting C or defensive replacement
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48. Raymond Sheffield, Kansas City
Triple A, 21, S/R
Originally one of the "Four Horsemen" San Francisco projected in Season 7, the Stampede sent Sheffield packing last season. He almost got injured getting his boarding pass at the airport. With an uncanny ability to get injured at any fast food restaurant or gas station, Sheffield may never see the mound more than 10 starts per year. If he sees 30, he may be a Cy Young winner.
ETA: Season 8
Projection: #3 starter
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49. Irv Mattes, 2B, Cheyenne
High A, 21, R/R
Mattes, the younger brother of Kansas City pitcher Gil Mattes, can hit like the rest of the Outlaws. A little old for the High A ranks, Mattes appears road blocked at 2B unless he or Delino Martin shifts positions. That, and Mattes has to recover from a broken wrist after Gil pulled Irv off 16-year-old cousin Betty Lou at the Arkansas family’s Christmas gathering.
ETA: Season 6
Projection: Starting 2B or CF
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50. Don Hogan, OF, New Orleans
Double A, 24, R/R
A five-tool player, Hogan has the upside of Carlos Beltran. Others say Mark Kotsay. We say somewhere in between. Hogan projects to be a nice 20/20 player while patrolling the OF in any spot. Unless Hogan discovers too many good times on Bourbon Street. Then can you say Chuck Carr?
ETA: Season 6
Projection: Starting OF in the #3 or #6 slot
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51. Pedro Molina, OF, Salt Lake
High A, 19, R/R
Finally! A Molina who isn’t a catcher. About like a Grammatica playing WR. Actually, the family had just one catcher’s mitt it shared and when it was stolen after Pedro turned 12, he had to grab a cardboard box and convert it to a glove. When catching fastballs being too much, Molina wandered into the outfield where he stayed since.
ETA: Late season 5
Projection: #2 or #7 hitter, Rod Carew without speed
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52. Ugueth Veras, P, Atlanta
Triple A, 23, R/R
Veras appears ready for the big show with solid command, respectable splits and good 1 and 2 pitches. But being bumped down the rankings due to an appeal from owner zedonk for Armando Garces spot on the list has caused serious riffs going into Season 5 spring training. Veras allegedgly has contacted the U.S. Immigration department about Garces citizenship. More details to follow.
ETA: Season 5
Projection: #4 Starter
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53. Peter Beck, P, Durham
Double A, 19, R/R
Beck was taken by Bulls GM njohnson78 at #11 overall in the Season 3 draft. A late bloomer every season, Beck improves after the break and midseason promotions. Close sources say it’s around midseason when Beck’s HGH hookups take effect.
ETA: Season 6
Projection: Long reliever/emergency starter
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54. Alving Tavarez, P, St Louis
Double A, 19, R/R
Tavarez slipped by the Border Patrol and was slipped some fake papers by an Archie intern to get his green card. Since then, the Mexican native has been pushed through the system, perhaps too fast evidenced by his 1.52 WHIP at two levels in Season 4. Tavarez is still trying to comprehend English the best he can, leaving him avoiding Applebee’s and Outback and sticking solely with On the Border and hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurants for postgame meals.
ETA: Season 7
Projection: Deported
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55. Esteban Guerrero, OF, Chicago
Triple A, 21, R/R
The final sibling in the Vladimir-Wilton notable lineage, Esteban is just an all-around player. Solid bat, good outfield arm, Guerrero fits the mold of the older boys, aside from the fact he was adopted. His bat is big-league ready. His intangibles will arrive in the next 4-5 years under on-the-job training.
ETA: Season 5
Projection: Corner OF, #6 hitter
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56. Clay Neugebauer, SS, Kansas City
Double A, 23, S/R
Talk about an arm! When Clay was in high school, urban legend holds that he'd could stick a tin can from 150 feet. No, not hit it. Throw the ball INTO the can. Yes, that much power, that much precision. Too bad he stick a beach ball if it came across the plate.
ETA: Season 5
Projection: #8 hitter, Gold Glove SS
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57. Ozzie Metcalfe, 1B, Huntington
Triple A, 25, S/R
So he’s slower than Kevin James in a potato bag race. Does it matter when nearly 25% of your hits are homers? Metcalfe has launched no fewer than 36 bombs in his four minor league seasons. It’s a matter of time before Huntington - or another team – finds room for his big bat.
ETA: Season 5
Projection: #5 hitter
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58. Hunter Gibbs, P, Tacoma
Double A, 20, R/R
Big Hunter also works as Stu Dolan’s bodyguard and doesn’t let anyone near the prima donna prospect. Gibbs also has been suspended three times for beaning batters, once with the batter in the on-deck circle. But Gibbs looks to be closer material for the loaded Thunderbirds.
ETA: Season 5
Projection: Closer or set up
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59. Scott Hicks, P, Tampa Bay
Double A, 20, L/L
Hicks rates as Tampa’s top arm in the minors, though getting batters out from the right side of the plate has been a challenge. Hicks has been to camps and seminars, trying to “visualize” and overcoming his fear of right-handed batters. Hicks appeared to make progress until he broke the clubhouse plasma TV after throwing his Wii controller while pitching to Jason Bay.
ETA: Season 5
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