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April 4, 2008

Future Shock

Friday Ten Pack

by Kevin Goldstein

Josh Barfield, 2B, Triple-A Buffalo (Indians)
Without question, this is a difficult situation. Barfield hasn't played in the minors since 2005. After an impressive .280/.318/.423 showing during his rookie campaign with San Diego, Barfield collapsed last year to .243/.270/.324 after a trade to Cleveland, losing his job to a fast-rising Asdrubal Cabrera in the process, and now finds himself back in the minors. To his credit, he answered the bell on Opening Day, going 4-for-5 with a double and two RBI in the Bisons' 9-4 win over Norfolk. His inability to play on the left side of the infield means he can't really help a team as a bench player, but the Indians are going to contend for the AL Central title this year, and they have a pretty good bargaining chip in trades in the 25-year-old Barfield, who's a better player than plenty of big league second baseman right now, and could give the right team an instant upgrade without costing the Indians any of their future.

Dellin Betances, RHP, Low-A Charleston (Yankees)
Betances is the kind of prospect who generates a ton of emails and chat questions. Why, you ask? First off, he's a Yankee, and second, he's a bit of an enigma as a six-foot-eight power arm from Brooklyn who can get it into the upper 90s but has pitched less than 50 pro innings after last year was cut short by elbow inflammation. Now all of 20 years old and still a bit of an unknown, Betances began the season in style, striking out eight over five innings while allowing three hits and a pair of runs. Players with his kind of size, body, and upside are still a rare commodity, and he's definitely a player to keep an eye on this year.

Juan Francisco, 3B, High-A Sarasota (Reds)
Last year, as a 20-year-old prospect, Francisco led the Midwest League with 25 home runs, but the holes in his game were readily apparent, namely some rough defense and a disturbingly poor approach that led to 161 strikeouts and just 23 walks. In the Florida State League opener, Francisco didn't go deep, but he did hit the ball hard, pasting a trio of doubles, including two off of a more famous Francisco-–a rehabbing Francisco Liriano of the Twins. Francisco's kind of power is very hard to find, and if he can polish up the rough edges, the Reds might really have something here.

Justin Jackson, SS, Low-A Lansing (Blue Jays)
Call it a hunch, but there's something about this guy that makes me feel he was potentially one of the steals of the 2007 draft. Drafted 45^th overall, Jackson did little in his Gulf Coast League debut last year, but he's put on a good 15 pounds in the offseason, and all of it good–-it's simply the case of a 19-year-old growing into his body. While the Lugnuts dropped their season opener to Fort Wayne 7-1, Jackson did his part, going 3-for-4 with a double, delivering half of his team's hits while also scoring the team's only run. He cost less than half of what the Cardinals paid for their first-round high school shortstop, Peter Kozma, and while Jackson comes with more risk, he also comes with significantly more upside.

Matt LaPorta, OF, Double-A Huntsville (Brewers)
It's funny how what looked like a very surprising pick at the time now almost looks like a steal. Selected seventh overall last June, most saw LaPorta as a guy stuck at first base, but the Brewers saw him as the best hitter in the draft, and thought he had just enough athleticism for a transition to the outfield. While that's still a bit of a work in progress, all he really needs to do is become acceptable out there, because his bat is awfully special. After cracking ten home runs in 88 at-bats at Low-A after signing last year, LaPorta's full-season debut took place at Double-A, and the pace hasn't slowed down as he had two hits, a home run, and four RBI in the Stars' 8-2 win over Mississippi. With Ryan Braun moving to left field, people wonder if LaPorta is already blocked, but note that last night he started in right. It shouldn't take long for him to force the big league club into some tough decisions.