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D-backs system continues to deliver 12/14/2007 10:00 PM ETBy Lisa Winston / MLB.com
Before the 2007 season began, MLB.com took an in-depth look at every big league team's Minor League system. Now, it's time to recap all 30 organizations, from top prospects to the recent draft class.
Editor's Note: Arizona partook in three trades involving prospects on Friday. The Diamondbacks traded six prospects (Carlos Gonzalez, Brett Anderson, Greg Smith, Dana Eveland, Aaron Cunningham and Chris Carter) to the A's for Danny Haren and Connor Robertson, acquired Juan Gutierrez from the Astros and dealt Alberto Callaspo to Kansas City for Billy Buckner. If the Arizona Diamondbacks' success in 2007 took much of the baseball world by surprise, forgive us for patting ourselves on the back for having predicted it before the first pitch of the season was even delivered. In our organizational preview we said, "There may not be a team with a better blend of quality, depth and a shot to actually win with it this year than the Diamondbacks." A steady flow of homegrown talent kept the team going through the usual vagaries of a 162-game season, from the continued success of '06 rookies like first baseman Conor Jackson and shortstop Stephen Drew to the emergence of even more farm-system breakouts, namely third baseman Mark Reynolds, pitcher Micah Owings and outfield uber-prospect Justin Upton. Add center fielder Chris Young and middle infielder Alberto Callaspo, both acquired via trade, and the D-backs were able to fill almost any hole with young, high-ceiling talent. And there could be even more on the way in 2008. For example, one deal made during the Winter Meetings sent outfielder Carlos Quentin to the White Sox for slugging first baseman Chris Carter. While Carter, who clubbed 25 homers in Class A this season, is a few years away, Quentin's departure clears a possible spot for Carlos Gonzalez, one of the upper-level jewels of Arizona's system. Before the season, farm director A.J. Hinch told MiLB.com, "Our job is to turn kids into big leaguers, or guys we can trade for big leaguers." He had to be proud to see the organization's own kids perform well in the Majors. Plus, Triple-A Tucson, Double-A Mobile and Class A Advanced Visalia all finished over .500 in 2007. Organizational Players of the Year PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
Justin Upton, OF: The No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft came off a pro debut that would've been very good for most prospects, but was viewed with a tinge of disappointment given his promise. He hit "just" .263 with 12 homers, 66 RBIs and 15 steals at Class A South Bend in 2006. The converted shortstop began '07 at Visalia and tore up the California League before a promotion to Mobile. By midsummer he was in the big leagues at age 19, after hitting .319 with 18 homers (second in the system in just 103 games), 70 RBIs and 19 steals between the two stops. A five-tool player who still needs a little work on his plate discipline, Upton qualified as a big-league rookie by just a few at-bats and will no doubt be in the Diamondbacks' lineup on Opening Day.
Greg Smith, LHP: Named the Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year in his debut season of 2005, Smith is a finesse lefty with a fastball around 90 mph, a curve and a changeup. After going 9-0 with a 1.63 ERA at Class A Advanced Lancaster and moving up to Mobile in '06, he stayed with the BayBears to start '07 and posted a 3.36 ERA in 12 starts. Smith struck out 62 in 69 2/3 innings before advancing to Triple-A Tucson, where he had a 3.78 ERA in 10 starts. A sixth-round pick in '05, he finished fifth among the system's full-season pitchers with a combined 3.54 ERA.
POSTSEASON SELECTIONS Justin Upton, OF: See preseason predictions.
Esmerling Vasquez, RHP: Signed as a non-drafted free agent in '03, Vasquez burst onto the radar this season after leading the system with a 2.99 ERA and 151 strikeouts at Mobile. He followed that up with a trip to the Arizona Fall League, where he posted a 2.35 ERA for the Scottsdale Scorpions before tearing the labrum in his pitching arm while fielding a bunt during the last game of the season. He could miss the entire 2008 season, but the shocking injury didn't keep the club from putting its 2007 Pitcher of the Year on the 40-man roster, looking ahead to his eventual return. Climbed the Ladder
Max Scherzer, RHP: The 11th overall pick in 2006 out of Missouri signed at the deadline and made his pro debut in '07, bounding out of the box with an 0.53 ERA in three starts for Visalia. He quickly moved to Mobile and posted a 3.91 ERA in 14 games, striking out 76 in 73 2/3 innings. He then went 1-1 with a 2.13 ERA in eight Arizona Fall League appearances. Don't be surprised to see Scherzer start 2008 in the big leagues, coming out of the Diamondbacks' bullpen. He throws a sinking fastball in the mid-90s.
Emilio Bonifacio, 2B/SS: Bonifacio enjoyed a breakout season in 2006, batting .321 with 61 steals at Lancaster. He hit .285 at Mobile this season and led the organization with 41 steals before a September callup to the big leagues. The switch-hitter has great speed and knows how to use it.
Brooks Brown, RHP: A supplemental first-round pick in 2006 out of Georgia, Brown went 10-7 with a 3.20 ERA between Visalia and Mobile, finishing third among the organization's full-season pitchers in ERA and fourth with 128 strikeouts. A reliever at Class A Short-Season Yakima in 2006 because of all the innings he'd thrown that summer, Brown was back in the rotation this year with his 90-mph sinker and slider.
Gerardo Parra, OF: One of the top young players in the system, Parra batted .328 with 23 steals at Class A Short-Season Missoula in 2006. An outstanding athlete with a strong arm, he opened '07 in South Bend and won the Midwest League batting crown, hitting .320 with 24 steals. He batted .284 during a brief callup to Visalia and had 71 RBIs between the two stops. The left-handed hitter ended the year with a .313 average overall, fourth among the system's full-season batters. Kept Their Footing
Carlos Gonzalez, OF: Gonzalez continued to put up fine numbers and only ranks as having maintained his status because of how well he played coming in. One of the top prospects in the organization, the 2005 Midwest League MVP hit .286 with 16 homers and 75 RBIs at Mobile, then batted .310 during a brief stint at Triple-A. He totaled 86 RBIs, which tied for third in the system, and the recent trade of Carlos Quentin could open the door for him in '08.
Hector Ambriz, RHP: The club's fifth pick in 2006 out of UCLA, Ambriz went 10-8 with a 4.08 ERA and 133 strikeouts over 150 innings for Visalia in his first full season. This followed a strong pro debut at Missoula, where he compiled a 1.91 ERA between the rotation and the bullpen and limited Pioneer League hitters to a .192 average.
Brett Anderson, LHP: The son of legendary Oklahoma baseball coach Frank Anderson struck out 125 batters while walking just 21 in 120 innings between South Bend and Visalia, and his combined 3.07 ERA was second among the D-backs' full-season pitchers (He went 8-4 with a 2.21 ERA in 14 starts for the Silver Hawks before posting a 4.85 ERA in nine starts for the Oaks). A 2006 second-round pick who signed late, Anderson was a Midwest League All-Star in '07 and has a slider, curveball and average fastball. Slipped a Rung Chris Rahl, OF: After breaking through in 2006 to win the California League batting crown (.327, 13 homers, 89 RBIs, 19 steals), Rahl was mediocre in his move to Mobile, hitting .259 with eight homers, 51 RBIs and 15 steals. Not bad, but in an organization loaded with high-profile outfield prospects, it's not enough to help his cause. Matt Torra, RHP: A sandwich pick in 2005, Torra was sidelined with a torn labrum before he worked a handful of innings down the stretch in 2006, posting a 1.80 ERA in that time. This year he tied for the organization lead with 12 wins at Visalia and was second with 137 strikeouts, but he also compiled a 6.01 ERA. On the Radar
Wilkin Castillo, C/2B/SS: Yep, you read those positions right, and that's just one reason why this bundle of energy was added to Arizona's 40-man roster in the offseason. He hit .302 with six homers, 46 RBIs, 18 steals and 31 doubles for Mobile in 2007, and he plays a number of positions very well.
Daniel Perales, OF: A 22nd-round sleeper pick in 2006 out of USC, Perales hit .282 with 16 homers and an organization-best 92 RBIs at South Bend in his first full season, adding 32 doubles and 10 triples for a .462 slugging percentage. In his 2006 debut at Missoula, he batted .275 with seven homers and 12 steals.
Aaron Cunningham, OF: Acquired from the White Sox in a midseason trade for second baseman Danny Richar, Cunningham hit .358 with 20 RBIs in 29 games at Visalia and was moved up to Mobile, where he batted .288 with 20 RBIs in 31 contests. Add his numbers at Class A Advanced Winston-Salem for the Sox and he had 16 homers, 77 RBIs and 28 stolen bases overall.
Javier Brito, 1B: Brito was added to the D-backs' 40-man roster after leading the system with a .327 average while delivering 11 homers, 29 doubles and 72 RBIs at Mobile. The 24-year-old Venezuelan hit .356 in 85 games at Lancaster in 2006 and has a career batting average that's well over .300.
Bryan Byrne, 1B: A 12th-round pick in 2005 out of St. Mary's College, Byrne enjoyed a solid first full season at South Bend in 2006 (.286, 10 homers, 72 RBIs). But this year was even better at Visalia, where he hit .310 with 13 home runs and 74 RBIs. 2007 Draft Recap Jarrod Parker, RHP: Taken out of high school with the ninth overall pick, Parker has a mid-90s fastball with good command. He signed too late to play in 2007, so next season will mark his pro debut.
Wes Roemer, RHP: A supplemental first-rounder out of Cal State Fullerton, Roemer doesn't own overpowering stuff, but has excellent command and is aggressive on the mound. He posted a 4.50 ERA in eight relief appearances at Class A Short-Season Yakima, striking out 18 while walking two in 12 innings.
Edward Easley, C: A left-handed hitter out of Mississippi State, Easley was also a supplemental first-round selection. He's a smart all-around catcher who batted .250 with six homers and 20 RBIs at Yakima. Other of note: RHP Barry Enright (second round, Pepperdine) made such a strong impression in his pro debut -- tossing eight shutout innings and striking out 12 at Yakima -- that he was brought up to Arizona before the big club's playoff series against Colorado to pitch some batting practice. ... SS Reynaldo Navarro (third round), a 17-year-old switch-hitter with great range, was drafted out of high school in Puerto Rico and batted .250 with 17 RBIs at Missoula. ... RHP Sean Morgan (fourth round, Tulane) posted a 5.46 ERA in 17 relief appearances for Yakima. Though inconsistency was an issue in his last year of college, the D-backs like his fastball/slider combination. ... OF Tyrell Worthington (fifth round, South Central High School, N.C.) hit just .135 in 13 games at Missoula, but the club is very excited about his athleticism and raw talent. ... SS Mark Hallberg (ninth round, Florida State) hit .313 with six homers and 32 RBIs at Yakima. ... OF Evan Frey (10th round, Missouri) batted .309 with 13 steals at Yakima. ... RHP Joshua Collmenter (18th round, Central Michigan), a sleeper whose 2.71 ERA at Yakima led the organization, fanned 57 in 66 innings. ... RHP William Spottiswood (28th round, Cal St. Chico) was 10-for-10 in save opportunities at Yakima, posting a 2.49 ERA with 45 strikeouts and eight walks in 43 innings. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
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