6-4-2 — an Angels/Dodgers double play blog: <i>Baseball America</i> Ranks Top 20 Southern League Prospects

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Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Baseball America Ranks Top 20 Southern League Prospects

Okay, Dodger fans, here's your chance to bag on me for being one whole day late on presenting the Baseball America top 20 Southern League prospects. Here we go...

5. Chad Billingsley: Outside of getting shelled in three starts against Montgomery in May and June, Billingsley easily handled Double-A hitters at age 21. He finished strong, ending the season with six straight quality starts in which he allowed five runs in 40 innings.
Billingsley has a power arm and works off his live 92-94 mph fastball. He also features a plus curveball and a plus slider, and he occasionally uses a developing changeup. Sometimes Billingsley gets into trouble by thinking too much about the strengths and weaknesses of his opponents instead of just pitching his game, but his preparation and makeup is outstanding.
"What's not to like? This guy has everything," Shines said. "There are times when his command is a little off, but his arm strength, demeanor on the mound, presence--everything is good. He has a chance to be a dominant starter in the big leagues."
6. Joel Guzman: Managers had more to say about Guzman than any other player in the Southern League. One of the minors' most recognizable players because of his huge frame and the $2.25 million signing bonus he received at age 16, he has undeniable talent but draws criticism for his perceived nonchalance on the field. Some managers called him bored and lackadaisical, while others thought the game just comes easily to him.
"He's not a real talker in the infield. He's just a guy who goes out and tries to play his position," Jacksonville manager John Shoemaker said. "He's got arm strength for a shortstop, but his actions for a shortstop are long. Guzman has a lot of pride. There have been times this year he has struggled, but he has countered that."
Guzman put up solid all-around numbers, and he figures to hit more home runs as he shortens his swing and makes better use of his enormous raw power. He lacks range and is simply too big to stay at shortstop, but he has more than enough bat to be a star as a corner infielder or outfielder.
7. Andy LaRoche: Tied for the minor league home run lead when he was promoted from high Class A in mid-June, LaRoche saw his power production drop off in the SL but he still more than held his own. The brother of Braves first baseman Adam and the son of former major league all-star Dave, Andy has the highest ceiling of the three LaRoches.
He owns the strongest arm in the Dodgers organization and has very good actions at third base. LaRoche has serious pop in his bat, and while most of his power is to left field, he has learned to go the other away. He's so aggressive that he might not hit for a high average in the majors, but he could deliver 40 home runs a year.
"When he comes to the plate, you can just tell that he is ready to have a good at-bat," Shoemaker said. "He is a determined ballplayer, and he acts like a professional on and off the field. When I say he can hit a fastball, some players aren't that gifted that they can hit a good fastball, but LaRoche can."
10. Russell Martin: With McCann in Atlanta, Martin might be the best catcher left in the minors. Converted from third base in 2003, he has the complete package, right down to his ability to steal an occasional base. His strike-zone judgment is exquisite, and he hits for average to all fields with power to the gaps, particularly to right-center.
An intense player with strong leadership skills, Martin calls a good game behind the plate, handles pitchers very well and always backs up bases, even late in the game. His catch-and-throw skills are outstanding. He still can get better at blocking balls, but he has made a lot of progress with the help of Suns hitting coach Steve Yeager, who caught in the majors for 15 years.
14. Johnathan Broxton: Every manager who commented on Broxton used the word "big." His large 6-foot-4 frame has been a problem in the past, when his weight ballooned to 277 pounds, but he got it under control this season.
Broxton began the year in Jacksonville's rotation, where his plus fastball sat in the 92-94 mph range, but the Dodgers moved him to the bullpen after 13 starts to accelerate his path to the majors. He took well to the switch, and his velocity increased to 96-98 mph during his shorter relief stints. He even touched 100 a couple of times.
He also has worked hard to refine his two-seamer, using the extra movement on that pitch to battle lefthanders. His slider is an effective complement to his heat.