Here are five interesting players to watch for in this week's Major League Baseball Futures Game (Sunday, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2). These are not necessarily the best prospects who will be on the field. Many of the best prospects are guys we've covered in previous articles, and I want to focus on some players who haven't received much discussion. What I want to do here is look at players who, 1) haven't received a lot of attention but have a lot of talent, and 2) could end up contributing to their major-league teams within the next year.
These guys could all make interesting investments for you fantasy owners. For pure baseball fans, they are simply talented players to look forward to.
1. Chris Burke, 2B, Houston Astros
A first-round pick from the University of Tennessee in 2001, Burke suffered through a disappointing '02 season, but has rebounded this year. Currently hitting .316 with a .382 on-base percentage and a .409 slugging percentage at Double-A Round Rock, Burke is a classic leadoff guy with good patience and speed. He's swiped 18 bases this season while being caught just seven times. Capable of playing both second base and shortstop, Burke is often compared to a young Craig Biggio. That's a big burden for a young player, and Burke may never develop as much power as Biggio did, but he should be a solid guy early in the order. Look for him late this year or early next season.
2. Dave Kelton, OF, Chicago Cubs
A second-round pick in 1998 out of high school in Georgia, Kelton has some of the best raw power in the minor leagues, but his development has been slowed at times due to injuries and inconsistent strike-zone judgment. Kelton has the range and arm strength for third base, but is error-prone at that position, and will probably fit best in the outfield. Kelton is hitting .281 (.350 OBP, .464 SLG) this year at Triple-A Iowa, and had a brief audition earlier this year in Wrigley Field. Kelton has a powerful stroke, and is fun to watch. He could do a lot of damage in Wrigley Field.
3. Neal Cotts, LHP, Chicago White Sox
Originally drafted by the Athletics out of Illinois State in the second round in '01, Cotts was traded to the White Sox last December as part of the Billy Koch-Keith Foulke transaction. Overlooked in the Oakland system, he's emerged this year as one of Chicago's most valuable properties at 8-3 with a 1.97 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 73 innings at Double-A Birmingham. Cotts doesn't have a terrific fastball, but overmatches hitters because he knows how to change speeds and keep them off-balance with his curveball and changeup. He should see the South Side later this year or next spring, and has the potential to be an excellent No. 2 starter.
4. Rene Reyes, OF, Colorado Rockies
The Rockies are high on this versatile outfielder, signed out of Venezuela back in 1996. Hitting .343 (.381 OBP, .467 SLG) at Triple-A Colorado Springs, Reyes is a switch-hitter with gap power and good speed. Although the thin air in the PCL has boosted his numbers this year, he's hit well at every level, including .292 in Double-A last year and .322 in Class A in '01. Originally a catcher, he missed all of 2000 with a knee injury, costing him much of his speed, although he still managed to swipe 53 bases in '01. He should be up later this year, and will challenge for a job in '04.
5. Ervin Santana, RHP, Anaheim Angels
Santana went by the name "Johan Santana" until this year, but he now goes by "Ervin" to help avoid confusion with the Twins pitcher of the same name. Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2000, Santana has quickly emerged as one of the best right-handed pitching prospects in the game. He went 14-8 with a 146/48 K/BB ratio in 147 innings for Class A Cedar Rapids last year. This year, pitching in the Class A California League for Rancho Cucamonga, he is 9-2 with a 2.58 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 119 innings. Santana has been clocked as high as 97 mph. He also has a good slider and a usable changeup, and his command is very good for a young power pitcher. Although Santana is still in A-ball, he is on the fast track and could see Anaheim much sooner than people expect. He is one of the better-kept secrets in the game; he is just now getting the attention he deserves.
Other overlooked players to watch
Jeff Mathis, C, Anaheim; Ryan Howard, 1B, Philadelphia; Adam LaRoche, 1B, Atlanta; J.J. Hardy, SS, Milwaukee; Steve Smitherman, OF, Cincinnati; J.D. Durbin, RHP, Minnesota; Clint Nageotte, RHP, Seattle; Franklin Gutierrez, OF, Los Angeles; Alexis Rios, OF, Toronto; Travis Blackley, LHP, Seattle; Merkin Valdez, RHP, San Francisco.
John Sickels is the author of the 2003 Baseball Prospect Book, which can be ordered from his Web site, JohnSickels.com. His biography of Bob Feller will be published this fall by Brassey's. He lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with his wife, son, and two cats. You can send John questions or comments at JASickels@aol.com.
