FIGURING out the “Beating the Bushes” All-Stars – the best prospects in each New York organization – was done using two criteria.
The first was major-league potential. The second was how the player has done during this season.
After each player is his age, the level at which he spent most of the season, and his stats (batting average, homers, RBIs or W-L, ERA) at that level.
So without further ado, here are the very prestigious BTB All-Stars: YANKEES1. ALFONSO SORIANO (21, Double-A, SS, .305, 15, 68) – A sufficient amount of words have been written about Soriano, the 1999 BTB Player of the Year, to have you excited.
We think that if he can play second (and the Yanks say he can), then that should be his future.
1A. NICK JOHNSON (20, Double-A, 1B, .352, 13, 83) – A close second. Will start next season at Triple-A. If Tino Martinez gets hurt, he could see his first action in the bigs next year. Needs to work a bit on his defense. Power should come as he gets older.
3. DREW HENSON (19, Single-A, 3B, .275, 13, 37) – A quarterback at Michigan, he should start next year at Double-A. He is 6-foot-5, 222 pounds. It’s been previously reported that he would get a huge bonus if he quit football. According to Yankee farm head Mark Newman, this is false.
4. JACKSON MELIAN (19, Single-A, OF, .283, 6, 59) – According to some scouts, a disappointment earlier this season. Has made tremendous strides since then. Still needs better pitch selection. Will be at Double-A next year.
5. TODD NOEL (20, Single-A, P, 3-6, 3.36) – Obtained in Mike Lowell deal. At 6-foot-5, throws in mid- to high-90s. Double-A next year.
6. MO PENA (17, Rookie League, OF, .244, 5, 20) – Awesome tools.
7. ED YARNALL (23, Triple-A, P, 12-4, 3.51) – A lefty with smarts.
8. D’ANGELO JIMENEZ (21, Triple-A, SS, .311, 14, 77) – Versatile. Would be stupid not to accept MLB utility role.
9. RYAN BRADLEY (23, Triple-A, P, 5-12, 6.03) – Awful season.
10. LUIS DE LOS SANTOS (21, Triple-A, P, 6-3, 4.77) – Ability is there. METS1. ALEX ESCOBAR (21, Single-A, OF, .667, 1, 3) – The 1998 BTB Player of the Year went down early with a torn labrum (shoulder) this year, forcing him to miss most of the season.
“He’s ahead of schedule,” said Jim Duquette, a Met assistant GM in charge of player personnel. “The thing we have to keep an eye on is that he doesn’t push it.”
Escobar is expected to start in Double-A next year. Barring another setback, expect him at Shea during the end of 2001 or the beginning of 2002. He still is by far the Mets’ best prospect.
2. JORGE LUIS TOCA (25, Triple-A, OF, .308, 20, 67) – Will vie for fourth or fifth OF spot. He can only play left field and first base. Appears to have the goods with the bat, but might be destined to be a DH.
3. LESLIE BREA (19, Single-A, P, 1-6, 3.77) – Who said that Butch Huskey was never worth anything? This is the guy the Mets got for him. A mid-90 mph throwing right-hander who owns the best closer potential in the system.
4. GRANT ROBERTS (21, Double-A, P, 7-6, 4.87) – Mets brought him up for spot start at Triple-A recently. He did so well, he stuck there. He’ll be back at Norfolk next season. Still needs more maturity.
5. JASON TYNER (22, Double-A, OF, .308, 0, 29) – Started off so slowly, the Mets thought he might have to repeat Double-A. Will be at Triple-A to begin next season after hitting more than .300.
6. JUAN LEBRON (22, DNP, OF) – Raves in spring training and a blown out arm. Will start in A-ball next season with a chance to move up quickly.
7. JAE WEONG SEO (22, Single-A, P, 2-0, 1.84) – Tommy John surgery. Will miss beginning of next season.
8. ERIC CAMMACK (24, Double-A, P, 4-2, 2.38) – Could be seen in majors next year.
9. TY WIGGINTON (21, Single-A, 2B, .293, 20, 69) – Best at position in system.
10. ALLEN DINA (25, Single-A, OF, .344, 12, 47) – A tremendous signing by scout Joe DelliCarri, who inked this St. Leo’s fifth-year senior before ’98 draft.
