Highlighting top NL Central prospects for '08

Sep. 27, 2007
By Eric Mack
Senior Fantasy Writer
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According to MLB rules: "A player shall be considered a rookie unless, during a previous season or seasons, he has (a) exceeded 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the major leagues; or (b) accumulated more than 45 days on the active roster of a major league club or clubs during the period of 25-player limit (excluding time in the military service and time on the disabled list)."

We have already covered the AL Central, NL West and AL West and now we take a look at the NL Central:

Chicago Cubs

Top Cubs prospects
	Player	Age	Pos.	2007 minor league stats
1	Geovany Soto	24	C	Triple-A: .353 AVG, 26 HR, 109 RBI, 75 R, 0 SB (.424 OBP, .652 SLUG)
Sure PCL is hitter-friendly, but his stats are too good to ignore; might start.
2	Kevin Hart	24	RH SP	A Double-A (combined): (12-6), 3.99 ERA, 131 K, 50 BB, .260 BAA
Ceiling not quite as high as Donald Veal, but he was more consistent.
3	Eric Patterson	24	2B	Triple-A: .297-14-65-94-24 (.362-.455)
Corey Patterson's younger brother doesn't fit in yet, but he has skills.
4	Donald Veal	23	LH SP	Double-A: (8-10)-4.97-131-73-.256
Typical young LHP in that he still has some problems with command.
5	Tyler Colvin	2	R	A-Double-A (combined): .299-16-81-72-17 (.324-.488)
Lanky OF has drawn comparisons to Steve Finley and Shawn Green.
Best of the rest: SP Mark Holliman, SP Sean Gallagher, C/OF Jake Fox, 3B Josh Vitters, C Josh Donaldson, P Billy Petrick, P Jeff Samardzija, RP Rocky Roquet, 1B Brian Dopirak, OF Ryan Harvey, P Juan Mateo, OF Sam Fuld, RP Carmen Pignatiello, 2B Tony Thomas, OF Kyler Burke, SP Chris Huseby, P Larry Suarez, SP Mitch Atkins, OF Brandon Guyer, RP Casey Lambert, RP Jose Ceda, RP Jeremy Papelbon.
2007 rookies to lose eligibility (expected): OF Felix Pie, 2B Mike Fontenot.

Cincinnati Reds

Top Reds prospects
	Player	Age	Pos.	2007 minor league stats
1	Jay Bruce	20	OF	A-AA-Triple-A (combined): .319-26-89-87-8 (.375-.587)
Baseball America's prospect of the year is top prospect in baseball.
2	Joey Votto	24	1B	Triple-A: .294-22-92-74-17 (.381-.478)
Great September call-up numbers make him a likely starter in 2008.
3	Homer Bailey	21	RH SP	A-Triple-A (combined): (6-4)-3.82-66-37-.229
Midseason struggles ruined some luster, but he rebounded later.
4	Johnny Cueto	20	RH SP	A-AA-Triple-A (combined): (12-9)-3.07-170-34-.239
Huge year makes it likely he's better long-term prospect than Bailey.
5	Daryl Thompson	21	RH SP	Class A (combined): (14-5)-3.18-121-33-.243
Homers plagued him but he could make an impact in mid-2008.
Best of the rest: OF Drew Stubbs, SP Matt Maloney, SP Carlos Fisher, SP Richie Gardner, RP Josh Roenicke, SS Todd Frazier, 3B Brandon Waring, 3B Juan Francisco, SP Sean Watson, OF Chris Dickerson, OF Buck Coats, SS Neftali Soto, C Devin Mesoraco, SP Phil Dumatrait, OF B.J. Szymanski, SP Jordan Smith, SP Rafael Gonzalez, RP Tyler Pelland, SS Chris Valaika, OF Cody Strait, SP Travis Wood, P Alexander Smit, SP Sam LeCure, RP Brad Salmon, RP Marcus McBeth, P Kyle Lotzkar, P Philippe Valiquette, OF Justin Reed, C Miguel Perez, SS Jerry Gil, SS Milton Loo, SS Paul Janish, SS Zack Cozart.
2007 rookies to lose eligibility (expected): OF Josh Hamilton, OF Norris Hopper, SP Bobby Livingston, RP Jared Burton, RP Jon Coutlangous.

Houston Astros

Top Astros prospects
	Player	Age	Pos.	2007 minor league stats
1	J.R. Towles	23	C	A-AA-Triple-A (combined): .287-11-62-66-14 (.393-.447)
You've seen what he is capable of in September; handed job in '08?
2	Troy Patton	22	LH SP	AA-Triple-A (combined): (10-8)-3.51-94-44-.247
Long-term talent much better than his numbers, but has to show it.
3	Juan Gutierrez	24	RH SP	Triple-A: (5-10)-4.15-108-63-.261
He has shown this September he likely isn't ready for the rotation.
4	Felipe Paulino	23	RH SP	Double-A: (6-9)-3.62-110-49-.238
Another September audition that has failed; one of these might hit.
5	Mitch Einertson	21	OF	Class A: .305-11-87-68-5 (.365-.482)
Comeback year for young prospect who heads to AFL in October.
Best of the rest: OF Josh Anderson, SP Ben Jukich, RP Dennis Sarfate, OF Josh Flores, OF Jordan Parraz, SP Brad James, 2B Brooks Conrad, 3B Koby Clemens, SP Sergio Perez, SP Bud Norris, P Jimmy Barthmaier, SP Sergio Severino, 3B Chris Johnson, RP Paul Estrada, C Max Sapp, C Hector Gimenez, C Lou Santangelo, P Chad Reineke, SP Brian Bogusevic, OF Eli Iorg, 2B Johnny Ash, 1B Ole Sheldon, P Chance Douglass, SP Chris Salamida, P Josh Muecke, SS Tommy Manzella, 3B Ebert Rosario, SP Kyle Greenwalt; 3B Derek Dietrich, OF Collin DeLome.
2007 rookies to lose eligibility (expected): OF Hunter Pence, SP Chris Sampson, P Matt Albers, P Mark McLemore.

Milwaukee Brewers

Top Brewers prospects
	Player	Age	Pos.	2007 minor league stats
1	Manny Parra	24	LH SP	AA-Triple-A (combined): (10-4)-2.45-106-33-.220
One-time elite talent back to forefront after years of injury woes.
2	Matt LaPorta	22	OF/1B	Class A (combined): .304-12-31-22-0 (.369-.696)
'07 1st-rounder from Florida off to hot start, could arrive quickly.
3	Jeremy Jeffress	20	RH SP	Class A: (9-5)-3.13-95-44-.201
Great year was marred by substance-abuse suspension until May.
4	Steve Chapman	21	OF	Class A: .262-24-89-77-12 (.326-.501)
Typical streaky slugger needs to walk more and strike out less.
5	Matt Gamel	22	3B	Class A: .300-9-60-78-14 (.378-.472)
Talk about a prospect that needs to try to play another position.
Best of the rest: 1B Brad Nelson, SP Derek Miller, OF Brendan Katin, OF Darren Ford, C Lou Palmisano, OF Cole Gillespie, SP Mark Rogers, OF Chris Errecart, SP Zach Jackson, 3B Taylor Green, SS Alcides Escobar, SS Brent Brewer, C Angel Salome, 2B Hernan Iribarren, OF Drew Anderson, OF Lorenzo Cain, 3B Adam Heether, P Steve Hammond, P Tim Dillard, UTL Vinny Rottino, RP Mitch Stetter, C Jonathan Lucroy, P R.J. Seidel, OF Caleb Gindl, P Robert Bryson, RP Robert Hinton.
2007 rookies to lose eligibility (expected): 3B Ryan J. Braun, SP Yovani Gallardo, OF Tony Gwyn, 3B Joe Dillon.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Top Pirates prospects
	Player	Age	Pos.	2007 minor league stats
1	Steven Pearce	24	1B/OF	A-AA-Triple-A (combined): .333-31-113-94-14 (.394-.622)
All that power and just 70 Ks in 487 at-bats; he made huge strides.
2	Andrew McCutchen	20	OF	AA-Triple-A (combined): .265-11-53-77-21 (.329-.388)
One of those talents whose numbers will be much better in majors.
3	Neil Walker	22	3B	AA-Triple-A (combined): .277-13-66-84-10 (.349-.434)
Liked him better when he was a catcher, but still worth tracking.
4	Bryan Bullington	27	RH SP	Triple-A: (11-9)-4.00-89-59-.262
Injury-hit prospect had decent revival, but still has steps to take.
5	Brad Corley	23	OF	A-Double-A (combined): .282-14-93-76-4 (.314-.450)
His mere 14 BBs in 524 at-bats doesn't give him much of chance.
Best of the rest: 1B/OF Jason Delaney, SP John Van Benschoten, SP Luis Munoz, SP Serguey Linares, SP Tony Watson, OF Nyger Morgan, P Matt Peterson, SP Todd Redmond, SP Yoslan Herrera, RP Josh Sharpless, SS Brian Bixler, RP Dave Davidson, RP Juan Perez, RP Romulo Sanchez, 1B Justin Byler, P Daniel Moskos, 2B Shelby Ford, RP Michael Felix, RP Pat Bresnehan, P Brad Lincoln, SP Duke Welker, OF James Boone, RP Jesse Chavez, SP Josh Shortslef, C Carlos Maldonaldo, OF Quincy Lattimore, P Clayton Hamilton, P Brian Tracy.
2007 rookies to lose eligibility (expected): RP Shane Youman, RP Franquelis Osoria.

St. Louis Cardinals

Top Cardinals prospects
	Player	Age	Pos.	2007 minor league stats
1	Colby Rasmus	21	OF	Double-A: .275-29-72-93-18 (.381-.551)
One of best OF prospects in baseball can arrive, play CF in '08.
2	P.J. Walters	22	RH SP	A-Double-A (combined): (12-6)-2.55-147-33-.228
Changeup specialist was dominant at every level.
3	Jarrett Hoffpauir	24	2B	AA-Triple-A (combined): .323-11-57-50-5 (.407-.473)
A 2B who walks more than he strikes out; next Dustin Pedroia?
4	Adam Ottavino	21	RH SP	Class A: (12-8)-3.08-128-63-.239
'06 first-rounder could put himself in mix by midseason or '08.
5	Joe Mather	25	1B/OF	AA-Triple-A (combined): .271-31-77-80-10 (.357-.522)
Decent pop, but he better start trying out that outfielder's mitt.
Best of the rest: C Bryan Anderson, 1B/OF Mark Hamilton, RP Chris Perez, SP P.J. Walters, SP Tyler Norrick, SP Jaime Garcia, 1B/OF Joe Mather, 3B Tony Cruz, SS Jose Martinez, 3B Allen Craig, 2B Jose Garcia, SP Blake Hawksworth, RP Mark Worrell, SP Mitchell Boggs, P Mark McCormick, RP Jason Motte, SP Adam Daniels, SP Tyler Herron, SS Pete Kozma, SP Brad Furnish, P Jess Todd, OF Jonathan Edwards, OF Cody Haerther, OF Nick Stavinoha, SS Tyler Greene, OF Jon Jay, RP Kenny Maiques, C Luis De La Cruz, OF D'Marcus Ingram, P Deryk Hooker, OF Daryl Jones, SP Chris Narveson, RP Dennis Dove, RP Josh Kinney.
2007 rookies to lose eligibility (expected): SS Brendan Ryan, RP Kelvin Jimenez.

You can e-mail Emack your Fantasy Baseball prospect questions to dmfantasybaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: NL Central prospects in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses or answers to all questions.

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