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FAB FARM SYSTEM
Who has the top farm system in the FAB50? The Boston Red Sox lead all Major League Baseball clubs with five (5) MLN FAB50 Baseball 2005 picks amongst its farm clubs, most now playing for Triple-A Pawtucket.
The Red Sox edge out the Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros, and Colorado Rockies, all of whom have very active farm systems with great players as well.
Congratulations to Ben Cherington, the Director of Player Development, and his staff: |
Peter Woodfork, Raquel Ferreria, and Victor Cruz, as well as to GM Theo Epstein and owner John Henry for putting together the best developmental system in baseball for 2005!
The Mariners have the number one overall pick in three overall.
The Brewers and Dodgers likewise serve up a small handful of fast-track players that make the top fifty in the minors. The Devil Rays have two, but oh, what a pair! The number two and three picks overall. The Marlins drop down in overall picks this year, as do the Rangers and Mets. The Athletics, who had one of the hottest farm systems a few years ago still continue to miss the 50.
Five (5) Players: | Boston Red Sox |
Four (4) Players: | Minnesota Twins | Colorado Rockies | Houston Astros |
Three (3) Players: | Seattle Mariners | Milwaukee Brewers | Los Angeles Dodgers |
Two (2) Players: | Tampa Bay Devil Rays | Los Angeles Angels | San Francisco Giants | Arizona Diamondbacks | New York Mets |
One (1) Player: | Texas Rangers | New York Yankees | Atlanta Braves | San Diego Padres | Philadelphia Phillies | Florida Marlins |
| Cleveland Indians | Pittsburgh Pirates | Cincinnati Reds | Oakland Athletics |
 (TOP)
Boston Red Sox (5) Top: 11; Ones2Watch™: 1
The boys from Boston have the best farm system in the major leagues for two reasons: One, they stock it with great players, like our FAB50 winners below. Second, several of these players show a reasonable chance of making the major league club, rather than just being dealing chips when Mr. Henry breaks out the checkbook. Abe Alvarez, in a crowded pack o' pitchers, is great but just misses the cut and joins our Ones2Watch.
Seattle Mariners (3) Top: 1
Felix Hernadez smokes into the number one spot in the MLN FAB50™, but players like Matt Tuiasosopo and Shin-Soo Choo also appear to have favored-son status for big league careers. Matt T is a Washington home boy, from the long line of football players that find their way to the Bay Area in Frisco and Oakland. The farm department of the Mariners does a great job of international recruiting.
Minnesota Twins (4) Top: 29
Had the famed Jason Kubel, our Player of the Year for 2004, who was dealt a season-ending injury in Arizona Fall League ball, been healthy and not found his awaiting berth in the Twins lineup, the Twins farm system would have had a lock on a number one pick. Kubel will be back next season, and go through his rehab road in the minors. The Twins have one of the best developmental systems in baseball right now, thanks to Development Director Jim Rantz and some very able scouting. This year we feature a fab four of their hot pitching prospects.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2) Top: 2
BJ Upton, our no. 1 pick in the MLN FAB50 2004, drops to no. 3 this year, still awaiting his promise fulfilled. Delmon Young moves up from the No. 10 spot last year to grab the No. 2 pick overall in our top fifty players. The D-Rays have had a number of our past picks, including Gathright, called up before they could make a comeback here. Having two players in the top ten back-to-back is a first for two teams this year, brought about largely by call-ups that stayed up and improved the rankings of remaining players slightly.
Los Angeles Angels at Anaheim (2)
The Angels, who are gradually returning to their name from their days as a Pacific Coast League (PCL) team, continue to develop great players. Wood and Kendrick grab the outside buzz. Kendrick is a returning FAB50 player. Wood is new to the list.
Detroit Tigers (2)
The Tigers are on a roll, and so is their farm system. The big buzz is about Justin Verlander, the pitcher moving along nicely, currently cruising into Erie to wind up the season. International League talk has been about Joel Zumaya, the Mud Hens' hurler who has a shot at the bullpen in Detroit this fall.
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Texas Rangers (1)
The drought in Texas continues. Not crops. Players. Ian Kinsler remains the Rangers' best prospect.
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Oakland Athletics (1)
Baseman Barton is the best ballplayer in Billy ball. We like other players, like Sactown's Matt Watson, who makes our Ones2Watch list.
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Chicago White Sox (1)
The White Sox' Mr. Anderson may not blow away sunglassed baddies from the Matrix, but he is a killer of baseballs.
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New York Yankees (1)
Mitch Jones is one of the best pure hitters out there. Too bad George deals guys like this rather than promote from within. Will he be trade bait?
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Cleveland Indians (1)
Currently with the Buffalo Bisons, Ryan Garko is the best fast-track player in Indians' system.
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Kansas City Royals (1)
Two years ago, the Royals had one of the hottest farm systems in baseball. Today it's the nottest, with players either called up, stagnating in Triple-A, or just not ranking highly. The buzz player du jour is Chris Lubanski of the High-A California League.
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Colorado Rockies (4) Top: 7
You can still dig for gold in the hills of Colorado. The Sky Sox are now the lucky holders of past FAB50 picks Ryan Shealy and Jeff Salazar. Ubaldo Jiminez moves through Tulsa, and newcomer to the 50 Ian Stewart is a power-packed Nut in Modesto in the High-A California League.
Houston Astros (4) Top: 10
The Houston Astros are packed with pitchers. An impressive minor league array which includes the rising stars of Nieve, Astacio, and Patton, makes for a depth chart any major league bullpen would love to see. Hunter Pence turned heads blasting 25 home runs for the Lexington Legends before being promoted to Salem.
Milwaukee Brewers (3) Top: 5
Returning to the FAB50™ for 2005 are Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks, both of whom move up on our list. As of publication, Fielder was in the majors, with some uncertainty as to whether he'd be in for a cup of coffee or if he'd be inking that contract to buy the whole Starbucks®. Weeks moves up four from the no. 10 spot, and Jose Capellan joins the list with a top 15 debut. Having two players in the top ten back-to-back is a first for two teams this year, brought about largely by call-ups that stayed up and improved the rankings of remaining players slightly.
Los Angeles Dodgers (3) Top: 8
Jim Tracy publicly touted Dioner Navarro in the big trade that brought Randy Johnson to the Yankees. Will he be the salvation of the Dodgers' catching crises? Down in Jacksonville the infielders are bunching up. We like both LaRoche and Guzman. Joel was on last year's FAB50.
San Francisco Giants (2) Top: 12
The Giants' farm system serves up two offerings to the FAB50. Much-talked-about Matt Cain makes our top fifteen, while the deserving but less well-known Todd Linden debuts at No. 18.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2) Top: 9
The Diamondbacks' farm system is starting to recharge after being a bit trade depleted. We like Jackson and Quentin as either good starting candidate contenders, or prime deal bait.
New York Mets (2) Top: 24
When the New York media gets bored, or the season gets as it's been this year for the Mets, they look to the minor system for a little excitement. Milledge was rumored to be on the edge of a trade deal that never materialized. Not that it would: The B-Mets phenom has been groomed slowly and lovingly for his trip to Shea. To the guys at the Post: Get excited about Brian Bannister. The hurler just crested at the Norfolk Tides, and some tell us he has Seaver-like qualities.
Atlanta Braves (1) Ones2Watch (1) Top: 28
The Braves have a great farm, well stocked with pitchers who can throw heat. So why only one entry? The road to Atlanta is more choked up than US 75 at rush hour. Beyond the numbers, the name you hear mentioned again and again is pitcher Chuck James. We give him a slight edge over Kyle Davies if the Berlin Wall of the Atlanta Braves starting rotation loses a chunk with an injury or two. It's tough having so much great talent... especially when you're the other talent.
Clubs with single players:
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates pick up J.J. Furmaniak, who was one of our top picks from the Padres organization. The Beavers loss is the Indians gain.
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Cincinnati Reds
Edwin Encarnacion is the best new prospect in the Reds organization, and one of the fast trackers of the FAB50.
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San Diego Padres (1)
The Pads would have had two FAB50 picks had they held on to J.J. Furmaniak. Instead, he was traded to Indianopolis. That's a good deal for Pirates fans, in our book. 2003 MLN Player of the Year Josh Barfield makes a run for the big leagues in Portland.
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Philadelphia Phillies (1)
Chris Roberson remains as our lone FAB50 Phillies phenom. There were others who have already found their way to the big leagues and stayed.
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Florida Marlins (1)
The Marlins have great schools of fish stocked from the deserts of New Mexico to the forests of the Carolinas. Weeding out the most promising in an active farm system can be tough. We hear that Jeremy Hermida's bat will take him a long way.
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