Prospects uncertain, but still held in high regard

Tuesday, August 4, 2009 | Print Entry

The 2003 Baseball America Prospects Handbook had four top 50 lists by four highly respected BA writers. None of the four lists had Chase Utley in its top 50.

Andy Marte

Marte

Matt Cain

Cain

At the time, Jesse Foppert of the Giants was the fourth-best prospect in the game; Matt Cain was the 11th-best prospect in the Giants' system. Brian McCann was the 28th-best prospect in the Atlanta organization, far, far below Andy Marte, Bubba Nelson and Macay McBride. Chone Figgins was the Angels' 29th-best prospect, and Jason Bay was the Padres' 21st-best prospect, who twice passed through the Rule 5 draft en route to making the All-Star Game in 2006 while he was a member of the Pirates.

Brad Nelson and Mike Jones were ranked above Prince Fielder on the Brewers' '03 prospect list. Josh Johnson was the 26th-best prospect in the Florida organization; Joey Votto was ranked as Cincinnati's 14th-best prospect, way below Chris Gruler and Bobby Basham. And believe it or not, Matt Holliday was listed as the Rockies' 18th-best prospect in 2003.

John Van Benschoten (20), Hee Seop Choi (30), Jose Castillo (32), Joe Borchard (33), Mike Gosling (40), Kris Honel (43) and Mike Jones (44) were all on BA's top 50 list in '03, ahead of Cliff Lee (46) and Adrian Gonzalez (49), along with Utley, Johnson and Holliday, who didn't make the top 50.

 
 

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  • Peter Gammons Peter Gammons

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