An Injury Away: NL West Prospects Who Could Get The Call

Completing the National League list of prospects who are an injury away from getting a call in 2010, here is the NL West teams, starting off with the LA Dodgers.

Dodgers-the Dodgers farm system is loaded in the lower levels, but don't have many major league ready guys in AA or AAA, but one guy who has fallen off prospect radars is SS/2B Ivan Dejesus. Should Rafael Furcal injure his back again, which could happen any day, Dejesus could capably fill in for Furcal. Dejesus has a fine glove and solid batting eye. Dejesus was hurt most of the 2009 season, but owns a career .295 BA and .380 OBP in the minors.

Rockies-the Rockies resigned 2B Clint Barmes to a one-year deal this offseason after there was talk of signing him to a two or three year deal. Should the Rockies sour on Barmes low BA-good glove talents, they could call up speedy 2B prospect Eric Young. Young has stolen 87, 73, 46 and 58 bases in his last four seasons in the minors, and owns a career .293 BA and .385 OBP.

Diamondbacks-the Diamondbacks have traded away alot of minor league talent over the last few seasons, many in the Dan Haren deal with the A's. But last season they traded away reliever Tony Pena for slugging first base prospect Brandon Allen. Allen got a cup of coffee with the DBacks in 2009, but struck out too much. He had a poor showing in the Arizona Fall League leading GM Josh Byrnes to sign free agent first baseman Adam Laroche to a one year deal. Should Laroche get injured, or manager AJ Hinch tire of Laroche's slow start, the DBacks could call up Allen to man 1B. Allen had lots of power, but must cut down on his strikeouts in AAA in 2010.

Giants-the Giants may start the 2010 season with catching prospect Buster Posey in AAA to work on his catching skills. Once the Giants are ready to give the job to Posey (probably by June 2010), the job will be Posey's for many years to come. The Giants signed catcher Bengie Molina to a one year deal, but I have a feeling he won't be the starting catcher for too long. Posey is the man, and some have said he will be better than Orioles catcher Matt Wieters.

Padres-the Padres top prospect Jaff Decker is a few years away from contributing at the big league level, but a guy who could move through the system quickly is third baseman James Darnell. Darnell owns a career .319 BA and .428 OBP in two seasons in the minors. Should he display some power in AA in 2010, we could get a glimpse of him later in the year should 3B Chase Headley not produce. Manager Bud Black expects a breakout season from Headley, so should he falter, the Padres may look to Darnell.