Baseball America'sProspect Hot Sheet for the third week of the minor league season is up. At the top is Brewers' LF Matt LaPorta. After him are a bunch of players who may not be very familar. Most of these raked/dealt last week in LOw and High A so won't prove to be great helps in the 2008 season, but that won't stop me from bringing a couple of them to your attention.
The one that should be watched is Oakland A's 1B Chris Carter. He was dealt twice this off-season. 1st from the White Sox to the Diamondbacks in the Carlos Quentin trade and then from the Diamondbacks to the A's in the Dan Haren deal. His defense reportedly needs work, but his power is not in doubt. A full season in the California League could see him leading the minors in HRs this year. As a DH/1B type, he is in the perfect organization to get a shot. After all, the A's have no qualms about playing younger players at DH or letting reclamation projects get full-time work there.
Just like last week, BA is hosting a chat at 2:30PM to discuss this week's list. I hope this occurs regularly because the once-a-week chat on minor leaguers at ESPN and the every-so-often one by Kevin Goldstein at Baseball Prospectus isn't enough.
No. 2 TOMMY HANSON, RHP BRAVES
Team: high Class A Myrtle Beach (Carolina)
No. 4 IAN STEWART, 3B ROCKIES
Team: Triple-A Colorado Springs (Pacific Coast)
No. 5 CHRIS CARTER, 1B
ATHLETICS
Team: high Class A Stockton (California)
Age: 21
Why: .364/.517/1.091, 8-for-22, 5 HR, 12 RBIs, 10 R, 7 BB, 6 SO
No. 7 ANDREW McCUTCHEN, CF PIRATES
Team: Triple-A Indianapolis (International)
No. 9 JESUS MONTERO, C YANKEES
Team: low Class A Charleston (South Atlantic)
No. 10 JOHN JASO, C/DH RAYS
Team: Double-A Montgomery (Rays)