2006 International League Preview
Published on March 30, 2006 under International League (IL1) News Release
International League North Division
Buffalo Bisons Affiliate: Cleveland Indians
Year in IL (Buffalo, NY): 92nd Record: 6,737-6,296 Last Governors' Cup: 2004
2005 Finish: 82-62, North Champions (+7.0), lost to Indianapolis in Gov. Cup first round
Manager: Torey Lovullo (1st year) Career - 4 yrs. 324-234
Coaches: Bruce Fields (1st year); Greg Hibbard (1st year)
Stadium: Dunn Tire Park (18,150)
Probable Starters: 1B - Ryan Garko; 2B - Jake Gautreau; 3B - Andy Marte;
SS - Jose Flores; C - Javi Herrera; LF - Ben Francisco; CF - Franklin Gutierrez;
RF - Jason Cooper; DH - Ryan Mulhern/Joe Inglett
Key Pitchers: Starters - RH Fausto Carmona, LH Jeremy Sowers, RH Jeremy Guthrie,
LH Jason Stanford, RH Jake Dittler. Relievers - RH Andrew Brown,
RH Kazuhito Tadano, RH Edward Mujica.
Top Prospects: 3B Andy Marte becomes the heir apparent to Aaron Boone at the hot corner in Cleveland, after being traded from Atlanta to Boston to the Indians this offseason. In 2005 he split time between Richmond and Atlanta...1B Ryan Garko is a former catcher making the full-time transition to first base. Like Marte, his bat is ready for the Major Leagues; he's in Triple-A to polish his defensive skills...OF Ben Francisco and Franklin Gutierrez are speedy outfielders who need another year in Triple-A at the plate, but could see time with Cleveland this season as defensive replacements or pinch runners if needed... DH Ryan Mulhern hit .315 with 32 HR and 94 RBI last year between Class-A Kinston and Double-A Akron to earn the organization's Minor League Player of the Year honors. Defensively he's used as a first baseman or outfielder, so it remains to be seen if he'll start the year in Buffalo or in Akron where he would get everyday at-bats.
Other Organizational Prospects: OF Brad Snyder, Cleveland's top draft pick in 2003, will likely start the year in Akron but is probably ready for Triple-A right now. The 23-year-old has a wide base of tools and a quick bat...RHP Dan Denham, another former top draft pick (2001), went 9-7 with a 3.15 ERA for Akron in 2005, and with a similar start this season could easily find his way to Buffalo.
Veterans to Watch: Joe Inglett hit .330 for the Herd last year in a utility role. He can play several positions (2B/3B/OF), and is known as a speedy gap-to-gap hitter...SS Jose Flores appears to be the lone six-year free agent in Buffalo's starting lineup. He hit .336 last year at Triple-A Las Vegas...2B Jake Gautreau, a former #1 draft pick for the Padres, had a big first half last year and earned a trip to the Triple-A All-Star game. Injuries contributed to a late-season slump; he finished with a .253 average, 18 HR, and 57 RBI.
Items of Interest: The Bisons have won back-to-back North Division titles, and have made the playoffs nine times in 11 years since affiliating with Cleveland (missing only in 1999 and 2003)...New manager Torey Lovullo is the first sitting member of the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame to return to manage the team. Lovullo played for the Bisons in 1995, 97-98 and was inducted into the Hall in 2003. He was MVP of the 1997 American Association playoffs, and hit .326 for Buffalo's 1998 Governors' Cup championship club. 1997-98 marked the only back-to-back championships in the franchise's 122-year history...Buffalo could have four straight Cleveland #1 draft picks on its roster in Denham, Guthrie, Snyder, and Sowers. (Gautreau was also a #1 pick with San Diego).
Strengths of the Club: The starting rotation might be the deepest and most prospect-laden in Triple-A...On the offensive side, there are no holes in the lineup. RF Jason Cooper is often forgotten among the slew of prospects, but he combined for 100 RBI between Akron and Buffalo last year...Lovullo has won championships at Class-A Kinston and Double-A Akron, and has come up through the ranks with new pitching coach Greg Hibbard, a former Major League hurler with the Cubs and White Sox.
Weaknesses of the Club: Infield defense could be a weakness, with Garko learning first base, Marte working to improve at third, and double play combinations uncertain between Flores, Gautreau, and Inglett...The bullpen looks shaky. Cleveland may not want to use RHP Andrew Brown as a closer. RHP Kaz Tadano may start the season in that role, but he was shaky last year shifting between starting and relieving.
Ottawa Lynx Affiliate: Baltimore Orioles
Year in IL (Ottawa, ONT): 19th Record: 1,181-1,404 Last Governors' Cup: 1995
2005 Finish: 69-75, T-fifth in North (-13.0)
Manager: Dave Trembley (2nd year) Career - 19 yrs. 1,295-1,344
Coaches: Larry McCall (1st year); Dallas Williams (1st year)
Stadium: Lynx Stadium (10,332)
Probable Starters: 1B - Alejandro Freire; 2B - Eddy Garabito; 3B - Fernando Tatis;
SS - Brandon Fahey; C - Eli Whiteside; LF - Val Majewski; CF - Esix Snead;
RF - Keith Reed; DH - Andy Tracy
Key Pitchers: Starters - LH Kurt Birkins, RH Calvin Maduro, RH Cory Morris,
RH Hayden Penn, RH John Stephens. Relievers - RH Winston Abreu, LH Brian Burres,
LH Franklyn Gracesqui, RH Ryan Keefer, RH Andy Mitchell, RH Chris Piersoll,
RH Eddy Rodriguez.
Top Prospects: In 2005, RHP Hayden Penn skipped Triple-A and went straight to Baltimore from Double-A Bowie, going 3-2 in eight starts with the Orioles. At Double-A, Penn posted a 7-6 mark with a 3.83 ERA in 19 starts...OF Val Majewski is looking to rebound after missing all of 2005 with a shoulder injury. His Major League debut came in August 2004, after hitting .307 with 15 HR and 80 RBI with Bowie. That season he was named Baltimore's Minor League Player of the Year...RHP Sandy Rleal could be the Lynx closer if he doesn't make the Major League club out of spring training. Rleal, 25, was outstanding last year with Bowie, going 4-4 with a 2.04 ERA and 16 saves in 56 games...SS Brandon Fahey will make his Triple-A debut in 2006. The shortstop is known for great defense, but is also coming off an impressive year offensively in which he hit .291 with 17 stolen bases at Bowie.
Other Organizational Prospects: Expect to see OF Nick Markakis make his Major League debut with the Orioles this season, but before that, he may spend time in a Lynx uniform. Markakis is rated the Orioles' top prospect by Baseball America. Slated as part of Baltimore's outfield future, Markakis has had an impressive spring. Last season he hit .300 with 12 HR and 62 RBI in 91 games with Class-A Frederick, then hit .339 with 3 HR and 33 RBI in 33 games with Bowie...6'6" LHP Adam Loewen made his mark pitching for Team Canada at the World Baseball Classic, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings in a win over the U.S. Loewen, the highest Canadian-born draft choice ever, went 10-8 with a 4.12 ERA and 146 strikeouts in 142 innings at Class-A Frederick last season.
Veterans to Watch: 1B Alejandro Freire returns to the club after a terrific 2005 season that saw him hit .299 with a team-leading 19 HR in 106 games. At the time of his recall, Freire was on pace to break the Lynx single-season home run record...After being out of baseball for two seasons, 3B Fernando Tatis is looking to make a comeback in Ottawa. His last four seasons (2000-03) were plagued with injuries...RHP John Stephens, fresh off the World Baseball Classic, should be the veteran on an otherwise young pitching staff. The 9-year veteran was 4-2 in 12 appearances for the Lynx in 2005...Napoleon Calzado will see time in both the infield and outfield after hitting a career high 11 HR last season for Ottawa.
Items of Interest: Manager Dave Trembley is only five wins away from becoming the third active manager to reach 1,300 Minor League victories. Trembley is entering his 20th season as a Minor League skipper, and his second with the Lynx.
Strengths of the Club: One thing the Lynx will have in 2006 is speed, and lots of it. Perennial speedster Esix Snead has led the IL in stolen bases for three straight years. INF Ed Rogers will also be a threat on the base paths after swiping 14 bases for Ottawa in 2005. Another infielder, Eddy Garabito, stole 19 bases for the Lynx in 2004...The Lynx are expected to enjoy an increase in power in 2006. With sluggers like Tatis, Freire, and Andy Tracy in the lineup, there may be a lot of long balls at Lynx Stadium this summer.
Weaknesses of the Club: As in 2005, the Lynx will have a young pitching staff. Three of the five projected starters (Penn, Morris, Birkins) will be making their Triple-A debut...The bullpen, with young arms like Burres, Keefer, and Rleal, will need a bit of guidance from the veterans on the staff.
International League North Division
Pawtucket Red Sox Affiliate: Boston Red Sox
Year in IL (Pawtucket, RI): 34th Record: 2,295-2,381 Last Governors' Cup: 1984
2005 Finish: 75-69, T-second in North (-7.0)
Manager: Ron Johnson (2nd year) Career - 14 yrs. 979-972
Coaches: Mike Griffin (4th year); Mark Budaska (3rd year)
Stadium: McCoy Stadium (10,031)
Probable Starters: 1B - Hee-Seop Choi; 2B - Dustin Pedroia; 3B - Rodney Nye;
SS - Alejandro Machado; C - Ken Huckaby; LF - Luke Allen; CF - David Murphy;
RF - Brandon Moss; DH - Ron Calloway
Key Pitchers: Starters - LH Abe Alvarez, LH Jon Lester, RH Jimmy Serrano,
RH Matt Ginter, LH Phil Seibel. Relievers - LH Craig Breslow, RH Manny Delcarmen,
RH Craig Hansen, RH Cla Meredith, LH Mike Bumatay, RH Jermaine Van Buren.
Top Prospects: 23-year-old LHP Abe Alvarez is beginning his second year at Triple-A, after a 2005 season that included an appearance in the Triple-A All-Star Game and two promotions to Boston...LHP Jon Lester was Boston's 2005 Minor League Pitcher of the Year. He led the Double-A Eastern League in ERA (2.61), complete games (3), and strikeouts (163). His fastball tops out at 95 MPH...West Roxbury, Massachusetts native RHP Manny Delcarmen made ten relief appearance for Boston last year after impressive stints with Double-A Portland and Pawtucket. The versatile righty can be used as a set-up man or a closer...Boston's 2005 Minor League Offensive Player of the Year was 2B Dustin Pedroia. Over his first two pro seasons, Pedroia has fanned only 50 times in 617 at-bats. He's equally comfortable playing second base or shortstop...CF David Murphy won Boston's first ever Minor League Defensive Player of the Year in '05, committing merely four errors in 131 games at Portland. He also hit 14 HR last season, a career high...RHP Craig Hansen is Boston's closer of the not-too-distant future. Last season he became the first player in Red Sox history to reach the Major Leagues in the same year he was drafted...OF Brandon Moss was a 2005 Eastern League All-Star in his first season at Double-A, hitting 16 HR and 61 RBI.
Other Organizational Prospects: Reliever Edgar Martinez started 2005 with Class-A Wilmington, posting a 2.10 ERA before being promoted to Double-A Portland, where his ERA dropped to 1.50. He may make his Triple-A debut in 2006...Another of Portland's successful hurlers last season was starter David Pauley, who went 9-7 with a 3.81 in 27 starts...OF Chris Durbin hit .282 with 12 HR and 57 RBI in 103 games in Double-A last season.
Veterans to Watch: 1B Hee-Seop Choi could provide an answer at first base for Boston if he performs well at Triple-A. He's previously played for the Cubs, Marlins, and Dodgers... LHP Lenny DiNardo spent most of last season being shipped between Boston and Pawtucket. He struck out 93 and walked 35 in 108.2 innings with the PawSox...Willie Harris, who can play second base, shortstop, or centerfield, has averaged 30 stolen bases in his seven-year career.
Items of Interest: Pawtucket will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Longest Game on June 23 with a reunion of members of the 1981 PawSox and Rochester Red Wings...Pawtucket will play it's first-ever game at Fenway Park on August 26 when they host Rochester at 6:05 p.m. Boston's New York-Penn League affiliate, Lowell, plays Oneonta at 2:00 p.m...PawSox manager Ron Johnson needs 21 victories to reach 1,000 for his career.
Strengths of the Club: Potentially, Pawtucket has the best group of young prospects since the Mo Vaughn/Phil Plantier era in the early 1990's. That's especially true of the pitching... The middle infield defense is solid, and the same is true of the outfield with ball hawks like Murphy and Moss.
Weaknesses of the Club: The major question: who will supply the power? Pawtucket doesn't exactly have a 1-2 punch anywhere near what David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez provide Boston...Also, catcher is the one position where Pawtucket is thin.
Rochester Red Wings Affiliate: Minnesota Twins
Year in IL (Rochester, NY): 119th Record: 8,679-8,230 Last Governors' Cup: 1997
2005 Finish: 75-69, T-second in North (-7.0)
Manager: Stan Cliburn (1st year) Career - 12 yrs. 793-814
Coaches: Stu Cliburn (1st year); Rich Miller (3rd year)
Stadium: Frontier Field (10,840)
Probable Starters: 1B - Garrett Jones; 2B - Luis Maza; 3B - Glenn Williams/Terry Tiffee;
SS - Jason Bartlett/Luis Rodriguez; C - Chris Heintz; LF - Alex Romero;
CF - Jason Tyner; RF - Jason Kubel; DH - Jason Hart
Key Pitchers: Starters - RH Boof Bonser, RH Pete Munro, RH Ryan Glynn,
RH J.D. Durbin, RH Mike Smith. Relievers - RH Pat Neshek, RH Beau Kemp,
LH Jason Miller, RH Henry Bonilla, LH Ricky Barrett.
Top Prospects: There's a 50/50 chance LHP Francisco Liriano will start the year in Rochester. He is Minnesota's top prospect according to Baseball America. The flame-throwing lefty led all of Minor League Baseball in strikeouts last year...OF Jason Kubel is the Twins' #2 prospect. He won the IL batting title (.343) and was named Rookie of the Year in 2004, but missed all of last season after injuring his knee in October 2003 at the Arizona Fall League. The left-handed hitter would be the class of the IL if he stays in Triple-A all year, which isn't likely...RHP Pat Neshek is a side-arming right-hander who recorded 24 saves and a 2.19 ERA for Double-A New Britain last season. He'll be Rochester's closer...LF Alex Romero hit .301 for New Britain and was named to the Eastern League's postseason All-Star team in 2005.
Other Organizational Prospects: CF Denard Span was Minnesota's top draft pick in 2002. Last season, he hit .339 in 49 games for Class-A Fort Myers, then hit .285 in 68 games for Double-A New Britain...3B Matt Moses was Minnesota's top draft pick in 2003. He hit .306 last year for Fort Myers, and played in the Florida State League All-Star Game...LHP Glen Perkins was Minnesota's top draft pick in 2004. Perkins is 10-7 with a 3.06 ERA in his first two Minor League seasons.
Veterans to Watch: C Chris Heintz was the Red Wings' MVP last year, hitting .308. He earned his first promotion to the Majors on the same day his wife gave birth to the couple's first child, a son...RHP Pete Munro is a solid veteran who started two games for Houston in the 2003 NLCS. He went 10-7 for Columbus last year...1B Garrett Jones led the Wings with 24 HR last season after hitting 30 HR for Double-A New Britain a year earlier.
Items of Interest: The Red Wings added a Daktronics videoboard this season. It's one of the five largest in Minor League Baseball...Rochester has not made the Governors' Cup Playoffs since winning it all in 1997, their first season at Frontier Field...The Wings have a new manager in Stan Cliburn, who makes his Triple-A debut after five seasons at Double-A New Britain. His pitching coach is his identical twin brother, Stu Cliburn. The hitting coach is Rich Miller, who filled in most of last year for manager Phil Roof when he went home to care for his wife.
Strengths of the Club: Starting pitching will be a strength, particularly if Liriano joins the staff and LHP Dave Gassner recovers from an elbow injury...Neshek could be a solid closer...Power galore at first base with Jones and Jason Hart, who should also see time as the club's DH.
Weakness of the Club: Other than at first base, there's not a lot of power on this club...if Jason Bartlett spends most of season with Minnesota, there won't be a true shortstop on the Red Wings. Twins officials have hinted that Gil Velazquez, who hit just .231 at New Britain last year, might start at shortstop for Rochester if both Bartlett and Rodriguez make the Twins...Middle relief is also a big question mark entering the season.
International League North Division
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons Affiliate: Philadelphia Phillies
Year in IL (Scranton/WB, PA): 18th Record: 1,221-1,210 Last Governors' Cup: None
2005 Finish: 69-75, T-fifth in North (-13.0)
Manager: John Russell (1st year) Career - 8 yrs. 527-521
Coaches: Rod Nichols (2nd year); Sal Rende (3rd year)
Stadium: Lackawanna County Multi-Purpose Stadium (10,982)
Probable Starters: 1B - Shawn Garrett; 2B - Joe Thurston; 3B - Chris Coste;
SS - Danny Sandoval; C - Carlos Ruiz; LF - Peter Bergeron; CF - Chris Roberson;
RF - Josh Kroeger; DH - Bobby Scales
Key Pitchers: Starters - RH Robinson Tejada, RH Clay Condrey, LH Allen Davis,
LH Dan Haigwood, RH Gavin Floyd. Relievers - RH Brian Sanches, LH Eude Brito,
RH Ryan Cameron, RH Travis Minix, RH Dan Giese, RH Aaron Myette,
RH Aquilino Lopez, RH Jeremy Cummings.
Top Prospects: 26-year-old CF Chris Roberson was very impressive last season in his Double-A debut. He hit .311 with 15 HR and 70 RBI for the Reading Phillies of the Eastern League...LHP Dan Haigwood spent 2005 in the White Sox organization, going an amazing 14-3 with a 2.82 ERA between Class-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham...The 2005 International League batting champion, SS Danny Sandoval, appears to be returning to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to begin the '06 campaign. His .331 average, while .006 better than his closest competitor, was the lowest average to win an IL batting title since 1992 (J.T. Snow, .313).
Other Organizational Prospects: It's very likely the Red Barons will welcome Philadelphia's top overall prospect, LHP Cole Hamels, into the fold this season. An assortment of injuries has limited Hamel to just 28 appearances over his first three professional seasons. When healthy, Hamel has looked dominant, going 11-3 with a 1.54 ERA and 208 strikeouts in 152 career innings. He was 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA in 2 starts for Double-A Reading last year, where he'll likely begin 2006...OF Michael Bourn adjusted well last season to a jump from low Class-A to Double-A, where he was voted as the Eastern League's most exciting player after leading the circuit in stolen bases (38). If he can improve on his numbers at the plate (.268, 6 HR, 44 RBI), he should make his way to Triple-A sometime this season...LHP Gio Gonzalez went 8-3 with a 3.56 ERA last year after a promotion to Class-A Carolina. He's gained attention among scouts for his 95-MPH fastball.
Veterans to Watch: 3B Chris Coste could have a monster year for the Red Barons. The 33-year-old veteran is coming off of a tremendous '05 campaign in which he hit .292 with 20 HR and 92 RBI, and earned a trip to the Triple-A All-Star Game. He hit .450 in spring training this year with the Phillies...LF Peter Bergeron is a career .291 hitter with some power and a strong arm in the outfield. He hit .296 last season in Double-A...23-year-old RF Josh Kroeger had a nice season last year while a member of the Arizona organization. Playing for Triple-A Tucson, he hit .261 with 14 HR and 62 RBI.
Items of Interest: John Russell replaces Gene Lamont as manager of the Red Barons. Russell has a career managing record of 527-521 (.503)...The Red Barons have remodeled their home clubhouse to the tune of $3 million...2006 will reportedly be the final year for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as a Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, an affiliation dating back to 1989 when the Red Barons joined the International League.
Strengths of the Club: The pitching for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre should be outstanding. Both the starting rotation and the bullpen appear to be solid...The Red Barons will have a very talented outfield. Roberson, Kroeger, and Bergeron provide a great defensive trio and are all proven hitters.
Weaknesses of the Club: With a lack of a dominant home run hitter, the club will have to rely on hitting doubles, and may need to find a way to manufacture runs. Otherwise, the outlook for the 2006 Red Barons is bright.
Syracuse SkyChiefs Affiliate: Toronto Blue Jays
Year in IL (Syracuse, NY): 92nd Record: 6,161-6,649 Last Governors' Cup: 1976
2005 Finish: 71-73, fourth in North (-11.0)
Manager: Mike Basso (1st year) Career - 9 yrs. 628-565
Coaches: Rick Langford (1st year); Dwayne Murphy (2nd year)
Stadium: Alliance Bank Stadium (11,604)
Probable Starters: 1B - Kevin Barker; 2B - Ryan Roberts; 3B - John Hattig;
SS - Sergio Santos; C - Guillermo Quiroz; LF - John-Ford Griffin; CF - Wayne Lydon;
RF - Justin Singleton; DH - Chad Mottola
Key Pitchers: Starters - RH Dustin McGowan, RH Josh Banks, RH Casey Janssen,
RH James Baldwin, RH Brian Tollberg. Relievers - RH Lee Gronkiewicz,
RH Shawn Marcum, RH Francisco Rosario, LH Adrian Burnside, LH Brian Tallet,
RH Ben Weber, RH Ryan Houston, RH Brandon League.
Top Prospects: RHP Dustin McGowan is rated as Toronto's top overall prospect by Baseball America. He jumped from Double-A New Hampshire to Toronto last year after missing most of 2004 following Tommy John surgery...RHP Josh Banks, Toronto's #5 rated prospect, is one of the best control pitchers in the Minor Leagues. He recorded 145 strikeouts and just 11 walks for New Hampshire in 2005...RHP Casey Janssen, Toronto's #6 prospect, was a two-way player for three years at UCLA who slipped to the fourth round in the 2004 draft, but he's moved quickly through the Blue Jays' chain.
Other Organizational Prospects: LHP Ricky Romero was Toronto's top draft selection in 2005 after he led Cal State Fullerton to the 2004 NCAA Championship...LHP David Purcey was Toronto's top draft selection in 2004. He ended last season in Double-A...OF Adam Lind is considered to be the best hitting prospect in the Blue Jays' organization. He is slated to start the season in New Hampshire after a successful year at Class-A Dunedin in 2005.
Veterans to Watch: OF/DH Chad Mottola, the IL's MVP from Syracuse in 2000, is back for his fourth year in Syracuse...1B Kevin Barker, who could make Toronto's opening day roster, hit .305 with 23 HR and 87 RBI in 91 games for Syracuse last season after getting promoted from New Hampshire...LF John-Ford Griffin led the IL in home runs (30) and RBI (103), becoming the first Syracuse player to lead the IL in both categories since Mack Jones in 1964 (39-102)...C Guillermo Quiroz will start the year in Syracuse if he clears waivers. Two other former Major League catchers, Jason Phillips and Mike Mahoney, might also end up with the SkyChiefs depending on what happens with Quiroz...RHP James Baldwin is an 11-year Major League veteran...RHP Ben Weber is a former Syracuse Chief who earned a World Series ring with the Angels in 2002 before suffering injuries the past two seasons...RHP Brandon League remains one of the Blue Jays' top prospects despite struggling at Syracuse last year.
Items of Interest: New manager Mike Basso has led his team to the playoffs six times in nine years as a Minor League skipper. He guided Double-A New Hampshire to the Eastern League title in 2004...Mottola ranks fourth on Syracuse's all-time home run list with 67, and 11th with 87 doubles...OF Justin Singleton is Ken Singleton's son...The SkyChiefs could start the season with six of Toronto's top 11 prospects on their pitching staff: McGowan (No. 1), Banks (No. 5), Janssen (No. 6), League (No. 7), Francisco Rosario (No. 8) and Shaun Marcum (No. 11)...Syracuse's PDC with Toronto expires after this season. This is their 29th year, and Syracuse is the only Triple-A team Toronto has ever had.
Strengths of the Club: The middle of the order could be the IL's best with Griffin, Barker, and Mottola...Lydon and Roberts provide speed, a necessity on the Astroturf at Alliance Bank Stadium...It's been a long time since Syracuse boasted the kind of pitching depth it could have this season. And when injuries and promotions hit the pitching staff, Romero, Purcey, Vince Perkins, and Ismael Ramirez will be waiting in Double-A.
Weaknesses of the Club: The pitching is young. McGowan, Banks, Janssen, and Houston are Triple-A rookies, although McGowan pitched in Toronto last year. Marcum and Gronkiewicz were promoted from Double-A in the middle of last season...The offense around the big three (Griffin, Barker, Mottola) is unproven, although Singleton hit better after returning from Double-A last year, and backup Luis Figueroa is a veteran Triple-A hitter...Defense on the turf is a question mark, particularly with the left side of the infield.
International League West Division
Columbus Clippers Affiliate: New York Yankees
Year in IL (Columbus, OH): 46th Record: 3,441-3,055 Last Governors' Cup: 1996
2005 Finish: 77-67, third in West (-12.0)
Manager: Dave Miley (1st year) Career - 15 yrs. 1,115-841
Coaches: Neil Allen (1st year); Kevin Long (3rd year); Frank Howard (2nd year)
Stadium: Cooper Stadium (15,000)
Probable Starters: 1B - Eric Duncan; 2B - Kevin Howard; 3B - Russ Johnson;
SS - Felix Escalona; C - David Parrish; LF - Kevin Reese; CF - Melky Cabrera;
RF - Kevin Thompson; DH - Mitch Jones
Key Pitchers: Starters - LH Sean Henn, RH Jorge DePaula, RH Matt DeSalvo.
Relievers - RH Colter Bean, LH Matt Smith, RH Scott Proctor.
Top Prospects: Last year 1B Eric Duncan was rated as the organization's top prospect by Baseball America. New York's first round draft pick in 2003 hit 19 home runs last year for Double-A Trenton, and followed that up by being named MVP of the Arizona Fall League...RHP Matt DeSalvo, an unsigned free agent from Marietta College in 2003, went 9-5 last season for Trenton.
Other Organizational Prospects: RHP Phil Hughes, the top Yankees draft choice in 2004, is considered to be the top prospect in the organization. The 19-year-old flamethrower will likely start the season at Class-A Tampa, but should work his way up the ladder quickly... C Jason Brown hit .248 last year for Double-A Trenton...3B Marcos Vechionacci had a successful season in 2005 despite being one of the youngest players in the Class-A South Atlantic League. He is smooth defensively with the ability to play third base or shortstop...SS Ramiro Pena earned a mid-season promotion last year from Class-A to Double-A. He'll start 2006 with Trenton.
Veterans to Watch: RHP Scott Proctor, who throws close to 100 MPH, pitched in 20 games for the Yankees last season. He posted a 6-1 record, 4.22 ERA, and 14 saves in 35 appearances for Columbus...OF Chris Pieto, 33, came this offseason from the Angels organization. He's known as a "down and dirty" type player in the mold of Lenny Dykstra...Another 33-year-old, OF Russ Johnson, brings stability and power to the Clippers' lineup. He hit .292 with 9 HR and 40 RBI in 73 games for the 2005 Clippers...DH/1B/OF Mitch Jones, 28, wowed the Yankees with his power in spring training but is not considered a prospect. Last season he was 5th in the IL in homers with 27 and he won the Triple-A Home Run Derby during the All-Star break.
Items of Interest: Groundbreaking will take place this summer (probably August) for Huntington Park, the future home of the Columbus Clippers. The new stadium will be located in downtown Columbus's Arena District, adjacent to Nationwide Arena. It's scheduled to open in 2008...The 2006 campaign will mark the 30th season since baseball returned to Columbus in 1977.
Strengths of the Club: New manager Dave Miley replaces Bucky Dent. Miley is a veteran of Triple-A Baseball and the International League, having managed eight seasons between Indianapolis and Louisville before managing the Cincinnati Reds for parts of three seasons. Ironically, Dent joined the Reds staff this offseason as a bench coach...After a dry spell, the Yankees appear to be reloading their farm system. There may be a high level of talent coming through Columbus in the years to come...Pitching appears to be a strong point for the Clippers.
Weakness of the Club: Several members of the Clippers will be over 30-years-old. Do these players still have it in them?...Will youngsters respond to fill the gaps when the annual Columbus-to-New York shuttle gets going later this season?...There's not a lot of speed on the club.
Indianapolis Indians Affiliate: Pittsburgh Pirates
Year in IL (Indianapolis, IN): 10th Record: 659-642 Last Governors' Cup: 2000
2005 Finish: 78-66, second in West (-11.0), won Wild Card, lost in Governors' Cup Finals
Manager: Trent Jewett (2nd year) Career - 12 yrs. 775-775
Coaches: Jeff Andrews (1st year); Hensley Meulens (2nd year)
Stadium: Victory Field (15,500)
Probable Starters: 1B - Brad Eldred; 2B - Yurendell de Caster; 3B - Jose Bautista;
SS - J.J. Furmaniak; C - Ronny Paulino; LF - Rajai Davis; CF - Nate McLouth;
RF - Ray Sadler; DH - Jason Alfaro/Mike Edwards
Key Pitchers: Starters - LH Sean Burnett, LH Tom Gorzelanny, RH Jonah Bayliss,
RH Merio Rodriguez, RH Brandon Duckworth. Relievers - RH Ron Chiavacci,
RH Matt Whiteside, LH Mike Johnston, RH Scott Strickland, RH Britt Reames,
RH Marty McLeary, RH Jorge Vasquez, LH C.J. Nitkowski.
Top Prospects: 3B Jose Bautista hit .283 with 23 HR and 90 RBI for Double-A Altoona last season before being promoted to Indianapolis on August 23...LF Rajai Davis hit .281 and stole 45 bases for Altoona in 2005...The Tribe's most versatile player is Yurendell de Caster. Last season, while seeing time at five different positions, he hit .280 with 11 HR and 61 RBI for the Indians...Slugger Brad Eldred hit 40 HR between Altoona, Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh in 2005. He'll start this season in the Minor Leagues as he works on cutting down his number of strikeouts...J.J. Furmaniak returns at second base for Indianapolis. Acquired from the San Diego organization in a late-July trade, he had a great month of August for the Tribe...OF Nate McLouth, who spent most of last season for the Indians, hit .297 with 5 HR, 39 RBI, and 34 stolen bases at the Triple-A level. Look for him to start 2006 with Indianapolis unless he makes the Pittsburgh opening day roster...C Ronny Paulino had two great months in Indianapolis last year, then wore down. He still finished with a .315 batting average with 13 HR and 42 RBI...RF Ray Sadler spent most of last season with the Tribe, hitting .259 with 10 HR and 30 RBI.
Other Organizational Prospects: RHP Matt Capps started 2005 with low Class-A Hickory, and finished in the Pittsburgh bullpen. The Pirates hope the hard throwing righty can become a closer, and will have him start the season at Double-A...RHP Josh Sharpless looks to improve upon a 2005 season that saw him make the jump from Class-A to Double-A...2B Craig Stansberry spent most of last year with Double-A Altoona, hitting .238 with 18 HR and 67 RBI.
Veterans to Watch: RHP Ron Chiavacci was with the organization for part of 2005. He's had a successful spring for the Pirates...INF Mike Edwards is a versatile player who saw time in 2005 with the LA Dodgers and their Triple-A club, Las Vegas...LHP C.J. Nitkowski is back with the organization.
Items of Interest: Two players likely to begin the year with Indianapolis, C Ronny Paulino and INF Yurendell de Caster, participated in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Paulino played for the Dominican Republic, while de Caster played for the Netherlands...Manager Trent Jewett and hitting coach Hensley "Bam Bam" Meulens return in 2006, while new pitching coach Jeff Andrews joins the Indians from Altoona...RHP John Van Benschoten will likely begin the year on the disabled list with shoulder issues.
Strengths of the club: There are two major strengths on the Indians this season: speed, and defense. Nowhere are these strengths more evident than the Tribe outfield.
Weaknesses of the club: OF Nate McLouth and OF Rich Thompson are potentially the only left handed hitters in the Indianapolis lineup, and there's no guarantee either one will start the season at Triple-A.
International League West Division
Louisville Bats Affiliate: Cincinnati Reds
Year in IL (Louisville, KY): 14th Record: 956-906 Last Governors' Cup: 2001
2005 Finish: 66-78, fourth in West (-23.0)
Manager: Rick Sweet (2nd year) Career - 16 yrs. 1,115-1,333
Coaches: Lee Tunnell (1st year); Smokey Garrett (4th year)
Stadium: Louisville Slugger Field (13,200)
Probable Starters: 1B - Jesse Gutierrez; 2B - William Bergolla/Aaron Holbert;
3B - Earl Snyder; SS - Ray Olmedo/Jeff Bannon; C - Steve Torrealba; LF - Andy Abad;
CF - Chris Denorfia; RF - Timo Perez; DH - Rob Stratton
Key Pitchers: Starters - RH Elizardo Ramirez, RH Justin Germano, LH Michael Gosling,
RH Jung Keun Bong. Relievers - RH Jason Standridge, RH Scott Chiasson,
RH Tom Shearn, RH Jake Robbins.
Top Prospects: OF Chris Denorfia is the Reds' reigning Minor League Player of the Year. He hit .330 in 46 games in Double-A and .310 in 91 Triple-A games last year before a brief big league trial...1B Jesse Gutierrez had 17 homers in Double-A in 2004 before injuring his knee last year...RHP Justin Germano, 23, was acquired in the Joe Randa trade last year from San Diego.
Other Organizational Prospects: RHP Homer Bailey, the organization's top prospect, will probably start in Double-A. The Reds have big plans for the 19-year-old, who went 8-4 with a 4.43 ERA and 125 strikeouts in his first full professional season at Class-A Dayton a year ago...RHP Travis Chick, the other pitcher acquired in the Randa deal, will also be in Double-A. He struggled last year in his Double-A debut, going 4-11 for Mobile and Chattanooga. He hopes to regain the form that saw him dominate Class-A in 2004 with an 11-4 record and 3.43 ERA...LHP Philip Dumatrait, 24, had a 3.17 ERA in Double-A last season.
Veterans to Watch: 2B Aaron Holbert is the two-time reigning team captain who is Louisville's all-time hits leader and who could establish several more franchise records this season...DH Rob Stratton has launched 16 homers in just 42 games for Louisville but has been slowed by injuries...3B Earl Snyder has been one of the IL's top home run hitters the past few years, and OF Andy Abad is a former IL RBI champ who was Buffalo's co-MVP last year...The Reds have also signed veteran Major League OF Terrence Long and Alex Sanchez to Minor League deals late in spring training.
Items of Interest: Manager Rick Sweet returns for his second year at the helm of the Bats. The 53-year-old skipper is entering his 17th season as a Minor League manager...RHP Jung Keun Bong pitched 2.2 scoreless innings in three appearances for Korea in the World Baseball Classic.
Strengths of the Club: Lots of veteran depth, especially with the late signings...If healthy and together, the Abad-Snyder-Stratton trio could form one of the best middle of the orders in the League...The team has some good tablesetters and defensive whizzes in SS Ray Olmedo and 2B William Bergolla, although they've been battling injuries...Denorfia is a proven hitter...Ramirez, Germano and Gosling give the team a solid 1-2-3 punch at the head of the rotation.
Weaknesses of the Club: The back end of the rotation and the bullpen are a little unsettled...There are nagging health concerns for several players...There is almost too much depth, especially in the outfield, which invites questions about playing time and chemistry.
Toledo Mud Hens Affiliate: Detroit Tigers
Year in IL (Toledo, OH): 43rd Record: 2,772-3,151 Last Governors' Cup: 2005
2005 Finish: 89-55, West Champions (+11.0), defeated Indianapolis for Governors' Cup
Manager: Larry Parrish (5th year) Career - 7 yrs. 397-374
Coaches: Jeff Jones (12th year); Leon Durham (6th year)
Stadium: Fifth Third Field (8,943)
Probable Starters: 1B - Mike Hessman; 2B - Ryan Raburn; 3B - Jack Hannahan;
SS - Don Kelly; C - Max. St. Pierre; LF - Reggie Taylor; CF - Alexis Gomez;
RF - Ryan Ludwick; DH - Josh Phelps
Key Pitchers: Starters - LH Wil Ledezma, RH Zach Miner, RH Tony Fiore,
RH Chad Durbin, RH Roman Colon. Relievers - RH Lee Gardner, RH Tim Crabtree,
RH Steve Green, RH Kevin Hodge, LH Hector Mercado, LH Bobby Seay,
RH Mark Woodyard
Top Prospects: With RHP Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya making the Detroit roster in spring training, the Mud Hens will not have a single top ten prospect on the opening day roster. SS Don Kelly and C Max St. Pierre, who performed well in Double-A last season, are viewed as players with Major League potential, as are pitchers Roman Colon, Wil Ledezma, Zach Miner, and Mark Woodyard.
Other Organizational Prospects: Detroit's Double-A Erie club has several top prospects who may rise to Toledo at some point this season. Among the top options are OF Brent Clevlen, the Tigers' fourth-best prospect according to Baseball America; last season Clevlan was the MVP of the Florida State League...Another is RHP Humberto Sanchez, Detroit's sixth-rated prospect who will be a part of the SeaWolves' starting rotation for the second straight year...RHP Jordan Tata, the Tigers' seventh-best prospect, also will be in the Erie rotation after being named FSL pitcher of the year last season...SS Tony Giarratano, the Tigers' eighth-rated prospect, will repeat Double-A with a chance to move up if he performs well.
Veterans to Watch: RHP Tony Fiore finished sixth in the IL in ERA (3.63) last season... RHP Lee Gardner saved 70 games for Durham since 2002... CF Alexis Gomez finished seventh in the IL in batting average (.307) last year... IF Mike Hessman finished fourth in the IL with 28 home runs last season. ... IF Kevin Hooper may have been last year's team MVP despite hitting just .240 thanks to his hustle. ... DH Josh Phelps has hit 57 home runs in only 352 major-league games.
Items of Interest: The Mud Hens will host the Triple-A All-Star Game this year. The date of the game is Wednesday, July 12...Last year the Mud Hens won 89 games, more than any other club in Minor League Baseball, in winning the franchise's first Governors' Cup since 1967. Toledo also claimed the best record in the IL for the first time since 1968... Since the Hens had the worst record in the IL in 2004, last year's revival marked the League's most recent worst-to-first revival since Jacksonville turned the trick in 1963-64...The Mud Hens also set a franchise single-season attendance record last year with 592,046. ...The team will celebrate last year's championship during its initial homestand of the season by giving away, among other items, replicas of its championship rings and of the Governors' Cup.
Strengths of the Club: There is plenty of veteran experience, especially in an infield that may return as many as five players who saw extensive action there last season...The middle of the lineup has plenty of power potential with Josh Phelps and Mike Hessman...There are veteran arms in the bullpen, including Lee Gardner, Tim Crabtree, Steve Green, Kevin Hodge and Mark Woodyard...The coaching staff - manager Larry Parrish, pitching coach Jeff Jones and hitting coach Leon "Bull" Durham - returns for its fourth year together.
Weaknesses of the club: There is inexperience at catcher, with the three possible Opening Day catchers sharing exactly one day of career experience above the Double-A level...There isn't as much pitching depth, particularly in the starting rotation, as last season...There also is not as much outfield depth as last season.
International League South Division
Charlotte Knights Affiliate: Chicago White Sox
Year in IL (Charlotte, NC): 14th Record: 911-941 Last Governors' Cup: 1999
2005 Finish: 57-87, third in South (-22.0)
Manager: Razor Shines (1st year) Career - 6 yrs. 429-408
Coaches: Juan Nieves (2nd year); Tack Wilson (1st year)
Stadium: Knights Stadium (10,000)
Probable starters: 1B - Casey Rodriguez; 2B - Andy Gonzalez; 3B - Josh Fields;
SS - Pedro Lopez; C - Chris Stewart; LF - Jerry Owens; CF - Ruben Rivera;
RF - Ryan Sweeney; DH - Darren Blakely
Key pitchers: Starters - RH Hideo Nomo, RH Charlie Haeger, LH Heath Phillips.
Relievers - RH Sean Tracey, RH Josh Fields.
Top Prospects: RF Ryan Sweeney played through a wrist injury last season, his first at the Double-A level. Despite the pain, he put up modest numbers, hitting .298 with 1 HR and 47 RBI. The 21-year-old has moved quickly through the Chicago farm system ...3B Josh Fields was a two-sport standout at Oklahoma State, where he still holds the record for career passing touchdowns. He was the top draft pick for the White Sox in 2004. Last year for Double-A Birmingham Fields hit .252 with 16 HR and 79 RBI, but also struck out 142 times. He will return to the Minor Leagues this year as he continues to work on his discipline at the plate...LF Jerry Owens hit .331 last year to win the Southern League's batting title for Birmingham. The 25-year-old was acquired in a trade with the Nationals prior to last year. He'll start the season in Triple-A, but the White Sox have hopes he'll battle Brian Anderson for the centerfield job in Chicago in the near future.
Other Organizational Prospects: RHP Lance Broadway, a 23-year-old out of Texas Christian University, began his Minor League career last season at Class-A Winston-Salem of the Carolina League. The young righty went 1-3 with a 4.58 ERA in 11 starts, striking out 58 batters in 55 innings. There's a chance he could make his way to Charlotte at some point during the 2006 season.
Veterans to Watch: OF Ruben Rivera is a veteran of nine seasons in the Major Leagues, including time with the Yankees, Padres, Reds, Rangers, and Giants. In the Minor Leagues, he owns a career .274 average with 144 HR and 550 RBI in 885 career games...Another outfielder, Mark Quinn, returns to the International League after one season in the independent leagues. Quinn has played with Omaha, Portland, and Memphis of the Pacific Coast League, plus one stint with Durham of the IL in 2003. He's also played in 293 Major League games with Kansas City, hitting .282...Switch hitting DH Darren Blakely was impressive last year for Double-A Birmingham, hitting .283 with 18 HR and a Southern League leading 89 RBI...RHP Hideo Nomo will begin the 2006 season in Charlotte. The 37-year-old hurler is a former National League Rookie of the Year, who has also thrown a no-hitter at the Major League level.
Items of Interest: The new manager for Charlotte in 2006 is Razor Shines. Shines was the 2005 Southern League Manager of the Year...The Knights could have two players named Josh Fields on the roster at the same time during the season. 3B Josh Fields, one of the White Sox top prospects, and reliever Josh Fields, who was with Charlotte in 2005.
Strengths of the Club: The Knights appear to be well-balanced offensively with a mix of power and speed.
Weaknesses of the Club: Pitching, in both the bullpen and starting rotation, appears to be thin.
Durham Bulls Affiliate: Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Year in IL (Durham, NC): 9th Record: 613-533 Last Governors' Cup: 2002
2005 Finish: 65-79, second in South (-14.0)
Manager: John Tamargo (1st year) Career - 15 yrs. 912-859
Coaches: Joe Coleman (7th year); Richie Hebner (5th year)
Stadium: Durham Bulls Athletic Park (10,000)
Probable Starters: 1B - Kevin Witt; 2B - Fernando Cortez; 3B - Russell Branyan;
SS - B.J. Upton; C - Shawn Riggans; LF - Darnell McDonald; CF - Elijah Dukes;
RF - Delmon Young; DH - Wes Bankston
Key Pitchers: Starters - RH Jason Hammel, RH Jamie Shields, RH Brian Stokes,
LH Chris Seddon. Relievers - RH Carlos Hines.
Top Prospects: Baseball America ranks OF Delmon Young, who was the Topps Minor League Player of the Year for 2005, as the top prospect in all of baseball. Young combined to hit .315 with 26 HR and 99 RBI last season between Double-A Montgomery and Durham. It is likely he'll find his way to Tampa Bay sometime this season, where he appears to be the club's future right fielder...RHP Jason Hammel, with a plus fastball and plus curve, is 79th in the ranking...OF Elijah Dukes, a five-tool prospect, got the No. 20 prospect ranking in the Southern League last season...DH Wes Bankston, who will likely platoon with Witt at first, was ranked No. 7 in prospects from the Devil Rays' organization. The 22-year-old hit .292 with 12 HR and 47 RBI in 301 at-bats for Montgomery last season after opening the year by hitting .387 at Class-A Visalia.
Other Organizational Prospects: RHP Jeff Niemann, the Devil Rays' first-round pick (fourth overall) in 2004, had 11 outings in Visalia and Montgomery last season and is No. 70 in Baseball America's overall ranking. After off-season shoulder surgery, he should be back in the second half. Niemann was 0-1 with a 4.35 ERA in six appearances (three starts) last season for Montgomery.
Veterans to Watch: Is SS B.J. Upton a veteran yet? The Devil Rays' first-round pick in 2002 is one of the most talented young infielders in baseball history, and has proven it some of the time. He has also had a tendency to commit errors in bunches, which is why he hasn't stuck in the Major Leagues yet. The best news was that the IL All-Star has never taken his fielding woes to the plate...3B Russell Branyan is a proven power quantity who is still working on his plate discipline.
Items of Interest: This is the Bulls' first go-round at the Triple-A level without manager Bill Evers, who is now the Devil Rays' bench coach. Veteran Minor League skipper John Tamargo is the new manager...In eight IL seasons, Durham has never finished below second in the South Division, with seven winning seasons, six playoff berths, five division titles, four appearances in the Governors' Cup Finals and back-to-back championships in 2002 and '03.
Strengths of the Club: The biggest strengths of the 2006 Bulls should be solid offense, team speed, overall athleticism, and strong arms in the starting rotation.
Weaknesses of the Club: While the arms in the starting rotation are strong, the rotation will be youthful and inexperienced...Questions also linger about defensive consistency for Durham.
International League South Division
Norfolk Tides Affiliate: New York Mets
Year in IL (Norfolk, VA): 38th Record: 2,714-2,506 Last Governors' Cup: 1985
2005 Finish: 79-65, South Champions (+14.0), lost to Toledo in Governors' Cup first round
Manager: Ken Oberkfell (2nd year) Career - 9 yrs. 644-614
Coaches: Randy Niemann (1st year); Howard Johnson (2nd year)
Stadium: Harbor Park (12,067)
Probable Starters: 1B - Juan Tejada; 2B - Jeff Keppinger; 3B - Chase Lambin;
SS - Chris Basak; C - Sandy Martinez; LF - Victor Diaz; CF - Lastings Milledge;
RF - Todd Self; DH - Julio Ramirez
Key Pitchers: Starters - RH Jason Scobie, RH John Maine, RH Jeremi Gonzalez,
RH Steve Schmoll, RH Bartolome Fotunato. Relievers - RH Heath Bell, RH Tim LaVigne,
LH Blake McGinley; LH Pedro Feliciano.
Top Prospects: OF Lastings Milledge is a five-tool player, and the Mets' top prospect according to Baseball America. Milledge batted .318 with 8 HR and 29 SB combined in stops at Class-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton last year. A crowded outfield in New York is likely to keep Milledge in Triple-A this season...2B Anderson Hernandez spent last season between Double-A and Norfolk, and appears to be the Mets' starting second baseman until Kaz Matsui heals. He hit .315 with 9 HR and 35 SB between Binghamton and Norfolk last season.
Other Organizational Prospects: RHP Mike Pelfrey was New York's top draft choice in 2005 out of Wichita State. The 6'7" righty throws in the mid-90's...23-year-old RHP Philip Humber blew out his elbow last year just 15 starts into his professional career. Following Tommy John surgery in the offseason, Humber should return to the mound for the second half of the 2006 season.
Veterans to Watch: RHP Tim LaVigne, a native of nearby Virginia Beach, enjoyed a successful offseason in Puerto Rico. This came on the heels of a 2005 campaign in which he went 1-3 with a 3.65 ERA in 45 appearances out of the Norfolk bullpen. He also pitched one scoreless inning for the Tides in 2003, his only appearance in Triple-A prior to last season...2B Jeff Keppinger was off to a terrific start in 2005 before a broken leg ended his season. Before the injury, Keppinger was hitting .337. The 25-year-old played in 33 games with the Mets in 2004, hitting .284 with 3 HR and 9 RBI.
Items of Interest: Last year The Tides reached the postseason for the first time since 2001 with a roster full of veterans. For a return trip, Norfolk is likely to have to ride some much younger prospects...Manager Ken Oberkfell won't start the season with the Tides and there's no time table for his return. Oberkfell had two surgeries during spring training after complications arose from a mid-February surgery to repair blood clots in his legs. Tony Tijerina, the Mets Minor League Field Coordinator, has been named interim manager.
Strengths of the Club: The Tides should have plenty of speed on the base paths in 2006. Anderson Hernandez swiped 24 bases in 66 games for Norfolk last year. SS Chris Basak added 17 stolen bases, while Lastings Milledge stole 29 bases between Class-A and Double-A...The starting rotation looks very strong for Norfolk. RHP Jason Scobie led the IL with 15 victories last year. RHP John Maine and Jeremi Gonzalez are also proven Triple-A veterans.
Weaknesses of the Club: The Tides coasted to the South Division Championship last year, ultimately winning it by 14 games. This year's team will have many new faces, including several young players getting their first taste of Triple-A baseball.
Richmond Braves Affiliate: Atlanta Braves
Year in IL (Richmond, VA): 56th Record: 3,756-4,069 Last Governors' Cup: 1994
2005 Finish: 56-88, fourth in South (-23.0)
Manager: Brian Snitker (1st year) Career - 16 yrs. 1,083-1,059
Coaches: Derek Botelho (1st year); Rick Albert (4th year)
Stadium: The Diamond (12,134)
Probable Starters: 1B - Scott Thorman; 2B - Jonathan Schuerholz; 3B - Wes Timmons; SS - Tony Pena Jr.; C - Brayan Pena; LF - David Kelton/Bill McCarthy;
CF - Cesar Crespo; RF - Michael Ryan; DH - James Jurries
Key Pitchers: Starters - RH Anthony Lerew, RH Travis Smith, RH Wes Obermueller.
Relievers - RH Kevin Barry, RH Chad Paronto, RH Ken Ray, RH Brad Baker.
Top Prospects: RHP Anthony Lerew went 10-6 between Double-A and Triple-A last season before making his Major League debut in a September call-up with Atlanta. The 23-year-old, who also pitched in the 2005 Futures Game, went 0-0 with a 5.63 ERA in 8 Major League innings...1B Scott Thorman was a first round draft choice for Atlanta in 2000. Last year he combined to hit .294 with 21 HR and 92 RBI between Double-A Mississippi and Richmond, his first experience at the Triple-A level...SS Tony Pena Jr. looks to improve upon his first season at the Triple-A level after hitting .249 with 5 HR, 40 RBI, and 17 SB for the 2005 R-Braves.
Other Organizational Prospects: SS Yunel Escobar, a childhood friend of Braves catcher Brayan Pena in Cuba, was drafted by Atlanta last June and hit .325 with 6 HR and 27 RBI between Rookie League Danville and low Class-A Rome last season. He made just six errors in 48 games with Rome...20-year-old C Jarrod Saltalamacchia is among the best catching prospects in Minor League Baseball. In 2005 playing for Myrtle Beach of the Carolina League, he hit .314 with 19 HR and 81 RBI. He is likely to start the season at Double-A Mississippi.
Veterans to Watch: C Brayan Pena had a very successful season in 2005, his first above the Double-A level. In 81 games for Richmond, Pena hit .326, and struck out just 19 times in 282 at-bats. He also spent significant time in Atlanta, hitting .179 in 18 games at the Major League level. Pena also participated in the Triple-A All-Star Game...29-year-old RHP Wes Obermueller joined the Braves organization this offseason in the Dan Kolb trade. The 6'2" righty has a career Minor League record of 32-19 with a 3.26 ERA in 97 appearances. He's also pitched in 62 Major League games with Kansas City and Milwaukee.
Items of Interest: New manager Brian Snitker has been in the organization as a coach or manager since 1982. He spent the past four seasons in Double-A...The Braves and the city of Richmond continue to discuss potential plans for a new ballpark in Richmond to replace The Diamond, the club's home since 1985.
Strengths of the club: This club may have more of a veteran experience than anticipated, due to the fact Atlanta may keep some of the prospects many thought would return to the Minor Leagues. This has especially been true for the pitching...Still, the Richmond club will boast good prospects, including Anthony Lerew...The 2006 R-Braves should have plenty of power.
Weaknesses of the club: There's not much speed. Three-time defending IL stolen base leader Esix Snead is no longer with the Braves.
International League Stories from March 30, 2006
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- Marte Homers as Bisons Fall to Toledo, 11-8 - Buffalo Bisons
- Lynx Announce 2006 Promotional Schedule - Ottawa Lynx
- 2006 International League Preview - IL1
- July 5 game time changed - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
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