#6 Eric Hosmer

By Chris Douthat

     Over the years, I've gotten pretty excited over some prospects. More often than not, the guys I rooted for usually ended up floundering and not doing much (I am a Mets fan after all.) But occasionally, a player will appear that erases any doubts I have. Eric Hosmer is one of those players.

     Just by looking at Hosmer’s 2010 batting line, you can tell this kid is an animal. Hitting .338 with 43 doubles, 9 triples, and 20 HR, the first baseman absolutely crushed Wilmington (A+) and Northwest Arkansas (AA) pitching. Hosmer also walked an impressive 59 times and even swiped 14 bases, surprising when you consider his size (6’4, 230 lb.) This kid can do it all, and the Royals, not to mention the rest of baseball, are ecstatic about what he can do and the potential he possess.

     Drafted third overall in the 2008 draft, Hosmer is being tabbed by media and talent evaluators alike as the best bet in the Royals farm system to become a star. Growing up in Southern Florida, Hosmer didn’t live too far from the beach. According to Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star though, he wouldn’t go until after four-hour sessions in the batting cages.

     That intense work ethic has carried into his professional career as well. In 27 games for Wilmington in 2009, Hosmer was noticeably overmatched, as he only hit .206 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, and 1 HR. He also struck out twice as much as he walked. The next year though, he took Wilmington by storm. With a .354 batting average, Hosmer hit 29 doubles, 6 triples, and 20 HR, erasing any doubts by those who say he might be a bit over his head.

     Hosmer is slated to begin 2011 with Omaha (AAA.) If he plays well, expect the Royals to call him up towards the end of the season, as they look to see how he does against Major League pitching while also getting his feet wet some. 2012 is going to be a big year in Kansas City, as Hosmer along with Mike Moustakas should be ready to take over the corner infield positions. Get excited folks, I know I am.

Fire Birds

[Photo Credit: Associated Press]

     By Pat Carroll

    
     After the hub-bub of the Opening weekend has subsided, four teams have made it through the weekend unscathed. The Philadelphia Phillies, who are everyone's favorites to win the National League pennant, were no surprises sweeping the Houston Astros to open the season. The defending American League champion Texas Rangers came out of the gates swinging, hitting eleven home runs in their three game sweep of the Boston Red Sox. The Cincinnati Reds also started off the season hot with a sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers. But the fourth team, well, that is a major surprise. The lone team of the bunch that was far from the playoffs last season: The Baltimore Orioles.

     Yes, the Orioles, under manager Buck Showalter, are playing great baseball and are the hottest team in the MLB with their best start since 1997. Yes, I know it's April and it hasn't even been a week into the season, but the Birds look like a solid ball club. In my recent American League Preview, I had the Orioles finishing in eleventh out of fourteen teams and pulling up the rear in the AL East. In 2010, they didn't win a series until May 2. In 2011, they haven't lost a game. So far, they have showed that they are a team to be reckoned with after sweeping the Tampa Bay Rays on the road.

The Keys to Success




     Veteran second baseman Brian Roberts and right fielder Nick Markakis have been catalysts for the O's offense that finished 2010 ranked at the lower end of the majors in almost every offensive category. Roberts, who is the longest tenured Oriole on the staff, has gotten off to a hot start, hitting .294 with two home runs and eight RBIs. Markakis has filled the role of "future of the franchise" nicely, especially to start 2011, toting a .429 batting average and playing solid defense in right.

[Photo Credit: J. Meric/Getty Images]

    

     A pleasant surprise for Orioles fans is the recovery of young catcher Matt Wieters. After hitting .249 in 2010 with 94 strikeouts while playing in 130 games, Wieters has started 2011 batting .385 to go along with an OPS of .890. The Orioles' No. 1 prospect in 2009 has shown signs of maturation in his third season in the majors by working the count and getting good pitches to put in play. The Orioles have a potent line-up that features all-around players Adam Jones and Felix Pie while incorporating newcomers Vladimir Guerrero, J.J. Hardy, Mark Reynolds and Derek Lee. With all the pieces put in place, the O's are showing an early resilience and intensity that should be a fuel for them throughout the season.

    
     The Orioles are relying on a young rotation that has only allowed  two runs in 26 innings pitched. Jeremy Guthrie, the Orioles' opening day starter, blanked the Rays to start the season with six strikeouts and a walk. He was recently hospitalized for an infection that may even be pneumonia and will miss his next scheduled start on Wednesday. Guthrie, along with Chris Tillman, Zach Britton and Jake Arrieta, has fueled a rotation that combined has a 0.69 ERA. Tillman, in his first start, pitched six no-hit innings with three walks and five strikeouts. Britton struckout six in his first start in Tampa, utilizing his sinker and offspeed pitches to keep the Rays' hitters on their toes. Arrieta beat the Detroit Tigers on three strikeouts, one earned run in six innings pitched. If the Orioles can get the production they have out of the rotation and the bullpen thus far throughout the season, don't be surprised in the Birds win quite a few more series.

     Though the calendar reads April 5, the Orioles have started the 2011 season on a roll, that MLB analysts across the country didn't foresee. With the continued mix of solid pitching and quality starts to go along with a consistent line-up and strong defense, the O's can surprise a lot of people and possibly contend for the AL Wild Card slot.

#5 Mike Moustakas

By Chris Douthat


[Photo Credit: thegoldensombreo.com]

     When discussing the best farm systems in baseball, there are two groups. You have the Kansas City Royals…and then you have everybody else. Thanks to top-notch scouting and risky draft picks, Kansas City has put together what many people in the game consider the best farm system in the history of the game. In their annual top prospect list, Baseball America put nine Kansas City prospects in the Top 100, a record for the publication.



     Mike Moustakas, in my opinion, is the pride and joy of the system. The second overall pick in the 2007 MLB draft, Moustakas has done nothing but hit since being selected out of high school. Splitting the 2010 season with AA and AAA, the third baseman hit .322 with 41 doubles, 36 HR, and 124 RBI, good for a slugging percentage of .630 and an absolutely ridiculous OPS of .999.

     At 5’11 and 230 lb, Moustakas won’t be stealing many bases, but with a respectable career on-base percentage (.336), he’ll be in many run scoring opportunities. Widely expected to be the first of the Royals prospects to reach the majors, look for Moustakas to make his debut as soon as this year, whether by injury or mid-to-late call-up, with him sticking for good in 2012.

Matt Holliday Has Appendectomy

By Pat Carroll

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday underwent an appendectomy Friday. Good news for Cards fans: It was not an emergency. Bad news for Cards fans: There is no timetable for his return. Holliday, who went 3-for-4 with a home run Thursday on against the San Diego Padres, is entering his second season of a seven-year, $120 million contract with the Cardinals.

Josh Johnson Has No-Hitter Broken Up in 7th

[Photo Credit: Associated Press]

By Pat Carroll

Florida Marlins starting pitcher Josh Johnson had his no-hitter broken up in the seventh inning by New York Mets leftfielder Willie Harris. Had he completed the no-hitter, Johnson would have been the first pitcher to do so on Opening Day since Bob Feller did in 1940.

#4 Jesus Montero

By Chris Douthat

     The New York Yankees are good at a lot of things, such as spending money and winning World Series. Another talent they seem to have is developing catchers. Starting with Yogi Berra, then continuing with Thurman Munson and Jorge Posada, Jesus Montero is the newest power-hitting backstop to come out of New York’s farm system.

     Only 21, Montero has done nothing but hit. In 2010, the backstop hit .289 with 34 doubles, 3 triples, and 21 homeruns for Scranton-Wilkes/Barre (AAA). His career OPS (measure of on-base percentage and slugging percentage) is what really stands out though. With a VERY respectable .882, Montero is on the cusp of what sabermetricians consider an excellent OPS, .900.

     Scouts feel that, because of his size (6’4, 225 lb), he’s best suited for another position, such as DH or 1^st base. With current first baseman Mark Teixeira only in year 3 of his 8 year/$180 million contract, it would seem his best shot into reaching the majors would be by replacing Posada as the team’s designated hitter.

     While scouts might knock him for his size, Yankee fans still hopeful for Montero as the team’s future backstop need look no further than Joe Mauer. At 6’5 and 230 lb, Mauer has a similar frame while also having the distinction of being the best catcher in the game.

     Montero has already proven he can hit AAA pitching. Now all the Yankees need to do is find a spot for him. Expect Montero to reach the big leagues either mid-season of this year or by the start of 2012.

American League Morning





[Photo Credit: Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press]

 By Pat Carroll

• Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau will be in the starting line-up tonight when the Twins play the Toronto Blue Jays on their Opening Day. Missing the last three months of last season with a concussion, Morneau may be somewhat rusty out of the gates but the 2006 AL MVP will surely heat up and provide the Twins with a power bat in an already strong line-up.
• The Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians will start their season's in snowy Cleveland, as about 5-6 inches of snow fell Wednesday night. Mark Buehrle and Fausto Carmona will be starting for both clubs. The game is slated to start at 3:05 P.M. Don't expect any Buerhle-meter-esque play like last year's Opening Day, but don't put it past him.
• According to ESPN, Los Angeles Angels first baseman Kendrys Morales is ahead of schedule in his road to recovery from broken left ankle he sustained last May 29th. His rehab was then delayed due to pain in the ball of his foot and his big toe. Manager Mike Scioscia believes Morales will be back in the line-up in three weeks time.