From Publishers Weekly
The Boston Red Sox have a "five-tool" Class A shortstop whom scouts compare to Alex Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano, and their own Nomar Garciaparra. The San Francisco Giants are nurturing a trio of Triple A pitchers who could comprise three-fifths of the parent team's starting rotation as early as next season. And the New York Yankees? Their top prospects are Jose Contreras, the recently defected pitching ace of the Cuban national team, and Hideki Matsui, the sweet-swinging outfielder who was one of Japan's best players and a fan favorite. But whether raw or ready for the "show," they're all part of Major League Baseball's next generation, as identified in this handbook, updated every year by the editors of Baseball America magazine. Based on extensive interviews with scouts, coaches, managers and general managers, the book offers overviews of all the minor league farm systems, with stat-stuffed profiles of each team's thirty most promising prospects. In addition, the four editors have each selected an overall "Top 50" list of major-leaguers most likely to succeed. The consensus MVP: the Texas Rangers' Mark Teixeira, whose scouting report succinctly sums him up as "the best hitting prospect in the minor leagues." But if you delve deeply enough, nearly every franchise reveals a kid who has the potential to be a big player-and therein lies this book's irresistible appeal to hardcore fans. Perusing these scouting reports, even the Florida Marlins' faithful will find a reason to believe. B&w photos throughout
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
