With the 2007 MLB Draft a thing of the past, and the majority of prospects signed to their first professional contracts, now is the time to take note of who has excelled in the early stages of their respective careers. The criterion is simple: prospects must have signed and made their pro baseball debuts, and have made an intriguing first impression.
Starting with the third round two weeks ago, and finally advancing to the first round next week, Project Prospect will show you which prospects have already excelled in their young careers in professional baseball.
Editor's note: Here are links to Adam's previous two columns...Second Round, Third Round.
Sandwich Rounders:
Nick Noonan, 2B, San Francisco Giants (No. 32)
Anytime you draw comparisons to the best in the business at the ripe old age of 18, you’re going to be doing more than turning a few heads. A 6-foot, 180-pounder out of San Diego, Calif., Nick Noonan is already hearing his name mentioned in the same breath as Chase Utley, according to Baseball America. The Parker H.S. product is off to an impressive start, holding a .325/.364/.491 vital line in 114 at-bats. While he may never blast home runs with ease like Utley, there’s no reason to think that Noonan can’t be a quality big league second baseman.
Todd Frazier, 3B, Cincinnati Reds (No. 34)
One of the top collegiate hitters in the nation in 2007, Todd Frazier is out to prove he can duplicate that same success rate at the professional level. A 6-foot-3, 215-pounder, Frazier led the way for the upstart Rutgers Scarlet Knights, pacing the club with an imposing .377/.502/.757 line that resulted in 22 HR and 65 RBI. The Point Pleasant, N.J. native is off to a solid start in the minors, hitting .313 with a .366 on-base clip, but has yet to find his power stroke (.422 SLG). If the former shortstop can find his thunder, Frazier should become a solid prospect on the hot corner.
Brent Cecil, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays (No. 38)
To start or not to start? Brent Cecil is showing that there is no question. Hailing from College Park, Md., Cecil made 28 of 30 appearances out of the bullpen as the closer of his hometown Maryland Terrapins in 2007. Because he already possesses a four-pitch arsenal (fastball, slider, curveball, and change), the Blue Jays brass decided that Cecil was suited for the starting rotation; the lefty has not disappointed. A 6-foot-3, 220-pounder, Cecil has thrown 30 innings thus far, allowing a mere 25 hits and five walks during that span, resulting in a 1.50 ERA. If Cecil continues to develop his arsenal, he has a very good chance of finding a big league rotation.
James Adkins, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers (No. 39)
Serving as the ace of the Tennessee Volunteer rotation, James Adkins allowed just 104 hits while striking out 133 victims in 122 frames of work in 2007. The big 6-foot-5, 195-pound lefty has shown more of the same in his brief professional stint with four hits allowed and six strikeouts in six frames. A native of Knoxville, Tenn., Adkins has also developed a knack for the groundball, but will need to work on his secondary offerings to stick in a big league rotation.
Josh Donaldson, C, Chicago Cubs (No. 48)
Ever since signing his first pro contract, Josh Donaldson has been on an absolute tear. A product of Auburn University, the 6-foot, 195-pounder has posted an impressive .308/.439/.662 line in 65 at-bats, where 11 of his 20 hits have been for extra bases (6 HR). While he has a strong arm, questions remain as to whether Donaldson will remain behind the dish, as reported by MLB.com. Donaldson began his collegiate career at third base, and a return to the position is not out of the question. Whether he’s playing catcher or one of the infield corners, the fact of the matter is that a solid, power bat will be in play.
Michael Burgess, OF, Washington Nationals (No. 49)
Hailing from a high school that has produced the likes of Gary Sheffield and Dwight Gooden, Burgess disappointed in his senior year. Pitched around in most of his at-bats, Burgess become impatient and started swinging at pitches out of the strike zone or swinging at the first decent offering he saw. Because he was widely considered a potential Top 10 overall pick prior to his senior year, some experts were surprised when the Hillsborough (Fla.) H.S. product fell into the heart of the sandwich round. Michael Burgess is letting his bat do the talking thus far in his pro career. Off to a .329/.432/.575 start, Burgess has a world of talent, possessing the look and the stroke of a true big league slugger.
Mitch Canham, C, San Diego Padres (No. 57)
A left-handed hitting, slugging catcher? They still make those? Mitch Canham certainly is no diamond in the rough, pacing the Eugene Emeralds to the tune of a .353/.450/.500 line in the Northwest League. Winning back-to-back College World Series titles at Oregon State, the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder batted .326/.447/.524 for the Beavers in 2007. And while he may lack a rifle arm, Canham’s leadership qualities and advanced bat skills are far too much to overlook when evaluating this catching prospect.
Corey Brown, OF, Oakland Athletics (No. 59)
Hitting a meager .246 and still one of the sandwich-round standouts? You bet. Despite his lackluster batting clip, Corey Brown has walked 21 times in 35 games (.362 OBP) while clubbing eight home runs (.563 SLG). A five-tool talent, according to Baseball America, Brown batted .335/.493/.736 in right field for Oklahoma State in 2007. No one would have been surprised if the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder heard his name called near the end of round one, so Brown was a solid value pick as well. Although it wouldn’t hurt if he cut his strikeout rate, Brown’s power stroke should be fun to watch.
Have questions about this year’s crop of sandwich rounders? Too excited to wait until for the first round checkup? Adam Loberstein can be reached at aloberstein@projectprospect.com.