by John Halpin, FS

Updated: May 15, 2008, 6:06 PM EST 3 comments

add this RSS blog email print

Some of those grooves are good, and others are driving you nuts. Your eye is wandering, and where better to look than the minor leagues, where everyone is full of promise?

We mentioned Jay Bruce and Clayton Kershaw earlier this week, but below is a more complete list of players to watch down on the farm. These are relatively young guys who might come up and make an impact THIS year — you might be reading a lot of good things about future Tigers ace Rick Porcello, but he's 19 and won't sniff the majors for a couple of years. Also, some of these names probably won't make an impact, but since you'll hear their names a lot, I thought they should be addressed as well. The commentary is meant for single-season leaguers only — most of these players are really nice pickups for keeper leagues.

If you have recommendations of your own, just scroll down to the bottom of the page and have at it.

Nick Adenhart, SP, Angels

Adenhart was pressed into an early debut when the Halos' rotation got cursed by a voodoo priestess at the beginning of the season. He's only 21, and his 13 walks versus four strikeouts in three big league starts doesn't bode well for his readiness. He'll be a good one someday, but let someone else have him when he comes back up later this year.

Homer Bailey, SP, Reds

Don't give up on Homer. The can't-miss prospect seems to have found his control in Triple-A, striking out 40 batters and walking just 14 in 50 2/3 innings. He's struggled a little lately, but as long as he keeps finding the plate, his tremendous stuff will carry him. Unless you think the Reds are going to keep sending Matt Belisle out there every fifth day, you should plan on seeing Bailey by the All-Star break. I think he'll be effective when he arrives.

Nelson Cruz, OF, Rangers

Cruz has had his chances before, but has never been able to produce as well in the majors as he has in the minors. Last season, he was handed the right field job in Texas and responded with nine homers and a .671 OPS — ugh. But so far in 2008, he's batting .336 with 11 homers, 32 RBI, 33 runs, 11 steals and a 1.179 OPS in 32 games. Standing in his way in Texas is the unintimidating combination of Milton Bradley, Marlon Byrd and David Murphy. I know I'm a sucker for guys like Cruz, but if he comes up at some point, his skills are worth a low-risk gamble.

Chris Davis, 1B, Rangers

After swatting 36 home runs between Single-A ball and Double-A at age 21 last season, Davis has continued his power display at Double-A Frisco with 10 dingers in his first 36 games. He strikes out a LOT, and he almost certainly needs more seasoning in the minors. However, the Rangers are almost at the point where they're placing classified ads in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about American Idol-style first-base auditions. Keep an eye on him.

Wade Davis, Jacob McGee, David Price, SPs, Rays

Davis and McGee are pitching in Double-A, with Price slated to make his 2008 debut at Class-A Vero Beach soon after missing the first six weeks with elbow soreness. You probably heard a lot about all three pitchers before the season, and they might headline a dominant Rays rotation down the road. If you see any of them this season, it'll be only briefly since the Rays have no reason to rush them.

Josh Fields, 3B, White Sox

After bashing 23 homers in 100 major league games last year, Fields is struggling at Triple-A with a .240 average and four homers so far this season. In his defense, he's probably too busy wondering what the heck he's doing in the minors to concentrate. At some point — probably by the All-Star break — the White Sox are going to realize they're out of the AL Central race, so they'll dump Joe Crede and call up Fields. When they do, he'll be a terrific power source with a low BA and the chance to steal a few bases.

Carlos Gonzalez, OF, A's

Carlos Gonzalez has a few players ahead of him on the depth chart, but he should start seeing regular playing time soon. (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)

Gonzalez, the prize prospect received from Arizona in the Dan Haren deal, is batting .303 in Triple-A. Last year, he hit 17 homers and stole 10 bases at two minor league levels. He's currently being blocked by Ryan Sweeney and Rajai Davis in Oakland, but I'm using the word "blocked" very loosely here, in the way that a rushing Shawn Merriman might get blocked by my four-year-old daughter. Expect to see Gonzalez by midseason unless he falls on his face. He'll probably just be an OK hitter for starters, though.

Gio Gonzalez, SP, A's

Gonzalez is struggling in Triple-A with a 4.85 ERA and 22 walks in 39 innings, but he's very talented and in an organization that would trade any player at any time. If he gets his act together in the minors — where he led all levels with 185 strikeouts last season — it could translate to the bigs as this season winds down.

Chase Headley, OF, Padres

After terrorizing the Cactus League in March and almost winning the Pads' left field job, Headley's Triple-A numbers haven't exactly screamed "Promote me!" (.285, 4 HR, 16 RBI, .801 OPS). But with the Padres waiving Jim Edmonds last week, Jody Gerut is getting most of the playing time in center. The Padres have a smart front office, so at some point soon they're going to look at each other and say, "Wait, WHO'S playing center field???!!!" Then they'll move Scott Hairston to center and put Headley in left.

Eric Hurley, SP, Rangers

A 6.54 ERA in Triple-A? Ouch, that's horrible. However, Hurley has 50 Ks against 17 walks in 42 2/3 innings. That'll happen when you give up nine homers in eight starts. Keep an eye on him to see if his run prevention starts to match his other stats.

Matt LaPorta, OF, Brewers

This guy looks like a beast. After bashing 10 home runs in 88 at bats in the Sally League last year, LaPorta started this season in Double-A and has 10 homers with a 1.049 OPS in 140 at bats. If 35-year-old Mike Cameron goes down at some point, the Brewers might be tempted to call up LaPorta. It's not likely, but it could happen. I really need to find Vegas odds on the Brewers winning the 2009 World Series.

Andy LaRoche, 3B, Dodgers

LaRoche has had a bunch of bad luck this season. First, he got hurt in spring training while battling for a starting job, and when he recovered, even though the mummy formerly known as Nomar Garciaparra wasn't healthy, the overachieving Blake DeWitt blocked him by playing good defense and hitting for contact and doing all those other little things managers love. The brown-noser even hit an inside-the-park home run. So, LaRoche went back to Las Vegas — which doesn't sound so bad — and has four homers to go along with a ridiculous 16 walks in 14 games. It sounds like nobody in the Pacific Coast League wants to pitch to him, so he's going to have to sit around and wait for DeWitt to come back to Earth. Unfortunately, even though you or I might be eager to play him, that doesn't mean Joe Torre is.

Francisco Liriano, SP, Twins

Hey, he's young and in the minors, right? What's that? You own Liriano and don't think including him here is the least bit funny? Sorry. Let's move on.

Jed Lowrie, 2B/SS, Red Sox

Lowrie spent some time on Boston's roster as a backup infielder earlier in the season, and while he's probably good enough to start already, Julio Lugo and his giant contract are in the way. Don't expect much of anything from Lowrie this season.

Justin Masterson, SP, Red Sox

Another talented but blocked player for the Sox, Masterson will probably be called up soon to take the injured Clay Buchholz's slot in the rotation. But Buchholz is expected to be back in two weeks, and with him, Josh Beckett, Dice-K, Tim Wakefield, Bartolo Colon, Jon Lester and possibly Curt Schilling around, the 23-year-old Masterson is mostly going to wait his turn this season.

Cameron Maybin, OF, Marlins

Though he's regarded as an elite talent and almost won the center field job for the Fish in spring training, Maybin is batting .241 in Double-A with FIFTY-THREE strikeouts in 137 at-bats. If, for some ridiculous reason, the Marlins bring him up later in the year, his power-speed abilities would make him useful to fantasy teams. When baseball "purists" make fun of us fantasy geeks, it's because of guys like this.

Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates

Six homers and 12 steals in Triple-A already, and he's only 21 ... giddy-up. The Pirates' top prospect needs either Xavier Nady or Jason Bay to get traded so a spot can open up. When McCutchen gets the call from Pittsburgh, I think he'll make a bigger 2008 impact than any other player on this list.

Adam Miller, SP, Indians

Miller's radar gun readings are close to triple digits, and Baseball America ranks him as the Tribe's top prospect. If he was ever healthy, that would be great. Miller's got a 2.04 ERA in four Triple-A starts so far, but Cliff Lee's un-freaking-believable start leaves no room in the Cleveland rotation unless someone gets hurt or Paul Byrd gets ditched. Maybe Miller will stay in the minors, and maybe he'll get the Joba treatment and go to the bullpen. More likely, he'll get hurt again.

Jerry Owens, OF, White Sox

This public-service announcement is sponsored by my AL keeper league team, on which I protected Owens for $10 after Ozzie Guillen kept talking during spring training about how he needed a speedy leadoff hitter. Then Owens got hurt, Carlos Quentin started hitting like Albert Pujols and Ozzie disowned Owens like he was Fredo Corleone. He isn't a very good hitter, but if he plays, he'll steal bases. Come on, Ozzie — I'm begging you!

Colby Rasmus, OF, Cardinals

The 21-year-old Rasmus is the top prospect in the Cards' system, but he's struggled at Triple-A this season with a .194 average. He's still hitting for some power, stealing bases and walking often enough, so you can assume he'll start to figure everything out soon enough. But with Tony LaRussa committed to platooning 37 outfielders, he'll be hard-pressed to put up meaningful numbers in St. Louis until next season.

Robinson Tejeda, SP, Rangers

This 26-year-old failed starter has been turned into a reliever, and he's whiffing a batter an inning with good control in the minors. Do you have as little faith in C.J. Wilson as I do? Then keep Tejeda on your radar. This is a hunch — I haven't seen anything from the Rangers about Tejeda becoming a closer.

Honorable mention: Ross Detwiler, SP, Nationals; Radhames Liz, SP, Orioles; David Purcey, SP, Blue Jays; Jordan Schafer, OF, Braves; Ian Stewart, 3B, Rockies; Matt Wieters, C. Orioles