U.S.A. Team
JOHN BUCK, C, ASTROS -- SEVENTH-ROUND PICK IN 1998
Signed by the Houston organization when he was just 17 years old, Buck has always been highly regarded for his defensive skills, offensive prowess and major league makeup. With his offensive production on the rise over the past two seasons, Buck has become one of baseball's elite catching prospects.

A year ago, while playing for Lexington in the low Class A South Atlantic League, Buck hit .275 with 22 home runs -- more than double his previous career high -- and 73 RBI. In his three prior seasons, he had just 16 homers and 115 RBI combined. Buck did a better job of driving the balls by extending his arms more frequently and turning on pitches, which led to the increased power production.

His play behind the plate has continued to flourish. Last season, Buck threw out 37 percent of would-be base stealers, 10th-best among league catchers. He has a strong arm and a quick release. Buck also takes charge of his pitching staff and is a student of the game. At 6-3 and 210 pounds, Buck has the ideal build for a catcher.

In his first season at Double-A Round Rock, Buck is hitting .286 with six home runs and 58 RBI and has cut down 40 of base runners thus far.

JOSH PHELPS, C, BLUE JAYS -- 10TH-ROUND PICK IN 1996
Coming off a season in which he was named the Double-A Southern League's MVP, Phelps had to be wondering if he was ever going to get a shot in the big leagues. Last season, he hit .292 with a career-high 31 homers and 97 RBI. So far, in his first season at the Triple-A level, he was batting .292 with 24 homers and 64 RBI. Phelps led the minors in home runs with 24 before getting promoted to Toronto on July 2.

Regarded as one of the best offensive-minded catching prospects in the minor leagues, Phelps has had his problems throwing out runners. When his footwork is proper, runners are very rarely successful at stealing bases. However, for the most part, Phelps deviates from what works, his arm motion becomes erratic and his accuracy is less than impressive. He has thrown out only 11 percent of all runners who have attempted to steal against him this season.

BILL HALL, SS, BREWERS -- SIXTH-ROUND PICK IN 1998
The Milwaukee Brewers have not developed a sterling reputation of late for developing positional players, but Hall may be an exception to that rule. The 6-foot, 175-pounder exploded onto the scene a year ago and earned the Brewers' Minor League Player of the Year award.

He opened the 2001 campaign in Class A High Desert of the California League and hit a career-high .303 with 15 homers and 51 RBI in 89 games there. After being promoted to Double-A Huntsville in mid-July, Hall finished the year at a combined .289 with 18 homers and 65 RBI.

Hall is as exciting a player as there is in one of baseball's poorest farm systems. He has good speed and plays with terrific energy on the field.

Hall, however, must improve upon two areas in order to reach Milwaukee. He had just a .287 on-base percentage in 2000 and upped the number to .327 last season. Still, those are not numbers befitting for a player who has the skills to hit at the top of th e order. Hall also made 45 errors a year ago, tied for fourth most in the minor leagues.

Through July 2, he is hitting .233 with three homers and 23 RBI for Triple-A Indianapolis this season.

COREY HART, 1B, BREWERS -- 11TH-ROUND PICK IN 2000
Hart spent his first two pro summers in the rookie-level Pioneer League. The Brewers skipped the 6-foot, 180-pounder over low Class A Beloit and started him at high Class A High Desert, where Hart has excelled in 2002 to the tune of a .296 average through July 2. His 20 homers were more than he had in his previous two years combined.

He captured the league's Player of the Month award in May, hitting 10 home runs and collecting 35 RBI in 29 games that month. Hart's homer and RBI totals ranked second in all of the minor leagues for the month.

DREW HENSON, 3B, YANKEES -- THIRD-ROUND PICK IN 1998
The most heralded hitting prospect in New York's farm system since Derek Jeter, Henson was drafted by the Yankees out of high school in 1998. A terrific quarterback prospect, he went to the University of Michigan and spent his falls competing for time on the gridiron after honing his skills on the baseball field over the summers.

Henson was shipped off to the Reds in a deadline deal for Denny Neagle in 2000 but re-acquired by New York in the spring of 2001 after he gave up on a promising football career and agreed to devote himself to baseball full time.

Since rejoining the Yankees organization, Henson has struggled on at the plate over the past year and a half with Triple-A Columbus. He is hitting just .244 with 22 home runs and 78 RBI in 147 games for Columbus in the International League through July 2.

Scouts drool over Henson's ability if not his results thus far. He has awesome power and the superb arm befitting a player whom many thought may have been a top-flight quarterback in the NFL. In the field, Henson also has excellent footwork and quick lateral movement. The 22-year-old Henson must work on his discipline at the plate. So far, he has walked just 17 times and fanned a team-high 90 times, among the most in Triple-A.

ORLANDO HUDSON, 2B, BLUE JAYS -- 43RD-ROUND PICK IN 1997
Just two years ago, Hudson was a relatively unknown commodity. Not anymore.

A draft-and-follow from the 1997 draft, the 24-year-old Hudson was just a .274 hitter entering last season. All he did was hit .306 with eight homers and post career-highs in Rbi (79), triples (11) and stolen bases (19). Equally as important to the on- base conscious Blue Jays, Hudson has the ability to draw a walk. He walked 60 times last season and fanned just 76. The switch-hitting Hudson ripped apart the prospect-laden Arizona Fall League to the tune of a .426 average and .524 on-base percentage, both of which would have led that league had Hudson not left early to lead Team USA in November's World Cup.

Hudson has developed plate discipline and a good eye at the plate over the last couple of seasons, traits which will carry him far in General Manager J.P. Ricciardi's new regime in Toronto which rewards players who can get on base consistently. After striking out 121 times and drawing just 64 walks in his first two years, Hudson was hitting .315 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI through July 2.

Hudson hits the ball hard to all fields, plays hard all the time all the times and approaches the game with a passion that scouts rarely see.

LYLE OVERBAY, 1B, DIAMONDBACKS -- 18TH-ROUND PICK IN 1999
No matter at what level he has played, Overbay has proven that he can hit and drive in runs.

In 426 career games in the minor leagues, the 25-year-old Overbay has driven in 363 runs and has a .343 average.

The lefthanded-hitting Overbay was drafted in the 18th round of the 1999 draft following his senior season at the University of Nevada-Reno and made an immediate impact as a professional by knocking in a short-season Pioneer League-record 101 runs in just 75 games that summer.

Last season, he hit .352 -- tied for second-best in the minors -- with 13 homers and 100 RBI with Double-A El Paso. He led the minors with 187 hits and 49 doubles.

After 80 games in his first season at the Triple-A level with the Tucson Sidewinders of the Pacific Coast League, he is batting .329 with 1 home run and 66 RBI.

BRANDON PHILLIPS, SS, INDIANS -- SECOND-ROUND PICK BY MONTREAL IN 1999
After being named the 2001 Expos' Organizational Player of the Year last season, Phillips thought he was ready for a trip to the big leagues. Now, that trip figures to end in Cleveland and not in Montreal.

Cleveland Indians fans were none too happy to see their ace, Bartolo Colon, shipped out of town late last month. But, they will be pretty happy in due time that they got Phillips, one of the game's best prospects, back in return.

A year ago, Phillips opened the season with Class A Jupiter of the Florida State League before being promoted to Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League in mid-June.

This season, the now 21-year-old once again opened the season with the Double-A Harrisburg club as the league's fifth youngest player and was promoted to Triple-A Ottawa on June 14 after hitting .327 with nine homers and 35 RBI in 60 games for Harrisburg. His 21-game hitting streak is the league's second-longest this season.

Phillips can truly do it all. He gets on base, runs and has gap power. Phillips is also a highlight reel at shortstop, where he makes all the plays and has terrific range. He also plays the game with a youthful enthusiasm and plays at 100% all the time.

Since making his debut in Triple-A, Phillips has gone 11-for-48 with one home run and six RBI. He is hitting .154 in four games since the trade.

JASON STOKES, 1B, MARLINS -- SECOND-ROUND PICK IN 2000
Stokes was named the 2000 Gatorade National Player of the Year after he hit .536 with 25 home runs and 63 RBI for Coppell (Tex.) High School.

Stokes held out for all of that 2000 summer and was limited to just 35 games last year because of a back injury. The 20-year-old Texan has certainly made up for lost time with his performance this season, as the 6-4, 225-pound Stokes has torn apart low Class A Midwest League pitching to the tune of a .360 average, 17 home runs and 48 RBI. He was named to the league's mid-season All-Star Team.

Besides his terrific power, Stokes needs to develop awareness of the strike zone as is evident by his 63 strikeouts and 23 walks through July 2.

Stokes was thought to have the best power of any hitter in his draft, but many teams were leery of drafting him because Stokes' representatives made it clear that Stokes wanted $2.5 million or he would honor his commitment to the University of Texas. The Marlins signed Stokes eventually, but Florida's selection of the big first baseman was puzzling, after the organization had used the top pick in the draft on California high school first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. The winner of SportsTicker's Teenager of the Year award last year after he tore up the Midwest League, Gonzalez is struggling a bit with Double-A Portland so far and was not selected for this game.

CHAD TRACY, 3B, DIAMONDBACKS -- SEVENTH-ROUND PICK IN 2001
Consider that just a year ago, Tracy was playing third base for East Carolina University. A seventh-round selection by Arizona in the 2001 Draft, Tracy had his average over .400 for most of the first half. He has hit .352 in 140 career minor league games.

The 22-year-old native of Charlotte, North Carolina appeared in 10 games for Yakima of the short-season Class A Northwest League before finishing the year up at low Class A South Bend in 2001, where he hit .340 in 54 games.

Tracy has spent the entire season with the El Paso Diablos of the Double-A Texas League and is one of the minor league leaders with a .370 batting average through July 2. The lefthanded-hitting third baseman uses the whole field and has tremendous patience at the plate.

JOE BORCHARD, OF, WHITE SOX -- FIRST-ROUND PICK IN 2000
Borchard will be making his second consecutive appearance in the Futures Game after he had a single in two trips at Safeco Field a season ago.

The 23-year-old Borchard was selected out of high school by the Baltimore Orioles but chose instead to play both football and baseball at Stanford University. He re-entered the draft in 2000 and was plucked by the White Sox and handed a club-record $5.3 million as the 12th overall selection. Like Henson, Borchard was a highly-visible college quarterback who may have had a shot at the NFL had he continued on the gridiron.

Borchard missed the first three weeks of this season with a hairline fracture after he fouled a ball off the foot in spring training. Through 63 games, Borchard is hitting .270 with 12 homers and 33 RBI for the Charlotte Knights of the Triple-A International League. A year ago, the California native had a career-high 27 home runs in 133 games with Double-A Birmingham. The 6-5 switch-hitter, whose power has been compared to Mark McGwire's, was honored by Topps as a Double-A All-Star.

With Kenny Lofton signed only through this season, the White Sox anticipate Borchard being in the thick of their plans by next spring.

MARLON BYRD, OF, PHILLIES -- 10TH-ROUND PICK IN 1999
Byrd's domination of the low Class A South Atlantic League in 2000 was dismissed as his being too old for the league. There was nothing to dismiss about his performance last season, when Byrd skipped the high Class A level and dominated the Double-A Eastern League. The former Georgia Tech footballer batted .316 with a career-high 28 home runs, 89 RBI and 32 stolen bases, winning the Eastern League's MVP.

This season, his first in Triple-A, Byrd is hitting .293 with 10 homers and 43 RBI through July 2.

Byrd can literally do it all on the field. He hits for both average and power and has exceptional speed. The 6-foot, 225-pound Byrd also sprays the ball around the ballpark and legged out a team-high 28 infield hits last season. But, it is his work ethic that has led Byrd to his elite status. According to at least one Phillies' executive, Byrd simply "will not accept" not making it to the big leagues.

CARL CRAWFORD, OF, DEVIL RAYS -- SECOND-ROUND PICK IN 1999
If one could have looked at the 2001 Futures Game rosters back in 1999, surely it would have been Josh Hamilton and not Crawford who would have been representing Tampa Bay's budding young outfield corps.

But, while Hamilton has been hurt and is back in Class A ball, Crawford has risen a level each year and has arguably been the Triple-A International League's most complete player so far this season. Through July 2, he is hitting .313 for the Durham club and should be in Tampa by season's end.

A former University of Nebraska quarterback recruit, Crawford has terrific speed. He was once clocked down the line in a lightning-fast 3.9 seconds.

MICHAEL RESTOVICH, OF, TWINS -- SECOND-ROUND PICK IN 1997
If he were with any other organization but his hometown Minnesota Twins, Restovich may be in the big leagues by now. For now, he is having a terrific year for Minnesota's top farm club in Triple-A Edmonton, where Restovich is hitting .298 with 17 home runs and with 17 home runs and 62 RBI through July 2.

Restovich burst onto the scene in his first season of professional baseball with by capturing the rookie-level Appalachian League's MVP award in the summer of 1998. Last season, while with Double-A New Britain, Restovich belted a career-high 23 home runs. Originally from Minnesota, Restovich owns his high school basketball team's record for all-time career points. The 6-4, 230-pounder has excellent speed for a player his size and has developed into a playable defender in right field. Typical of the current crop of young and talented Twin farmhands and young big leaguers, Restovich has terrific intensity and plays the game at full speed at all times.

SEAN BURNETT, LHP, PIRATES -- FIRST-ROUND PICK IN 2000
When Burnett joined former Wellington (Fla.) Community High School teammate Bobby Bradley in the Pittsburgh farm system when he was selected just over two seasons ago, it marked the first time ever than an organization drafted players from the same school with its first-round picks in back-to-back years.

Burnett does not throw a blazing fastball, relying more on a low-90s heater, command, an advanced changeup and an effective curveball. Through 16 starts for high Class A Lynchburg, Burnett has been nothing short of phenomenal.

He opened the season with seven consecutive victories and is now 11-1 with a 1.30 ERA through July 2. The 19-year-old southpaw has not allowed a run in his last five starts. He has allowed as many as three earned runs just twice this season and has allowed more than four hits just four times.

AARON COOK, RHP, ROCKIES -- SECOND-ROUND PICK IN 1997
Coming out of high school six years ago, Cook was the best prospect in the state of Ohio. Now, he is on the verge of a big league career.

Cook opened this season with the Carolina Mudcats in the Class AA Southern League and went 7-2 with a 1.14 ERA in 14 starts before being promoted to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Since making his debut in the Pacific Coast League, Cook was 2-1 with a 3.57 ERA.

The 23-year-old uses a two-seam as well as a four-seam fastball in addition to a changeup and a hard slider. He has touched 96-97 mph with his fastball, and his two-seamer has terrific sinking action.

BRETT EVERT, RHP, BRAVES -- SEVENTH-ROUND PICK IN 1999
For the first time in his professional career, Evert is trying to bounce back after an injury. The 21-year-old had his 2001 season cut short with a dislocated right shoulder in mid-July that required season-ending surgery.

Prior to the injury, the native of Salem, Oregon was in the midst of a terrific season, posting an 8-2 combined record with a 1.75 ERA between low Class A Macon and high-Class A Myrtle Beach.

Evert pitched well in the instructional league last fall, and the Braves were encouraged enough the he has spent all of 2002 with Double-A Greenville. Evert is 5-8 with a 4.99 ERA in 15 games. The 21-year-old has lost his last five starts and seven of his last eight after opening the season 4-1.

Evert throws a fastball that ranges in the low-to-mid 90s, a curveball, slider and a changeup.

JIMMY JOURNELL, RHP, CARDINALS -- FOURTH-ROUND PICK IN 1999
For someone who never thought he would be playing baseball after high school, Journell certainly is having a memorable career thus far. This season, the 24-year-old right-hander had compiled a 2.70 ERA in the Double-A Eastern League before being promoted t o Triple-A Memphis late last month.

Journell pitched just 20 innings in his junior year of high school but was invited to camp at Wright State University. After throwing just 15 pitches, he began receiving calls from scouts. The University of Illinois offered Journell a full baseball scholarship despite never having seen him pitch and groomed Journell into a closer during his college career

Prior to the 1999 draft, it was discovered that Journell would need Tommy John surgery to repair damage in his right elbow. The Cardinals drafted him anyway. The next summer, Journell made 13 appearances for in the short-season Class A New York-Penn League in 2000. A year later, he Flourished in the high-Class A Carolina League. Journell went on an 11-0 run June 8-August 27, including an astounding 6-0 with a 0.23 ERA in the month of July. From July 6-August 3, he did not allow an earned run and just one run overall during that month-long span. In his first-ever Double-A start last September 2, he pitched a seven-inning no-hitter against Bowie.

The 6-4, 205-pound Journell, who was an easy choice as the organization's Pitcher of the Year, has a fastball which touches the mid-90s and a developing array of breaking stuff.

COLBY LEWIS, RHP, RANGERS -- FIRST-ROUND PICK IN 1999
Standing 6-4, 230 pounds, Lewis is a big, strong pitcher with hard stuff and good promise in the Ranger organization.

Lewis is a strikeout pitcher with a fastball sitting in the mid-90s, a hard breaking ball, power slider and a changeup that he has been developing for the past two seasons. Last year, in the Double-A Texas League, Lewis was fourth with 162 strikeouts in 156 innings.

Lewis opened the 2002 season with the Rangers but was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma on April 16. In 12 starts with the RedHawks, the native of Bakersfield, California is 2-5 with a 4.30 ERA, striking out 57 and issuing 20 walks. He was recalled back to Texas on June 25.

BRETT MYERS, RHP, PHILLIES -- FIRST-ROUND PICK IN 1999
Myers has moved quickly through the Phillie system since being drafted in 1999 and is on the cusp of the big leagues.

The 21-year-old right-hander has demonstrated decent command throughout his career but is mainly known as a strikeout pitcher. He has fanned 77 batters in 105 2/3 innings through 16 starts and is 7-6 with a solid 3.83 ERA this season as one of the Triple-A International League's youngest pitchers.

Myers is as intense as they come and uses a mid-90s fastball, a sharp curveball and an ever-improving sinking changeup. His four-seam fastball has touched 97 miles per hour.

JAKE PEAVY, RHP, PADRES -- 15TH-ROUND PICK IN 1999
Peavy is just one of many young arms sitting in the Padres farm system. The 21-year-old Peavy is right there with Eric Cyr, Dennis Tankersley, Ben Howard and Oliver Perez and was recently recalled to the Padres.

The Alabama native slipped into the 15th round in the draft only because most organizations were scared off by his strong commitment to Auburn University. When Peavy elected to sign with the Padres, it even shocked even members of his immediate family.

After signing, Peavy won the rookie-level Arizona League's Triple Crown with a 7-1 record, a 1.34 ERA and 90 strikeouts. He had a career-high 13 wins with Class A Fort Wayne of the Midwest League a year later and blew through high Class A Lake Elsinore in 2001 before finishing the season with Double-A Mobile.

This season, Peavy went 4-5 with a 2.80 ERA in 80 1/3 innings for Mobile before being promoted to San Diego on June 21. He has touched 98 miles per hour with his heater, has an above-average slider, an effective changeup and a terrific feel for pitching.

JOHN LACKEY, RHP, ANGELS -- SECOND-ROUND PICK IN 1999
Since arriving onto the scene in 1999, Lackey has been a main stay in the Angel farm system and has shown durability as he has progressed, reaching the big leagues this season.

Lackey was named Anaheim's Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2000 after moving through three separate levels and finishing his year in Double-A ball. Pitching mostly in with Double-A Arkansas last season, the 6-6 right-hander went 12-11 with a 4.48 ERA in 28 starts. He showed his durability by working into the seventh inning 15 times and ranked among the minors' Top 10 in both complete games (4) and innings pitched (185).

A converted first baseman who earned All-America status while leading Grayson County Community College to a national title in 1999, Lackey now throws a 94-miles per hour fastball with good movement and has been working on his changeup. This season, he was 8-2 with a 2.57 ERA before he was promoted to Anaheim on June 28.

BILLY TRABER, LHP, INDIANS -- FIRST ROUND BY METS IN 2000
Traber was drafted originally by the Mets two years ago but was shipped off to the Cleveland Indian organization over the winter in the deal that sent Roberto Alomar to New York.

Traber was considered by most to be the best college left-hander in his draft. He has good command of an average fastball, a split fingered fastball, curveball and changeup. Traber keeps the ball on the ground and is very composed.

A year ago, Traber went through three different levels, making 18 starts for Class A St. Lucie, eight for Double-A Binghamton and one for Triple-A Norfolk. In his first season in the Indians' organization, the 22-year-old Traber has not disappointed. He is 13-2 with a 2.76 ERA through July 2 for Double-A Akron.

ADAM WAINWRIGHT, RHP, BRAVES -- FIRST-ROUND PICK IN 2000
Georgia born and bred, the 20-year-old Wainwright has enjoyed success in his first two seasons in Class A ball.

After signing with the Braves organization, Wainwright spent his first summer in rookie ball and last year with low Class A Macon, where he went 10-10 with a 3.77 ERA. His 184 strikeouts led the South Atlantic League and ranked eighth among all minor leaguers. Wainwright, who didn't turn 20 years old until the end of August, fanned at least seven batters in 15 of his league-high 27 starts last season.

Standing 6-8, the righty is 6-2 with a 2.58 ERA through July 2 for Myrtle Beach in his first full season in the high Class A Carolina League. Wainwright, Atlanta's top young pitching prospect, has fanned 110 batters in 101 1/3 innings through 17 starts. He has a fastball that sits in the low-90s but should add more velocity as his body matures. He has command of a curveball and changeup.

JASON YOUNG, RHP, ROCKIES -- SECOND-ROUND PICK IN 2000
Two years ago, Young was guiding the Stanford Cardinal to their second College World Series appearance during his tenure at Palo Alto. Now, after just a year and a half as a pro, Young is just one step away from the big leagues.

After being selected in the 2000 draft, young held out for the entire summer before finally signing in late September. The California native made his professional debut with the Salem Avalanche in the high Class A Carolina League in 2001 and went 6-7 with a 3.44 ERA in 17 starts before his season was ended at the halfway point with a shoulder injury. In 104 2/3 innings, Young struck out 91 and issued just 28 walks.

When healthy, Young has good arm strength and excellent mechanics. He mixes a changeup and a curveball with a fastball that sits between 88-92 miles per hour.

Young was one of the Double-A Southern League's best pitchers in the first half of this season, when he went 7-4 with a 2.64 ERA before being promoted to Triple-A Colorado Springs in late June.

BRAD BAKER, RHP, PADRES -- FIRST-ROUND PICK IN 1999 BY RED SOX
Everyone knows that the Boston Red Sox farm system is as depleted as they come. So when the major league club wanted to get left-hander Alan Embree from the Padres, they needed to give up one of their better prospects in return.

Baker was named Boston's Class A Pitcher of the Year in 2000 after posting a 12-7 record with a 3.07 ERA in 27 starts for Sarasota. However, a season ago, the now 21-year-old Baker failed to meet some personal lofty expectations. He went just 7-9 and watched his ERA rise to 4.73, the highest it has ever been in his professional career.

Baker, a New England native, opened the 2002 campaign with Sarasota in the Class A Florida State League and was 7-1 with a 2.79 ERA prior to being traded on June 23. Once he arrived in the Padres organization, he was sent to Mobile in the Double-A Southern League where he had made two starts and was roughed up in both. He has allowed nine runs in only 7 2/3 innings with the BayBears.

Baker replaces Jake Peavy who has appeared in the big leagues this season with San Diego.

RYAN DITTFURTH, RHP, RANGERS -- FIFTH-ROUND PICK IN 1998
It just seems normal that power pitchers come from Texas. Dittfurth is the latest right-handed fireballer who is looking for a big league ball park to throw his big league fastball in.

The 22-year-old Dittfurth throws a fastball that rides in the mid-90's and uses a devastating curveball as his out pitch. Over the past couple of seasons, Dittfurth's command has improved, especially with his slider and his changeup.

Dittfurth had a scholarship to Texas A&M University coming out of high school but decided to sign with the Rangers. Texas arranged a meeting between Dittfurth and Nolan Ryan to hopefully lure him away from college.

He missed the first month and a half of the season with a shoulder injury and made six appearances with Charlotte in the Class A Florida State League, going 3-2 with a 2.45 ERA, 21 strikeouts and seven walks. He was moved to Double-A Tulsa in mid-June and has gone 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA in three starts.

Dittfurth was named as a replacement for Colby Lewis.

JOSH KARP, RHP, EXPOS -- FIRST-ROUND PICK IN 2001
The Expos own a deep and rich farm system and Karp is one of the reasons why. The now 22-year-old spent three seasons at UCLA and has his name is all over the Bruins' record books. Karp, who is a native of Washington, left Los Angeles fifth in UCLA history with 23 career wins and 44 games started and sixth with 262 career strikeouts.

In 2000, Karp went 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA in 34 2/3 innings of work for the Team USA Baseball team. His stint with the national team was highlighted by six shutout innings against Korea in front of his hometown fans in Tacoma, Washington.

Karp began his first full season of professional ball with Brevard County in the Class A Florida State League, going 4-1 with a 1.59 ERA in seven starts. He struck out 43, issued 11 walks and held opponents to a .190 average. He was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg on May 10 but went on the disabled list 10 days later with right shoulder tendinitis. Karp came off the DL on June 24 and in five start with the Senators, he was 1-2 with a 3.28 ERA.

Karp was named as a replacement for John Lackey.

KEVIN CASH, C, BLUE JAYS -- SIGNED AS FREE AGENT IN 1999
Cash enters his third minor league season with the Blue Jays Organization and is seeing time at the Triple-A level for the first time in his career.

The 24-year-old Cash opened the season with the Tennessee Smokies in the Double-A Southern League and hit .277 with eight homers and 44 RBI before being promoted on June 4. Since joining the SkyChiefs, Cash hit only .217 with five homers and nine RBI in 26 games.

A year ago with Dunedin in the Class A Florida State League, the Florida native put up his best minor league numbers with a .283 batting average, 12 homers and 66 RBI.

Cash replaces his Syracuse teammate, Josh Phelps, who is on Toronto's active roster.

World Team
JUSTIN HUBER, C, METS -- SIGNED IN 2000
The Mets have not had a lot of success despite a high-salaried big league roster this season. That may change quickly if more players like the 20-year-old Huber roll through the system.

A native of Australia who was signed by the Mets two summers ago, Huber made his debut in pro ball last summer by excelling for Kingsport in the rookie-level Appalachian League. He ranked among the league leaders in average (.314, 6th), slugging (.528, 2n d) and on-base percentage (.415, 5th).

This season, his first full year in pro ball, the 6-2, 190-pound backstop is hitting .313. He leads the league with 71 RBI and ranks second with a .429 on-base percentage. Huber was named the South Atlantic League's Player of the Month for May, after he hit .369 with 31 RBI in 28 games for the month. Huber's high school in Australia did not have a baseball team, and the precocious catching prospect was discovered scouts when he played for the Australian National team in the Under-18 Junior World Championships for three years. Huber can do it behind the plate as well. He ranked among league leaders by nabbing 32 percent of would-be base stealers last season and has gunned down 31 percent so far this year.

VICTOR MARTINEZ, C, INDIANS -- SIGNED IN 1996
Martinez was signed out of his native Venezuela as a reed-thin, 6-2 shortstop. Martinez has since added 40 pounds to his frame, moved behind the plate and is now Cleveland's top young catching prospect. In his first season at the Double-A level, Martinez ranks third in the Eastern League with a .332 average, fifth in on-base percentage (.408) and fourth in slugging (.565).

After missing all but 47 games of the 2000 campaign with a shoulder injury, Martinez emerged by leading the Class A Carolina League with a .329 average and taking home MVP honors last season. He hit .429 in the month of July -- the fifth-highest average of any minor leaguer that month -- and hit for the cycle on July 7 against Salem.

The now 23-year-old Martinez, a switch-hitter, led the Carolina League in slugging and ranked fourth in hits, on-base percentage and doubles. He hit lefties (.315) and righties (.334) at a nearly equal clip a season ago and has done more of the same this year, hitting lefties at a .352 clip and righties at a .322 clip. He has gap power and is competent behind the plate. In fact, it was a terrific set of hands that forced the Indians to move Martinez behind the plate originally.

ANGEL BERROA, SS, ROYALS -- SIGNED BY OAKLAND IN 1997
The Kansas City Royals have been in a rebuilding mode for quite awhile. But, with more players like the Berroa in the fold, that trend may be coming to an end.

Coming off an impressive 2001 season, Berroa missed two months earlier this season with a knee injury. He is just now starting to round into form, with a .235 average and 22 RBI in 31 games. Berroa hit .284 in the month of June.

The 24-year-old native of the Dominican Republic was the key -- from the Royals' side -- in the deal that sent Johnny Damon to Oakland prior to the 2001 season. Last year, Berroa hit .304 with 14 homers, 67 RBI and 106 runs scored in 131 games split between two levels. He spent the season's final two weeks in the big leagues.

In the field, Berroa is an outstanding defender. He has tremendous range, a great glove and a big-league arm. Known to be very aggressive and make numerous breath-taking plays in the field, Berroa has been burdened by a high amount of errors. With better concentration and improvement on making the routine plays, he dropped his error total from 54 in 2000 -- the third-most of any minor league shortstop -- to 33 last season. He also has great speed, evident by his 25 steals in 37 attempts a year ago.

MIGUEL CABRERA, 3B, MARLINS -- SIGNED IN 1999
While the Marlins have hot prospects Adrian Gonzalez and Jason Stokes competing for the spot as Florida's top first base prospect, the organization has no such problems across the diamond. Cabrera was one of the finest prospects to ever come out of Venezuela, and he is showing the Marlins that the Venezuelan-record $1.9 million investment they made back in 1999 may be a pretty good one.

Originally a shortstop, Cabrera has been moved to third base for this season, his second full year as a pro. The 19-year-old Cabrera, again one of the youngest players in any full-season league, is hitting .275 with five homers, 48 RBI and a league-high 30 doubles for Jupiter in the high Class A Florida State League.

The 6-2, 185-pound Cabrera, who will be making his second straight appearance in the Futures Game, has good hands but limited range at third base. He has terrific gap and home run power potential which should only increase as he gets older and stronger.

HEE SEOP CHOI, 1B , CUBS -- SIGNED IN 1999
The 2001 season was mostly a wasted one for the former Korean star, but 2002 has been a different story altogether. Choi, whose 2001 campaign was limited to just 77 games by wrist and hand injuries, is hitting .289 with 16 homers and a team-high 55 RBI for Iowa in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Choi's patience has been superb as well, as evidenced by his 56 walks - tops on the team with ease - and team-best .410 on-base percentage.

The Cubs paid $1.25 million back in the spring of 1999 for the services of Choi, and they expect to get their first baseman of the future from the investment. When healthy, Choi is a fine all-around prospect who proved it when he tore up the prospect-laden Arizona Fall League in 2000. The 6-5, 240-pound lefthanded hitter has excellent plate discipline for a young power hitter. He also has a short stroke and plus power to all fields.

Choi has good feet around the first base bag but needs more polish to be considered as anything more than an average defender.

VICTOR DIAZ, , DODGERS -- 37TH-ROUND PICK IN 2000
Diaz attended Grayson County (TX) Junior College and was a draft-and-follow selection from the 2000 draft. He has spent this season ripping apart the low Class A South Atlantic League in his first full pro season. Diaz, in his first year at third base after spending last year taking home rookie-level Gulf Coast League All-Star honors as a second baseman, is hitting .359 this season, second in the league.

His 111 hits lead the league with ease, and Diaz also tops the circuit with his 26 doubles. He also ranks among the league leaders in on-base percentage (.417), slugging percentage (.534) and extra-base hits (36).

Diaz, who is just 20 years of age, won the Gulf Coast League batting title with a .354 average last summer while also leading the league in total bases (104); slugging (.533), hits(69), extra-base hits(27) and doubles (22).

Diaz reminds some of a young Vladimir Guerrero in that he can hit practically any pitch and hit it hard. Diaz is still learning to play third base, but his work ethic with regard to improving his defense has been called into question.

OMAR INFANTE, SS, TIGERS -- SIGNED IN 1999
Infante had a terrific year at the Double-A level in 2001 and has battled an injury in his first crack at the Triple-A level this season. Through 64 games, the 20-year-old Venezuelan is hitting .233.

Infante was one of the biggest surprises in all of Double-A last season. With just 116 professional games under his belt entering 2001, Infante hit an Erie team-best .302. His 163 hits ranked seventh among all minor leaguers, and Infante contributed 27 steals, scored 86 runs and knocked home 62 more. The righthanded-hitting Infante hits both lefties and righties, hits the ball on the ground and uses the whole field.

He is more than adequate defensively, leading one Eastern League source to claim that Infante could have played shortstop for Detroit last season.

Infante's story is all the more intriguing when one considers his family history. His brother, Asdrubal, a promising pitching prospect in the Tigers' system, was shot to death after a robbery attempt back in 1999. Then, over this past off season, Infante's father passed away after battling kidney disease.

JOSE LOPEZ, SS, MARINERS -- SIGNED IN 2000
The Mariners are known for finding both the little-known (i.e. Lopez, outfielders Chris Snelling and Shin-Soo Choo) and the elite (Ichiro Suzuki and Kaz Sasaki) foreign players.

Lopez has been one of the high Class A California League's biggest surprises this season, especially because at just 18 years of age he is one of the youngest players in any full-season league. Lopez is tied for fourth in the league with a .321 average and is third with 24 steals in 32 attempts. He also ranks third in the league with 92 runs scored.

This is Lopez' first trip through a full-season league. Last year, he hit .256 for short-season Class A Everett in the Northwest League.

JUSTIN MORNEAU, 1B , TWINS -- THIRD-ROUND PICK IN 1999
After a stomach bug robbed him of his strength early in the season, Morneau has shown the promise of late that has the Twins excited about their first baseman of the future. Morneau is currently hitting .290 with nine homers and 41 RBI for New Britain in h is first season at the Double-A level.

Canada is known for producing hockey players and not top-notch baseball talent. But, you'd have a tough time convincing the Twins of that, because in Morneau they have a pretty good native Canadian on their hands. Morneau, now 21, impressed the Minnesota front office initially by belting several upper-deck shots in a post-draft workout back in 1999.

Last season, he ranked third in the organization with a .314 average and led all Twin farmhands with 97 RBI while playing at both levels of Class A and spending the season's final three weeks helping New Britain to a share of the Eastern League title. In 2000, he hit over .400 in the rookie-level Appalachian League, becoming just the third player in Twins franchise history to reach that mark in a season of any length.

Morneau began his professional career as a catcher, but elbow problems moved him to first base. The lefthanded-hitting Morneau has a nice stroke with raw power and has shown composure well beyond his years.

JOSE REYES, SS, METS -- SIGNED IN 1999
The Mets have struggled at the big league level despite a bloated payroll this season. That shouldn't be the case should Reyes and the other young Met farmhands continue to develop as the organization hopes.

Considered by Mets Assistant General Manager Jim Duquette to be the best pure shortstop since Rey Ordonez, Reyes can do something that his big league counterpart cannot, and that is hit. Reyes hit .288 and stole 31 bases in 69 games for high Class A St. Lucie before he was promoted to Double-A Binghamton last month. Reyes, at 19 one of the youngest players to ever play in the Eastern League, had five hits in his first-ever Double-A game and has hit .327 in his first 13 games since the promotion.

Last season, in his first full year in pro ball, Reyes hit .307 and collected 125 hits in 108 games as the low Class A South Atlantic League's youngest hitter.

Reyes is a phenomenal defender who can do it all from the shortstop spot. He has a good arm, solid footwork and exceptional range and soft hands.

TONY ALVAREZ, OF, PIRATES -- SIGNED IN 1995
It has been awhile since the Pirates signed Alvarez, and the organization looks to be reaping the benefits of the signing in the very near future. In his first Double-A season, Alvarez is hitting .313 -- ninth-best in the Eastern League -- and ranks second in the league with 27 doubles.

Alvarez is an exciting offensive player who led the organization with a .326 average in 2001. A native of Venezuela, he started last season at Class A Lynchburg and was promoted after batting .344 in 25 games. He hit .319 in 67 games at Double-A Altoona before the death of his father caused him to return home in early August.

The 6-2, 210-pound Alvarez has a body built for power, plus speed and the ability to put the ball in play. The converted infielder needs to become more comfortable in a corner outfield spot, transpose his powerful build into more over-the-fence power and develop better plate discipline. The now 23-year-old, who won Class A New York-Penn League MVP honors in 1999, needs to stay focused and tone down his on-field antics.

SHIN-SOO CHOO, OF, MARINERS -- SIGNED IN 2000
Choo has followed up an impressive stint in the rookie-level Arizona League last summer with an equally impressive tour through the low Class A Midwest League in his first full season in the United States.

The Korean-born Choo, who turns 20 later this month, is hitting .301 in 77 games this season. Last summer, he led the Arizona League in walks, runs scored and triples.

Choo threw over 90 miles per hour as an amateur pitcher but is now solely an outfielder. He still has the excellent throwing arm and has terrific instincts for the game. He has a keen eye at the plate and terrific speed which has led to a Wisconsin team-high 22 steals this season, fourth-best in the league.

WILY MO PENA, OF, REDS -- SIGNED BY YANKEES) IN 1998
Pena was signed by the Yankees for $3.6 million back in 1998 but played just 132 games in that organization before New York shipped him off to the Reds in the deal that sent Drew Henson back to the Yankees just prior to the 2001 season. This year, the 20-year-old native of the Dominican Republic is hitting .266 with six homers and 27 RBI in his first season at the Double-A level.

Pena had a strange season in 2001. While he did become one of only a handful of minor leaguers to achieve the rare 20/20 plateau (26 homers, 26 steals), he also ranked fifth among all minor leaguers with 177 strikeouts while spending the season at low Class A Dayton in the Midwest League. Pena's 113 RBI led the league and ranked fourth in the minors, and he was named to SportsTicker's All-Teen Team. He has fanned 57 times in 50 games this season and was sidelined by a leg injury for most of April.

The 20-year-old Pena is still a raw talent, but he has a contract that stipulates that he must be on a big league roster by 2003. For this reason, he will be pushed by the Reds' brass this season. Pena drew raves from his manager last season for the effort that he gives every night, so it won't be a lack of desire which holds Pena back.

ANDRES TORRES, OF, TIGERS -- FOURTH-ROUND PICK IN 1998
Torres, now 24, is one of the fastest players in the minor leagues and is trying to stay afloat in his first season at the Triple-A level. This season, he is hitting .228 in 64 games for Toledo in the International League.

When healthy, the fleet-footed Torres is one of Detroit's top prospects. He gets on base, runs well (67 steals in the 2000 season, his last year fully healthy) and hits the ball on the ground to take advantage of his speed. Torres was hitting .294 last season when his campaign was ended prematurely with a shoulder injury that required surgery.

A terrific outfielder who was a track star in high school, Torres has always been regarded as among his league's top outfielders due to his terrific speed and range.

EDWIN ALMONTE, RHP, WHITE SOX -- 26TH-ROUND PICK IN 1998
After struggling through his first three seasons as a spot starter, Almonte blossomed last season as a closer with Double-A Birmingham.

The 25-year-old Dominican went 16-16 with a 3.25 ERA in his first three seasons before going 1-4 with a Southern League and White Sox minor league record 36 saves and a 1.49 ERA in 2001. Almonte continued his dominance in the bullpen, going 1-3 with a 3.22 ERA this season with Triple-A Charlotte of the International League.

Almonte throws a low 90s fastball and a great circle change. Almonte has fanned 95 batters and walked just 24 in 102 2/3 innings over the last two seasons combined.

ERIK BEDARD, LHP, ORIOLES -- SIXTH-ROUND PICK IN 1999
Bedard, who hails from Canada, went from not bring deemed worthy of starting the 2000 season in low-Class A Delmarva's rotation to dominating the high-Class A Carolina League in 2001.

Finally getting a chance to start in the middle of the 2000 season, Bedard went 18-6 with a 2.91 ERA and 261 strikeouts in 207 1/3 innings between 2000 and 2001 before going down with a shoulder injury. The 23-year-old bounced back from the injury this season with Double-A Bowie, going 6-3 with a 1.97 ERA before suffering an elbow strain.

Bedard's velocity has improved as he's filled out. He now complements a low-90s fastball with a curveball and changeup and has the uncanny ability to throw any pitch at any time.

However, the injury bug has once again bit Bedard. He went on the disabled list on July 1 with a strained left elbow.

FRANCIS BELTRAN, RHP, CUBS -- SIGNED IN 1996
This season Beltran went from a struggling starter to a top-notch closer with Double-A West Tenn.

In 2001 the 22-year-old was 6-9 with a 5.00 ERA in 21 games -- 18 starts. Before being called up to Chicago on June 26, Beltran had 12 saves and a 3.42 ERA this season.

After issuing five walks in one inning of work over two games, the 6-5, 220-pounder was sent back down to West Tenn.

JORGE DE LA ROSA, LHP, RED SOX -- SIGNED IN 1998
The 21-year-old spent his first four professional seasons as a setup man but now has found a role as a starter for Class A Sarasota of the Florida State League.

De La Rosa was 5-7 with a 4.77 ERA in his four seasons as a reliever. He has gone 4-4 with a 3.44 ERA in his first 16 games this season.

The 6-1 195-pounder, whose stuff has been compared to John Rocker's, has struggled with his control, walking 37 batters in 83 2/3 innings through July 2.

GERARDO GARCIA, RHP, DEVIL RAYS -- SIGNED IN 1999
After spending 2001 in the Mexican League, Garcia dominated Class AA at the beginning of this season. He tossed a no-hitter for Orlando on May 22 just before being promoted to Triple-A Durham.

The 6-0 160-pounder pitched five shutout, allowing just three hits, to get the win in his Triple-A debut. Since his debut, Garcia has gone 0-2 with a 6.45 ERA in five starts.

The 22-year old went 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA in the month of June last season but struggled in July, going 0-4 with a 12.56 ERA.

FRANKLYN GERMAN, RHP, ATHLETICS -- SIGNED IN 1996
Converted from starter's role to closer in 2001, German responded by leading the A's organization with 19 saves in high-Class A Visalia.

German was successful in his first season as a starter in the Dominican Summer League before going, 11-11 with a 5.47 ERA in his next three seasons as a starter. The 22-year-old was then moved to the bullpen where he has thrived, saving 15 games with a 3.20 ERA this season with Double-A Midland.

The 6-6, 270-pound German has touched 99 mph with his fastball and compliments it with a splitter that he developed last fall and a changeup. German has fanned 149 batters in just 102 2/3 innings since he was moved to the bullpen.

FRANCISCO LIRIANO, LHP, GIANTS -- SIGNED IN 2000
Liriano, the youngest pitcher in the South Atlantic League, has pitched well in his first two professional seasons.

The 18-year-old went 5-4 with a 3.63 ERA and fanned 67 batters in 62 innings last season the Giants in the rookie level Arizona League.

Liriano is 3-3 with a 3.47 ERA this season with Hagerstown. The Giants have been very cautious with the 6-2 185-pounder, allowing him to pitch more than six innings in just two of his 26 career starts.

RICARDO RODRIGUEZ, RHP, DODGERS -- SIGNED IN 1996
The 24-year-old, who is making his second appearance in the futures game, was named the Dodgers' Minor League Pitcher of the Year and was also selected as the FSL's Most Valuable Pitcher after he went 14-6 with a 3.21 ERA for Vero Beach a season ago.

Rodriguez came onto the scene with a bang in 2000, going 10-3 with a Pioneer League-leading 1.88 ERA for Great Falls after struggling through three seasons in the Dominican Summer League, where he posted a 5-5 record and a 4.36 ERA.

A shoulder injury put Rodriguez in extended spring training to start this year. Since his return, he has been untouchable, going 4-2 with a 1.69 ERA in eight starts for Double-A Jacksonville.

Rodriguez features a 93 mph fastball, a big-breaking curve and a changeup, all of which he can throw for strikes. He has added 30 pounds to his 6-3 frame since he signed and now weighs in at a solid 195 pounds.

SEUNG SONG, RHP, RED SOX -- SIGNED IN 1999
A one time top pick in the Korean amateur draft, Song has dominated at every level that he's played at. The 22-year-old went 10-7 with a 2.47 ERA over his first two seasons in short season leagues.

In 2001, Song never allowed more than three earned runs in any of his 22 starts and posted an outstanding SO/BB ratio of 135/36 between Class A Augusta and Sarasota. Song's record would have been a whole lot better had he not received a loss or no-decision in eight starts in which he yielded one earned run or fewer.

Song throws consistently in the low-to-mid 90s and has improved his breaking stuff considerably since signing. This season Song is 7-5 with a 4.14 ERA in Double-A Trenton through July 2.

JOHN STEPHENS, RHP, ORIOLES -- SIGNED IN 1996
Stephens has been untouchable at every minor-league level from Rookie ball all the way up through Triple-A despite having a fastball that tops out at 85 mph. He has a 46-29 record and a 2.45 ERA in six major league seasons.

The 22-year-old Australian was 13-9 with a 2.51 ERA in 26 starts between Double-A and AAA in 2001. He led the Orioles' organization in wins and ranked fourth in the minor leagues with 191 strikeouts in 190 innings. This season with Triple-A Rochester Stephens is 11-4 with a 2.80 ERA through July 2.

Stephens can't overpower hitters with his fastball but he has been able to out think them. He uses a devastating curveball and solid changeup to keep hitters guessing.