2005 Arizona Fall League Top 20 Prospects

Scouting reports for the Top 20 Prospects

2005 AFL Top 20 Prospects

1. Brandon Wood, ss, Surprise Scorpions (Angels)
2. Alex Gordon, 1b, Surprise Scorpions (Royals)
3. Ryan Zimmerman, 3b, Peoria Saguaros (Nationals)
4. Howie Kendrick, 2b, Surprise (Angels)
5. Stephen Drew, ss, Phoenix (Diamondbacks)
6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, c, Phoenix (Braves)
7. Ian Stewart, 3b, Peoria Javelinas (Rockies)
8. Lastings Milledge, of, Grand Canyon (Mets)
9. Chris Young(^), of, Peoria Saguaros (White Sox)
10. Scott Mathieson, rhp, Surprise Scorpions (Phillies)
11. Andy LaRoche, 3b, Phoenix Desert Dogs (Dodgers)
12. Billy Butler, of, Surprise Scorpions (Royals)
13. Nick Markakis, of, Peoria Javelinas (Orioles)
14. Jeff Clement, c, Peoria Javelinas (Mariners)
15. Daric Barton, 1b, Phoenix Desert Dogs (Athletics)
16. Matt Kemp, of, Phoenix Desert Dogs (Dodgers)
17. Adam Loewen, lhp, Peoria Javelinas (Orioles)
18. Kendry Morales, 1b, Surprise Scorpions (Angels)
19. Jered Weaver, rhp, Surprise Scorpions (Angels)
20. Adam Jones, of, Peoria Javelinas (Mariners)

The AFL has always been known as a premier hitters league, and that trend picked up in 2005, as all-time league records fell one after the other. Among the marks shattered were batting average (.296), runs per game (12.14), hits per game (20.83), slugging percentage (.469) and ERA (5.40).

AFL players hit 220 homers in just 96 games (or an average of 2.20 per game, ahead of the major league average of 2.06), and the Peoria Saguaros set a new mark for team pitching futility in the AFL with a 6.90 ERA.

Still, three pitchers made the cut on the Top 20–none of them Saguaros–two more than last year. Athletics righthander Huston Street, BAs 2005 Rookie of the Year, was the lone pitcher on the 2004 AFL list.

Hitters with potent bats again dominated this year’s list, with 2005 minor league home runs king Brandon Wood leading the way. Wood ripped 14 more homers in the Fall League, topping Tagg Bozieds all-time record of 12 in 2002.

The list reflects players’ ceiling and impact potential with some consideration to AFL performance.