MiLB Top 10 Prospects Flashback: 2002 New York-Penn League
While a number of excellent players have made stops in the short-season New York-Penn League over the years, it being situated between Rookie ball and Class A means that it misses most premium high school draft picks in their debut years and even some of the top college players who quickly head to low Class A.
Some of the notable NYPL prospect classes include Marquis Grissom, Luis Gonzalez and Woody Williams in 1988; and Ben Zobrist and Anibal Sanchez in 2004. Carlos Delgado played in the league in 1990 and Chase Utley in 2000.
The 2002 edition featured future multi-time all-stars in tooled-up shortstop Hanley Ramirez (No. 1) and slugging outfielder Curtis Granderson (No. 10).
2002 New York-Penn League Top 10 Prospects
| No | Player | Pos | Team | Org | PA/IP | WAR |
| 1 | Hanley Ramirez | SS | Lowell | Red Sox | 7,127 | 41.5 |
| 2 | Brandon League | RHP | Auburn | Blue Jays | 532 | 3.0 |
| 3 | Mike Hinckley | LHP | Vermont | Nationals | 23 | 0.8 |
| 4 | Bronson Sardinha | OF | Staten Island | Yankees | 12 | -0.1 |
| 5 | Russ Adams | SS | Auburn | Blue Jays | 993 | -0.7 |
| 6 | Chien-Ming Wang | RHP | Staten Island | Yankees | 846 | 11.6 |
| 7 | D.J. Hanson | RHP | Auburn | Blue Jays | — | — |
| 8 | Alfredo Simon | RHP | Batavia | Phillies | 775 | 2.7 |
| 9 | Alex Hart | RHP | Williamsport | Pirates | — | — |
| 10 | Curtis Granderson | OF | Oneonta | Tigers | 8,306 | 47.6 |
Ramirez showed all the attributes of a franchise shortstop at an early age, including “tremendous bat speed,” “five-tool ability” and “natural athleticism.” His manager said it best: “He’s got a feel for the game you can’t teach.”
Granderson appeared to be a future fourth outfielder in his pro debut with Oneonta, but he far outpaced that with 344 big league home runs. “He has a great feel for the strike zone and he puts the ball in play. He’s not afraid to hit deep in counts,” one manager noted.
Chien-Ming Wang (No. 6) remains the standard bearer among Taiwanese players signed as amateurs. As a 22-year-old in the NYPL he was already showing “90-95 mph” heat, with his manager saying that “he’s holding his velocity, and the sharpness of the breaking ball and splitter are there.”
New York-Penn League All-Time BA No. 1 Prospects
Players listed with career major league plate appearances/innings and FanGraphs WAR. Stats for active players current through mid August.
| Year | Player | Pos | Team | Org | PA/IP | WAR |
| 1982 | John Elway | OF | Oneonta | Yankees | — | — |
| 1983 | Stan Jefferson | OF | Little Falls | Mets | 920 | -0.5 |
| 1984 | Jay Buhner | OF | Watertown | Pirates | 5,927 | 22.3 |
| 1985 | Bobby Thigpen | RHP | Niagara Falls | White Sox | 569 | 9.9 |
| 1986 | Luis Alicea | 2B | Erie | Cardinals | 4,614 | 9.6 |
| 1987 | Alex Sanchez | RHP | St. Catharines | Blue Jays | 12 | -0.4 |
| 1988 | Marquis Grissom | OF | Jamestown | Expos | 8,959 | 26.4 |
| 1989 | Sherman Obando | OF | Oneonta | Yankees | 394 | -0.8 |
| Year | Player | Pos | Team | Org | PA/IP | WAR |
| 1990 | Robert Eenhoorn | SS | Oneonta | Yankees | 74 | 0.0 |
| 1991 | Frankie Rodriguez | SS | Elmira | Red Sox | 654 | 1.0 |
| 1992 | Mike Gulan | 3B | Hamilton | Cardinals | 18 | -0.3 |
| 1993 | Ruben Rivera | OF | Oneonta | Yankees | 1,818 | 4.9 |
| 1994 | Jay Payton | OF | Pittsfield | Mets | 4,490 | 12.0 |
| 1995 | Chad Hermansen | SS | Erie | Pirates | 541 | -2.5 |
| 1996 | Aramis Ramirez | 3B | Erie | Pirates | 8,986 | 38.4 |
| 1997 | Matt White | RHP | Hudson Valley | Rays | 10 | -0.8 |
| 1998 | Carlos Duncan | 3B | Batavia | Phillies | — | — |
| 1999 | Alex Graman | LHP | Staten Island | Yankees | 6 | -0.7 |
| Year | Player | Pos | Team | Org | PA/IP | WAR |
| 2000 | Wilson Betemit | SS | Jamestown | Braves | 2,335 | 3.0 |
| 2001 | John Van Benschoten | RHP | Williamsport | Pirates | 90 | -3.3 |
| 2002 | Hanley Ramirez | SS | Lowell | Red Sox | 7,127 | 41.5 |
| 2003 | Nick Markakis | OF | Aberdeen | Orioles | 9,218 | 29.5 |
| 2004 | Ambiorix Concepcion | OF | Brooklyn | Mets | — | — |
| 2005 | Nolan Reimold | OF | Aberdeen | Orioles | 1,556 | 1.6 |
| 2006 | Jeremy Hellickson | RHP | Hudson Valley | Rays | 1,269 | 15.4 |
| 2007 | Brett Cecil | LHP | Auburn | Blue Jays | 756 | 6.6 |
| 2008 | Jason Castro | C | Tri-City | Astros | 3,067 | 15.0 |
| 2009 | Ryan Westmoreland | OF | Lowell | Red Sox | — | — |
| Year | Player | Pos | Team | Org | PA/IP | WAR |
| 2010 | Carlos Perez | C | Auburn | Blue Jays | 670 | -0.5 |
| 2011 | Mason Williams | OF | Staten Island | Yankees | 234 | 0.0 |
| 2012 | Taylor Guerrieri | RHP | Hudson Valley | Rays | 36 | -0.2 |
| 2013 | Harold Ramirez | OF | Jamestown | Pirates | 454 | 0.3 |
| 2014 | Marcos Molina | RHP | Brooklyn | Mets | — | — |
| 2015 | Andrew Benintendi | OF | Lowell | Red Sox | 2,104 | 8.5 |
| 2016 | A.J. Puk | LHP | Vermont | Athletics | 11 | 0.3 |
| 2017 | Brendan McKay | LHP/1B | Hudson Valley | Rays | 49 | 0.0 |
| 2018 | Gilberto Celestino | OF | Tri-City | Astros | — | — |
| 2019 | Adley Rutschman | C | Aberdeen | Orioles | — | — |
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