We continue our division-by-division look at baseball's top prospects with the NL East, where the Marlins have taken over from the Braves as the model franchise in farming young talent. It's still the big-budget Mets' division to lose, though. The Phillies and Nats? Let's just say we're scratching our heads on how they don't have more strength coming from their system in the near future.
New York Mets
Top pitcher: RH Mike Pelfrey, ETA 2007
Pelfrey's first pro season saw him rise all the way from Class A to the major leagues, in a contender's rotation no less. He wasn't entirely impressive with the Mets, but the fact he was serviceable at the big-league level in his first pro season is very telling for his long-term projectability. Baseball America rated Pelfrey as the top pitcher in the 2005 draft. Assuming the Mets don't slot an entirely new rotation, Pelfrey could be able to earn a rotation spot out of spring, which would make him a NL Rookie of the Year favorite. With the Mets' potent lineup, Pelfrey could be the rare rookie pitcher that pulls a Justin Verlander and turns into a quick Fantasy ace.
Honorable mention: RH Brian Bannister, RH Philip Humber, RH Mike Devaney, RH Kevin Mulvey, RH Alay Soler, LH Jon Niese, RH Deolis Guerra, RH Henry Owens
Top hitter: CF Fernando Martinez, ETA 2008
Martinez is an immense offensive talent because of his age-class ratio. He was an 18-year-old big-ticket signee out of the Dominican Republic and moved all the way to high Class A Port St. Lucie. He will likely open 2007 at that level, but it's not out of the question seeing him in the big leagues as a teenager late next season. It would just be a September call-up as a reserve, though. Consider him a 25-25 potential outfielder down the road, perhaps with even more upside than the well-regarded Lastings Milledge, who used up his rookie status this summer.
Honorable mention: C Jesus Flores, OF Carlos Gomez, 1B Mike Carp, SS Reggie Corona, 1B Michel Abreu
Philadelphia Phillies
Top pitcher: RH Zach Segovia, ETA mid-2007
The 2002 draft class could wind up filling two-fifths of the Phillies' rotation by the end of 2007. First-rounder Cole Hamels is already on his way to Fantasy stardom, while Segovia was the second-rounder that year and is finally on track after a Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery. The 6-foot-2, 245-pound workhorse no longer has that mid-90s fastball he was drafted with, according to Baseball America, but you cannot argue with his results in 2006. Segovia went 16-6 with a 2.82 ERA in 24 games (23 starts) and 156 1/3 innings between high Class A and Double-A. His strikeout rate is not impressive (116 Ks), but he walked just 36 batters and wasn't very hittable (.224 batting-average against). He will have work to do in Triple-A to open the season, but the Phillies will give him a call when they need an option midseason. Consider him someone to watch next spring to see how he handles big-league hitters. By the way, struggling prospect Gavin Floyd, and his wicked curveball, remains an organizational project, but he exceeded the innings allotment for rookie status in 2006.
Honorable mention: LH Gio Gonzalez, RH Scott Mathieson, LH J.A. Happ, RH Kyle Kendrick, RH Carlos Carrasco, LH Josh Outman
Top hitter: OF Michael Bourn, ETA mid-2007
If not for the strikeouts and a lower batting average, we'd consider Bourn a Juan Pierre-type. As it is, Bourn projects to be a 30-plus basestealer, a Willy Taveras-type, if he were to get an everyday job. That will be tough in Philly, which has outfielders slotted ahead of him right now. Consider him a Rotisserie flier down the road, because of his combined 45 steals in 50 attempts between Double- and Triple-A this season.
Honorable mention: 3B Mike Costanzo, OF Chris Roberson, OF Greg Golson, C Jason Jaramillo
Florida Marlins
Top pitcher: RH Chris Volstad, ETA mid-2008
It's hard to believe with their depths of Rookie of the Year candidates the Marlins still have any viable Fantasy prospects. Well, they still have some really good ones. Volstad, a '05 first-rounder out of high school, tops them. The 6-foot-7 right-hander has that tall, thin frame that generates easy power. He went 11-8 with a 3.08 ERA through 26 starts and 152 innings in low Class A. He struck out just 99 batters and allowed them to hit .275 off him, but you shouldn't worry. He's still incredibly projectable. The 20-year-old should start 2007 in high Class A, with a midseason move to Double-A possible. The Marlins' depths of pitching prospects allows him to wait in line, so consider him nothing more than a long-term keeper option for 2007. He's talented, sure, but extremely young and raw compared to the Marlins' other throwers.
Honorable mention: RH Jose Garcia, RH Gaby Hernandez, RH Yusmeiro Petit, LH Adam Bostick, RH Ryan Tucker, LH Sean West, RH Harvey Garcia
Top hitter: C/1B/OF Gaby Sanchez, ETA late 2007
Hitters are not the strength of the Marlins' system -- especially after they graduated so many Rookie of the Year candidates in '06. But Sanchez, 22, is certainly one to get excited about. The local University of Miami product went a combined .288-15-50-57-7 (.540 SLUG and .427 OBP) through 250 at-bats from low-to-high Class A. This is the next Josh Willingham for the Marlins, which means he's a few years away from making a real big-league impact and still needs to find out whether his future is behind the plate. A bat too good to limit to the 120 games a catcher gets, he would be a Fantasy stud behind the plate. But that's the rub, he looks like such a good hitter, he's going to make the Willingham- Mike Jacobs-Ryan Garko-Chris Shelton move to first or left field. Those spots in South Florida are currently filled by long-term solutions right now. Sanchez is a must-track bat, though, especially if he proves capable of catching.
Honorable mention: 1B Jason Stokes, OF Brett Carroll, OF Kris Harvey, 3B Grant Psomas, SS Robert Andino, 1B Brad McCann
Atlanta Braves
Top pitcher: LH Anthony Lerew, ETA mid-2007
Lerew started the year with so much promise, but he was lapped by Chuck James before struggling with injuries. He then proceeded to get beat up in Triple-A and lose his prospect luster. He heads to the Arizona Fall League, where he hopes to regain his fearless, easy 91-94 mph stuff, according to Baseball America. Lerew's struggles (and injuries) might be partially attributable to the failed spring training experiment at making him a short reliever and eventually a closer. Lerew will open 2007 in Triple-A most likely and be the first arm the Braves resort to when their veterans go down again. Consider him a potential sleeper in deeper formats for 2007. The Braves promise to have a strong offense, so any serviceable starting pitcher could be valuable even in mixed leagues.
Honorable mention: RH Joey Devine, RH Matt Wright, LH Matt Harrison, LH Dan Smith
Top hitter: 3B Eric Campbell, ETA mid-2008
The Braves have their replacement for Chipper Jones and it's not Andy Marte or Wilson Betemit, as had long been projected. It's the 21-year-old Campbell, who was the Braves' second-round pick in 2004. The converted shortstop, who has made a smooth transition to third, has drawn Matt Williams comparisons from Baseball America. Wow! The 6-foot-0, 190-pounder put up David Wright numbers in low Class A, hitting .296 with 22 homers, 77 RBI, 83 runs and 18 steals. The speed-and-power mix at the position is certainly intriguing, but he won't be arriving while Chipper is still around and healthy. Take the flier on Campbell in all long-term keeper leagues and he could be a big-time midseason call-up if something serious happens to Chipper. As it is, he could be the 2008 starter at third for the Braves and a Rookie of the Year.
Honorable mention: 2B Martin Prado, 1B Scott Thorman, 3B Van Pope, OF Brandon Jones, C Jarrod Saltamacchia, 1B/OF James Jurries, 2B J.C. Holt, OF Gregor Blanco, SS Elvis Andrus, SS Yunel Escobar, OF Josh Burrus
Washington Nationals
Top pitcher: RH Clint Everts, ETA late 2007
Scott Kazmir's high school teammate and fellow No. 1 pick (2002) has overcome Tommy John surgery but still has work to do to get back to his once-lofty prospect status. His numbers in low Class A in 2006 were not great -- (5-10), 6.00 ERA with 92 strikeouts in 90 innings and .264 batting-average against. Track him next spring in the first half of next year, because if he's healthy, he could become a little Cole Hamels -like find.
Honorable mention: RH Shawn Hill, LH Mike Hinckley, RH Collin Balester, RH Shairon Martis, LH Glenn Gibson, RH Garrett Mock
Top hitter: OF Kory Casto, ETA mid-2007
The quick college-to-the-majors emergence of Ryan Zimmerman forced Casto to the outfield, where he could help the Nats in the middle of 2007. Casto will open the season in Triple-A and be an early call-up. He might even get a look in left field out of spring if Alfonso Soriano leaves via free agency. Casto went a Zimmerman-like .272-20-80-84-6 (.468 SLUG and a .379 OBP) in full Double-A season (489 at-bats). The future OPS hog's bat will certainly play in Fantasy leagues once he arrives, so track the Nats' news and spring training position battles to gauge his arrival.
Honorable mention: 1B Larry Broadway, SS Ian Desmond, C Salomon Manriquez
You have an NL Central prospect on your radar and want to hear about him next week? Pass his name on. Also, you can e-mail your Fantasy Baseball prospect and rookie questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: NL Central prospects in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses or answers to all questions.
