The 42's hope to build a quality staff in the coming years around the following 10 prospects amongst others. The numbers in parentheses following mention of pitches are the current pitch rating followed by the projected.
1. Jose Johnson
Role: #1 Starter
B/T: L/L
Age: 21 Ht./Wt.: 6'1" 189
Acquired: Draft
Draft: 2006 Round 1, Pick 7
Bonus: 3.4 million
Johnson throws straight heat, mixing a fastball (83-91) with a spitter (63-71) and does so with incredible effectiveness. AAA calls Johnson next year and then the majors the following year, where he will anchor the 42's rotation. For all of Johnson's regular season greatness this year, his integral role in the 42's AA championship meltdown will be hard to forget.
Best Comparison: Frank Tanana (pre-surgery)
2007 stats: 166 IP, 2.87 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 18-1
Awards:
2007: AA - NL Cy Young, Newcomer, All Star
ETA: 2009
2. Mendy Griffin
Role: Wherever he can be used, Setup, Closer, Long Relief, even spot or tandem starter.
B/T: R/R
Age: 23 Ht./Wt.: 6'4" 188
Acquired: 2003 trade with San Antonio
Draft: 2002 Round 1, Pick 10
Bonus: 3.2 million
An outstanding relief pitcher, Griffin gets a bump on the list because of how often he can be used. Griffin will qualify for ERA titles out of the pen, putting his mark on the crucial middle innings of 60-70 games a year. Griffin has gone 59-2 the last 2 seasons, a testament both to his dominance and the inability of 42's starters to go 5 innings.
Griffin was acquired along with 42's left fielder and former 1st round pick Rafael Castro for former all star SS Nick Moore.
Best Comparison: John Smoltz
2007 stats: 193 IP, 2.28 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 30-0, 7/8 saves
Awards:
2004: AA - NL All Star
2006: AAA - NL Cy Young, All Star
2007: AAA - NL Cy Young, All Star
ETA: 2008/2009
3. Lawrence Wright
Role: #1 Starter
B/T: R/R
Age: 22 Ht./Wt.: 6'2 182
Acquired: Draft
Draft: 2005 Round 1, Pick 3
Bonus: 3.8 million
The third pick in the country in season 5 out of Kishwaukee CC, Wright had a major stepback in his development when he blew out his arm after allowing a double on his first pitch of the season. Wright's eventual arrival in the majors was probably delayed a year by the surgery and 42's management hopes Wright can still live up to his immense potential. The AAA 42's deep playoff run and title allowed Wright to come back midway through the playoffs. Wright was knocked around a bit, but even seeing him on the mound was encouraging
Best Comparison: Phil Hughes
2007 stats: 0.0 IP, infinite ERA, infinite WHIP
Awards:
2006: AA - NL Cy Young, All Star
ETA: 2010
4. Sammy Henriquez
Role: 2nd Starter
B/T: L/L
Age: 23 Ht./Wt.: 6'3 205
Acquired: 2003 trade with Portland
Draft: 2002 Round 1, Pick 24
Bonus: 2.4 million
The Texan with the sweet shades, Henriquez evokes images of Ron Guidry with his blazing fastball (96-98) and a hammering curveball (77-79). Henriquez is tortuous on lefties but does have some issues keeping the ball down, luckily for Sammy the 42's will have some outfielders who can go get the ball and a spacious home park that will turn alot of balls into long outs.
Best Comparison: Ron Guidry
2007 stats: 159 IP, 2.32 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 16-3
Awards:
2007: AAA - NL All Star
ETA: 2009
5. Barry Hall
Role: Setup/Closer
B/T: R/R
Age: 25 Ht./Wt.: 5'11 233
Acquired: 2002 trade with Portland
Draft: N/A
Bonus: N/A
Texan Barry Hall will conclude his slow ascension through the minor leagues in season 8, when he is expected to assume a primary role in the 42's bullpen. Don't let the slow progress fool you though, Hall is lockdown reliever who throws a devastating hard sinker (95-100)that he mixes with an above average changeup (76-77) with pinpoint precision.
Best Comparison: Tim Hudson
2007 stats: AAA -89 IP, 3.02 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 6-1, 6/6 saves
Awards: None
ETA: 2008
6. Matt Richardson
Role: 2nd Starter
B/T: L/L
Age: 26 Ht./Wt.: 6'1 195
Acquired: Draft
Draft: 2002 Round 1, Pick 26
Bonus: 3.1 million
USC alum Richardson will be a 5 inning starter for the 42's next season in a role similar to the one Greg Maddux occupies at this stage in his career. Richardson throws an outstanding changeup (82-87) and a solid curveball (70-75) and rounds out his repertoire with a below average screwball and slider. Richardson combines excellent control with an uncanny ability to keep the ball on the ground. Management is hoping that Mateo Medrano can keep Richardson from throwing his weak pitches next season.
Best Comparison: Zach Duke
2007 stats: 148 IP, 3.69 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 10-0
Awards:
2007: AAA - NL All Star
ETA: 2008
7. Roy Pall
Role: Setup/Closer
B/T: L/L
Age: 21 Ht./Wt.: 6'0 222
Acquired: Draft
Draft: 2006 Round 2, Pick 54
Bonus: 475K
The Ohio native Pall does not have the stamina pitch more than 80 innings a year and will likely settle into a setup role for the 42's sometime in season 9. Pall has an above average fastball (68-73) that he mixes with an outstanding curveball (79-86).
Best Comparison: Barry Zito (when that was a good thing)
2007 stats: AA - 78 IP, 4.04 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 5-0, 8/9 saves
Awards: None
ETA: 2009
8. Matthew Stanley
Role: Setup/Closer
B/T: R/R
Age: 24 Ht./Wt.: 6'2" 213
Acquired: 2003 trade with Cincinnati
Draft: 2001 Round 4, Pick 127
Bonus: 500K
Stanley is a rubber armed one inning pitcher with a plus curveball (72-80) and an average sinker (63-68).
Stanley was acquired from Cincinnati essentially for long reliever Darren Sutton, a classic now-for-future trade. They are comparable pitchers who were at radically diff't stages of their careers.
Best Comparison: Tom Gordon
2007 stats: 72 IP, 4.73 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 6-2, 25/32 saves
Awards:
2007 - AAA - NL All Star
ETA: 2008
9. Juan Espada
Role: 4th Starter
B/T: R/R
Age: 21 Ht./Wt.: 6'1" 175
Acquired: IFA 2006
Draft: N/A
Bonus: 6.6 million
Plucked from the Mexican leagues at 20, Espada throws an excellent fastball (85-91) and a very good split fingered fastball (76-80) with average control. Espada will anchor the back of the 42's rotation starting in season 9 and for years beyond.
Best Comparison: Rich Harden
2007 stats: 148 IP, 5.34 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 12-7
ETA: 2009
10. Felipe Solano
Role: Long Relief, 5th Starter
B/T: R/R
Age: 25 Ht./Wt.: 5'11 196
Acquired: Draft
Draft: 2004 Round 1, Pick 14
Bonus: 2.8 million
Hailing from the pitching factory that is Rice university Solano has not lived up to the promise of his early draft position and most likely never will. What he will be is a solid long reliever and spot starter who will join his cousin Torey at the major league level in season 9. Solano throws a solid fastball (70-75) and slider (72-75) with very good control.
Best Comparison: Derek Lowe
2007 stats: 212 IP, 3.47 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 19-8, 1 CG
Awards:
2005 - HiA - NL All Star
2006 - AA - NL All Star
2007 - AAA - NL Newcomer, All Star
ETA: 2009
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