Cal League Where Are They Now?

With only 21 days left until minor league rosters are finalized and the 2009 regular season begins, let's take a look and see how some top prospects have done since leaving the California League on their way towards the Major Leagues. These are the top hitters of each year from this decade. I will discuss pitchers in another post.

2000: Ryan Ludwick, Modesto A's, 21 years old - St. Louis Cardinals
A little late in blossoming into the major league success we might have expected, but based on last season alone, Ludwick's transition to the majors would have to be considered a success. In 2008, Ludwick became only the third player in major league history to hit 30 homers and drive in 100 runs at age 30 while accumulating fewer than 750 at-bats in prior seasons.

2001: Xavier Nady, Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres), 22 years old - New York Yankees
Nady has proven himself at the major league level to be more than capable of his ability to hit the ball off left handed pitchers. Even playing with the lowly Pirates, his numbers in Pittsburgh (.330-13-57) were better than they were in New York (.268-12-40) that leaves him fighting for a position on the Yankee starting line up.

2002: Rocco Baldelli, Bakersfield Blaze (Rays), 20 years old - Boston Red Sox
Sometimes compared to Smokin' Joe DiMaggio, Baldelli was a legit player before injuries became the dominant factor in his career. Baldelli was diagnosed last spring with a mitochondrial disorder, causing fatigue in his legs that limited him to 26 games with the Rays and threatened his career. This year will be a make or break season for Baldelli.

2003: Casey Kotchman, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Angels), 20 years old - Atlanta Braves
Kotchman's high ranking in the Cal League may have contributed to not having lived up to the rankings he once had. However, he still has yet to reach his peak and has the skills to become a solid player. In his first 22 games after being traded to the Braves, Kotchman hit .149 and left fans wondering why team officials believed they could move forward with him as the first baseman. Then in his final 21 games of 2008, Kotchman hit .321 with 15 RBIs .

2004: Erick Aybar, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Angels), 20 years old - LA Angels of Anaheim
Aybar hit .277 with three homers, 18 doubles, 39 RBIs and 53 runs in 98 games last season. The complete evaporation of his game at times has meant reaching the bottom of his range as a player, but worse fielders than Aybar have had ten-year careers in the bigs.

2005: Brandon Wood, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Angels), 20 years old - LA Angels of Anaheim
Wood continues to struggle and has not made the big jump yet to a hitter in the majors. Some weaknesses in his game may find the once big time prospect a way back to the minors. If lucky Wood will likely begin the regular season on the bench, backing up both Chone Figgins at third base and Erick Aybar at shortstop.

2006: Reid Brignac, Visalia Oaks (Rays), 20 years old - Tampa Bay Rays
Brignac played four games at shortstop and started twice in his less than stellar stint in the major leagues that saw him go 0-for-10 at the plate and make two errors. Brignac looks like a guy who shows how far it can be from high Class A to the big leagues.

2007: Justin Upton, Visalia Oaks (Diamondbacks), 19 years old - Arizona Diamondbacks
Upton shows limitless potential. Compiling an OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging) of .816, hitting .250 with 15 homers and 42 RBIs in 108 games for the Diamondbacks in 2008

2008: Carlos Santana, Inland Empire 66ers (Dodgers), 22 years old - Cleveland Indians
Carlos Santana, no not the guitarist, is regarded as the Indians top prospect since being acquired from the Dodgers for Casey Blake last year. Santana, a third baseman before Los Angeles converted him to catcher, will probably find himself behind the plate for the Akron Aeros to start the 2009 season.