Cal League Where Are They Now? Part II

Last week we looked at the top hitting prospects of the decade in the California League and how they have fared as they moved up into the big leagues. Now we will look at the top pitching prospects that have spent time in California this past decade.

2000: Francisco Rodriguez, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, 18 years old - New York Mets

K-rod was a return on the Angels investment with his 2002 season performance, but also added four 40 plus save seasons including a Major League record 62 in 2008 before leaving as a free agent to the New York Mets.

2001: Dennis Tankersley, Lake Elsinore Strom, 22 years old - Columbus Clippers

Tankersley had respectable 2002 season in the upper minors and was given three opportunities by the Padres from 2002-2004. With a career record of 1-10 with an ERA of 7.61 and WHIP of 1.83 there was hardly a reason to give him a fourth. I think 879 AAA innings says it all.

2002: Oliver Perez, Lake Elsinore Storm, 20 years old - New York Mets

Perez transcended from A ball all the way to the majors in 2002, where he has maintained an average of over a K per inning in his 7-year career. At 27 years of age going into the 2009 season, there's reason to think his ceiling potential may have peaked.

2003: Ervin Santana, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, 19 years old - Anaheim Angels

Santana logged just 164 innings above A ball before becoming part of the Angels rotation since he entered the bigs as a 22 year old in 2005. In 2008, Santana made the leap to the front of the Angels rotation along with John Lackey posting 16 wins, 214 K's and a 3.49 ERA in 219 innings.

2004: Felix Hernandez, Inland Empire 66ers, 18 years old - Seattle Mariners

Playing just 306 minor league innings Hernandez arrived in the bigs at age 19 and has averaged more than 190 innings in his first three seasons. Hernandez now just 23 years of age is entering his fifth big league season, and the sky remains the limit.

2005: Edinson Volquez, Bakersfield Blaze, 21years old - Cincinnati Reds

In just 66 innings for the Blaze, Volquez struck out 77 batters versus just 12 walks with a WHIP of 1.14. Volquez entered the majors in 2005, but wasn't able to prove himself as big league pitcher until a trade to the Reds prior to the 2008 season. Posting 17 wins, 206 K's and a 3.21 ERA in 196 innings with the Reds in 2008. Volquez will be one to watch in the upcoming 2009 season.

2006: Franklin Morales, Modesto Nuts, 20 years old - Colorado Rockies

After spending most of 2007 in the upper minors, Morales was thrown into the playoff chase with the Rockies, and responded by going 3-2 with a 3.43 ERA in eight starts. As good as Morales was in 2007, he struggled in 2008 both in AAA and for the Rockies with a 6.39 ERA and 1.77 WHIP in 25 innings. It would seem like a certainty that the he would return to AAA to start the 2009 season.

2007: Henry Sosa, San Jose Giants, 21 years old - San Jose Giants

Sosa was given top honors in pitcher weak Cal League in 2007 with 78 strikeouts in 63 innings. In 2008 injuries forced Sosa to spend a second year in San Jose, and is in danger of getting lost in the shuffle of the deep Giants farm system.

2008: Trevor Cahill, Stockton Ports, 20 years old - Oakland A's

In 87 innings for the Ports, Cahill posted a K/BB ratio of 103/31 to go with an ERA of 2.78 and WHIP of 0.95. Cahill had continued success in both Midland of the Texas League and for Team USA in Beijing to round out his 2008 season. There's a good Cahill along with Brett Anderson may win a job in the A's rotation to begin the 2009 season.