August '10 ABL-to-MiLB Update: A-M

As promised, we're now going to shift our focus on catching up with some of the alumni to come through the ABL, and boy do we have a lot of catching up to do. With so many former ABLers in the minor league ranks it takes a fair amount of effort to stay on top of them all. In order to make it more digestible for you the reader -- not to mention give me, the blogger, a bit of a break -- I'm breaking this update up into two posts of roughly half the players each. Below the "fold" you'll find a listing of all notable transactions regarding the up-and-coming pro prospects who've logged ABL time. Some of this is old news, so I hope you'll excuse me, but I'm just posting up everything of note that has occurred since the last time I updated the Pro Prospects spreadsheet (which was before the ABL season began).

Most notable, of course, are the players who have escaped the minors and are now logging valuable time in MLB. Ike Davis (Bucs, 2006), of course, came up with the Mets early in the season and seems to have stuck in the big leagues. I know Mets fans -- and Bucs fans! -- have been pulling for him to break in to the bigs and they've had their wishes granted. Hector Ambriz (Pilots, 2003) is now with the Cleveland Indians, although as a Rule Five draft pick we knew that was a matter of time. They could only milk his "rehab assignment" for so long before they had to choose between putting him on the MLB roster or losing him. Jason Castro (Bucs, 2006) -- ranked 49th State Hardball's #1 ABL Pro Prospect -- has come up with the Astros; Barry Enright (Oilers, 2005) has looked very impressive for the Arizona Diamondbacks; Chris Gimenez (Bucs, 2002) has joined Ambriz with the Indians. Congrats to all of those former Alaska League players for making the jump, and hopefully they all stick around for a while.

ABL Top 10 Pro Prospects for 2010

Here it is! The moment we've all been waiting for...the top ten ABL pro prospects for 2010. There are plenty of other guys I'd love to have included on this list, but after the first ten or so it becomes more or less guesswork as to where to rank anybody, so ten was the cutoff. But if you think I missed a favorite of yours, feel free to let me know in the comments section and we can give your guy some love. Well, without further ado, here is the list:

#1: Jason Castro

C - 2006 Anchorage Bucs 
MLB Org: Houston
Drafted: 2008, Rd. 1
Scouting Video: Farmsystem

Scouting Report: Jason Castro is the top prospect in the Astros organization and is in the top handful of prospects in all of pro baseball. MLB.com ranked Castro in their top 50 for 2010. As for his abilities, Castro has a strong and accurate throwing arm, great patience and power that is a bit above average. The current catcher situation in the major leagues is kind of blah. It seems that after the "Three M's" (McCann, Mauer and Martinez) there isn't a lot of star-power at the position, which means that Castro should make a big splash when he breaks into the show here in a year or two.

Photo Credit: Tom Clifton

#2: Michael Taylor  
OF - 2005 Mat-Su Miners
MLB Org: Oakland
Drafted: 2007, Rd. 5
Scouting Video: ESPN
Scouting Report: Michael Taylor was one of the better prospects in the Phillies' farm system before ending up in Oakland via Toronto. In the A's minor league hierarchy he's really blossomed into a top 50 prospect. He looks a lot like he could have the power to be a cleanup guy, but he's better suited in the #3 hole; while he'll likely be an above-average home run hitter, he is just an all around great contact guy who can spatter balls all around the ballpark, with the speed to stretch hits for extra bases and swipe a few. A very well-rounded hitter. Also to his advantage are a strong outfield arm and tough mentality.