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While the top levels of the St. Louis Cardinals farm system are pretty rough in terms of young talent, there is some hope at the lower levels.
Among that bunch is first base prospect Mark Hamilton.
The 22 year old, a second round pick of the Cardinals in the 2006 draft out of Tulane, had a solid debut season.
Combined between Short-A State College and Low-A Quad Cities, Hamilton batted .258 with 11 homeruns and 49 rbi's.
That came on the heals of a college season with the Green Wave in which he hit .336 with 20 homeruns in 64 games.
Expect Hamilton to begin 2007 at High-A Palm Beach and possibly earn a promotion to Double-A Springfield should he get off to a strong start.
Michael Bourn is working on making a name for himself in the Philadelphia Philles outfield.
The Phillies fourth round pick in the 2003 draft is off to a quick start this spring batting .400 with 2 stolen bases in 15 Grapefruit League at-bats.
Bourn had a cup of coffee with the Phillies last season appearing in 17 games, mostly as pinch runner or defensive replacement, and managed just one hit in eight at-bats.
Despite his struggles in his limited major league action, he excelled in the minors.
Bourn batted a combined .277 with 5 homeruns, 13 triples, 96 runs scored, and 45 stolen bases at Double-A Reading and Triple-A Scranton.
Expect the 24 year old Bourn to continue to challenge for a fourth outfield spot this spring, but likely begin the season at Triple-A Ottawa where he can be an everyday player.
Atlanta Braves infield prospect Martin Prado is trying to make a name for himself this spring.
Through five games, the native of Venezuela has done just that batting .500 with a double, three rbi's, and a stolen base in 12 at-bats.
The 23 year old batted a combined .281 with 3 homeruns, 18 doubles, and 38 rbi's in 103 games split between Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Richmond last season.
In 24 games with the Braves, he batted .262 with one homerun and 9 rbi's.
Expect Prado to battle throughout the spring for a reserve or utility spot on the Braves big league roster.
3-1-07 Sorry for the light coverage. Internet troubles here at my hotel in Arizona. Working at dial up speed. Will be out of here on Saturday so should be back to normal begining on Sunday. Thanks for your patience.
Drafted all the way back in 2001, Sean Smith has not exactly blazed through the Cleveland Indians farm system.
However the 23 year old righthander is beginning to shine.
The former 16th round pick out of Sacramento City College posted a 10-5 record with a 3.88 ERA in 144 innings at Double-A Akron.
That combined with four starts at High-A Kinston gave Smith a combined 11-7 with a 3.83 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 169 innings.
Opposing batters hit .254 against him on the year.
Expect Smith to begin 2007 at Triple-A Buffalo.
One of the nicer seasons in the Texas League in 2006 came from Brad Knox.
He was originally drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 14th round of the 2002 draft out of Central Arizona.
Knox made a name for himself in 2004 going 14-5 with a 2.59 ERA at Kane County.
He struggles in 2005 at High-A Stockton posting just a 8-7 record with a 4.27 ERA.
However Knox rebounded quite nicely last year at Double-A Midland where he was one of the more consistant pitchers in the Texas League.
The 6'2" righthander went 12-5 with a 3.67 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 161.2 innings of work.
Expect Knox to begin 2007 at Triple-A Sacramento.
2-24-07 Limited coverage today and Sunday as I am on my way out to Arizona for spring training. Things should be back to normal with Prospect of the Day reports starting up once again on Monday.
Playing in one of the weaker farm systems in baseball, Mitchell Boggs has begun to stand out in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
The 6'3" righthander was taken in the fifth round of the 2005 draft out of Georgia.
Since turning pro he has been solid if not spectacular.
In his pro debut at Short-A New Jersey, Boggs went 4-4 with a 3.89 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 71.2 innings of work.
He continued his success in 2006 jumping up to High-A Palm Beach where he finished second in the Florida State League in strikeouts with 126 while posting a 10-6 record with a 3.41 ERA in 27 starts.
Expect the 23 year old Boggs to begin 2007 at Double-A Springfield and have a chance to earn a late season promotion to Triple-A Memphis.