BA - 2004 Top 20 Prospects: Northwest League - 美國職棒

1. JAVIER HERRERA, of, Vancouver Canadians (Athletics)
Age: 19 Ht: 5-11 Wt: 220 B-T: R-R Drafted/Signed: Athletics FA '01 (Venezuela)

Managers voted Herrera as league MVP and called him the circuit's most exciting
player because he showcased five tools, all of which rate at least average.
Herrera ranked third in batting and second in steals, showing off his smooth
stroke and good speed. His power stroke should deliver 20-30 home runs annually
in the majors. He chased breaking balls at times, and still must correct his
strikeout-walk ratio, but also showed the ability to make in-game adjustments
and not get fooled on the same pitch twice.

Herrera takes great routes to balls in the outfield and possesses a strong
right-field arm, though he has the wheels to play center as well. He looks
smooth in everything he does, and just needs to remember to keep his focus for
nine innings over the course of the season; Herrera was guilty of drifting at
times. Still managers were in awe of the precocious 19-year-old's upside.

"For a young kid, how he handled himself, you thought he ought to be in
advanced A-ball," Gideon said.

AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG
263 50 87 15 4 12 47 24 59 23 1 .331 .392 .555



7. RICHIE ROBNETT, of, Vancouver Canadians (Athletics)
Age: 21 Ht: 5-10 Wt: 195 B-T: L-L Drafted/Signed: Athletics '04 (1)

Robnett gave Vancouver two athletic outfielders. He's not as fluid as Herrera
but displays a hard-working, grind-it-out approach to the game. "Since he
arrived here to where he is now, he's improved 30 percent," Rogers said.
Robnett has worked his way into being a solid outfielder and will probably end
up moving from center field to a corner as he progresses.

Though he could show more discipline at the plate, Robnett has a solid swing
that should produce gap power and the ball jumps off his bat when he squares it
up--which is something for him to work on.

"He missed some fastballs in some hittable counts," one manager said. "His bat
is a question for me. He was late on good fastballs."

AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG
164 26 49 14 1 4 36 28 43 1 2 .299 .395 .470


12. KURT SUZUKI, c, Vancouver Canadians (Athletics)
Age: 21 Ht: 5-11 Wt: 200 B-T: R-R Drafted/Signed: Athletics '04 (2)

Helping Cal State Fullerton win the College World Series left Suzuki a bit worn
out once he arrived in Vancouver. Still, his feel for the game and leadership
abilities reminded managers of Paul Lo Duca with better defensive skills.
Fatigue forced Suzuki's average arm strength to play down, though he still
managed 1.9-second pop times. He calls a solid game and blocks pitches well,
but still needs to refine his receiving skills.

Suzuki demonstrated a patient approach with the bat, and should emerge as a
quality hitter with gap-to-gap power once he makes an adjustment with his swing.
"He needs to use the whole field," Rogers said. "In college and here, he pulled
the ball so much. He'll become a plus hitter if he can do that."

AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG
175 27 52 10 3 3 31 18 26 0 1 .297 .394 .440


16. LANDON POWELL, c, Vancouver Canadians (Athletics)
Age: 22 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 235 B-T: B-R Drafted/Signed: Athletics '04 (1)

The Athletics drafted Powell for his bat, but he was tired following a long
college season and didn't put up great numbers while splitting his time behind
the plate and at DH. Powell shows power from both sides of the plate and the
discipline to have good at-bats and walk more than he strikes out.

Powell won't ever be much more than an average defender, which is fine if he
shows the power expected. He's a hard worker who already shows solid arm streng
th and a good release. He must improve his receiving skills, especially
handling low pitches and blocking balls.

"He's not Pudge Rodriguez back there, but he's respectable," Rogers said. "He
has a quick release and needs to clean up some other things as he makes
catching just as high a priority as hitting."

AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG
135 24 33 6 1 3 19 26 22 0 0 .244 .368 .370


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