Entering its 128th year, the International league (IL) is readying for another season, with opening days beginning April 5.
Thirteen teams in the 14-team league, home to the Toledo Mud Hens, will look to dethrone the Columbus Clippers, Governors’ Cup champions for the past two seasons. The league is full of talent from top to bottom and ready to entertain area fans who visit Fifth Third Field this year.
BUFFALO BISONS (NEW YORK METS)
Last season: 61-82 (5th IL North)
Best hitting prospect: Kirk Nieuwenhuis, center field
Best pitching prospect: Zack Wheeler, starting pitcher
The Buffalo Bisons struggled last season, finishing with the third worst record in the Il. Although the team has lacked depth in recent years, some of the Mets’ top prospects will be reaching the Bisons soon. At the plate, 24-year-old center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis headlines the group after hitting .298 in Buffalo last season. He played just 53 games before being sidelined with an oblique injury. Cesar Puello, a 21-year-old from the Dominican Republic, is also moving up the minor league ranks after competing in double-A last season. on the pitching staff, the Mets have two top hurlers in their system. 2009 sixth-overall pick Zack Wheeler leads the group after being acquired last season from the Giants for Allstar Carlos Beltran and may be able to reach Triple-A by the end of the season. He is the league’s 28th-overall prospect in 2012. Also approaching the Bisons rotation is the major league’s No. 37 prospect Matt Harvey, who pitched in double-A Binghamton last year. Harvey was the seventh-overall pick in 2010 and recorded a 3.32 erA with 64 strikeouts in 59 innings.
CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX)
Last season: 69-74 (3rd Il south)
Best hitting prospect: Osvaldo Martinez, shortstop
Best pitching prospect: Nestor Molina, closer
As the White sox transition from contender to rebuilding team, the minor league roster is becoming more and more important to the team’s future success. Much of the top-end talent is still on its way to Charlotte, N.C., but the Knights will see some of that talent by the end of the season.
At the plate, most of Chicago’s top hitting prospects are still in single-A, including outfielders Trayce Thompson and Keenyn Walker and infielders Tyler Saladino and Juan Silverio. Charlotte does have shortstop Osvaldo Martinez, one of the team’s top prospects, penciled into the lineup. An 11th round pick in 2006, Martinez hit .245 for the Knights last year and saw limited action for the White sox. Chicago traded closer Sergio Santos in the off-season, making way for Addison Reed, the MlB’s No. 99 top prospect, to move up from Charlotte to the major leagues to compete for the closer’s role. The Knights, however, obtained Nestor Molina in the Santos deal and he instantly became one of their top prospects. Molina, a prospect out of Venezuela, racked up a 2.21 ERA in the Blue Jays minor league system last year.
COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (CLEVELAND INDIANS)
Last season: 88-56 (1st IL West)
Best hitting prospect: Francisco lindor, shortstop
Best pitching prospect: Nick Hagadone, reliever
In 2011, the Clippers ran away with the Il, picking up seven more wins than any other team and earning back-to-back Governors’ Cups. Columbus is in an interesting position, with most of the Indians’ top prospects either moved on to the majors with Cleveland or low in the minors. despite losing many top prospects, including third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall and second baseman Jason Kipnis, the Indians loaded up on veterans that could provide depth. The Indians’ top overall prospect is 19-year-old Puerto Rican Francisco lindor, the No. 32 prospect in the league. The shortstop was Cleveland’s eighth-overall pick in the 2011 MlB draft and has the talent and potential to reach the Triple-A level by the end of the season. left-fielder Nick Weglarz should make a big impact in the Clippers lineup and could have a shot at the Indians roster at some point this year. Nick Hagadone leads the pitchers in Columbus as he continues to battle for a spot in the Indians bullpen. The 26-year-old lefty was traded to Cleveland along with Justin Masterson from Boston for Victor Martinez in 2009.
DURHAM BULLS (TAMPA BAY RAYS)
Last season: 80-62 (1st IL south)
Best hitting prospect: Hak-Ju Lee, shortstop
Best pitching prospect: Chris Archer, starter
Durham had a fantastic season last year, finishing with the third best record in the IL. The Bulls are loaded with near major league talent and will again be one of the contenders for the Governors’ Cup. The Rays’ top prospects are framed by their 2011 trade of pitcher Matt Garza to the Cubs, bringing back the top hitting and pitching prospects in their system. Hak-Ju Lee may not start the season in Triple-A Durham, but should be there by season’s end. Lee hit .190 in 100 at-bats in double-A Montgomery last season after racking up a .318 average in single-A and is the league’s 45th overall prospect. Durham lost Matt Moore to the Rays; their top prospect will look to contend for the American League rookie of the year award in 2012.
The Bulls still have pitching talent in the system, led by starter Chris Archer and Alexander Torres. Archer started his career in Cleveland before being traded to the Cubs for Mark DeRosa. Chicago then moved Archer as part of the Garza deal. He had a 4.09 ERA in the minors last season, including a 0.69 erA in 13 innings of Triple-A, and is the MLB’s No. 74 prospect.
Torres, meanwhile, led all Triple-A pitchers in strikeouts (156) and walks (83) in 2011.
EMPIRE STATE YANKEES (NEW YORK YANKEES)
Last season: 73-69 (3rd IL North)
Best hitting prospect: Austin Romine, catcher
Best pitching prospect: Manny Banuelos, starter
Equipped with the longest name in baseball, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Empire State Yankees lost one of the top prospects in baseball when New York traded catcher Jesus Montero to Seattle in a move for dynamic young starter Michael Pineda.
While their home field is being renovated, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees will spend the 2012 season on the road, primarily in New York state. For this reason, they have taken on the temporary moniker Empire State Yankees.
The loss of Montero was tough, but the organization has the personnel to replace him. Twenty-three-year-old catching prospect Austin Romine isn’t to the level of some of the other hitting prospects in single-A, including another catcher in 19-year-old Dominican prospect Gary Sanchez, but Romine has already reached Triple-A. The former 2007 second-round pick hit .279 in the minors last season and could be an option in New York if injuries hit.
The Empire State Yankees are flush with pitching prospects led by their two top prospects Manny Baneulos and Dellin Batances. Both players reached the majors briefly at the end of the year, combining for 11 starts, and should make a significant impact this season. Baneulos is the league’s 11th-best prospect while Betances is ranked No. 40.
GWINNETT BRAVES (ATLANTA BRAVES)
Last season: 78-65 (2nd IL south)
Best hitting prospect: Tyler Pastornicky, shortstop
Best pitching prospect: Julio Teheran, starter
The Braves have one of the most potent teams in the IL thanks to a stacked Major League rotation. After finishing 13 games over .500 and placing second in the IL south division, the Braves are looking to take the next step forward in 2012.
Tyler Pastornicky leads the Gwinnett prospects offensively after hitting .314 last season, including a scorching .365 for Gwinnett. He was acquired from Toronto in 2010 as part of their trade that sent shortstop Yunel Escobar to Toronto.
The pitching staff is where Gwinnett is dangerous, due to the depth in Atlanta’s rotation. The MlB squad has a starting five of Tim Hudson, Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson and Brandon Beachy, with Mike Minor favored for the final spot.
That leaves a ton of talent in Gwinnett led by Julio Teheran, who is the No. 4 prospect in baseball. Teheran posted a 2.55 ERA in Triple-A last season, earning MilB.com Triple-A starting Pitcher of the Year honors.
INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (PITTSBURGH PIRATES)
Last season: 76-68 (2nd IL West)
Best hitting prospect: Starling Marte, center field
Best pitching prospect: Gerrit Cole, starter
As the Pirates have started the process of getting younger, Indianapolis has continued to get better in IL play.
Pittsburgh has a lot of talent moving up and some will be seen with the Indians this year. While the majority of the system’s depth is in pitching, Starling Marte is a solid prospect in center field. The 24-year-old from the Dominican Republic was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2007 and made a significant impact in double-A Altoona in 2011, leading the eastern league in average (.332) and doubles (38) while setting a team record with 178 hits.
Pitching is where the Pirates are exceptionally strong, boasting two of the top 10 prospects in all of baseball. The biggest question, however, will be whether the Indians will see them in their lineup by season’s end. Gerrit Cole is the team’s top prospect after being the top pick in last year’s draft. The Pirates also have Jameson Taillon, the second overall pick in 2010. Both players are in single-A but have enough talent that reaching Triple-A by the end of the year isn’t unattainable.
LEHIGH IRONPIGS (PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES)
Last season: 80-64 (2nd IL North)
Best hitting prospect: Sebastian Valle, catcher
Best pitching prospect: Phillippe Aumont, starter
After finishing with the fifth best record in the IL, Lehigh Valley made a run in the playoffs to face Columbus in the Governors’ Cup.
Unfortunately for the IronPigs, they were unable to dethrone the reigning champions. This season many of the Phillies’ top prospects lie in the low minors, but there is some future talent that could make its way through Lehigh Valley.
At the plate, Sebastian Valle is an intriguing prospect. The catcher from Mexico was selected to the 2011 Futures Game and could reach the IronPigs by season’s end. On the mound, Phillippe Aumont rebounded from a poor 2010 showing, recording a 5.68 ERA in 122 innings to put himself back among the top prospects in Philadelphia. The former centerpiece of a trade that sent Cliff Lee to Seattle in 2009, Aumont lowered his ERA to 2.68 last season and struck out 78 batters in 53.2 innings.
LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI REDS)
Last season: 73-71 (3rd IL West)
Best hitting prospect: Devin Mesoraco, catcher
Best pitching prospect: Daniel Corcino, starter
While the Reds strengthened its roster, adding one of the top frontline starters in the majors in Mat Latos from San Diego, its farm system took a major hit in the process.
Among the hitters sent away in the deal included two of three top prospects in catcher Yasmani Grandal and first baseman Yonder Alonso, both of whom would have played in Louisville this season.
The organization’s top prospect, however, still remains catcher Devin Mesoraco, the 15th overall pick in the 2007 draft. Named the MlB’s 14th best prospect entering this season, Mesoraco should move up to Cincinnati by the end of the year.
The Reds’ top pitching prospects, led by 22-year-old Daniel Corcino of the Dominican Republic, however, are nearly entirely based in single-A and will probably not see Lousiville this season. Former reliever Brad Boxberger would have been the organization’s top pitching prospect to wear a Bats uniform this season, but he was also included in the Latos deal.
NORFOLK TIDES (BALTIMORE ORIOLES)
Last season: 56-87 (4th IL south)
Best hitting prospect: Manny Machado, shortstop
Best pitching prospect: Dylan Bundy, starter
The Tides struggled mightily last season, just as their parent organization Baltimore did in 2011. Norfolk finished with the second-worst record in the IL as former top prospects, such as starters Brian Matusz and Zack Britton, advanced to the Orioles.
Baltimore’s farm system is still lacking depth, but does have two of the top 10 prospects in baseball in Dylan Bundy and Manny Machado, though each will have to work to reach Norfolk.
Machado has been pegged the next great Orioles shortstop, but hit just .257 last year in single-A. You can bet, however, that Baltimore would love to see him in Norfolk by the end of the year. He is the league’s No. 6 overall prospect. Bundy was the fourth-overall pick in 2011 and has the talent to reach the Tides by the end of the season, but he still may be a year or so away. He is the No. 10 prospect in baseball.
PAWTUCKET RED SOX (BOSTON RED SOX)
Last season: 81-61 (1st IL North)
Best hitting prospect: Will Middlebrooks, third base
Best pitching prospect: Alex Wilson, starter/reliever
The Pawtucket Red Sox, or Pawsox, had a fantastic year in 2011 with the second-best record in the IL. The Red Sox farm system is talented, but is composed mostly of hitters rather than pitchers.
Will Middlebrooks headlines the Pawsox lineup this season and is the organization’s top prospect. The 23-year-old third baseman is the league’s 55th-overall prospect, but his path to the majors remains blocked by Kevin Youkilis. Still, he should make his presence known in Triple-A for the Pawsox. Alex Wilson is most likely the Red Sox’s top pitching prospect and should see time in a Pawsox uniform this season, but he is reportedly not a top-shelf prospect on the roster.
ROCHESTER RED WINGS (MINNESOTA TWINS)
Last season: 53-91 (6th II North)
Best hitting prospect: Chris Parmelee, first baseman
Best pitching prospect: Kyle Gibson, starter
Like its parent organization in Minnesota, Rochester had a rough season last year and finished with the worst record in the IL. The Twins’ major prospects at the plate lie in single-A, including infielders Miguel Sano and Eddie Rosario and outfielders Joe Benson, Aaron Hicks and Oswaldo Arcia.
The Red Wings do have some talent on the way, however. Twenty-four-year-old first baseman Chris Parmelee led the entire Twins organization in hits (179), RBI (97) and walks (80) and should be in Rochester soon. Shortstop Brian dozier also should reach the red Wings soon, after being named the team’s Minor league Player of the Year in 2011.
Kyle Gibson leads Rochester’s pitching prospects, but is recovering from Tommy John surgery last season. The 22nd-overall pick of 2009 is on the mend with hopes of recovering enough to play for the red Wings again this year.
SYRACUSE CHIEFS (WASHINGTON NATIONALS)
Last season: 66-74 (4th IL North)
Best hitting prospect: Bryce Harper, center field
Best pitching prospect: Dan Rosenbaum, starter
The Chiefs might not be one of the most talented Triple-A teams in the IL, but they may have the best player.
Syracuse boasts 19-year-old phenom Bryce Harper, who was named the second-overall prospect in baseball. Harper was the top pick in the 2010 draft and hit .297 with 17 home runs in his first season of professional baseball last year. He should be joining young pitcher Stephen Strasburg in the majors at some point this season.
The Washington Nationals’ top pitching prospects, including Alex Meyer, Matt Purke and Sammy Solis, are all a while away from Syracuse, but the team does have 24-year-old Daniel Rosenbaum, who should be a threat for the Chiefs rotation this season. The 22nd-overall pick in 2009 out of Xavier, Rosenbaum has never totaled higher than a 2.52 ERA in his three seasons in the minor leagues.
Toledo Mud Hens league affiliations
From Staff Reports
- 1987-present — Detroit Tigers
- 1978-1986 — Minnesota Twins
- 1976-1977 — Cleveland Indians
- 1974-1975 — Philadelphia Phillies
- 1967-1973 — Detroit Tigers
- 1965-1966 — New York Yankees
- 1953-1955 — Milwaukee Braves
- 1952 — No Affiliate
- 1949-1951 — Cleveland Indians
- 1940-1948 — St.. Louis Browns
- 1936-1939 — detroit Tigers
- 1932-1935 — Cleveland Indians
- 1914-1931 — New York Giants
- 1907-1913 — Cleveland Indians
- 1905-1906 — Cincinnati Reds
— Source: Toledo Mud Hens
