[Double_Downon11]

Browsing thru Ken Phelps Top Prospects List...I thought I'd put together a list of players that were rated fairly high in years gone by that have disappeared this year. I am sure alot are injury related, but if anyone has any additional insight as to their dropoff, it might be worth discussing..here are a few..

Pable Ozuna SS FLA '03 (569th), '02 (NR), '01 (96th), '00 (25th) and '99 (9th)

Donnie Bridges SP MON '03 (549th), '02 (229), '01 (34th)

Dernell Stenson 3B BOS '03 (532nd), '02(888),'01(33),'00(29)

Ryan Bradley SP NYY '03(505), '02(NR),'01(227),'00(106),'99(18)

Johvanny Cedeno SP TEX '03(482),'02(180),'01(50)

JR House C PIT '03 (386),'02 (62),'01 (20)

Matt Riley SP BAL '03 (337), '00 (13th)

Some I have heard reasons why they have dropped, others I am not sure.

[Moonlight J]

Injuries are a big part of the reason these guys are dropping.

Ozuna missed all of 2001 with injuries and some time in 2002. Not helping matters, he is stubborn about taking pitches to get on base to best use his speed. Now in Colorado, he might get a chance to show his stuff.

Bridges was recently traded to the Marlins for OF Brett Roneberg, and I covered his problems in the latest Farm Futures article

Dernell Stenson will never be a major leaguer. He is stuck in AAA and has shown no progress in his plate discipline and he's a sub-par defensive player. Three straight seasons in AAA and his HR totals have gone from 23 to 16 to 9 this past season.

Ryan Bradley has already had at least one elbow surgery and just hasn't been able to come back from the problems.

Cedeno tore his labrum in 2001 and missed most of the last two seasons with the troubles. He just reupped on a minor league deal with the Rangers but who knows what to expect from him. He's never been the healthiest guy in the world

JR House tore an abdominal muscle that set him back and then eventually blew out his elbow so he's likely to miss all of 2003 as well.

Matt Riley had Tommy John surgery a couple of years ago, so last year was the first time he pitched since 2000; the numbers weren't pretty, but the potential still is. Of this entire list, Ozuna and Riley the only ones that deserve any consideration, but I could list many many more better risks than these guys.

[MaxD]

Double Downon...can you let me know where to get this list?

Thanks,
Max

[dowdyism]

Another note on Ozuna - I believe had added 3 years to his age overnight in last years crackdown, so most people no longer considered him a true prospect.

[Double_Downon11]

Great feedback Moonlight. Thanks! I will read your article a little later as well.

MaxD, Check out www.kenphelps.com. On his site there is a link to his top 600 prospects.

Happy Hunting!

-Chris

[Moonlight J]

oh yea, forgot about that. Ozuna was actually 4 years older than advertised - surprisingly not the record though. That record is owned by Wilmy Carceras who was 5 years older

Ozuna is now 28, but playing in Colorado can make you look good - see Neifi Perez

I hadn't seen the Ken Phelps site before. I like the Ode to Kenny that appears at the "Ken Phelps" link. Ken Phelps was kinda fun to have around in Seattle but I wouldn't want to go back and undo the Phelps-for-Buhner deal.