Like the other All League teams, this is not a best prospects list although some will appear, it is a list for the players with the best season. Age is a factor that I will take into consideration as a younger play with a very good season is more impressive than an older player with a great season.
Catcher- Koby Clemens
Clemens had a simply incredible year Lancaster where he hit .345/.419/.636 on the season with 45 doubles, 6 triples and 22 home runs. The catching prospect had a 10.4% walk rate and a 22.2% strikeout rate while leading the league in OPS, AVG and SLG.
Honorable Mention - Buster Posey
First Base - Joseph Dunigan
The 23 year old Mariners prospect hit .294/.355/.570 on the year with 28 doubles, 4 triples and 30 home runs in High Desert. Dunigan improved his walk rate to 8.5% and lowered his strikeout rate to 25.5% this season.
Honorable Mention - Mauro Gomez
Second Base - Matthew Lawson
The 23 year old second sacker hit .293/.350/.418 with 26 doubles, 2 triples and 10 home runs over 545 plate appearances. Lawson had a 5.9% walk rate and a 23.3% strikeout rate.
Honorable Mention - Carlos Colmenares
Shortstop - Juan Diaz
Diaz posted the highest OPS of a shortstop in the Cal League with at least 350 plate appearances as he hit for a line of .311/.356/.446. The Mariners 20 year old prospect had a 6.6% walk rate and an 18.5% strikeout rate for High-Desert.
Honorable Mention - William Weems
Third Base - Alex Liddi
After struggling in 2008 Liddi was a huge breakout hitter as the third baseman hit .345/.411/.594 for High Desert with 44 doubles, 5 triples and 23 home runs. The 20 year old had a 9.4% walk rate and a 21.6% strikeout rate.
Honorable Mention - Logan Forsythe
Outfield - Thomas Neal
The Giants 21 year old outfield prospect hit .337/.431/.579 on the season with 41 doubles, 4 triples and 22 home runs. Neal had an 11.6% walk rate and a 17.5% strikeout rate.
Outfield - Jonathan Gaston
The Lancaster outfielder hit .278/.367/.598 with 31 doubles, 15 triples and 35 home runs, leading the league in both triples and home runs. The 22 year old had an 11.7% walk rate and a 27% strikeout rate while also being the only hitter with an isolated power over .300 in the league (.320).
Outfield - Tyson Gillies
Gillies isn’t like some other guys who will make the list, as he wasn’t sending balls over the fences at a high rate, but the 20 year old did hit .341/.430/.486 with 17 doubles, 14 triples and 9 home runs. The center fielder also had a 10.1% walk rate and a 13.7% strikeout rate, which are very impressive given his age and level.
Honorable Mentions - Scott Van Slyke, Carlos Peguero
Starting Pitcher - Scott Barnes
The Indians left handed prospect threw 98 innings of 2.85 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP while part of the Giants organization. Barnes had a 7.2% walk rate to go along with a 24.7% strikeout rate for San Jose before being traded.
Starting Pitcher - Cory Luebke
Luebke posted a 2.34 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP over 88.1 innings pitched for Lake Elsinore before being promoted. While at Lake Elsinore the 24 year old lefty had a 4.9% walk rate and a 23.1% strikeout rate.
Starting Pitcher - Clayton Tanner
The 21 year old had a3.17 ERA over 139 innings with San Jose. The Giants lefty had a 20.9% strikeout rate and a 7.2% walk rate to go along with a 1.25 WHIP.
Starting Pitcher - Alexander Torres
The Rays left handed prospect had a 2.74 ERA over 121 innings for Rancho Cucamonga. The 21 year old had a 12.5% walk rate and 24.5% strikeout rate to go along with a 61% groundball rate.
Honorable Mentions - Steven Johnson, Craig Clark
Relief Pitcher - Mattew Reynolds
Reynolds had a 32.6% strikeout rate and a 4.5% walk rate to go along with his 0.82 WHIP and 1.29 ERA over 39 games for Modesto.
Relief Pitcher - Ben Hornbeck
Hornbeck split time in the rotation and the bullpen on the year and posted a 33.8% strikeout rate and a 9.8% walk rate with a 3.52 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. Hornbeck allowed just 3 home runs despite throwing 76.2 innings thanks in part to a 50% groundball rate.
