Top 30 Prospects List (List only, as of June 30th)

I'm starting this thread with my list (requested by a couple of people in PMs) and I'll add write-ups to each player as time permits, at least those in the top ten. I've omitted minor league vets over 27 from the list (players like Chris Coste), I've omitted players with season-ending injuries (Keil Fisher, Terry Jones, Nate Cabrerra), and I've made the decision to include Ryan Howard and Gavin Floyd who have played some in the bigs already this year.

I tend to base evaluations primarily on performance in pro ball, secondarily on performance in major college ball (if relevant), and additionally on scouting reports and first-hand observations (drafting position and signing bonus is part of the scouting-type information). First year players such as Edgar Garcia and Michael Costanzo are therefore somewhat discounted with respect to Baseball America's ratings, which are heavily scouting-oriented.

Note: Andrew Woolley, the talented baseball photographer, was kind enough to offer me the use of his remarkable images, some of which are included in the individual write-ups below (those with the black frame are Woolley's).

(Format=name, position, team, age) (Ages are as of April 1, 2005)

1. Ryan Howard, 1B, SWB, 25
2. Michael Bourn, CF, Reading, 22
3. Cole Hamels, LHSP, CLW, 21
4. Gavin Floyd, RHSP, SWB, 22
5. Greg Golson, OF, Lakewood, 19
6. Louis Marson, C, Batavia, 18
7. Scott Mathieson, RHSP, CLW, 21
8. Jason Jaramillo, C, Lakewood, 22
9. Edgar Garcia, RHSP, GCL, 17
10. Carlos Carrasco, RHSP, Batavia, 18
11. Jake Blalock, LF, CLW, 21
12. Pedro Liriano, RHSP, SWB, 24
13. Chris Roberson, CF, Reading, 25
14. Scott Mitchinson, RHSP, Batavia, 20
15. Tim Moss, 2B, CLW, 23
16. J.A. Happ, LHSP, Lakewood, 22
17. Shane Victorino, CF, SWB, 24
18. Derek Griffith, LHSP, Lakewood, 23
19. Brad Harman, 2B, Lakewood, 19
20. Yoel Hernandez, RHRP, SWB, 23
21. Carlos Ruiz, C, SWB, 25
22. Mike Costanzo, 3B, Batavia, 21
23. Samuel Orr, SS/3B, Lakewood, 21
24. Danny Sandoval, SS, SWB, 25
25. Ryan Frith, OF, Lakewood, 22
26. Marc Tugwell, C/3B, CLW, 23
27. Randy Ruiz, 1B/OF, Reading, 27
28. Keith Bucktrot, RHSP, Reading, 24
29. Eude Brito, LHP, SWB, 26
30. Francisco Butto, RHRP, Reading, 22
31. Jacob Barrack, RHRP, Lakewood, 22

Also receiving consideration (in no particular order): Franklin Perez, Brian Sanches, Kevin Hodge, Erick Burke, Nathan Johnson, Andrew Baldwin, Maximino De La Cruz, Welinson Baez, Lenin Gazo, Kelvin Pichardo, Tim Kennelly, Curt Miaso, Julian Williams, Jermaine Williams, Michael Durant, Alberto Cambero

Credits for quotes and pictures: Comcast website, New York Times website, Reading Phillies website (Ralph Trout's photos are great!), cnn.com, mlb.com, Randy Miller's wonderful "Down on the Pharm column, philliesfanpage.com, espn.com, JE's excellent philliesdraftreport.com