Five more prospects lists this week. The American League Central is covered below. I'll write up the NL Central next week.

American League Central

Chicago White Sox

1. Aaron Poreda - LHP - DOB: 10/01/86 - ETA: 2010
4-0, 1.17 ERA, 29 H, 48/10 K/BB in 46 1/3 IP (R Great Falls)

The White Sox used their first pick on a college pitcher for the third straight year in 2007, but they landed someone with considerably more upside than either Lance Broadway or Kyle McCulloch when they selected Poreda 25th overall. The former University of San Francisco left-hander uses his 6-foot-6, 240-pound frame to generate mid-90s heat. He doesn't yet have a second major league pitch to go along with his fastball, but the White Sox will keep working with him on his slider and changeup. If the numbers aren't quite there this year, it'll probably be because the team is forcing him to throw his secondary stuff more than is necessary to retire hitters in the low minors. Poreda probably won't reach his true ceiling, but his secondary stuff only needs to come so far for him to succeed as a major league starter. If he doesn't progress with the change, then he may face a move into the pen at some point.

2. Charlie Haeger - RHP - DOB: 09/19/83 - ETA: Aug. 2008
5-15, 4.08 ERA, 138 H, 126/67 K/BB in 147 2/3 IP (AAA Charlotte)
0-1, 7.15 ERA, 17 H, 1/8 K/BB in 11 1/3 IP (AL Chicago)

Haeger was successful in his first taste of the majors in 2006, posting a 3.44 ERA in 18 1/3 innings. Unfortunately, the knuckleballer took a large step backwards last season, giving up an extra run per nine in Triple-A and putting himself on the trading block with an ugly showing in eight relief appearances in the majors. Haeger's problems in Triple-A all came during the first two months. He had a 2.67 ERA in 84 1/3 innings from the beginning of June on. Still a baby for a knuckleballer, Haeger has plenty of time left to establish himself, though the White Sox may run out of patience if it doesn't start to happen for him this year. Maybe he's not someone fantasy leaguers should worry about, but he remains a significantly better bet to have a 10- or 15-year career in the majors than a lot of "superior" prospects.

3. Jack Egbert - RHP - DOB: 05/12/83 - ETA: May 2009
12-8, 3.06 ERA, 138 H, 165/44 K/BB in 161 2/3 IP (AA Birmingham)
1-0, 3.26 ERA, 14 H, 17/11 K/BB in 19 1/3 IP (AFL Phoenix)

Egbert was also pretty good in the Carolina League in 2006, going 9-8 with a 2.94 ERA, but it wasn't until he posted similar numbers in Double-A that he was taken very seriously as a prospect. Egbert ranked second in the Southern League in strikeouts and third in ERA. Not a hard-thrower, Egbert relies on the sinking action on his 88-90 mph fastball and a plus changeup to record outs. The combination should allow him to succeed at the back of a rotation, but if not, he at least figures to be pretty useful as a reliever. He'll need to leap past Broadway and Haeger if he's going to have a chance to contribute this year.

4. Jose Martinez - OF - DOB: 07/25/88 - ETA: 2012
.282/.348/.437, 7 HR, 37 RBI, 53/22 K/BB, 12 SB in 245 AB (R Bristol)

With Ryan Sweeney, Aaron Cunningham and Chris Carter gone in trades, Martinez is the one position player left in the White Sox system worthy of much excitement. A toolsy 6-foot-5, 170-pound outfielder, Martinez is all about potential at this point. He's sure to fill out and develop serious power down the line. Whether the on-base skills will be there to go with it is still to be determined. Martinez doesn't strikeout a ton for someone who is still learning to play, and he shows good instincts in the outfield. His career could go in a lot of directions, but he's talented enough to top this list a year from now.

5. Lance Broadway - RHP - DOB: 08/20/83 - ETA: July 2008
8-9, 4.65 ERA, 155 H, 108/78 K/BB in 155 IP (AAA Charlotte)
1-1, 0.87 ERA, 5 H, 14/5 K/BB in 10 1/3 IP (AL Chicago)

Broadway was a legitimate September callup two years after being drafted 15th overall out of TCU, but he hasn't met expectations while climbing his way through the White Sox system. The big problem is his below average heater. Broadway has three fine complementary pitches in his curveball, slider and changeup, but since no one has to worry about his 90-mph straight fastball, he doesn't get a lot of strikeouts with them. A modest flyball pitcher, he'll be an especially poor fit at U.S. Cellular Field. A fair career as a fourth or fifth starter remains a possibility, especially if he makes progress with the cutter he's working on, but he'll probably need to go the NL to win.

6. John Ely - RHP - DOB: 05/17/86 - ETA: 2010
6-1, 3.86 ERA, 55 H, 56/14 K/BB in 56 IP (R Great Falls)

Ely could have debuted at low-A Kannapolis after being taken out of Miami (Ohio) in the third round in the 2007 draft. The White Sox instead stuck him in the Pioneer League and watched him rack up a 4:1 K:BB ratio in his 56 innings. Ely baffled hitters with his quality changeup. His 89-92 mph fastball is only average and his curveball is below, but with his command, he looks like a pretty good bet to move quickly and make it as a starter in the majors.

7. Sergio Miranda - SS - DOB: 03/05/87 - ETA: 2010
.464/.516/.643, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 4/3 K/BB, 1 SB in 28 AB (R Great Falls)
.282/.384/.349, 1 HR, 30 RBI, 27/37 K/BB, 5 SB in 238 AB (A- Kannapolis)

If Miranda had walked in college like he did as a pro, there's a good chance he would have been snapped up by the Red Sox or A's well before the 13th round. He did bat .400 as a sophomore and .370 as a junior, but he walked just 17 times in 262 at-bats last season and showed little power. Holding him back even more than the lack of walks was his height (5'9"). Miranda will never show much power and he lacks tremendous range, but he makes plenty of plays at shortstop. If he keeps getting on base, the White Sox will eventually have to think about him as a regular, perhaps at second base. A future as a utilityman remains more likely at this point.

8. Oneli Perez - RHP - DOB: 05/26/83 - ETA: July 2008
6-2, 16 Sv, 2.10 ERA, 62 H, 89/20 K/BB in 77 IP (AA Birmingham)

Though Southern League hitters surely would have been glad to be rid of him, Perez wasn't able to make believers of the White Sox and earn a promotion to Triple-A or the majors last season. A flyball pitcher poorly suited for U.S. Cellular Field, he seems to be a prime candidate for a trade. Perez offers a low-90s fastball, a slider that makes him tough on right-handers and pretty good command when he's on. The package shouldn't turn him into a closer in the majors, but he can be an effective seventh- or eighth-inning guy.

9. Kyle McCulloch - RHP - DOB: 03/20/85 - ETA: Sept. 2009
7-7, 3.64 ERA, 116 H, 88/42 K/BB in 121 IP (A+ Winston-Salem)
1-2, 6.41 ERA, 38 H, 16/11 K/BB in 26 2/3 IP (AA Birmingham)

A first-round pick out of Texas in 2006, McCulloch has failed to set himself apart from pitchers drafted several rounds lower since signing with the White Sox. That he gets plenty of grounders is the best reason not to give up on him at this point, but there's no guarantee that trend will hold up in the majors against hitters sure to punish any mistakes left up in the zone. McCulloch fastball is less frequently in the low-90s now than it was in college. His changeup remains a very good pitch, but he's not going to induce many strikeouts with his curveball. He'll have to come up with one more trick if he's going to have a career.

10. John Shelby Jr.- 2B/OF - DOB: 08/06/85 - ETA: 2011
.301/.352/.508, 16 HR, 79 RBI, 77/35 K/BB, 19 SB in 488 AB (A- Kannapolis)

Shelby, whose father played for the Orioles and Dodgers, was a fifth-rounder out of Kentucky in 2006. The White Sox weren't convinced he'd last at second base, so they tried him in center field last season and could keep him there. Since he's 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, there's good reason for concern about how his power will hold up at higher levels. He's not a big OBP guy or a burner on the basepaths, so he'll need to prove he's a 15- or 20-homer guy if he's going to have a shot. It'd be for the best if he keeps the infield glove handy, as he'd be a far better bet as a utilityman.

Next five: 1B/OF Christian Marrero, 2B Chris Getz, RHP Nevin Griffith, SS Juan Silverio, RHP Lucas Harrell


Ineligible because of service time: RHP Nick Masset

Masset would have placed 12th on a weak list. Only the top five on this list would place in an average top 10, though Ely would have had a spot on more than a few lists. … Marrero is the older brother of the Nationals' top prospect. His home run power is suspect, but he makes a lot of contact and could develop into a left-handed platoon player at first base. … Getz bounced back from a bad first year in Double-A to hit .299/.381/.381 as a repeater last year. Still, he probably won't be quite good enough to start at second base. … Silverio may be worthy of some hype. However, the team's top international signing in 2007 has yet to make his pro debut. … Harrell missed last year after elbow surgery.


2007 top 15: Ryan Sweeney, John Danks, Josh Fields, Gio Gonzalez, Charlie Haeger, Nick Masset, Lance Broadway, Kyle McCulloch, Aaron Cunningham, Jerry Owens, Chris Carter, Sean Tracey, Lucas Harrell, Ray Liotta, Oneli Perez

2006 top 15: Brian Anderson, Ryan Sweeney, Ray Liotta, Josh Fields, Jerry Owens, Lance Broadway, Sean Tracey, Charles Haeger, Robert Valido, Chris Getz, Aaron Cunningham, Francisco Hernandez, Casey Rogowski, Jeff Bajenaru, Brandon Allen

2005 top 10: Brian Anderson, Brandon McCarthy, Ryan Sweeney, (OF) Chris Young, Kris Honel, Josh Fields, Gio Gonzalez, Sean Tracey, Bobby Jenks, Felix Diaz

2004 top 10: Jeremy Reed, Joe Borchard, Kris Honel, Neal Cotts, Jon Rauch, Ryan Wing, Brian Anderson, Ryan Sweeney, Corwin Malone, (OF) Chris Young

2003 top 10: Joe Borchard, Jon Rauch, Kris Honel, Anthony Webster, Miguel Olivo, Corwin Malone, Arnaldo Munoz, Felix Diaz, Micah Schnurstein, Tim Hummel

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