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MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - The Colorado Rockies and several former and future members of the Tulsa Drillers were recently recognized by Baseball America. The baseball trade publication listed the Rockies as having the second best minor league system among all 30 Major League teams. In addition, several players with past and future ties to the Drillers were placed in the organization’s Top 30 minor league prospects.
Baseball America described the Rockies farm system as “elite” in ranking it the second best in baseball, trailing only the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In ranking the system’s Top 30 prospects, BA listed several players that have or will have ties to Tulsa. Two players expected to wear a Drillers uniform this season were highly ranked. Pitcher Franklin Morales was selected as the Rockies Number 2 prospect, behind only 2006 Drillers shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, while pitcher Greg Reynolds was listed as the Number 6 prospect. The left-handed Morales and the right-handed Reynolds will both likely begin the 2007 season in the Tulsa starting rotation. Morales was 10-9 with 170 strikeouts in only 154 innings for Class A Modesto last season. Reynolds was Colorado’s top draft pick last summer. The Stanford product went 2-1 with a 3.33 ERA in 11 starts for Modesto after signing with the Rockies.
Infielder Jonathan Herrera was tabbed as the 14th best prospect. Herrera joined the Drillers late last season and will likely begin 2007 as Tulsa’s starting shortstop. Baseball America's complete list of Colorado's Top 15 prospects is below. 1. Troy Tulowitzki-SS * 2. Franklin Morales-P ^ 07 3. Jason Hirsh-P 4. Dexter Fowler-OF ^ 07 or 08 5. Ian Stewart-3B * 6. Ubaldo Jimenez-P * 7. Greg Reynolds-P ^ 07 8. Chris Iannetta-C * 9. Jeff Baker-OF * 10. Chaz Roe-P ^ 08 11. Manny Corpas-P * 12. Juan Morillo-P * 13. Joe Koshansky-1B * 14. Jonathan Herrera-SS * ^ 07 15. Hector Gomez-IF ^ 09 16. Seth Smith-OF * 17. Samuel Deduno-P ^ 07 18. Shane Lindsay-P ^ 08 19. Chris Nelson-SS ^ 08 20. Brandon Hynick-P ^ 09 21. Anuery Rodriguez-P ^ 09 22. Corey Wimberly-2B ^ 07 23. Ching-Lung Lo-P ^ 07 24. Darren Clarke-P ^ 07 25. Alvin Colina-C * 26. Matt Miller-OF * ^ 07 27. Eric Young Jr.-2B ^ 08 28. Pedro Strop-P ^ 09 29. Andrew Johnston-P ^ 08 30. David Christensen-OF ^ 10 * Has played for Tulsa ^ Should play for Tulsa in the future and the most-likely year The 2007 season will mark the Drillers fifth year as the Double A affiliate for the Rockies.
In the four previous seasons as a Colorado farm club, the Drillers have recorded an overall won-loss record of 295-261 (.531). They have qualified for the Texas League playoffs in each of the past three years. The 2007 edition of the Baseball America Prospect Handbook is currently available. It lists the Top 30 prospects for all 30 major league organizations.