Looking Ahead
Before we get into some baseball games, let's take a quick peek down at the farm system. First of all, here IS the farm system:
- AAA Syracuse Chiefs
- AA Nashville Volunteers
- A Charlotte Hornets
- A Wilson Tobs
- BC Erie Sailors
- BC Wytheville Twins
- DE Fort Walton Beach Jets
We'll be checking in on the farm every couple of months or so...perhaps 2-3 times a season. The Minnesota system is currently ranked 15th, ahead of only the Kansas City Athletics and the expansion Senators, whose system is less of a farm and more of a garden.
The aforementioned 1B Don Mincher is the only top-100 prospect on the Minnesota roster, though reliever Lee Stange (99th) will probably be joining him after the first pitching injury. Utility man Jimmy Hall (81st) and infielder Rich Rollins (58th) are names to remember, but the real star here is Tony Oliva (27th), a recently-signed amateur outfielder, who will be heading directly to Triple-A Syracuse for his first look at professional ball.
Around the MLB, some noteworthy names are popping up on farms across the country. SP Bob Locker (Chicago White Sox) is the game's number-one prospect. The top 10 is full of pitchers, actually -- Gaylord Perry, Dean Chance, Mickey Lolich, Wilbur Wood...but don't sleep on C Rico Carty (Milwaukee) or LF Carl Yastrzemski (Boston), either.