APRIL 11, 1966
On the eve of opening day let's take a look at the future stars of the game. Below are the top 50 major league prospects as ranked by the Baseball News Netowrk and also the top minor league systems.
Looking ahead will we see a Mets-Athletics World Series in the future? Those two organizations have the top minor league prospects. The Mets pitching looks to be stacked with Tom Seaver poised to make his major league debut tomorrow. New York has 4 pitchers in the top 22 prospects in the game including 22nd ranked Nolan Ryan, a 19 year old flame thrower who fanned 119 in 90 innings in the Class AA Eastern League last season. The Mets also have 23 year old Jerry Koosman in AAA and 21 year old Tug McGraw, who spent half of last season in New York.
The A's have the top rated hitting prospect in the form of 19 year old Reggie Jackson who will at least start the season in the major leagues after signing with the club out of high school last fall. 21 year old pitcher Jim Nash, who was 4-3 in 13 games with the A's last year, also headed north with the big league club. 20 year old Rick Monday, 22 year old Sal Bando and 19 year old Rollie Fingers will each begin the year in the minors.
Here is the ranking of minor league systems as well as the top 50 prospects.