3. CARLOS GONZALEZ, of, Yakima Bears (Diamondbacks)
Age: 18 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 178 B-T: L_L Drafted/Signed: Diamondbacks FA '02 (Venezuela)
AB: 300
R: 44
H: 83
2B: 15
3B: 2
HR: 9
RBI: 44
BB: 22
SO: 69
SB: 2
CS: 0
AVG: .277
OBP: .330
SLG: .430
Gonzalez hit .275 in 14 April games at Class A South Bend before breaking his hand and getting sent back to repeat the Northwest League. He hit for a similar average but ranked sixth in the league in hits while showing plus power potential as an 18-year-old.
Gonzalez also used his superior arm strength to record a league-best 14 outfield assists. His skill set is similar to Herrera's, right down to the need to develop better plate discipline. Gonzalez did show the ability to adjust to breaking balls, going from a .212 July average to a torrid .353 in August.
"He's going to be a major league player, no doubt," Boise manager Tom Beyers said. "You look at his body and his swing, he's going to hit for power. And it's unbelievable watching him throw."
10. CHRIS CARTER, of, Yakima Bears (Diamondbacks)
Age: 22 Ht: 6-0 Wt: 200 B-T: L-L Drafted/Signed: Diamondbacks '04 (17)
AB: 257
R: 47
H: 86
2B: 15
3B: 1
HR: 15
RBI: 63
BB: 46
SO: 35
SB: 2
CS: 3
AVG: .335
OBP: .436
SLG: .576
Carter led the league in slugging by using his tremendous raw power to drive nearly any pitch out of the park. He's an attacking hitter whose selectivity allowed for frequent contact and more walks than strikeouts. He had a 32-game on-base streak (and the league's No. 2 on-base mark) and earned a late-season jump to low Class A South Bend.
"He hits everything," Yakima manager Bill Plummer said. "He hits sliders for home runs, offspeed pitches, lefthanders, balls to the opposite field."
Carter was nearly as offensive in the field as he was at the plate, however, and DH looks like his future position. He struggled reading and taking routes to fly balls.
"He's a guy you need a defensive replacement for late in the game because he's a liability in the outfield and first base didn't work either," one manager said. "He's not absolutely falling down out there, but he's not winning you a Gold Glove either."
15. A.J. SHAPPI, rhp, Yakima Bears (Diamondbacks)
Age: 21 Ht: 6-2 Wt: 195 B-T: R-R Drafted/Signed: Diamondbacks '04 (9)
W: 4
L: 1
ERA: 1.75
G: 12
SV: 0
IP: 67.0
H: 64
HR: 4
BB: 8
SO: 65
AVG: .253
Shappi's ERA ranked second in the league to Spokane righthander Clint Brannon, who set a league record with a 0.59 mark. While both pitchers succeed with command and an upper-80s fastball, Shappi offers more upside because his hard slider rates as a plus pitch with a downward tilt.
Shappi can put his sinking fastball anywhere in the strike zone, and he's especially adept at working both sides of the plate. His above-average command makes up for 86-89 mph velocity. Shappi also shows great arm action on his changeup, allowing it to grade out at average or above.
"He really knows how to pitch," Beyers said. "When he gets in a tough situation, he has a lot of options because he can throw three pitches for strikes."
17. ROSS OHLENDORF, rhp, Yakima Bears (Diamondbacks)
Age: 22 Ht: 6-4 Wt: 235 B-T: R-R Drafted/Signed: Diamondbacks '04 (4)
W: 2
L: 3
ERA: 2.79
G: 7
SV: 0
IP: 29.0
H: 22
HR: 1
BB: 19
SO: 28
AVG: .200
Ohlendorf's prospect status is more similar to that of a player drafted out of high school, not Princeton: He has a strong, sturdy pitcher's frame, a low-90s fastball and a hard curveball that rates as a plus pitch at times. He needs to refine a sometimes violent delivery and improve his changeup and overall command. Even if he doesn't develop the change, Ohlendorf could still emerge as a power relief arm.
"He has good sink and movement on his fastball, and uses his curveball well," Plummer said. "He improved each time out. He's still a little rough around the edges and isn't polished mechanically."
Ohlendorf's final three starts were a microcosm of his strengths and weaknesses. He threw seven shutout innings one night, walked six batters in four innings the next start and then finished his season with 11 strikeouts and just one walk over six innings.
18. ORLANDO MERCADO JR., c, Yakima Bears (Diamondbacks)
Age: 19 Ht: 5-10 Wt: 195 B-T: R-R Drafted/Signed: Diamondbacks '04 (6)
AB: 252
R: 35
H: 67
2B: 16
3B: 3
HR: 3
RBI: 40
BB: 32
SO: 24
SB: 1
CS: 1
AVG: .266
OBP: .353
SLG: .389
Mercado shows the tools to develop into a consistent, above-average catch-and-throw guy much like his father, who spent parts of eight seasons in the majors. "He's got it in his genes," Gideon said. "He knows how to catch and play the game because of his dad."
Mercado's arm is average now, but plays better because of a quick release and could improve once he cleans up his mechanics and hones his release point. His receiving and game-calling should also improve with experience.
Unlike his father, Mercado has the ability to make contact at the plate, collecting more walks than strikeouts. He makes adjustments and swings with gap-to-gap power for now but could add power as he matures. He could mature as a player as well, as at least one manager thought he slacked off late in the year as Yakima drifted into last place.
