11.  Oliver Perez, LHP
DOB: 08/15/81
Acq: free agent 1999, Mexico
Ht:  6'3" Wt: 160

Club  Lvl     IP   H  HR  BB  SO   ERA
FtW    A   101.1  84   9  43  98  3.46
LkE    A+   53.0  45   4  25  62  2.72

12.  Eric Cyr, LHP
DOB: 09/11/79
Acq: draft 1998, rd 30; Seminole (Okla.) JC
Ht:  6'4" Wt: 200

Club  Lvl     IP   H  HR  BB   SO   ERA
LkE    A+  100.2  68   1  24  131  1.61

Other resources: Cyr continues dominance in AFL (BaseballAmerica.com)

13. Ramon Vazquez, SS
DOB: 08/21/76
Acq: draft 1995, rd 27 (Sea); Indian Hills (Iowa) CC
Ht:  5'11" Wt: 170

Acquired in December along with Brett Tomko and Tom Lampkin in the deal that sent Ben Davis and Wascar Serrano to Seattle, Vazquez is a slick-fielding shortstop with some on-base skills. A shade on the old side, the left-handed hitter elicits comparisons to Omar Vizquel for his smooth actions and reliability (just 12 errors in 127 games) in the field. The young Puerto Rican also has a clue at the plate and projects to be a solid bottom-of-the-order hitter. The acquisition of Vazquez most likely pushes D'Angelo Jimenez to second base and Damian Jackson into a utility role for 2002. If he lives up to expectations, Vazquez, who also is enjoying a fine winter campaign (.361/.452/.506) could be the Padres' best shortstop since a healthy Chris Gomez back in 1998.

Club  Lvl   AB    BA   OBP   SLG  BB  SO  SB  CS
Tac   AAA  466  .300  .397  .429  76  84   9   7
Sea    AL   35  .229  .222  .229   0   3   0   0

14.  Taggert Bozied, 1B/3B
DOB: 07/24/79
Acq: draft 2001, rd 3; U. of San Francisco
Ht:  6'3" Wt: 215

The Twins' second round pick in 2000, Bozied returned to the Dons for his senior season. Nominally a third baseman, he looked a bit stiff at the hot corner the one time I saw him in college but supposedly he's worked hard to improve his defense. He can also play first, and there's been some talk of moving him behind the plate. Wherever he ends up, his power bat is the tool that will get him to the big leagues. Bozied put up eye-popping numbers in college, including a .412/.521/.936 junior season in which he hit 30 homers in just 56 games and drew 40 walks while striking out only 25 times. Before signing with the Padres he spent some time in the Northern League, where he hit .307/.359/.461 for the Sioux Falls Canaries while playing mostly third and some outfield. Look for Bozied to start his Padre career at the hot corner for Lake Elsinore. Because of his experience, he could advance quickly.

Club  Lvl   AB    BA   OBP   SLG  BB  SO  SB  CS
signed 2002 contract--did not play

15.  Vince Faison, RF
DOB: 10/30/79
Acq: draft 1999, rd 1; Toombs County (Ga.) HS
Ht:  6'0" Wt: 175

Faison, a former high-school football star, is loaded with tools. He is very fast and very strong, and now he's starting to learn how to play baseball. After a miserable start at Ft. Wayne in 2001, Faison was promoted to Lake Elsinore in the hope that a change of scenery might kick-start his season. After spinning his wheels just after the move (6-for-57), Faison finished strong and was nearly unstoppable in the abbreviated Cal League playoffs. Faison has a lot of work to do before he's ready for the Show. But if he learns to make more consistent contact, he could become a solid #6 hitter down the line.

Club  Lvl   AB    BA   OBP   SLG  BB  SO  SB  CS
FtW    A   140  .200  .302  .257  18  35  10   3
LkE    A+  275  .233  .297  .371  24  94  12   7

Other resources: The whole package (www.news-sentinel.com)

16.  Jason Bartlett, SS
DOB: 10/30/79
Acq: draft 2001, rd 13; U. of Oklahoma
Ht:  6'0" Wt: 175

One of the bigger surprises of the 2001 draft, Bartlett hit the ground running in his pro debut. A standout defensive third baseman in college, Bartlett has made a smooth transition to shortstop in the Northwest League and hit better than anticipated. Because he is still learning the position, Bartlett should advance slowly, with the next stop being Ft. Wayne. He'll make it to the bigs on his defense and versatility. How far he goes once he gets there depends on whether he continues to hit.

Club  Lvl   AB    BA   OBP   SLG  BB  SO  SB  CS
Eug    A-  267  .300  .371  .408  28  47  12   4

17.  Mike Bynum, LHP
DOB: 03/20/78
Acq: draft 1999, rd 1; U. of North Carolina
Ht:  6'4" Wt: 200

Bynum has seen his stock fall more than just about anyone in the organization this past year. He's still got the good arm and a filthy slider but injuries and poor command led to a disappointing 2001 campaign. Bynum was expected to rise quickly through the system when he was drafted but it just hasn't happened yet. He still has a chance to develop into a solid big-leaguer, possibly as a reliever. Expect him to return to Mobile and try to regain some confidence before moving up to Triple-A and a possible late-season cameo with the big club.

Club  Lvl     IP   H  HR  BB  SO   ERA
Mob    AA   84.1  90  14  35  69  5.02

18.  Greg Sain, C/3B
DOB: 12/26/79
Acq: draft 2000, rd 5; U. of San Diego
Ht:  6'2" Wt: 205

Sain is a strapping kid with a line-drive stroke that generates power to all fields. He has good actions at third and a strong arm. Think of guys like Greg Colbrunn, Ed Sprague, or Todd Zeile. With his versatility and bat, Sain could have a similar type of career. Look for him to start 2002 at Ft. Wayne, or possibly back in SoCal at Lake Elsinore. Sain is relatively new to catching but with the departure of Davis and the organizational logjam at the hot corner, that's probably his quickest path at this point.

Club  Lvl   AB    BA   OBP   SLG  BB  SO  SB  CS
Eug    A-  256  .293  .356  .563  21  68   1   2

19. Bernabel Castro, 2B
DOB: 07/14/81
Acq: free agent 1997 (NYA), Dominican Republic
Ht:  5'10" Wt: 165

Acquired from the Yankees in an off-season trade for minor-league outfielder Kevin Reese, Castro is a switch-hitter with above average plate discipline and tons of speed. Castro has absolutely zero power but as long as he can get on base and run, he has a chance to become another Quilvio Veras or Luis Castillo. He's currently hitting .363/.463/.444 in winter ball.

Club  Lvl   AB    BA   OBP   SLG  BB  SO  SB  CS
StI    A-   57  .351  .464  .368  11  12   8   3
Gre    A   389  .260  .350  .342  54  67  67  20

20.  Nobuaki Yoshida, LHP
DOB: 08/10/81
Acq: free agent 2000, Japan
Ht:  6'1" Wt: 170

Yoshida battled injuries in 2001. When healthy, he has a live arm for a lefty and throws strikes. He is also said to have solid mechanics, and good command of his off-speed and breaking pitches. If healthy, Yoshida could move into the Top 10 on this list next year.

Club  Lvl     IP   H  HR  BB  SO   ERA
Eug    A-   22.2  23   1   4  17  1.19
FtW    A    23.1  23   2  13  12  3.86

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