Baseball America Ranks Top Diamondbacks Prospects

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Baseball America Ranks Top Diamondbacks Prospects
02/13/2008 4:48 PM ET
By Brett McGinness

Baseball America's annual "Top Ten Prospects" list for the Diamondbacks organization has been released, highlighting the rising stars for Arizona. Although it will be another 14 months before Reno's Triple-A ballclub takes the field, the list gives a sneak peek at some players who may be taking the field at 2nd and Evans in 2009 and beyond.

Jarrod Parker- RHP
Parker, a right-handed pitcher, was Arizona's first pick in the June 2007 draft, and was chosen 9th overall. Smaller than average for a pitcher (he's listed as 6'1", 175 lbs.), he's drawn comparisons to other young compact pitchers like Houston's Roy Oswalt and San Francisco's Tim Lincecum. His fastball is dominating, reaching the upper 90's, and also throws a curve and changeup.
Parker led Norwell (IN) High School to the Indiana state 3-A title in 2007. In 2006, Parker pitched for Team USA in baseball's World Junior Championship in Cuba, helping the Americans to a silver medal.
Parker was assigned to the Missoula Osprey of the rookie-level Pioneer League in August, but has yet to appear in a game.
Max Scherzer- RHP
Scherzer was Arizona's first selection in the June 2006 draft, and is already close to making it to the bigs this upcoming season. With a fastball that can reach 99 mph, he climbed from single-A Visalia to Double-A Mobile during the 2007 season. Scherzer's fastball/changeup combination helped him rack up 106 strikeouts to only 42 walks over 90 2/3 innings last season.
He also pitched in the Arizona Fall League, striking out 16 in 11 innings and holding batters to a .150 average.
Gerardo Parra- OF
Signed by the Diamondbacks in late 2004, this 20-year-old outfield prospect has proven to be a high-average hitter, leading the Dominican Summer League with a .384 average in 2005 and taking the Missoula team batting title in 2006 with a .328. He made the move from low-A South Bend to high-A Visalia this past season, stealing 26 bases in 37 attempts overall.
He's been named to All-Star squads in both seasons he's played stateside; the Pioneer league named him a post-season All Star in 2006, and the Midwest League honored him in 2007.
Emilio Bonifacio- 2B
Although he hasn't played at the Triple-A level yet, Bonifacio has already tasted big-league action in late 2007 as a September call-up for Arizona, playing in 11 games. The organization is excited about Bonifacio's defensive range and speed on the basepaths (41 steals in 54 attempts in the minors.)
In the 2007 Dominican Winter League, Bonifacio also took on outfield duties while leading the Tigres del Licey to the championship series. He finished second in the league in batting with a .300 average, and hit .330 during the Dominican League playoffs. Licey moved on to the Caribbean Series in February, and Bonifacio continued to deliver. With five RBI's and a run scored in the six game series, he helped the Tigres claim their 10th Caribbean Series title.
Reynaldo Navarro- SS
The Diamondbacks' third-round pick in 2007, Navarro was drafted out of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and spent the latter half of the year in Missoula. Although his one home run and four doubles in 212 at-bats don't suggest so, scouts say he has the potential for power.
One of Arizona's youngest prospects, Navarro celebrated his 18th birthday this past December. He has great potential, although he requires more polishing before he starts climbing the organizational ladder.
Barry Enright- RHP
Enright pitched three collegiate seasons with the Pepperdine Waves, compiling a career mark of 35-8, and was selected in the second round of the 2007 draft by Arizona. Although his fastball tops out in the low 90's, he has an effective slider and changeup. He's a control pitcher, much like fellow Pepperdine Alums Dan Haren and Noah Lowry.
Enright made ten appearances at three different levels in 2007, rising from Yakima to South Bend to Visalia, giving up no runs on 8 hits and 5 walks in 15 innings along the way.

Baseball America's top ten Diamondbacks prospects list was released on December 7, 2007. One week later, the Diamondbacks sent six prospects, including four on Arizona's top ten list, to Oakland in exchange for pitcher Dan Haren. The other prospects included:
Carlos Gonzalez, OF
Brett Anderson, LHP
Aaron Cunningham, OF
Chris Carter, 1B

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.