Tyler Skaggs Named Top Prospect

South Bend, IN - Former South Bend Silver Hawks pitcher Tyler Skaggs, now of the Visalia Rawhide, has been named the California League's Top Prospect by Baseball America. Josh Leventhal's annual Top 20 Prospects column, released Friday, features Skaggs at the top of the list and former Silver Hawks infielders Matt Davidson and Chris Owings in the 16th and 19th spots, respectively.

The 20-year-old left-hander went 5-5 with a 3.22 ERA in 17 games for the Rawhide before being called up to finish the season with the Mobile Bay Bears, where he finished 4-1 with a 2.50 ERA in 10 games for the Southern League champions. In 158.1 innings combined, Skaggs struck out 198 batters and walked 49, limiting opponents to a .218 average between the two levels. The former first round pick of the Los Angeles Angels ranked in the top ten in the California League in strikeouts (125). Skaggs represented the Rawhide in the 2011 California League All-Star Game and was also appeared in the 2011 MLB All-Star Futures Game.

Skaggs edged out former Fort Wayne Tin Cap third basemen Jedd Gyorko of the Lake Elsinore Storm and outfielder Gary Brown of the San Jose Giants for the top honor.

Davidson hit .277 with 20 home runs and 106 RBIs in 135 games for the Visalia Rawhide. Playing mostly at first base this season, Davidson also ranked second in the California League in doubles (39), eighth in runs scored (93), ninth in total bases (249), tenth in home runs, and was one of four California Leaguers with 100 runs batted in.

Owings batted .246 with 11 home runs and 50 RBIs in 121 games for the Visalia Rawhide. The 20-year-old shortsop also scored 67 runs and hit 29 doubles. Davidson and Owings were each 2010 Midwest League All-Stars for the South Bend Silver Hawks a season ago.

The entire list of California League top prospects, as well as a list of the Midwest League top prospects, can be viewed at BaseballAmerica.com