Every Thursday, Minor Matters will unveil its Top 10 opposing players for the 2011 season. Yes, the Thunder are clearly the most interesting topic on this blog, but wouldn't be nice to hear about the next Matt Wieters, Carlos Santana or Stephen Strasburg to come through the Eastern League. Yeah, I thought so too.

No. 1 - Reese Havens

Bio: A second baseman, Havens was selected by the Mets with the 22nd pick of the 2008 draft, a class that included such notables Gordon Beckham, Buster Posey, Brian Matusz, Pedro Alvarez, Ike Davis, Andrew Cashner, Justin Smoak and Ryan Perry.

2010: Havens earned a quick promotion from St. Lucie to Binghamton, but after just 18 games with the B-Mets he re-aggravated a strained oblique (while playing in Trenton) and missed the rest of the season. Still, in just 32 games between High- and Double-A, Havens homered nine times in 125 at-bats, and put together a slash line of .312/.386/.978.

What People Are Saying:

"Havens has the kind of power and patience rarely seen in a middle infielder. His quick, compact swing generates plenty of power, with some scouts seeing him as a Dan Uggla light-type player capable of 20-plus home runs per year."
-- Kevin Goldstein, Baseball Prospectus

"Havens has good power for a middle infielder and slugged 14 home runs in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League. He also has an advanced idea of the strike zone and recognizes pitches well, though he has batted just .247 in each of his two seasons."
-- Baseball America, Adam Rubin

When You Can See Him: Havens and the B-Mets come to town on May 12-15, June 10-12 and August 9-11.

I started the Thunder top 10 series back in November as a way to pass the winter while waiting for April. Since then, I've run down the team's best games of the year, players of the year, players who will be on the team next year, players who the Thunder will face next year, and numbers that best represent the team's season. Here, now, is a quick recap of how I've ranked them. Feel free to tell me what you think.

GAMES OF THE YEAR

10. Hector Noesi's complete game
9. Austin Krum's incredible defensive day
8. Andrew Brackman's debut
7. The Joseph brothers' reunion
6. Andy Pettitte in Game 1 of the ELCS
5. Laird's grand slam completes the cycle
4. Andy Pettitte and Adam Warren dominate the Fisher Cats
3. Adam Warren strikes out 15
2. Betances outduels Drabek

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

10. Hector Noesi
9. Justin Christian
8. Dan Brewer
7. Marcos Vechionacci
6a. Dellin Betances
6b. Manny Banuelos
5a. David Phelps
5b. Lance Pendleton
4. Austin Romine
3a. D.J. Mitchell
3b. Adam Warren
2. Andrew Brackman

PLAYERS FOR 2011

10. Pat Venditte
9. Adam Olbrychowski
8. Brett Marshall
7. Craig Heyer
6. Jose Gil
5. Shaeffer Hall
4. Graham Stoneburner
3. Melky Mesa
2. Dellin Betances

OPPOSING PLAYERS FOR 2011

10. Charlie Culberson
9. Travis d'Arnaud
8. Tony Sanchez
7. Derek Norris
6. Aaron Hicks
5. Anthony Gose
4. Jacob Turner
3. Nick Hagadone
2. Austin Hyatt

NUMBERS OF THE YEAR

10. 23 (Laird's home runs)
9. 1,125 (Thunder Ks)
8. 17 (Romine's hit streak)
7. 0 (Manny Banuelos' wins)
6. 39 (David Adams' games)
5. 69 (Garcia's pitches for the year)
4. 29 (Brewer's stolen bases)
3. 37 (Betances' and Banuelos' combined Ks)
2. 1 (New Hampshire runs against the Thunder in the ELDS)

Every Thursday, Minor Matters will unveil its Top 10 opposing players for the 2011 season. Yes, the Thunder are clearly the most interesting topic on this blog, but wouldn't be nice to hear about the next Matt Wieters, Carlos Santana or Stephen Strasburg to come through the Eastern League. Yeah, I thought so too.

No. 2 - Austin Hyatt

Bio: The Phillies' 15th-round choice from 2009, Hyatt was selected out of the University of Alabama, one choice after the Brewers took teammate Paul Howell. He earned the Florida State League Pitcher of the Year last season, and earned two Pitcher of the Week honors.

2010: Coming in with absolutely no fanfare. Hyatt tore up the Florida State League. He went 11-5 with Clearwater, posting a 3.77 ERA and fanning 156 against 35 walks. He was promoted to Reading late, and fanned 25 more over 22 innings.

What People Are Saying:

"He's a little more seasoned, and he looks a lot more comfortable. Last year he was going from game-to-game, but this year he seems to have more of a plan." -- Reading pitching coach Bob Milacki

When You Can See Him: Hyatt and Phillies come to town twice, May 9-11 and July 14-17.

Every Thursday, Minor Matters will unveil its Top 10 opposing players for the 2011 season. Yes, the Thunder are clearly the most interesting topic on this blog, but wouldn't be nice to hear about the next Matt Wieters, Carlos Santana or Stephen Strasburg to come through the Eastern League. Yeah, I thought so too.

No. 3 - Nick Hagadone

Bio: Hagadone was one of the pieces the Red Sox sent to the Indians in the trade for Victor Martinez. He's an imposing, hard-throwing left-hander who could be top shelf either as a starter or a closer. With his injury history though, the latter role seems more likely.

2010: Between Kinston and Akron, Hagadone went 3-5 with a 3.57 ERA in 29 appearances -- 17 starts -- spanning 85 2/3 innings. He allowed 72 hits, held opponents to a .226 batting average, but issued 63 walks against 89 strikeouts.

What People Are Saying:

"The big question for Hagadone is not about his talent. He absolutely has the stuff to succeed at the big-league level. The question is about his role. I'm believe that organizations should attempt to develop their best arms as starters because they can be moved to the bullpen at a later time if necessary. But in this case, Hagadone has the look of a potentially dominant reliever at the back of a bullpen."-- Frankie Piliere, AOL Fanhouse

"If he stays healthy, Hagadone has closer potential, with one scout calling him "Billy Wagner but with the body you'd expect from a guy with that kind of stuff."
-- Kevin Goldstein, Baseball Prospectus

When You Can See Him: Hagadone and the Aeros come in just once, from August 2nd-4th.

Every Thursday, Minor Matters will unveil its Top 10 opposing players for the 2011 season. Yes, the Thunder are clearly the most interesting topic on this blog, but wouldn't be nice to hear about the next Matt Wieters, Carlos Santana or Stephen Strasburg to come through the Eastern League. Yeah, I thought so too.

No. 4 - Jacob Turner

Bio: At 19, Turner is the Tigers' best pitching prospect by far. Frankly, I expected him to work his way to the Eastern League last year, but between injuries and good sense, Detroit took it a bit slower on the young man's arm. He was the organization's top pick in the 2009 draft, out of high school in St. Louis.

2010: Turner had stiffness in both his shoulder and elbow at times in 2010, but he did manage to put up some fine numbers. He finished with a 3.28 ERA (just 2.93 at High-A Lakeland), 102 strikeouts against just 23 walks, and a stellar .238 batting average against. The ERA was sixth-best among qualifiers in the system.

What People Are Saying:

"Turner has the ideal frame for a power pitcher. He throws both two- and four-seam fastballs, sitting at 92-94 mph while peaking at 96. In addition to its easily above-average velocity, Turner's fastball also has heavy sink. ... He throws a 12-6 curve that can get a little short, but also shows glimpses of being an upper-70s hammer." -- Conor Glassey, Baseball America

"With his size, stuff and mechanics, Turner is almost a blueprint for what scouts look for in a high school arm. ... Turner certainly has ace-level ceiling, to some comparing him quite favorably to current Tigers ace Justin Verlander." -- Kevin Goldstein, Baseball Prospectus

When You Can See Him: Turner and the Seawolves come to Waterfront Park on July 18-20, and Turner should have earned his promotion from Lakeland.

Every Thursday, Minor Matters will unveil its Top 10 opposing players for the 2011 season. Yes, the Thunder are clearly the most interesting topic on this blog, but wouldn't be nice to hear about the next Matt Wieters, Carlos Santana or Stephen Strasburg to come through the Eastern League. Yeah, I thought so too.

No. 5 - Anthony Gose

Bio: A former Phillies prospect, he was dealt to the Astros in the Roy Oswalt deal, then subsequently flipped to Toronto for Brett Wallace. He's a speedy ballplayer who has potential as a Michael Bourn type (lazy comp, I know). He needs to make contact a little bit more, and work on picking better opportunities to steal.

2010: He entered the season at just 19 years old, and hit .262/.332/.724 combined between two High-A teams (Clearwater and Dunedin). He doubled 20 times, smacked 13 triple and seven homers, and swiped 45 bases in 79 tries. He was also a part of the Florida State League All-Star squad.

What People Are Saying:

One of the fastest prospects in baseball, Gose led the minors with 76 steals in 2009 but wasn't as successful in high Class A. He's still working on reading pitchers and getting good jumps, and he got caught a minor league-high 32 times in 77 attempts. His center-field defense and arm strength give him two more plus tools, but his bat still needs to come around. He needs to cut down on his strikeouts and put the ball in play more consistently. He could develop average power, though he'll be better off putting the ball in the gaps and wreaking havoc on the bases. -- Nathan Rode, Baseball America

While Gose isn't as fast a Gillies, he's only a step behind, and he's ahead of Gillies in terms of converting his speed into baseball value. He's an excellent base stealer with good instincts in the outfield, allowing him to cover a considerable amount of ground. Scouts saw a rapidly improving approach, as he learned how to force pitchers to give him better pitches by working the count more effectively. He had early-round possibilities as a pitcher out of high school, and his arm is a cannon. -- Kevin Goldstein, Baseball Prospectus

When You Can See Him: Gose and the Fisher Cats come in to Waterfront Park from April 29-May 1, June 3-5, June 27-29 and August 29-Sept. 1.

Every Thursday, Minor Matters will unveil its Top 10 opposing players for the 2011 season. Yes, the Thunder are clearly the most interesting topic on this blog, but wouldn't be nice to hear about the next Matt Wieters, Carlos Santana or Stephen Strasburg to come through the Eastern League. Yeah, I thought so too.

No. 6 - Aaron Hicks

Bio: Taken in the first round of the 2008 draft, Hicks is a true five-tool talent, but he appears to still be a little rough around the edges. He's yet to advance past the Midwest League, but he could see Double-A this season with a good first half in Fort Myers.

2010: Just 20 entering the season, Hicks returned to Beloit after an underwhelming campaign in 2009. He hit .279/.401/.828 with the Snappers, and clubbed eight home runs and 49 RBIs in the process. He hit 27 doubles, a half dozen triples and stole 21 bases in 32 attempts. He also had three assists in the outfield.

What People Are Saying:

"Hicks remains all tooled up. As a hitter, his best asset is his patience, though at times he's too passive. He has above-average raw power from his natural right side but still has work to do from the left side, where he has more of a slap approach. His above-average speed plays better in center field than it does on the bases." -- John Manuel

"Hicks has the potential to be a five-tool monster. His athletic build shows plenty of raw power, he's a plus runner who covers a ton of ground in center field, and he features one of the minor leagues' best arms. Unlike many raw toolsy players, he has a keen understanding of the strike zone and knows how to get himself into hitter's counts." -- Kevin Goldstein

When You Can See Him: Hicks and the Rock Cats come in just once, shockingly, from August 25-28, by which time Hicks may have earned a promotion.

Every Thursday, Minor Matters will unveil its Top 10 opposing players for the 2011 season. Yes, the Thunder are clearly the most interesting topic on this blog, but wouldn't be nice to hear about the next Matt Wieters, Carlos Santana or Stephen Strasburg to come through the Eastern League. Yeah, I thought so too.

No. 7 - Derek Norris















Bio: Taken by the Nationals in the fourth round of the 2008 draft out of Goddard High in Goddard, Kansas, Norris appears to be on track as the Nationals catcher of the future. He's homered 49 times in 327 minor league games, and has produced a career split of .261/.414/.876, with a tremendous 276 walks against 304 strikeouts.

2010: Norris missed part of 2010 after being struck in the head by a pitch while playing with High-A Potomac of the Carolina League, but made up for lost time by playing with the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League. His batting average dropped to a career low of .235 during the regular year, but his OBP stayed at an outstanding .419. He also caught an eye-popping 51% of runners trying to steal.

What People Are Saying: "I know I can hit, but I want to play defense," said Norris, the only Nationals' minor leaguer listed among Baseball America's latest ranking of the top 50 prospects. "That's really my key goal. That's really what is gonna move you up. Every team needs a good catcher, and if you don't have a good catcher your team is screwed."

-- Derek Norris

"He has a short, easy stroke and plenty of power to all fields, but it's his plate discipline that makes him potentially special. He has an uncanny feel for the strike zone and nearly never swings at a bad pitch. He has a plus arm and made great strides in harnessing it during the season by shortening his release and improving his accuracy."
-- Kevin Goldstein, Baseball Prospectus

Note that interests only me: Norris was born on Valentine's Day, exactly 130 years after my home state, Oregon, was admitted to the union.

When You Can See Him: Harrisburg comes to Waterfront Park on April 14-17 and June 14-16,

Every Thursday, Minor Matters will unveil its Top 10 opposing players for the 2011 season. Yes, the Thunder are clearly the most interesting topic on this blog, but wouldn't be nice to hear about the next Matt Wieters, Carlos Santana or Stephen Strasburg to come through the Eastern League. Yeah, I thought so too.

No. 8 - Tony Sanchez

















Bio: Pittsburgh's first-rounder in 2009, Sanchez was seen by some as a safe pick, because of his college pedigree and low price tag. From Boston College, he's a commodity both behind the plate and with the bat. Were it not for a broken jaw at the end of the year, Sanchez likely would have seen Altoona in first full season. He's already on the Curve's roster on the team's website.

2010: As I mentioned, Sanchez had his jaw broken late in the year by a Brad Holt fastball. Before that, Sanchez looked good. In 59 games, he hit .314/.416/.870 with four home runs and 35 RBIs. He struck out just 41 times in 207 at-bats.

What People Are Saying:

"He's as advertised. The ball jumps off his bat. You can see the tools. And you can understand why he's as highly touted as he is. I'm excited about him. He won't take long."
-- Ryan Doumit

"He has a good swing and solid approach with moderate to above-average power, although he has a slightly soft front side that limited his contact rate as an amateur. ... He's probably never going to be a star, but he's very likely to be an every-day catcher in the majors who might throw an All-Star season out there once or twice in his career."

-- Keith Law, ESPN

"Sanchez is the rare catcher with the ability to impact games both behind the plate and at it. He's a potentially special defender with plus-plus receiving skills and a well above-average arm. He has a mature approach at the plate and scouts believe that many of his doubles will turn into home runs down the road as he learns to drive balls better."
-- Kevin Goldstein, Baseball Prospectus

When You Can See Him: Sanchez and the Curve come to Waterfront Park from May 31 - June 2 and July 1-3.

Every Thursday, Minor Matters will unveil its Top 10 opposing players for the 2011 season. Yes, the Thunder are clearly the most interesting topic on this blog, but wouldn't be nice to hear about the next Matt Wieters, Carlos Santana or Stephen Strasburg to come through the Eastern League. Yeah, I thought so too.

Bio: d'Arnaud, a former Phillies farmhand, is a catcher who was acquired by Toronto in the Roy Halladay trade. His brother, Chase, is a middle infielder in the Pirates' system, and was the MVP of the 2010 Eastern League All-Star Game.

2010: Dealing with an injured back for part of the year, d'Arnaud put together a .259/.315/.726 line with six homers and 38 RBIs and High-A Dunedin in 2010. He caught 30 percent of opposing basestealers, and permitted just two passed balls in 58 games.

What People Are Saying:

"Tons of doubles, some of which will likely turn into home runs, good defense, good receiving skills overall, and would have likely been the Phillies starting catcher in 3 years. The Blue Jays apparently really wanted him in the 2007 draft, but the Phillies picked him one spot ahead of Toronto. Looks like they got their man now." -- Phuture Phillies, 2009

"Showed promising power in batting .255 with 13 homers and 71 RBI, as well as 38 doubles for Single-A Lakewood this year, though he needs some work behind the plate after catching just 40 of 172 base-stealers while committing nine passed balls." -- New York Daily News

"As a hitter, he has a good idea of the strike zone with good bat control; he wraps his bat very slightly but gets to the ball quickly with good rotation for average to above-average future power. He's a few years off but has promise as an offensive catcher with good defensive skills, a more complete player than the Jays' other main catching prospect, J.P. Arencibia." -- Keith Law, ESPN

When You Can See Him: d'Arnaud may return to Dunedin to begin the year, but will probably move up to Double-A for part of 2011. The Fisher Cats come in to Waterfront Park from April 29-May 1, June 3-5, June 27-29 and August 29-Sept. 1.

Every Thursday, Minor Matters will unveil its Top 10 opposing players for the 2011 season. Yes, the Thunder are clearly the most interesting topic on this blog, but wouldn't be nice to hear about the next Matt Wieters, Carlos Santana or Stephen Strasburg to come through the Eastern League. Yeah, I thought so too.

No. 10 - Charlie Culberson













Bio: Culberson was selected in sandwich round, with the 51st pick, by the Giants in 2007, out of high school in Calhoun, Ga. He stands 6-foot-1, 185 pounds and is right-handed. He was a supplemental pick San Francisco received for the loss of Mike Stanton.

2010: With San Jose, he hit .290/.340/.797 with a career-high 16 bombs and 71 RBIs and 25 stolen bases in 32 attempts.

With the Scottsdale Scorpions during this Arizona Fall League, however, he's had quite the uptick in production. The slash line is a gaudy .383/.419/1.048 with two home runs, 16 RBIs and a stolen base.

What People Are Saying:

"Seeing the way he's swinging the bat right now in the Valley of the Sun, and his improved approach at the plate, I've definitely upgraded him. He's far from a finished product, but he's at least flashing the potential that made him a high pick in the first place. " -- Jason Grey, ESPN

"(A) much better hitter than I previously thought." -- Keith Law, ESPN

"Nearly all of Culberson's tools play up because of his advanced feel for the game. He has good bat speed, a patient approach at the plate, and a smooth line-drive swing. His speed is a tick above average, and he's an outstanding base runner. In the field, he has good fundamentals and a strong arm." Kevin Goldstein, Baseball Prospectus, 2008

When You Can See Him: Culberson will move up to Double-A for 2011. The Flying Squirrels come in to Waterfront Park from April 18-20 and July 28-31.