All stats current as of June 30
1. Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins
Morneau, the former AL MVP, is wanted on nearly every teams’ roster. He has great power and hits for a good average. Through 82 games this year Morneau is hitting .306/.368/.483. He has a total of 12 home runs, but 51 strikeouts. His defense is outstanding as well. He has made two errors so far in 2008, bringing his fielding percentage down to .997. Throughout his career he holds a .995 fielding percentage.
There are others on this Twins team that can make an occasional start at first base, so there isn’t really another pure first baseman in the dugout every night. Michael Cuddyer, Mike Lamb, and even Nick Punto can play at first base effectively.
2. Randy Ruiz, Rochester Red Wings
Ruiz is tearing up Rochester this year, batting .303/.354/.495 through 82 games. He also has eleven home runs so far this season. His career batting average is an even .300, but he is 30 years old. If he isn’t called up soon he probably won’t ever be.
3. Brock Peterson, New Britain Rock Cats
At 24 years old, Peterson is waiting in the wings for that promotion to Rochester. He isn’t batting great right now, though; hitting .255/.327/.414 through 75 games. His defense isn’t stellar either. He currently has a fielding percentage of .985.
4. Johnny Woodard, Fort Myers Miracle
Woodard is showing great promise with the Miracle. He is only 23 years old, and is trying to find his groove against High A pitching. He is batting .262/.346/.433 through 39 games. He has already made five errors this year, bring his fielding percentage down to .982.
5. Rene Leveret, Beloit Snappers
Leveret was recently called up from the E-Twins and is now a member of the Beloit Snappers. He was doing great through seven games with the E-Twins, batting .306/.405/.556. He has only made two starts with Beloit, though, and is batting .143/.333/.286. That number should not stay that low, however. At 22 years old he could be one of the future first basemen of the Minnesota Twins.
6. Felix Caro, DSL Twins
Caro is an astounding 18 years old, and is greatly improving in the DSL league. He isn’t batting well through 23 games, .211/.300/.352, but should make great strides to improve in the future.
7. Jonathan Waltenbury, E-Twins
Waltenbury is tearing up Rookie ball while with the Elizabethton Twins, batting .400/.460/.711 through ten games. He is only 20 years old and could be one of the main candidates for “first baseman of the future” after Morneau leaves.
8. Dominic De La Osa, E-Twins
De La Osa is 22 years old and batting decently while with the E-Twins. He is batting .278/.435/.333 through five games. I doubt he will ever consistently be with the Big Boys in Minnesota.
9. Michael Gonzales, GCL Twins
Drafted just this year by Minnesota with the 276th overall selection, Gonzales has done great in the three games he has played in. He has a .400/.455/.600 line so far.
10. Andres Diaz, GCL Twins
Diaz was drafted last year by the Twins, and is 19 years old this year. He has only played a total of 12 games in his short career, but is sporting a .279/.326/.488 line.