Team #31

Baseball America's 2008 Prospect Handbook is due out soon. As a kind of preview, they have a list at BaseballAmerica.com of 41 players who did not make it on to the respective Top 30 list of their team.

Here are the two players with Rattler ties who made the list:

Cesar Jimenez, lhp, Mariners

Born: Nov. 12, 1984. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 180. Signed: Venezuela, 2001. Signed by: Emilio Carrasquel.

Jimenez has bounced back and forth from starting to relieving in six years in the Mariners system. He operated out of the rotation for most of 2006 and seemed to turn a corner, but he wore down, just as he had as a starter in the past. He spent three weeks on the Triple-A Tacoma disabled list in August 2006 with a sore elbow, and he worked in just 26 innings for the Rainiers last year as he again missed time with elbow problems. Jimenez' best pitch is his changeup, making him effective against righthanders. His fringe-average fastball has some cutting action and sits at 88-89 mph. He can touch 92 mph when he comes out of the bullpen. His ultimate role likely will be as a reliever because he holds up better and retains the arm speed on his fastball. He does a better job of throwing strikes and keeping the ball down in relief, too, and he'll return to that role in Triple-A this year.


Fabian Williamson, lhp, Mariners

Born: Oct. 20, 1988. B-T: R-L. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 175. Drafted: HS—Sun Valley, Calif., 2006 (22nd round). Signed by: Phil Pote/Greg Whitworth.

Williamson signed too late in 2006 to make his pro debut, but he made a positive first impression last year. He spent the bulk of his time in the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he got better as the year progressed. He can pitch backward—his curveball and changeup are both solid average—but he has supreme trust in an 85-90 mph fastball that he locates well against righthanders. The natural deception in his delivery makes the pitch even more effective. Williamson's fastball command is advanced for a young pitcher, especially one taken in the 22nd round. He'll move up to low Class A in 2008.

Jimenez was a Rattler in 2003. Williamson, who will probably be starting the season with the Rattlers, made the start on Labor Day, 2007 for Wisconsin against Kane County and pitched six shutout innings.