Churchill's Top 25

Prospect Insider may be on a bit of a break, but Jason Churchill had this list of his Top 25 prospects in the Seattle system at the Post-Intelligencer site last week. Carlos Triunfel ('07) is at the top of his list. I've pulled the Rattlers from '08 out of the list for excerpts:

3. PHILLIPPE AUMONT, RHP: Aumont's first pro season was a success, but the sore elbow that held him out for two months is a long-term concern considering the right-hander's natural three-quarters arm slot.

Aumont's development of an effective breaking ball and his health are the only obstacles in his way. His mid-90s fastball with tremendous sink should carry the 2007 first-round draft pick a long way.

6. JUAN RAMIREZ, RHP: Ramirez's 91-94 mph fastball and developing breaking ball keep him near the top of the Mariners' depth charts. He might be the most polished of their high-ceiling pitching prospects.

"He had a heckuva year, and he was only 19 most of the season," said an AL farm director. "He threw strikes, and with quality stuff. He's got a chance to be a frontline starter."

7. MICHAEL PINEDA, RHP: Pineda, 19, could be the front-runner for the organization's minor league pitcher of the year after going 8-6 with a 1.95 ERA in 26 appearances, 21 starts. He fanned 128 and issued just 35 walks in 138 1/3 innings, and ended the season with a one-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts. Said a scout: "He's a higher-probability arm than you typically get in Low-A ball. He's very projectable with his long frame and the leverage he creates on his pitches. If the velocity takes a jump and he maintains his command, he's another frontline starting pitcher. "

15. NATHAN ADCOCK, RHP: Adcock was the Mariners' fifth-round selection in the 2006 draft and began to live up to much more than that in 2008. The 6-foot-5, 190-pound right-hander flashed above-average stuff and fanned more than a batter per inning pitched for Class A Wisconsin this season.

18. SHAWN KELLEY, RHP: Kelley's success in Double-A West Tennessee this season with a 2.11 ERA and 44 Ks in 42 2/3 innings has the right-hander set up for a potential big league role in 2009. Armed with a low-90s fastball, above-average breaking ball and solid control, Kelley is set to start the year in Triple-A Tacoma as a late-inning option.

24. DENNY ALMONTE, RF: Almonte's strikeouts are an enormous red flag, but the good news is that he does everything else well. He will work the count, sometimes too much, and has power to all fields. As a switch hitter, Almonte has more power as a lefty, but makes more contact as a righty.

Plenty more ex-Rattlers at the list.