Prospects, prospects, prospect (UPDATE)

MLB.com has Prospects to watch for both the American League and the National League.

Apparently, there are only three players in the Milwaukee system on their list, one of whom just got into the system. None of whom are likely to be in a Timber Rattler uniform anytime soon.

Mat Gamel: He dropped off during the second half of 2008 but still posted solid Minor League offensive numbers: a .329 average, 19 home runs and 96 RBIs in 127 games at Double-A Huntsville. He shared the organization's Minor League Player of the Year Award with Alcides Escobar. Gamel still needs to improve defensively, and he didn't win any fans in the front office when he was slow to reveal an elbow injury last September.

Alcides Escobar: The slick-fielding, free-swinging shortstop has passed Gamel on many prospect lists. He only turned 22 in December and is coming off a season in which he hit .328 with eight homers, 76 RBIs and 34 stolen bases in 131 games at Huntsville. An injury to Hardy might mean an instant promotion for Escobar.

Chase Wright: Acquired in an early February trade with the Yankees, Wright provides some depth at Triple-A Nashville. Wright spent all of 2008 in the Minors, going 10-3 with a 2.72 ERA for three of New York's affiliates. His season included two early-season appearances at rookie-level Tampa after he developed a tired arm, but he called that a minor setback and said that it didn't affect the rest of his season.

Just looking at the Seattle prospects for ex-Rattlers:

Mike Wilson: The power-hitting Wilson belted 27 home runs for Double-A West Tennessee last season, but he also struck out 117 times in 406 at-bats. The former second-round Draft choice (in 2001) ranked third in the Southern League with a .549 slugging percentage and was named to the All-Star and post-season All-Star teams.

Matt Tuiasosopo: The former three-sport star in high school made his MLB debut last September and held his own for the most part, rarely looking overmatched. His first career hit, off Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte, came in his first career start. How well he plays at Triple-A Tacoma this season could determine how hard the organization tries to re-sign third baseman Adrian Beltre.

Greg Halman: The organization named Halman its Minor League Player of the Year in 2008 after he hit 29 home runs and drove in 83 runs for Class A High Desert and West Tennessee. The 21-year-old outfielder from The Netherlands figures to start the '09 season at either West Tennessee or Triple-A Tacoma.

Adam Moore: Rated by Baseball America as the Mariners' sixth-best prospect, Moore will get plenty of catching duty during Spring Training. He could be the best overall catcher in the organization, combining good defense with a productive bat. His likely destination coming out of camp is Triple-A Tacoma.

Yep. All four are ex-Rattlers.

Anyone else with an Appleton tie-in? Baltimore? Ah, of course:

Chris Tillman: The 20-year-old righty, who came over in the Erik Bedard trade, had an excellent first season in Baltimore's organization. The hard-throwing Tillman thrived at Bowie despite being one of the youngest players in the league, and if he continues his success, he'll likely be in line for his big league debut sometime after the All-Star break.

Good to see them drop that trade thing in there. Not too many people know about that.

Cleveland? Yep.

IF Luis Valbuena: Acquired from the Mariners, Valbuena will likely begin the season at second base at Triple-A Columbus, though he could be with the big league club by season's end. As a left-handed hitter, he's a nice complement to the Indians' infield.

At second, though, Valbuena is stuck behind Cleveland's current second baseman, former Timber Rattler Asdrubal Cabrera..

EDIT: As Jay pointed out in the comments, Asdrubal Cabrera is the second baseman for the Indians...Not Oswaldo Navarro as I originally posted. Navarro is still with the Mariners.