Part two of this six part preview of the Arizona Fall League will profile the Peoria Saguaros, home of the Padres, Nationals, Cardinals, White Sox and Mets. Headlining this group are top 2008 draftees Gordon Beckham and Brett Wallace. Here’s a closer look at seven top prospects to watch this fall.

1.) Gordon Beckham---Chicago White Sox SS

• 2008 Review: Beckham was the 8^th overall selection of the 2008 draft after having a season for the ages at the University of Georgia where he batted .411 with 28 HR 77 RBI 17 SB and 97 runs scored. Beckham also compiled a 54 BB/30 K ratio leading to an OB% of .519. Beckham signed quickly and reported to Low-A Kannapolis where he adapted quickly to professional pitching hitting .310 with 3 HR and 8 RBI in 58 AB. Beckham has above average pop, especially for his size (5-11 175 lb.) He has above average speed and baserunning skills and his make up is well above average. Some believe that he will profile better as a 2B, and I can’t help but compare him to Dustin Pedroia with a touch more power.

• Market Analysis: Bowman Chrome Draft will feature an autographed version of his 1^st year card, and I fully expect Bowman Sterling to also have one. He is one of the few 1^st rounders that has not signed a deal with Razor, and he will likely be the most coveted of the chrome autos in the Bowman Draft set. His prognosis for ’09 will likely be as a spring training invitee while being jettisoned to AA to begin the season. Make no mistake, his tenure in the minor leagues will be brief and a late season ’09 call up is not out of the question.

2.) Brett Wallace---St. Louis Cardinals 1B/3B

• 2008 Review: Wallace compiled eye-popping statistics at Arizona St. this season hitting .410 with 22 HR 83 RBI with 87 runs scored in just 62 games. Wallace signed quickly with St. Louis and split time between Low-A Quad Cities and AA Springfield hitting a combined ..337 with 8 HR and 36 RBI. Wallace’s bat is likely the best of the 2008 draft class and it will propel him quickly through the Cards’ farm system. He has a decent glove and arm, though his thick lower body lacks range and speed, which will likely relegate him to 1B which is currently manned by a decent player with the last name Pujols.

• Market Analysis: Wallace signed a 3 year exclusive deal with Razor Collectibles which will own autograph and memorabilia rights to him. He will likely have a base chrome card in the 2008 Bowman Draft set which will be immensely popular. He does have several different autographed cards from the 2008 Team USA set which sell for upwards of $25 each. Wallace’s blend of power, average, and plate discipline will push the Cardinals hard to add him to April’s 25 man roster. This fall and next spring should dictate quite a bit if he is ready for that challenge. My gut tells me that the Cardinals will start Wallace at AA and push to trade Troy Glaus by mid-season, who will be a free agent at the end of ’09 after he invokes his $11.5 million player option.

3.) Kyle Blanks---San Diego Padres 1B

• 2008 Review: Blanks ended the 2008 season on a torrid power binge, hitting .377 with 7 HR and 33 RBI in the month of August. Blanks finished with a sterling line at AA San Antonio hitting .325 with 20 HR and 107 RBI. Blanks is a large man (6-6 275 lb.), though he is deceptively mobile and adept in the field. Blanks has good plate discipline and doesn’t strike out too often (51 BB/90 K). Blanks will have to watch his conditioning, as his body is soft, to avoid future injuries and he needs to develop more opposite field pop as he advances. Overall, his skill set is promising given his young age of 22.

• Market Analysis: Blanks has 1^st year autographed cards in the 2006 Bowman Prospects set and chrome cards in the 2006 Bowman Chrome Prospects set. His autos sell for $20-25 each and his chrome cards are regularly available at $1.50-2.00 each. I like Blanks as a hitter, though I would like to see him sculpt his pudgy frame in the off season. If he does, he could double his power numbers and be a special hitter. Looking for a bargain auto? His 2007 Bowman Prospects autos sell for about $4-6 each. Blanks should begin 2009 at AAA Portland of the PCL where he should flourish. With Gold Glove candidate and super slugger Adrian Gonzalez blocking his progress, expect the Padres to be patient with Blanks.

4.) Daniel Murphy---New York Mets OF

• 2008 Review: Many collectors are quite familiar with Murphy as he has been stellar in his debut with the Mets hitting .313 with 2 HR and 17 RBI in 49 games. Murphy is well built at 6-3 210 lb. and has 20 HR potential. His keen eye at the plate, smooth left-handed swing and knack for producing RBI in critical situations prompts comparisions to a former Mets 1B John Olerud. Murphy needs to improve his defensive footwork, though his strong arm and decent athleticism should allow him to effectively make the transition.

• Market Analysis: Murphy has 1^st year cards in the 2007 Bowman Chrome and Bowman Heritage products which are predictably fetching high prices. The chromes range from $3-5 each and the Heritage cards are selling at about $4-6 each. The fact that Murphy came virtually out of nowhere to produce during the pennant stretch and the fact that he is a New York prospect are the main determinants for the market popularity of his cards. His cards are certain to decrease in price now that the Mets have been eliminated from post season contention. As for 2009, his performance this fall will be pivotal in New York’s decision of whether to pay or buy out Carlos Delgado’s $16 million ’09 contract. Long term, Murphy can be a solid 1B, though his power will never match Delgado’s production.

5.) Aaron Poreda---Chicago White Sox LHP

• 2008 Review: Since Gio Gonzalez’s departure, Aaron Poreda has become the White Sox top southpaw. This year Poreda split time between High A Winston Salem and AA Birmingham compiling an 8-9 record with a 3.13 ERA in 161 IP. Poreda exhibited solid control with 118 K/40 BB and was able to hold hitters to a .244 BA. Poreda has the build of a workhorse (6-6 240 lb.) and his fastball touched 100 MPH several times this season. Poreda has subpar off speed offerings though he has shown some progress with his slider and changeup. Ultimately, it will be the development of these secondary pitches which determines whether he will pitch at the beginning or end of ballgames for Chicago.

• Market Analysis: Poreda has several 1^st year cards in 2007 products including Bowman Chrome Draft, Bowman Sterling and Donruss Elite Extra (#’ed to 500). His chromes are selling for $7-10 each and Sterling and Donruss Elite can be found for $4-6 each. Many collectors seem to be skeptical of Poreda’s future as a starter. To his credit, he started 27 games this year and averaged nearly 6 IP per start. Poreda is just 22 years old and should begin ’09 at AA or AAA if his performance at Peoria is solid.

6.) Chad Huffman---San Diego Padres OF

• 2008 Review: Huffman, for all intents and purposes, had a solid 2008 hitting .284 with 9 HR 58 RBI and 68 BB. However, these numbers paled in comparison to his ’07 compilation of 22 HR 104 RBI and 91 runs scored. Huffman played three sports in college though he is not a particularly superb athlete on the baseball diamond. Huffman is a converted 2B who has below average arm strength, range, and speed. His power numbers have dipped significantly, perhaps due to a 15 lb. weight loss since last season. Negatives aside, Huffman is a gamer who plays all-out every inning and his ability to work the strike zone and grind out AB’s is impressive.

• Market Analysis: Huffman has 1^st year autos in the 2006 Bowman Chrome Draft set and Bowman Sterling that sell for $2.50-5.00 each. He is a classic low-risk, mid-ceiling player that could reap a few bucks for his owners if he rediscovers his power stroke and performs well this spring. Long term, he will likely be a part-time LF without much market growth potential for his cards.