For Immediate Release Wednesday, December 9, 2009 2009 Top Prospects Team Phoenix, Arizona — The Arizona Fall League announces its 2009 Top Prospects Team. Selected by Fall League managers, coaches, and administrators, the Top Prospects Team identifies the players who distinguished themselves throughout the league’s six-week 2009 schedule against other top prospects from The Future Of every organization in Major League . Voters were asked to consider Fall Major League League performance and major league projectability. Baseball Now Facts n Grant Desme (Phoenix Desert Dogs/) — The league’s • Over 1,700 former Fall most valuable player … first Fall League MVP without -A or -A Leaguers have reached the major leagues experience … blistering start to his season, belting eight home runs in a 10-game span during the season’s first two weeks … finished the campaign with 11 league- • 141 MLB All-Stars including 38 in 2009 leading home runs plus a 12th in the championship game … 11 home runs equal • 6 MLB MVPs the fourth-highest total in league history … also led the circuit in home / •Jason Giambi ratio (1/9.82), extra-base hits (16 with one other) and total bases (72) … second • in runs (30), runs batted in (27), and (.667), fourth in at bats •Justin Morneau •Dustin Pedroia (108) and OPS (1.079), fifth in hits (34 with two others) and sixth in walks (16 •Albert Pujols with two others) … seven consecutive games with RBI … .511 with 3 doubles, • 10 home runs, 22 RBI, and 19 runs during an 11-game hitting streak (Oct. 14-28) • 3 Cy Young Award winners … week two player-of-the-week. •Chris Carpenter • n Jose Tabata (Scottsdale Scorpions/) — The Scorpions’ •Brandon Webb center fielder was one of the league’s offensive headliners, leading the circuit • 19 MLB Rookies-of-the-Year in at bats (120) and hits (47) … finished third in the batting race (.392) and • 3 World Series MVPs total bases (62), fourth in runs (21) and triples (3 with five others), eighth in on-base percentage (.448) and ninth in runs batted in (21 with two others) … 6 All-Star Game MVPs • struck out only once every 10.31 plate appearances, the fifth-best ratio in the • 40 MLB Silver Sluggers league … hit .422 during a 10-game hitting streak … six RBI on Oct. 27 … one • 33 MLB Gold Glove Awards multi-homer game … hit safely in first six at bats in final game to start six-for- • 8 MLB batting champions seven day … six hits were the league’s 2009 single-game best. n Bryan Petersen (Mesa Solar Sox/Florida Marlins) — The scrappy center • 12 MLB season hits leaders fielder finished fourth in the league batting race at .379 … also ranked third • 5 MLB season RBI leaders in hits (36), fourth in total bases (57 with three others) and triples (3 with five • 2 MLB season homer leaders others), and fifth in runs (20 with one other) … hit .411 during 12-game hitting • 9 MLB season stolen-base leaders streak … 11 multi-hit games …week five player-of-the-week. n • 24 MLB managers Chris Heisey (Peoria Saguaros/) — Top five in home runs (5), triples (3), and extra-base hits (14) … homered in Rising Stars Game. • 31 MLB umpires n Jordan Danks (Peoria Javelinas/) — League leader with • 76 administrators serving 31 runs scored … worked for 20 walks to rank second in the circuit the baseball industry … .456 on-base percentage ranked fifth … hit .343 … 21-game two-year Fall Phoenix Municipal League hitting streak, batting .329 with a .462 on-base percentage … batted Stadium .462 during 11-game 2009 hitting streak. 5999 E. Van Buren n Domonic Brown (Scottsdale Scorpions/) — Tied for Phoenix, AZ 85008 league lead in games played with 30 … second in at bats (118), tied for third Office: 602.681.9362 in doubles (9). FAX: 602.681.9363 — next page — www.mlbfallball.com — 2 —

Third Basemen n Mike Moustakas (Surprise Rafters/Kansas City Royals) — One every 15 at bats to tie for second in the league in ratio … seven-RBI game on Oct. 15 … 11 of 20 hits were extra-base hits. n Josh Vitters (Mesa Solar Sox/) — The league’s no. 9 hitter at .353 … finished season with a 12-game hitting streak, batting .358 during the span.

Shortstops n Starlin Castro (Mesa Solar Sox/Chicago Cubs) — Ranked sixth in league batting at .376 … second in hits (38), third in stolen bases (9) … 14 multi-hit games … .956 fielding percentage (2 errors, 45 total chances). n Danny Espinosa (Phoenix Desert Dogs/) — Strong-armed defender also contributed offensively for the divsion-winning Desert Dogs, scoring 24 runs to rank third in the league … tied for the league lead with three sacrifice flies … also top 10 in walks (15) … hit .345 … only three errors in 113 total chances for a .973 fielding percentage.

Second Basemen n Jemile Weeks (Phoenix Desert Dogs/Oakland Athletics) — Tied with teammate Nevin Ashley for second in the league with four triples … 10-game hitting streak … six-game extra-base streak … .970 (3 errors, 99 total chances) … week three player-of-the-week. n Scott Sizemore (Peoria Javelinas/) — Hit .368 with 7 runs, 2 doubles, 3 home runs, 9 RBI, 5 walks, .462 on-base percentage and .947 slugging percentage in six games … injury-shortened season due to fractured leg on Oct. 22.

First Basemen n Russ Mitchell (Peoria Javelinas/) — Recipient of the 2009 Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award … tied for league lead in doubles (10) and extra-base hits (16) … 25 RBI ranked third … fourth with five home runs … batted .439 during 11-game hitting streak … hit .383 during 17- game on-base streak … hit .319 … only one in 162 total chances for a .994 percentage … week one co-player-of-the-week. n Ike Davis (Surprise Rafters/) — Narrowly missed top 10 batting average at .341 … reached base safely in 20 of 21 games, including 18-game on-base streak to close the season when he hit .388 and reached base at a .405 clip during the span.

Catchers n Nevin Ashley (Phoenix Desert Dogs/) — Only among the league’s top 10 hitters, ranking seventh at .366 … fifth in slugging percentage (.648) … uncharacteristic statistic for a catcher — four triples tied for second in the league … hit safely in first 17 games … eight multi-hit games … three doubles and three triples over a three-game stretch (Nov. 11–13) … no errors in 129 total chances for a 1.000 fielding percentage. n Buster Posey (Scottsdale Scorpions/) — Hit .225 in 19 games with 13 runs, 16 hits, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 12 RBI … .345/.338/.683 OBP/SLG/OPS … threw out 26.1 percent of stolen-base attempts. — next page — — 3 —

Designated Hitters n Matt McBride (Peoria Saguaros/) — Led the league with a .511 on-base percentage … also third in walks (19), fourth in slugging percentage (.649) and fifth in batting (.378) … struck out only once every 10.44 at bats to rank fourth … 15-game on-base streak, hitting .500 during the span … versatile player with games as catcher (11), designated hitter (2), first baseman (5) and (5) … game-winning two-run homer in eighth inning of Rising Stars Game. n Brandon Laird (Surprise Rafters/) — Tied for second in the league with six home runs … tied for third in doubles (9) and extra-base hits (15) … one home run every 15 at bats to tie Moustakas for second in the league in ratio … 10 RBI over a 10-game span … five-hit game … week one co-player-of-the-week.

Starting Pitchers n (Phoenix Desert Dogs/Washington Nationals) — The first selection in the 2009 draft tied for the league lead with four wins despite missing starts due to minor neck and back ailments … also posted the best /innings pitched ratio at 10.89 per nine innings and fewest baserunners per nine innings ratio at 10.42 among starting pitchers … second among starters with a .217 opponent batting average … week four -of-the-week … allowed only two earned runs in his four wins … … week four pitcher-of-the-week. n Donnie Veal (Scottsdale Scorpions/Pittsburgh Pirates) — Top 10 in ERA (2.14), innings pitched (21), (22) and WHIP (1.14 )… one of eight pitchers to share league lead with seven starts … .221 opponent batting average ranked third among starters … allowed 10.71 baserunners per nine innings to rank third among starters … 9.43 strikeout per nine innings ratio ranked fifth among starters … week three pitcher-of-the-week.

Relief Pitchers n Drew Storen (Phoenix Desert Dogs/Washington Nationals) — A 2009 first-round draft choice, Storen shared the league ERA crown (0.66) with teammate Toshiyuki Yanuki … led the league in saves (4) … second in games finished (10)… tied for third in appearances (12). n Tanner Scheppers (Surprise Rafters/) — No decisions with a 5.73 ERA in seven appearances, all in relief … nine strikeouts in 11 innings pitched … WHIP of 1.18 … opponent batting average of .237. — afl — Media Contact: Paul Jensen ([email protected], 480.710.8201)