Prospects Report: A brief glimpse into the Futures

The second half of the upper levels of the minors tends to be a slow time for potential impact Fantasy prospects -- save for the recent call-ups of Chris Davis and Max Ramirez -- but the Futures Game every July still gives us a chance to get excited about the talent that will be on the way. Remember Jay Bruce in San Francisco a year ago?

That was his national unveiling. Here are our picks for the top five Futures Game prospects to watch after the rosters were announced this week:

1. RHP Trevor Cahill, Athletics

The A's really pulled a nice changeup when they went away from their famed strategy of drafting top college prospects to pick this San Diego high schooler in the second round in 2006. They always worried high school prospects wouldn't help soon enough. It turns out they have a big-time talent on their hands, and one that now might not be too far away either.

Cahill has dominated Class A to the tune of a 2.78 ERA, 103 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings, allowing just a .174 batting-average against. It has been that way for the virtually unhittable 20-year-old. His Double-A debut a week ago was David Price-like, going six innings, striking out six and allowed just two hits and one run. He is a rare strikeout pitcher who also gets a majority of his outs on the ground, posting well better than 2-1 groundout-to-flyout ratio this season.

The A's already have a deep rotation that doesn't figure to need reinforcements, but the long-term elite talent looks like one of the best pitching prospects in baseball now. He has always been in the discussion long term, but in Double-A as a 20-year-old accelerates his ETA. It will be very interesting to see if he stays dominant against some of the best the minors has to offer.

2. OF/1B Matt LaPorta, Brewers

This list just has to include the one player who has the best potential to be a Fantasy first-rounder in the future. Despite trailing minor league homer leader Dallas McPherson 27 to nine, LaPorta can mash.

Unlike McPherson, LaPorta doesn't strike out at a ridiculous rate. He also takes his walks. It is real hard to find a fault in this former University of Florida prospect.

In fact, he is so talented, he could make a big enough splash in the Futures Game the Sunday before the All-Star Game that he could force the Brewers to give him the call for the second half. He might not be a polished corner outfielder, but his bat is certainly major league ready.

3. RHP Carlos Carrasco, Phillies

The Phillies top pitching prospect has been more steady than spectacular in Double-A, but Carrasco's talent is intriguing enough to make him a candidate for a second-half call-up. He could have been one a year ago, perhaps.

In 94 innings to date, Carrasco has fanned 89 and opposing batters are hitting .261 against him. More important, he is a pitcher who gets outs on the ground more than the air. That would play well in the homer-friendly park in Philly.

If Carrasco doesn't become a candidate in Philly, he could at least be a bargaining chip for the Phillies to add a big-time ace on the trade market. We tend to think, though, the Venezuelan is someone the Phillies need to keep around.

4. OF Andrew McCutchen, PIT

The next Lastings Milledge wasn't really all that impressive, until now. Drafted in the same high school class as Justin Upton and Cameron Maybin, McCutchen is finally catching up to those elite talents.

McCutchen has stolen 21 bases -- although he was caught 13 times -- and has his on-base percentage up to .361. His power hasn't yet reached the elite level that was expected, but he does have eight homers and 18 doubles.

The Pirates have had a nice outfield with the resurgence of Jason Bay, breakthrough of Nate McLouth and the steady production -- albeit oft-injured -- of Xavier Nady. One of those could be traded at the deadline, which could open up a spot for McCutchen to arrive in the second half. If he does, he will be a must-have in all Rotisserie leagues for his steals potential.

5. 3B Matthew Gamel, Brewers

You cannot list LaPorta without his Huntsville co-star Gamel. For most of the first half, it has looked like Gamel is the better slugging prospect -- even though he has been considered more of a solid guy in the system than a real future star.

But Gamel leads in the minors in hits (117) and has a Kevin Kouzmanoff-like .373 Double-A average. Gamel's 15 homers, 68 RBI, 66 runs, .438 OBP and .631 SLUG aren't too shabby either. We tend to think his productivity is a bit inflated with the presence of LaPorta, but you cannot ignore the numbers.

The Brewers are inclined to keep LaPorta and Gamel in Double-A longer -- they seem to be a package deal a La Alex Gordon-Billy Butler a couple years ago -- but eventually they will want their co-stars challenged. The Brewers are running streaky journeyman Russell Branyan out at third right now, so Gamel is really just an organizational change of heart away from helping in any Fantasy league.

U.S. team: LHP Brett Anderson, OAK; RHP Jake Arrieta, BAL; RHP Trevor Cahill, OAK; RHP William Inman, SD; RHP Kevin Jepsen, LAA; RHP Ryan Matthues, COL; RHP Kevin Pucetas, SF; LHP Clayton Richard, CHW; RHP Jess Todd, STL; RHP Casey Weathers, COL; C Bryan Anderson, STL; C Lou Marson, PHI; C Taylor Teagarden, TEX; 1B Chris Davis, TEX; SS Jason Donald, PHI; 3B Matthew Gamel, MIL; 2B Chris Getz, CHW; OF/1B Matt LaPorta, MIL; 2B Cliff Pennington, OAK; SS Chris Valaika, CIN; OF Dexter Fowler, COL; OF Greg Golson, PHI; OF Andrew McCutchen, PIT; OF Nate Schierholtz, SF; OF Denard Span, MIN.

World team: RHP Phillippe Aumont, SEA; RHP Carlos Carrasco, PHI; RHP Jesus Delgado, FLA; LHP Jaime Garcia, STL; RHP Shairon Martis, WAS; RHP Eduardo Morlan, TB; RHP Julio Pimentel, KC; RHP Henry Rodriguez, OAK; RHP Hector Rondon, CLE; LHP Polin Trinidad, HOU; C Welington Castillo, CHC; C Jesus Montero, NYY; SS Elvis Andrus, TEX; 2B Emilio Bonifacio, ARI; 2B Scott Campbell, TOR; SS Ivan Dejesus, LAD; 3B Juan Francisco, CIN; 3B Luke Hughes, MIN; C/1B Max Ramirez, TEX; 1B Angel Villalona, SF; OF Gorkys Hernandez, ATL; OF Che-Hsuan Lin, BOS; OF Fernando Martinez, NYM; OF Gerardo Parra, ARI; OF Wilkin Ramirez, DET.

Prospect watch

Every Thursday, we break down all the minor leaguers who are owned in at least 1 percent of our Fantasy leagues. This will be your essential guide to unearthing the elite prospects before they hit the big time.

At the minor league All-Star break, we give you an updated Fantasy note this week.

CBSSports.com's most-owned minor leaguers
Minor leaguer	TM	Pos	Level	Own %	Midseason Fantasy note
Francisco Liriano	MIN	SP	Triple-A	71	Improved command should lead to All-Star break return
Clay Buchholz	BOS	SP	Triple-A	44	Deep Red Sox rotation holds him back right now
David Price	TB	SP	Double-A	29	First start in Double-A was solid; just one more month?
Max Scherzer	ARI	SP	Triple-A	28	Made one poor Triple-A appearance and has pitched since
Dontrelle Willis	DET	SP	High Class A	26	He has yet to pitch in Class A ball as the Tigers take it slow
Billy Butler	KC	DH	Triple-A	21	Bat has come around, along with 1-to-2 K-to-BB ratio in Triple-A
Homer Bailey	CIN	SP	Triple-A	18	Obviously he still has work to do, but his age/talent can't be ignored
Cameron Maybin	FLA	OF	Double-A	17	After poor start in April, he has been progressively better each month
Rich Hill	CHC	SP	Triple-A	16	Command is really bad right now; he doesn't look close to returning
Ian Stewart	COL	3B	Triple-A	13	Great power potential, but the Rockies see him as a 3B, not a 2B
Josh Fields	CHW	3B	Triple-A	12	He has been a disappointment and Joe Crede isn't going anywhere
J.R. Towles	HOU	C	Triple-A	11	Apparently he was rushed to the majors; he needs some Triple-A time
Colby Rasmus	STL	OF	Triple-A	8	June has been his best month; Cards made right move on him in spring
Asdrubal Cabrera	CLE	2B	Triple-A	7	He has hit .400 since his demotion, so Indians might go back to him
Matt LaPorta	MIL	OF	Double-A	7	Arguably the best long-term slugging prospect in the minors right now
Brandon Wood	ANA	3B	Triple-A	6	Power potential is there, but his free-swinging ways are frustrating
Felix Pie	CHC	CF	Triple-A	6	He has been better in June, but you still can consider him overrated
Ronny Paulino	PIT	C	Triple-A	6	Was hitting .410 in Triple-A before injury landed him on DL
Wladimir Balentien	SEA	OF	Triple-A	6	Yet another free-swinging slugger who needs more time in the minors
Travis Buck	OAK	OF	Triple-A	5	He is beginning to look more like a future No. 4 outfielder instead of starter
Nick Adenhart	ANA	SP	Triple-A	4	Angels' stacked rotation won't give him much of a chance to help soon
Jerry Owens	CHW	OF	Triple-A	4	White Sox obviously don't think this basestealer can add punch to offense
Franklin Morales	COL	SP	Triple-A	4	After two awful months, he has turned around in June; perhaps second half?
Matthew Gamel	MIL	3B	Double-A	4	Another suspect glove at 3B, but he can really hit; starter in spring 2009?
Chuck James	ATL	SP	Triple-A	3	Braves must be unimpressed with his stuff, because the results are great
Matt Wieters	BAL	C	High Class A	3	Little argument here about him being the best catcher prospect in baseball
Jed Lowrie	BOS	SS	Triple-A	3	Shortstop has pop and could prove to be an AL-only sleeper down the stretch
Adam Miller	CLE	SP	Triple-A	3	Yet another injury derails one of the most promising pitching prospects
Matt Lindstrom	FLA	RP	Triple-A	3	100 mph arm needs some tinkering; back spasms are blamed for his slump
Andrew McCutchen	PIT	OF	Triple-A	3	Pirates' outfield is stacked, but he arrives immediately after trade deadline
Steve Pearce	PIT	OF	Triple-A	3	Power has come around after a slow start; do Pirates have to trade two OFs?
Eugenio Velez	SF	2B	Triple-A	3	Slap-hitting basestealer will have NL-only Rotisserie value in second half
Ben Broussard	CHC	1B	Triple-A	2	In this team's system, we don't give him much of a chance; cut him now
Jason Hirsh	COL	SP	Triple-A	2	Poor strikeout-to-walk ratio shows he will need a lot more time in minors
Aquilino Lopez	DET	RP	Triple-A	2	They are stretching him out to start, but he will need at least a month
Rick Porcello	DET	SP	High Class A	2	Elite prospect is handling himself well as a 19-year-old in high Class A
Dallas McPherson	FLA	3B	Triple-A	2	Huge power streak in Triple-A shows he should have been in majors long ago
Chris Volstad	FLA	SP	Double-A	2	He is back from the Double-A DL, but the Marlins are in no rush with him
Fernando Martinez	NYM	OF	Double-A	2	Yet another injury has sent him back, but you have to give teenager some time
Shelley Duncan	NYY	DH	Triple-A	2	Great power, but the Yankees don't have a position for him right now
Gio Gonzalez	OAK	SP	Triple-A	2	A's deep rotation has given him ample time to develop; September call-up?
Carlos Carrasco	PHI	SP	Double-A	2	If the Phillies need an ace, do they go to this elite prospect or trade him for one?
Matt Antonelli	SD	2B	Triple-A	2	Awful first half has been disappointing especially amid Tadahito Iguchi injury
Jake McGee	TB	SP	Double-A	2	On Double-A DL with sore elbow; likely keeps him out of 2008 rotation mix
Reid Brignac	TB	SS	Triple-A	2	Trade for Jason Bartlett keeps him from being an impact option this year
Travis Snider	TOR	OF	Double-A	2	Power has really come around, but he strikes out far too much right now
Kendry Morales	ANA	1B	Triple-A	1	We have no confidence in this Cuban import ever being a big league regular
Jarrod Parker	ARI	SP	Low Class A	1	Just the fact he has 1 percent ownership shows his long-term potential
Josh Anderson	ATL	OF	Triple-A	1	It is pretty obvious the Braves don't feel he can be a big league regular yet
Jordan Schafer	ATL	OF	Double-A	1	Has returned from his 50-game suspension, but he will get full year in minors
Lars Anderson	BOS	1B	High Class A	1	Red Sox could look to him in the middle of 2009, but likely no sooner than that
Micah Hoffpauir	CHC	1B	Triple-A	1	Yet another Cubs 1B minor leaguer who we don't see making an impact in '08
Josh Vitters	CHC	3B	Low Class A	1	Early 2007 first-rounder is finally putting up some numbers in the minors
Danny Richar	CHW	2B	Triple-A	1	Entered spring as a potential starter, but he has fallen behind after injury
Matt Belisle	CIN	SP	Triple-A	1	Really? People own this guy? They must be asleep at the wheel at this point
Jensen Lewis	CLE	RP	Triple-A	1	A minor league reliever who doesn't project to close? Ignore him in all leagues
Joe Koshansky	COL	1B	Triple-A	1	Great power, with strikeouts of course, but Todd Helton isn't going anywhere
Jayson Nix	COL	2B	Triple-A	1	He has improved after a slow start, but the Rockies are fine with Clint Barmes
Jeff Larish	DET	1B	Triple-A	1	Power bat will get another look later this year, but likely merely as a reserve
Matt Joyce	DET	OF	Triple-A	1	Looks like a candidate to start next spring, but nothing more than '08 reserve
Mike Rabelo	FLA	C	Triple-A	1	Marlins don't expect he will stay down for long, but he should just be a backup
Taylor Tankersley	FLA	RP	Triple-A	1	Another solid long-term reliever struggling and needing seasoning in minors
Rick VandenHurk	FLA	SP	Double-A	1	Off DL, but the Marlins have better options in the rotation now and long term
Ryan Shealy	KC	1B	Triple-A	1	Has pop in his bat, but he looks like he might be a head-to-Japan type
Michael Moustakas	KC	3B	Low Class A	1	Another early '07 first-rounder out of high school that will need a few years
Jon Meloan	LA	RP	Triple-A	1	Dodgers obviously are not inclined to rush him after turning him into a starter
Chin-lung Hu	LA	SS	Triple-A	1	If he cannot stay up with Rafael Furcal on the DL, there's no reason to wait on him
Tony K. Gwynn	MIL	OF	Triple-A	1	Despite his Hall of Fame bloodline he looks like nothing more than career backup
Philip Humber	MIN	SP	Triple-A	1	Has been a bust for the Twins; Mets look wise to have given up on him
Austin Jackson	NYY	OF	Double-A	1	He has handled himself better than Tabata, but he needs a full year in Double-A
Jose Tabata	NYY	OF	Double-A	1	Elite prospect status has to be taking a hit, but give this young talent some time
Justin Germano	SD	SP	Triple-A	1	He shouldn't be owned in this many leagues if he was in the majors; cut him
Nate Schierholtz	SF	OF	Triple-A	1	Giants have given one of their better position prospects enough time; call him up
Brad Hennessey	SF	RP	Triple-A	1	Still might be a big league starter, but is it worth waiting on a Giants rotation option?
Brad Thompson	STL	SP	Triple-A	1	Looks like he belongs in middle relief long term, so cut him in all leagues now
Jeff Niemann	TB	SP	Triple-A	1	With Price on the fast track, he figures to become trade bait for the contending Rays
Wade Davis	TB	SP	Double-A	1	With McGee hurt, Davis is likely right behind Price in the pecking order right now
Taylor Teagarden	TEX	C	Triple-A	1	Max Ramirez flipped right past him; Rangers really have a lot of catching talent
Elvis Andrus	TEX	SS	Double-A	1	Steals merchant has long-term projectability, but little hope in this organization
Christopher Marrero	WAS	OF	High Class A	1	Nats top slugging prospect is a long way away, but he could get September call
Ross Detwiler	WAS	SP	High Class A	1	There were thoughts he could arrive quickly, but his numbers aren't Fantasy-ready
Matt Chico	WAS	SP	Triple-A	1	On DL and able to avoid surgery, but he has little chance of helping this year now

Newbie needs

Chris, Marion, North Carolina: Any chance Thomas Hanson finally gets a little love in the next Prospects Report? Surely us Braves fans aren't the only ones who happened to notice his 14-K, three-walk, no-no (this week) are we? (And yes, this is the same maniac that has been hounding you about him all season.)

Emack: You are correct sir. Hanson has got to be owned in at least 5 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues right now. He could arrive after the All-Star break at this point, but the Braves certainly could be tempted to recall him before that. The Braves have a great offense to get this top prospect some nice run support, too. He is a nice consolation prize if you have been wishing you bought into Jair Jurrjens a lot sooner.

Scott Kent: Would you drop Max Scherzer for David Price? Who has more value for this year?

Emack: This would have been crazy to say in May, but Price should not be the most-owned minor league behind Francisco Liriano. Price could arrive by Aug. 1 at this point. Scherzer has really hit the skids and doesn't look certain to be a starter down the stretch at this point.

Joel Metz, Minot, North Dakota: Dallas McPherson is leading Triple-A in home runs, but I haven't heard anything recently about a possible call-up with the Marlins. What are his chances of being called up this season or possibly traded to a team that has room for him at the big league level?

Emack: The Marlins were being cautious with McPherson this spring when they sent him and his surgically repaired back to the minors to start the season. Clearly the masher belongs in the big leagues right now. They like what Jorge Cantu has done, but McPherson's power potential is other-wordly. McPherson leads the world with 27 homers this season and has homered in six consecutive games. He strikes out a lot, but how many 30-homer sluggers don't? He should at least be considered a replacement for Jacobs at first. McPherson is an elite talent proving healthy and worthy of another big opportunity. The Marlins' recent offensive struggles and his record-setting Triple-A streak can only help.

You can e-mail Emack your Fantasy Baseball prospect questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Prospects in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses to all questions.