Baseball America

Jeremy Reed ranked as the White Sox’ No. 1 prospect after leading the minors with a .373 average and .453 on-base percentage in 2003. When they traded Freddy Garcia, the Mariners insisted on Reed in a package that included Miguel Olivo and shortstop prospect Mike Morse. He batted .397 in his big league debut. A natural line-drive hitter, Reed controls the strike zone and makes consistent sweet-spot contact. He runs well; his instincts make him a stolen-base threat. His September performance convinced Seattle he can handle center field. His arm is average.

Scott Hairston. He won the Arizona junior college triple crown in 2001, then tied for the minor league lead with 73 extra-base hits and topped the Midwest League with a .426 on-base percentage in his first full pro season.Hairston is a strong, solidly built athlete with the physique of a running back. With a short, compact stroke, he can turn around any fastball and drive pitches to all parts of the ballpark. When pitchers stopped throwing him strikes at low Class A South Bend because he was virtually his team’s entire offense, he adjusted and took walks. Hairston has a good eye and above-average speed. While he is not the basestealing threat that his brother is, he could swipe 10-15 bases a season. He’s out of the Jeff Kent mold, a power-first second baseman made more valuable because of the exceptional wallop he provides for his position.

Jose Castillo can hit for both average and power, with scouts estimating he’ll hit 20-25 homers a year in the majors. He has plus range at shortstop and an outstanding arm, which enables him to make plays from deep in the hole. Castillo is a slightly above-average runner, though he doesn’t project as a big basestealer.