When scouts evaluate baseball prospects, power is one of the most important tools. The presence of a player able to hit a home run in each at-bat is vital to a team’s success, just look at the major leagues right now. The Yankees, Rays and Padres have the three best records in baseball, anchored respectively by the combination of Rodriguez and Teixeira in New York, Evan Longoria in Tampa Bay, and star firstbaseman Adrian Gonzalez in San Diego. In this post, however, Edgar Walker takes a look at the most powerful prospects at each level of minor league baseball, from Triple-A down to Rookie League.

Triple-A: J.P. Arencibia, C, Las Vegas (Blue Jays)- Arencibia (left) is your protoypical power-hitting catcher. A big guy with a big swing, he has power to all fields and has shown it consistently throughout his minor league career. With 27 dingers in his first full season (2008) and 21 last year, Arencibia has stepped up his game even higher this year in Triple-A, blasting 31 big flies in only 95 games. Plus those gaudy home run numbers, he’s accumulated 117 doubles in his time on the farm, showing that if he doesn’t hit the ball quite far enough to get over the fence, he still hits it pretty far.

Double-A: Kyle Russell, OF, Chattanooga (Dodgers)- Kyle Russell has ascended the Dodgers’ minor league system in thunderous fashion, routinely hitting balls 400 feet or more. A 3rd round draft pick in 2008, Russell signed quickly and got to play 61 games in rookie ball for Ogden, which was among the Pioneer league’s leaders for the 2008 campaign. From there, the rest just fell into place. He hit 11 home runs in those 61 games in Ogden, with an impressive 46 RBI, as well. Last season, he played a full year in Low A ball, blasting 26 homers, complimented by 102 RBI and 39 doubles. Quickly being advanced through the system, Russell didn’t miss a beat, already having hit 21 home runs this year between High A and Double-A. Expect him to see the big leagues late next season, especially following te struggles of current big league catcher, Russell Martin.

High A: Derek Norris, C, Potomac (Nationals)- After leading the New York-Penn League in home runs in 2008 and hitting 23 in his first full season last year, Norris was being tabbed as the most powerful guy in the low levels of the minors, and was expected to have another monster season this year. While the numbers don’t say much (7 home runs, 11 doubles, 31 RBI), you can’t say he’s having a bad season, having only played in 66 games and tallying up just 283 plate appearances. With 49 hits, one out of every seven of his hits have gone over the fence, and almost half have gone for extra bases. The power is definitely still there, and we’re bound to see it in bunches throughout Norris’ pro career.

Low A: Ian Gac, 1B, Kannapolis (White Sox)- A 26th round draft pick by the Rangers in 2003, Gac has hit 125 home runs in eight minor league seasons, two of which were in rookie ball where he only played a total of 81 games. With 18 this year, 22 last year, 32 in 2008, 17 in 2007 and 16 in 2006, Gac’s middle name might as well be “Home Run Hitter”. While his approach at the plate isn’t one scouts would drool over (.247 career batting average, .309 career on-base percentage), his power is enormous and proven. Gac played at High A Bakersfield last season, but the White Sox decided to pull him back down to Kannapolis after acquiring the first baseman this offseason. If he keeps ripping the ball over fences throughout the minors, he could continue to make his way up the White Sox system.

Short-Season A: Bryce Brentz, OF, Lowell (Red Sox)- While he doesn’t have much of a minor league statline (he was drafted by the Red Sox in this June’s draft), you can bet that Brentz will be a great power hitter for years to come. A 1st round pick out of Middle Tennessee State, the outfielder’s college statistics were incredible. Brentz hit 18 home runs in his freshman year, 28 in his sophomore season, and 15 in an injury-shortened junior campaign. In 162 total college games (that’s a full MLB season, remember), Brentz hit 61 home runs. That’s extremely good, if you couldn’t figure that out already. He’s a great natural hitter with tons of pop in his bat and will make the adjustment to pro ball well.

Rookie: Eric Avila, 3B, GCL Pirates- I guarantee you’ve never heard of this guy. Well, I’m kind of a loser for knowing who he is. Perusing Dominican Summer League stats for the last three years, especially last year, I noticed Avila’s name towards the top of several offensive categories. As he’s moved from the Dominican Summer League to the Pirates’ Gulf Coast League team this year, he’s still got the magic. He’s already hit five dingers this season in 35 games, and as he grows and gets more muscle on his 165-pound frame, that figure is sure to rise quickly. Right now, it’s all raw power with Avila, and he’s one of the most legitimate power threats in any short-season league in baseball. When he becomes a big baseball player and decides to weigh more than most 13-year olds, he’s sure to be a home run hitting star.

-Edgar Walker