High School: Evergreen (CO)
College: University of Arkansas-Little Rock
Drafted: Selected by CLE in 6th Round (168th overall) in 2003

2006 STATS

     G  AB  R  H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB CS  AVG  OBP  SLG   OPS 
AA  67 244 46 95  19   1  15   55  23  34   2  3 .389 .449 .660 1.109 
AAA 27 102 22 36   9   0   7   20  10  12   2  1 .353 .409 .647 1.056 
MLB  5  20  3  5   1   0   3    8   0   2   0  0 .250 .250 .750 1.000 

Pros: Has always hit in the minors, including .379/.437/.656 with 22 homers in 94 games between AA and AAA this season. On 9/2/06, belted a grand slam on the first pitch he faced in the majors. Slugged three HR in 20 AB in the MLB.

Cons: Already 25 years old. Limited defensively. Chronic bad back.

Comp: Robb Quinlan. Kouzmanoff and Quinlan are both RHB and corner INF with similar builds. Xlnt track records vs. LHP.

Outlook: Part-time 1B/3B/DH. Stuck behind Ryan Garko, Andy Marte, and Travis Hafner. Valuable player off the bench.

High School: Camarillo (Camarillo,CA)
Drafted: Selected by TB in 1st Round (1st overall) iin 2003

2006 STATS

     G  AB  R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB CS  AVG  OBP  SLG   OPS
AAA 86 342 50 108  22   4   8   59  15  65  22  4 .316 .341 .474  .814
MLB 13  53 10  21   4   1   2    8   1   7   1  0 .396 .411 .623 1.034

Pros: Five-tool talent. Has been the best player at every stop along the way. Baseball America Youth Player of the Year in 2002, #1 overall draft pick in 2003, TB MiL POY in 2004, Minor League POY in 2005. Turns 21 tomorrow.

Cons: Makeup. Was suspended for 50 games for throwing a bat at the home plate umpire following a called third strike while playing for the Durham Bulls of the International League. Poor plate discipline.

Comp: Tommy Davis, circa 1962-1963. Davis led the NL in batting average in back-to-back years at the age of 23 and 24. Similar speed and power. Young, however, has a much better arm than the former Dodger. Among current players, Young profiles somewhere between Jeff Francoeur and Vladimir Guerrero.

Outlook: Will be an All-Star as is. Improved plate discipline could spark talk of a Gary Sheffield-type HOF career.

High School: Anderson Highland (IN)
College: University of South Alabama
Drafted: Selected by MIN in 8th Round (242nd overall) in 2002 and by TOR in 3rd Round (83rd overall) in 2004

2006 STATS

     G  AB  R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB CS  AVG  OBP  SLG   OPS
AA  91 348 43 108  24   0  19   71  25  87   2  1 .310 .357 .543  .900
AAA 34 109 20  43   7   0   5   18  23  18   1  0 .394 .496 .596 1.093
MLB  7  21  3   9   4   0   1    4   2   4   0  0 .429 .478 .762 1.240

Pros: One of the best-hitting prospects in the TOR organization. Was named the Eastern League's MVP even though he spent the final month of the season with Syracuse (AAA). At the time of his promotion, he led the Eastern League with 19 HR, 71 RBI, 43 XBH, and a .543 SLG.

Cons: Defensively challenged.

Comp: Clint Hurdle. Among active players, downside is of a less athletic Todd Hollandsworth. Upside is Luis Gonzalez (sans 2001).

Outlook: Likely starting LF next year. Could hit .280-.300 with 15-20 (or more) HR by 2008.

High School: St. Raphael (RI)
College: University of North Carolina
Drafted: Selected by COL in 4th Round (110th overall) in 2004

2006 STATS

     G  AB  R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB CS  AVG  OBP  SLG   OPS
AA  44 156 38  50  10   2  11   26  24  26   1  0 .321 .418 .622 1.040
AAA 47 151 23  53  11   2   3   22  24  29   0  0 .351 .447 .510  .957
MLB  9  33  5   7   0   0   1    5   2   7   0  1 .212 .278 .303  .581

Pros: .300./400/.500 hitter with xlnt strike-zone judgment in college and the minors. Strong defensive skills. Positive intangibles. Hit the first HR of his MLB career on Tuesday.

Cons: Not much to complain about for a young catcher.

Comp: Russell Martin with less speed and slightly more power.

Outlook: The future is now. Has the potential to become the best catcher in COL history.