Liddi, who will turn 23 on Sunday, is attempting to become the first Italian born major leaguer since 1962. His power bat is doing the talking in AAA where he’s hitting .261 with 29 doubles, 25 homers, 88 RBI and a .501 slugging percentage. Standing at 6’4 230, he’s a big man with legit pop to right and right center field, but staying within an all-fields approach has been a trying task. His swing has exploitable holes and pitch recognition is not a strength. Liddi has struck out 143 times in 459 AB and is batting just .158 when behind in the count (as opposed to .328 when the count is in his favor). He’s been white hot since the calendar flipped to August, posting a .349/5/13 stat line over a ten-game span, including a three-homer game on August 4th. While he hasn’t displayed any regression in production from his 2010 in AA to AAA, the final hurdle to the big show will assuredly be more complicated. A long swing and inability to make swing adjustments is not a recipe for solid at bats. The Mariners envision him at 3B long term, but the organization is currently giving fellow prospect Kyle Seager a shot to impress, albeit, he is failing to do so. Keep an eye out in September.


Neftali Soto, 1B Cincinnati Reds

Defensive liabilities pushed Soto off a reasonably open position (3B) and into a first base blockade behind Joey Votto and Yonder Alonso. Nevertheless, he continues to thoroughly impress with his  stick in the AA Southern League. The 22-year old is batting .268 with 25 HR, 61 RBI and a .586 SLG%. After leaving the yard only ten times in the season's opening three months, he launched ten homers in July alone, and already has five in 31 August at bats. However, as his power continues to develop, his willingness to accept a free pass is deteriorating. Soto has drawn a paltry 20 BB against 75 K, and subsequently his batting average is well below his vast capabilities. He hit .300+ in his first two minor league stops, but as his body continues to mature he's getting suckered into a fool's gold, trigger-happy approach. With that said, it's important to remember that this is his first season above A ball and that his approach is still very much a work in progress. Soto has a bright offensive future with rare explosion thru the hitting zone, but if he breaks through at 1B it will be for a different organization. 

Selected 25th overall in the 2010 draft, the Arkansas product’s natural hitting ability was never in question. The 22-year old has performed admirably in his first full professional season, posting a .318/8 HR/25 doubles/55 RBI stat line between the Advanced A FSL and AA Texas League. His step up in class has not been without hiccups, however, hitting below the Mendoza line in June before rebounding with a .380 July (.455 thus far in August). Cox is mechanically sound at the dish, with a short, quick stroke utilizing his strong lower half. His power is predominantly the gap variety at this point, but consistent square contact is a trademark. He hangs in well against left-handed pitching and his style lends itself to quick adjustments at the ML level. Despite mediocre athleticism at the hot corner, he is the Cardinals future at third base, perhaps as soon as 2012. Current 3B, David Freese, is a free agent at season’s end. If Cox finishes 2011 strong and hits during spring training, he could break camp with the squad.

Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com

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(February 23, 2011 – Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images North America)