09/13/1999

Vernon Wells was taken by the Blue Jays with the fifth overall pick in the
1997 draft. Higher-rated prospects were still available, and many draft
experts thought Toronto drafted Wells because it didn't expect any trouble in
signing him.

Two years later, Wells, 20, already is in the big leagues. He has established
himself as the premier high school player from the '97 draft and is
considered the top five-tool prospect drafted by the Blue Jays since Shawn
Green in '91. Wells started the season at Class A Dunedin, where he hit .343
with 16 doubles, 11 homers, 43 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 265 at-bats. He
has since blown through Class AA Knoxville (.340) and Class AAA Syracuse
(.310) and is the starting center fielder for the Blue Jays.

He was off to a slow start in the majors (.167 in 24 at-bats), but the team
has said his main responsibility this season is to play good defense. The
club didn't want to rush Wells, but injuries to Brian McRae forced the move.

Wells hit 20 homers in the minors this season, and the organization thinks
his power will develop more with maturity and weight training. He is
scheduled to play in the Arizona Fall League and will challenge Jose Cruz Jr.
for the starting center field job next season.

OTHER PROSPECTS


Player (Age), Organization        Class   Avg.    R

Lance Berkman (23), Astros          AAA   .323    42
                                 Majors   .218     9
Ben Broussard (22), Reds              A   .424    47
                                     AA   .209    24
Chin-Feng Chen (21), Dodgers          A   .316    98
Ruben Mateo (21), Rangers           AAA   .336    53
                                 Majors   .238    16
Darnell McDonald (20), Orioles        A   .266    81
Abraham Nunez (19), D-backs           A   .273   101
Corey Patterson (20), Cubs            A   .324    93
Julio Ramirez (22), Marlins          AA   .261    83

Player (Age), Organization       2B   3B   HR   RBI   SB

Lance Berkman (23), Astros       20    0    8    49    7
                                  1    0    4    12    5
Ben Broussard (22), Reds         15    3   16    54    1
                                  4    0    7    19    1
Chin-Feng Chen (21), Dodgers     22   10   31   123   31
Ruben Mateo (21), Rangers        12    0   18    62    6
                                  9    1    5    18    3
Darnell McDonald (20), Orioles   22    5    6    72   26
Abraham Nunez (19), D-backs      29    5   20    90   39
Corey Patterson (20), Cubs       33   16   20    79   33
Julio Ramirez (22), Marlins      30   10   11    58   64
(*) Alex Escobar (21), the Mets' top prospect, has been hurt most of the
season.3

COPYRIGHT 1999 Sporting News Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group