Ryan D. asks: I played baseball with Dan Johnson, the first baseman for Oakland's Double-A Midland team, growing up in Blaine, Minn. I was wondering what your thoughts were on his future and his career. He has by far the best numbers of any of the Minnesota kids, including Michael Restovich. He's always been a great hitter, but sometimes his fielding hasn't been his strong point. Is that holding him back from reaching the majors?

Johnson was drafted in the seventh round in 2001, out of the University of Nebraska. A left-handed slugger, Johnson has impressive power, and puts on a show in batting practice. He hit .293 with 21 homers last year in the Class A California League, and has maintained good production this year for Midland in the Texas League.

Johnson is currently hitting .295 with a .358 OBP and a .528 SLG, maintaining his production against more advanced pitching. Some scouts say he has a long swing, and it's uncertain how well he'll hold up against left-handed pitching at higher levels. But he destroys cripple pitches, and so far he hasn't found a level of pro ball that he can't handle.

You're right about Johnson's defense: his glove at first base is average at best, and his eventual long-term position may be DH. He has a good work ethic, and his strike zone judgment is decent.

I'm not sure where Johnson fits in the long run for Oakland. The front office likes him, and he's certainly done nothing but bash the ball as a pro. But his defensive limitations may make it hard to open up a spot for him.

Josh writes: While very weak in the past, the Brewers' farm system seems to be starting to turn things around. Most of their prospects are currently at Huntsville (Double-A) and I was wondering what kind of timeline the Brewers should take with the group. In previous years, the Brewers have promoted many of their prospects late in the year up one level so they could get their feet wet and be more comfortable starting the next year. There is talk that they might keep the group at Double-A together to try to win a championship.

As a general rule do you like this approach, or would you like to see prospects have a chance to play some games at a higher level to prepare for the next season?

The Brewers farm system is looking better these days, and things are going well in Huntsville. The team is 56-42 overall in the Southern League, and is a half-game back in the second-half pennant chase. Best of all, they are doing it with actual prospects, rather than retreads or veteran minor leaguers.

The offense is led by shortstop J.J. Hardy (.295, 10 homers, 20 doubles), third baseman Corey Hart (.292, 25 doubles, nine homers, 18 steals), and outfielder Dave Krynzel (.307, 39 walks, 34 steals). All three are fine prospects, with Hardy being the class of the group.

Top pitchers in the rotation include Mike Jones (2.47 ERA), Pedro Liriano (3.22 ERA), and lefty Luis Martinez (2.58 ERA, 116 strikeouts in 115 innings). All are good prospects. Starters Ben Diggins and Ben Hendrickson are also prospects, but have missed time to injury. The bullpen is strong, featuring Mike Adams (3.44 ERA, nine saves), Matt Childers (3.03 ERA, eight saves), Ryan Miller (3.38 ERA, 67 strikeouts in 67 innings), Matt Parker (2.84 ERA, six saves, and Ken Ray (2.86 ERA). None of the relievers are super prospects, but all could be interesting middle relievers down the road.

The Brewers are sunk for this year, so there is no immediate pressure to move these guys up. If I were running the system, I think I'd leave this core together and try to win a pennant. If the team was doing badly, then you could think about moving people up on an individual basis, but I think it's healthy for players to learn to win together. The Twins did this with their prospects in the late '90s, and it seemed to work pretty well. We could see some of these Huntsville guys in the Show late in September once the minor league season is over, and any of them could appear in the majors sometime next year.

Milwaukee's farm system is improving, and this Huntsville group is just the first wave.

Terry T. asks: I was looking over some minor league numbers, and I noticed this guy in the Expos system. His name is Terrmel Sledge, and he's ripping up the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. But the Expos haven't promoted him. What's up with this guy?

I've had my eye on Sledge for some time. He was originally in the Mariners system, an eighth-round pick in 1999 out of Long Beach State. He hit .339 to win the California League batting title in 2000, then was traded to the Expos for Chris Widger. He had shoulder surgery in 2001, limiting him to first base, and he hit just .277 with nine homers in Double-A that year. But, fully healed, he returned to the outfield last year, hitting .301 with a .401 OBP in Double-A. Promoted to Triple-A for 2003, he's continued to rake, and is currently at .328 with a .415 OBP and a .531 SLG at Edmonton.

There is some Pacific Coast League stat inflation going on there, but I think Sledge is for real. I thought he was an impressive player in college, and he's hit over .300 every year in pro ball except for his injury season. He has good plate discipline, controls the strike zone, has gap power, and runs well. He is fundamentally sound and works hard. His main weakness is lack of arm strength, but he has good range and plays defense well in all other ways. Sledge is 26, but has done everything asked of him in the minor leagues. He deserves a shot in the Show, and he deserves it soon.

A Mets fan writes: I see in Matthew Peterson and Scott Kazmir the Mets have not one, but two potential aces. Of these two who has the higher upside? Kazmir has gotten a lot of attention, but I know absolutely nothing about Peterson. Can you tell me something about him?

I've discussed Kazmir before. He has a tremendous power lefty arm, and is the crown jewel of the Mets farm system. He currently has a 105/28 K/BB ratio in 76 innings for Class A Columbia, and is likely to be a Top 20 prospect by the end of the year, if not a Top 10.

Peterson is also a solid prospect, though not quite in Kazmir's class. A second-round pick in 2000 out of high school in Alexandria, Louisiana, Peterson is a big 6-5 right-hander. He has a 90-93 mph fastball and a good curve. He fanned 153 in 138 innings at Columbia last year, an excellent ratio. This season, he is 7-2 with a 1.73 ERA in 73 innings for Class A St. Lucie in the Florida State League. His ratios are solid: 65/20 K/BB with 56 hits allowed.

The year did not begin well for Peterson: he strained his rotator cuff in his first start, and ended up missing the rest of April and part of May. He is back on the mound now, and obviously pitching effectively. If he remains healthy, he projects as a No. 2 starter at the major league level. I pegged him as a sleeper in my book this year, so I think there is a lot to like here. Let's just hope he can stay away from the doctors.

John Sickels is the author of the 2003 Baseball Prospect Book, which can be ordered from his Web site, JohnSickels.com. His biography of Bob Feller will be published this fall by Brassey's. He lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with his wife, son, and two cats. You can send John questions or comments at JASickels@aol.com.