Mike Piazza

Mike Piazza's bat is enough to get him to the Major Leagues, but it doesn't hurt to have connections. The godson of Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, Piazza is poised to take over behind the plate at the big league level. The 24-year-old catcher followed up his 29-homer season (the most by a Dodgers farmhand since 1985) at Class-AA Bakersfield in 1991 with a combined 23 homers at Class-AA San Antonio and Class-AAA Albuquerque in 1992. He was also the second-leading hitter above Class-A, trailing Oakland's Troy Neel by just one percentage point. Piazza's 89 RBI led all Dodgers minor leaguers. He was promoted the Major Leagues late in the season, and though he is already a capable receiver, his defensive skills should improve as a result of working with longtime Dodgers catcher Mike Scioscia. If not for Lasorda, Piazza probably wouldn't even be a catcher. Lasorda advised Piazza, who was originally a first baseman, that Piazza would make it to the Majors more quickly as a backstop, and the advice proved sound.