The minor league season starts today started a week ago. Much is made of the universal optimism the spring time brings for big league teams, but that optimism and intrigue also trickles down to the minor leagues. That is more true than ever this season, as Colorado has two top 30 overall prospects primed to make the leap to the big leagues in 2012.
Nolan Arenado and Drew Pomeranz are far from the only intriguing farmhands to begin the season, and information can be hard to find on lower publicized prospects at all, let alone in one place. In the past, Jack Etkin produced fantastic farm reports for Inside the Rockies. That website has been discontinued, and the best source for prospect news and coverage has disappeared, leaving quite the hole for prospect lovers. Purple Row doesn't have the sources or access to replace Etkin's valuable reports, but we do have the passion.
I set out to produce a farm preview to post for last Thursday. Due to technological difficulties, it took an extra week to post. After the jump, you'll find a free 6,500-word, 21-page, 2-megabyte PDF with 36 prospect capsules...complete with stats, rosters, ballpark dimensions, park factors, coaching staffs, prospect lists and team summaries. If you have a tiny itch to follow the farm or you are part of the team that listens to each minor league game, give it a download.