Nickels' top picks, such as Mike Mussina, Ben McDonald, Gregg Olson, Jeffrey Hammonds and Mark Smith, were not deemed enough. The rebuilding from the draft hit a crescendo last year when the Orioles had extra high picks as compensation for free agents lost. Speedy, power-hitting outfielders Keith Reed and Larry Bigbie came from that draft and look good so far as pros. Other advancing prospects of quality are outfielder Ntema Ndungidi, an emerging talent who is a native of the Congo, and Tim Raines Jr., who plays like his dad did. Stalled but hopeful are outfielder Rick Elder and catcher Jayson Werth.
Elder is a power hitter who was a first rounder and has been sidelined all year by surgery.
Aug. 3 was a day for pitching with a perfect game in the Class A Midwest League and no-hitter in the AA Southern League. Dunn is 10-2 this season. He struck out 16 and walked two . He's batting .309 with 17 HRs and 78 RBI in 111 games. The Mets kept their core prospects intact at the trading deadline.