Potential is rampant at the start of the baseball season. Everything is possible, but nothing is realized. In honor of this chrysalis time, I will present The Complete Handbook of Baseball's Top Prospects of 1980. These prospects had eaten their way through the minor leagues and were deemed ready to enter a new stage (and to try to hit curveballs).

However, not all butterflies are truly free, so I compared the potential to the reality. Career stats are culled from baseball-reference.com.

Note that there were only 26 teams in 1980. They will be presented in alphabetical order over time, by division, American League teams first. Some teams had more than one prospect listed. Some personal info (i.e., birthdates, birthplaces, current hometowns) omitted.

Baltimore Orioles Top Prospects for 1980

Wayne Krenchicki, 25 years old, 6'1", 175 pounds. Bats left, throws right.
Perhaps the most versatile infielder in organized ball...Can play second, third or short, and also catch..."I think I can handle any position on a steady basis."...His .190 in 16 games with the Birds in '79...Impressed the top brass with his performance in spring training, but was sent to Rochester anyway because he had options left...Ideal No. 2 hitter with good eye and bat control.

Mark Corey, 24 years old, 6'2", 200 pounds. Bats right, throws right.
Hard-hitting outfielder, was Orioles' No. 2 pick in January, 1976 draft...Hit .400 at Bluefield in Appalachian League, his first season in pro ball—the first player to do so in that league since Tony Oliva in '61...Appeared briefly with Orioles in '79, batting .154...Led his league in batting, hits and total bases in each of his first two pro seasons.

Lenn Sakata, 26 years old, 5'9", 160 pounds. Bats right, throws right.
Hit .500 in four games with the Brewers in '79...Also spent parts of the 1977-78 seasons with club...Was Brewers' first round pick in secondary phase of January, 1975, draft...Began the 1978 season as the Brewers' regular second baseman against lefthanded pitching but lost job to Paul Molitor...Dealt to Orioles for John Flinn.

THE REALITY

Wayne Krenchicki played in the majors from 1979-1986 (8 seasons) for Baltimore, Cincinnati, Detroit and Montreal. Career: 550 games, .266 batting average, 15 home runs, 124 RBI. He's a manager now.

Mark Corey played in the majors from 1979-1981 (3 seasons) for Baltimore. Career: 59 games, .211 batting average, 1 home run, 13 RBI.

Lenn Sakata played in the majors from 1977-1987 (11 seasons) for Milwaukee, Baltimore, Oakland and the Yankees. Career: 565 games, .230 batting average, 25 home runs, 109 RBI. The native Hawaiian is a roving instructor for the Giants now.