The Sky Sox (3-0) host the Reno Aces (1-2) in a four-game series that starts Monday at 6:05 p.m. The Aces, the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, are in their first season in Reno after 11 years as the Tucson Sidewinders.

PROSPECTS TO WATCHCesar Valdez, RHPNamed the Diamondbacks 2008 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Valdez is rated by Baseball America as the organization’s No. 7 overall prospect. Valdez, 24, won 13 games in stops at High A and Double A last year and is known as a strike-thrower whose greatest asset is his ability to change speeds.

Josh Whitesell, 1BOne of the Pacific Coast League’s top sluggers last year with 26 home runs, the 6-foot-3, 220 pound Whitesell has shown the ability to hit for a high average to go along with his power. At 27, he’s a bit old to be considered a top prospect, but he will likely help the Diamondbacks as at least a bat off the bench sometime soon.

Tony Barnette, RHPWon 11 games at Double A last year after skipping a level in his progression. Posted a solid 133-42 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 154 innings. Just 25, he projects as a No. 4 or No. 5 starter as early as late this season.

OTHER NAMES YOU MAY KNOWBrett Butler, co-managerFormer All-Star is No. 24 on the all-time stolen base chart, but really gained notoriety late in his career when he beat throat cancer and became a crusader against chewing tobacco.

Ruben Gotay, 2BVeteran of 316 major-league games with three teams. Best year came in 2007 when he hit .295 in 98 games with the Mets.

Seth Etherton, RHPWent 5-1 in 11 starts as a rookie with the Angels in 2000. Has started just 12 major league games since.

Reno Aces second baseman Ruben Gotay hit .295 in 98 games with the Mets in 2007. Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS