Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
C, TEX
Max is a professional hitter with a career .314/.414/.521 line in the minors. He's athletic enough to play first, third or even the outfield, but his size and skill set is still best-suited to receiving, where he has a good arm and has proven to be a reliable game-caller. He should get at least a few looks in 2010, but his real future is in 2011 and beyond.
More Scouting Book Info on Max Ramirez >
101
RHP, STL
The Cardinals' minor league pitcher of the year, righthander Michael (Lance) Lynn is a 6-6, 260lb monster out of U Mississippi who frustrates opposing hitters with a hard sinker mixed with an effective change and curve. More of a smart, pitchability type than a power pitcher, Lynn exhibits plus command of all his pitches and has shown a knack for keeping hitters off balance. If he can hold up to the workloads of pro ball, he could be a real innings eater for the Cardinals in a year or two.
More Scouting Book Info on Lance Lynn >
102
RHP, LAD
The Dodgers' first round pick in 2007, righty Chris Withrow went 8-8 over 22 starts in 2009, split between high A Inland Empire and AA Chattanooga. With 131 strikeouts in 114 innings, he's looking like a power pitcher, and that's exactly what the Dodgers are looking for, here. His fastball lives around 93 but can hit 98 with good movement. His improving curve is a strikeout pitch, an 11-5 hammer that he's comfortable throwing in almost any count. A middle-rotation candidate who's already showing superior makeup, Withrow could move quickly, especially if the Dodgers suffer injuries in 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Chris Withrow >
103
OF, BOS
Boston's ninth-round pickup in the 2007 first-year player draft, Ryan Kalish is a toolsy outfielder from New Jersey who projects as a good leadoff or top-of-order hitter once he develops a bit more. If he enters the a Boston lineup that looks like the current one, of course, that'd mean he'd be more likely be hitting seventh or eighth, so his current value is limited without a trade to a team more desperate for OF help.
More Scouting Book Info on Ryan Kalish >
104
LHP, FLA
A tall and lanky power pitcher in the Jon Lester mold, Chad James was a first round selection who signed with the Marlins in 2009. In addition to moving fastball that he commands well, James has a fantastic (if erratic) curve and a developing change that will dictate his future as he matures. He signed too late to sample pro ball in 2009, but he'll be a bright dot to follow on the radar in 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Chad James >
105
RHP, CHC
If any prospect ever needed a nickname, it's Cubs righthander Chris J. Carpenter, one of the fastest-rising pitching prospects in baseball and part of a prospect resurgence in Chicago. A big power arm out of Kent State, Carpenter's early Tommy John surgery kept him in the shadows for awhile, and left him dangling until the Draft's third round. He's fully recovered now, and looking like a premium arm again. Carpenter, who we're now calling CJ, opened 2009 at A-level Peoria, going 4-3 with a 2.44 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, before being promoted to high-A Daytona. At the higher level, CJ went 2-1 with a 1.44 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in five starts, which was enough to punch another ticket, this time to AA Tennessee. In 27 combined starts at all three levels, he struck out 118 batters while walking only 52. While he's likely to spend all of 2010 in AA, CJ will probably get his first taste of MLB by September.
More Scouting Book Info on Chris Carpenter >
106
SS, NYM
It must be frustrating to be a shortstop prospect in the Mets system. Wilmer Flores probably keeps his bags packed full-time. Lucky for him, he's likely to grow out of shortstop and into a third-baseman soon. Which is also a problem in New York. Well, at the rate his very-young body is still developing, Flores could end up at first base or even left field by the time he's ready for Citi Field. The youngster was ranked 12th in the Appy League in 2008 with an. 842 OPS... as a 6-foot-3 17 year old. He has a high ceiling but also a long road. He's a guy to keep an eye on for the next four or five years, though, to see if the skills can keep pace with the raw athleticism.
More Scouting Book Info on Wilmer Flores >
107
3B, SEA
Seattle's always been one of the most aggressive clubs when it comes to international signings, and they continued that tradition by signing Italian infielder Alex Liddi in 2005. Two years after his .303 debut in Rookie ball, Liddi slashed .345/.411/.594 at high-A, high-altitude High Desert in 2009, adding 23 homers and 44 doubles to that MiLB batting title performance. Even if you adjust that line for the offensive boost that High Desert tends to provide, he still had a standout season, and his MVP trophy was well-earned. His validity as a productive bat will be tested in 2010 at AA West Tennessee, which shouldn't be quite as forgiving of his long swing or impatience at the plate. If he can come through that crucible still looking like a top prospect, he should be serving in Seattle by 2012.
More Scouting Book Info on Alex Liddi >
108
3B, ARZ
A switch-hitting third baseman with line-to-line power, Borchering has been drawing Chipper Jones comparisons since high school. He's the hot corner dealer of the future in Arizona. A late signee, he didn't get much of a look at pro pitching in 2009, so 2010 will be his first real test.
More Scouting Book Info on Bobby Borchering >
109
SS, BOS
A young Cuban superstar, Inglesias signed with Boston for $8M in the summer of 2009. He might just be the long-term answer that Fenway's faithful have been seeking at shortstop ever since Nomah left the building. Inglesias's fielding has been described as 'Ozzie Smith-style slick', already meriting a perfect 80 on the scouting scale. His speed is at least above-average and close to a real plus tool. His bat isn't there yet, but most scouts feel he can contribute as an everyday regular once he develops a bit more. At 5-10 and 180lbs, he won't be hitting many light poles, but with Dustin Pedroia around to provide pointers, he should be able to launch a few rockets now and again.
More Scouting Book Info on Jose Iglesias >
110
101. Max Ramirez
102. Lance Lynn
103. Chris Withrow
104. Ryan Kalish
105. Chad James
106. Chris Carpenter
107. Wilmer Flores
108. Alex Liddi
109. Bobby Borchering
101 to 110 of 445
