Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
LHP, DET
The rare kind of power lefty who can hit the upper 90's, Tigers prospect Casey Crosby has been blossoming in the shadow of super-prospect Rick Porcello, who gets most of the attention. Crosby has a live curve and a developing change, but his command isn't ready for the majors just yet. If he sharpens it a bit, he could step in as a strong number two or three in the Tigers rotation. He has good mound presence, great baseball smarts and instincts, and the competitiveness to succeed.
More Scouting Book Info on Casey Crosby >
101
SS, LAD
Devaris ('Dee') Strange-Gordon is a shortstop with a bright future in the Dodger organization, and the likely heir apparent to a declining Rafael Furcal. After fighting off critics who first claimed he was riding his father's name (pitcher Tom Gordon) as well as those who claimed he was too small to be a major leaguer, Gordon has blossomed into one of LA's most promising prospects. A bundle of raw talent, he lacks the usual polish expected from a shortstop -- a move to the outfield is possible -- but his raw talent gives him a very very high ceiling. After hitting .301 and stealing 73 bases (!) in A ball during 2009, he seems to have the offensive potential to be a leadoff hitter, no matter whether it says 'shortstop' or 'center field' next to his name in the program. His likely arrival is sometime in 2011.
More Scouting Book Info on Devaris Gordon >
102
C, CHW
A Georgia native who many saw as the Braves catcher of the future, Tyler Flowers was part of the prospect package sent to Chicago to net veteran Javier Vazquez for the Braves in the winter of 2008. He shares a similar skill set, makeup and question marks as another ex-Braves catching prospect: Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
More Scouting Book Info on Tyler Flowers >
103
RHP, CLE
An alum of Marlins lefty Andrew Miller and Red Sox fireballer Daniel Bard, Alex White figures to be the next UNC ace to earn an MLB gig. A mid-90's fastball is his workaday pitch, but his slider is a real plus offering, and even his change is well-developed for such a young pitcher.
More Scouting Book Info on Alex White >
104
SS, ATL
A Dominican phenom who was hotly pursued by the Mariners and Yankees for several years, young Edward Salcedo finally signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Braves in the spring of 2010, more than making up for the team's absence of a first-round pick in the 2010 Draft. A big, strong infielder with soft hands and a very quick bat, Salcedo is currently a gap-to-gap line drive hitter, though his size and strength project out to significant power in the future, as scouts compare him without exaggeration to Hanley Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez. The (certified) 19 year old appears able to stick at shortstop, but even if he doesn't, his bat is so advanced that he'd remain a top prospect, even at third base or in right field. Atlanta should give Salcedo every chance to win the everyday shortstop job first, though, and he could see show-time as soon as 2011.
More Scouting Book Info on Edward Salcedo >
105
LHP, PHI
A scrawny Dominican lefthander who enhances his average stuff with good deception, Bastardo was almost a Phillies fill-in last season before shoulder problems ended his season early. A changeup specialist in the Jamie Moyer fashion, he could have success frustrating slower-handed NL hitters. With Kyle Drabek out of the way and only Phil Aumont to now contend with, he could break into the MLB club by midseason.
More Scouting Book Info on Antonio Bastardo >
106
3B, STL
The Cardinals' first pick of the 2010 Amateur Draft (25th overall), Arkansas' Zack Cox is a toolsy player with a high-end mix of baseball instincts and work ethic. He abandoned pitching to focus on hitting as a college freshman, and he hasn't looked back since. His bat speed is exceptional, and allowed him to turn on even the best heat in college ball while also letting him adjust to off-speed pitches with an ease seldom seen in NCAA. His contact rate isn't terrific, however, so he'll need to work on that if he's to be more than an all-power hitter. He's also a bit rough defensively, but he'll have time to mature as a pro player while waiting for his MLB career to begin.
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107
RHP, CLE
An under-the-radar phenom last year, Carrasco can't sneak past anyone now, and when the Indians went looking for a prospect haul in exchange for Cliff Lee, he was on top of their wish list. He's now one of baseball's top pitching prospects, and he's essentially ready for MLB today: he's already got three solid big-league ready pitches, he's shown durability and endurance needed to be a front-line starter, and he's got the brains to outsmart sluggers from outing to outing and at-bat to at-bat. The AL won't be easy on him, and he's bound to get lit up like a pinball machine at times, but if Cleveland gives the kid an early shot, expect some highlight-reel performances.
More Scouting Book Info on Carlos Carrasco >
108
3B, STL
A onetime Padre asset, current Cardinal prospect David Freese is a mature infielder with a compelling blend of speed, power and strike-zone discipline. He's not an all-star anything, but he's competent enough at every aspect of the game that he won't hurt you no matter where he plays on the field. A super-utility candidate.
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109
SS, BAL
A graduate of Team USA's championship squad, Miami's Manny Machado is a powerful well-rounded player who was recognized as one of baseball's best high-school shortstops in 2009. He hasn't have a lot of power yet, and there are questions about his speed, but he does have a solid-average bat and the sort of above-average footwork and soft hands that give him a decent chance of actually sticking at short. Like all shortstops from Miami, Machado is sometimes compared to Alex Rodriguez, though that might be stretching his upside more than a bit. So far he looks more like a future Yunel Escobar. He's very young and a very long way away from MLB, though, so there's plenty of time for a possible break out to a higher level.
More Scouting Book Info on Manny Machado >
110
101. Casey Crosby
102. Devaris Gordon
103. Tyler Flowers
104. Alex White
105. Edward Salcedo
106. Antonio Bastardo
107. Zack Cox
110. Manny Machado
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