Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
OF, MIN
A legitimate 5-tool prospect who the Twins should have the patience to develop, this is an Adam Jones / Carlos Gomez type prospect who's just a year or two behind that curve. Still very young, he needs seasoning, as his skills haven't yet caught up to his raw ability. Of course, the great Twins development machinery should take care of that, and we know they're not afraid to play the youngsters. While he's not a household name just yet, he could very well be making headlines as the new hot thing in Minnesota come 2010 or 2011, and he could be the best player on the Twins roster (yes, we mean that) by 2012.
More Scouting Book Info on Aaron Hicks >
11
SS, MLW
The Brewer's top everyday prospect, shortstop Alcides Escobar shows plus speed and range, and has demonstrated a very strong throwing arm. His bat has always been iffy, but that's been improving quickly, and he looks to have a future as a solid impact hitter with real leadoff speed. With JJ Hardy out of the way, it looks like he'll have to stumble hard in order to miss the 2010 everyday roster.
More Scouting Book Info on Alcides Escobar >
12
LHP, BAL
One of the best left-handers available in the 2008 draft, Matusz is an experienced and clever strongman with four quality pitches. His fastball isn't overpowering, though, and his numbers showed some decline last season, so he won't be having a big impact on Baltimore's rotation anytime soon. It'll be fun watching his use his guile along with his stuff to go after better pro hitters, though. As a polished college candidate, his secondary pitches are very advanced for a prospect, and he should be one of the next Baltimore pitchers to break into MLB, probably this season.
More Scouting Book Info on Brian Matusz >
13
OF, SEA
A scout's wet dream, Dustin Ackley was one of the best college hitters of the 2009 class. After destroying ACC pitching as a freshman, he was taken second overall by the Seattle Mariners. While his speed and toolset might bump him up to the outfield, he's also competent at third as well as first base, a position he played in college while recovering from surgery for a full season, and the Mariners have recently experimented with playing him at second base in order to balance out their outfield-heavy farm. His defense won't make much difference, though, as it's his combination of plus contact and patience that's worth drooling about. He could replace Ichiro as Seattle's on-base machine in a few years.
More Scouting Book Info on Dustin Ackley >
14
RHP, BOS
Boston decided to push their phenom reliever hard last year, promoting him all the way to AA in his second pro season. Bard responded to the higher level play by striking out 64 hitters in 49 innings. His K/9 across the year was twelve and a half.
More Scouting Book Info on Daniel Bard >
15
RHP, TB
Jacob McGee's old rotation partner in the Midwest League, righthander Wade Davis might end up the more successful MLB player. And since Tampa runs its team on young pitchers, good luck and gasoline fumes, he's bound to get a shot sometime in 2010, though probably only in a limited way. We like him as a starter, but some may prefer the fastball in the pen, especially after how effective David Price was in a limited relief role last year before 'graduating' to the rotation the following season. Right now, Davis might have the highest upside of any pitcher not named Strasburg.
More Scouting Book Info on Wade Davis >
16
3B, KC
The prodigy of Chatsworth high-school was drafted as a shortstop in the first round of the 2007 amateur draft by Kansas City. Now a line-drive hitting third-baseman, Moose hit 16 homers as a 20 year old in the Carolina League in 2009. He's a bit blocked in KC, since they're stacked in young bats and already have premium rookie Alex Gordon at third, so look for him to arrive sometime in 2011, unless the Royals open up space by trading some of their other heralded prospects sooner than that.
More Scouting Book Info on Mike Moustakas >
17
C, CLE
When he was shipped to Cleveland as a piece in the Casey Blake trade of 2008, catcher Carlos Santana immediately became the Indians' top catching prospect, and the heir apparent to the Victor Martinez / Kelly Shoppach tandem. Well-regarded as a catch-and-throw man in the Dodger system, he busted out offensively last year, hitting .330 in a season split between the Dodgers' and Indians' high-A teams, and swatting 20 home runs in the process. The switch-hitting catcher with the musical name will open 2010 back in AA, where he'll likely be asked to keep sharpening his receiving and game-calling skills before he gets a shot at the Jake. He might get a late-season look in 2010 as a fill-in DH, though.
More Scouting Book Info on Carlos Santana >
18
RHP, BOS
The big, strong shortstop who also pitches has become the big, strong pitcher who used to play short. Young Casey Kelly is already 6-3 and 200lbs, with more size and strength to come as he fills out, and now that he's a full time mound monster, he can put all of that strength into his fastball.
More Scouting Book Info on Casey Kelly >
19
OF, DET
A young, toolsy prospect who's frustrated scouts by showing only flashes of his tremendous potential, Jackson looks to be the center-fielder of the very near future in Detroit.
More Scouting Book Info on Austin Jackson >
20
11. Aaron Hicks
12. Alcides Escobar
13. Brian Matusz
14. Dustin Ackley
15. Daniel Bard
16. Wade Davis
17. Mike Moustakas
18. Carlos Santana
20. Austin Jackson
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