Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
3B, PIT
A left-handed power hitting third baseman, Alvarez has a very very high ceiling and is almost big-league ready. He could be a big part of a devastating future Pittsburgh lineup. He's now fully-recovered from a hamate bone he broke in 2007; all reports are positive. An offensive sleeper for 2010, depending on how deeply the Pirates shake up their roster, and likely to be playing every day by 2011.
More Scouting Book Info on Pedro Alvarez >
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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, and he looks to have a future as a leadoff with plus speed. With JJ Hardy out of the way, in fact, it looks like he'll have to stumble hard in order to miss the 2010 everyday roster.
More Scouting Book Info on Alcides Escobar >
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LHP, SF
Such a name. Such a talent. A tall, strong lefthander, Bumgarner is the Giant pitcher most ready to follow Cain and Lincecum to glory by the Bay. A fireballer with decent control, Bumgarner's been clocked as high as 96mph, though he struggled to break 90 in his taste of MLB ball last season. His breaking pitches are not as well-developed as that fastball, but they're coming along. A flame-throwing lefty like this is worth the time and investment, so while he should get some more MLB work in 2010, Giant fans should try to be patient while looking to 2011 as the timeframe for his arrival as a significant cog in the rebuilt Giant machine.
More Scouting Book Info on Madison Bumgarner >
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C, NYY
The Yankees are committed to Jorge Posada for another couple of years, but after that they're hoping that a fast-growing rookie can take over their young pitching staff... assuming he doesn't outgrow the position altogether. Universally regarded as the best available international free agent, Jesus Montero was signed in the summer of 2006, instantly becoming New York's best catching prospect. While some want to see him move to first base or a corner outfield spot, the Yankees are so far committed to continuing his development as a catcher and are continuing to develop his receiving and game-calling ability with that in mind. At 6-4 and 230 (and still growing), Montero's definitely got the muscle for New Yankee Stadium. According to a Yankee scout, Montero 'looked like Travis Hafner already, at age 16.' Most scouts peg his power rating as top of the scale, so it's only a matter of how long it'll take for the rest of his tools to develop. We're thinking 2012.
More Scouting Book Info on Jesus Montero >
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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. One more year of this, and Bard's 100mph fastball will be setting up Papelbon in Fenway. Two more years of this, and the very expensive Papelbon will be eligible for free agency. You do the math.
More Scouting Book Info on Daniel Bard >
15
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 >
16
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 >
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, TB
He was overshadowed by the more polished David Price in Tampa's minor league system, but the Rays' second best pitching prospect would be a clear number one in most organizations. A power righthander with three-pitch command from a deceptive 3/4 delivery, he has been a strikeout pitcher at all stops, most recently racking up 162 of them in 148 innings last year. A real sleeper in deep leagues, Hellickson is the sort of pitcher who can set a league on fire, especially his first time through. His workload last year is a bit of a worry, however, as it was more than double his previous best effort. If Tampa can show patience with Hellickson, he could be a top-flight pitcher, but the risk of a setback is high in a system famous for pushing its young arms very hard.
More Scouting Book Info on Jeremy Hellickson >
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3B, TOR
One of the most-traded young bats in the minors, Brett Wallace is a power hitter who's already been the third baseman of the future for the Cardinals and Athletics. Now he's a Blue Jay, and one good thing about that is that he's likely to get a shot sooner in Toronto. A nominal third baseman with slow feet, most scouts seem to think he'll need to be moved to first base sooner rather than later, but the A's certainly wouldn't mind a slugger at that corner, either. Some saw Wallace's bat better than any other hitter in the 2008 draft. The way he sliced through the Midwest and Texas leagues last year, he won't be idling in the minors much longer. With little left in his way, his big lumber should be an everyday fixture in Toronto before the end of 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Brett Wallace >
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