Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
RHP, CIN
A two way player who can turn in above average range and defense in the outfield, Arizona righthander Mike Leake is more appealing to MLB scouts as a pitcher. While he lacks a classic plus pitch, he has four above-average ones, which is remarkable in such a young player, and the baseball smarts to infuriate batters. Some scouts see Leake as too small-bodied for 220-inning seasons, but ever since the rise of Tim Lincecum, smaller pitchers have been getting the benefit of the doubt. The Reds will likely develop Leake as a starter until something changes their mind.
More Scouting Book Info on Mike Leake >
11
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.
More Scouting Book Info on Madison Bumgarner >
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
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 >
14
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.
More Scouting Book Info on Pedro Alvarez >
15
RHP, ATL
A rake-thin Colombian being slow-cooked in the Braves pitchin' kitchen, righthander Julio Teheran combines a plus fastball and change with two different breaking balls and flashes of great control. He's still very young, and being called 'the best Latin American pitcher since Felix Hernandez' is a lot of pressure to handle, but he's in the best possible system to nurture his development while also containing his ego. He's been a bit jammed in a system ripe with strong pitching prospects, but if he continues to develop at his current accelerated pace, he's going to force his way onto the big league roster before 2011 is finished. The best-case scenario shows him taking over as Atlanta's ace by the end of 2012.
More Scouting Book Info on Julio Teheran >
16
RHP, WAS
One of the best college pitchers of any class in memory, righthander Stephen Strasburg mixes a high-90's (and low-100's) fastball with a highly-effective slider/curve for a devastating 1-2 punch. He wasn't a strikeout pitcher early in his college career, instead focusing on pitching to contact, but his K rate has been rising steadily since 2007. A few experts are concerned about his delivery, but it's important to take that with a big grain of salt: there was also a choir united about Mark Prior's 'perfect' mechanics, once, too.
More Scouting Book Info on Stephen Strasburg >
17
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 >
18
OF, PHI
Once the best raw talent in the Phillies system, centerfielder Domonic (sic) Brown draws comparisons to a young Grady Sizemore due to his tall, lanky frame, good speed, plus discipline and strong left arm. He's increased his OBP, K:BB ratio and stolen base success rate at each of his three minor league stops to date (including a .346/.456/.802 line in his first taste of AA ball in 2009), which means his ceiling isn't yet known. He's young, hasn't shown any real power yet, and won't be a factor for a couple more years, but he's one of the best outfield prospects the Phillies have right now, and he could be a future all-star.
More Scouting Book Info on Domonic Brown >
19
LHP, TEX
An undrafted free agent signing from Venezuela, teenage lefty Martin Perez might be one of the Rangers' best-kept secrets. He's not close to MLB yet, but Perez is already a shining star worth following. Making 15 short starts (only 62 innings) at Rookie-level Spokane, Martin went 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA and a 53:28 ratio of strikeouts to walks. The skinny 17 year old, who's breaking down doors with a plus 92mph fastball and a polished curve, turns into a wiry 18 year old this spring, and he should graduate from dazzling rookie league hitters to stumping A-ball hitters in Hickory. He's someone to keep a special eye on over the next few years.
More Scouting Book Info on Martin Perez >
20
11. Mike Leake
12. Madison Bumgarner
13. Brian Matusz
14. Wade Davis
15. Pedro Alvarez
16. Julio Teheran
17. Stephen Strasburg
19. Domonic Brown
20. Martin Perez
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