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
1B, FLA
One of the last draft-and follow picks in baseball, hulking Logan Morrison is a graduate of Albert Pujol's old community college in Missouri. With a quick inside-out swing and plus power. He destroyed high-A Jupiter in 2008 but stumbled a bit when faced with better pitching at AA Jacksonville in 2009 (.277/.411/.442). He's got reasonable speed, but his lack of glovely finesse and some limited mobility have him locked at first base for now. That's a shame since he has a cannon arm that will go to waste there: we'd prefer seeing him in right field. Either way, though, expect Florida's own Weapon X to get a long, long look in the bigs as early as 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Logan Morrison >
21
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 >
22
1B, CIN
In addition to having the best name in the 2008 draft class, Yonder Alonso is also one of the strongest power hitters of his generation, probably the premium 1B slugger in the minors right now. After he signed too late to play more than a few pro games in 2008, Alonso fans had to wait for Hawaiian winter ball to see his stuff. Alonso finished in the top ten in most offensive categories on the islands, and followed that up with a 2009 season that saw him reach as high as AA Carolina (an acceptable .295/.372/.457 in 29 games).
More Scouting Book Info on Yonder Alonso >
23
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 >
24
OF, LAA
A superior athlete with a centerfielder's speed and instincts, Mike Trout is being groomed for a future patrolling Torii Hunter's turf. The Angels are moving Trout slowly, simmering him in Rookie ball for 2009 (.418/.506/.924) with only a five game taste of low-A opposition. A patient hitter with a line drive stroke to all fields, he has a mature understanding of the strike zone and an ability to work it. His excellent speed and baserunning sense is ready right now, but his power is still a bit of a question mark. Of course, he's got high-in-the-order potential that might include leadoff ability even without big-fly potential, so he's a safe bet either way. He'll try to work his way up the A-ball ladder in 2010, with 2012-2013 looking like his best window of opportunity with the big club.
More Scouting Book Info on Mike Trout >
25
C, LAA
He's been on the radar for a couple of years now, but this year Angels catcher Hyun Choi 'Hank' Conger (we're assuming that 'Hammerin' Hyun Choi' did not exactly roll off the tongue) has officially arrived as an elite hitting prospect.
More Scouting Book Info on Hank Conger >
26
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 >
27
1B, SEA
Justin Smoak was a part of a 2008 draft class heavy on hard-hitting corner infielders, though he was a bit of an odd pick for Texas, considering how many 1B options the Rangers already had. A part of the deal to acquire Cliff Lee in the middle of 2010, Smoak became the long-term first base solution in Seattle immediately. With a smooth, easy swing and decent power, he should be able to anchor the Mariner lineup for years to come.
More Scouting Book Info on Justin Smoak >
28
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 >
29
3B, HOU
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 and Blue Jays. Now he's an Astro, and one good thing about that is that he's likely to get a shot sooner in the depleted Houston system. 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, and with the end of Lance Berkman, there's a very large opening for him there now. With little left in his way, his big lumber should be an everyday fixture in Houston before the end of 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Brett Wallace >
30
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
21. Logan Morrison
22. Austin Jackson
24. Daniel Bard
25. Mike Trout
28. Justin Smoak
29. Aaron Hicks
30. Brett Wallace
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