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.
More Scouting Book Info on Pedro Alvarez >
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, 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 >
12
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 >
13
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.
More Scouting Book Info on Jesus Montero >
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
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 >
19
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 >
20
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 >
21
RHP, ARZ
Jarrod Parker, one of the most highly-touted prospects in the 2007 draft, fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 9th overall pick, and they did not hesitate. While he's still young, he shows exceptional character and makeup, which means he may be destined for the big leagues sooner than most.
More Scouting Book Info on Jarrod Parker >
22
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 >
23
OF, OAK
A 6-6, 250lb monster back in high school, Taylor avoided an early draft by committing to Stanford. When he emerged from college, he was gobbled up by the Phillies in the same 5th round selection that netted them Ryan Howard six years earlier, and scouts see similar things in the two sluggers. After ditching his 'Stanford Swing' for a bigger and more wide open hammer, Taylor tore up the minors last year, slashing .361/.441/.554 at A-level Lakeland and .329/.380/.560 after a promotion to high-A Clearwater.
More Scouting Book Info on Michael Taylor >
24
LHP, CIN
A whisper-thin lefthander with a whiplike delivery that can touch 100mph, Cuban Aroldis Chapman is one of the highest-ceiling lefties in baseball today... and also one of the riskiest. Chapman went 6-7 with a 3.89 ERA in 2008 and 11-4 with a 4.03 ERA in 2009 as a starter in Cuba's National League, after working as Holguin's closer the year before. He finished second in the vote for the league's best left-handed pitcher in 2009.
More Scouting Book Info on Aroldis Chapman >
25
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 >
26
OF, SEA
A tall, sturdy Canadian, Saunders was a five-sport athlete in childhood and is a legitimate five-tool talent in the Seattle outfield. A natural center fielder with 20 home run potential and plus speed, he even touched 92mph as a sometime pitcher in high school. He'll be pushed fast, like all Seattle prospects seem to be, but unlike some that have fallen by the wayside, Saunders can probably handle the pressure and workload. He'll be fighting for an outfield spot in 2010's preseason, and might just win the job outright. Even if he falls short, he'll be on the speed dial for midseason.
More Scouting Book Info on Michael Saunders >
27
1B, OAK
Jack Cust, we hardly knew you. Chris Carter is an all-or-nothing, power hitting first baseman from Redwood City, California. One of the busload of prospects Oakland acquired from Arizona in the trade that sent Dan Haren to the desert, he's often confused with the other first base prospect named Chris Carter. Oakland's version is the bigger, stronger, younger and much more right-handed version.
More Scouting Book Info on Chris Carter >
28
SS, CHC
A darling prospect in the Cubs system, Dominican teenager Starlin Castro is seen by many scouts as Chicago's future franchise shortstop. He has a soft glove, strong arm and plus range, so he should stick at the position. Meanwhile, he has the bat control and discipline to hit near-.300 while slashing line drives to all fields. His speed is above-average, but like all aspects of his game, he needs a lot of practice and polish before he can really use it effectively. He's a couple of years away from Wrigley, but he's definitely a kid to keep an eye on.
More Scouting Book Info on Starlin Castro >
29
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 >
30
11. Pedro Alvarez
12. Alcides Escobar
13. Madison Bumgarner
14. Jesus Montero
15. Daniel Bard
16. Aaron Hicks
17. Wade Davis
18. Carlos Santana
20. Brett Wallace
22. Jarrod Parker
23. Domonic Brown
24. Michael Taylor
25. Aroldis Chapman
26. Austin Jackson
27. Michael Saunders
29. Starlin Castro
30. Mike Moustakas
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