Scouting Book: The Best Baseball Prospects for 2008 (Sleepers Too!)

Baseball Prospect Rankings for 2008

Scouting Book's Top Prospects list is different than other prospect lists: we're not in a bubble, and we never sit still. We show you not just our own rankings, but also rankings from some of the other major ranking lists for each player. You can now sort, for example, by Baseball America's rankings, or view the top prospects as chosen by the wizards at Baseball Prospectus, or compare our rankings to those from Sports Illustrated. Also, unlike most lists, we don't publish a book! Our lists are updated often during the offseason, and updated daily during the pre-season to show the latest situations and adjusted for spring results. This means we're always a work in progress. We also think this means our lists are much more useful for fantasy draft purposes. If you notice a mistake or have a suggestion feel free to let us know by mailing mistakes (at) our domain name. For more on our methods, see this blog entry.

Baseball's Top Prospects for Spring 2008

111. Ryan Sweeney

OF, OAK

One of Ozzie's favorite youngsters, Sweeney also showed off one of the sweetest left-handed swings since Griffey while making his debut in Chicago. Now that he's moving to a pitcher's park in Oakland, he'll need to use skills other than his power to succeed.

While he won't likely ever be more than average defensively in the field, a near-.300 average with power is not too much to expect in Sweeney's first full season.

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112. Pedro Alvarez

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 recovering from a hamate bone he broke in 2007, but all reports are positive so his strength should be back soon. An offensive sleeper for late 2009 and likely to be playing every day by 2010.

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113. Tyler Colvin

OF, CHC

The Cubs first round pick in 2006, Colvin has developed quickly, reaching AA in his first full season of pro ball. He has good speed and solid defense, which projects to be useful in Wrigley, and raw but developing power.

While he's still very young, and the plans have him in the minors for another year or two, it's possible that injuries or disappointments in Chicago could offer him an opportunity sooner. He's a great sleeper pick.

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SB #113 | BA #75 | BP unranked | ML #44 | SN #47 | ES unranked

114. Gerardo Parra

OF, ARZ

One of many Baby 'Backs yet to break into the Majors, the 20-year-old Parra is likely to open next season in high-A ball at Visalia.

Parra hit .320 in low-A South Bend last year with 24 steals in 32 attempts. He projects as a doubles hitter with gap power, and his speed combines with capable fielding to make him a useful full-time outfielder, though he may be better suited to a corner than center. If he adds power to his game, he'll be in Arizona soon. If not, he'll probably still get a chance late in the year, even if it's only as a bench player.

More Scouting Book Info on Gerardo Parra >

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SB #114 | BA #72 | BP #64 | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #82

115. Billy Rowell

3B, BAL

After a nasty 11-game hitless start last year, this pride of New Jersey somehow managed to slug .563 in his last 42 games while adding muscle and accelerating his swing even during the season. Scouts are all over the board on this one: some describe the next Barry Bonds, others caution that he may be the next Barry Bonds. Still, if he keeps moving up the system, the Orioles can't help but give him a shot in the near future... and hopefully he can stick.

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116. James McDonald

RHP, LAD

One of a bevy of talented young Dodger arms, McDonald cruised through high-A and double-A last year, splitting time between Inland Empire and Jacksonville. The wiry right-hander went 7-2 with a 1.71 at the higher level, striking out 64 and walking only 16 in ten starts thanks to his plus control.

There's some concern about his durability, and his build isn't one that looks able to carry 220 innings of work, but as a finesse pitcher with a killer curve ball, that might not matter. He's a nice option for the L.A. bullpen in the near future, with an outside shot at a rotation spot after that.

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117. Yasuhiko Yabuta

RHP, KC

Bobby Valentine's favorite setup man will move from the Chiba Lotte Marines to Major League Baseball in 2008. In Japan he excelled in the setup role, with a 2.73 ERA and 34 holds last season. He won the league's award for best middle-relief pitcher, which is an award that MLB should probably consider adding, if only to deflate the heads of a few 'closers' around the league.

Americans may remember Yabuta from the World Baseball Classic game against the US, when he was summoned into a tie game and struck out Alex Rodriguez to end the seventh inning. Returning in the eighth, he disposed of Chipper Jones on a dribbler, then struck out Derrek Lee and Johnny Damon to end the inning.

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118. Manny Parra

LHP, MLW

A broken thumb in September aborted what should have been Parra's major league debut, but he'll probably be given a chance to open 2008 with the MLB team. Parra made two starts and seven other appearances for the Brewers, posting a respectable 1.41 WHIP, before breaking his thumb on a botched bunt attempt.

The thumb was only the latest hardship for Parra, though, as the young lefty has been unable to avoid injury throughout his career, losing part of each of the previous three seasons to recurring shoulder woes.

Before his brief time with Milwaukee in '07, Parra put together an impressive minor league showing, posting a combined 2.45 ERA in 17 starts between Double- and Triple-A while avoiding the DL. He projects as a long-term starter, but the Brewers may prefer to use him in long or middle relief as they evaluate his durability and major-league smarts.

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SB #118 | BA n/a | BP #42 | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #41

119. Yonder Alonso

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 He's no great shakes with the glove, though, which means he's probably locked at first base. Why the Reds chose him in the draft, with Joey Votto just settling in for the next decade, is anyone's guess, but if he lives up to his history, Alonso will force his way onto the roster somehow, somewhere, very very soon.

More Scouting Book Info on Yonder Alonso >

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120. Desmond Jennings

OF, TB

A player that's been on our back-burner for a year now, Jennings has finally shown enough promise to break into our full-time watch list. Seen for a time as a raw talent that hadn't shown the polish or discipline to be mentioned along with other leading outfield prospects, Jennings impressed everyone last season with remarkable plate discipline in Columbus, and his .315 average means he deserves a spot on everyone's prospect-tracking board.

A multi-sport high school player, the big, strong and fast Jennings (45 steals in 2007) will be seen by many as the second coming of Carl Crawford, in a good way. One of the best OF talents in the Rays system, Jennings could be a serious offensive force if he continues to refine his game now that's focused on baseball. We'll be watching him closely this year. If he adds a little power to his profile, he'll in Tampa very, very soon.