Baseball's Top Prospects for 2009
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
C, TEX
How many hot young catchers does one team need? Ramirez, recently of the Braves and Indians, is one of many MLB-capable young catchers in the Texas system. He's a professional hitter, and has been a consistent offensive threat for three years in a row in the minors, not to mention 46 big-leage at-bats last season. A career .314/.414/.521 hitter in the minors, Ramirez is athletic enough to play first, third or even the outfield, but his size and skill set is still best-suited to receiving, where he has a good arm and has proven to be a reliable game-caller. While being a Texas catcher means always waiting for a trade to land on your head, Ramirez could be in line to spend significant time in the big leagues this year... somewhere.
More Scouting Book Info on Max Ramirez >
121
RHP, SF
A mature prospect, longtime farmhand Romo wound up as the Giants' best setup man down the stretch in 2009, but you'll be forgiven if you stopped watching the Giants in June. Working with a (very) low 90's fastball and plus control, Romo also varies his touch and release points to produce a near-infinite selection of off-speed pitches, at least one of which seems to break like a slow slider. Despite an offseason of rebuilding, he remains the most-trustworthy arm in the bullpen should mercurial closer Brian Wilson falter.
More Scouting Book Info on Sergio Romo >
122
RHP, CLE
Miller, formerly known as 'Mr. 101' stemming from a late-season velocity reading before an arm injury in 2004, has dialed down his fastball since his teenage years, but still hits the mid nineties, working his two-seam fastball down, down, and down in the zone. His slider is one of the best in the minors, while his change is also above average.
More Scouting Book Info on Adam Miller >
123
RHP, STL
By repositioning this promising young catcher after a thumb injury cut short his 2005 season, St. Louis has found a new way to put Jason Motte's strong right arm to use. Motte is one of a handful of promising Cardinal relievers who could compete for eighth and ninth inning duties. His heat, heat and more heat approach seems especially suited to short work, though its possible that clever sluggers could sit on his fastball and hit it a long, long, long way from time to time.
More Scouting Book Info on Jason Motte >
124
RHP, SD
Everyone who sees the kid loves his makeup, and while the pitching staff in Milwaukee could have used the boost, they were so confident in their other options that they sent him to the Padres without hesitation. While this pushes him down on the depth chart a bit, it also brings him into the realm of an organization known for pitching development, and a better pitcher's park, should he make the majors soon.
More Scouting Book Info on Will Inman >
125
LHP, PHI
Drafted by the Phillies in the first round of the 2007 Draft and signed with a $1.4M gift basket, Savery made 24 starts for high-A Clearwater in 2008. His line wasn't impressive (9-10, 4.13 ERA) but he did strike out 122 in 150 innings. His control was iffy (he walked 60) just as it was during his college career, but his composure and command were good. Assuming he avoids serious injury and refines his control a bit, he could join the pitching-thin Phillies rotation as early as 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Joe Savery >
126
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 last year (.332/.402/.494 with 13 homers and 38 doubles), so he'll need to find some bigger boys to play with soon. 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 look in the bigs as early as September 2009, but 2010 looks better right now.
More Scouting Book Info on Logan Morrison >
127
LHP , WAS
A smart control lefty with a 91mph fastball and better than average change, McGeary is committed to Stanford through 2010, but he's already signed with Washington and will continue to work in their minor league system whenever classes are out. McGeary won't overpower anyone, but he has shown advanced, Glavine-like command of his pitches and can add and subtract with professional acumen. He's a tasty tease to debut in the Washington rotation come 2011.
More Scouting Book Info on Jack McGeary >
128
2B , COL
A small, fast, potent hitter who looks every inch his father, Eric Young Jr. is even lined up take over second base in Colorado, a position his father inaugurated for the expansion Rockies franchise. A very fast and smart base-stealer, Young led all minor leaguers with 87 steals in 2006, and that's in only 128 games. He needs to get on base more to make that speed work, and since his patience at the plate has been improving, he's probably ready for a test at the next level. He'll open 2009 in AAA, ready to move to Colorado at a moment's notice. The Rockies have him working in the outfield as well as second to maximize his chances.
More Scouting Book Info on Eric Young Jr. >
129
LHP, CHW
A late first round pick in 2007 out of the University of San Francisco, lefty Aaron Poreda projects as a middle-of-rotation innings-eater. The big, 240-pound hurler brings one of the best fastballs in the minors (up to 97mph and sinking) with an improving slider that may grow to be his best pitch if he can learn to control it more effectively.
More Scouting Book Info on Aaron Poreda >
130
121. Max Ramirez
122. Sergio Romo
123. Adam Miller
124. Jason Motte
125. Will Inman
126. Joe Savery
127. Logan Morrison
128. Jack McGeary
129. Eric Young Jr.
130. Aaron Poreda
121 to 130 of 393
