Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
C, TOR
Until Travis D'Arnaud arrived, JP Arencibia looked like Toronto's clear-cut catcher of the future. Now that he has some competition, he'll need to step up his game to stay ahead.
More Scouting Book Info on J.P. Arencibia >
171
RHP, MIN
A tall, powerful strikeout artist, Guerra has been considered in both starting and bullpen roles for the last couple of years. He should be easy to lock up in the late rounds of a deep draft this year, but he promises to be much more attractive (and widely known) next year. With electric stuff but not much pro experience under his belt yet, Guerro could be one of those guys who blows through the league, Jared Weaver-like, at least once.
More Scouting Book Info on Deolis Guerra >
172
OF, SD
A slugger who many downgrade because of his less-than-giant proportions, the small but mighty Kellen Kulbacki might get a little more attention now that Dustin Pedroia has blazed a trail for diminutive bashers. Kulbacki was drafted by San Diego in 2007's supplemental first round after hitting .464 in his junor year in college. He took a step back to a mere .300 in 2007 but looked like his old dominant self again in 2008, slashing .332/.428/.589 (that's a 1.017 OPS) at high A Lake Elsinore. Injuries held him back in 2009, but he should be back in business for 2010, and on the short list of possible impact bats the Padres may look to before the season is finished.
More Scouting Book Info on Kellen Kulbacki >
173
OF, PHI
Tyson Gillies is a Canadian center fielder who came as part of the wild winter trade of 2009. While most noticed him when he stole two bases in the Futures Game, he also put together a standout season overall, stealing 44 bases and batting .341/.430/.486 while playing for High Desert in the California League. His speed is off the charts, but that basestealing wasn't as good as it seems, since he was also thrown out 19 times. With a percentage that low, he won't get many green lights, so he'll need to work on the art of the steal before the tool becomes a real plus skill. Gillies will get his first taste of AA ball in 2010, with a shot at an MLB bench job for 2011. If he does make the majors as a reserve, he'll also provide an extra valuable benefit to the team: as a hearing-impaired player, he's an excellent lip-reader, which could come in awfully handy on the field.
More Scouting Book Info on Tyson Gillies >
174
SS, NYM
A successful shortstop in college whose range is a bit of a question in pro ball, South Carolina graduate David (Reese) Havens could make a heck of a second baseman for a future Mets infield that already includes two All Stars and the player picked just before him in the 2008 Draft, first baseman Ike Davis.
More Scouting Book Info on Reese Havens >
175
RHP, CLE
A big-bodied ace in waiting with a 98mph heater, ex-Phillies pitcher Jason Knapp is one of the many young prospects in a refreshed Indians system. He enters 2010 as a 19 year old, but he's already one of the three best pitchers in the Cleveland farm. Arthroscopic shoulder surgery in September 2009 went swimmingly, and he's expected to be at full strength for 2010. He'll probably start at high-A and end the year in AA. He's on target for full-on arrival in 2012 or so.
More Scouting Book Info on Jason Knapp >
176
C, KC
Nobody noticed in all the hubbub about Aaron Crow, but KC's third round pick in 2009 was another steal: the high-potential catcher William (Will) Myers. 'Wumbly' is a hard-nosed grinder who some call a throwback to a dirtier era, a ballplayer's ballplayer who can perform well at almost any position. He's being treated as a catcher so far, and he certainly has the smarts for it, but it's possible he moves to a position of greater need for a future Royals manager. If the projectability of his 6-3, 190lb body is worth anything, we can predict that he won't steal many bases, but he will launch a few moonshots in the years to come.
More Scouting Book Info on Wil Myers >
177
RHP, STL
A fastball and slider specialist, Sanchez is a lights-out reliever simmering in the St. Louis system. The young Venezuelan ended his 2009 with the Double-A Springfield Cardinals, and now projects as a nasty late-inning weapon for the Cardinals, perhaps as soon as 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Eduardo Sanchez >
178
OF, PIT
After a brief stint in the Atlanta system, onetime Tiger prospect Gorkys Hernandez was shipped to the Pirates for Nate McLouth in 2009 before ever getting a real shot with the Braves. Still, he's is a quality prospect who hit .316/.361/.387 with 10 steals for Double-A Mississippi (Braves) in 2009, followed by an adjustment-impacted .262/.312/.340 with 9 more swipes at Pittsburgh's own AA Altoona. He shows no real signs of power, at least not yet, but he's fast and talented with exceptional defensive range. He could get a look in Pittsburgh in 2010, though any significant impact should be in 2011 or later.
More Scouting Book Info on Gorkys Hernandez >
179
3B, CHW
A third-round pick in 2008, corner prospect Brent Morel is blessed with a potent power-speed combination that should play well in US Cellular sooner or later: In 2009, Morel hit .281/.335/.453 at high-A Winston-Salem while swatting 16 homers and swiping 25 bases. He's played both third base and the outfield in the minors, but the White Sox are looking at Morel as a corner outfielder for the moment.
More Scouting Book Info on Brent Morel >
180
171. J.P. Arencibia
172. Deolis Guerra
173. Kellen Kulbacki
174. Tyson Gillies
175. Reese Havens
176. Jason Knapp
177. Wil Myers
178. Eduardo Sanchez
179. Gorkys Hernandez
180. Brent Morel
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