Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
RHP, SF
A rising star in the Giants system, the 6-foot-2 righthander Henry Sosa is a power pitcher in the Matt Cain variety, though without the control and (so far) without the command of his breaking stuff: his curve could be a plus pitch one day, but so far it's very much a work-in-progress, which means hitters can sometimes sit on his 96mph fastball.
More Scouting Book Info on Henry Sosa >
201
SS, FA
A mature prospect who'll be 26 (or so) later this year, Cuban Yadil Mujica is a contact hitter with plus speed, good range and a plus arm from shortstop. In his last year in Cuba, he hit .358/.432/.440, that average enough for twelfth-best in the league (modern Cuban baseball is hitter-friendly, which explains why so few Cuban pitchers stick in MLB.)
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202
2B, Japan
The Hiroshima Toyo Carp's number one draft pick in 1999, infielder Akihiro Higashide finished in the top ten among Central League hitters in 2009 with a .295 average. A versatile infielder who has played most of his career at second base, Aki is a free agent eligible player who has contemplated a move to the USA for some time. He has seen interest from a number of MLB teams, including the San Francisco Giants.
More Scouting Book Info on Akihiro Higashide >
203
RHP, NYM
A stocky right-handed specialist who spent most of his career with NPB's Yakult Swallows before moving to America, Ryota Igarashi is the proud owner of a lifetime 3.26 ERA and 1.07 in Japan, almost all of it in relief. Though most frequently a setup man or middle reliever, he also closed 37 games for the Swallows in 2004. In 2010, he'll provide depth in the bullpen for the Mets, who signed him to a two year deal during the offseason.
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204
SS, ATL
A Dominican phenom who's been attached to Yankee and Indian rumors for years now, young Edward Salcedo finally signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Braves in the spring of 2010. A big, strong infielder with soft hands and a quick bat, Salcedo is currently a gap-to-gap line drive hitter, though his size and strength project out to meaningful power in the future. The (certified) 19 year old will probably move off shortstop as he develops, but for now he has to be considered one of Atlanta's premium prospects.
More Scouting Book Info on Edward Salcedo >
205
OF, SF
Tommy 'the Titan' Neal is a power-hitting corner bat pushing his way through the San Francisco farm system. Since his signing in 2005 at age 17, he's done nothing but hit at every level, most recently racking up a 1.010 OPS (.337/.431/.579) while launching 22 dingers in 475 at-bats at high-A San Jose. The pitching-rich Giants farm is lacking in quality bats, which means a juggernaut like Neal could move quickly. Watch for him to get a taste of the action in 2010, and compete for a roster spot come 2011.
More Scouting Book Info on Thomas Neal >
206
OF, LAA
Drafted and signed right along with fellow Angel outfield prospect Mike Trout, Randall Grichuk is a slightly different kind of player, one probably better suited to a higher-power corner outfield spot than the athletic Trout. He's also a bit further away developmentally, but there's no reason to think that Grichuk, along with Trout and speedster Peter Bourjos, won't soon form one of the most talented young outfields in the majors.
More Scouting Book Info on Randal Grichuk >
207
LHP, KC
The next phenom, or another phizzle from the KC draft department? One thing is for sure, the very talented Daniel Duffy certainly gets people's attention when he takes the mound.
More Scouting Book Info on Danny Duffy >
208
LHP, NYM
A wiry left-hander with a deadly curve, Jon Niese is a dark-horse pitching prospect who has a shot at the Mets rotation in 2009. A graduate of the same high school as Chad Billingsley, Niese looked strong in AA last year, but was shellacked when he dipped his toes into the majors. Still, he has the maturity and guile to recover quickly. Niese features a nice fastball and a heavy sinker, but he needs another year, really, to refine his other pitches. If the Mets can be patient enough to let him develop a bit more, he might be a front-of-rotation starter, though they may be tempted to plug him into the bullpen or back-end immediately instead.
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209
RHP, TB
Barnese's fastball is a lively 92mph offering, and he mixes in a late-breaking slurve that's almost (but not quite) a hammer curve. Like most young pitchers, his changeup isn't really ready for the bright lights yet, but his confidence, poise and aggressive intelligence make it seem like only a matter of time before he's ready to toe the rubber in Tampa. He pitched the 2009 season at Bowling Green alongside fellow top Rays prospect Matt Moore, and while he couldn't match the lefty's gaudy strikeout numbers, he actually delivered a better season overall, with a 2.53 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP testifying to his unshakeable command.
More Scouting Book Info on Nick Barnese >
210
201. Henry Sosa
202. Yadil Mujica
203. Akihiro Higashide
204. Ryota Igarashi
205. Edward Salcedo
207. Randal Grichuk
208. Danny Duffy
210. Nick Barnese
201 to 210 of 445
