Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
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
21. Casey Kelly
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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