Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
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 in 2008 but stumbled a bit when faced with better pitching at AA Jacksonville in 2009 (.277/.411/.442). 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 long, long look in the bigs as early as 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Logan Morrison >
21
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 >
22
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, probably the premium 1B slugger in the minors right now. After he signed too late to play more than a few pro games in 2008, Alonso fans had to wait for Hawaiian winter ball to see his stuff. Alonso finished in the top ten in most offensive categories on the islands, and followed that up with a 2009 season that saw him reach as high as AA Carolina (an acceptable .295/.372/.457 in 29 games).
More Scouting Book Info on Yonder Alonso >
23
RHP, BOS
Boston decided to push their phenom reliever hard last year, promoting him all the way to AA in his second pro season. Bard responded to the higher level play by striking out 64 hitters in 49 innings. His K/9 across the year was twelve and a half.
More Scouting Book Info on Daniel Bard >
24
OF, LAA
A superior athlete with a centerfielder's speed and instincts, Mike Trout is being groomed for a future patrolling Torii Hunter's turf. The Angels are moving Trout slowly, simmering him in Rookie ball for 2009 (.418/.506/.924) with only a five game taste of low-A opposition. A patient hitter with a line drive stroke to all fields, he has a mature understanding of the strike zone and an ability to work it. His excellent speed and baserunning sense is ready right now, but his power is still a bit of a question mark. Of course, he's got high-in-the-order potential that might include leadoff ability even without big-fly potential, so he's a safe bet either way. He'll try to work his way up the A-ball ladder in 2010, with 2012-2013 looking like his best window of opportunity with the big club.
More Scouting Book Info on Mike Trout >
25
C, LAA
He's been on the radar for a couple of years now, but this year Angels catcher Hyun Choi 'Hank' Conger (we're assuming that 'Hammerin' Hyun Choi' did not exactly roll off the tongue) has officially arrived as an elite hitting prospect.
More Scouting Book Info on Hank Conger >
26
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 >
27
1B, SEA
Justin Smoak was a part of a 2008 draft class heavy on hard-hitting corner infielders, though he was a bit of an odd pick for Texas, considering how many 1B options the Rangers already had. A part of the deal to acquire Cliff Lee in the middle of 2010, Smoak became the long-term first base solution in Seattle immediately. With a smooth, easy swing and decent power, he should be able to anchor the Mariner lineup for years to come.
More Scouting Book Info on Justin Smoak >
28
OF, MIN
A legitimate 5-tool prospect who the Twins should have the patience to develop, this is an Adam Jones / Carlos Gomez type prospect who's just a year or two behind that curve. Still very young, he needs seasoning, as his skills haven't yet caught up to his raw ability. Of course, the great Twins development machinery should take care of that, and we know they're not afraid to play the youngsters. While he's not a household name just yet, he could very well be making headlines as the new hot thing in Minnesota come 2010 or 2011, and he could be the best player on the Twins roster (yes, we mean that) by 2012.
More Scouting Book Info on Aaron Hicks >
29
3B, HOU
One of the most-traded young bats in the minors, Brett Wallace is a power hitter who's already been the third baseman of the future for the Cardinals and Athletics and Blue Jays. Now he's an Astro, and one good thing about that is that he's likely to get a shot sooner in the depleted Houston system. A nominal third baseman with slow feet, most scouts seem to think he'll need to be moved to first base sooner rather than later, and with the end of Lance Berkman, there's a very large opening for him there now. With little left in his way, his big lumber should be an everyday fixture in Houston before the end of 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Brett Wallace >
30
21. Logan Morrison
22. Austin Jackson
23. Yonder Alonso
24. Daniel Bard
25. Mike Trout
28. Justin Smoak
29. Aaron Hicks
30. Brett Wallace
21 to 30 of 484
