Baseball's Top Prospects for 2009
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
SS, Japan
Nioka, a free agent soon after the 2007 season, is a slick fielding shortstop and quality hitter who may help many major league teams.
More Scouting Book Info on Tomohiro Nioka >
261
RHP, CIN
A premium prospect in college, Buck's stock took a dive when it was discovered that he played through a partial ligament tear en route to Oregon State's College World Series championship in 2006. Of course, the same event proved that his heart was two sizes too large, and he's been a bit of an underdog darling ever since. Buck had TJ surgery to rebuild his elbow in 2007 and has been coming back since. When healthy, Dallas is a workhorse who throws a 92-94 mph fastball, a plus slider and a changeup that could develop into a premium MLB pitch. He'll idle under the radar until fully recovered from his operation, but after the usual 18 months pass, he should return to top prospect status. A definite 2009 sleeper.
More Scouting Book Info on Dallas Buck >
262
LHP, ARZ
Playing for a less-known school caused Miley to slide to the 2008 draft's second round, but the lefthander was one of college ball's leading strikeout artists last season. Among second-round pitchers from the last few seasons, he's one of the most likely to outperform his slot.
More Scouting Book Info on Wade Miley >
263
C, BOS
A smart, careful student of the game, Kottaras is an offensive catcher with very good plate discipline and 20-homer potential. His body is still filling out, but he's expected to be able to perform to MLB levels while remaining behind the plate. His experience catching knuckleballer Steve Sparks makes him attractive early carry for the BoSox, who have been carrying Mirabelli year-to-year while waiting for a better backup-slash-Wakefield catcher. Even if he's called up, though, Kottaras will be a part-timer or backup for awhile, but he's a valid prospect nonetheless. A trade could make him a lot more valuable overnight.
More Scouting Book Info on George Kottaras >
264
RHP, HOU
A raw gem of a righthander from Hartsville High School in South Carolina, Lyles is the sort of big strong power pitcher that the Astros always love to gamble on. And gamble they did when they took him so high in the 2008 draft (38th player overall). He's got incredible stuff, including a hot and lively fastball that should burn through the lower minor leagues, but he's going to need to improve his offspeed pitches to move beyond that. He has front-line starter potential, but it'll be a couple of years before we know how likely he is to reach it.
More Scouting Book Info on Jordan Lyles >
265
RHP, HOU
A converted outfielder, Paulino threw 112 innings of Double-A ball in 2007 (3.69 ERA, 110 Ks : 49 BBs) before his cup of coffee tryout in Houston. Other than a gem of a two-hit performance against the eliminated Braves on September 30th, though, he failed to dazzle, which means he'll be back in AA next season. Because of his late start as a pitcher, he's only really got two pitches so far: a sizzling mid-90's fastball with late movement and a nifty 12-6 curve that he's still learning to throw for strikes. He could be an effective reliever tomorrow, but if the Astros are serious about making a starter out of him, he'll need a couple of more years and a couple of more pitches.
More Scouting Book Info on Felipe Paulino >
266
C, MLW
It's a bit cheap comparing Canadian slugger Brett Lawrie to fellow Canucks Larry Walker and Justin Morneau, but in this case the comparison is about more than nationality: Lawrie can flat-out rake, though he does it from the right side of the plate. An all-around baseball talent with no ceiling in sight, the fact that he's played both shortstop and catcher well enough to make it onto both position lists tells you something about the special youngster.
More Scouting Book Info on Brett Lawrie >
267
SS, BOS
A sleeper talent in the Red Sox system, Yamaico Navarro is a native of The Land of Shortstops, San Pedro de Macoris, and he shows ever sign of following in the footsteps of so many who came before. A bit bulky for a shortstop, he might be best suited for second or third base, but for now he's an offensive-minded middle infielder with a powerful, aggressive approach at the plate. His bat is quick, and he adds some natural loft to most of his line drives, which means he could be a serious Miguel Tejada type threat in a couple more years. In the field, he's a bit clumsy around the bag, but has a plus arm and slick glove, with a penchant for turning in dazzling plays at least once a week. Navarro isn't much more than a dark horse option on the Red Sox depth chart, but if he continues to grow and develop, he'll force management to start considering him as a viable long-term option for Fenway. For now, he'll open the season in AA.
More Scouting Book Info on Yamaico Navarro >
268
SS, TOR
A true five-tool talent, Blue Jays prospect Justin Jackson could play any position on the field, but looks right at home at shortstop, where is plus range, fast feet and absolute cannon of an arm could make him a gold glove candidate someday. At the plate, he shows exceptional discipline and strike zone judgement for such a young player, and his easy swing makes solid contact more often than not. While he won't be a true power threat, 15-20 homer potential is likely. His swing can get a bit long, which better pitchers will exploit, but if he can shorten his stroke and learn to handle hard stuff inside, he'll be a star in a few years.
More Scouting Book Info on Justin Jackson >
269
SS, CLE
Originally drafted out of high school by the Pirates, Chisenhall was chosen again three years later, this time by the Indians. While questions of character are going to dog Lonnie for years to come thanks to a college misunderstanding about a missing big-screen TV and Playstation 3, at least we know he's got game. He's also got bat: Chisenhall is a plus hitter with a short and sweet stroke and solid power to all fields. His position is up in the air, but wherever the Indians put him he's likely to produce. A bit of a sleeper to watch.
More Scouting Book Info on Lonnie Chisenhall >
270
LHP, BAL
Another of many development projects undertaken by the Seattle Mariners, Butler was been an on-again/off-again hot prospect since he was drafted by the Ms in the 3rd round (81st overall) of the 2006 draft. Traded to the Orioles as part of the package that brought Erik Bedard to Seattle in 2008, Butler's chance to break into the starting rotation will now happen in Baltimore Orange.
More Scouting Book Info on Tony Butler >
271
LHP, CLE
A first round draft pick (Blue Jays) back in 2004, Jackson went from being one of Toronto's best prospects to a mediocre one in Milwaukee. He did some service time in 2007, posting a 5.40 ERA in seven starts for the Brewers, but the team recast him as a long bullpen arm last year, though there's no good reason he couldn't return to starting given the right situation. While he still seems to have the tools that made him so coveted a few years ago, he's been a bit of a late-bloomer who could probably benefit from a change of scenery or a different approach.
More Scouting Book Info on Zach Jackson >
272
2B, CHW
A lefty-hitting middle infielder in the Chicago White Sox system (how many MI's do they have, anyway?) Chris Getz first showed up on the national radar when hit .303 with 8 homers in the first half of 2008 while playing at AAA Charlotte. A late addition to the Future Roster, Gets even got seven at-bats in Chicago in the fall (2-for-7 with a stolen base). Nobody expects All Star level play from him, but he's a viable hitter who makes good, consistent contact and brings above-average baserunning and solid play in the field. A good all-around player, his future is likely as a bench bat, though if he's given an extended chance to play, it's possible he could fight off the other sixty-seven contenders in Chicago to lock down a long-term second base gig.
More Scouting Book Info on Chris Getz >
273
3B, SF
High school bats are risky picks, but the Giants jumped early, taking Gillaspie in the first supplemental round of the 2008 amateur draft. He's a high-average hitter with projectable power, but he'll have to show more than that if he's going to last.
More Scouting Book Info on Conor Gillaspie >
274
RHP, MIN
No information is available on this player at this time. Check back later for an updated report.c
More Scouting Book Info on Tom Shearn >
275
261. Tomohiro Nioka
262. Dallas Buck
263. Wade Miley
264. George Kottaras
265. Jordan Lyles
267. Brett Lawrie
269. Justin Jackson
270. Lonnie Chisenhall
271. Tony Butler
273. Chris Getz
274. Conor Gillaspie
275. Tom Shearn
261 to 275 of 320
