Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
OF, FLA
The FSL's 'Most Exciting Player' of 2008, outfielder Scott Cousins is the best defensive outfielder in today's system, and one who could be patrolling center for the Miami Marlins of the near future, since it's starting to look like he'll be blocked by Mike Stanton in right. His arm will be the best in the outfield no matter which slot he takes up, though, and his combination of baserunning chops and improving batting suggests future-leadoff-threat to us.
More Scouting Book Info on Scott Cousins >
271
RHP, HOU
Sugarland's own Ross Seaton made 24 generally-impressive starts at single-A Lexington in 2009, posting a 3.29 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. His control's a bit iffy, and he doesn't really dominate hitters with any one single plus pitch, but he's a smart and capable arm who could fit into the back end of a weak rotation if he continues to develop.
More Scouting Book Info on Ross Seaton >
272
OF, SEA
A slightly-built Venezuelan outfielder with wheels, Carrera was signed as a teenaged free agent back in 2005. Recently, hit .263/.344/.393 at high-A ball last year, with 28 steals to go along with it. He's a few years away from showing the left-handed impact bat he promises, but in the mean time he's a solid defensive outfielder with plus speed, and that's not a bad thing to have tucked away in your system. A natural center fielder with a good arm, he'll probably repeat high-A this year for his new team while continuing to work on his batting approach.
More Scouting Book Info on Ezequiel Carrera >
273
RHP, CLE
A righthanded power pitcher who was expected to ascend to the Cardinal rotation in 2010 Jess Todd ended the season in the Cleveland Indians system instead, and that's where he'll open 2010. Todd is a fastball/sinker/slider ground-ball machine who has recently learned to harness a plus cutter. His career 2.69 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in the minors hasn't translated to success in his brief MLB service, but he's still a young pitcher brimming with upside, and Cleveland is the type of rebuilding franchise that should be willing to let him develop further before tossing him into the flames.
More Scouting Book Info on Jess Todd >
274
RHP, SD
When the Padres chose Carrillo with their first-round pick in the 2005 MLB draft, he was regarded as the most 'Major League ready' pitcher available. While things didn't quite work out that way, he remains a powerful prospect, with a 96mph fastball that has approached 100mph, a moving two-seam fastball, and an almost-ready changeup.
More Scouting Book Info on Cesar Carrillo >
275
1B, TOR
The Blue Jays have been bereft of developing power threats recently, but they're fixing it with this move. Cooper is a high-average, high-on-base machine with significant power to all fields. He was drafted higher than expected, but the way the power bats were vanishing from the board this year, one can hardly blame the Blue Jays for reaching.
More Scouting Book Info on David Cooper >
276
RHP, BAL
A monster of a man, young Kam Mickolio is a 6-9 righthander who makes even CC Sabathia look boy-sized. A forgotten piece of the package that shipped Erik Bedard to the Mariners, Mickolio is a power reliever who throws a hard sinker from a 3/4 arm slot. He's well equipped to rack up both strikeouts and groundouts with the pitch, which is especially devastating against right-handed batters. He's a middle reliever for now, and that's how the Orioles tested him in a September 2008 cup of coffee, but he has the raw stuff and power to be a premium setup man or even closer someday. Think Jonathan Broxton, but even bigger and scarier.
More Scouting Book Info on Kam Mickolio >
277
SS, SEA
A solid, gritty shortstop without a single stand-out tool in his bag, Florida grad Nick Franklin projects as 'a switch-hitting Michael Young' according to at least one scout. He's an above-average fielder with decent range, a solid line-drive hitter with a discerning eye, and a faster-than-slow baserunner. He didn't have much time in 2009 to show off, but in a handful of Rookie and A-ball games, he slashed .332/.354/.476 while adding a homer and a single stolen base in 16 starts. If everything falls just right, he could be a decent starter for most MLB clubs, but the odds are stacked more in favor of a backup/utility role at this point.
More Scouting Book Info on Nick Franklin >
278
OF, CIN
A highly-prized prospect for his combination of power and speed, Rodriguez was a free-agent prize when he was stolen by the Reds as a Latin American free agent in 2008. A very young and very raw talent, he probably has the highest ceiling of any hitter in the Reds' system... but he's a long way from polished or proven. Before he can move up through the minors, he'll need to learn to hit breaking balls, and to stop swinging at everything he can reach. His speed and arm make him look like a natural centerfielder, though, so he won't be expected to develop his already-solid power potential much further.
More Scouting Book Info on Yorman Rodriguez >
279
RHP, SD
Well, it's a better name for a pitcher than 'Homer', that's for sure. Described at the time of his signing as 'a big arm with a power breaking ball', Pelzer hasn't done anything to shake that label in his time on the farm. That breaking ball is a sizzling slider, and when it's matched up against the 98mph fastball he keeps in his back pocket, the combination can be close to unhittable. He's a bit raw, as can be expected, and that oh-so-important third pitch isn't yet on tap, but as long as he keeps up the hard work and solid conditioning he's already known for, Wynn will be the stuff of headline puns in San Diego for many years to come.
More Scouting Book Info on Wynn Pelzer >
280
271. Scott Cousins
272. Ross Seaton
273. Ezequiel Carrera
274. Jess Todd
275. Cesar Carrillo
276. David Cooper
277. Kam Mickolio
279. Yorman Rodriguez
271 to 280 of 445
