Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
RHP, Japan
Righthander Naoyuki Shimizu is a starting pitcher from NPB, where he played 10 seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines before signing last winter with the Yokohama BayStars on a one-year deal. He also played with Japan in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Naoyuki's fastball can touch 94mph, but he works most of the time in the 86-90mph range, relying on deceptive delivery and late motion to befuddle hitters. He works both sides of the plate and mixes in a change in the low to mid-70's to keep hitters perpetually off-balance. While he's only got a few more peak years left, he could be a good fit on any number of MLB ballclubs.
More Scouting Book Info on Naoyuki Shimizu >
271
RHP, SD
Adis (or sometimes, inexplicably, Adys) Portillo is a hard-throwing right-hander who shows more polish than most Venezuelan prospects. Portillo exhibits a dominating mound presence and great composure, featuring a moving fastball that tops out at about 94mph. It's the raw stuff he wields with three possible plus pitches, though, that puts him into the upper ranks of pitching prodigies.
More Scouting Book Info on Adis Portillo >
272
OF, ARZ
A lumbering slugger, 1B/OF Marc Krauss is one of many corner bats simmering in the Arizona farm system. Krauss hit .304 at A-level South Bend in 2009, posting an .855 OPS in his first exposure to pro ball, but he'll need to light up more scoreboards to get past some of the team's brighter prospects.
More Scouting Book Info on Marc Krauss >
273
RHP, STL
A tall, lanky Canadian righthander who was the Cardinals top-rated prospect as far back as 2004, Blake Hawksworth is now a mature prospect on the cusp of landing a full-time job in major league baseball. After posting a 5-4 record (3.58 / 1.11 WHIP) for the AAA Memphis in 2009, Hawksworth got a taste of MLB, going 4-0 in 40 innings of mop-up duty. His 2.03 ERA while handling that low-leverage trial demonstrated enough ability to gain the righthander consideration for bullpen or spot-starting duty in 2010. He won't be a Cy Young winner, not even with Dave Duncan around, but he could be a capable and effective major league pitcher for most of the next decade, given the opportunity.
More Scouting Book Info on Blake Hawksworth >
274
RHP, PHI
A third round selection by the Phillies in the 2008 draft, righthander Vance Worley bootstrapped himself into scouts' viewfinders with a 2.66 ERA and 7 BB/53 K in 61 innings at A-level Lakewood in his first season. A stout, solidly built pitcher who evokes comparisons to Joe Blanton, Worley commands a low-90's fastball well, mixing in an average curve and change as needed. A disappointing 7-12 record and 5.34 ERA at AA Reading in 2009 doesn't adequately reflect Worley's upside, which he's still a couple of years from reaching.
More Scouting Book Info on Vance Worley >
275
RHP, SEA
Another late inning specialist, Fields has no real place in the Mariners of today or the near future, so we can only guess that they're going to attempt some sort of bizarro-world Brandon Morrow trick here, and turn this sure-thing reliever into a maybe-starter. He chose not to sign with Atlanta last year, so it's no sure thing that he'll prefer Seattle this time around. Even if he does sign, he might end up being a trade piece in the near future. Fields is a terrific ball of potential, and it'd be a shame to see him wither in a Mariners system that has no place for him.
More Scouting Book Info on Joshua Fields >
276
SS, LAD
The Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year for 2008, DeJesus doesn't have much left to prove in the minors. Apparently inspired by Baseball America's description of him as a 'below average' hitter, DeJesus took the Southern League to task in 2008, when he swatted an eye-opening .324/.419/.423 at AA Jacksonville. The young infielder led the entire Southern League with a .419 OBP in his first AA season, testimony to his disciplined plate approach. When he makes contact, he's a hitter in the Howie Kendrick style: gap to gap line drives with excellent bat control. In the field, he has soft hands and excellent (inherited?) baseball instincts.
More Scouting Book Info on Ivan DeJesus >
277
RHP, COL
How many closers do the Rockies need, exactly? Vanderbilt's elite fireman (31 saves, 0.93 WHIP) was originally drafted by the Tigers in 2006, but after re-entry was snapped up by Colorado in 2007.
More Scouting Book Info on Casey Weathers >
278
LHP, ARZ
A big lefty from Boston College, Arizona's Mike Belfiore was selected 45th overall by the Diamondbacks in 2009. A closer and first baseman in college, he combines easy heat with a plus slider: the perfect combination for a closer. While his big body and strong bat could play in the field, the Diamondbacks are looking at Belfiore as a starting pitcher first: he went 2-2 over 11 starts for Rookie Missoula in 2009, striking out 55 while walking 13.
More Scouting Book Info on Mike Belfiore >
279
RHP, MLW
Wily Peralta is an intriguing young righthander in the Brewer system. Currently a two-pitch pitcher who flashes an occasionally plus curve, Peralta looked pretty good in A ball in 2009. Used as a sometime-starter and sometime-reliever in Wisconsin, Peralta produced a composite 1.32 WHIP and 3.47 ERA. He struck out an impressive 118 batters in only 103 innings, but it was the Midwest League, after all. His walk rate was a bit too high, and his propensity for getting deep into counts prevented him from getting deep into games too often, but he's still young, and worth keeping an eye on.
More Scouting Book Info on Wily Peralta >
280
LHP, LAD
A big, strong lefty, Aaron Miller was a power-hitting outfielder as well as an overpowering pitcher during his time at Baylor, but the Dodgers are thinking of him as a pitcher and nothing else, according to the exec who selected him, Dodger scouting AGM Logan White. He looked awfully good in 30 innings of A-level ball, but he'll need a lot more than that before he's ready to join his old high school buddy Clayton Kershaw as a front-line Dodger starter.
More Scouting Book Info on Aaron Miller >
281
LHP, TOR
The Blue Jays didn't give up when 22nd round pick Brad Mills failed to sign in 2006. Instead, the drafted him again in 2007's fourth round, and this time the lanky pitcher signed on the dotted line, becoming one of Toronto's best lefty prospects overnight. He moved all the way to AA in his first full season of pro ball, striking out 159 batters with a confusing array of curves, changes, and 90mph fastballs all coming from the same awkward-looking delivery. While he slipped a bit in 2009, he still has solid #4 starter potential.
More Scouting Book Info on Brad Mills >
282
OF, LAD
A toolsy outfielder in the rich Dodger system, Xavier Paul is one of the better farm bats that LA could call upon in 2010. While he didn't exactly set the world on fire while filling in for Manny in 2009, he did look awfully good in 31 games at AAA Albequerque, where he slashed .328/.378/.500. Still a young, gifted athlete in a system that could use a little more outfield depth, Paul will get another shot at the Bigs soon.
More Scouting Book Info on Xavier Paul >
283
2B, CHC
A small-framed midwestern shortstop drafted in the 21st round back in 2008, Vincent Logan Watkins has pulled himself up to the top tier of Cubs prospects on the strength of his steady bat. After blowing off rookie ball in 2008, he posted a .326/.389/.391 line at A-level Boise and peppered it with 14 doubles and 14 steals. Obviously, the Cubs would like to see a little more pop, but if he can add just a little power to his already-impressive eye and sweet batting stroke, he has all the makings of an MLB regular-in-waiting.
More Scouting Book Info on Logan Watkins >
284
3B, TB
A one-time Dodger hot prospect, Guzman was shipped to the Rays in the trade for Julio Lugo, which shows you how far he's fallen. While his bat still shows big-league pop, he's a long way away in the discipline department, and Tampa doesn't seem like the sort of place where he'll get much opportunity, either. On the other hand, it is the sort of organization that will leave him to 'develop' in the minors for the next few years, so maybe that'll be good for him, in a bitter pill sort of way.
More Scouting Book Info on Joel Guzman >
285
RHP, TOR
A burly righthander from Kennesaw State, Toronto's Chad Jenkins is a promising workhorse starter who could push his way into the Toronto rotation sooner than some of the bigger names on the farm. A rare talent who possessses four workable pitches, Jenkins throws both a four- and two-seam fastball (the latter with serious sink) and mixes in a strikeout slider and a change that could be a real plus pitch. His projectable body and well-regarded baseball smarts all add up to rapid advancement. He'll spend 2010 trying to push his way into AA, and once he shows he can handle hitters well there, he'll be ready for a date in Toronto.
More Scouting Book Info on Chad Jenkins >
286
2B, OAK
He's not just Rickie's little brother, he's a different kind of player. He's not the strong masher that Weeks is, but Jemile is more patient at the plate and faster on the bases. Like number one pick Tim Beckham, Weeks could see a move to centerfield sometime, where his plus speed would be more of an asset and his so-so glovework wouldn't be a problem.
More Scouting Book Info on Jemile Weeks >
287
RHP, SF
If Brian Wilson's arm ever falls off, the Giants have an acceptable substitute ready in the 100mph cannon hanging from Dominican Waldis Joaquin's shoulder. After bumping past AA and AAA last year, he spent a bit of time auditioning in the SF bullpen with mixed results. He's erratic, and his secondary pitches aren't quite ready for prime-time yet, but coaches who watch him inevitably fall in love with his Zumaya-like power, which means he'll keep receiving opportunities to dominate.
More Scouting Book Info on Waldis Joaquin >
288
RHP, PHI
A 38th-round selection from Clear Creek Texas, Phillies talent Jarred Cosart has zoomed up the depth charts over the last two seasons. As a pitcher, he displays a consistent, balanced delivery, with a mid-90's fastball and a polished 11-5 curve that he uses as an out pitch. His change, while a bit rough, also looks to be a potential plus offering. In the field, he shows above-average range in the outfield and an 'unbelievable' arm strength. At the plate, his short, compact swing benefits from very quick wrists and a level swing, giving him line-drive power to all fields. If there's one question about Cosart, it's wondering whether any part of his game will ever show enough weakness to allow him to focus on his other skills.
More Scouting Book Info on Jarred Cosart >
289
3B, SEA
Yes, Matt Tuiasosopo, the baseball player. Got it? Good.
More Scouting Book Info on Matt Tuiasosopo >
290
271. Naoyuki Shimizu
272. Adis Portillo
273. Marc Krauss
274. Blake Hawksworth
275. Vance Worley
276. Joshua Fields
277. Ivan DeJesus
278. Casey Weathers
280. Wily Peralta
282. Brad Mills
284. Logan Watkins
285. Joel Guzman
287. Jemile Weeks
288. Waldis Joaquin
271 to 290 of 486
