Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
1B, NYM
No, this isn't (Vernon) Chris Carter, the California-born first-baseman traded from Arizona to Oakland for Dan Haren. This is (William) Chris Carter, the California-born first-baseman who was traded from Arizona (!) to Boston for Wily Mo Pena, and recently sent to the Mets to complete the dump of Billy Wagner.
More Scouting Book Info on Chris Carter >
291
RHP, FLA
A Dominican righthander signed at 17 as an international free agent, Jhan Martinez is a bit of an under-the-radar sleeper prospect in the Marlins system. Martinez is a slight pitcher with a power fastball that can touch 98, but he has more success with his two-seamer, a 92mph offering with good movement. He's taking longer than expected to adjust to life in pro baseball, and his change and slider need to improve before they're ready for the big stage, but he has so much raw talent that he's bound to make it sooner or later.
More Scouting Book Info on Jhan Martinez >
292
RHP , OAK
A solid but unspectacular righthander in an Oakland system, James Simmons has a shot to break onto the MLB roster in 2009, but only if many cards fall his way. Leaning heavily on his heavy 92mph fastball and a workable change, he needs to add a significant third pitch if he's to make it in the rotation. At present, his curve and slider are below average offerings.
More Scouting Book Info on James Simmons >
293
LHP, MIN
A ground ball pitcher who seems to handle lefties just as well as right-handed batters, Robertson is just one of another out-machine to come from the Twins pitching factory. While some bemoan his awkward delivery, nobody minded the way he used his 92mph fastball, nasty curve and excellent slider to finish second in league ERA for the low-A Beloit Snappers in 2007. Since then, he's continued to refine and polish his pitches while solidifying his workhorse reputation. The combination of his strong K-BB ratio, nasty repertoire and odd delivery have gained him a few 'left-handed Lincecum' comparisons, but nobody will mistake his 6-5 frame for the diminutive Giant. After holding his own through a 26 start, 8-8 season at Ft. Myers last year (1.33 WHIP, 3.33 ERA), he's looking for the next challenge. He's a couple of years away from threatening for big league time, but as he's not getting any younger, a bullpen might be calling rather than a rotation by the time he arrives.
More Scouting Book Info on Tyler Robertson >
294
RHP, SEA
A big, strong Dominican righthander signed by the Mets as an international free agent in 2006, Cleto spent a year learning US-style baseball in the GCL, then started 2008 at low-A, where he went 5-11 with a 4.25 ERA as a starter, striking out 81 batters while walking 34. He made major progress in 2008, and was promoted to high-A St Lucie at the end of the year. No soft tosser, Cleto's moving fastball is a 97mph thunderbolt that looks like a real plus pitch. His slider is a work in progress, but if he can polish it or add a working off-speed pitch, he will really be a player to watch. He was already zooming up the Mets' prospect charts with only one and a half pitches, and likely would have opened 2009 in high-A before he was traded to Seattle. While nobody knows how the new management in Seattle will handle pitchers, the old guard was aggressive with promotion and development, meaning that Cleto could break into AA as early as this season. If his change develops, he could be a strong starter, but if it's the slider that comes along best, look for him as a late-inning strikeout artist come 2011 or so.
More Scouting Book Info on Maikel Cleto >
295
RHP, NYY
After gaining national attention as the award winning closer at U Arizona, Melancon's selection by the Yankees in the 2006 draft had 'Rivera Replacement' written all over it. After taking a year and a half to climb back up from TJ surgery, his fastball returned, and he's about as ready for the big-leagues as any prep pitcher has ever been. That 95mph fastball and hammer curve looked pretty good during limited use at Yankee Stadium in 2009 ten strikeouts, zero walks), and by all reports, Melancon has the big game attitude and short memory that closers need to succeed at any level. He should stick in the Yankees bullpen this season, probably ending up as Mariano's setup man and heir apparent... unless Joba Chamberlain once again returns to favorite bullpen son status.
More Scouting Book Info on Mark Melancon >
296
OF, SF
A lefty-hitting corner outfielder, Giant prospect Roger Kieschnick is a potential five-tool talent with both power and speed potential, and it's not at all surprising that he shares his nickname ('Hawk') with Hall of Famer Andre Dawson. In the field he's a giant with deceptive speed, a highlight-reel daredevil without any detectable fear of walls or other barriers. He's got above-average range which should improve as he polishes his routes and jumps, and an arm that has moments of true cannon-power. He's grappled with an awkward swing at times, but it hasn't hindered him much to date: three years of .300 hitting at Texas Tech were matched by his pro debut at high-A San Jose, where he raked .296/.345/.532 with 23 home runs in his very first taste of professional baseball. The Giants are pushing Kieschnick quickly, which means you'd better learn how to spell it before 2011 rolls around.
More Scouting Book Info on Roger Kieschnick >
297
OF, SEA
An international signee from 2008, when he was signed as a teenager from San Cristobal, D.R., outfielder Julio Morban is a smooth and talented outfielder with good all-around tools. He swings a mature bat from the left side of the plate with some projectable power. In the field, he's raw but talented. He didn't have much trouble with rookie ball in 2009 (.270/.309/.509), so he might be pushed into the A circuit this year.
More Scouting Book Info on Julio Morban >
298
RHP, TEX
One of Detroit's most promising righthanders before being shipped to Texas for Gerald Laird, pitcher Guillermo Moscoso first attracted attention when he threw a perfect game in a NYP-league game in July, 2007. Last year, he went 5-4 in 12 starts with a 2.70 ERA between high-A Lakeland and double-A Erie. Perhaps most impressively, though, he struck out 122 while walking only 21 in 87 innings. A power righty who gets plus movement on his 92mph runner, some scouts prefer him as a late-inning reliever due to endurance and workload worries (he's never thrown 100 innings), and so he can maximize the effectiveness of his strikeout pitch.
More Scouting Book Info on Guillermo Moscoso >
299
1B, SEA
A power hitter who swings hard and misses often, Carp has always been saddled with horrendous L-R splits. In 2008 he posted his best offensive numbers of his career (.299/.403/.471 with 17 homers in 478 ABs), though, and also improved against lefties (.257/.348/.429). He's still got some learning to do, but he's getting there.
More Scouting Book Info on Mike Carp >
300
291. Chris Carter
292. Jhan Martinez
293. James Simmons
294. Tyler Robertson
295. Maikel Cleto
296. Mark Melancon
297. Roger Kieschnick
299. Guillermo Moscoso
291 to 300 of 445
