Scouting Book: The Best Baseball Prospects for 2008 (Sleepers Too!)

MLB Baseball Prospect Rankings for 2008

As always, our Prospect Rankings change very often, to reflect the latest and most promising prospects for the new season.

The Best 13 2B Prospects for 2008

Showing 1 to 13 of 13. Overall SB ranking for 2008 shown in parentheses.

1. Blake Dewitt

2B, LAD (#63 overall)

More Scouting Book Info on Blake Dewitt >

Antonelli is a little-known but quality athlete who could have a bright future at almost any fielding position in San Diego.

Originally selected by the Dodgers, Antonelli opted for college instead, and was subsequently taken by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the 2006 MLB Amateur Draft, 17th overall, Antonelli received a $1.6 million signing bonus, one of the highest that the Padres have ever paid out.

In 2007, Antonelli hit .314 for the Lake Elsinore Storm, with 14 doubles, 4 triples, 14 homers, and 54 RBIs. Used primarily as a speedy leadoff hitter, he was 18-for-24 in stolen base attempts with an OBP of .409. He's near the top of the Padres depth chart, and only a few inches away from cracking the major league roster.

More Scouting Book Info on Matt Antonelli >

SB #64 | BA #50 | BP #39 | ML #27 | SN #39 | ES #93

3. Callix Crabbe

2B, MLW (#127 overall)

An on-again/off-again prospect, Crabbe's chances of breaking into major league ball increased with his pickup by San Diego, who has no long-term MI prospect after Matt Antonelli.

Playing his age 23/24 season with the Brewer's Nashville club in the AAA PCL, Crabbe hit .287 with nine homers, posting an OPS of .812, all espectable numbers at that level, especially from a middle infielder. His career walks-to-strikeouts ratio is dead even, and he has usable speed, swiping 17, 18 and 32 bases in his last three AA and AAA seasons.

A contact hitter with good on-base skills and solid infield hands, Crabbe's short-term value may be as a utility player. If an injury takes out any of the infielders ahead of him, he's more than capable of stepping in and holding his own.

Those of you thinking about how great a baseball name Crabbe has may also wish to note that the gentleman's middle name is 'Sadeaq'.

More Scouting Book Info on Callix Crabbe >

4. Michael Aviles

2B, KC (#141 overall)

A native New Yorker, Aviles is a journeyman infielder on the cusp of being a major league regular. A stocky player with a short, compact swing, Aviles a gap hitter with a little power. He lacks speed and range, but has a good glove and a strong arm. He is best suited to second base, though he can also play shortstop. Aviles could probably fill a good bench role for most major league teams, but Kansas City is well-stocked in middle infielders, which means he'll spend 2008 hoping for a trade or injury to open the way.

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5. Emilio Bonifacio

2B, ARZ (#158 overall)

A defensive-minded middle infielder with plus speed, Bonifacio effectively takes the place of Alberto Callaspo in the Diamondback's future. He is growing into a solid contact hitter, and his increasing walk rate also bodes well for a future in the leadoff position, while the move of Justin Upton to the outfield clears the road for him to take over for Orlando Hudson soon. While he possesses great speed, Bonifacio's basestealing smarts are not quite as developed as his legs yet (as seen by his 25 percent caught-stealing rate) but he's coming along. He's someone who might have some value in late 2008, or sooner if Hudson is moved.

More Scouting Book Info on Emilio Bonifacio >

6. Adrian Cardenas

2B, PHI (#160 overall)

Baseball America's High School Player of the Year for 2006 is still a bit raw, but his development has been strong. As a 19 year old in A ball, Cardenas hit .295 with nine homers in 127 games, posting an OPS of .770. He stole 20 bases but was caught too often (7 times).

Adrian is a good contact hitter with decent discipline. He's shown line-drive power to all fields, which many scouts expect to grow in the future. Defensively he's capable: he has been moved down the spectrum from SS to 2B, but most expect him to stick there for the forseeable future.

More Scouting Book Info on Adrian Cardenas >

7. Danny Richar

2B, CHW (#169 overall)

Once the 'shortstop of the future' in the Diamondbacks system, Richar went to Chicago in 2007 (for Aaron Cunningham), presumably because Arizona realized they already had Stephen Drew and Justin Upton under contract.

A strong hitter with superior bat-speed, the powerful young Dominican can also play the outfield. Richar looks best suited to second base now, though, and that happens to be a position where the White Sox are lacking depth.

More Scouting Book Info on Danny Richar >

8. Jayson Nix

2B, COL (#188 overall)

By letting Kaz Matsui go, the Rockies showed the faith they have in rising prospect Jayson Nix to takeover regular duty in short order. Or maybe it's Ian Stewart they believe in, since they're training him to play second. Then again, Jeff Baker has also been seen practicing the keystone this winter, making for a total of three promising young bats looking for somewhere to play.

And if it's still not hard enough to figure out which infield prospect will rise above the others enough to crack the everyday lineup, remember that the Rockies also signed veteran second baseman Marcus Giles this winter.

Nix hit .292 with 11 homers while idling at AAA last year, an improvement of fifty BA points and a more than 500% increase in home runs. If that's a freak spike, he'll fade into the minor league system. But if it's valid improvement, he will be a solid prospect, even if he doesn't crack the roster this season. He's someone worth keeping a tag on for the future.

More Scouting Book Info on Jayson Nix >

9. Travis Denker

2B, SF (#233 overall)

A smallish, versatile infielder, Denker won't win any home run competitions. He can, however, spray hits all over the field with abandon: he's put up .300ish averages at every minor league stop since 2005. Acquired from the Dodgers in 2007 as the player-to-be-named later part of the Mark Sweeney trade, Denker adds a little depth to the dusty Giants system.

More Scouting Book Info on Travis Denker >

10. Luis Maza

2B, LAD (#242 overall)

Not much of a rookie following eight years in the Twins system. Maza is still a valuable spare part who can play all seven fielding positions. Now a Dodger, he may finally break into MLB, at least for a time, on the injured backs (or hamstrings, or shoulders) of Jeff Kent and/or Nomar Garciaparra and/or Rafael Furcal.

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11. Tug Hulett

2B, SEA (#244 overall)

The son of ex-major leaguer Tim Hulett, junior is an offensive-minded second baseman in the Dustin Pedroia fashion. While he lacks serious power, he has shown excellent discipline and occasional pop while maintaining an OBP over .400 for most of his young career. He's also been a team leader and is considered a good clubhouse personality, which bodes well for his future.

Hulett has solid fundamentals, and may be called upon to play a little outfield as he's groomed for a backup or super-utility role.

More Scouting Book Info on Tug Hulett >

12. Jemile Weeks

2B, OAK (#271 overall)

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 >

13. Scott Sizemore

2B, DET (#292 overall)

Since the Tigers emptied the farm for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis in the winter of 2007, Scott Sizemore (no relation) has risen to be one of the team's top remaining prospects.

A strong, right-handed, offensive-minded middle-infielder, Sizemore was an NCAA all-star in 2005 and 2006. He's defensively average, which means the quickness of his bat and developing eye will determine whether his future is as an everyday second-baseman or a utility player. The Tigers, and the rest of us, should know by the end of 2009 or so.