Scouting Book: The Best Baseball Prospects for 2009

MLB Baseball Prospect Rankings for 2009

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

The Best 14 2B Prospects for 2009

Showing 1 to 14 of 14. Overall SB ranking for 2009 shown in parentheses.

1. Adrian Cardenas

2B, OAK (#71 overall)

Baseball America's High School Player of the Year for 2006 is still a bit raw, but his development has been very strong. As a 20 year old in 2008, Cardenas blew through three levels of the minors, hitting .278, .308, .279 in Stockton, Clearwater and Midland. He's hitting an even .300 across his two full minor league seasons, and has maintained great discipline with a career 108 walks against only 174 strikeouts.

Adrian is a good contact hitter. He's shown line-drive power to all fields, which many scouts expect to grow in the future. Defensively, he's capable but not a star: he has been moved down the spectrum from SS to 2B, but most expect him to stick there for the foreseeable future, which makes him a possible full-time Athletic in late 2009 or early 2010.

More Scouting Book Info on Adrian Cardenas >

SB #71 | BA #74 | BP #93 | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES unranked

2. Eric Young Jr.

2B , COL (#107 overall)

A small, fast, potent hitter who looks every inch his father, Eric Young Jr. is even lined up take over second base in Colorado, a position his father inaugurated for the expansion Rockies franchise. A very fast and smart base-stealer, Young led all minor leaguers with 87 steals in 2006, and that's in only 128 games. He needs to get on base more to make that speed work, and since his patience at the plate has been improving, he's probably ready for a test at the next level. He'll open 2009 in AAA, ready to move to Colorado at a moment's notice. The Rockies have him working in the outfield as well as second to maximize his chances.

More Scouting Book Info on Eric Young Jr. >

3. Matt Antonelli

2B, SD (#144 overall)

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, primarily as a leadoff hitter. But in 2008 he took a nose dive, hitting only .215 in the minors before earning (?) a callup to San Diego, where he struggled (and failed) to break the Mendoza line.

Like Brandon Wood before him, he's a much better hitter than that, though, so we expect him to regroup and make a push back into the top of the prospect ranks this year. San Diego's slower and more patient rebuilding approach should benefit him.

More Scouting Book Info on Matt Antonelli >

4. Callix Crabbe

2B, SEA (#152 overall)

An on-again/off-again prospect, Crabbe's chances of breaking into major league ball increased slightly with his pickup by Seattle, who could probably benefit from some infield depth.

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 >

5. Jemile Weeks

2B, OAK (#210 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 >

6. Johnny Giavotella

2B, KC (#223 overall)

A small but scrappy infielder who was a fan favorite at the University of New Orleans, Johnny Giavotella won his Royals blue uniform with a .354 batting average that led the Privateers to the 2007 NCAA Tournament. He can play any infield position, but his lack of plus range or power makes him most suited to second base.

More Scouting Book Info on Johnny Giavotella >

7. Nick Noonan

2B, SF (#230 overall)

A solid contact hitter with good speed, Noonan is one of many Giants' prospects who will fight over middle infield duties in the years to come. He's a bit raw, and he'll need to add a lot of polish in high and double-A over the next two years, but right now he has the tools and makeup of an everyday second baseman with the good power that the modern position seems to require.

More Scouting Book Info on Nick Noonan >

8. Travis Denker

2B, SF (#240 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 >

9. Luis Maza

2B, LAD (#249 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.

More Scouting Book Info on Luis Maza >

10. Tug Hulett

2B, SEA (#253 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 >

11. Mark Hallberg

2B, ARZ (#260 overall)

A college shortstop who looks more like the Diamondbacks second-baseman of the future, Hallberg has enough grit and determination to make up for his limited power ceiling. The scrappy army brat smashed .362 as a Fantasy Islander last year, landing him the Hawaiian League MVP award and making him look like a viable starter in Arizona -- or at least a super-bench player -- very, very soon.

More Scouting Book Info on Mark Hallberg >

12. Scott Sizemore

2B, DET (#291 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.

More Scouting Book Info on Scott Sizemore >

13. Corey Wimberly

2B, OAK (#314 overall)

A sixth round pick by the Rockies, switch-hitting Corey Wimberly slashed an impressive .291/.370/.345 in his second year at AA Tulsa in 2008. He also led the league with 59 steals last season. A player who reminds coaches of Chone Figgins, his speed could play well in the majors, but he lacks the defensive versatility to be a real plus bench asset, and his bat isn't really up to starter level. He'll need to add power or start hitting .350 to have a real shot at the bigs.

More Scouting Book Info on Corey Wimberly >

14. Brad Emaus

2B, TOR (#320 overall)

A polished infield prospect via Tulane, Brad Emaus projects as a solid major league second baseman in the near future. His .302 average and 12 homers in 463 at-bats at high-A Dunedin helped propel him to the top of the Blue Jays' prospect chart. He'll play AA ball in 2009, and if his line-drive swing can keep up with the more advanced pitching, he could get a look in Toronto at the end of the year.

More Scouting Book Info on Brad Emaus >

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Helping you track baseball prospects, sleepers and rookies. (Closers, too!)

MLB Baseball Prospect Rankings for 2009

The Best 14 2B Prospects for 2009

1. Adrian Cardenas

2. Eric Young Jr.

3. Matt Antonelli

4. Callix Crabbe

5. Jemile Weeks

6. Johnny Giavotella

7. Nick Noonan

8. Travis Denker

9. Luis Maza

10. Tug Hulett

11. Mark Hallberg

12. Scott Sizemore

13. Corey Wimberly

14. Brad Emaus

Say Goodbye to 2009

Prospect Cleanup Underway

September is for Next Year, Pt II

September Callups, Part 2

September is for Next Year

September Callups, Part 1

Strasburg Signs!

Super-Prospect, Other Top Picks Sign Deadline Deals

A Not-So-Dirty Dozen Light Up the Draft Board

A First Look at the Top Twelve

Arms Dominate Draft Choices

Strasburg and Others Will Go Early

Nick Adenhart, 1986-2009

Angels Rookie Killed in Late-Night Hit-and-Run

Fantasy Draft Help is Here

Ranking the Non-Prospects for 2009

BA Top 100 Prospects Released

Old School List Falls In Line

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< Back to Home Page

Helping you track baseball prospects, sleepers and rookies. (Closers, too!)

MLB Baseball Prospect Rankings for 2009

The Best 14 2B Prospects for 2009

1. Adrian Cardenas

2. Eric Young Jr.

3. Matt Antonelli

4. Callix Crabbe

5. Jemile Weeks

6. Johnny Giavotella

7. Nick Noonan

8. Travis Denker

9. Luis Maza

10. Tug Hulett

11. Mark Hallberg

12. Scott Sizemore

13. Corey Wimberly

14. Brad Emaus

Prospect Cleanup Underway

September Callups, Part 2

September Callups, Part 1

Super-Prospect, Other Top Picks Sign Deadline Deals

A First Look at the Top Twelve

Strasburg and Others Will Go Early

Angels Rookie Killed in Late-Night Hit-and-Run

Ranking the Non-Prospects for 2009

Old School List Falls In Line

Rising and Falling

Recently-Changed Rankings

ScoutingBook's Top 2010 Prospects