Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
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 >
301
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 >
302
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 >
303
OF, CHC
The Cubs first round pick in 2006, Colvin has developed quickly, reaching AA in his first full season of pro ball. He has good speed and solid defense, which projects to be useful in Wrigley, and raw but developing power. The Cubs jumped the gun a bit in 2010 by pushing him all the way to MLB, but he remains a solid if unspectacular long-term bet.
More Scouting Book Info on Tyler Colvin >
304
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 >
305
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 >
306
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 >
307
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 >
308
RHP, BAL
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 Baltimore for many years to come.
More Scouting Book Info on Wynn Pelzer >
309
RHP, TB
A polished college righthander, VT's Jessie Hahn was moved from the rotation to the bullpen for his sophomore year, and thrived immediately, soon taking over the team's closer role. While he struggles with his control sometimes, Hahn has a near-unhittable 99-101mph fastball with movement that should be enough to propel him all the way to MLB, and soon.
More Scouting Book Info on Jessie Hahn >
310
2B, HOU
The junior Delino is a shorter, stronger, faster and very righthanded version of his father. Which is to say, he's not very much like his father at all. What Delino is is a highly athletic all around ballplayer with superior defensive skills, plus plus speed, and a contact bat that should play at almost any position. While he's still a long way from MLB, his athleticism and bloodline propel him to the front of Houston's weak farm system right away. While it's hard to project his frame so early, he's looking like a second baseman in the Dustin Pedroia fashion to us right now.
More Scouting Book Info on Delino DeShields >
311
RHP, TOR
A record-breaking $2.8M international signing for the Blue Jays, Adonis Cardona is a power righthander from Venezuela with excellent projectability, a pitcher uniformly considered the best of the 2010 class. His overhead arm action looks smooth and easy, and as a teenager he's already clocking in at 92-93mph, which means it's frightening to think what he'll do with a little more growth. Cardona also seems to have a wicked breaking ball (a hammer curve) that's advanced for his age, though he hasn't quite learned to throw it for strikes yet. He's got some growing to do, but if the Blue Jays can keep him focused and help him polish his off-speed stuff, he could break into pro ball quickly and rise to the majors a la Felix Hernandez, who made the Seattle rotation as a teenager.
More Scouting Book Info on Adonis Cardona >
312
RHP, TOR
A control artist with a plus changeup, Venezuelan righthander Henderson Alvarez will only be 19 years old at the start of 2010, but he's already a strong candidate for a rotation spot in Toronto.
More Scouting Book Info on Henderson Alvarez >
313
C, COL
A second baseman converted to catching in mid-2008, Rockies proto-bat Jordan Pacheco is a plus plus contact hitter still searching for a full-time occupation. While he has the bat speed and contact rate to hit .300, he lacks the feet for the middle infield, the glove for a corner or the arm for third base. He may end up a platoon DH-1B-OF in the major leagues, but another year or two of experience behind the plate could also turn him into a serviceable regular.
More Scouting Book Info on Jordan Pacheco >
314
LHP, OAK
A nasty lefty with stuff to spare, Dominican Pedro Figueroa is looking to break into the rich ranks of top Oakland pitching prospects. He's struck out 145 hitters in 152 minor league innings to date, though he's been doing that without much finesse, as his 1.46 WHIP and high walk rate demonstrate. A couple of more years of careful coaching should coax some discipline from the young firebrand, and thanks to the depth of the Oakland system, he should have that time to develop.
More Scouting Book Info on Pedro Figueroa >
315
LHP, ATL
The Braves very last draft-and-follow player, Rohrbough is a sturdy lefthander with a moving fastball and a deadly hammer curve that shuts down left-handed hitters. Rohrbough's still developing both his command and control, and needs to add a third quality pitch to be viable as an MLB starter. If he stays healthy he could be a lights-out lefty reliever for the Braves in the near future, or a solid starter a little later down the road. He should play in AA this year, and if the Braves fail to restock their rotation before Opening Day 2010, Rohrbough will once again have good odds as a midseason callup.
More Scouting Book Info on Cole Rohrbough >
316
RHP, KC
Timothy 'Magoo' Melville is a bit of a sleeper prospect in the Royals system, where he doesn't get quite as much attention as he perhaps deserves. Drafted out of high school in 2008's fourth round, he's already blossoming as a starter. He uses a mid-nineties fastball to set up his strikeout curve, while his change is a better-developed pitch than any teenager deserves to have. Another year or two with the pitching coaches in KC and he should be ready to step into the Royals' rotation. It's not as if he needs much help, either: he struck out 96 in 97 innings at A-level Burlington in 2009, and he looks almost ready to step up to AA sometime in 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Tim Melville >
317
RHP, MLW
A surprise pick by the Brewers with their first-round pick of the 2010 Draft, righthander Dylan Covey is a polished pitcher with a fastball that can touch 96mph with good motion and natural sink. He shows a hard, looping curve and a slider that's even harder. His changeup is advanced for a high-schooler, but it still lags behind, raising early questions about his eventual role, especially for a team like the Brewers who are desperate for arms right now.
More Scouting Book Info on Dylan Covey >
318
1B, SEA
The M's chose Poythress in round two of the 2009 draft based on his ability to hit baseballs very, very hard. He proved a bit too much for Rookie ball in 2009, so the Mariners bumped him all the way to AA, where he'll stay until he can develop enough of a batting eye to accompany his strength. His defensive shortcomings limit him to first base or DH.
More Scouting Book Info on Rich Poythress >
319
LHP, Japan
The highest paid pitcher in Japan last year, Iwase became a free agent after the 2007 season, and is probably the best relief pitcher available from Japan. While he's a very strong closer candidate, many teams may look at him in a setup role due to his left-handedness.
More Scouting Book Info on Hitoki Iwase >
320
301. Ross Seaton
302. Ezequiel Carrera
303. Jess Todd
304. Tyler Colvin
305. Cesar Carrillo
306. David Cooper
308. Yorman Rodriguez
309. Wynn Pelzer
310. Jessie Hahn
314. Jordan Pacheco
315. Pedro Figueroa
316. Cole Rohrbough
317. Tim Melville
318. Dylan Covey
320. Hitoki Iwase
301 to 320 of 481
