Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
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 >
311
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 >
312
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 >
313
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 >
314
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 >
315
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 >
316
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 >
317
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 >
318
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 >
319
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 >
320
311. Wynn Pelzer
312. Jessie Hahn
313. Delino DeShields
314. Adonis Cardona
316. Jordan Pacheco
317. Pedro Figueroa
318. Cole Rohrbough
319. Tim Melville
320. Dylan Covey
311 to 320 of 484
