Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
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 >
311
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 >
312
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 >
313
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 >
314
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 >
315
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 >
316
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 >
317
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 >
318
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 >
319
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 >
320
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 >
321
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 >
322
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 >
323
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 >
324
RHP, MIN
A well-rounded righthander from Ohio State drafted the Twins in the first round of 2010, Alex Wimmers is that rare example of a college pitcher who's already got control of three pitches, including a genuine plus changeup. A big-game pitcher who excelled under pressure, Wimmers showed consistent shutdown ability whenever the Buckeyes needed it. His uncanny ability to outsmart hitters rather than blow them away with his stuff is probably his primary asset.
More Scouting Book Info on Alex Wimmers >
325
RHP, BAL
A monster of a man, young Kam Mickolio is a 6-9 righthander who makes even CC Sabathia look boy-sized. A forgotten piece of the package that shipped Erik Bedard to the Mariners, Mickolio is a power reliever who throws a hard sinker from a 3/4 arm slot. He's well equipped to rack up both strikeouts and groundouts with the pitch, which is especially devastating against right-handed batters. He's a middle reliever for now, and that's how the Orioles tested him in a September 2008 cup of coffee, but he has the raw stuff and power to be a premium setup man or even closer someday. Think Jonathan Broxton, but even bigger and scarier.
More Scouting Book Info on Kam Mickolio >
326
OF, CHW
The Sox second-round pick in 2009 out of high school, outfielder Trayce Thompson is a 6-4, 200 pound righthanded masher from Rancho Santa Margarita, California. The son of ex-NBA player Mychal Thompson, Trayce is a high-quality athlete with a solid set of tools. Both his power and speed project as possible plus tools. Still very young, he'll need to percolate for a few instructional years before he's ready to be an impact player in Chicago.
More Scouting Book Info on Trayce Thompson >
327
RHP, PIT
The 26th overall selection in the 2006 draft, Pirate righthander Avery (Bryan) Morris was acquired by the Pirates as part of the multi-team deal that moved Jason Bay. He spent all of 2007 recovering from TJ surgery, much of 2008 recovering from toe surgery, and most of 2009 just re-finding his delivery. But he remains one of Pittsburgh's better long-term pitching prospects. Morris has a high-90's fastball and a plus curve, and frustrates batters with an unorthodox delivery. While his name might have been forgotten by many, he should be moving up the ranks again now that he's healthy, two full years after receiving his fancy new elbow.
More Scouting Book Info on Bryan Morris >
328
RHP, NYY
With a WHIP under 1.00 and a scary-good strikeout rate, Betances has been one of the many weapons being sharpened in the Yankee labs. His lightning stuff has been sidelined a bit too often by minor injuries, sadly, and he underwent a bit of surprise surgery in late 2009 that could put most of his 2010 season in doubt. Still, he remains a high-ceiling if risky long-term asset: guys with stuff this wicked always seem to find their way onto MLB rosters sooner or later.
More Scouting Book Info on Dellin Betances >
329
LHP, TEX
A Kentucky-grown pitcher stolen in round two of the 2008 amateur draft, Texas lefty Robbie Ross is one of the lesser-known prospects on a pitching-rich Texas farm. Ross works both sides of the plate with a 92mph that can sniff 95mph from time to time, and his complementary pitches (a hard slider and a mature change) come to him with near-effortless command. He can work the entire strike zone, and his five-to-one ratio of strikeouts to walks is one of the best in the Texas system. His 2009 year at low-A Spokane (2.66 ERA / 1.14 WHIP) looks like enough to earn Ross a ticket to high-A Bakersfield in 2010, though perhaps not right away.
More Scouting Book Info on Robbie Ross >
330
311. Nick Franklin
312. Yorman Rodriguez
313. Wynn Pelzer
314. Jessie Hahn
315. Delino DeShields
316. Adonis Cardona
318. Jordan Pacheco
319. Pedro Figueroa
320. Cole Rohrbough
321. Tim Melville
322. Dylan Covey
324. Hitoki Iwase
325. Alex Wimmers
327. Trayce Thompson
328. Bryan Morris
329. Dellin Betances
330. Robbie Ross
311 to 330 of 486
