Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
RHP, STL
Selected 30th overall by the Cardinals in the 2006 draft, Ottavino dominated hitters at Northwestern University with a K/9 rate over 10 and a notable ability to handle tough left-handed hitters. He projects a promising mix of confidence and stuff, and scouts see him as a future middle-of-rotation starter. He's had a rocky time in the minors so far, but his advanced mental game and advanced skills should come together sooner or later.
More Scouting Book Info on Adam Ottavino >
341
1B, TEX
A big slugger with 35+ HR potential, he's also a little old for a 'prospect', as he'll turn 27 this year. Still, his massive, bone-rattling swings should be able to connect in a depleted Texas system soon, even if he's just a stopgap until Justin Smoak is ready.
More Scouting Book Info on Joe Koshansky >
342
OF, SD
A toolsy outfielder who is often compared to Michael Bourn, Padres' outfielder Everett Williams has a little more pop in his bat and a little less nitro in his legs, but is a similar contact hitter from the left side with all-around smarts. Drafted out of McCallum (Texas) High in 2009, Williams will need to show patience at the plate and with his career: he's several years away from a possible big league debut.
More Scouting Book Info on Everett Williams >
343
OF, SF
A speedy outfielder in the Giants' system, Dominican Francisco Peguero is a solid defender with developing on-base skills. After a frustrating attempt at A-ball in 2008, Peguero started 2009 back in low-A Salem before getting another crack, but when he returned to Augusta he put on quite a clinic, slashing .340/.359/.437 in 58 games, and tossing in 15 steals at the same time. A line drive hitter whose build doesn't suggest future power (he's shaped more or less like Eugenio Velez, though he hits exclusively from the right side), Peguero will have to keep reaching base at a high clip in order to contribute. He's got some distance to close, too: despite the improving batting average, his walk rate dropped in 2009... from 21 down to only eight bases on balls.
More Scouting Book Info on Francisco Peguero >
344
LHP, CLE
Kelvin de la Cruz is a skeletal left-handed strike machine buried in the Indians' farm system. A fastball specialist who rose through three levels of minor league play in one season,he's expected to be a mainstay of the AA Akron rotation again for 2010, and his track record certainly suggests he can be an anchor: he's struck out more than a batter per inning in his young minor league career. While he does walk a few too many, he also surrenders only the rare long bomb. The recently-reloaded Indians system is deep in pitching, which means de la Cruz should be left alone to develop further in 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Kelvin de la Cruz >
345
2B, SF
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 >
346
OF, ARZ
A fifth round pickup by the Diamondbacks back in 2008, Cowgill is a small-framed but solidly-built slugger in a Diamondback system chock full of mashers. Hitting right and throwing left (sic), the potent corner slugger is probably best-known for swatting 10 home runs for low-A Yakima over a two-week period back in 2008. His power is real, but he'll need to work on his defense and discipline before he's ready to break into higher-level ball.
More Scouting Book Info on Collin Cowgill >
347
RHP, Japan
Saitoh is a tall, lanky pitcher who, like many Japanese pitchers, makes use of his lower body to generate most of his velocity.
More Scouting Book Info on Kazumi Saitoh >
348
RHP, STL
A fifth-round pick in the 2005 draft, Boggs is a durable righthander in the Cardinal system. Working primarily with a 95mph fastball and a splitter-slider that he's still learning to master, Boggs is still working to find pitches that he can throw with movement and for strikes at the same time. While Mitch could probably do a fine job in the bullpen very soon, using nothing but his heat, the Cardinals want to keep developing Boggs as a starter in the hope that he can become a major league workhorse. He projects as a middle-to-back-end starter, but a reliable one, in the Joe Blanton category.
More Scouting Book Info on Mitchell Boggs >
349
3B, MLW
A smallish shortstop currently working as a third baseman, Taylor 'Red' Green was a draft and follow pick who broke out as the surprise Minor League Player of the Year for Milwaukee in 2007. A smart player with gap power and great plate discipline, Green is a Casey Blake-style player who will need to work hard to stay on top of the prospect lists.
More Scouting Book Info on Taylor Green >
350
341. Adam Ottavino
342. Joe Koshansky
343. Everett Williams
344. Francisco Peguero
345. Kelvin de la Cruz
347. Collin Cowgill
348. Kazumi Saitoh
350. Taylor Green
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