Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
LHP, PIT
A big hardthrowing lefty in the Randy Myers vein, Moskos was drafted fourth overall by the Pirates in 2007, despite concerns about whether he'd be able to stick as a frontline starter. He's a quality arm with great stuff, including a 94mph heater and plus slider, but he still has quite a lot to learn about pitching, based on his so-so 2009 results. If Moskos ends up in the bullpen, the Pirates are going to spend a lot of time thinking how they might have better spent that draft pick: catcher Matt Wieters was still on the board when the team selected Moskos.
More Scouting Book Info on Daniel Moskos >
351
SS, CLE
A native of the same city as Phillies pitcher Carlos Carrasco, Rivero is the kind of hitter you expect from a shortstop, a line-drive hitter with hustle. Carlos hit .282 .342 .411 last year at high-A Kinston, striking out 84 times in 411 but also drawing 36 walks, which suggests he already has the patience, if not the eye, to be a high-percentage player. He's a less-than-average runner, though, and he won't ever have the power numbers to be any kind of elite player. He might be a better fit in a pirahna-style Twins offense, he does give the Indians some extra depth for the future.
More Scouting Book Info on Carlos Rivero >
352
CF, BAL
A pure tools selection by the Orioles in the 2008 draft, high school centerfield star Xavier Avery will probably be the fastest player in baseball if his bat can get him there. We won't know for quite a while, though, which is probably good, since we'll need practice saying his name quickly without hurting our tongues.
More Scouting Book Info on Xavier Avery >
353
OF, Japan
A free-agent-eligible outfielder for NPB's Fukuoka (SoftBank) Hawks, Hitoshi Tamura is a lifetime .282 hitter who hit 40 home runs for the Hawks in 2004.He's staying in Japan for 2010, but his reputation for playing solid defense and providing power from the right side of the plate makes him a tempting target for MLB teams in 2011.
More Scouting Book Info on Hitoshi Tamura >
354
RHP, FLA
A high-ceiling righthander who's often come up as a 'future closer' name in Florida, Brett Sinkbeil has had his development hampered by a series of injuries. When he can take the mound, though, he's an impressive kid: the combination of plus fastball and nasty slider could be just what the 9th-inning doctor ordered, if the Marlins commit to Sinkbeil as a reliever.
More Scouting Book Info on Brett Sinkbeil >
355
SS, COL
A power-hitting infielder whose development was hampered by Tommy John surgery, Nelson is back to mashing balls and eyeing the roster in Colorado. Since he's blocked by phenom Troy Tulowitzki upstairs and by the rapidly-developing Hector Gomez from below, Nelson is a likely candidate to be moved to second base in the near future. If this happens, he'll become the Rockies best 2B prospect for the years to come.
More Scouting Book Info on Chris Nelson >
356
RHP, CHW
A workhorse lefty with a quality curveball, Holmberg was the 71st pick overall in the 2008 draft. He's not an overpowering pitcher, but he's pretty well-developed, leveraging his almost MLB-ready hammer from a 90mph fastball which features good late movement: it cuts in on righthanded hitters in an especially nasty way. He's a couple of years away from Chicago, but he should move quickly. He'll break more than his share of bats along the way.
More Scouting Book Info on David Holmberg >
357
RHP, MIN
Steve 'Shooter' Hunt is an erratic but high-ceiling righthander from Tulane who could join the stable of frontline Minnesota starters in the future. With a plus-action fastball, strikeout curve and an already-polished changeup, he has terrific raw stuff, but his spotty command will have to improve before he's a big-league caliber pitcher. He's definitely one to keep an eye on for 2012 or so.
More Scouting Book Info on Shooter Hunt >
358
RHP, FLA
A stocky righthander who generates good power from his strong legs, Marlins' pitcher Ryan Tucker has been up and down the depth chart in Florida, and remains on the horizon for a future role with the Marlins. Signed for his plus moving fastball, Tucker has been working hard to add a slider and change to his repertoire. Results have been mixed, and he'll need some more time to refine those secondary pitches if he's going to remain on the hot-prospect radar in South Florida.
More Scouting Book Info on Ryan Tucker >
359
LHP, MLW
Big Fred, a huge lefthander in the CC Sabathia mold, comes from the same school that produced White Sox phenom Aaron Poreda, and he's almost as exciting a prospect. A fastball-slider guy with a 94mph heat, his control has been an issue until now, and that's what the Brewers will be working on for the next while.
More Scouting Book Info on Evan Frederickson >
360
351. Daniel Moskos
352. Carlos Rivero
353. Xavier Avery
354. Hitoshi Tamura
355. Brett Sinkbeil
356. Chris Nelson
357. David Holmberg
358. Shooter Hunt
360. Evan Frederickson
351 to 360 of 445
