Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
RHP, CHC
Juan Yasser Serrano is lanky Cuban righthander who defected to the United States in April 2009. Serrano gained some attention in the US when he helped the junior national team to a 2-1 defeat of the USA for at the Pan-Am Games, but that's the extent of his exposure in America. Back in Cuba, he posted a 16-23 'lifetime' record as a starter, and didn't look like much of a premium prospect in his final year with Villa Clara. We can forgive his mind being on his pending defection, but what we have trouble forgiving is the 6.46 ERA and .312 opponents' batting average across sixteen starts.
More Scouting Book Info on Juan Serrano >
371
RHP, BAL
A towering right-hander with lights-out potential, Hoey rode a brief rollercoaster in 2007, performing well in the minors and looking unhittable during his first week in Baltimore before crashing to earth. He ended the season with as many big-league walks as strikeouts (18 of each). His 2008 was even more heartbreaking, as he was shut down in spring and ended the year in May with shoulder surgery. He'll be back eventually, but that hotshot closer club membership card is looking less and less likely everyday.
More Scouting Book Info on James Hoey >
372
3B, SD
A talented infielder signed out of Dominica at the end of 2007, third baseman Edinson Rincon didn't have much use for rookie ball (.308/.429/.354), and didn't have much trouble with A-ball, either. In 2009, the still-a-teenager slashed .300/.415/.468 with a few home runs and stolen bases thrown in for good measure. His fielding is still a mess (22 errors in only 44 games) but he'll have time to polish, polish and polish while he brews away on the ever-patient San Diego farm.
More Scouting Book Info on Edinson Rincon >
373
1B, ATL
The younger of the two Ka'aihue brothers, Kala (full name Isaiah Kala Ka'aihue) is the righthanded half of the matching Hawaiian sluggers. Kala was originally drafted by Boston, but declined and was later drafted by the Braves. He's one of Atlanta's best power prospects, drawing comparisons to Andres Galarraga.
More Scouting Book Info on Kala Ka'aihue >
374
RHP, BAL
No information is available on this player at this time. Check back later for an updated report.
More Scouting Book Info on Pedro Beato >
375
SS, BOS
A sleeper talent in the Red Sox system, Yamaico Navarro is a native of The Land of Shortstops, San Pedro de Macoris, and he shows ever sign of following in the footsteps of so many who came before. A bit bulky for a shortstop, he might be best suited for second or third base, but for now he's an offensive-minded middle infielder with a powerful, aggressive approach at the plate. His bat is quick, and he adds some natural loft to most of his line drives, which means he could be a serious Miguel Tejada type threat in a couple more years. In the field, he's a bit clumsy around the bag, but has a plus arm and slick glove, with a penchant for turning in dazzling plays at least once a week. Navarro isn't much more than a dark horse option on the Red Sox depth chart, but if he continues to grow and develop, he'll force management to start considering him as a viable long-term option for Fenway. For now, he'll open the season in AA.
More Scouting Book Info on Yamaico Navarro >
376
RHP, CHW
With a name bound to be misspelled often in the coming years, White Sox prospect Clevelan Santeliz is a right-handed pitcher from Valencia, Venezuela. A stocky six-footer with broad shoulders and high heat, he was nearly unhittable at AA Birmingham in 2009, when he posted a shiny 0.96 in 40 relief appearances. Then again, maybe hitters should just sheathe their lumber: his 35 walks in only 56 innings is frighteningly consistent with his minor league average of just under six per nine innings. He'll need to harness that control if that mid-90's fastball is going to play more than one batter at a time.
More Scouting Book Info on Clevelan Santeliz >
377
LHP, LAA
A lefthander snatched up by the Angels in 2009's first round supplemental, the wiry Tyler Skaggs projects as a lanky starter once he grows into his 6-4 frame. His fastball, a low-90's offering with good lateral movenment, is already polished enough for action, but his secondary pitches (a sharp curve and an iffy change) need work. He only had time for a few innings of rookie ball in 2009, (a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings of autumn work) but he'll be back for a full season of development in 2010. He's several years away from deployment.
More Scouting Book Info on Tyler Skaggs >
378
SS, CIN
The Cincinnati Reds' Minor League Player of the Year for 2008, infielder Chris Valaika hit .317 in the FSL with 18 HR, 81 RBI and nine stolen bases. He looks like a long-term shortstop, with good hands and quick feet. At the plate, he has an aggressive approach that's working well so far, with good line-drive power that could blossom into 20-homer pop in the future. He'll start the year back at AA, but he could get a look on a shallow Reds' bench before 2010 is over.
More Scouting Book Info on Chris Valaika >
379
RHP, NYY
The Yankees drafted William Alan Horne in the 11th round of the 2005 MLB Draft, a lower position than xpected due to his TJ surgery. He's come along slowly but surely since then: he went 12-4 with a 3.11 ERA and a 165/57 K/BB ratio with AA Trenton last year, on his way to winning the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year honors.
More Scouting Book Info on Alan Horne >
380
RHP, PHI
A young, raw, but very promising prospect signed at the tender age of 16 Dominican Years (that is, 18 or 19), Garcia has always shown the potential to bring spectacular stuff to the mound, but his still-developing control and lack of experience have so far made it impossible to judge exactly how good he'll be.
More Scouting Book Info on Edgar Garcia >
381
RHP, CLE
Miller, formerly known as 'Mr. 101' stemming from a late-season velocity reading before an arm injury in 2004, has dialed down his fastball since his teenage years, but still hits the mid nineties, working his two-seam fastball down, down, and down in the zone. His slider is one of the best in the minors, while his change is also above average.
More Scouting Book Info on Adam Miller >
382
RHP, TEX
A righthander with a fading shot at the Ranger rotation in 2009, Hurley has developed fast over the last few seasons.
More Scouting Book Info on Eric Hurley >
383
RHP, NYY
A finesse pitcher when he was signed out of high school, Zach McAllister has grown into more of a power build over the past two seasons, which means it's anyone's guess how he'll end up. In high school he worked with a 90mph sinking fastball and a great 82mph slider, but the Yankees may be reevaluating his strengths now that he's a big boy in pinstripes. He has an outside shot at bullpen work in 2010, but more likely he'll continue to move slowly. He's worth keeping an eye on over the next couple of years.
More Scouting Book Info on Zach McAllister >
384
RHP, HOU
The 19th pick of the 2009 draft's second right, righthanded Tanner Bushue is a 6-4 teenager who can hit the upper 90's with his fastball, though he usually works around 92-94mph. A late signee, he made five starts in rookie ball at the end of the season and showed promise, outclassing the other youngsters with a 1.03 WHIP and a 19:5 ratio of strikeouts to walks. He's a long way on the horizon, but in a thin farm system he could be moved up as quickly as he can handle it.
More Scouting Book Info on Tanner Bushue >
385
SS, TB
While lost in the sea of Tampa prospects, Andy Cannizaro deserves a look as an up-and-coming middle infielder, even though he's of advanced age for a prospect.
More Scouting Book Info on Andy Cannizaro >
386
SS, Japan
Nioka, a free agent since 2008, is a slick fielding shortstop and quality hitter who may help many major league teams.
More Scouting Book Info on Tomohiro Nioka >
387
RHP, CIN
A premium prospect in college, Buck's stock took a dive when it was discovered that he played through a partial ligament tear en route to Oregon State's College World Series championship in 2006. Of course, the same event proved that his heart was two sizes too large, and he's been a bit of an underdog darling ever since. Buck had TJ surgery to rebuild his elbow in 2007 and has been coming back since. When healthy, Dallas is a workhorse who throws a 92-94 mph fastball, a plus slider and a changeup that could develop into a premium MLB pitch. He'll idle under the radar until fully recovered from his operation, but after the usual 18 months pass, he should return to top prospect status.
More Scouting Book Info on Dallas Buck >
388
LHP, ARZ
Playing for a less-known school caused Miley to slide to the 2008 draft's second round, but the lefthander was one of college ball's leading strikeout artists last season. Among second-round pitchers from the last few seasons, he's one of the most likely to outperform his slot.
More Scouting Book Info on Wade Miley >
389
OF, CIN
A huge pile of talent and potential, the six-foot-six teenager is a scout's darling, even if he's a bit rough around the edges. Scooped out of Dominica by some calendar-savvy Reds' scouts before anyone else noticed he was eligible, Duran is a bony, gawky youngster who's all arms, legs, elbows... and big, looping home run swings. He'll probably stay parked in the DSL for now, but he could start to see meaningful minor-league action stateside in 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Juan Duran >
390
C, MLW
A smart, careful student of the game, Kottaras is an offensive catcher with very good plate discipline and 20-homer potential. His body is still filling out, but he's expected to be able to perform to MLB levels while remaining behind the plate.
More Scouting Book Info on George Kottaras >
391
SS, CHC
A big and strong shortstop from Vanderbilt, Ryan 'Flash' Flaherty seems blocked at short (Starlin Castro) and third (Josh Vitters), but as a hard-hitting all-around ballplayer he should find a place somewhere sooner or later. He doesn't have great raw tools, and his speed of development (just .276/.343/.470 as a 23 year old at A-level Peoria) hasn't yet lived up to his nickname, but he does have great baseball skills and resolve. He could appear as a utility infielder by mid-2011.
More Scouting Book Info on Ryan Flaherty >
392
SS, DET
After forsaking the Church of Baseball to go on a year-long Mormon mission in Portugal (which apparently has some kind of shortage of Christians?) Canadian Cale Iorg is back on the prospect lists as the up-and-coming shortstop in Detroit, where management has all but anointed him as the long-term Tiger six. A true five-tool player with a great feel for the game thanks to his lineage (he's Garth's son), Cale hit .251/.329/.405 at high-A Lakeland in 2008, respectable but not jaw-dropping, and slid even further when pushed to AA Erie in 2009. He'll need to develop a lot more pop over the next couple of years if he's going to live up to the high expectations. He'll be back in AA come 2010, but high-A is probably more his speed right now.
More Scouting Book Info on Cale Iorg >
393
RHP, BAL
A Vanderbilt product from Carefree, Arizona, righthander Brett Jacobson has sky-high potential but fell to the Tigers in the fourth round of the 2008 draft due to some rough college outings in his junior season. His 95mph fastball has hard sink, and the combination of his max-effort approach and deceptive over-the-top delivery seem to indicate a bullpen role in his future. His secondary pitch is a 12-6 curve that he's still learning to control, but it won't matter as anything other than a show-me pitch as a reliever.
More Scouting Book Info on Brett Jacobson >
394
3B, BAL
After a bumpy ride through A ball in 2007, this pride of New Jersey hit .248/.315/.368 in a near-full season at high-A Fremont in 2008 while adding a remarkable amount of muscle to his frame. Scouts are all over the board on this one: some describe the next Barry Bonds, others caution that he may be the next... Barry Bonds. Still, if he keeps moving up the system, the Orioles can't help but give him a shot in the near future... and hopefully he can stick.
More Scouting Book Info on Billy Rowell >
395
SS, TOR
A true five-tool talent, Blue Jays prospect Justin Jackson could play any position on the field, but looks right at home at shortstop, where is plus range, fast feet and absolute cannon of an arm could make him a gold glove candidate someday. At the plate, he shows exceptional discipline and strike zone judgement for such a young player, and his easy swing makes solid contact more often than not. While he won't be a true power threat, 15-20 homer potential is likely. His swing can get a bit long, which better pitchers will exploit, but if he can shorten his stroke and learn to handle hard stuff inside, he'll be a star in a few years.
More Scouting Book Info on Justin Jackson >
396
LHP, DET
The first Chinese professional to jump to MLB, Taiwanese lefthander Fu-Te Ni led the CPBL in 2008 with 132 strikeouts last season with the China Trust Whales, and has struck out a total of 257 in his 267 pro innings to date. He's best known for one-hitting Canada in the 2008 Olympics, the highlight of his 1-2, 4.09 ERA tournament.
More Scouting Book Info on Fu-Te Ni >
397
LHP, BAL
Another of many development projects undertaken by the Seattle Mariners, Butler was been an on-again/off-again hot prospect since he was drafted by the Ms in the 3rd round (81st overall) of the 2006 draft. Traded to the Orioles as part of the package that brought Erik Bedard to Seattle in 2008, Butler's chance to break into the starting rotation will now happen in Baltimore Orange.
More Scouting Book Info on Tony Butler >
398
3B, SF
In drafting Omaha native Conor Gillaspie in the supplemental round of the 2008 amateur draft, the Giants raised a lot of eyebrows. A high-average hitter with projectable power, he was expected to last later than that. he Giants gave him five MLB at-bats at the tail end of 2008, during which he walked twice and homered off, of all people, Dan Haren. Pushed back to his proper level for 2009, Gillaspie slashed a respectable .286/.364/.386 at high-A San Jose, popping four homers and stealing a couple of bases in the bargain.
More Scouting Book Info on Conor Gillaspie >
399
3B, TOR
Drafted as a shortstop, the switch-hitting Ahrens has since been moved to 3B due to his lack of speed and fielding quickness.
More Scouting Book Info on Kevin Ahrens >
400
RHP, BAL
A stocky righthander with good fundamentals, the oddly-named Chorye ('Corey') has four good pitches, including a mid-nineties four-seamer, and a low-nineties two-seam fastball with good sink. His curve and change are still works in progress, but show signs of becoming plus offerings in the near future. His mound presence is intense, though he does seem to get rattled and thrown off his game on occasion.
More Scouting Book Info on Chorye Spoone >
401
1B, LAA
Kendry Morales will do his very best to help Angels' fans forget the brief glory days of Mark Teixeira, but if he can't hold up, a big slugging local boy named Mark Trumbo should be ready to step up soon. After smashing fifteen homers at AA Arkansas in 2009, he should be along pretty soon.
More Scouting Book Info on Mark Trumbo >
402
2B, SF
A smallish, versatile infielder who's already bounced around a few ballclubs, Denker won't win any home run competitions. He can, however, spray hits all over the field with abandon: he's put up .300ish averages at every minor league stop since 2005. Already an ex-Dodger, Red Sox and Giant, he's now providing some depth in the Mariner system. He needs to find a higher gear if he's ever going to break out of AAAA status.
More Scouting Book Info on Travis Denker >
403
RHP, CIN
A big, strong Canadian signed by the Reds in 2007's supplemental round, righthander Kyle Lotzkar is one of the most promising arms in the Cincinnati stable. Like most of the Reds' best farm talent, he's awhile away from big-league action, but he's already showing the poise and polish necessary to succeed in pro ball. While he's still wrestling with his control, he looks like he could bring a plus change and curve to bear consistently soon, which could be devastating when combined with his existing 94mph fastball. Thanks to his control problems, his walk rate is way too high, but if he manages to start pitching within himself, look out. Only 20 entering 2010, he's definitely a name to highlight for the next couple of seasons.
More Scouting Book Info on Kyle Lotzkar >
404
LF, WAS
Washington loves to collect powerful hitters, and Hood probably has more raw power than any player of his draft class. A three-sport star in high-school, Hood's linebacker physique certainly looks the part of big league slugger already.
More Scouting Book Info on Destin Hood >
405
C, DET
One of the best hitting youngsters in the Tiger system, Ryan looked good in a September 2008 callup. He'll have to wait, though, as the Tigers signed Gerald Laird to be their everyday catcher for 2009. Expect Ryan's low-average, high-power bat to join the team as an injury fillin, part-time C/1B/DH later in the year.
More Scouting Book Info on Dusty Ryan >
406
OF, SF
Darren Ford is speed-demon. One of the fastest players in A ball, his base-stealing ability, defense and range in center is top-notch and unquestioned. There's a shortage of optimism regarding his bat, however. Unless he turns it up a notch, his future looks like the role of a pinch-running, defensive replacement fourth outfielder.
More Scouting Book Info on Darren Ford >
407
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.
More Scouting Book Info on Tyler Colvin >
408
LHP, Japan
35 year old lefthander Koji 'Kit-kat' Mitsui was 36-19 over the past eight seasons with Japan's Seibu Lions, with a career 4.41 ERA overall. Once a top-flight starter, he's been used exclusively in relief since early 2005, and in the two years 2006 and 2007, his all-bullpen ERA was under two.
More Scouting Book Info on Koji Mitsui >
409
LHP, ATL
A high-school lefty drafted by the Braves for his 'pitchability', DeVall is a project being developed inside the secret mountain labs of the Braves Brain Trust. He won't be ready for display for a couple of years.
More Scouting Book Info on Brett DeVall >
410
RHP, SEA
A mature prospect who's been slowly filtering up the Seattle system, righthander Chris Jakubauskas has a chance to help balance out the back end of the Seattle rotation this year, if he's not called upon sooner to assist with the shaky bullpen. While he doesn't have a real plus pitch, he has good control and baseball smarts, which means he should be able to leverage his impressive 2009 work into a serviceable gig sometime in 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Chris Jakubauskas >
411
RHP, CHC
A lefthanded changeup specialist in the Cubs system, Korean Dae-Eun Rhee is something of a sleeper. Signed by Steve Wilson as an international free agent in 2008, he threw only 40 innings last season at A-level Peoria, but what a 40 innings they were: 4-1, 1.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 2:1 K:BB ratio. He'll move up to AA this year, and if better hitters are as flummoxed by his changeup as those before, he'll be frustrating major leaguers by 2011.
More Scouting Book Info on Dae-Eun Rhee >
412
RHP, SD
Everyone who sees the kid loves his makeup, and while the pitching staff in Milwaukee could have used the boost, they were so confident in their other options that they sent him to the Padres without hesitation. While this pushes him down on the depth chart a bit, it also brings him into the realm of an organization known for pitching development, and a better pitcher's park, should he make the majors soon.
More Scouting Book Info on Will Inman >
413
SS, DET
The Tigers' sixth round pick in 2009, high school shortstop Daniel Fields is the son of former Tigers' hitting coach Bruce Fields, which might explain his advanced hitting ability. Big and strong for a real shortstop, even in this post-Ripken era, Fields might be moved to third base or a corner outfield spot eventually, but it shouldn't matter: he'll rise or fall on his bat, which we have to assume will get a lot of careful coaching in the years to come.
More Scouting Book Info on Dan Fields >
414
LHP, NYY
A 2008 supplemental pick for the Yankees, this Stanford lefthander was the team's ace before being derailed by an elbow strain, which helped him slide in the draft. He's not a big kid, but he's got a nasty selection of breaking stuff that could play well in a relief role a few years from now.
More Scouting Book Info on Jeremy Bleich >
415
1B, BOS
A third-round pick from the 2006 draft class, the 6-4 and 240lb Bates is a big, strong hitter with solid plate discipline. Aaron has plus power that's near big-league ready, but not much else. His bat-speed is suspect, which means he may flounder at higher levels if he keeps trying to hit every pitch 600ft. He'll start 2007 with the AA Sea Dogs, and he's likely to end the year in the same place: at this point he's too far down the depth chart to have much impact before 2010 or later. Because of the depth in the Sox system, Bates is a likely trade candidate, especially within the AL.
More Scouting Book Info on Aaron Bates >
416
RHP, MLW
A righthanded high-schooler, Lintz attracted attention with a 9-0 record and 0.57 ERA in his senior year. He's a deep prospect in the Milwaukee system.
More Scouting Book Info on Seth Lintz >
417
OF, HOU
A two-way athlete in college, Bogusevic hit .328/.428/.397 in his final year while also going 13-3 with a 3.25 ERA on the mound. Houston drafted him thinking 'pitcher' but changed their mind midway through 2008, and he's now considered an outfielder only. He's got plus power (he might be the best raw power bat in the system) and a decent batting eye, but he needs to gain experience hitting at high levels before he can be considered a top-flight prospect.
More Scouting Book Info on Brian Bogusevic >
418
OF, MLW
Cutter Dykstra has a great baseball name and terrific genetics (yes, he's Lenny's son) but he's been an inconsistent slugger who will need to develop a lot more plate discipline to go with his big bat before he's ready to step into his father's very gritty shoes.
More Scouting Book Info on Cutter Dykstra >
419
OF, CHW
John Shelby III has been sneaking up the Chicagoland prospect ranks after slashing .301/.352/.508 with 16 homers on SAL Kannapolis in 2007. In 2008, he followed up with a carbon copy .295/.331/.510, 15-homer performance but increased his stolen bases from 19 to 33 while playing in 8 fewer games. While he did slide back a bit in 2009 (.243/.323/.402 in his first taste of AA) he remains on track to become a real 30-30 threat in center for the White Sox come 2012 or so. He'll be back in Birmingham for 2010, but don't forget about him.
More Scouting Book Info on John Shelby >
420
2B, OAK
A sixth round pick by the Rockies, switch-hitting Corey Wimberly slashed an impressive .291/.370/.345 in his second year at AA Tulsa in 2008. He also led the league with 59 steals last season. A player who reminds coaches of Chone Figgins, his speed could play well in the majors, but he lacks the defensive versatility to be a real plus bench asset, and his bat isn't really up to starter level. He'll need to add power or start hitting .350 to have a real shot at the bigs.
More Scouting Book Info on Corey Wimberly >
421
CF, HOU
A raw high-school outfield prospect who looked good in low-A ball but is still a few years away from becoming a known quantity, 2008 second-rounder Joseph 'Jay' Austin is part of Houston's long-term plan to consolidate good Texas puns on their roster. Trades for Huston Street and Dallas Braden are probably in the works, too.
More Scouting Book Info on Jay Austin >
422
3B, NYY
An All-American at second base, the switch-hitting Suttle's skills play well at almost any infield position, though he's growing fast enough that he may end up limited to first or third. In his first pro season at A-level Charleston, Bradley put up a respectable line of .271/.348/.456 while playing mainly third based. A quality overall ballplayer without a standout tool, he'll need to develop more power if he wants to break out of a future utlity role.
More Scouting Book Info on Bradley Suttle >
423
3B, BOS
Signed as an international free agent by the Red Sox in 2007, Michael Almanzar is a lanky shortstop who's athletic enough to also play center field. Thin, raw, and eager to play baseball 24/7, he reminds Latin scouts of a younger Alexei Ramirez, though his fidgety habits in the batter's box look more like Alfonso Soriano to us. Either way, he's a raw prospect with a very high ceiling, and the Red Sox will tear him down to his core tools before building him back up again as a polished ballplayer. He won't see MLB until 2013 or later, but he could be an all around threat when he does arrive.
More Scouting Book Info on Michael Almanzar >
424
2B, TOR
A polished infield prospect via Tulane, Brad Emaus projects as a solid major league second baseman in the near future. His .302 average and 12 homers in 463 at-bats at high-A Dunedin helped propel him to the top of the Blue Jays' prospect chart. If his line-drive swing can keep up with more advanced pitching, he could get a look in Toronto at the end of the year.
More Scouting Book Info on Brad Emaus >
425
LHP, KC
Hughes, a lefthander who was once ranked very highly, before requiring midseason Tommy John surgery in 2006. He's still well-regarded, if a bit behind schedule. Depending who you listen to, The Kid from Tupelo is either the next Tom Glavine, or destined for sixth-starter status. His performance as he works back from his injury will say a lot, and his cup of coffee in 2009 didn't show much of anything pro or con. He'll need another year to find his effectiveness.
More Scouting Book Info on Dusty Hughes >
426
LF, PHI
A strong, fast high school outfielder who's drawn Jay Bruce comparisons, Collier is one of the rising young stars of the rapidly-expanding Phillies farm system. He's a very raw talent who's shown five tool potential. Now we'll see if he can hit a breaking ball.
More Scouting Book Info on Zachary Collier >
427
C, CHC
Already considered the best defensive catcher in the Cubs' system, Castillo has recently jumped into prospect spotlight thanks to his developing bat. While he might be idling awhile as Geovany Soto settles into his full-time job in Wrigley, Castillo has enough raw talent to push his way onto the roster anyway, even if it's in a part-time role.
More Scouting Book Info on Wellington Castillo >
428
LHP, TB
A soft-tossing lefty with plus control, the aptly-named Lobstein is a nice complement to the usual flame-throwing Rays prospects. His most likely route to the majors is as a reliever, but he could play his way into a starting role if he keeps up the superior results.
More Scouting Book Info on Kyle Lobstein >
429
RHP, CHW
A 13th-round pick way back in the 2004 draft, Egbert has made a slow but steady climb through the Sox system. While he's never been a white-hot prospect, he does project as a solid back-of-rotation pitcher in the next few years.
More Scouting Book Info on Jack Egbert >
430
RHP, Japan
A lifetime Nippon Ham Fighter, Tateyama has been one of the franchise's best relievers for most of the last decade. He could a useful piece in an MLB bullpen, as his deceptive delivery and workmanlike attitude are good fits for American-style baseball.
More Scouting Book Info on Tateyama Yoshinori >
431
LHP, FLA
The Gatorade Minnesota Player of the Year for 2008, lefty Brad Hand is a smallish pitcher with a big strikeout punch. He'll be brought along slowly in the very good Florida system.
More Scouting Book Info on Brad Hand >
432
2B, SD
Antonelli is a little-known but quality athlete who could have a bright future at almost any fielding position in San Diego.
More Scouting Book Info on Matt Antonelli >
433
RHP, WAS
Perez, a sometime-reliever and sometime-starter in the minors, is running out of chances to break into the Nationals' bullpen or rotation, though he's had chances at both. The relief corps still seems a bit thin this year, so it's possible that Perez could get one more shot at the back-end duty.
More Scouting Book Info on Beltran Perez >
434
RHP, SD
A screwball specialist, Guevara had strong success in the Reds system before being left unprotected in the 2007 Rule Five Draft. While he doesn't show much in terms of endurance, his raw stuff and effort promise a decent future in middle relief.
More Scouting Book Info on Carlos Guevara >
435
2B, KC
A small but scrappy infielder who was a fan favorite at the University of New Orleans, Johnny Giavotella won his Royals blue uniform with a .354 batting average that led the Privateers to the 2007 NCAA Tournament. He can play any infield position, but his lack of plus range or power makes him most suited to second base. In a 2009 season at Wilmington, he hit .304/.366/.440 with 19 steals. His upside is as a three-hold hitter, though he might not reach that for another couple of seasons. Even if his development stalls, he's looking like a heck of a utility player.
More Scouting Book Info on Johnny Giavotella >
436
LHP, SD
Another of the endless parade of Padres pitching prospects, Steve Garrison came to San Diego in the same deal that landed Will Inman and Joe Thatcher. In some ways he's a notch above either of those pitchers right now thanks to his superior command of deceptive breaking stuff. He handles the entire strike zone with ease, and uses his plus curve and change with confidence and intelligence. A veteran mind inside a rookie body, Garrison could be a part of the Padres rotation as early as mid-2010, though he's looking up at a few hotter arms in the mean time.
More Scouting Book Info on Steve Garrison >
437
RHP, SD
Once one of the hottest arms in the White Sox organization, the polydactylic Perez had 'future closer' written all over him until the Sox tried passing him through waivers. He bounced through the Indian and Yankee systems in late 2008 before being picked up by San Diego before the 2009 season.
More Scouting Book Info on Oneli Perez >
438
RHP, MLW
Before he got banged up, Rogers looked like he was starting to figure out how to pitch (not just throw). His raw stuff is still majestic, but he needs to show a lot more polish and smarts to make it onto a big league roster.
More Scouting Book Info on Mark Rogers >
439
RHP, CHW
A smallish righthander who once threw a perfect game at Floosmoore (FL) High School, John Ely is a professional pitcher with significant upside. Ranked second among U Miami career strikeout artists (284 in only three years), the young pitcher already has major league guile, and has shown the ability to perform in big-game situations. While he's primarily a fastball-change pitcher, using his 94mph heater to set up a real plus change, his curve is solid enough to be a viable third pitch. There are concerns about his mechanics and small stature, but if the White Sox resist the urge to tinker and stick to him as a starter, he could make the White Sox roster as early as 2011, while a couple of years more could make him a viable middle-rotation starter.
More Scouting Book Info on John Ely >
440
1B, SD
Another of the rich 2008 draft class of slugging first basemen, Dykstra (no relation to Lenny and Cutter) is a textbook lefty power bat with no obvious position in San Diego, but he's bubbling over in hitting talent. He'll need a year or two in the minors to develop his secondary skills, and the Padres will need to deal with the question of his fielding position, but he projects as a solid 25-30 homer type a few years from now.
More Scouting Book Info on Allan Dykstra >
441
LHP, SF
A sixth-round pick for Milwaukee out of Long Beach State in 2005, Steve Hammond posted an ERA under three in every stop he made in the Brewers farm system until he took a nosedive in 2007 (4.69 at AA Hunstville). He looks to be running out of chances, but he could still have value as a lefty setup specialist.
More Scouting Book Info on Steve Hammond >
442
RHP, CIN
A thirteenth-round pick back in 2004, Chad Reineke is a bulldog righthander who uses his strength to pound the strike zone with low-90's fastballs and tilting sliders. Last time we checked in, he was working on a changeup in AAA Round Rock. His success with that off-speed project will determine whether he'll find success as a starter. Without a good change, though, he's destined for middle relief. He saw the majors with the Padres in 2008, and he should be back in 2010... unless he's traded again first.
More Scouting Book Info on Chad Reineke >
443
P, Japan
Another Chiba Lotte Marine with visions of MLB dancing in his head (an infection known as Bobby Valentinism), right hander Shingo Ono is one of Japan's top pitchers. While he's been one of the top ten starters in the nation for a few years running, his 2009 was a disappointment, as his 8-7 record and 3.81 were among his worst results. Unless he returns to his peak form quickly, he may need to wait a year or two to find a suitor in the USA.
More Scouting Book Info on Shingo Ono >
444
3B, SF
It's amazing how much of an effect one teeny little murder charge has on one's prospect status. Until he was arrested in the Dominican Republic at the tail end of 2009, Giants slugger Angel Villalona was the Giants unquestioned number one prospect: a serious, middle of the order power threat with 30-30 potential. While the civil suit against him has been dropped, he's still facing criminal prosecution with a maximum 25-year sentence... unless the Giants' Latin American operations prove comprehensive enough to include substantial bribes and/or lawyering.
More Scouting Book Info on Angel Villalona >
445
371. Juan Serrano
372. James Hoey
373. Edinson Rincon
374. Kala Ka'aihue
376. Yamaico Navarro
377. Clevelan Santeliz
378. Tyler Skaggs
379. Chris Valaika
380. Alan Horne
381. Edgar Garcia
382. Adam Miller
383. Eric Hurley
385. Tanner Bushue
386. Andy Cannizaro
387. Tomohiro Nioka
389. Wade Miley
391. George Kottaras
393. Cale Iorg
396. Justin Jackson
399. Conor Gillaspie
405. Destin Hood
411. Chris Jakubauskas
421. Corey Wimberly
426. Dusty Hughes
432. Brad Hand
371 to 445 of 445
