Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
RHP, MLW
A supplemental first round pick for the Brewers, this tall righthander has a smooth and easy delivery that portends well for his future in the system. He's a few years away from serious attention, but he's worth keeping an eye on.
More Scouting Book Info on Jacob Odorizzi >
371
C, FLA
Buster Posey got a lot of attention in the 2008 draft, but Skippy might be a better bet, at least offensively. A left-handed and more power-hitting type of catcher, he lags behind Posey in the defensive and especially game-calling parts of the game, which means he might end up a bigger producer, but not right away. Of course, if his bat stays as hot as it's been in recent years, it'll be impossible to keep him in the minors for long.
More Scouting Book Info on Kyle Skipworth >
372
LHP, PIT
The latest in a long line of lefthanders grown on the Atlanta farm, willowy Jeff Locke's 94mph fastball is a definite plus pitch, with late movement that he can command at will. His curve ball is also well under control and projects as a second plus pitch. Acquired by the pitching-poor Pirates in June 2009, 'The Redstone Rocket' has a terrific opportunity to step up as a rotation candidate in the very near future.
More Scouting Book Info on Jeff Locke >
373
3B, ATL
Campbell doesn't walk much, but his power is significant, and he projects to whiff less than 17% of the time, so that'll help the old averages. He looks like a younger Rocco Baldelli, which is not a bad similarity to have.
More Scouting Book Info on Eric Campbell >
374
OF, MIN
A combination OF-1B bat who will probably end up at DH, Parmelee has been one of the best pure power hitters in the minor leagues for more than a couple of seasons now. He has a smooth, lofty swing that puts breaking pitches into the bleachers as fast as pitchers can curse. He's got a plus arm, but lacks the speed or range to hold down right field. A definite work-in-progress, Parmelee today is a sort of poor man's Lars Anderson: a big barrel of booming potential, with underdeveloped collateral skills. The bat is so monstrous, though, that the Twins are unlikely to move him or abandon his training: the Twins refuse to lose another David Ortiz.
More Scouting Book Info on Chris Parmelee >
375
1B, ATL
A player who showed unmatchable power at the high school level, John Johnson Jr. is a raw but fascinating prospect in the Braves system who scouts call a southern version of Justin Morneau. As a prospect, he fits into the Lars Anderson / Chris Parmalee frame of reference: a player who could be a superstar if he learns the finer points of the game, but who might also fade into obscurity if he relies on nothing but home run swings.
More Scouting Book Info on Cody Johnson >
376
OF, OAK
A mature graduate of San Diego State who enjoyed a breakout minor league year in 2009, Oakland's Grant Desme is a tough and multi-talented right-handed hitter. Splitting the 2009 season between A-level Kane County and and High-A Stockton, Desme found his potential, swatting 31 home runs and stealing 40 bases. He was the only such 30/40 player in the minor leagues that year. To top off his breakthrough, he was awarded the AFL MVP award for an Autumn in which he added 10 more home runs in 11 AFL games between October 14th and 28th.retiring from baseball in order to enter the Catholic priesthood. Should he decide to return to the Church of Baseball in the future, we think he'll find the Oakland flock more than accommodating, starting with the congregation in AA Midland, who would dearly love to watch his outfield sermons all season long.
More Scouting Book Info on Grant Desme >
377
RHP, NYY
Originally signed by the Dodgers, Dominican Romulo Sanchez made a stop in Pittsburgh on his way to the Yankee bench in 2009. Once seen as a future closer despite his so-so strikeout numbers, he's more of a swingman in Yankee plans. To succeed at high levels, he still needs to learn how to refine his control a little while not losing too much of his velocity. His secondary pitches still grade out as average.
More Scouting Book Info on Romulo Sanchez >
378
RHP, BOS
The Red Sox best Latin American pitching prospect, righthander Stolmy Pimentel is only 19 this year, but he's already showing signs of a solid four pitch arsenal. His 94mph fastball has good late life, and he uses it well, balanced against a curve, change and developing sinker that could all be serious pitches in another couple of years. The change, in particular, is nightmarish when delivered on target, and has the potential to embarrass a lot of AL hitters come 2013 or so.
More Scouting Book Info on Stolmy Pimentel >
379
RHP, STL
A tall, lanky righthander with a nice moving fastball and a deceptive delivery, pitcher PJ Walters is one of the high-upside but low-spotlight players developing in the Cards' system. St Louis's 2007 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, he slipped a bit in 2008 and 2009, when his ERA and WHIP jumped sharply. On the other hand, he also seemed to rediscover his strikeout pitch, increasing his K/9 to almost exactly 9.0. He's not the best raw talent in St. Louis, and he looked positively overmatched in a late season cup of coffee, but he might be the most big-league ready pitcher available, and opportunity can do wonders for a young man.
More Scouting Book Info on PJ Walters >
380
3B, BOS
Adalberto Ibarra is a multitalented utility bat who enjoyed great success in the Cuban League, where he hit .341/.470/.481 in his final (2008-2009) season at the age of 22. He auditioned for many major league clubs in spring of 2009, and impressed many scouts with his bat and arm, but the Red Sox won the war for his services. Ibarra is usually listed as a catcher, and certainly has the right body type for the position, but that's a position he only began to play in 2009, which means he's a long way from MLB-ready behind the plate. Before that he played first, second and third base, which is where he projects as the safest bet right now, thanks to his cannon arm. Despite the fact that his name can be translated as 'intelligent fielder', his defense is probably his weakest skill. He is, however, a plus contact hitter with good opposite-field sense, he has below-average raw speed but is a competent baserunner nonetheless. He could develop power as he matures. His future value will come down to whether the Red Sox commit to educating him as a catcher, or parking him as a corner infielder, where he'll develop more quickly but be less valuable in the long term.
More Scouting Book Info on Adalberto Ibarra >
381
OF, TOR
Toronto outfield prospect Jake Marisnick is a multitalented athlete with real defensive prowess: the plus range and strong arm he brings to center field is exactly what the Blue Jays need, and with his quick wrists and quicker feet, he could blossom into a serious on-base and steals threat. A late signee, he'll start his pro career in the GCL in 2011. He's a few years away, but he could rise to the top of the prospect pool as early as next season.
More Scouting Book Info on Jake Marisnick >
382
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 >
383
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 >
384
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 >
385
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 >
386
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 >
387
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 >
388
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 >
389
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 >
390
371. Jacob Odorizzi
372. Kyle Skipworth
373. Jeff Locke
374. Eric Campbell
375. Chris Parmelee
377. Grant Desme
378. Romulo Sanchez
379. Stolmy Pimentel
380. PJ Walters
382. Jake Marisnick
384. Joe Koshansky
385. Everett Williams
386. Francisco Peguero
387. Kelvin de la Cruz
389. Collin Cowgill
390. Kazumi Saitoh
371 to 390 of 486
