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 >
411
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 >
412
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 >
413
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 >
414
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 >
415
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.
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416
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 >
417
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 >
418
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 >
419
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 >
420
411. Juan Serrano
412. James Hoey
413. Edinson Rincon
414. Kala Ka'aihue
416. Yamaico Navarro
417. Clevelan Santeliz
418. Tyler Skaggs
419. Chris Valaika
420. Alan Horne
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