Scouting Book: The Best Baseball Prospects for 2008 (Sleepers Too!)

Baseball Prospect Rankings for 2008

Scouting Book's Top Prospects list is different than other prospect lists: we're not in a bubble, and we never sit still. We show you not just our own rankings, but also rankings from some of the other major ranking lists for each player. You can now sort, for example, by Baseball America's rankings, or view the top prospects as chosen by the wizards at Baseball Prospectus, or compare our rankings to those from Sports Illustrated. Also, unlike most lists, we don't publish a book! Our lists are updated often during the offseason, and updated daily during the pre-season to show the latest situations and adjusted for spring results. This means we're always a work in progress. We also think this means our lists are much more useful for fantasy draft purposes. If you notice a mistake or have a suggestion feel free to let us know by mailing mistakes (at) our domain name. For more on our methods, see this blog entry.

Baseball's Top Prospects for Spring 2008

51. Wladimir Balentien

OF, SEA

Apparently waised on an island where the letter V was an omen of terrible luck, Balentien has had an easier time stateside. The PCL Rookie of the Year in 2007, Big Wladdy (?) might see some action with the Mariners soon, likely in a platoon, since the Mariners are stacked in young hitting already. He's also a tantalizing trade piece.

More Scouting Book Info on Wladimir Balentien >

SB #51 | BA n/a | BP #93 | ML unranked | SN #22 | ES #95

52. Ian Stewart

3B, COL

In 2004, Stewart shocked a lot of people by putting up numbers almost identical to the much-higher-rated Delmon Young, and ever since then stories about one player invariably mention the other. Bad news for Stewart owners: Ian Stewart is not Delmon Young. Still, his swing is solid and his future seems secure in Colorado, so the hope is that he will keep developing and find his place on the permanent roster soon. While the .350 average was an illusion, an OPS around .820 is likely, and that's a pretty good number to put up from a middle infielder.

More Scouting Book Info on Ian Stewart >

SB #52 | BA #38 | BP unranked | ML #41 | SN #34 | ES #70

53. Rick Porcello

RHP, DET

The 27th pick of the 2007 Amateur Draft, Porcello fell to the Tigers due to signability issues. Most believe he has the talent to succeed. He is only nineteen, of course, and young pitchers are the riskiest of all prospects, but his combination of size and strength, coming from the south side of the mound, makes him a worthy gamble.

Though he's always been a starter, his fantasy skill comparisons line up closest with JJ Putz and Jose Valverde. If you combine that with Detroit's decimated relief corps and conclude that Porcello's future might be in the Tiger bullpen... you might be right. We'd still rather see him starting, of course, but it's worth hedging your bets if you're banking on him for the near future.

More Scouting Book Info on Rick Porcello >

SB #53 | BA #21 | BP #11 | ML #14 | SN unranked | ES #22

54. Masahide Kobayashi

RHP, CLE

A prospect only in the sense he's a gamble with no MLB experience, Masahide Kobayashi joins the majors this year as a 34 year old rookie. Kobayashi is one of just three pitchers in the history of Japanese baseball to record over 200 saves, which includes a record 20 or more saves seven straight years. In 2007, he maintained a 3.61 ERA with 27 saves in 49 relief appearances. He also spent time on the DL in September with a neck injury.

Kobayashi's a gamble in the style of the Red Sox Okajima: he may confound MLB hitters for a time, and he may have backup-closer potential that blossoms if he gains the opportunity.

More Scouting Book Info on Masahide Kobayashi >

55. Will Inman

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.

Look for this quirky right handed in the Padre bullpen mix soon. As the older Padre starters move on in the next couple of years, he could move right in and be a happy cog for years to come.

More Scouting Book Info on Will Inman >

56. Luke Hochevar

RHP, KC

The 2006 1st overall pick is probably a year or three away from any possible ace-hood, but he's worth a look this year anyway. While they've parked him in the minors for now, the Royals have a deep belief in the raw quality of Hochevar's right arm, his live mid-90s fastball and quality curve make him better than most pitchers his age. His big problem seems to be the lack of a quality off-speed pitch. If the Royals can teach him one, he looks to be a factor in 2009 or even 2008.

More Scouting Book Info on Luke Hochevar >

SB #56 | BA #63 | BP #72 | ML #40 | SN #19 | ES unranked

57. Chase Headley

3B, SD

A power hitter with a disciplined eye, Headley's high on-base approach and professional demeanor evokes a younger Kevin Youkilis. While he can also play in the outfield, he's best at third base, which raises questions about the future of Kevin Kouzmanoff.

Impressive during his cup of coffee in 2007, Headley's on an inside track to win a full-time position with the Padres in 2008. If he falls short, he'll be close at hand and ready to step up in midseason.

More Scouting Book Info on Chase Headley >

SB #57 | BA #32 | BP #23 | ML #29 | SN #28 | ES #43

58. Michael Bowden

RHP, BOS

Bowden's statistics, impressive as they are for a teen-ager in A-ball, fall short of reflecting how dominant the right-hander was last season. Expecting endurance for players of Bowden's maturity is asking a lot, so it's hard to blame Bowden for three bad starts that dilute his overall statistics. If not for poor starts on April 15, July 9 and Aug. 26, Bowden's season ERA drops to 2.71. Bowden also allowed 22 hits, five walks and three home runs in these starts, so you can imagine his dominance during the other 88 percent of his season.

More Scouting Book Info on Michael Bowden >

SB #58 | BA #94 | BP #95 | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES unranked

59. Brandon Jones

OF, ATL

The top OF prospect in the Braves system, Brandon Jones put his licks in well (295/.367/.490, 19 homers) at both AA Mississippi and AAA Richmond in 2007, as what is widely seen to be a warmup and audition to help the Braves decide whether or not he's ready to replace their other Jones in center. By all accounts, he's ready for the bigs. Will the Braves have enough confidence to start the season with the rookie in the outfield, or will they sign a veteran CF to keep the grass warm for one more season while they wait for Brandon to get a little more seasoning?

He's widely seen to have the edge on other baby Brave OFs like Jordan Schafer and Jason Heyward, mainly because of the defensive savvy he brings to the table, but his bat is no slouch, either, and he should be able to hold his own in the young, scrappy Atlanta batting order. The only question, really, is whether his decade as the Braves' CF starts in 2008 or 2009. Whenever it starts, his career looks to be long and productive.

More Scouting Book Info on Brandon Jones >

SB #59 | BA #70 | BP #70 | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES unranked

60. Chris Davis

3B, TEX

A dead-pull lefty swinger with plus power, Davis is a nominal third baseman who's more likely to end up at first base or designated hitter if he continues to rise the Rangers system. In 2007 he demolished high-A pitching in Bakersfield (24 homers in 386ABs, .907 OPS) before moving up and destroying AA pitchers in Frisco (12HR/126AB, 1.067 OPS).

While his plate discipline is nonexistent, that won't slow him down as long as he keeps producing at such a legendary pace. He projects, not surprisingly, as an Adam Dunn-esque slugger.