Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
RHP, BOS
Japan's best amateur pitcher, 22-year old Junichi Tazawa met with four big league teams this spring, and the Red Sox were first in line with a big check, not to mention first in Tazawa's heart. He is the first premium amateur to skip Japanese baseball altogether.
More Scouting Book Info on Junichi Tazawa >
71
RHP, SF
A flame-throwing righthander from Georgia, Zack Wheeler mixes his 96mph fastball with a curve ball that's already a plus pitch. He's adding a changeup, and if he can make it even a league-average offering he can be a middle-rotation starter anywhere. Even without one, his fastball-curve combination is good enough for a major league bullpen today. He'll need some seasoning, of course, and scouts would like to see his pitcher-perfect body take on a starter's workload.
More Scouting Book Info on Zack Wheeler >
72
3B, FLA
An all-conference catcher at the University of Miami, Sanchez was drafted in the fourth round of the 2005 draft by the Marlins. In his first pro season, Sanchez led the New-York Penn League with a .355 average. The next year, Sanchez hit .317 in his first full-season and posted a 55-game OPS of 1.050. He finished with a .288 average, 15 HR and 50 RBIs in 74 games. At high-A Jupiter in 2007, Gaby slammed 9 home runs while maintaining a solid .279 average.
More Scouting Book Info on Gaby Sanchez >
73
RHP, OAK
Inoa, the child of two accomplished ballplayers, is a towering, flame throwing teenager who already has a mid-90s fastball and an advanced changeup. He's several years away from breaking into big-league ball, but if he can stay healthy, he'll be something special come 2012 or so. The only question is how the A's will manage to squeeze all their hot young talent into the rotation in time for their 2013 championship run.
More Scouting Book Info on Michael Inoa >
74
SS, CLE
Originally drafted out of high school by the Pirates, Chisenhall was chosen again three years later, this time by the Indians. While questions of character are going to dog Lonnie for years to come thanks to a college misunderstanding about a missing big-screen TV and Playstation 3, at least we know he's got game. He's also got bat: Chisenhall is a plus hitter with a short and sweet stroke and solid power to all fields. His position is up in the air, but wherever the Indians put him he's likely to produce. A bit of a sleeper to watch.
More Scouting Book Info on Lonnie Chisenhall >
75
OF , BOS
The next big outfield prospect in the Red Sox system now that Jacoby Ellsbury has graduated to full-time starter, Georgia native Josh Reddick could soon move up to the big leagues himself. A strong lefthanded bat with good power to all fields, Reddick also has the best arm in the system, which means should the Sox decide to let JD Drew walk away, Reddick should be ready to step in at any time.
More Scouting Book Info on Josh Reddick >
76
RHP, COL
A rail-thin flamethrower from Venezuela, Chacin is on the fast track in Colorado, especially as some of the other Rockie options have slid from their earlier grace. His 94mph fastball has good location and late movement, and his curve and change show plus promise, though does have a bad habit of hanging that curve a bit too often. 'Joolie' does seems to have the character and work ethic to be a middle-to-front starter, but he could be adapted to the bullpen as well. Either way, he's a good 2011 option for the Rockies right now, and might even see limited action sooner than that.
More Scouting Book Info on Jhoulys Chacin >
77
C, WAS
He's only 20 years old, but after putting up a full-season .300/.406/.551 line (with 23 homers) at high-A Hagerstown in 2009, catcher Derek Norris is probably already the Nationals best hitting prospect. Of course, it's not a very deep pool. Norris is a patient slugger with a perfect catcher's build who's still working on his blocking and game-calling. He already sports a powerful arm, as shown when he threw out nearly half of all would-be basestealers last season. He's one to watch for in 2011 or so.
More Scouting Book Info on Derek Norris >
78
RHP, WAS
A righthander who worked as both a starter and a reliever for Stanford, Drew Storen is a smallish pitcher with a good mix of raw stuff and polished command. As a sophomore draftee, he's a bit rougher than most college pitchers and will likely need more time in the minors than most, but he's a solid all around ballplayer with an excellent future, whether it's in the middle of the rotation or the bullpen. With the recent locking-in of Matt Capps to close in Washington for 2010 and 2011, it looks like Storen's future is a little further away than some had hoped, which might give the Nats time to examine his potential as a starter, too.
More Scouting Book Info on Drew Storen >
79
3B, SEA
Another in the endless parade of young hitters in the Mariners' system, Triunfel is intriguing because of his advanced batting development at an early age. While he lacks real power, he does have line-drive stroke and an ability to work to all fields.
More Scouting Book Info on Carlos Triunfel >
80
71. Junichi Tazawa
72. Zack Wheeler
73. Gaby Sanchez
74. Michael Inoa
75. Lonnie Chisenhall
77. Jhoulys Chacin
78. Derek Norris
80. Carlos Triunfel
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