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

71. Edinson Volquez

RHP, CIN

Fighting for a rotation spot, Volquez showed flashes of brilliance last year. We're not sure how he'll react to working in the cozy confines of his new home in Cincinnati, but he's still one to keep an eye on. His raw stuff can be incredible, and his long-term success will only come down to his durability and maturity.

More Scouting Book Info on Edinson Volquez >

72. Josh Anderson

OF, ATL

Already holding one of the best young outfields in the minor leagues, the Braves moved in November to acquire Houston prospect Josh Anderson, anyway. It looks like Atlanta may try him out in center immediately, replacing the departed Andruw Jones, and perhaps even plunking him right on top of their lineup as a leadoff man. He may also provide springtime competition for the other Braves OF prospects (Jones, Heyward and Schafer).

This past season, Anderson hit .358 in 67 at-bats for Houston. He's been one of minor-league baseball's biggest baserunning threats the last three seasons, topping it with 41 SBs at Round Rock in 2007.

More Scouting Book Info on Josh Anderson >

73. Jeff Niemann

RHP, TB

Along with David Price, Niemann is the best college pitcher with a shot at the bigs this year. Sadly, it's also with Tampa Bay, which means a season of frustration and false hope for Niemann and his owners.

Niemann's star rose during his sophomore year at Rice, when he delivered what will always be remembered as a legendary college season: 17-0, 1.70 ERA, 156 strikeouts while carrying a workload that would make Tony LaRussa's head ache. Niemann is know for reaching 99mph on his fastball, and the improving stuff he shows on his curveball projects to a high number of MLB strikesouts, soon.

More Scouting Book Info on Jeff Niemann >

SB #73 | BA #99 | BP unranked | ML unranked | SN #48 | ES unranked

74. Adam Miller

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.

After high expectations for 2007, Miller spent most of the season crippled by a series of minor hand and elbow injuries, which means we're still waiting to see how he handles big league pitching.

If he can stay healthy, he could be a very good starter in a year or two. If the Indians are very worried about that elbow, however, we may see him moved into a relief role. If so, his value will sink.

More Scouting Book Info on Adam Miller >

SB #74 | BA #29 | BP #52 | ML #10 | SN #9 | ES #29

75. Carlos Triunfel

SS, 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 a mature ability to work to all fields.

A fiery competitor, no teenage shortstop has looked as close to big-league-ready since Hanley Ramirez. Due to Triunfel's plus arm and below-average speed, though, he might be better suited to third base or even right field, especially if his body continues to fill out.

More Scouting Book Info on Carlos Triunfel >

SB #75 | BA #62 | BP #55 | ML #48 | SN unranked | ES #18

76. Eric Hurley

RHP, TEX

Hurley is one of a handful of Ranger pitching prospects with a shot at the big leagues in 2008. He's developed fast over the last few seasons.

Hurley uses a hard, sinking fastball as well as the traditional two and four-seam varieties. Yes, this means his three best pitches are all fastballs. His slider and change, on the other hand, are average, workable pitches, but not yet polished enough to rely upon, and that's the reason he's still in the minors.

With apologies to new arrival Matt Harrison, though, Hurley has to be considered the the Rangers' top pitching prospect. He's unlikely to break camp with Texas, but he'll probably see action around midseason.

More Scouting Book Info on Eric Hurley >

SB #76 | BA #77 | BP #49 | ML #25 | SN #20 | ES #60

77. Nate Schierholtz

3B, SF

The Giants outfield is a battered mess, but hope is on the horizon, with both Fred Lewis and Nate Schierholtz (who also plays third) likely to get significant playing time in 2008. Of the two, Lewis is the more polished, but Schierholtz shows flashes of a bigger upside.

In 112 ABs with the big club at the tail end of a wasted 2007, Schierholtz turned in a .304 average and stole three of four bases. His long-promised power did not appear, however, as he failed to homer in 40 games, and it's that power he needs to find to stick in SF for good.

More Scouting Book Info on Nate Schierholtz >

78. Jaime Garcia

LHP, STL

The Cardinals stole Garcia in the 22nd round of the 2005 amateur draft on the whim of a scout who saw his curveball while with the Mexican junior national team. His fastball never leaves the low-90s, but the complementary pitches give him a good career potential.

More Scouting Book Info on Jaime Garcia >

79. Brent Lillibridge

SS, ATL

Lillibridge, acquired in the Adam LaRoche for Mike Gonzalez trade, struggled in high A ball his first season, but seemed to focus in 2007, maybe because the departure of Elvis Andrus opened the way to a quicker major league future for the young player. A quality glove with good range and speed (he was 42-for-54 in steal attempts last year), he could actually play at almost any position from short to centerfield. This versatility may hurt him: if the Braves see high value in his major-league ready play-anywhere utility skill, he may be robbed of the AAA seasoning that his bat could sorely use.

More Scouting Book Info on Brent Lillibridge >

80. Joey Devine

RHP, OAK

Devine spent three full years as the Braves 'closer of the future', and was given three different opportunities to crack the MLB roster, before the front office gave up on the promising righthander, shipping him to Oakland during the 2008 preseason.

Devine is a powerful pitcher with a lights-out 96mph heater and a strikeout slider, but his control and confidence has always been iffy. If the A's provide enough patience, though, he could return to the top of many prospect lists in the very near future.