Baseball's Top Prospects for 2010
Remember: This list evolves and changes daily.
RHP, STL
The Cardinals first round pick in 2009, pitcher Shelby Miller is a raw but talented prospect with a wicked-hot fastball that has excellent and natural late movement. The Cards will probably start him out at A-level Quad Cities in 2010, but he could move up a notch or two soon after that, since his raw stuff is probably good enough to overpower lesser hitters. At higher levels, he'll need to lean on his 12-6 curve and the extra sink he can put on his two-seam fastball to succeed. With a projectable body that could probably add muscle in the years to come, he looks like a good workhorse candidate in St. Louis come 2014 or so, though he'll probably get a look-see a bit sooner than that.
More Scouting Book Info on Shelby Miller >
71
OF, BOS
Boston's ninth-round pickup in the 2007 first-year player draft, Ryan Kalish is a toolsy outfielder from New Jersey who projects as a good leadoff or top-of-order hitter once he develops a bit more. If he enters the a Boston lineup that looks like the current one, of course, that'd mean he'd be more likely be hitting seventh or eighth, so his current value is limited without a trade to a team more desperate for OF help.
More Scouting Book Info on Ryan Kalish >
72
LHP, CLE
A big, strong lefthander, Nick Hagadone was the Red Sox first draft pick (a sandwich pick) in 2007. Hagadone's fastball is hard for a lefty: it ticks as high as 96mph and shows good movement. He complements it with a good slider and an above-average straight change. He was Tim Lincecum's closer in college, also making a few spot starts for the Huskies, but the Red Sox were grooming him as a starter as recently as 2008, at least until he was shut down for TJ surgery in June. Now an Indian thanks to the trade that sent Victor Martinez to Boston, he spent most of 2009 on the shelf, but came back at the end of 2009 to start nine games at Class AA Greenville. He posted a solid 2.86 ERA, striking out 30 in 22 innings. He's not yet showing his pre-surgery stuff, but as far as high risks and high ceilings go, Hagadone's name has to be right on top of the actuarial chart.
More Scouting Book Info on Nick Hagadone >
73
OF, SD
A two-way star in high school, Jaff has a beautiful swing from the left side of the plate to go with a 94mph darting fastball... also from the left side. The Padres are viewing him as a centerfielder for now, though, and he has the bat and the range to hold that position down. He's young and still growing, but right now he looks like he might become the player Grady Sizemore was supposed to be.
More Scouting Book Info on Jaff Decker >
74
RHP, PHI
The rising wave of Canadian pitchers continued when Seattle chose Quebec native Philipe Aumont with their first-round pick in 2007. A 6-7 righthander with a 92-95 MPH sinking fastball, Aumont has an imposing mound presence that endears him to scouts and coaches alike. While he's barely 21, he's already raising eyebrows with a precocious ability to pound the lower part of the zone and work both sides of the plate. While he has a slider and changeup, neither is a plus pitch, which means he'll rise or fall on his sinker. He was traded to the Phillies in the winter 2009 blockbuster that moved Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee. Now that he's in the NL East, there's some talk of making him a reliever, but it's most likely that the Phils will give him a full season starting in the minors in 2010 to see what they've really gotten a hold of, here.
More Scouting Book Info on Phillippe Aumont >
75
1B, NYM
Ike is a legitimate threat to hit 40 homers in the big leagues, and the Mets are one of the best places for a young first baseman to be right now. His refined college approach to the strike zone means he should do it without Howardesque strikeout numbers. too. One of the 2008 draft's most polished picks, Davis should be ready for MLB action in 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Ike Davis >
76
3B, CHW
Dayan Viciedo, one of Cuba's best young ballplayers, defected to the USA last summer and started negotiating and trying out for ballclubs immediately. After some scuffling about whether or not he would be draft-eligible, he was deemed a free agent, and the White Sox moved quickly to bring the young slugger into the fold with the help of very-satisfied South-sider Alexei Ramirez.
More Scouting Book Info on Dayan Viciedo >
77
RHP, BAL
Young and unpolished, the onetime phenom Erbe still shows signs of greatness, even if the shine isn't quite so blinding anymore. He still demonstrates a 98 mph fastball that provides moments of dominance, but he has never really showed that he can hold down a job for a full season: he tends to tire in the summer months and usually stumbles to a poor finish. This all projects 'relief pitcher', if you haven't been paying attention. While still a longshot to contribute much in 2010, he's a possible backup plan as a closer or spot starter, so he shouldn't be completely forgotten about. The tools remain there, even if it's taking a bit longer than hoped to get them into play.
More Scouting Book Info on Brandon Erbe >
78
1B, BOS
His star has faded a bit in Boston, but the facts remain: one of these years, Big Papi will go out for a pack of smokes and never come home to Boston again. When that happens, Lars is the best bet to be the new daddy in Beantown.
More Scouting Book Info on Lars Anderson >
79
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 >
80
71. Shelby Miller
72. Ryan Kalish
73. Nick Hagadone
74. Jaff Decker
75. Phillippe Aumont
76. Ike Davis
77. Dayan Viciedo
78. Brandon Erbe
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