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

81. Brandon Erbe

RHP, BAL

Young and unpolished, Erbe still shows signs of greatness, chief among them the 98 mph fastball that got him a nice contract to begin with. He shows flashes of dominance, but has never demonstrated that he can hold down a job for a full season, tiring in the summer months and usually stumbling to a poor finish. This all projects 'relief pitcher', if you haven't been paying attention. While it's a longshot for 2008, he's a possible backup plan at closer during Chris Ray's absence if less radical options don't pan out.

More Scouting Book Info on Brandon Erbe >

82. Deolis Guerra

RHP, MIN

A tall, powerful strikeout artist, Guerra has been considered in both starting and bullpen roles for the last couple of years. He's easy to lock up in the late rounds of a draft this year, but he promises to be much more attractive (and widely known) next year. With electric stuff but not much pro experience under his belt yet, Guerro could be one of those guys who blows through the league, Jared Weaver-like, at least once.

More Scouting Book Info on Deolis Guerra >

SB #82 | BA #35 | BP #79 | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #80

83. Aaron Laffey

LHP, CLE

While his 'blazing' fastball won't often break 90, this often-overlooked lefty has slipped past Cliff Lee and Jeremy Sowers on the depth chart. That means of all Cleveland's young arms, he'll have the best chance to make as many starts as he can handle in 2008, probably at the major league level. While he might not have as much upside as Lofgren or Miller, he has the distinct advantage of looking the most prepared for a major league career right now.

Laffey throws a 90mph sinking fastball with good command, and uses a functional slider as his main breaking ball. He's not a strikeout pitcher, and his change is still a work in progress, but he'll keep the ball in the park. Laffey's history of durability suggests he could be a good innings eater as long as he can stay in the rotation.

More Scouting Book Info on Aaron Laffey >

84. Matt Walker

RHP, TB

Maybe Tampa overpaid for this one, but if he's shown anything, the young right-hander has been consistent and right on the line of what it takes to be a front-line MLB starter. (Last year, a solid 143 IP produced a nice 144:67 K to BB ratio and an acceptable 1.41 WHIP). With a 95mph fastball already potent, he only needs a second top-flight pitch to succeed in Tampa.

More Scouting Book Info on Matt Walker >

85. Chris Marrero

1B, WAS

Marrero was Washington's top pick in the 2006 draft, and rated a perfect 80 on the scouting power scale, which is tremendous in someone so young. He has a knack for missing some breaking balls by a mile, but he's still very young, so give him some time to learn patience. To make up for his lack of speed, the Nats have converted the onetime OF to full time first-base status, which should also let him concentrate on hitting.

He's a bit green, but a nice sleeper for late 2009, especially given Washington's lack of long-term options at first.

More Scouting Book Info on Chris Marrero >

SB #85 | BA #27 | BP #28 | ML #31 | SN unranked | ES #64

86. Jason Windsor

RHP, OAK

The third Oakland A to have a College World Series award for Most Outstanding Player on his mantle (Street, Kotsay) Windsor is a either one of the next wake of Oakland aces, or a bargaining chip that will be used to help the team rebuild. It all depends who you talk to.

Windsor is a big, strong righthander with a serviceable fastball and a knee-buckling curve that's clearly his best pitch. He also works in a slider and change with mixed results.

According to his college catcher Kurt Suzuki (it really is a small world), Windsor is very similar to A's colleague Joe Blanton, though based on his minor league numbers, Windsor's strikeout skills seem a notch better.

With not much depth in the Oakland system, expect Windsor to see action, and plenty of it, in 2008.

More Scouting Book Info on Jason Windsor >

87. Alcides Escobar

SS, MLW

Another strong Brewer infield prospect, Escobar shows plus speed and range, and has demonstrated a very strong throwing arm. His bat is also improving, and he looks to have a future as a solid impact hitter with leadoff speed. His base-stealing technique is unrefined, but he's learning quickly, and his development has been ahead of schedule.

He'll start 2008 at double or triple-A, but he's got a big league visit in his near future.

More Scouting Book Info on Alcides Escobar >

88. Ben Revere

OF, MIN

When the Twins let Torii Hunter go, maybe they knew something.

Revere is a prototype leadoff hitter: his blazing speed and quick bat pushed him into the league leader boards for doubles, triples, and stolen bases. Only 5-9 and 175, he won't win any home run derbies, but his speed and approach to the game is exactly what Minnesota needs at the top of their roster. He'll start 2008 in the Midwest League, but expect Minnesota to take a look at him during the season.

More Scouting Book Info on Ben Revere >

89. Chris Nelson

SS, COL

A power-hitting infielder whose development was hampered by Tommy John surgery, Nelson is back to mashing balls and eyeing the roster in Colorado.

Since he's blocked by phenom Troy Tulowitzki upstairs and by the rapidly-developing Hector Gomez from below, Nelson is a likely candidate to be moved to second base in the near future. If this happens, he'll become the Rockies best 2B prospect for the years to come.

More Scouting Book Info on Chris Nelson >

SB #89 | BA n/a | BP #80 | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #77

90. Michael Burgess

OF, WAS

A very strong athlete who could make many prospect lists as a power pitcher (his fastball is 92mph), Burgess is more likely to develop as a corner outfield bat. He's a bit young, but since Washington is in hardcore rebuilding mode, he could contribute sooner than he might on other teams. Right now he's all power and no discipline, but that power is special enough -- Jim Bowden calls it 'thunderous' -- that he's worth keeping an eye on.