Scouting Book: The Best Baseball Prospects for 2010

MLB Baseball Prospect Rankings for 2010

As always, our Prospect Rankings change very often, to reflect the latest and most promising prospects for the new season.

The Best 214 P Prospects for 2010

Showing 1 to 214 of 214. Overall SB ranking for 2010 shown in parentheses.

1. Stephen Strasburg

RHP, WAS (#1 overall)

One of the best college pitchers of any class in memory, righthander Stephen Strasburg mixes a high-90's (and low-100's) fastball with a highly-effective slider/curve for a devastating 1-2 punch. He wasn't a strikeout pitcher early in his college career, instead focusing on pitching to contact, but his K rate has been rising steadily since 2007. A few experts are concerned about his delivery, but it's important to take that with a big grain of salt: there was also a choir united about Mark Prior's 'perfect' mechanics, once, too.

While his college coach (Tony Gwynn) claims he's 'special' and could pitch in MLB immediately, most scouts would prefer he spend at least half a season in the minors before taking on the bright lights with his 103mph heat and 'ungodly breaking stuff'. There's an expectation that Washington will hold him back to avoid hurting his impending MLB career, but no matter how long they hold him down in the minors, this is a pitcher with several Cy Youngs and a couple of Stephen Strasburgs in his future.

More Scouting Book Info on Stephen Strasburg >

SB #1 | BA #2 | BP unranked | ML #2 | SN unranked | ES #2

2. Neftali Feliz

RHP, TEX (#4 overall)

An eighteen year old Dominican whose fastball has been clocked at 98mph, Feliz was a sleeper deep in the Atlanta system, scooped by Texas as part of the prospect package that sent Mark Teixeira to the Braves. He's still raw, but when he's wild he's effectively wild.

He demonstrated how dominant he could be from the bullpen at the end of 2009, but it's the rotation where he could really shine. If his stuff and control can hold up three or four times through a batting order, he could be something special enough that we'll have a King Feliz to accompany that other guy soon enough. If he stumbles as a starter, he could still be a great young closer, something Texas could most certainly use anyway.

More Scouting Book Info on Neftali Feliz >

SB #4 | BA #9 | BP unranked | ML #7 | SN unranked | ES #13

3. Brian Matusz

LHP, BAL (#7 overall)

One of the best left-handers available in the 2008 draft, Matusz is an experienced and clever strongman with four quality pitches. His fastball isn't overpowering, though, and his numbers showed some decline last season, so he won't be having a big impact on Baltimore's rotation anytime soon. It'll be fun watching his use his guile along with his stuff to go after better pro hitters, though. As a polished college candidate, his secondary pitches are very advanced for a prospect, and he should be one of the next Baltimore pitchers to break into MLB, probably this season.

More Scouting Book Info on Brian Matusz >

SB #7 | BA #5 | BP unranked | ML #5 | SN unranked | ES #11

4. Martin Perez

LHP, TEX (#8 overall)

An undrafted free agent signing from Venezuela, teenage lefty Martin Perez might be one of the Rangers' best-kept secrets. He's not close to MLB yet, but Perez is already a shining star worth following. Making 15 short starts (only 62 innings) at Rookie-level Spokane, Martin went 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA and a 53:28 ratio of strikeouts to walks. The skinny 17 year old, who's breaking down doors with a plus 92mph fastball and a polished curve, turns into a wiry 18 year old this spring, and he should graduate from dazzling rookie league hitters to stumping A-ball hitters in Hickory. He's someone to keep a special eye on over the next few years.

More Scouting Book Info on Martin Perez >

SB #8 | BA #17 | BP unranked | ML #18 | SN unranked | ES #7

5. Madison Bumgarner

LHP, SF (#13 overall)

Such a name. Such a talent. A tall, strong lefthander, Bumgarner is the Giant pitcher most ready to follow Cain and Lincecum to glory by the Bay.

A fireballer with decent control, Bumgarner's been clocked as high as 96mph, though he struggled to break 90 in his taste of MLB ball last season. His breaking pitches are not as well-developed as that fastball, but they're coming along. A flame-throwing lefty like this is worth the time and investment, so while he should get some more MLB work in 2010, Giant fans should try to be patient while looking to 2011 as the timeframe for his arrival as a significant cog in the rebuilt Giant machine.

More Scouting Book Info on Madison Bumgarner >

SB #13 | BA #14 | BP unranked | ML #10 | SN unranked | ES #28

6. Daniel Bard

RHP, BOS (#15 overall)

Boston decided to push their phenom reliever hard last year, promoting him all the way to AA in his second pro season. Bard responded to the higher level play by striking out 64 hitters in 49 innings. His K/9 across the year was twelve and a half.

One more year of this, and Bard's 100mph fastball will be setting up Papelbon in Fenway. Two more years of this, and the very expensive Papelbon will be eligible for free agency. You do the math.

More Scouting Book Info on Daniel Bard >

7. Wade Davis

RHP, TB (#17 overall)

Jacob McGee's old rotation partner in the Midwest League, righthander Wade Davis might end up the more successful MLB player. And since Tampa runs its team on young pitchers, good luck and gasoline fumes, he's bound to get a shot sometime in 2010, though probably only in a limited way. We like him as a starter, but some may prefer the fastball in the pen, especially after how effective David Price was in a limited relief role last year before 'graduating' to the rotation the following season. Right now, Davis might have the highest upside of any pitcher not named Strasburg.

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SB #17 | BA #34 | BP unranked | ML #13 | SN unranked | ES #15

8. Jeremy Hellickson

RHP, TB (#19 overall)

He was overshadowed by the more polished David Price in Tampa's minor league system, but the Rays' second best pitching prospect would be a clear number one in most organizations. A power righthander with three-pitch command from a deceptive 3/4 delivery, he has been a strikeout pitcher at all stops, most recently racking up 162 of them in 148 innings last year. A real sleeper in deep leagues, Hellickson is the sort of pitcher who can set a league on fire, especially his first time through. His workload last year is a bit of a worry, however, as it was more than double his previous best effort. If Tampa can show patience with Hellickson, he could be a top-flight pitcher, but the risk of a setback is high in a system famous for pushing its young arms very hard.

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SB #19 | BA #18 | BP unranked | ML #20 | SN unranked | ES #17

9. Casey Kelly

RHP, BOS (#21 overall)

The big, strong shortstop who also pitches has become the big, strong pitcher who used to play short. Young Casey Kelly is already 6-3 and 200lbs, with more size and strength to come as he fills out, and now that he's a full time mound monster, he can put all of that strength into his fastball.

Kelly's fastball, by the way, is already rated the best heatuh in the Red Sox system. And so is his curve. And so is his changeup. Put all that together with his plus control, and it seems pretty clear we're looking at the next Red Sox ace.

More Scouting Book Info on Casey Kelly >

SB #21 | BA #24 | BP unranked | ML #28 | SN unranked | ES #18

10. Jarrod Parker

RHP, ARZ (#22 overall)

Jarrod Parker, one of the most highly-touted prospects in the 2007 draft, fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 9th overall pick, and they did not hesitate. While he's still young, he shows exceptional character and makeup, which means he may be destined for the big leagues sooner than most.

He draws comparisons to 2007 super-phenom Tim Lincecum, since he produces tremendous power from a smaller-than-average build. Though he doesn't have quite the same freakish ability or 102mph stuff as Lincecum, he'll likely follow a similar path anyway, as Arizona's farm managers decide quickly whether they're dealing with a future ace or future closer, and move him along accordingly. He should spend 2009 in AA, with a shot at testing the Arizona bullpen late in the year. Relief work will get him to the majors sooner than later, but if the Diamondbacks can be patient and help him along, he could be a middle-rotation starter come 2011 or so.

More Scouting Book Info on Jarrod Parker >

SB #22 | BA #36 | BP unranked | ML #21 | SN unranked | ES #37

11. Aroldis Chapman

LHP, CIN (#25 overall)

A whisper-thin lefthander with a whiplike delivery that can touch 100mph, Cuban Aroldis Chapman is one of the highest-ceiling lefties in baseball today... and also one of the riskiest. Chapman went 6-7 with a 3.89 ERA in 2008 and 11-4 with a 4.03 ERA in 2009 as a starter in Cuba's National League, after working as Holguin's closer the year before. He finished second in the vote for the league's best left-handed pitcher in 2009.

With a reputation as a thrower rather than a pitcher and some questions about his makeup and work ethic, Chapman was passed over by the big-market and fat-wallet teams, landing in Cincinnati in a surprise winter deal. While he has the stuff, there's some question about his ability to use it effectively. Despite the high heat, Chapman looked very hittable in the WBC and other recent international tournaments, where he had little success as a starter. Some wonder whether his pitching style could wither when faced with more patient and less free-swinging adversaries, or whether a home might be easier to find in an MLB bullpen, where he could become a rather expensive Billy Wagner.

100mph lefthanders are worth some risk, of course, but until he gets a full season of minor league ball under his belt, nobody will really know what they're looking at.

More Scouting Book Info on Aroldis Chapman >

SB #25 | BA #22 | BP unranked | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #16

12. Phillippe Aumont

RHP, PHI (#33 overall)

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 >

SB #33 | BA #93 | BP unranked | ML #47 | SN unranked | ES unranked

13. Kyle Drabek

RHP, TOR (#34 overall)

The Son of Drabek has sky high expectations but needs a year or two of seasoning before being thrown into the fire. A part of the Roy Halladay compensation bundle, he's now staring down the AL East as his future, which is a lot scarier than the NL version. Still, he has the talent, the pedigree and the work ethic. He will be ready sooner or later, and when he is he will be a good one.

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SB #34 | BA #25 | BP unranked | ML #17 | SN unranked | ES #40

14. Jake Arrieta

RHP, BAL (#39 overall)

A late 2007 signee who raised eyebrows around baseball with his Olympic performance in 2008, Arrieta put up some impressive Carolina numbers last year too, leading the league in ERA and finishing 4th in strikeouts. Like many raw talents, he's succeeded so far on the strength of an overpowering fastball, a 97mph darter, so he'll need to add and refine his secondary pitches before he's ready for anything more than a relief role in MLB. Since his closest thing right now is a slider, some are angling to move him into a bullpen role. If he can handle 150+ innings and his curve comes along to be passable, he'll be one of the team's best pitching prospects entering 2010.

More Scouting Book Info on Jake Arrieta >

SB #39 | BA #99 | BP unranked | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #90

15. Julio Teheran

RHP, ATL (#41 overall)

A rake-thin Colombian being slow-cooked in the Braves pitchin' kitchen, righthander Julio Teheran combines a plus fastball and change with two different breaking balls and flashes of great control. He's still very young, and being called 'the best Latin American pitcher since Felix Hernandez' is a lot of pressure to handle, but he's in the best possible system to nurture his development while also containing his ego. He's been a bit jammed in a system ripe with strong pitching prospects, but if he continues to develop at his current accelerated pace, he's going to force his way onto the big league roster before 2011 is finished. The best-case scenario shows him taking over as Atlanta's ace by the end of 2012.

More Scouting Book Info on Julio Teheran >

SB #41 | BA #51 | BP unranked | ML #34 | SN unranked | ES #63

16. Tyler Matzek

LHP, COL (#43 overall)

The kind of big, strong lefthander that scouts fall in love with, the six-foot-six Matzek not only brings overpowering heat from the left side but flusters hitters with three different offspeed pitches to boot. A king-sized almost-ace in the making, Matzek could be the anchor of many Major League teams in the future. In Colorado, his ceiling is somewhere between Ubaldo Jimenez and Jeff Francis... but not quite yet.

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SB #43 | BA #23 | BP unranked | ML #51 | SN unranked | ES #22

17. Jaime Garcia

LHP, STL (#44 overall)

The Cardinals stole Garcia in the 22nd round of the 2005 amateur draft on the whim of a scout who saw his curve while watching a Mexican junior national team game. His fastball never leaves the low-90s, but the plus nature of his complementary pitches give him a good career potential. St. Louis is hungry for pitching, and good at developing it, so he could be moved up quickly.

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18. Kyle Gibson

RHP, MIN (#45 overall)

With stuff enough to be the ace of any college staff, Kyle Gibson was hidden behind Aaron Crow in Missouri. While he's still not a Crow-type talent, the big righthander is a workhorse with a high-command fastball and the determination to grind through opposing batters inning after inning. His fastball can reach 94-95mph, but he works mainly in the 91-92 range, relying on his plus slider and above-average change to beguile batters.

More Scouting Book Info on Kyle Gibson >

SB #45 | BA #61 | BP unranked | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #89

19. Michael Bowden

RHP, BOS (#47 overall)

Michaen Bowden is a polished young righthander in the Red Sox system who zoomed all the way from AA ball at the start of 2008 into the Boston bullpen for the playoffs. While his ERA increased at each stop (2.33 to 3.38 in Pawtucket and up to 3.60 in Fenway), that's expected as a young player faces better and better competition.

As he gains experience, his good stuff and better control should yield better results. Bowden works with a low 90's fastball that he locates very well on either side of the plate, and he's especially good at keeping it down against good hitters. His curveball can be a plus pitch when it breaks right, though it will come in flat now and then, leading to some moonshots. His high arm slot and consistent mechanics should combine make his changeup very effective in the future, though so far it's only average.

More Scouting Book Info on Michael Bowden >

20. Tim Alderson

RHP, PIT (#48 overall)

With Lincecum and Cain already toeing the rubber every fifth day, the title of best Giants pitching prospect was Alderson's until he was unceremoniously shipped East at 2009's trade deadline. The 6-7 righthander from Phoenix has a plus-plus curveball and terrific control for such a young player. In his junior and senior high school year combined, he struck out 173 batters while walking only nine.

His fastball is in the 89-92mph range, though he has been clocked as high as 96, which is remarkable for a pitcher who does not have a windup: Alderson has always pitched exclusively from the stretch, though it looks like the Pirates will follow through on a Giant experiment to 'correct' this by adding a small leg kick.

Just-turned 20, Alderson is unlikely to see significant action in MLB before 2011 at the soonest, though he's got fewer young stars to outshine now that he's on the thinner Pirate depth chart.

More Scouting Book Info on Tim Alderson >

21. Mike Minor

LHP, ATL (#51 overall)

A skilled lefthander from Vanderbilt, Michael 'Spike' Minor is a polished all-around pitcher who could add three above-average to plus pitches into the back end of a major league rotation sometime in 2010. His fastball tops out around 92mph, but its his breaking balls that will get him to the big-leagues anyway. He's not the uber-talent that schoolmate David Price was, but he's a product of the same system and it shows in his plus makeup and advanced feel for pitching. He should be ready to step into the Braves rotation come 2011 or so.

More Scouting Book Info on Mike Minor >

22. Jenrry Mejia

RHP, NYM (#52 overall)

An international signee who immediately jumped to the top of the Mets' pitching prospect chart, young Jenrry Meija is one of the few bright spots in a downtrodden farm system. The righthander is the proud owner of easy heat in the form of a mid-90s fastball and a very good, deceptive change. Jenrry's control has been better than expected for such a young player, and despite an 0-5, 4.47 looksee in 2009, he looks ready to tackle a full season of AA ball in 2010.

More Scouting Book Info on Jenrry Mejia >

SB #52 | BA #56 | BP unranked | ML #52 | SN unranked | ES #23

23. Christian Friedrich

LHP, COL (#53 overall)

A smart value-pick from the 2008 draft by the Rockies, Friedrich was one of the two or three best lefthanders in the pool, as well as one of the best prep pitchers available, making him a steal at the 25th overall pick. He didn nothing but move up the charts in his first year of pro ball, either, finishing second in all of minor league baseball in strikeouts per nine innings with an obscene 12.0. In addition to crazy heat, Friedrich shows off a 12 to 6 curve and a hard, biting slider that could blossom into true plus pitches in the majors. If he has a weakness, it's his so-so changeup, but if he can refine that in the first half of 2010, he could be with the Rockies (as a backend starter or temporary relief help) before the end of the year.

More Scouting Book Info on Christian Friedrich >

SB #53 | BA #33 | BP unranked | ML #23 | SN unranked | ES #36

24. Mike Montgomery

LHP, KC (#54 overall)

A flamethrowing lefthander, Montgomery was grabbed early by the Royals in the 2008 draft. So far, he's looking pretty legitimate, as he's assembled a 2.19 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP in 30 minor league starts, with a 48:132 ratio of walks to strikeouts. He's only 20 years old as 2010 begins, and he's a long way away from the Bigs, but any lefthander who throws 96mph is worth keeping tabs on.

More Scouting Book Info on Mike Montgomery >

SB #54 | BA #39 | BP unranked | ML #43 | SN unranked | ES #75

25. Aaron Crow

RHP, KC (#55 overall)

A righthander with three quality pitches and middle of the rotation capability, Aaron Crow was a nice fit for a patient Nationals team that's good at developing overlooked pitching talent. Sadly, the Nats couldn't sign him before the deadline in 2008, and so he went back into the draft for 2009, when he was selected by his local Kansas City Royals. Don't forget about him.

More Scouting Book Info on Aaron Crow >

SB #55 | BA #40 | BP unranked | ML #41 | SN unranked | ES #87

26. Nick Hagadone

LHP, CLE (#56 overall)

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.

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SB #56 | BA #44 | BP unranked | ML #56 | SN unranked | ES #100

27. Shelby Miller

RHP, STL (#58 overall)

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 >

SB #58 | BA #50 | BP unranked | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #39

28. Mike Leake

RHP, CIN (#59 overall)

A two way player who can turn in above average range and defense in the outfield, Arizona righthander Mike Leake is more appealing to MLB scouts as a pitcher. While he lacks a classic plus pitch, he has four above-average ones, which is remarkable in such a young player, and the baseball smarts to infuriate batters. Some scouts see Leake as too small-bodied for 220-inning seasons, but ever since the rise of Tim Lincecum, smaller pitchers have been getting the benefit of the doubt. The Reds will likely develop Leake as a starter until something changes their mind.

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SB #59 | BA #72 | BP unranked | ML #53 | SN unranked | ES #72

29. Zach Britton

LHP, BAL (#65 overall)

Selected by the Orioles in 3rd Round (85th overall) of the 2006 amateur draft, lefty Zach Britton is a slightly-built starter who went 9-6 with a 2.70 while pitching for High-A Frederick in 2009, striking out 131 in 140 innings of work. A ground-ball pitcher with a plus changeup, Britton is a sneaky, thinking man's pitcher who can outsmart even the best hitters and leave many looking foolish. He gets little attention in Baltimore thanks to the rich and deep farm system, but he could be the number one prospect on a lot of other ballclubs.

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SB #65 | BA #63 | BP unranked | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #25

30. Brandon Erbe

RHP, BAL (#69 overall)

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.

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31. Jacob Turner

RHP, DET (#70 overall)

One of the top high school arms in the country, Jacob Turner was drafted in the first round (9th overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 2009. More a potential pitcher than a pitcher just yet, Turner has a big, strong, projectable body and a low-90's fastball, but not much else... which means that he'll need to be molded into something greater before he can have an impact on professionals.

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SB #70 | BA #26 | BP unranked | ML #42 | SN unranked | ES #80

32. Junichi Tazawa

RHP, BOS (#71 overall)

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.

Tazawa is a compact righthander whose claim to fame is a highly-effective 93mph fastball: early reports often listed it as 96, but US scouts have not yet seen such heat. What they have seen, though, is good fastball control with late tailing action, coupled with a plus slider in the mid-80's. His taste of the big leagues in 2009 wasn't exactly highlight-reel stuff, but he's still very young, and another season or two of minor league ball (perhaps with the occasional visit to Beantown) should help him get a handle on his own natural ability.

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33. Zack Wheeler

RHP, SF (#72 overall)

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.

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SB #72 | BA #49 | BP unranked | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #84

34. Michael Inoa

RHP, OAK (#74 overall)

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.

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35. Jhoulys Chacin

RHP, COL (#77 overall)

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 >

SB #77 | BA #71 | BP unranked | ML #44 | SN unranked | ES #48

36. Drew Storen

RHP, WAS (#79 overall)

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.

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SB #79 | BA #92 | BP unranked | ML #40 | SN unranked | ES #92

37. Tanner Scheppers

RHP, TEX (#83 overall)

A hot prospect before the 2008 draft, Scheppers fell to the Pirates (and, after not signing, the Rangers in 2009) due to concerns about an unusual (but non-structural) shoulder injury. He has big upside, but as he'll now be two years older than most college draftees before even starting pro play, his prospect status has taken a hit.

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SB #83 | BA #42 | BP unranked | ML #39 | SN unranked | ES #78

38. Matt Moore

LHP, TB (#87 overall)

How many scary-good pitching prospects does any franchise need? If you're Tampa Bay, the answer appears to be 'all of them', and lefty Matt Moore fits right in with that master plan. After blowing through rookie ball while learning how to shave, he finally found enough competition to provide some traction last year, when he went 8-5 with a 3.15 ERA in the Sally League. Of course, he also struck out 176 opponents in only 123 innings, so maybe he hasn't found his level just yet. Moore works with easy 93mph heat that has been clocked as high as 96, but it's the plus curve that makes hitters look foolish. Even his third and least mature pitch, a fading change, is much better developed than any changeup A-level hitters are accustomed to dealing with. The Rays don't usually push their prospects very hard, but until someone manages to figure out Mr. Moore, they're going to be forced to promote him further. Look for him to spend at least a large chunk of 2010 as one of the youngest players in AA.

More Scouting Book Info on Matt Moore >

SB #87 | BA #35 | BP unranked | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #81

39. Andrew Cashner

RHP, CHC (#88 overall)

Texas Christian's ex-closer, Andrew Cashner has that perfect mix of electric 98mph fastball and nasty low-90's slider that everyone wants to see in a ninth-inning specialist. Of course, the Cubs already have two or three of those on staff, so it's possible that Cashner could be stretched into starting duty: he's already got the workable changeup and innings-eating frame to do that if needed. There was talk of looking at him as a Wrigley fill-in artist in late 2009, but that didn't pan out. For now, look for him to get an audition sometime in 2010.

More Scouting Book Info on Andrew Cashner >

SB #88 | BA #95 | BP unranked | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #79

40. Carlos Carrasco

RHP, CLE (#89 overall)

An under-the-radar phenom last year, Carrasco can't sneak past anyone now, and when the Indians went looking for a prospect haul in exchange for Cliff Lee, he was on top of their wish list. He's now one of baseball's top pitching prospects, and he's essentially ready for MLB today: he's already got three solid big-league ready pitches, he's shown durability and endurance needed to be a front-line starter, and he's got the brains to outsmart sluggers from outing to outing and at-bat to at-bat. The AL won't be easy on him, and he's bound to get lit up like a pinball machine at times, but if Cleveland gives the kid an early shot, expect some highlight-reel performances.

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41. Dan Hudson

RHP, CHW (#91 overall)

One of the fastest-moving prospects in the minors, White Sox righthander Dan Hudson went from rookie ball all the way to AAA Charlotte in 2009, and he should be competing to take that last step to MLB in the spring. His minor league numbers to date (19-9, 2.65, 0.98 WHIP) certainly justify another promotion, but with the White Sox rotation full up and the bullpen already bulging with veterans, it's unclear what role he could take in 2010. He's not an overpowering pitcher: his fastball dances around 92mph most nights, but he mixes in his slider and change with sufficient control (see his 256:56 strikeout to walk ratio in the minors) to keep even patient hitters frustrated. With not much left to prove in the minors, he could be a 'surprise' rookie headline grabber in 2010.

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42. Casey Crosby

LHP, DET (#92 overall)

The rare kind of power lefty who can hit the upper 90's, Tigers prospect Casey Crosby has been blossoming in the shadow of super-prospect Rick Porcello, who gets most of the attention. Crosby has a live curve and a developing change, but his command isn't ready for the majors just yet. If he sharpens it a bit, he could step in as a strong number two or three in the Tigers rotation. He has good mound presence, great baseball smarts and instincts, and the competitiveness to succeed.

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SB #92 | BA #47 | BP unranked | ML #54 | SN unranked | ES #45

43. Antonio Bastardo

LHP, PHI (#97 overall)

A scrawny Dominican lefthander who enhances his average stuff with good deception, Bastardo was almost a Phillies fill-in last season before shoulder problems ended his season early. A changeup specialist in the Jamie Moyer fashion, he could have success frustrating slower-handed NL hitters. With Kyle Drabek out of the way and only Phil Aumont to now contend with, he could break into the MLB club by midseason.

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44. Lance Lynn

RHP, STL (#102 overall)

The Cardinals' minor league pitcher of the year, righthander Michael (Lance) Lynn is a 6-6, 260lb monster out of U Mississippi who frustrates opposing hitters with a hard sinker mixed with an effective change and curve. More of a smart, pitchability type than a power pitcher, Lynn exhibits plus command of all his pitches and has shown a knack for keeping hitters off balance. If he can hold up to the workloads of pro ball, he could be a real innings eater for the Cardinals in a year or two.

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45. Chris Withrow

RHP, LAD (#103 overall)

The Dodgers' first round pick in 2007, righty Chris Withrow went 8-8 over 22 starts in 2009, split between high A Inland Empire and AA Chattanooga. With 131 strikeouts in 114 innings, he's looking like a power pitcher, and that's exactly what the Dodgers are looking for, here. His fastball lives around 93 but can hit 98 with good movement. His improving curve is a strikeout pitch, an 11-5 hammer that he's comfortable throwing in almost any count. A middle-rotation candidate who's already showing superior makeup, Withrow could move quickly, especially if the Dodgers suffer injuries in 2010.

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SB #103 | BA #48 | BP unranked | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #83

46. Chad James

LHP, FLA (#105 overall)

A tall and lanky power pitcher in the Jon Lester mold, Chad James was a first round selection who signed with the Marlins in 2009. In addition to moving fastball that he commands well, James has a fantastic (if erratic) curve and a developing change that will dictate his future as he matures. He signed too late to sample pro ball in 2009, but he'll be a bright dot to follow on the radar in 2010.

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47. Chris Carpenter

RHP, CHC (#106 overall)

If any prospect ever needed a nickname, it's Cubs righthander Chris J. Carpenter, one of the fastest-rising pitching prospects in baseball and part of a prospect resurgence in Chicago. A big power arm out of Kent State, Carpenter's early Tommy John surgery kept him in the shadows for awhile, and left him dangling until the Draft's third round. He's fully recovered now, and looking like a premium arm again. Carpenter, who we're now calling CJ, opened 2009 at A-level Peoria, going 4-3 with a 2.44 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, before being promoted to high-A Daytona. At the higher level, CJ went 2-1 with a 1.44 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in five starts, which was enough to punch another ticket, this time to AA Tennessee. In 27 combined starts at all three levels, he struck out 118 batters while walking only 52. While he's likely to spend all of 2010 in AA, CJ will probably get his first taste of MLB by September.

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48. Noel Arguelles

LHP, KC (#113 overall)

With all the focus on Aroldis Chapman, will anyone remember Noel Arguelles? Like Chapman, Arguelles is a young Cuban lefthander who signed a surprise contract with a smaller market club. In Noel's case, the deal was a five-year, $7 million contract with the KC Royals. A 6-foot-4 athlete from head to toe, Arguelles came to international attention pitching the gold medal game for Cuba in the Pan American Junior Championships in 2007.

Arguelles doesn't have an overpowering fastball (he's more in the typical 92mph bracket), but his curve and change do show moments of possible greatness. He's several years away from a possible MLB debut, which means he'll continue to develop in the shadows for now... but he should be worth the wait.

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49. Jake McGee

LHP, TB (#115 overall)

With three plus-pitches, one of them a plus-plus curve, this is a left-hander with a very bright future. While you probably did not hear his name much, McGee led his AA league in strikeouts in 2006, adding six double-digit strikeout finishes to the morning papers. He slid a bit in 2007 and spent most of 2008 recovering from surgery, but he's still a smart money bet for the future. There is some concern over his stamina, however, so he may be in line for the bullpen in TB this year. Still, a left-handed strikeout artist is a nice pickup, no matter which inning it is when he takes the mound. If Tampa uses him as a five-inning starter too soon, he won't be worth much in fantasy play, but if he's brought up as a setup man, watch out: he could be a super-LOOGY or exceptional setup man very quickly.

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50. Ethan Martin

RHP, LAD (#116 overall)

No relation to Russ, though the righthanded pitcher does have at least one other thing in common with the catcher: both are viable backups at third base. The Dodgers are looking at Ethan as a pitcher and only a pitcher, however, and that might be more than enough. The powerful, savvy righthander projects a lot like the Giants' young Tim Lincecum, with a pinpoint fastball and a nasty hard slider coming from a compact frame. He's not close to ready, but when he does add some experience to his talent, he should be yet another in a long string of powerful home-grown Dodger arms.

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51. Hector Rondon

RHP, CLE (#119 overall)

A relatively unknown pitcher hidden in the Cleveland system, righthander Hector Rondon blew through AA last year and landed at AAA for season's end. He went 7-5, 2.75 at AA Akron, striking out 73 batters in 74 innings while walking only 15. His build and delivery concern some scouts, and his ceiling might not be as high as some of the bigger names on the farm, but his darting 93mph fastball and MLB-ready breaking ball are highly effective when he commands them... which is most of the time. He could sneak into the Cleveland bullpen sometime in 2010, or even into the depleted rotation.

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52. Kasey Kiker

LHP , TEX (#120 overall)

A first-round selection by the Giants in 2006, Kiker has been up and down during his development as a Ranger. He has a real plus fastball, which once touched 97 but today lives closer to 94, and a better than average changeup. His conditioning has been a question in the past, but he seems to be showing a new commitment to taking care of his body enough to put in the long season. The Rangers want to see him focus and sharpen his command before promoting him, but that shouldn't be seen as a sign of ill-confidence.

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53. Daniel Schlereth

LHP, DET (#121 overall)

The son of offensive lineman and ESPN commentator Mark Schlereth, Daniel is a power lefty with a strikeout curve who most see as a relief specialist. Acquired by the Tigers during 2009's Winter meetings, he could be converted to starting duty. Either way, he's a young power arm with a bright future.

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54. Arodys Vizcaino

RHP, ATL (#122 overall)

The Yankees top international signee back in 2007, righthander Arodys Vizcaino was one of the team's top prospects when he moved to Atlanta as part of the trade that sent Javier Vazquez back to the Bronx. His fastball hovers in the low 90s, but should get harder as he matures. He complements that with an already-superb curve and a developing change. His development over the next year in Atlanta's pitching labs will determine whether he's starter or bullpen material, but he's already proven he can pitch rather than just throw: in 2009, he posted a 1.16 WHIP and a 2.13 ERA in 42 innings of work at short-season Staten Island.

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SB #122 | BA #69 | BP unranked | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #43

55. Simon Castro

RHP, SD (#124 overall)

A huge, daunting figure who can touch 99mph with his heater, Padres righthander Simon Castro is one of the most promising pitchers in a system that's focused on developing big strong arms for the next decade. (For another example, see Pelzer, Wynn) As a 21 year old at A-level Fort Wayne in 2009, Castro went 10-6 with a 3.33 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP, but most eye-poppingly, he struck out 157 opponents in only 140 innings of work while walking a meagre 37. His slider is probably his best pitch, and when he's locating the fastball at the same time, he's nearly unhittable. Some scouts see a closer in Castro, but for now the Padres will keep pushing him as a rotation member, and since he's got the frame necessary to carry 200 innings, they're probably wise to do so.

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SB #124 | BA #57 | BP unranked | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #46

56. Alex White

RHP, CLE (#127 overall)

An alum of Marlins lefty Andrew Miller and Red Sox fireballer Daniel Bard, Alex White figures to be the next UNC ace to earn an MLB gig. A mid-90's fastball is his workaday pitch, but his slider is a real plus offering, and even his change is well-developed for such a young pitcher.

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57. Jay Jackson

RHP, CHC (#131 overall)

A two-way player drafted by the Cubs as a pitcher in 2008, Randy 'Jay' Jackson is a sturdy righthander with a heavy 93mph fastball and an average curve. He posted a healthy 4-2, 2.88 half-season in A ball after that, but most eye-opening were the 72 strikeouts in 50 innings. He probably won't duplicate that success against higher-quality hitters, but he should get the opportunity soon enough. He's got some 2012 sleeper potential, but if the Cubs need a power righthanded arm in the bullpen sooner than that, the kid they (should) call 'Dawg' could get a look-see a lot sooner than that.

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SB #131 | BA #98 | BP unranked | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #50

58. Aaron Poreda

LHP, SD (#132 overall)

A late first round pick in 2007 out of the University of San Francisco, Padres lefty Aaron Poreda is a favorite of ours here at Scouting Book. The big, 240-pound hurler boasts one of the best fastballs in the minors (up to 97mph and sinking) with an improving slider that may grow to be his best pitch if he can learn to control it more effectively.

In two years of minor league ball, Poreda ascended to AA with a 12-9 record and a 2.98 ERA, but most enlightening is that in 207 minor league innings, he struck out 166 while walking 50. His old handlers at the White Sox ranch used him lightly in the bullpen in 2009, and while some in the Chicago system saw him as a reliever, the Padres will give him a chance to stick as a starter, and that's where his upside really shines. His frame is large and he's already proven to be durable, which screams 'innings eater' to us. The depth of the San Diego system means he won't have as much opportunity as he was handed in Chicago, at least not right away, but he should still have a pretty good shot at MLB starts in 2010, and if he looks good, he'll lock down a 2011 rotation spot.

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59. Zach Stewart

RHP, TOR (#133 overall)

Already blessed with the best fastball in the Blue Jays system, ex-Red Zach Stewart is a compact righthander who's being fast-tracked to future closing duties in Toronto. That is, it looks an awful lot like that's how the Blue Jays want him to arrive. Should they change their minds, Stewart's high heat and nasty, nasty slider could also do some damage in a starting role.

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60. Trevor May

RHP, PHI (#136 overall)

The depleted Phillies farm system has provided an opportunity for a few mid-level prospects who can now break into the top levels. Pitcher Trevor May is one of those who will be getting a lot more attention in the near future. May brings three good pitches to the plate every time out, and he's already had some pretty stunning success at low levels of minor league ball, most recently striking out 95 hitters in only 77 innings of work at A-level Lakewood. May's fastball is a standard 92-94 offering with heavy sink, and his secondary pitches (a hammer curve and a straight change) are almost ready for more advanced hitters. He's a pitcher to watch in 2010, though any big-league effectiveness is still a couple of years away.

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61. Jordan Lyles

RHP, HOU (#139 overall)

A raw gem of a righthander from Hartsville High School in South Carolina, Lyles is the sort of big strong power pitcher that the Astros always love to gamble on. And gamble they did when they took him so high in the 2008 draft (38th player overall). He's got incredible stuff, including a hot and lively fastball that should burn through the lower minor leagues, but he's going to need to improve his offspeed pitches to move beyond that. He has front-line starter potential, but it'll be a couple of years before we know how likely he is to reach it.

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SB #139 | BA #91 | BP unranked | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #60

62. Scott Elbert

LHP, LAD (#143 overall)

If it seems like lefty Scott Elbert has been a prospect since the Golden Age, that's because he's been up and down the chart as much as he's been in and out of the doctor's office. But the Dodgers passed up Phil Hughes for Elbert (maybe foolishly, maybe not), and they did it for some good reasons. Still one of the minors' best left-handed pitchers, the first round pick Elbert has power stuff with an exploding 93-95 mph fastball and a sinker/slider that's best in class.

However, Elbert's delivery is unconventional, often leading to some disastrous walk numbers and a few fingers pointing him to the Instructional League. His control looked more in hand before his 2007 season was shut down for some (minor) cleanup surgery, and he missed most of 2008 recovering, but the Dodgers saw enough in his return that they brought him all the way up to the big league club in the fall, using his lefthanded lightning from the bullpen during the stretch run. Elbert's arm quality is very very high, and he seems to have the mental makeup to survive some bumps along his path to the majors. Since the combination of the surgery flag and his odd delivery may scare too many people into ranking him quite low, he's an excellent sleeper candidate for 2010-2011. Chad Billingsley and Clay Kershaw still get most of the attention in LA right now, but Elbert has enough raw stuff that he still might be the real future ace of the Dodgers.

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63. Bradley Holt

RHP, NYM (#146 overall)

A powerful righthander who slipped to the Mets in the supplemental first round of the 2008 draft, Brad Holt brings a big fastball from a big frame. A college pitcher whose shown good composure, he could factor into the shallow Mets rotation as early as 2010.

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64. Alex Colome

RHP, TB (#148 overall)

A righthanded pitcher from San Pedro de Macoris, DR (his parents must have missed the shortstop delivery truck came by), Alexander Colome is a right-handed pitcher in the Rays system. He zipped onto the prospect radar last year after going 7-4 with a scintillating 1.66 ERA in fifteen starts for low-A Hudson Valley in the NY-Penn League, enough to land him the league MVP award. The definition of 'raw stuff', Colome out 94 and walked 32 in only 74 innings of work, working almost exclusively with his high-90's fastball. His second pitch is a power curve he's still learning to control, but even if he only half-masters it, he could see time in an MLB uniform before his 22nd birthday.

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65. Esmil Rogers

RHP, COL (#151 overall)

Another live arm the Rockies signed out of Latin America, they found, Esmil Rogers is a whip-thin righthander from the Dominican with the usual attributes one finds in a hot young prospect: hyperactive fastball in the low to mid-nineties, crude but developing change, and a strikeout curve that he hasn't quite learned to control just yet. He'll take a bit more time than the more polished Jhoulys Chacin, but he'll be along soon enough.

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66. Andrew Brackman

RHP, NYY (#152 overall)

Brackman was scouted by the Yankees since his days in a Cincinnati high school. The team snuck him in as the last pick of 2007's first round, signed him to a major-league contract, and promptly sent for Tommy John surgery to replace the ligament in his throwing elbow. Standing almost seven feet tall, tipping the scales at 245 and bringing a fastball that impressed the Yankees enough to take a huge chance on him, Brackman is a textbook example of a signing for raw potential. His return to pitching following a two-year hiatus didn't go well (2-12, 5.91 ERA, 1.71 WHIP in A-level Charleston), but that's almost to be expected given his long absence from the mount. He'll return to A-ball in 2010, and while he's just as high-ceilinged a prospect as ever, it's anyone's guess how much of the old stuff will ever come back.

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67. Matt Walker

RHP, TB (#155 overall)

Maybe Tampa overpaid for this one, but if he's shown anything, the young right-hander has been consistent and right on the fringes of what it takes to be a front-line MLB starter. With an already-potent 95mph fastball, he only needs a second top-flight pitch to succeed in Tampa, though the bullpen looks like his more likely destination right now.

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68. Hisanori Takahashi

LHP, NYM (#157 overall)

One of Japan's premium lefthanders, Hisanori Takahashi is an experienced pitcher with a good mix of stuff and guile. The Yomiuri Giants #1 draft pick back in 2000, Takahashi has a 3.80 career ERA earned across 159 starts in Japan, including a 10-6, 2.94 season in 2009. Like new Met Ryoto Igarashi, Takahashi turned down a chance to move to another NPB team in favor of MLB-eligibility at the end of the 2009 season. He was courted by several teams before signing with the Mets. While he's always been a starter in Japan, the Mets will try him out as a reliever. Of course, with the way the old strength and condition department operates in New York, he'll probably be called upon to take over in the rotation before the year is up.

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69. Brad Lincoln

RHP, PIT (#158 overall)

Thanks to their thrifty nature, the Pittsburgh farm can be a confusing maze of not quite tip-top (but still useful) prospects. Every year they put half a dozen starters on the prospect lists, and every year some of them work out, while some of them don't. Here's one of the latest entries, righthander Brad Lincoln, complete with his 4:1 minor league K to BB ratio. He's performed well at every minor league stop, which means the rest of the world should get a look-see at what he can really do sometime in 2010. It's possible he could even break camp in the major league rotation.

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70. Trevor Reckling

LHP, LAA (#159 overall)

An Angels' steal in the 8th round of the 2007 draft, pitcher Trevor Reckling is a deceptive lefty with strong 'pitchability' and baseball smarts. His low 90's fastball is nothing special, at least not until he follows it up with his very good changeup or the plus curve that might be the best deuce in the entire Angels' system. He's a very young talent who's still learning to work with his great stuff, of course, so don't expect immediate results, but if he keeps moving up the system at his current pace, he'll be lighting up the 'A' in no time.

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71. Wilmer Font

RHP, TEX (#160 overall)

A sleeper candidate who could zoom up the list at any time, Texas righthander Wilmer Font is yet another righthander in a potent Texas system. The big Venezuelan missed most of 2008 while nursing knee and shoulder problems, but neither proved serious and Font bounced back to an 8-3, 3.49 ERA season as a 19-year old at Sally League (A) Hickory. A broad-shouldered (and big-waisted) pitcher who can touch 96mph with his fastball, Font struck out 105 but walked 59, so his control isn't quite ready for the higher leagues just yet. Font mixes in a changeup that could be a plus pitch one day along with a so-so curve. While he could be a surprise bullpen arm soon, his real calling is as a Ranger starter somewhere in 2012 or 2013.

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72. Andy Oliver

LHP, DET (#162 overall)

The Tigers second round pick in 2009, lefty Andy Oliver fits the pattern of big, intimidating power pitchers so loved by the Detroit brass. In his three years at OSU, he went 18-9 with a 4.02 ERA, striking out 235 hitters while walking 96. Oliver works with a 96mph fastball that blows away lesser hitters, with an above-average change to keep them honest. His breaking pitches aren't quite ready for prime time yet.

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73. Matt Hobgood

LHP, BAL (#166 overall)

A very big, sturdy lefthander from California, Hobgood is a fastball-curve pitching machine who projects as an innings-eating workhorse someday. He's a few years away, though, and he'll definitely need to develop a changeup before he can be set loose on advanced hitters.

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74. Yu Darvish

RHP, Japan (#168 overall)

He's six foot five with a 94mph fastball and he's... Japanese? Well, half-Japanese, at least. Darvish, the Japanese/Iranian wunderkind who's half baseball star and half sex symbol, is Japan's best young pitcher. Playing for the Nippon Ham Fighters, Darvish posted a 1.82 ERA over 26 starts while striking out 210. Again, that's 210 strikeouts in only twenty-six starts.

MLB players who've faced him or played beside him call him one of the best pitchers they've ever seen. His current manager calls him 'the best pitcher in the history of Japanese baseball.' And ex-manager Trey Hillman has said that if it was possible, Darvish would be worth 'the rosters of a couple of major league teams' in a fair-value trade. (Then again, Hillman also said that Darvish's rock star cool was like 'Fonzie and Elvis, both at the same time.')

He's only 24, which means he has a lot of time to build his legend in Japan before even considering international free agency, but considering his age and skill level, and the way he'd justify a posting fee at least as high as Daisuke Matsuzaka's, it's more than possible that the financially-strapped Carp will consider how much they could improve their team with, oh, an extra $100 million dollars or so. Despite the flirtatious comments he's made to the media about moving to America, he's committed to Japan for the next couple of years. But he remains a very big question mark for 2012, 2013, 2014...

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75. Rex Brothers

LHP, COL (#170 overall)

A strikeout machine with plus movement and superior velocity, lefthander Rex Brothers gets scant attention in a system with so many live lefty arms. But he should: the Shelbyville (TN) native chewed up A-ball in 2009, striking out 28 while walking only 8 in 22 innings. And lest you worry about the small sample size, that's in line with his NCAA performance, where over three seasons he struck out 322 college hitters over 286 innings while walking only 142 of them. He's a bit behind some of the other Rockies talent developmentally, but he's definitely got the stuff to be a front-line starter someday. Don't forget about him.

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76. Deolis Guerra

RHP, MIN (#172 overall)

A tall, powerful strikeout artist, Guerra has been considered in both starting and bullpen roles for the last couple of years. He should be easy to lock up in the late rounds of a deep 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.

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77. Jason Knapp

RHP, CLE (#176 overall)

A big-bodied ace in waiting with a 98mph heater, ex-Phillies pitcher Jason Knapp is one of the many young prospects in a refreshed Indians system. He enters 2010 as a 19 year old, but he's already one of the three best pitchers in the Cleveland farm. Arthroscopic shoulder surgery in September 2009 went swimmingly, and he's expected to be at full strength for 2010. He'll probably start at high-A and end the year in AA. He's on target for full-on arrival in 2012 or so.

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78. Eduardo Sanchez

RHP, STL (#178 overall)

A fastball and slider specialist, Sanchez is a lights-out reliever simmering in the St. Louis system. The young Venezuelan ended his 2009 with the Double-A Springfield Cardinals, and now projects as a nasty late-inning weapon for the Cardinals, perhaps as soon as 2010.

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79. Eric Arnett

RHP, MLW (#181 overall)

A big right-hander who projects as an innings-eating workhorse down the road, Brewer prospect Eric Arnett throws a 94mph fastball with heavy sink, and complements it with a still-erratic low-80's slider. A still-developing splitter and changeup are also in the quiver, though he doesn't use either with confidence just yet.

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80. Jonathan Meloan

RHP, OAK (#187 overall)

When a pitcher blows through five teams in a few months, you have to figure he's a pretty dominant reliever on a hot streak. But when that pitcher blows through by changing uniforms four times, something must be very wrong. A dominant minor league reliever two years ago when the Dodgers packaged him up with catcher Carlos Santana for a three month rental of Casey Blake (!) from the Indians, Meloan has since changed teams many more times: Since the end of 2008, he's been a Dodger, an Indian, a Pirate, a Ray and an Athletic.

The arm, by all reports, is just fine, with the same sneaky-late fastball and passable breaking ball that makes him valid closer material: in just nine innings of late-season relief work for the for the A's at the end of the year, Meloan faced 29 major league batters and struck out 11 of them.

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81. Clayton Mortensen

RHP, OAK (#190 overall)

A sandwich pick from 2007, righthander Clay Mortensen zoomed up the Cardinal chart until being bundled off to Oakland for Matt Holliday. The sinker-specialist also features a hard slider, a two-pitch punch that induces plenty of ground balls. Like many young pitchers, his offspeed pitches are a bit raw, and he's been developing a straight change that should make his hard-movers more effective. A move to pitcher-happy environment in Oakland could help Mortensen flourish soon.

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82. Carlos Gutierrez

RHP, MIN (#192 overall)

The ex-Miami Hurricanes closer throws a 98mph fastball that could get even faster as he comes back from TJ surgery. His breaking ball is still a bit sub-par, but if any coaching staff can coax secondary pitches from power arms, its the wizard's guild in Minnesota. Gutierrez is still a year or two away from being completely ready, but the Twins work in mysterious ways, which means he could see opportunities as a setup man as early as 2010, with the closer's mantle for Minnesota's post-Nathan days still within reach.

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83. Jurickson Profar

RHP, TEX (#193 overall)

A two-way player and 2004 Little League star who some prefer as an infielder, righthander Jurickson Profar was signed as an international free agent in 2009. Blessed with a 94mph heater and a slider that could mature into a real plus pitch, the teenager is an ideal late reliever right now, but could go in any direction in the years to come. If he moves to the field, he has the hands and arm strength to work at shortstop, though his hitting ability isn't looking quite as promising just yet. A deep talent in the Rangers system, Jurickson is one to watch in the years to come.

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84. Cory Luebke

LHP, SD (#195 overall)

Pick number 63 in the 2007 Draft, Cory Luebke went 11-4 with a 2.78 ERA and a shimmering 1.10 WHIP at two levels of play in 2009. His 112-32 strikeout to walk ratio is another number worth some yellow highlighter. A tall, lanky pitcher who lives in the low 90s with great two-seam movement, he leans on a reasonable change and a real plus slider as his strikeout pitch. He also shows off one of the best pickoff moves to first base seen in the minors since the days Andy Pettitte pitched at Columbus. He lacks some of the explosive upside of other Padre starters, but his mix of quality pitches and overall polish probably put him closer to the Bigs. He'll open 2010 in AA ball but could see at least a look-see start in San Diego before the end of the year.

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85. Mitch Talbot

RHP, CLE (#196 overall)

Where does Tampa find these kids? Over a statistically significant 500 innings pitched, Talbot's strikeout ratio is over 4, his WHIP is under 1.3, and his potential to break into a major league rotation is very very high, especially for such a young pitcher. His recent trade to Cleveland only accelerates his likely arrival, though the less-magical coaching and development staff could hinder his potential.

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86. Henry Sosa

RHP, SF (#201 overall)

A rising star in the Giants system, the 6-foot-2 righthander Henry Sosa is a power pitcher in the Matt Cain variety, though without the control and (so far) without the command of his breaking stuff: his curve could be a plus pitch one day, but so far it's very much a work-in-progress, which means hitters can sometimes sit on his 96mph fastball.

After repeating A-ball in 2008, Sosa took a strong step forward in 2009, posting a 6-0 record over 14 starts and notching a 2.36 ERA at AA Connecticut, with a nice, shiny WHIP of 1.19. As is usual for Sosa, his control wasn't as precise as coaches would like (25 walks in only 72 innings), and his strikeout/curve combination wasn't as effective as it had been at lower levels. A few mechanical tweaks in 2010 should keep batters honest while he continues to master his deuce.

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87. Ryota Igarashi

RHP, NYM (#204 overall)

A stocky right-handed specialist who spent most of his career with NPB's Yakult Swallows before moving to America, Ryota Igarashi is the proud owner of a lifetime 3.26 ERA and 1.07 in Japan, almost all of it in relief. Though most frequently a setup man or middle reliever, he also closed 37 games for the Swallows in 2004. In 2010, he'll provide depth in the bullpen for the Mets, who signed him to a two year deal during the offseason.

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88. Danny Duffy

LHP, KC (#208 overall)

The next phenom, or another phizzle from the KC draft department? One thing is for sure, the very talented Daniel Duffy certainly gets people's attention when he takes the mound.

He escaped many high-school scouts' notice with his small frame and 80mph fastball as a sophomore, but by the time he hit 18, Duffy had filled out into a 6-3, 200lb frame and his fastball came along with him: readings during his final high school season broke 95mph on radar guns while the lefthander routinely struck out 13, 14, up to 17 hapless batters per game.

As might be expected from such a young talent, Duffy's control can be a bit erratic, and his breaking pitches are works in progress, but scouts already like his makeup and maturity. If he continues to grow into the mental aspects of the game the way his body grew into the physical demands, Duffy could be a legitimate ace in a couple of years.

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89. Jon Niese

LHP, NYM (#209 overall)

A wiry left-hander with a deadly curve, Jon Niese is a dark-horse pitching prospect who has a shot at the Mets rotation in 2009. A graduate of the same high school as Chad Billingsley, Niese looked strong in AA last year, but was shellacked when he dipped his toes into the majors. Still, he has the maturity and guile to recover quickly. Niese features a nice fastball and a heavy sinker, but he needs another year, really, to refine his other pitches. If the Mets can be patient enough to let him develop a bit more, he might be a front-of-rotation starter, though they may be tempted to plug him into the bullpen or back-end immediately instead.

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90. Nick Barnese

RHP, TB (#210 overall)

Barnese's fastball is a lively 92mph offering, and he mixes in a late-breaking slurve that's almost (but not quite) a hammer curve. Like most young pitchers, his changeup isn't really ready for the bright lights yet, but his confidence, poise and aggressive intelligence make it seem like only a matter of time before he's ready to toe the rubber in Tampa. He pitched the 2009 season at Bowling Green alongside fellow top Rays prospect Matt Moore, and while he couldn't match the lefty's gaudy strikeout numbers, he actually delivered a better season overall, with a 2.53 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP testifying to his unshakeable command.

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91. Randall Delgado

RHP, ATL (#212 overall)

Righthander Randall Delgado is a wiry power pitcher with three quality pitches and developing control. His fastball, which can touch 95, lives more in the 92mph range with significant late movement. His control is about where you'd expect it to be in such a youngster: some days he can blow hitter away, while on other days he looks lost on the mound. He struggled a bit in his first full season of pro ball in 2009, but finished strong, with 141 strikeouts to balance against only 49 walks. There's no room for him at higher levels of the Atlanta system (the Braves farm is stacked in pitching) so he's likely to spend 2010 in class-A Rome, even though he's probably ready for a bigger challenge than that.

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92. Craig Kimbrel

RHP, ATL (#213 overall)

A fireplug righty in the Jon Broxton fashion, Kimbrel is the Braves' number one closer prospect. His heavy fastball touches 96, and when he mixes in his plus slider, he's near-unhittable. With 18 saves across three levels of minor league ball in 2009, he's also very close to ready to try his hand at the big game. Expect him to pay a visit to the Braves bullpen in 2010.

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93. Manny Banuelos

LHP, NYY (#216 overall)

With a nickname that sounds like something out of Radical Feminist Manifesto, Manny Banuelos is a young and tiny lefthander signed out of Mexico who's already being heralded as a shining success story for the Yankee's international scouting team. Man-Ban's fastball is an easy 92mph, while his changeup already looks like a plus pitch, remarkable in such a young player. He's been working on adding a curve and/or slider to his mix, but even his existing two-pitch arsenal has been effective so far: as an 18 year old in the Sally League in 2009, Buenolos more than held his own, going 9-5 with a 2.67 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP, not to mention 104 strikeouts in 108 innings of work. He'll be brought along slowly, as the ever-conservative Yankees have no need to rush him, but if his next year is as good as his last, he'll have to be considered one of the top young arms in the minor leagues.

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94. Jordan Walden

RHP, LAA (#220 overall)

Regarded as the best high school prospect of the 2006 draft, righthander Walden took his time to eventually sign a midnight deal with the Angels in 2007.

A power pitcher with a plus fastball-slider combination, he's been a dominant starter with iffy control so far. Walden works his fastball around 92-94mph and his slider about eight mph slower than that. Any future in the Angels rotation, though, will depend on how well he develops a changeup. Of course, even without one, he still has the potential to dial his fastball up to 97 and use his plus slider as a 9th-inning strikeout pitch.

He's raw, but a couple of years from now he could be a big part of the Angels' armory.

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95. Travis Wood

LHP, CIN (#221 overall)

Travis Wood is a rising lefty in the Reds system. He won the Southern League's Most Outstanding Pitcher award in 2009 by dominating AA hitters to the tune of a 9-3, 1.21 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP, he was moved up to AAA Louisville to finish the summer. He held his own at the highest level, and looks ready to take a shot at the Reds rotation sometime in 2010.

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96. Humberto Sanchez

RHP, NYY (#222 overall)

Newly a Yankee, look for Sanchez to work in the bullpen, at least initially. Long-term, the big man might be better as an innings-eating starter, as his fastball control and work ethic make him a viable 200 inning guy in short order. Worth a flier, at the very least.

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97. Danny Gutierrez

RHP, TEX (#224 overall)

Acquired from the Royals at the tail end of the 2009 season, pitcher Danny Gutierrez jumped onto the prospect boards in 2008 as a 96mph monster in the Midwest League. Since then, his curve and change have developed to complement the fastball, and he looks like a promising future starter in MLB. He posted a 1.65 ERA in 27.3 High-A innings in 2009. Gutierrez works with his fastball closer to 94mph most of the time, along with a slow curveball and an impressive low-80's change. His mechanics and release point are sound and fairly consistent, with an easy, repeatable motion that leaves hitters guessing.

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98. Yunieksy Maya

RHP, FA (#226 overall)

The winner of the 2009 best righthanded pitcher award in the Cuban League, Yuniesky Maya defected the following year, becoming an MLB-qualified free agent at age 27. Yuni is a smart pitcher with a well-rounded repertoire: his 92mph fastball won't blow many away, but the deft way in which he mixes in a shifty two-seamer, a quality change, a solid curve and even a strikeout slider means he doesn't need to break bats: he can miss them instead.

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99. Sammy Gervacio

RHP, HOU (#228 overall)

A slight Dominican righthander with good pitching sense and one of the nastiest sliders in the system, young Sammy Gervacio is one of the few bright spots in a dark Houston minor league system. With a 3.11 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP across four and a half minor league seasons and the proud owner of a strikeout to walk ratio near four, he earned a shot in the Astro bullpen in 2009. He performed well enough, giving up only five runs in 29 bullpen appearances, to earn consideration for a full-time role in 2010. A lifetime reliever, he has closer potential if the Astros have the guts to let someone with an 88mph fastball into the ninth inning.

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100. Dan Runzler

LHP, SF (#229 overall)

A ninth-round pick back in 2007, pitcher Dan Runzler has zipped right up the Giants' prospect chart on the strength of his 97mph buzzer. Starting 2009 in low-A Augusta and making four stops before landing in San Francisco, the lefty reliever's worst ERA came with the giants, when he posted a 1.04 mark in 11 appearances. Used mainly as a LOOGY but capable of multiple-inning work, Runzler is a favorite to land a spot in a depleted 2010 Giants bullpen.

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101. Joe Savery

LHP, PHI (#230 overall)

Drafted by the Phillies in the first round of the 2007 Draft and signed with a $1.4M gift basket, Savery made 24 starts for high-A Clearwater in 2008. His line wasn't impressive (9-10, 4.13 ERA) but he did strike out 122 in 150 innings. His control was iffy (he walked 60) just as it was during his college career, but his composure and command were good. Assuming he avoids serious injury and refines his control a bit, he could join the pitching-thin Phillies rotation as early as 2010.

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102. Zack Von Rosenberg

RHP, PIT (#232 overall)

The 49th overall selection in the 2009 draft, high schooler Zachary Von Rosenberg was a high-upside pick for the Pirates, who went well over their usual budget to sign him and keep him away from LSU. A big, strong player with good overall athleticism, he projects as an innings-eating workhorse, as long as he can stay healthy. He's already quite well-developed, with three pitches that look like they could play in the majors quite soon: a 90mph fastball with movement that should get harder as he grows, an already-advanced curve, and a changeup that's quite a bit ahead of average. Don't press too hard just yet, but you can pencil him into the middle of the Pirate rotation come 2014 or so.

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103. Cody Scarpetta

RHP, MLW (#234 overall)

A big, strong righthander from Illinois, Brewer pitcher Cody Scarpetta is one of a half-dozen cogs grinding away in the minors while working his way higher in the prospect machine. He doesn't look much like his wiry teammate Wily Peralta, but his results at A-level Wisconsin were near identical: a 3.43 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, and 116 strikeouts versus 55 walks in 105 innings.

Like Peralta, Scarpetta lacks a true third pitch so far, leaning hard (too hard) on a fastball he's still learning to command and falling back on a curve that has enough bite to be a plus pitch. In Scarpetta's case, the fastball has a little less cheese but a bit more late movement and a little sink. If he can find the strike zone with a bit more consistency, that should improve the effectiveness of his curve. With his style, demeanor, body type and skillset, he looks a lot like a Joe Blanton-style workhorse from here.

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104. Josh Lindblom

RHP, LAD (#236 overall)

A dominating college closer drafted in the second round of 2008, ex-Boilermaker Josh Lindblom is being developed by the Dodgers as a future starter. In nine short starts (remember, he's just learning), he turned in a shimmering 2.12 ERA and held batters to .157 average over 34 innings. His 37-5 K-BB ratio over that stretch looks a lot like he's still using his closer's stuff, too. He'll spend the year in the minors, probably at AA, but he's a great candidate to zip up to the top of the prospect charts for 2010-2011.

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105. Naoyuki Shimizu

RHP, Japan (#239 overall)

Righthander Naoyuki Shimizu is a starting pitcher from NPB, where he played 10 seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines before signing last winter with the Yokohama BayStars on a one-year deal. He also played with Japan in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Naoyuki's fastball can touch 94mph, but he works most of the time in the 86-90mph range, relying on deceptive delivery and late motion to befuddle hitters. He works both sides of the plate and mixes in a change in the low to mid-70's to keep hitters perpetually off-balance. While he's only got a few more peak years left, he could be a good fit on any number of MLB ballclubs.

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106. Adis Portillo

RHP, SD (#241 overall)

Adis (or sometimes, inexplicably, Adys) Portillo is a hard-throwing right-hander who shows more polish than most Venezuelan prospects. Portillo exhibits a dominating mound presence and great composure, featuring a moving fastball that tops out at about 94mph. It's the raw stuff he wields with three possible plus pitches, though, that puts him into the upper ranks of pitching prodigies.

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107. Blake Hawksworth

RHP, STL (#243 overall)

A tall, lanky Canadian righthander who was the Cardinals top-rated prospect as far back as 2004, Blake Hawksworth is now a mature prospect on the cusp of landing a full-time job in major league baseball. After posting a 5-4 record (3.58 / 1.11 WHIP) for the AAA Memphis in 2009, Hawksworth got a taste of MLB, going 4-0 in 40 innings of mop-up duty. His 2.03 ERA while handling that low-leverage trial demonstrated enough ability to gain the righthander consideration for bullpen or spot-starting duty in 2010. He won't be a Cy Young winner, not even with Dave Duncan around, but he could be a capable and effective major league pitcher for most of the next decade, given the opportunity.

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108. Joshua Fields

RHP, SEA (#244 overall)

Another late inning specialist, Fields has no real place in the Mariners of today or the near future, so we can only guess that they're going to attempt some sort of bizarro-world Brandon Morrow trick here, and turn this sure-thing reliever into a maybe-starter. He chose not to sign with Atlanta last year, so it's no sure thing that he'll prefer Seattle this time around. Even if he does sign, he might end up being a trade piece in the near future. Fields is a terrific ball of potential, and it'd be a shame to see him wither in a Mariners system that has no place for him.

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109. Casey Weathers

RHP, COL (#246 overall)

How many closers do the Rockies need, exactly? Vanderbilt's elite fireman (31 saves, 0.93 WHIP) was originally drafted by the Tigers in 2006, but after re-entry was snapped up by Colorado in 2007.

Weathers works with an arrow straight 95mph fastball that seems under his complete control, mixing in a plus change for devastating effect. He can also bring a nasty slider, though he uses it sparingly. While the Rockies have no screaming need for a closer in the near future, he could be valuable soon in a setup role, or if the bullpen grows injury-riddled.

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110. Mike Belfiore

LHP, ARZ (#247 overall)

A big lefty from Boston College, Arizona's Mike Belfiore was selected 45th overall by the Diamondbacks in 2009. A closer and first baseman in college, he combines easy heat with a plus slider: the perfect combination for a closer. While his big body and strong bat could play in the field, the Diamondbacks are looking at Belfiore as a starting pitcher first: he went 2-2 over 11 starts for Rookie Missoula in 2009, striking out 55 while walking 13.

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111. Wily Peralta

RHP, MLW (#248 overall)

Wily Peralta is an intriguing young righthander in the Brewer system. Currently a two-pitch pitcher who flashes an occasionally plus curve, Peralta looked pretty good in A ball in 2009. Used as a sometime-starter and sometime-reliever in Wisconsin, Peralta produced a composite 1.32 WHIP and 3.47 ERA. He struck out an impressive 118 batters in only 103 innings, but it was the Midwest League, after all. His walk rate was a bit too high, and his propensity for getting deep into counts prevented him from getting deep into games too often, but he's still young, and worth keeping an eye on.

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112. Aaron Miller

LHP, LAD (#249 overall)

A big, strong lefty, Aaron Miller was a power-hitting outfielder as well as an overpowering pitcher during his time at Baylor, but the Dodgers are thinking of him as a pitcher and nothing else, according to the exec who selected him, Dodger scouting AGM Logan White. He looked awfully good in 30 innings of A-level ball, but he'll need a lot more than that before he's ready to join his old high school buddy Clayton Kershaw as a front-line Dodger starter.

'He's an athlete and I've got a propensity to taking guys that are athletes,' White said, explaining that Miller as a project was a bit like first baseman James Loney 'in reverse.'

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113. Brad Mills

LHP, TOR (#250 overall)

The Blue Jays didn't give up when 22nd round pick Brad Mills failed to sign in 2006. Instead, the drafted him again in 2007's fourth round, and this time the lanky pitcher signed on the dotted line, becoming one of Toronto's best lefty prospects overnight. He moved all the way to AA in his first full season of pro ball, striking out 159 batters with a confusing array of curves, changes, and 90mph fastballs all coming from the same awkward-looking delivery. While he slipped a bit in 2009, he still has solid #4 starter potential.

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114. Chad Jenkins

RHP, TOR (#254 overall)

A burly righthander from Kennesaw State, Toronto's Chad Jenkins is a promising workhorse starter who could push his way into the Toronto rotation sooner than some of the bigger names on the farm. A rare talent who possessses four workable pitches, Jenkins throws both a four- and two-seam fastball (the latter with serious sink) and mixes in a strikeout slider and a change that could be a real plus pitch. His projectable body and well-regarded baseball smarts all add up to rapid advancement. He'll spend 2010 trying to push his way into AA, and once he shows he can handle hitters well there, he'll be ready for a date in Toronto.

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115. Waldis Joaquin

RHP, SF (#257 overall)

If Brian Wilson's arm ever falls off, the Giants have an acceptable substitute ready in the 100mph cannon hanging from Dominican Waldis Joaquin's shoulder. After bumping past AA and AAA last year, he spent a bit of time auditioning in the SF bullpen with mixed results. He's erratic, and his secondary pitches aren't quite ready for prime-time yet, but coaches who watch him inevitably fall in love with his Zumaya-like power, which means he'll keep receiving opportunities to dominate.

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116. Chris Mason

RHP, TB (#260 overall)

A second round pick from the 2005 draft, Chris Mason is a converted outfielder with a low-90's moving fastball and a nasty slider/curve, and a developing changeup. The 23-year-old righthander spent almost the whole 2007 with the Montgomery Biscuits (AA), and led the Southern League with a 15-4 record and a 2.53 ERA in 2007. He ranked fourth with 132 strikeouts, enough to garner the League's Pitcher of the Year Award. The league's most consistent starter, Mason did not allow more than three runs in any of his 13 second-half starts for the Biscuits.

Sadly, Mason crashed back to earth when challenged with the MLB veterans peppered across AAA rosters in 2008. While his strikeout rate remained about the same (7.5/9), he put up an ugly 3-10 record with a 6.21 ERA. His slider has always been a plus pitch, and his changeup was looking MLB ready before last season. His fastball barely cracks 90mph, though, so he has very little margin of error when his control isn't all there.

Look for a regrouping and possible return to form in 2010, probably back in Montgomery where he knows he can succeed. If he can't cut it as a starter this year, the bullpen door remains open.

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117. Jeremy Jeffress

RHP, MLW (#261 overall)

Another good thing/bad thing pitching prospect. Jeffress lights up radar guns with three-figure readings almost every night (that's a good thing), but needs work on his control (bad thing). His 50 game substance abuse suspension last year can be overlooked (marijuana isn't exactly a performance enhancer), but it's tougher to ignore his lack of solid secondary pitches. If the Brewers need a righthander with near triple digits in their bullpen this year, he could see action, but the more conservative minds will want to keep developing his arsenal for a 2011 or 2012 rotation debut.

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118. Michael Main

RHP, TEX (#263 overall)

An intriguing prospect, Main was drafted as a two-way player (starter and right fielder) out of high school, thanks to his best-of-class right arm. He's been clocked at 98mph with his fastball, and his hard curve is developing so fast that it's already his go-to pitch.

He needs a changeup or another off-speed pitch, and his control isn't all there yet, but scouts are in love with his smooth, carbon-copy pitching mechanics. If he can stay healthy while picking up secondary pitches and improved control, he'll be a valuable major leaguer in the near future. He's looking like a middle-of-rotation starter right now, but as his control improves he could morph into an ace.

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119. Matt Maloney

LHP, CIN (#264 overall)

A minor leaguer best known for being traded for Kyle Lohse at 2007's deadline, Matt Maloney is a promising ex-Phillies lefthander now in the Cincinnati Reds system. As a 24-year old, Maloney went 11-5 with a 4.68 ERA for AAA Louisville in 2008. Impressively, he struck out 132 while walking only 39, a rate he'll have to maintain if he's going to succeed as the fly-ball pitcher he appears to be. He could be one of the next wave of young Reds' pitchers given a shot at the bright lights and scary fences at Great American.

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120. Josh Roenicke

RHP, TOR (#266 overall)

A mature prospect on the cusp of big-league play, righthander Josh Roenicke is a power pitcher who came to the Blue Jays from the Reds in 2009. He's had mixed results in his brief time in the majors to date, but his stuff is significant, and he projects as one of the best best to take over closing duties for Toronto in the years to come.

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121. Chuck Lofgren

LHP, MLW (#267 overall)

Once a tip-top prospect, lefthander Chuck Lofgren hit a wall in AAA last year after dominating AA hitters in spring. Still, Lofgren is an increasing-polished lefthander who could bring some solid innings-eating ability to the big leagues as early as 2010.

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122. Garrett Richards

RHP, LAA (#268 overall)

A righthanded smoke-monster with two plus pitches, Garrett Richards might have the best stuff in the Anaheim system today, at least if a single season of A-ball is any indication. The question with Richards is his command. In 2009 he put up an 11-6 record with Oklahoma, striking out 85 batters in 75 innings. But he also walked 38 of them on his way to an ugly 6.00 ERA and even uglier 1.55 WHIP. He looked a lot better in a Pioneer League stint at the end of year, 3-1 , 1.53, 1.16 with a ridiculous 30-4 ratio of strikesouts to walks, but that was only 35 innings of work, and, well... it was the Pioneer League.

The Angels are great at coaxing peak performance from even their flawed pitchers, though, so Richards is in the right place at the right point in his career. If he can start pitching within himself (and within the strike zone), the California native could be a certified ace.

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123. Jack McGeary

LHP , WAS (#269 overall)

A smart control lefty with a 91mph fastball and better than average change, McGeary is committed to Stanford through 2010, but he's already signed with Washington and will continue to work in their minor league system whenever classes are out. McGeary won't overpower anyone, but he has shown advanced, Glavine-like command of his pitches and can add and subtract with professional acumen. He's a tasty tease to debut in the Washington rotation come 2012.

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124. Ross Seaton

RHP, HOU (#272 overall)

Sugarland's own Ross Seaton made 24 generally-impressive starts at single-A Lexington in 2009, posting a 3.29 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. His control's a bit iffy, and he doesn't really dominate hitters with any one single plus pitch, but he's a smart and capable arm who could fit into the back end of a weak rotation if he continues to develop.

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125. Jess Todd

RHP, CLE (#274 overall)

A righthanded power pitcher who was expected to ascend to the Cardinal rotation in 2010 Jess Todd ended the season in the Cleveland Indians system instead, and that's where he'll open 2010. Todd is a fastball/sinker/slider ground-ball machine who has recently learned to harness a plus cutter. His career 2.69 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in the minors hasn't translated to success in his brief MLB service, but he's still a young pitcher brimming with upside, and Cleveland is the type of rebuilding franchise that should be willing to let him develop further before tossing him into the flames.

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126. Cesar Carrillo

RHP, SD (#275 overall)

When the Padres chose Carrillo with their first-round pick in the 2005 MLB draft, he was regarded as the most 'Major League ready' pitcher available. While things didn't quite work out that way, he remains a powerful prospect, with a 96mph fastball that has approached 100mph, a moving two-seam fastball, and an almost-ready changeup.

Sidelined by surgery in mid-2007, Carrillo went all the way back to A-ball for 2008, and the iffy results he's had since then makes it look like he's facing a long and slow road back to the top of the prospect heap.

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127. Kam Mickolio

RHP, BAL (#277 overall)

A monster of a man, young Kam Mickolio is a 6-9 righthander who makes even CC Sabathia look boy-sized. A forgotten piece of the package that shipped Erik Bedard to the Mariners, Mickolio is a power reliever who throws a hard sinker from a 3/4 arm slot. He's well equipped to rack up both strikeouts and groundouts with the pitch, which is especially devastating against right-handed batters. He's a middle reliever for now, and that's how the Orioles tested him in a September 2008 cup of coffee, but he has the raw stuff and power to be a premium setup man or even closer someday. Think Jonathan Broxton, but even bigger and scarier.

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128. Wynn Pelzer

RHP, SD (#280 overall)

Well, it's a better name for a pitcher than 'Homer', that's for sure. Described at the time of his signing as 'a big arm with a power breaking ball', Pelzer hasn't done anything to shake that label in his time on the farm. That breaking ball is a sizzling slider, and when it's matched up against the 98mph fastball he keeps in his back pocket, the combination can be close to unhittable. He's a bit raw, as can be expected, and that oh-so-important third pitch isn't yet on tap, but as long as he keeps up the hard work and solid conditioning he's already known for, Wynn will be the stuff of headline puns in San Diego for many years to come.

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129. Henderson Alvarez

RHP, TOR (#281 overall)

A control artist with a plus changeup, Venezuelan righthander Henderson Alvarez will only be 19 years old at the start of 2010, but he's already a strong candidate for a rotation spot in Toronto.

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130. Pedro Figueroa

LHP, OAK (#282 overall)

A nasty lefty with stuff to spare, Dominican Pedro Figueroa is looking to break into the rich ranks of top Oakland pitching prospects. He's struck out 145 hitters in 152 minor league innings to date, though he's been doing that without much finesse, as his 1.46 WHIP and high walk rate demonstrate. A couple of more years of careful coaching should coax some discipline from the young firebrand, and thanks to the depth of the Oakland system, he should have that time to develop.

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131. Cole Rohrbough

LHP, ATL (#283 overall)

The Braves very last draft-and-follow player, Rohrbough is a sturdy lefthander with a moving fastball and a deadly hammer curve that shuts down left-handed hitters. Rohrbough's still developing both his command and control, and needs to add a third quality pitch to be viable as an MLB starter. If he stays healthy he could be a lights-out lefty reliever for the Braves in the near future, or a solid starter a little later down the road. He should play in AA this year, and if the Braves fail to restock their rotation before Opening Day 2010, Rohrbough will once again have good odds as a midseason callup.

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132. Hitoki Iwase

LHP, Japan (#285 overall)

The highest paid pitcher in Japan last year, Iwase became a free agent after the 2007 season, and is probably the best relief pitcher available from Japan. While he's a very strong closer candidate, many teams may look at him in a setup role due to his left-handedness.

The only pitcher ever to post back-to-back 40 save seasons in the history of the Japanese Baseball League, Iwase has 114 career saves since being named closer in 2004.

Like the closer he replaced, the Dragons own Akinori Otsuka, Iwase gets the job done with a mid-nineties fastball and a nasty slider that makes batters look foolish. As an MLB candidate, he projects as an elite setup man or a very good closer.

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133. Bryan Morris

RHP, PIT (#287 overall)

The 26th overall selection in the 2006 draft, Pirate righthander Avery (Bryan) Morris was acquired by the Pirates as part of the multi-team deal that moved Jason Bay. He spent all of 2007 recovering from TJ surgery, much of 2008 recovering from toe surgery, and most of 2009 just re-finding his delivery. But he remains one of Pittsburgh's better long-term pitching prospects. Morris has a high-90's fastball and a plus curve, and frustrates batters with an unorthodox delivery. While his name might have been forgotten by many, he should be moving up the ranks again now that he's healthy, two full years after receiving his fancy new elbow.

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134. Dellin Betances

RHP, NYY (#288 overall)

With a WHIP under 1.00 and a scary-good strikeout rate, Betances has been one of the many weapons being sharpened in the Yankee labs. His lightning stuff has been sidelined a bit too often by minor injuries, sadly, and he underwent a bit of surprise surgery in late 2009 that could put most of his 2010 season in doubt. Still, he remains a high-ceiling if risky long-term asset: guys with stuff this wicked always seem to find their way onto MLB rosters sooner or later.

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135. Robbie Ross

LHP, TEX (#289 overall)

A Kentucky-grown pitcher stolen in round two of the 2008 amateur draft, Texas lefty Robbie Ross is one of the lesser-known prospects on a pitching-rich Texas farm. Ross works both sides of the plate with a 92mph that can sniff 95mph from time to time, and his complementary pitches (a hard slider and a mature change) come to him with near-effortless command. He can work the entire strike zone, and his five-to-one ratio of strikeouts to walks is one of the best in the Texas system. His 2009 year at low-A Spokane (2.66 ERA / 1.14 WHIP) looks like enough to earn Ross a ticket to high-A Bakersfield in 2010, though perhaps not right away.

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136. Tyson Ross

RHP, OAK (#290 overall)

A scout's favorite, righthander Tyson Ross was coveted by the Oakland A's for a few years, even before he rose to prominence as a Golden Spike finalist in 2008. The righthander is 6-7 and still growing, and his 97mph fastball may not have reached its top limit yet, either. His unorthodox delivery scares some, but teams are a lot more willing to see where strange mechanics take them ever since the success of Tim Lincecum. A definite sleeper for Oakland, and maybe the steal of their 2008 draft.

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137. Jhan Martinez

RHP, FLA (#292 overall)

A Dominican righthander signed at 17 as an international free agent, Jhan Martinez is a bit of an under-the-radar sleeper prospect in the Marlins system. Martinez is a slight pitcher with a power fastball that can touch 98, but he has more success with his two-seamer, a 92mph offering with good movement. He's taking longer than expected to adjust to life in pro baseball, and his change and slider need to improve before they're ready for the big stage, but he has so much raw talent that he's bound to make it sooner or later.

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138. James Simmons

RHP , OAK (#293 overall)

A solid but unspectacular righthander in an Oakland system, James Simmons has a shot to break onto the MLB roster in 2009, but only if many cards fall his way. Leaning heavily on his heavy 92mph fastball and a workable change, he needs to add a significant third pitch if he's to make it in the rotation. At present, his curve and slider are below average offerings.

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139. Tyler Robertson

LHP, MIN (#294 overall)

A ground ball pitcher who seems to handle lefties just as well as right-handed batters, Robertson is just one of another out-machine to come from the Twins pitching factory. While some bemoan his awkward delivery, nobody minded the way he used his 92mph fastball, nasty curve and excellent slider to finish second in league ERA for the low-A Beloit Snappers in 2007. Since then, he's continued to refine and polish his pitches while solidifying his workhorse reputation. The combination of his strong K-BB ratio, nasty repertoire and odd delivery have gained him a few 'left-handed Lincecum' comparisons, but nobody will mistake his 6-5 frame for the diminutive Giant. After holding his own through a 26 start, 8-8 season at Ft. Myers last year (1.33 WHIP, 3.33 ERA), he's looking for the next challenge. He's a couple of years away from threatening for big league time, but as he's not getting any younger, a bullpen might be calling rather than a rotation by the time he arrives.

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140. Maikel Cleto

RHP, SEA (#295 overall)

A big, strong Dominican righthander signed by the Mets as an international free agent in 2006, Cleto spent a year learning US-style baseball in the GCL, then started 2008 at low-A, where he went 5-11 with a 4.25 ERA as a starter, striking out 81 batters while walking 34. He made major progress in 2008, and was promoted to high-A St Lucie at the end of the year. No soft tosser, Cleto's moving fastball is a 97mph thunderbolt that looks like a real plus pitch. His slider is a work in progress, but if he can polish it or add a working off-speed pitch, he will really be a player to watch. He was already zooming up the Mets' prospect charts with only one and a half pitches, and likely would have opened 2009 in high-A before he was traded to Seattle. While nobody knows how the new management in Seattle will handle pitchers, the old guard was aggressive with promotion and development, meaning that Cleto could break into AA as early as this season. If his change develops, he could be a strong starter, but if it's the slider that comes along best, look for him as a late-inning strikeout artist come 2011 or so.

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141. Mark Melancon

RHP, NYY (#296 overall)

After gaining national attention as the award winning closer at U Arizona, Melancon's selection by the Yankees in the 2006 draft had 'Rivera Replacement' written all over it. After taking a year and a half to climb back up from TJ surgery, his fastball returned, and he's about as ready for the big-leagues as any prep pitcher has ever been. That 95mph fastball and hammer curve looked pretty good during limited use at Yankee Stadium in 2009 ten strikeouts, zero walks), and by all reports, Melancon has the big game attitude and short memory that closers need to succeed at any level. He should stick in the Yankees bullpen this season, probably ending up as Mariano's setup man and heir apparent... unless Joba Chamberlain once again returns to favorite bullpen son status.

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142. Guillermo Moscoso

RHP, TEX (#299 overall)

One of Detroit's most promising righthanders before being shipped to Texas for Gerald Laird, pitcher Guillermo Moscoso first attracted attention when he threw a perfect game in a NYP-league game in July, 2007. Last year, he went 5-4 in 12 starts with a 2.70 ERA between high-A Lakeland and double-A Erie. Perhaps most impressively, though, he struck out 122 while walking only 21 in 87 innings. A power righty who gets plus movement on his 92mph runner, some scouts prefer him as a late-inning reliever due to endurance and workload worries (he's never thrown 100 innings), and so he can maximize the effectiveness of his strikeout pitch.

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143. Rob Bryson

RHP, CLE (#301 overall)

A promising righthander with strikeout stuff, Bryson was buried a little too deep in the Brewers' system until the orbit of CC Sabathia pulled him out of Milwaukee and into Cleveland. A flamethrower with a 96mph fastball and an electric if erratic slider, Bryson put up an 84:26 K:BB ratio in the Sally League, and should find better traction in the shallower Indians' system.

He might be best off moving to the bullpen, where he'd have a better shot at the big leagues, sooner. If he remains a starter, he'll need to show that he can get through a lineup more than twice with his snappy pitches, or add a quality change, and soon.

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144. Bryan Price

RHP, CLE (#302 overall)

One of the best college closers of recent years, Rice righthander Bryan Price was a fireball threat buried deep in the Red Sox Nation before the Victor Martinez acquisition sent him him Cleveland. There are some questions about his health and the durability of his shoulder, which makes the comparisons to Joel Zumaya especially poignant.

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145. Brad Boxberger

RHP, CIN (#304 overall)

USC righthander Brad Boxberger was the 43rd player selected in the 2009 draft. The strong, stout Boxberger projects as a middle-of-rotation arm for the Reds in the near future, thanks to his pro-level collection of above-average pitches and his ability to survive under pressure. He works with a 92-94mph fastball that he'll work in on hitters quite fearlessly, and he complements it with a decent-and-improving curve. Most interestingly, though, he features a nifty sinking change that could be a real strikeout pitch for him once he learns to command it a bit more consistently.

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146. Fautino De Los Santos

RHP, OAK (#310 overall)

A fireballing righthander with a 96mph heater, De Los Santos has a good future ahead of him, likely in the bullpen. While his secondary pitches are acceptable, an even slightly-improved change would help him get better results with his fastball, making him a potent late-inning option. DLS is on a long road back after 2008 TJ surgery, but all reports have been positive on his recovery. He remains an interesting arm on a system that tends to develop them well, which means his future is a lot brighter than it was last year.

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147. Fabio Martinez

RHP, LAA (#313 overall)

Angels prospect Fabio Martinez went 4-2 (3.35 ERA / 1.31 WHIP) in sixteen starts at Rookie-level Orem in the Pioneer League in 2009. That's not a blazing season, but Martinez is raw enough that the overall game results don't matter that much just yet.

What does matter is his huge, exploding fastball. That heater touched 98mph and racked up 102 strikeouts in just 68 innings of work. Fabio tends to work more often in the 94mph range most days, and he comes to work also armed with a quality slider. His command and control are about what you'd expect from such a youngster (not very good) but he's a big enough talent that the Angels can take their time to teach him the finer points of the game.

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148. Daniel Cortes

RHP, SEA (#314 overall)

A prospect more famous for his MySpace pictures and public urination than his talent (go Google it yourself, lazy reader), Dan Cortes is a very young and very strong righthander who's already with his third organization. Originally a 7th round selection by the Chicago White Sox in 2005, he has been until recently a one-pitch power arm. His previously-serviceable curve took a leap forward last year, when he used it effectively for the first time.

His mechanics look a bit dangerous to some scouts, but since he's been clocked in the high-90's and hasn't yet reached a level where batters have figured him out, he has to remain high on the Mariner list of cherished prospects. If his curve continues to be as effective as it looked late last season, and if he avoids injury, he projects as a front-rotation starter in a couple of years. If he struggles with either his control or his elbow, he'll likely move more slowly and make any eventual debut as a reliever.

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149. Jarred Cosart

RHP, PHI (#316 overall)

A 38th-round selection from Clear Creek Texas, Phillies talent Jarred Cosart has zoomed up the depth charts over the last two seasons. As a pitcher, he displays a consistent, balanced delivery, with a mid-90's fastball and a polished 11-5 curve that he uses as an out pitch. His change, while a bit rough, also looks to be a potential plus offering. In the field, he shows above-average range in the outfield and an 'unbelievable' arm strength. At the plate, his short, compact swing benefits from very quick wrists and a level swing, giving him line-drive power to all fields. If there's one question about Cosart, it's wondering whether any part of his game will ever show enough weakness to allow him to focus on his other skills.

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150. Tim Melville

RHP, KC (#317 overall)

Timothy 'Magoo' Melville is a bit of a sleeper prospect in the Royals system, where he doesn't get quite as much attention as he perhaps deserves. Drafted out of high school in 2008's fourth round, he's already blossoming as a starter. He uses a mid-nineties fastball to set up his strikeout curve, while his change is a better-developed pitch than any teenager deserves to have. Another year or two with the pitching coaches in KC and he should be ready to step into the Royals' rotation. It's not as if he needs much help, either: he struck out 96 in 97 innings at A-level Burlington in 2009, and he looks almost ready to step up to AA sometime in 2010.

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151. Rafael Rodriguez

RHP, LAA (#318 overall)

A flameout as a starter due to recurring elbow issues, R-Rod has ascended to top reliever status in the Angels' minor league system. The strikeout artist should open the season in the bullpen for the club's AAA franchise in Salt Lake, and will probably end it as their closer. He's one of a half-dozen arms vying to be the long-term answer to Francisco Rodriguez's departure, and one of the most interesting from a risk/reward standpoint.

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152. Blake Beavan

RHP, TEX (#322 overall)

Beavan is a huge, powerful righthander who at the tender age of 20 is already showing a 96mph fastball. He also brings a polished slider that acts more like a slurve, with big, loose movement that keeps batters off balance. Even his third pitch, a more traditional changeup, is better than average. (His arsenal resembles no one as much as Francisco Rodriguez, and that's a pretty good comp.)

After posting a non-typo 0.21 ERA at Cal Irvine, he was drafted by the Rangers in the 1st round (17th overall), but he held out signing long enough to miss the end of the season, which means his first pro pitches did not come unto 2008, when he went 10-6 with a 2.37 ERA and 5.4 strikeouts per 9 innings at A-level Clinton.

He's a live arm, but he's still a year or two away from impact status. Despite the fact he's been a starter so far, his pitches and attitude scream 'future closer', so come 2011, the Rangers might decide to... leave it to Beaven.

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153. Troy Patton

LHP, BAL (#323 overall)

Yet another in a wide field of pitching prospects developed by the Astros before being shipped elsewhere, Patton has demonstrated remarkable consistency, maintaining a 2.75 ERA in almost 300 minor league innings with very few blowouts or meltdowns. His walks are a bit high, but during stretches last year he showed improved command and an ability to adjust mid-game. If he maintains that ability this season, expect Baltimore to give him a hard look for the rotation.

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154. Jacob Odorizzi

RHP, MLW (#329 overall)

A supplemental first round pick for the Brewers, this tall righthander has a smooth and easy delivery that portends well for his future in the system. He's a few years away from serious attention, but he's worth keeping an eye on.

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155. Daniel McCutchen

RHP, PIT (#331 overall)

The Yankees selected Daniel McCutchen in round 13 of the 2006 Draft. A product of the University of Oklahoma, McCutchen's rapid rise to the bigs was derailed by a 50-game steroids suspension near the beginning of his pro career. Following that interruption, he burned through A-level ball and was promoted to AA in the summer. In 2009, he went 13-6 with a 3.47 ERA and a 22 WHIP at AAA Indy.

Some see him as bullpen-bound, but McCutchen's lethal combination of a high-control 92mph fastball and knee-buckling curve/splitter, as well as his penchant to change speeds often, make him look like a better starting prospect to us. The Pirates seem to agree, as they handed him six tryout starts toward the end of 2009 to reasonable results: a 4.21 ERA and a 1.35 ERA wasn't embarrassing, after all, but that 19/11 strikeout/walk ratio isn't exactly a soothing sight for fans, either. He should compete for a back-end starter's job in 2010, and/or be lingering around for a midseason opening. He's still a bit raw for such a mature prospect, but the ceiling is a lot higher than the results to date. 2010 will be his crucible in Pittsburgh.

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156. Jeff Locke

LHP, PIT (#332 overall)

The latest in a long line of lefthanders grown on the Atlanta farm, willowy Jeff Locke's 94mph fastball is a definite plus pitch, with late movement that he can command at will. His curve ball is also well under control and projects as a second plus pitch. Acquired by the pitching-poor Pirates in June 2009, 'The Redstone Rocket' has a terrific opportunity to step up as a rotation candidate in the very near future.

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157. Romulo Sanchez

RHP, NYY (#337 overall)

Originally signed by the Dodgers, Dominican Romulo Sanchez made a stop in Pittsburgh on his way to the Yankee bench in 2009. Once seen as a future closer despite his so-so strikeout numbers, he's more of a swingman in Yankee plans. To succeed at high levels, he still needs to learn how to refine his control a little while not losing too much of his velocity. His secondary pitches still grade out as average.

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158. Stolmy Pimentel

RHP, BOS (#338 overall)

The Red Sox best Latin American pitching prospect, righthander Stolmy Pimentel is only 19 this year, but he's already showing signs of a solid four pitch arsenal. His 94mph fastball has good late life, and he uses it well, balanced against a curve, change and developing sinker that could all be serious pitches in another couple of years. The change, in particular, is nightmarish when delivered on target, and has the potential to embarrass a lot of AL hitters come 2013 or so.

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159. PJ Walters

RHP, STL (#339 overall)

A tall, lanky righthander with a nice moving fastball and a deceptive delivery, pitcher PJ Walters is one of the high-upside but low-spotlight players developing in the Cards' system. St Louis's 2007 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, he slipped a bit in 2008 and 2009, when his ERA and WHIP jumped sharply. On the other hand, he also seemed to rediscover his strikeout pitch, increasing his K/9 to almost exactly 9.0. He's not the best raw talent in St. Louis, and he looked positively overmatched in a late season cup of coffee, but he might be the most big-league ready pitcher available, and opportunity can do wonders for a young man.

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160. Adam Ottavino

RHP, STL (#341 overall)

Selected 30th overall by the Cardinals in the 2006 draft, Ottavino dominated hitters at Northwestern University with a K/9 rate over 10 and a notable ability to handle tough left-handed hitters. He projects a promising mix of confidence and stuff, and scouts see him as a future middle-of-rotation starter. He's had a rocky time in the minors so far, but his advanced mental game and advanced skills should come together sooner or later.

Ottavino's main pitch is a heavy 95mph fastball that he throws more than half of the time. He combines it with a plus slider and a developing change that will launch him into top-flight prospect status if he can master it.

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161. Kelvin de la Cruz

LHP, CLE (#345 overall)

Kelvin de la Cruz is a skeletal left-handed strike machine buried in the Indians' farm system. A fastball specialist who rose through three levels of minor league play in one season,he's expected to be a mainstay of the AA Akron rotation again for 2010, and his track record certainly suggests he can be an anchor: he's struck out more than a batter per inning in his young minor league career. While he does walk a few too many, he also surrenders only the rare long bomb. The recently-reloaded Indians system is deep in pitching, which means de la Cruz should be left alone to develop further in 2010.

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162. Kazumi Saitoh

RHP, Japan (#348 overall)

Saitoh is a tall, lanky pitcher who, like many Japanese pitchers, makes use of his lower body to generate most of his velocity.

Saitoh's fastball is in the mid-90's, and has been clocked as high as 95 mph. He also throws a slider, curveball, excellent forkball, cutter and changeup.

Most of the time, Saitoh works with a darting fastball and tricky forkball, but he sometimes throws a sharp, biting curve to keep hitters off-balance. Saitoh's style on the mound is aggressive, and he has a reputation as a hard-driven competitor who wears his emotions on his jersey sleeve.

With a year left on his Hawks contract, Saitoh will need to be posted if he's to appear in the USA before 2010 (and it'll likely cost a team $30M plus to do so) but he might be worth the cost. Unlike some of the pitchers who have flamed out early in America, Saitoh looks to have the fire, drive and smarts to succeed. He definitely has the stuff.

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163. Mitchell Boggs

RHP, STL (#349 overall)

A fifth-round pick in the 2005 draft, Boggs is a durable righthander in the Cardinal system. Working primarily with a 95mph fastball and a splitter-slider that he's still learning to master, Boggs is still working to find pitches that he can throw with movement and for strikes at the same time. While Mitch could probably do a fine job in the bullpen very soon, using nothing but his heat, the Cardinals want to keep developing Boggs as a starter in the hope that he can become a major league workhorse. He projects as a middle-to-back-end starter, but a reliable one, in the Joe Blanton category.

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164. Daniel Moskos

LHP, PIT (#351 overall)

A big hardthrowing lefty in the Randy Myers vein, Moskos was drafted fourth overall by the Pirates in 2007, despite concerns about whether he'd be able to stick as a frontline starter. He's a quality arm with great stuff, including a 94mph heater and plus slider, but he still has quite a lot to learn about pitching, based on his so-so 2009 results. If Moskos ends up in the bullpen, the Pirates are going to spend a lot of time thinking how they might have better spent that draft pick: catcher Matt Wieters was still on the board when the team selected Moskos.

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165. Brett Sinkbeil

RHP, FLA (#355 overall)

A high-ceiling righthander who's often come up as a 'future closer' name in Florida, Brett Sinkbeil has had his development hampered by a series of injuries. When he can take the mound, though, he's an impressive kid: the combination of plus fastball and nasty slider could be just what the 9th-inning doctor ordered, if the Marlins commit to Sinkbeil as a reliever.

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166. David Holmberg

RHP, CHW (#357 overall)

A workhorse lefty with a quality curveball, Holmberg was the 71st pick overall in the 2008 draft. He's not an overpowering pitcher, but he's pretty well-developed, leveraging his almost MLB-ready hammer from a 90mph fastball which features good late movement: it cuts in on righthanded hitters in an especially nasty way. He's a couple of years away from Chicago, but he should move quickly. He'll break more than his share of bats along the way.

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167. Shooter Hunt

RHP, MIN (#358 overall)

Steve 'Shooter' Hunt is an erratic but high-ceiling righthander from Tulane who could join the stable of frontline Minnesota starters in the future. With a plus-action fastball, strikeout curve and an already-polished changeup, he has terrific raw stuff, but his spotty command will have to improve before he's a big-league caliber pitcher. He's definitely one to keep an eye on for 2012 or so.

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168. Ryan Tucker

RHP, FLA (#359 overall)

A stocky righthander who generates good power from his strong legs, Marlins' pitcher Ryan Tucker has been up and down the depth chart in Florida, and remains on the horizon for a future role with the Marlins. Signed for his plus moving fastball, Tucker has been working hard to add a slider and change to his repertoire. Results have been mixed, and he'll need some more time to refine those secondary pitches if he's going to remain on the hot-prospect radar in South Florida.

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169. Evan Frederickson

LHP, MLW (#360 overall)

Big Fred, a huge lefthander in the CC Sabathia mold, comes from the same school that produced White Sox phenom Aaron Poreda, and he's almost as exciting a prospect. A fastball-slider guy with a 94mph heat, his control has been an issue until now, and that's what the Brewers will be working on for the next while.

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170. Kazuo Fukumori

RHP, TEX (#361 overall)

The only closer the young Golden Eagles have ever had, Fukimori is an unusual closer, but a very successful one. Working with high control rather than overpowering heat, Fukumori's fastball won't break 90 often, but he mixes in an array of breaking pitches (forkball, knuckle-curve, shuuto) and keeps batters off balance.

Fukumori's 2007 season was mainly lost to injury. He had elbow surgery midseason. In his last full season (2006), though, he posted a 2.17 ERA in 58 innings. If the Rangers get anything close to that, they'll be very happy Rangers indeed.

He's a good fit in a modern major league bullpen. While he'll probably be used to set up at first, he'll be a looming presence or pressure, stepping in to assume closing duties if needed.

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171. Josh Smoker

LHP, WAS (#362 overall)

One of the top high-school pitchers available, Smoker was an unexpected first round supplemental pick by the Nationals in 2007. His long arm and easy, slinging action let him throw a low to mid-90's fastball with the same apparent motion as his slider, splitter and change. The net result of all that? Filthy.

Just 18 when he was drafted, Smoker is still a couple of years away from ready, but if he stays healthy he could be something special.

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172. Donald Veal

LHP, PIT (#363 overall)

Not yet recovered from labrum sugery and showing no signs of the curve that once made scouts rave. Add in the fact that he's a one-pitch flame-thrower who did most of his development under the 'care' of the Cubs trainers, and you have a recipe for a very fantastic, and very short, major league career.

He's got stuff (or at least he did pre-surgery) so there are a few reasons to be optimistic, but the road back won't be a short one.

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173. Jose Ceda

RHP, FLA (#364 overall)

A big, strong, flamethrowing star of the future signed as an international free agent in 2006, righthander Jose Ceda was probably Chicago's best remaining pitching prospect (depending on how you view the enigma of Jeff Samardzija) when he was shipped to Florida for the more established Kevin Gregg in 2008's offseason. A burly closer cast from Jonathan Broxton-sized iron, Ceda is a power pitcher with strikeout stuff who could ascend to closing duties for the Marlins within the next few years. Problems with his mechanics remain, though (he struggles to repeat his delivery, leading to spurts of wildness) and there is some concern about the ability of his legs and back to hold up to a season of work. If he continues to mow down hitters in the minors, though, Florida will find room for him soon enough, and he can polish his skills in Miami.

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174. Jason Berken

RHP, BAL (#365 overall)

Jason Berken is a strikeout artist in the Baltimore Orioles system who vanished from the prospect radar for awhile after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2005. The Green Bay native and Clemson alum came back, though, and went 12-4 with a 3.58 ERA at AA Bowie last year, showing off an impressive 125:38 ratio of strikeouts to walks. He leans hard on a fastball-slider combination, which makes him look a lot like a reliever, but his change and curve are too good to abandon. A squat workhorse, he seems to have the grit to grind out a long season. Baltimore has other pitching prospects with much higher upsides, but Berken's close enough to MLB ready that he might get a chance sooner than any of them.

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175. Beau Jones

LHP, TEX (#366 overall)

Drafted in the supplemental first round of the 2005 draft, the Braves considered Jones to be the best prep left-hander in the country. He was acquired by the Rangers as part of the package of prospects that netted the Braves Mark Teixeira in 2007.

Jones's development has been slower than hoped, but he hasn't been horrible, posting a 2.96 ERA over 48 innings for Rome (A). He throws his plus fastball with average accuracy and mixes in a very good breaking ball. He's held back by durability issues and some erratic control, but he could see the back of the rotation in late 2010.

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176. Juan Serrano

RHP, CHC (#371 overall)

Juan Yasser Serrano is lanky Cuban righthander who defected to the United States in April 2009. Serrano gained some attention in the US when he helped the junior national team to a 2-1 defeat of the USA for at the Pan-Am Games, but that's the extent of his exposure in America. Back in Cuba, he posted a 16-23 'lifetime' record as a starter, and didn't look like much of a premium prospect in his final year with Villa Clara. We can forgive his mind being on his pending defection, but what we have trouble forgiving is the 6.46 ERA and .312 opponents' batting average across sixteen starts.

Yasser's fastball is a 92mph variety with some natural late movement. His breaking pitch, a slurvy slider, isn't major league quality and his changeup is undeveloped. A raw prospect, he belongs in some organization's rookie league, where instructors can break him down and build him up into a polished pitching machine.

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177. James Hoey

RHP, BAL (#372 overall)

A towering right-hander with lights-out potential, Hoey rode a brief rollercoaster in 2007, performing well in the minors and looking unhittable during his first week in Baltimore before crashing to earth. He ended the season with as many big-league walks as strikeouts (18 of each). His 2008 was even more heartbreaking, as he was shut down in spring and ended the year in May with shoulder surgery. He'll be back eventually, but that hotshot closer club membership card is looking less and less likely everyday.

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178. Pedro Beato

RHP, BAL (#375 overall)

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179. Clevelan Santeliz

RHP, CHW (#377 overall)

With a name bound to be misspelled often in the coming years, White Sox prospect Clevelan Santeliz is a right-handed pitcher from Valencia, Venezuela. A stocky six-footer with broad shoulders and high heat, he was nearly unhittable at AA Birmingham in 2009, when he posted a shiny 0.96 in 40 relief appearances. Then again, maybe hitters should just sheathe their lumber: his 35 walks in only 56 innings is frighteningly consistent with his minor league average of just under six per nine innings. He'll need to harness that control if that mid-90's fastball is going to play more than one batter at a time.

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180. Tyler Skaggs

LHP, LAA (#378 overall)

A lefthander snatched up by the Angels in 2009's first round supplemental, the wiry Tyler Skaggs projects as a lanky starter once he grows into his 6-4 frame. His fastball, a low-90's offering with good lateral movenment, is already polished enough for action, but his secondary pitches (a sharp curve and an iffy change) need work. He only had time for a few innings of rookie ball in 2009, (a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings of autumn work) but he'll be back for a full season of development in 2010. He's several years away from deployment.

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181. Alan Horne

RHP, NYY (#380 overall)

The Yankees drafted William Alan Horne in the 11th round of the 2005 MLB Draft, a lower position than xpected due to his TJ surgery. He's come along slowly but surely since then: he went 12-4 with a 3.11 ERA and a 165/57 K/BB ratio with AA Trenton last year, on his way to winning the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year honors.

Horne projects as a mid-to-back of rotation starter, but he's more likely to get some early work in relief as the Yankees try to measure his confidence and ability.

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182. Edgar Garcia

RHP, PHI (#381 overall)

A young, raw, but very promising prospect signed at the tender age of 16 Dominican Years (that is, 18 or 19), Garcia has always shown the potential to bring spectacular stuff to the mound, but his still-developing control and lack of experience have so far made it impossible to judge exactly how good he'll be.

Garcia has a low-90's fastball that will likely get nastier as he matures, along with a workable slider and a changeup that's better than it should be in one so young.

At various levels of minor league ball in the years since, Garcia has been at times dominant, striking out almost 11 per nine innings way back in 2005. At other times, he's looked afraid to throw anything other than a strike, and he's been hammered as a result. In 2008, for example, he dominated high-A hitters in the FSL (8-2, 3.97 ERA), but fell apart after a promotion to AA Reading (1-7, 8.22 ERA).

Given his inability to put together six consecutive good innings and the creaky condition of the Phillies bullpen, it's not impossible that he'll make an appearance with the big-league team before 2010 is over, if only to give the coaches a good look at his performance under the big lights before his age surpasses his potential.

More Scouting Book Info on Edgar Garcia >

183. Adam Miller

RHP, CLE (#382 overall)

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.

He's fought injuries over the past three seasons now, including multiple injuries to the index finger of his pitching hand (a rather important finger, that) but none of them have been serious enough to be worth forgetting about the young righthander. In an attempt to preserve his health and get the most value from his serious heat, the Indians will be trying him as a reliever in 2010, and in that role he could flourish, with the potential to be a top-flight setup man or premium closer.

More Scouting Book Info on Adam Miller >

184. Eric Hurley

RHP, TEX (#383 overall)

A righthander with a fading shot at the Ranger rotation in 2009, Hurley has developed fast over the last few seasons.

He 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. He threw 24 innings for an injury-riddled Texas team last year (five starts, 1-2, 5.47 ERA) before missing the last month of with a biceps injury of his own.

While he's no longer the hottest pitching prospect in Texas (Hello, Neftali Feliz. Hey there, Martin Perez.), Hurley could still fight his way to a place at the back end of the Texas rotation someday.

More Scouting Book Info on Eric Hurley >

185. Zach McAllister

RHP, NYY (#384 overall)

A finesse pitcher when he was signed out of high school, Zach McAllister has grown into more of a power build over the past two seasons, which means it's anyone's guess how he'll end up. In high school he worked with a 90mph sinking fastball and a great 82mph slider, but the Yankees may be reevaluating his strengths now that he's a big boy in pinstripes. He has an outside shot at bullpen work in 2010, but more likely he'll continue to move slowly. He's worth keeping an eye on over the next couple of years.

More Scouting Book Info on Zach McAllister >

186. Tanner Bushue

RHP, HOU (#385 overall)

The 19th pick of the 2009 draft's second right, righthanded Tanner Bushue is a 6-4 teenager who can hit the upper 90's with his fastball, though he usually works around 92-94mph. A late signee, he made five starts in rookie ball at the end of the season and showed promise, outclassing the other youngsters with a 1.03 WHIP and a 19:5 ratio of strikeouts to walks. He's a long way on the horizon, but in a thin farm system he could be moved up as quickly as he can handle it.

More Scouting Book Info on Tanner Bushue >

187. Dallas Buck

RHP, CIN (#388 overall)

A premium prospect in college, Buck's stock took a dive when it was discovered that he played through a partial ligament tear en route to Oregon State's College World Series championship in 2006. Of course, the same event proved that his heart was two sizes too large, and he's been a bit of an underdog darling ever since. Buck had TJ surgery to rebuild his elbow in 2007 and has been coming back since. When healthy, Dallas is a workhorse who throws a 92-94 mph fastball, a plus slider and a changeup that could develop into a premium MLB pitch. He'll idle under the radar until fully recovered from his operation, but after the usual 18 months pass, he should return to top prospect status.

More Scouting Book Info on Dallas Buck >

188. Wade Miley

LHP, ARZ (#389 overall)

Playing for a less-known school caused Miley to slide to the 2008 draft's second round, but the lefthander was one of college ball's leading strikeout artists last season. Among second-round pitchers from the last few seasons, he's one of the most likely to outperform his slot.

More Scouting Book Info on Wade Miley >

189. Brett Jacobson

RHP, BAL (#394 overall)

A Vanderbilt product from Carefree, Arizona, righthander Brett Jacobson has sky-high potential but fell to the Tigers in the fourth round of the 2008 draft due to some rough college outings in his junior season. His 95mph fastball has hard sink, and the combination of his max-effort approach and deceptive over-the-top delivery seem to indicate a bullpen role in his future. His secondary pitch is a 12-6 curve that he's still learning to control, but it won't matter as anything other than a show-me pitch as a reliever.

More Scouting Book Info on Brett Jacobson >

190. Fu-Te Ni

LHP, DET (#397 overall)

The first Chinese professional to jump to MLB, Taiwanese lefthander Fu-Te Ni led the CPBL in 2008 with 132 strikeouts last season with the China Trust Whales, and has struck out a total of 257 in his 267 pro innings to date. He's best known for one-hitting Canada in the 2008 Olympics, the highlight of his 1-2, 4.09 ERA tournament.

Ni works with a low-90's moving fastball that he can locate well to either side of the plate, and which he can throw from an array of arm angles that includes a near-sidearm delivery. He mixes in a good change and a sweeping show-me curve, and has been almost as effective against righthanders as lefties during his career.

Despite his success as a starter, it's much more likely the Tigers will lean on him as a late-inning reliever.

More Scouting Book Info on Fu-Te Ni >

191. Tony Butler

LHP, BAL (#398 overall)

Another of many development projects undertaken by the Seattle Mariners, Butler was been an on-again/off-again hot prospect since he was drafted by the Ms in the 3rd round (81st overall) of the 2006 draft. Traded to the Orioles as part of the package that brought Erik Bedard to Seattle in 2008, Butler's chance to break into the starting rotation will now happen in Baltimore Orange.

Butler's fastball can reach 93mph (and it's getting faster as he grows into his body), and has a natural sinking action that leads to high ground-ball production. His other pitches (a reasonably good slider/curve and a developing change) need work, though, and various mechanical issues have plagued his development. He's likely to spend 2008 on the farm addressing those issues. If the O's can help him overcome those hitches and refine his control (almost 6 walks per game in 2007), he'll be a contender for a fifth-starter spot in 2008, though it might be better for the Orioles if they continue to season and develop him so that he can reach his potential as a number-two or -three starter a year or two later.

More Scouting Book Info on Tony Butler >

192. Chorye Spoone

RHP, BAL (#401 overall)

A stocky righthander with good fundamentals, the oddly-named Chorye ('Corey') has four good pitches, including a mid-nineties four-seamer, and a low-nineties two-seam fastball with good sink. His curve and change are still works in progress, but show signs of becoming plus offerings in the near future. His mound presence is intense, though he does seem to get rattled and thrown off his game on occasion.

He still needs to improve the command of his off-speed pitches, and the control of all four. If he doesn't make it as a middle-rotation big league starter, he's got a decent future in middle relief, where his ground-ball tendencies could eat up innings. He spent 2009 recovering from off-season shoulder surgery; he remains an interesting name for 2010.

More Scouting Book Info on Chorye Spoone >

193. Kyle Lotzkar

RHP, CIN (#404 overall)

A big, strong Canadian signed by the Reds in 2007's supplemental round, righthander Kyle Lotzkar is one of the most promising arms in the Cincinnati stable. Like most of the Reds' best farm talent, he's awhile away from big-league action, but he's already showing the poise and polish necessary to succeed in pro ball. While he's still wrestling with his control, he looks like he could bring a plus change and curve to bear consistently soon, which could be devastating when combined with his existing 94mph fastball. Thanks to his control problems, his walk rate is way too high, but if he manages to start pitching within himself, look out. Only 20 entering 2010, he's definitely a name to highlight for the next couple of seasons.

More Scouting Book Info on Kyle Lotzkar >

194. Koji Mitsui

LHP, Japan (#409 overall)

35 year old lefthander Koji 'Kit-kat' Mitsui was 36-19 over the past eight seasons with Japan's Seibu Lions, with a career 4.41 ERA overall. Once a top-flight starter, he's been used exclusively in relief since early 2005, and in the two years 2006 and 2007, his all-bullpen ERA was under two.

He's only an average strikeout pitcher (6.6K/9) who will probably be tried out as a lefty-specialist reliever by an MLB team, but since lefty-specialists are so seldom seen by hitters, he could be quite successful at confounding them.

More Scouting Book Info on Koji Mitsui >

195. Brett DeVall

LHP, ATL (#410 overall)

A high-school lefty drafted by the Braves for his 'pitchability', DeVall is a project being developed inside the secret mountain labs of the Braves Brain Trust. He won't be ready for display for a couple of years.

More Scouting Book Info on Brett DeVall >

196. Chris Jakubauskas

RHP, SEA (#411 overall)

A mature prospect who's been slowly filtering up the Seattle system, righthander Chris Jakubauskas has a chance to help balance out the back end of the Seattle rotation this year, if he's not called upon sooner to assist with the shaky bullpen. While he doesn't have a real plus pitch, he has good control and baseball smarts, which means he should be able to leverage his impressive 2009 work into a serviceable gig sometime in 2010.

More Scouting Book Info on Chris Jakubauskas >

197. Dae-Eun Rhee

RHP, CHC (#412 overall)

A lefthanded changeup specialist in the Cubs system, Korean Dae-Eun Rhee is something of a sleeper. Signed by Steve Wilson as an international free agent in 2008, he threw only 40 innings last season at A-level Peoria, but what a 40 innings they were: 4-1, 1.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 2:1 K:BB ratio. He'll move up to AA this year, and if better hitters are as flummoxed by his changeup as those before, he'll be frustrating major leaguers by 2011.

More Scouting Book Info on Dae-Eun Rhee >

198. Will Inman

RHP, SD (#413 overall)

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.

Inman was 9-8 with a 3.52 ERA at AA San Antonio last year, a good run in a hitter's league. He struck out 140 in 135 innings and continued his characteristic ability to avoid the long ball, giving up a scant 10 homers in his 28 starts. He walks a few too many, but he's improving that regard, so it shouldn't hold him back too much. He's a textbook gamer as a pitcher, working his 92mph fastball to both sides of the plate and mixing in a plus curve and good changeup just often enough to keep batters off-balance.

Look for this quirky right hander in the Padre mix sometime in late 2009. He's no ace anchor, but 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 >

199. Jeremy Bleich

LHP, NYY (#415 overall)

A 2008 supplemental pick for the Yankees, this Stanford lefthander was the team's ace before being derailed by an elbow strain, which helped him slide in the draft. He's not a big kid, but he's got a nasty selection of breaking stuff that could play well in a relief role a few years from now.

More Scouting Book Info on Jeremy Bleich >

200. Seth Lintz

RHP, MLW (#417 overall)

More Scouting Book Info on Seth Lintz >

201. Dusty Hughes

LHP, KC (#426 overall)

Hughes, a lefthander who was once ranked very highly, before requiring midseason Tommy John surgery in 2006. He's still well-regarded, if a bit behind schedule. Depending who you listen to, The Kid from Tupelo is either the next Tom Glavine, or destined for sixth-starter status. His performance as he works back from his injury will say a lot, and his cup of coffee in 2009 didn't show much of anything pro or con. He'll need another year to find his effectiveness.

More Scouting Book Info on Dusty Hughes >

202. Kyle Lobstein

LHP, TB (#429 overall)

A soft-tossing lefty with plus control, the aptly-named Lobstein is a nice complement to the usual flame-throwing Rays prospects. His most likely route to the majors is as a reliever, but he could play his way into a starting role if he keeps up the superior results.

More Scouting Book Info on Kyle Lobstein >

203. Jack Egbert

RHP, CHW (#430 overall)

A 13th-round pick way back in the 2004 draft, Egbert has made a slow but steady climb through the Sox system. While he's never been a white-hot prospect, he does project as a solid back-of-rotation pitcher in the next few years.

Though helped by a pitchers park (a luxury he won't have if he reaches Chicago), the finesse-righthander posted impressive numbers: over 28 AA Birmingham starts, Egbert went 12-8 with a 3.07 ERA, showing off a K:BB rate near four.

Egbert struggled mightily at AAA Charlotte in 2009, which makes it hard to justify his brief promotion to Chicago, no matter how depleted the aging big-league staff was. He gave up eight runs in two innings of work before the White Sox decided he'd been sufficiently humbled enough. He'll be back in the minors for 2010.

More Scouting Book Info on Jack Egbert >

204. Tateyama Yoshinori

RHP, Japan (#431 overall)

A lifetime Nippon Ham Fighter, Tateyama has been one of the franchise's best relievers for most of the last decade. He could a useful piece in an MLB bullpen, as his deceptive delivery and workmanlike attitude are good fits for American-style baseball.

More Scouting Book Info on Tateyama Yoshinori >

205. Brad Hand

LHP, FLA (#432 overall)

More Scouting Book Info on Brad Hand >

206. Beltran Perez

RHP, WAS (#434 overall)

Perez, a sometime-reliever and sometime-starter in the minors, is running out of chances to break into the Nationals' bullpen or rotation, though he's had chances at both. The relief corps still seems a bit thin this year, so it's possible that Perez could get one more shot at the back-end duty.

More Scouting Book Info on Beltran Perez >

207. Carlos Guevara

RHP, SD (#435 overall)

A screwball specialist, Guevara had strong success in the Reds system before being left unprotected in the 2007 Rule Five Draft. While he doesn't show much in terms of endurance, his raw stuff and effort promise a decent future in middle relief.

More Scouting Book Info on Carlos Guevara >

208. Steve Garrison

LHP, SD (#437 overall)

Another of the endless parade of Padres pitching prospects, Steve Garrison came to San Diego in the same deal that landed Will Inman and Joe Thatcher. In some ways he's a notch above either of those pitchers right now thanks to his superior command of deceptive breaking stuff. He handles the entire strike zone with ease, and uses his plus curve and change with confidence and intelligence. A veteran mind inside a rookie body, Garrison could be a part of the Padres rotation as early as mid-2010, though he's looking up at a few hotter arms in the mean time.

More Scouting Book Info on Steve Garrison >

209. Oneli Perez

RHP, SD (#438 overall)

Once one of the hottest arms in the White Sox organization, the polydactylic Perez had 'future closer' written all over him until the Sox tried passing him through waivers. He bounced through the Indian and Yankee systems in late 2008 before being picked up by San Diego before the 2009 season.

While pitching for Birmingham back in 2007, the rake-thin Perez posted a 2.10 ERA while holding batters to a .219 average. Most impressively, he struck out 89 batters in only 77 innings of work. He was been even more impressive for Licey in the Dominican Winter League, with 19 K's in 17 innings, an OBA of .153, and a ridiculous ERA of 0.52. In 2008, his numbers were less impressive, but to be fair he was jumping between three organizations and seven teams. Across four minor league seasons, he's carrying an even 3.00 ERA and a strikeout to walk ratio of more than three. Despite his bounces through the minors, Perez remains a high-ceiling, high-risk prospect, a real late-inning weapon in waiting.

More Scouting Book Info on Oneli Perez >

210. Mark Rogers

RHP, MLW (#439 overall)

Before he got banged up, Rogers looked like he was starting to figure out how to pitch (not just throw). His raw stuff is still majestic, but he needs to show a lot more polish and smarts to make it onto a big league roster.

More Scouting Book Info on Mark Rogers >

211. John Ely

RHP, CHW (#440 overall)

A smallish righthander who once threw a perfect game at Floosmoore (FL) High School, John Ely is a professional pitcher with significant upside. Ranked second among U Miami career strikeout artists (284 in only three years), the young pitcher already has major league guile, and has shown the ability to perform in big-game situations. While he's primarily a fastball-change pitcher, using his 94mph heater to set up a real plus change, his curve is solid enough to be a viable third pitch. There are concerns about his mechanics and small stature, but if the White Sox resist the urge to tinker and stick to him as a starter, he could make the White Sox roster as early as 2011, while a couple of years more could make him a viable middle-rotation starter.

More Scouting Book Info on John Ely >

212. Steve Hammond

LHP, SF (#442 overall)

A sixth-round pick for Milwaukee out of Long Beach State in 2005, Steve Hammond posted an ERA under three in every stop he made in the Brewers farm system until he took a nosedive in 2007 (4.69 at AA Hunstville). He looks to be running out of chances, but he could still have value as a lefty setup specialist.

More Scouting Book Info on Steve Hammond >

213. Chad Reineke

RHP, CIN (#443 overall)

A thirteenth-round pick back in 2004, Chad Reineke is a bulldog righthander who uses his strength to pound the strike zone with low-90's fastballs and tilting sliders. Last time we checked in, he was working on a changeup in AAA Round Rock. His success with that off-speed project will determine whether he'll find success as a starter. Without a good change, though, he's destined for middle relief. He saw the majors with the Padres in 2008, and he should be back in 2010... unless he's traded again first.

More Scouting Book Info on Chad Reineke >

214. Shingo Ono

P, Japan (#444 overall)

Another Chiba Lotte Marine with visions of MLB dancing in his head (an infection known as Bobby Valentinism), right hander Shingo Ono is one of Japan's top pitchers. While he's been one of the top ten starters in the nation for a few years running, his 2009 was a disappointment, as his 8-7 record and 3.81 were among his worst results. Unless he returns to his peak form quickly, he may need to wait a year or two to find a suitor in the USA.

More Scouting Book Info on Shingo Ono >

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