Scouting Book: The Best Baseball Prospects for 2008 (Sleepers Too!)

MLB Baseball Prospect Rankings for 2008

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

The Best 112 RHP Prospects for 2008

Showing 1 to 112 of 112. Overall SB ranking for 2008 shown in parentheses.

1. Joba Chamberlain

RHP, NYY (#2 overall)

Joba, Joba, Joba. Nothing can stop Joba (okay, except maybe a few bugs.)

A late-round, high-risk draft pick that some scouts called 'insightful' and others labeled 'insane', Joba turned out to be all that the Yankees imagined in 2007. In 2008, he'll be rushed into the rotation. While we'd like to see how he'd react to a full-season of regular use, it's unlikely the Yankees will indulge us: the early rumblings from Florida suggest that he may be used in the bullpen to start the year, or 'rested' there during the heat of summer, in an attempt to keep his innings down. While we love Joba as a reliever, we don't like the idea of shuffling him back and forth. Joba as a starter would be a different kind of pitcher (for one thing, we might see some more offspeed pitches), and until we see that pitcher for awhile, it'll be hard to evaluate. For now, we're a bit bearish on Joba's 2008, because of the risk of Yankee mishandling, multiple adjustment periods for his evolving role, and the near-guarantee that he won't be used enough to rank among the league's best pitchers.

Of course, should the Yankees reverse field again and give Joba one role to stick to all season, and then actually stick to that plan, we'll be higher on the boy.

More Scouting Book Info on Joba Chamberlain >

SB #2 | BA #3 | BP #4 | ML #5 | SN #4 | ES #3

2. Clay Buchholz

RHP, BOS (#3 overall)

Boston, seeing stars in the future, modeled their development of Buchholz after their previous success with the similar Jon Papelbon. While Dice-K got all the early press last year, it was Buchholz who turned heads with his late-season no-hitter. While talk of a possible six-man Boston rotation for 2008 has fantasy players worried, even a small number of starts from Buchholz will be a good thing to have in 2008. A wider rotation may help keep Buchholz's innings down, of course, which may be a good thing: he's still a couple of good years away from real workhorse status.

More Scouting Book Info on Clay Buchholz >

SB #3 | BA #4 | BP #2 | ML #6 | SN #2 | ES #4

3. Johnny Cueto

RHP, CIN (#8 overall)

A stunning ERA and WHIP in the minors booked Johnny on his way to the Show in Cincy. With a solid four-pitch selection (fastball, slider, sinker and change) he's got some of the best young stuff in baseball, but if his offspeed stuff develops just a bit more, that 97mph fastball should be all he needs to rack up the K's.

More Scouting Book Info on Johnny Cueto >

SB #8 | BA #34 | BP #41 | ML #47 | SN #25 | ES #30

4. Hiroki Kuroda

RHP, LAD (#12 overall)

One of the premium starting pitchers available to MLB teams in 2008, Kuroda is a workhorse starter: he's thrown 74 (!) complete games in his 12 year Central League career. At age 32, he's also in his prime. He won the League's ERA title with a 1.85, despite playing in a park that strongly favors hitters.

He may lack the sex appeal and mystery Matsuzaka brought to Boston, but he's a comparable talent, and he should be a reliable and solid pitcher in Los Angeles.

More Scouting Book Info on Hiroki Kuroda >

5. Jarrod Parker

RHP, ARZ (#19 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 last year's super-phenom Tim Lincecum, since he produces tremendous power from a smaller-than-average build. He'll likely follow a similar path, as Arizona's farm managers decide quickly whether they're dealing with a future ace or future closer, and move him along accordingly.

More Scouting Book Info on Jarrod Parker >

SB #19 | BA #46 | BP #20 | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #36

6. Nick Adenhart

RHP, LAA (#21 overall)

The most successful of many Anaheim rebuilding projects, Adenhart now shows great control of his mid-90s two-seamer and has mixed in two new offspeed pitches. The Angels projected him to blossom into an ace last year, and this year he may get his chance. If you can only have one prospect in your draft this year, consider Adenhart. No right-hander (other than the Twins' Garza) has shown the makeup to survive being tossed into the fire at a young age. He may go down as one of the all-time draft steals.

More Scouting Book Info on Nick Adenhart >

SB #21 | BA #24 | BP #27 | ML #18 | SN #38 | ES #23

7. Ian Kennedy

RHP, NYY (#25 overall)

A late first round pick from the 2006 amateur draft, Kennedy is not an overpowering strikeout artist, but a polished, intelligent player who excels with his guile and determination. In his first full season in professional ball, Kennedy went 12-3 with a 1.91 ERA with stops in Tampa, Trenton, and Scranton.

Kennedy has a full selection of pitches, with a capable fastball, deceptive curve, developing changeup and functional slider. While his arm tops out at about 92mph, power is not his strength. Instead, he uses pinpoint control to infuriate batters, falling back on his changeup to put away batters who finally see what appears to be a hittable ball.

He's not Hughes, and he's not Joba, but that just means he doesn't get as much attention. As long as he keeps nibbling at the corners the way he's done in the minors, he's got a solid career ahead of him. That said, he's the most likely of the three youngsters to spend time in the minors in 2008, since it's unlikely the Yankees will enter the season as desperate for starters as they were in 2007. But don't let this scare you: because of the all the young pitching New York has to juggle, it's quite likely that each of their three youngsters will be handled with kid gloves. Starting one or two in the minors, or in the bullpen, might just be an inning-saving tactic. Long-term, Kennedy's combination of skills and smarts is viable and attractive. Don't be shy.

More Scouting Book Info on Ian Kennedy >

SB #25 | BA #45 | BP #34 | ML #26 | SN #13 | ES #45

8. Carlos Carrasco

RHP, PHI (#26 overall)

An under-the-radar phenom, Carrasco is a good long bet this season.

With a 1.38 ERA (not to mention only allowing a single home run) at home last year, Carrasco did everything he could get the big club's attention, but to no avail. There's not much more he can do other than wait: 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. If Philly gives the kid a shot, expect some highlight-reel performances. He was a real sleeper-pick special for 2007; in 2008, he'll be a much more visible and safe selection.

More Scouting Book Info on Carlos Carrasco >

SB #26 | BA #54 | BP #68 | ML #28 | SN unranked | ES #53

9. Wade Davis

RHP, TB (#31 overall)

Jacob McGee's old rotation partner in the Midwest League, he's the proud owner of a 3:1 K:BB ration and a 1.30 WHIP. And since Tampa runs its team on young pitchers, good luck and gasoline fumes, he's bound to get a shot sometime this year. We like him as a starter, but some may prefer the fastball in the pen.

More Scouting Book Info on Wade Davis >

SB #31 | BA #17 | BP #15 | ML #12 | SN #29 | ES #15

10. Max Scherzer

RHP, ARZ (#32 overall)

A first round pick by KC in 2006, Scherzer ended up going to Arizona due to signability problems, where he promptly struck out 30 batters in his first three starts. He's a phenom with a plus fastball (some say plus-plus) and a slider so nasty that he rode it all the way to Double-A in his first season after cutting through single-A hitters as though they were little-leaguers.

Scherzer's ERA in single-A ball? An impossible 0.53, with a 15:1 (sic) strikeout to ball ratio. He had a bit of a more human time in double-A, but he outclassed those hitters as well, racking up 76 strikeouts in only 73 innings.

While he has the durability to start and go deep, and he's still working on a changeup and curve to complement his nasty pitches, he may not need them: the combination of his already-effective power stuff and max-effort approach could probably make him an effective MLB closer tomorrow.

More Scouting Book Info on Max Scherzer >

SB #32 | BA #66 | BP #90 | ML #35 | SN #40 | ES #81

11. Homer Bailey

RHP, CIN (#40 overall)

The next Nolan Ryan? The next Roger Clemens? Or the next Kerry Wood? No matter what the comparisons, the young pitcher with the unfortunate name is definitely under pressure to perform, and soon, for his ballclub. After going 7-1 with a 1.59 ERA at AA in 2006, and suffering some nasty growing pains during his brief time in the majors last year, he doesn't have much room to move.

Still, he will likely get a good look in Spring Training as a presumed starter before being sent down to AAA once again to begin the year. The Reds would like to keep him on a regular schedule there, but given the topsy-turvy situation in Cincinnati, whose rotation goes from 'Arroyo-and-Harang' to 'Other', a midseason or earlier callup is likely.

When this happens, expect him to get hammered hard in the bandbox ballpark again, just like in 2007, before figuring out how to win there. While the pressure and obstacles will make for a rough ride, as long as he shows the mental character to match his physical makeup, he could be a name to be mentioned among the greats. Just not... quite... yet.

More Scouting Book Info on Homer Bailey >

SB #40 | BA #9 | BP #9 | ML #9 | SN #7 | ES #9

12. Justin Masterson

RHP, BOS (#41 overall)

With Buchholz likely in the majors to stay, the title of top Red Sox pitching prospect falls to Justin Masterson, a hard-throwing right-hander.

While the Sox began testing him as a starter in 2007, his combination of a three-quarters arm motion and nasty sinker-slider stuff still makes him look a lot more like a relief pitcher. But if he's destined to be a reliever, he could be an exceptional one. His sinker is plus-plus, with the potential to match those of Webb and Carmona, and he can throw it at any speed from 84-94 mph. It's that sinker that has teams asking for him, and he's the frequent subject of trade rumors.

If he remains with the Sox, Masterson might get a look in September, or be used to bolster the bullpen if it's dragged down by a few injuries. If he gets a chance in the bullpen late in the year, he could bring the same benefits and boost that Joba Chamberlain did to the Yankees in 2007. He's definitely something special.

More Scouting Book Info on Justin Masterson >

SB #41 | BA #64 | BP #53 | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #58

13. Jair Jurrjens

RHP, ATL (#50 overall)

One of two intriguing prospects moved from Detroit to Atlanta in exchange for Edgar Renteria, Jurrjens is a power pitcher, a strikeout machine who has not yet quite put it together in terms of control and gamesmanship. He has stuff, but no coach has yet harnessed it effectively.

Jurrjens had a 3.20 ERA in 19 starts in Double-A and a 4.70 ERA in seven starts for the MLB Tigers in 2007. He projects as a number two or number three starter. He may also be effective as a reliever, once the Braves spend some time figuring out his mechanics.

More Scouting Book Info on Jair Jurrjens >

SB #50 | BA #49 | BP #86 | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES unranked

14. Rick Porcello

RHP, DET (#53 overall)

The 27th pick of the 2007 Amateur Draft, Porcello fell to the Tigers due to signability issues. Most believe he has the talent to succeed. He is only nineteen, of course, and young pitchers are the riskiest of all prospects, but his combination of size and strength, coming from the south side of the mound, makes him a worthy gamble.

Though he's always been a starter, his fantasy skill comparisons line up closest with JJ Putz and Jose Valverde. If you combine that with Detroit's decimated relief corps and conclude that Porcello's future might be in the Tiger bullpen... you might be right. We'd still rather see him starting, of course, but it's worth hedging your bets if you're banking on him for the near future.

More Scouting Book Info on Rick Porcello >

SB #53 | BA #21 | BP #11 | ML #14 | SN unranked | ES #22

15. Masahide Kobayashi

RHP, CLE (#54 overall)

A prospect only in the sense he's a gamble with no MLB experience, Masahide Kobayashi joins the majors this year as a 34 year old rookie. Kobayashi is one of just three pitchers in the history of Japanese baseball to record over 200 saves, which includes a record 20 or more saves seven straight years. In 2007, he maintained a 3.61 ERA with 27 saves in 49 relief appearances. He also spent time on the DL in September with a neck injury.

Kobayashi's a gamble in the style of the Red Sox Okajima: he may confound MLB hitters for a time, and he may have backup-closer potential that blossoms if he gains the opportunity.

More Scouting Book Info on Masahide Kobayashi >

16. Will Inman

RHP, SD (#55 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.

Look for this quirky right handed in the Padre bullpen mix soon. 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 >

17. Luke Hochevar

RHP, KC (#56 overall)

The 2006 1st overall pick is probably a year or three away from any possible ace-hood, but he's worth a look this year anyway. While they've parked him in the minors for now, the Royals have a deep belief in the raw quality of Hochevar's right arm, his live mid-90s fastball and quality curve make him better than most pitchers his age. His big problem seems to be the lack of a quality off-speed pitch. If the Royals can teach him one, he looks to be a factor in 2009 or even 2008.

More Scouting Book Info on Luke Hochevar >

SB #56 | BA #63 | BP #72 | ML #40 | SN #19 | ES unranked

18. Michael Bowden

RHP, BOS (#58 overall)

Bowden's statistics, impressive as they are for a teen-ager in A-ball, fall short of reflecting how dominant the right-hander was last season. Expecting endurance for players of Bowden's maturity is asking a lot, so it's hard to blame Bowden for three bad starts that dilute his overall statistics. If not for poor starts on April 15, July 9 and Aug. 26, Bowden's season ERA drops to 2.71. Bowden also allowed 22 hits, five walks and three home runs in these starts, so you can imagine his dominance during the other 88 percent of his season.

More Scouting Book Info on Michael Bowden >

SB #58 | BA #94 | BP #95 | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES unranked

19. Chris Volstad

RHP, FLA (#62 overall)

One of five (five!) pitchers the Marlins took in the first two rounds of 2005, Volstad is overshadowed by Josh Johnson and Anibal Sanchez, who also act as cast-iron doors blocking his future in Floriday.

Volstad's just as good a prospect, though. A 1.29 WHIP at Greensboro held up over 152 innings, showing he has the stamina to start, and an ERA right around 3 has been on his sheet throughout his young career.

Volstad works with a heavy, low 90's fastball and good control. As a lanky, knees-and-elbows type of pitcher, he's had some hiccups with his delivery, but Florida's instructional system is the right place to work on that. He remains a solid prospect.

More Scouting Book Info on Chris Volstad >

SB #62 | BA n/a | BP #88 | ML #39 | SN #42 | ES #88

20. Edinson Volquez

RHP, CIN (#71 overall)

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

More Scouting Book Info on Edinson Volquez >

21. Jeff Niemann

RHP, TB (#73 overall)

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

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

More Scouting Book Info on Jeff Niemann >

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

22. Adam Miller

RHP, CLE (#74 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.

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

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

More Scouting Book Info on Adam Miller >

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

23. Eric Hurley

RHP, TEX (#76 overall)

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

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

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

More Scouting Book Info on Eric Hurley >

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

24. Joey Devine

RHP, OAK (#80 overall)

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

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

More Scouting Book Info on Joey Devine >

25. Brandon Erbe

RHP, BAL (#81 overall)

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

More Scouting Book Info on Brandon Erbe >

26. Deolis Guerra

RHP, MIN (#82 overall)

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

More Scouting Book Info on Deolis Guerra >

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

27. Matt Walker

RHP, TB (#84 overall)

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

More Scouting Book Info on Matt Walker >

28. Jason Windsor

RHP, OAK (#86 overall)

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

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

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

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

More Scouting Book Info on Jason Windsor >

29. Radhames Liz

RHP, BAL (#93 overall)

A fascinating blip on the prospect radar for a few years now, Liz is one of the Orioles' most interesting prospects. While he has a solid moving fastball in the upper-90s, it's his devastating slider that has scouts buzzing. If he can learn to rein in the walks and keep his pitches near the zone, he'll be dominant. If he can't, he'll flame out quickly once he starts facing more patient batters.

Despite his lanky frame and long arms, Liz uses a simple overhand pitching motion rather than the slingshot that some coaches have tried to teach him. As such, he's having difficulty disguising his otherwise-quality changeup.

While he's listed as a starter, a number of scouts would rather see his nasty 1-2 combination in the bullpen, where he could give max effort for an inning or two rather than grind through an entire game with iffy control.

More Scouting Book Info on Radhames Liz >

SB #93 | BA #69 | BP #85 | ML #45 | SN #16 | ES unranked

30. Sean Gallagher

RHP, CHC (#96 overall)

While he struggled some at AA, he has solid career numbers, and projects to be a significant piece in the Cubs future. His 1.29 WHIP and 361:142 K to BB ration come from more than 350 minor league innings, so he's the real thing.

More Scouting Book Info on Sean Gallagher >

SB #96 | BA #82 | BP unranked | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #71

31. Phillippe Aumont

RHP, SEA (#99 overall)

The rising wave of Canadian pitchers continued when Seattle chose Quebec native Philipe Aumont with their first-round pick in 2007. With visions of Randy Johnson dancing in their heads, the Mariners are definitely looking to a strong future.

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 only 18, 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.

More Scouting Book Info on Phillippe Aumont >

32. Jonathan Meloan

RHP, LAD (#102 overall)

It's almost impossible to imagine, but the Dodgers might have a second Broxton on their hands in the 99mph flamethrower Meloan.

While he lacks the polish of that other Jon, this one mowed down minor league batters with similar zest in 2007, striking out 91 in 67 combined AA-AAA innings while only walking 27.

With a strong bullpen already in place, the Dodgers can be patient with Meloan and keep him brewing in the minors for a bit longer, but he's likely to be a factor in 2009, if he isn't traded for a big bat sooner than that.

More Scouting Book Info on Jonathan Meloan >

33. Chris Tillman

RHP, BAL (#103 overall)

Seattle's second round pick in the 2006 draft, Tillman was the Mariners' Minor League Pitcher of the Year for 2007, when he rung up 139 strikeouts in 135 innings split between low-A Wisconsin and high-A High Desert. A tall, hard-thrower with a smooth, carbon-copy motion, Tillman complements a mid-90's fastball with a plus 12-to-6 curve that he uses as his out pitch. He was traded to Baltimore as part of the 2008 package deal that sent Erik Bedard out west.

While his durability and work ethic remain untested, Tillman's build and easy motion means he still projects as a middle of rotation starter somewhere, though there is some bullpen potential.

More Scouting Book Info on Chris Tillman >

SB #103 | BA #67 | BP #44 | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES unranked

34. James McDonald

RHP, LAD (#116 overall)

One of a bevy of talented young Dodger arms, McDonald cruised through high-A and double-A last year, splitting time between Inland Empire and Jacksonville. The wiry right-hander went 7-2 with a 1.71 at the higher level, striking out 64 and walking only 16 in ten starts thanks to his plus control.

There's some concern about his durability, and his build isn't one that looks able to carry 220 innings of work, but as a finesse pitcher with a killer curve ball, that might not matter. He's a nice option for the L.A. bullpen in the near future, with an outside shot at a rotation spot after that.

More Scouting Book Info on James McDonald >

35. Yasuhiko Yabuta

RHP, KC (#117 overall)

Bobby Valentine's favorite setup man will move from the Chiba Lotte Marines to Major League Baseball in 2008. In Japan he excelled in the setup role, with a 2.73 ERA and 34 holds last season. He won the league's award for best middle-relief pitcher, which is an award that MLB should probably consider adding, if only to deflate the heads of a few 'closers' around the league.

Americans may remember Yabuta from the World Baseball Classic game against the US, when he was summoned into a tie game and struck out Alex Rodriguez to end the seventh inning. Returning in the eighth, he disposed of Chipper Jones on a dribbler, then struck out Derrek Lee and Johnny Damon to end the inning.

More Scouting Book Info on Yasuhiko Yabuta >

36. Nick Blackburn

RHP, MIN (#121 overall)

Minnesota's young rotation is already full of talent, and Blackburn looks likely to be among the Next Generation in Minnesota. A tall, wiry right-hander, Blackburn is one of the best pitchers left in the system now that Garza, Bonser and Slowey have graduated into MLB.

Originally drafted by Tampa Bay out of high school, he chose to attend Seminole State instead. He was drafted by the Twins deep in the 29th round of the next year's draft. He blew through the Twins system in 2005 and 2006, being called up to triple-A Rochester after only seven starts in AA ball (two of those were complete games, one was a shutout, and he laughed his way to a 1.84 ERA in the course of a month). In 2007 he was tested in Minnesota bullpen with poor results, giving up 10 runs in only six relief appearances.

Despite his height, Blackburn is a 'stuff' pitcher without overpowering heat. He works confidently with a good assortment of breaking balls, and has also shown good control with two very good fastballs, which he can locate on either side of the plate.

More Scouting Book Info on Nick Blackburn >

37. Humberto Sanchez

RHP, NYY (#126 overall)

Newly a Yankee, look for Sanchez to work in the bullpen, at least initially. Long-term, he 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 pick.

More Scouting Book Info on Humberto Sanchez >

38. Adam Ottavino

RHP, STL (#128 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 front-of-rotation starter.

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 super-prospect status if he can master it.

More Scouting Book Info on Adam Ottavino >

39. James Hoey

RHP, BAL (#129 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) and looks to need some more time in the minors before he can be seriously considered a future closer.

More Scouting Book Info on James Hoey >

40. Jeremy Hellickson

RHP, TB (#130 overall)

A career 107:17 K to BB ratio is frighteningly good, and a 0.94 WHIP shows that he's not a one-act pitcher. 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 low 3/4 delivery is deceptive, and his darting 94mph fastball is a deadly strikeout pitch. Still, unless he can get better and more consistent results with his breaking balls, he's likely to end up in the bullpen sooner or later.

More Scouting Book Info on Jeremy Hellickson >

41. Daniel Bard

RHP, BOS (#131 overall)

Boston will be watching this college pitcher closely as he makes his pro debut. A 100mph fastball and some baseball smarts might be enough to dominate the low minors, making a midseason callup -- and his first real test -- a strong possibility.

More Scouting Book Info on Daniel Bard >

42. Jeremy Jeffress

RHP, MLW (#133 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). He's also lacking solid pitches to combine with the heater, though coaches are working on that.

If you're one of those owners who must own every 100mph hurler, you should grab Jeffress now. The rest of us will wait until 2009 or 2010.

More Scouting Book Info on Jeremy Jeffress >

SB #133 | BA n/a | BP #76 | ML #43 | SN unranked | ES unranked

43. Edwar Ramirez

RHP, NYY (#137 overall)

He might be the scrawniest-looking player ever to take the mound, but the skeletal Ramirez is anything but weak. He works with a deceptive, darting fastball and a ridiculous changeup that hasn't been seen since Pedro in his prime. While he posted an ugly 8.3 ERA in 21 innings of work with the Yankees in 2007, he did strike out 31 hitters in those same 21 innings. And it's no fluke: as before that he struck out 178 in 135 minor league innings.

While he's likely to start the year in the minors again, Ramirez will be back in the bigs and mowing down hitters again once he's matured a bit... and maybe after he's eaten a few ham sandwiches.

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44. Kazuo Fukumori

RHP, TEX (#139 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. He's an excellent sleeper for saves.

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45. Mitch Talbot

RHP, TB (#142 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 TB's rotation is very very high, especially for such a young pitcher.

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46. Craig Hansen

RHP, BOS (#143 overall)

We're all tired of hearing it, but it's still likely true that he is the Red Sox closer of the future, no matter how good Papelbon looks. Hansen's fastball is ready, even if his control is not. All who work with him are so certain of his 'closer mentality' though, that it's pretty much destined to happen.

As he's developed, his fastball has reached the high 90s, perfect for closing duties. He also possesses an excellent slider, which he employes as a K-Rod-esque strikeout pitch. The only problem is that some days, that slider just doesn't slide and ends up as a pancake-flat pitch that gets hammered. If Hansen can make the slider work every day, he'll be a scary good pitcher. Until then, he's just someone to keep an eye on.

Whether they bring him up as a super-setup pitcher, re-re-deploy Papelbon to the rotation, or use him as high-value trade bait, Hansen will see his day in the majors soon, and it should be a bright day.

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47. Edgar Garcia

RHP, PHI (#146 overall)

A young, raw, but very promising prospect, Garcia looked very strong at Batavia last year. Signed at the 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 in 2005. At other times, he's looked afraid to throw anything other than a strike, and he's been hammered as a result.

Given the condition of the Phillies bullpen, it's not impossible that he'll make an appearance with the big-league team before the season is out, if only to give the coaches a look at his performance under the big lights.

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48. Daniel Cortes

RHP, KC (#148 overall)

A prospect more famous for his MySpace pictures than his talent (go Google it yourself, lazy reader), Dan Cortes is a very young and very strong righthander in the Royals organization. Cortes was a 7th round selection by the Chicago White Sox in 2005 who was later shipped to KC as part of the deal that sent reliever Mike MacDougall to Chicago. Until recently he was basically a one-pitch power arm, but his previously-serviceable curve took a leap forward late last year, when he used it effectively to strike out 120 in 124 innings of high-A ball.

His control is iffy (he walked a rather high 45 batters in those same innings), and 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 Royals 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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49. Cesar Carrillo

RHP, SD (#149 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 is expected to make a full recovery by spring 2008. If so, San Diego will be faced with some interesting choices: in Carrillo they have an intriguing setup man, or even future closer, but he's also a name often mentioned in trade talks.

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50. Anthony Swarzak

RHP, MIN (#151 overall)

A powerful righthander with an excellent fastball-curve combination, Swarzak's path to the big leagues took a detour while he sat out a 50 game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy with an unnamed recreational substance. Swarzak's 3:1 impressive K:BB ratio has held up over the past three seasons. He's likely to be tested in the Minnesota rotation late in the season.

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51. Neftali Feliz

RHP, TEX (#154 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 a year or more away from really contributing, but if the Texas coaches can add a change or a curve to his fastball-slider talent, he could be something special enough that we'll have a King Feliz to accompany that other guy.

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SB #154 | BA #93 | BP #30 | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES unranked

52. Yu Darvish

RHP, FA (#157 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 21, 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 Carp will consider how much they could improve their team with, oh, an extra $80 million dollars or so.

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53. Dellin Betances

RHP, NYY (#161 overall)

With a WHIP under 1 and a scary-good strikeout rate, Betances is one of the many secret weapons the Yankees are cooking up in their labs. While he won't likely have an impact this year, he is definitely one to watch, as guys with stuff this wicked find a way onto MLB rosters even before they have the secondary skills that coaches would prefer. A great sleeper for 2009, a longshot right now.

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54. Jensen Lewis

RHP, CLE (#165 overall)

Drafted in the 3rd round of 2005 as a starter from Vanderbilt University, Lewis was converted into a full-time reliever in 2007 and responded very well to the move. His darting fastball, already a 93mph special, was topping out at 98 by midseason. He complements the heat with a plus change and a developing slider.

Lewis showed the confidence and composure to work out of the pen last season, and he's clearly got management's favor. The Indians will look to him often in 2008 as a setup man, with one eye toward a future where he may even assume closer duty.

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55. Tyler Clippard

RHP, WAS (#168 overall)

The pride of the Yankees pitching system until his glow was overshadowed by the likes of Hughes and Chamberlain, Clippard was once thought of as the Next Great Yankee Pitcher. Having slipped down the depth chart of their plans, he was traded to the Nationals in the winter of 2007, where he'll take up the mantle of one of the Nationals best pitching prospects.

He won his major league debut for the Yanks last season, though the rest of his year was hit-and-miss. He works primarily with a 90-92mph fastball which he can locate well, and a plus changeup that can make some hitters look foolish. He's also got a two-seam fastball with movement and a curve, but neither of those is a plus pitch.

A strikeout king in the minors who racked up great numbers without overpowering stuff, Clippard is regarded as a clever pitcher who can make adjustments when necessary. Even though the Yankees wrote him off, he's still a promising prospect who is likely to turn into a reliable, middle of rotation starter in Washington.

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56. Jose Arredondo

RHP, LAA (#173 overall)

A hard thrower converted from third base, Arredondo could see some work in the Angels bullpen before the year is over. He's got a monster 98mph fastball and a nasty splitter, but no real pitching smarts. He could get by as an eighth inning guy on stuff alone, but it'll be two or three more years before he has a chance to be a real, well-rounded pitcher.

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57. Tim Alderson

RHP, SF (#174 overall)

With Lincecum and Cain already toeing the rubber every fifth day, the title of best Giants pitching prospect falls to Alderson, the 6-7 righthander from Phoenix.

'Big Tim' 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 89-92 range, though he has been clocked as high as 94, which is remarkable for a pitcher who does not have a windup: Alderson pitches exclusively from the stretch, and if he can really get close to 95 that way, it's hard to imagine the Giants will bother 'teaching' him anything new.

Still only 19, Alderson is unlikely to see significant action in San Francisco before 2009 at the soonest, but the Giants are determined to 'go young', Alderson will be a big part of that plan. Lincecum and Cain, after all, made their debuts at 20 and 21.

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SB #174 | BA #84 | BP unranked | ML unranked | SN unranked | ES #59

58. Chris Mason

RHP, TB (#176 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.

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59. Tommy Hanson

RHP, ATL (#177 overall)

In a year split between A seasons at Rome and Myrtle Beach, Hanson zoomed up the Braves prospect chart by posting some pretty eye-popping numbers. The power righthander, already boasting a mid-90's fastball with movement, made 24 combined starts and struck out 154 batters, jostling for the early-season strikeout lead with Tim Lincecum. He did walk 58, though, and gave up 49 runs for an ERA of 3.32. He's likely to start 2008 in AA.

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60. Kevin Mulvey

RHP, MIN (#178 overall)

A mid-range prospect in the Mets system for a few years, Mulvey made great leaps forward in 2007 at double-A Birmingham, where he made 26 starts and maintained a steady 3.32 ERA while striking out 110 in 152 innings of work. A callup to AAA New Orleans at the end of year gave a glimpse of an even higher potential, as he threw six shutout innings of two-hit ball in his lone start for the Zephyrs.

A four-pitch control guy with a low-90's fastball, a plus slider, and a good change and curve, Mulvey projects as a middle-of-rotation major leaguer in the near future. He already has good makeup, polish and composure, and manages to stay aggressive even when rattled.

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