Sorry about that.
#1 Jay Bruce Outfielder Cincinnati Reds
Age: 20 (Again to be fair, he'll be 21 on April 3rd)
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Ht: 6'3''
Wt: 195 lbs.
There's very little doubt why Bruce is my Top Prospect heading into the 2008 season. He's a five-tool player and shows the capabilities to hit for both extremely good power and a very good average. Lets just say, he can flat out hit. Bruce shows better plate discipline than most of the other batters on this list, but it's still something he'll work on as he learns the majors. He doesn't have elite speed, and will probably switch from center field to right field at some point in the not-so distant future, but he's the reason why many feel the Reds have to be feeling good about the next five to ten years. Bruce will probably be starting this season as the Reds center fielder, but when Ken Griffey Jr. is gone, he'll probably move to right field.
Level G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIA+ 67 268 .325 .379 .586 .965 11 49AA 16 66 .333 .405 .652 1.057 4 15AAA 50 187 .305 .358 .567 .925 11 25
ETA: 2008
#2 Evan Longoria Third Base Tampa Bay Rays
Age: 22
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'2''
Wt: 180 lbs.
Well, there have been many Tampa Bay prospects on this list (5) and Longoria is bar-none the best of them all. After being drafted with the third pick in the 2006 draft, Longoria made it all the way up to Double-A in just his first season of professional baseball. He's possessed good plate discipline and he can hit for both power and average. He is a good defender at the "hot corner" which should give Ray fans optimism as they look forward to their up and coming prospects (especially the pitchers) over the next few years. Longoria probably would be best off by starting the '08 season in Triple-A with the Durham Bulls, but it shouldn't be long before the Rays have him in their starting lineup.
Level G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIAA 105 381 .307 .403 .528 .931 21 76AAA 31 104 .269 .398 .490 .888 5 19
ETA: 2008
#3 Joba Chamberlain Pitcher New York Yankees
Age: 22
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'3''
Wt: 225 lbs.
Joba arrived with the Yankees later last season after starting 15 of 18 games in the minors in just his first season of professional baseball. He became one of the most dominating relievers in the big leagues in his short time with the Yankees as a set-up man for future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera. Now next season, the Yankees are going to put him in their starting rotation to see if he can hopefully dominate as a starter as well. Whether if he's a starter or a reliever, I see Chamberlain having very good success in the majors and the Yankees have to feel good about their future rotation with Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlian as well as Chien Ming Wang as their top 4 starters. If all the young players can pitch anywhere close to their potential, I see the Yankees being legit contenders for the next decade. Here's a hint: don't trade any of them! (As much as I'd like to get my hands on one of them, I think the Yankees should keep them all intact, they've got something special). Chamberlain should be in the Yankees rotation in '08, but if he should struggle the Yankees will likely put him back into the bullpen where he's already had success.
Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9A+ 7 4 0 2.03 40.0 51 11 11.48AA 8 4 2 3.35 40.1 66 15 14.73
AAA 3 1 0 0.00 8.0 18 1 20.25
MLB 19 2 0 0.38 24.0 34 6 15.75
ETA: 2008
#4 Cameron Maybin Outfielder Florida Marlins
Age: 20 (To be fair, he'll be 21 on April 4th)
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'3''
Wt: 200 lbs.
The Marlins and Tigers completed the big blockbuster trade during the Winter Meetings in which the Tigers received Miguel Cabrera and Dontrell Willis for 7 young players. The reason this deal got done was because the Marlins knew what kind of player they'd potentially be getting with Cameron. He projects as a middle-of-the-order hitter with a good glove. He reminds me of Grady Sizemore, but I don't doubt that he could some day be a lot better all-around than Sizemore. Cameron should probably start the '08 season in the minors, as he only has 20 AB's after Advanced-A, but with the unlikelihood of the rebuilding Marlins doing anything in 2008, he could be an everyday starter, despite the lack of experience.
ETA: 2008Level G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIR 2 7 .571 .667 .571 1.238 0 1A+ 83 296 .304 .393 .486 .486 10 44
AA 6 20 .400 .538 1.050 1.050 4 8
MLB 24 49 .143 .208 .265 .265 1 2
#5 Clayton Kershaw Pitcher Los Angeles Dodgers
Age: 20
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Ht: 6'3''
Wt: 220 lbs.
It's not too hard why I chose Kershaw to be the top left-handed pitching prospect in baseball. He posses a lot of talent for just being a 19 year-old. He dominated the Midwest League in '08 and skipped Advanced-A to have some good success in limited time at Double-A. He brings a mid-high 90's fastball (between 96 or 97 MPH) and a great curve with a change up. He should probably start '08 in Double-A, but his talent might be too much to hold him down. I could see him getting some sort of playing time with the Dodgers at September call-ups, but that may be thinking too optimistically for a 20-year-old.
ETA: 2009Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9A 20 7 5 2.77 97.1 134 50 12.39AA 5 1 2 3.65 24.2 29 17 10.58
#6 Colby Rasmus Outfielder St. Louis Cardinals
Age: 21
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Ht: 6'2''
Wt: 195 lbs.
The Cardinals couldn't have picked a better player to replace Jim Edmonds in center field after he's gone. Rasmus is almost a clone of Jim Edmonds on offense and is very close to him during his prime at defense. He has good plate discipline and gets on-base at a high clip. He should be ready for action at some point this season, although he likely won't become a starter until '09. He will start the 2008 season in Triple-A with the Memphis Redbirds.
Level G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIAA 128 472 .275 .381 .551 .932 29 72
ETA: Late 2008
#7 Clay Buchholz Pitcher Boston Red Sox
Age: 23
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'3''
Wt: 190 lbs.
The reluctance of the Red Sox to trade Clay Buchholz in a deal for Johan Santana should speak highly of how they feel about his future. (Just to clarify, they probably would trade him, but he definitely wouldn't be coming with anyone else worth anything) The opportunity for them to part with a young prospect for a two-time Cy Young winner in his prime doesn't usually get passed up too many times. Well, the Red Sox may be making a "gutsy" move by holding onto him, but he definitely deserves the hype that he's received. In his second start with the Red Sox, Buchholz threw a no-hitter and for that, the team has to be feeling that he's going to be a special pitcher. He controls the strike zone very well and with his high-amount of strikeouts, it's amazing that doesn't walk more batters than he does. He'll probably start the season with the Red Sox, but with the options at starting pitcher the Sox have, he may be used as a spot starter for part of the season until a clear spot in the rotation opens.
ETA: 2008Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9AA 16 7 2 1.77 86.2 116 22 12.05AAA 8 1 3 3.96 38.2 55 13 12.80MLB 4 3 1 1.59 22.2 22 10 8.74
#8 David Price Pitcher Tampa Bay Rays
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Ht: 6'6''
Wt: 215 lbs.
There was little doubt why the Rays took Price with the number one overall pick in last June's draft. He had great success while pitching for Vanderbilt university in the very tough, SEC. He compiled 366 strikeouts in 254 innings of work in his 3-year college career. He also had a great 17-7 record and only allowed 74 walks. He is definitely going to be on the fast-track to the majors and could see time with the Rays at some point this season, which is what Joba Chamberlain did with the Yankees, but that's very rare. I put him at Advanced-A with the Vero Beach Devil Rays to begin the season, but it shouldn't be long before he's starting at Tropicana Field in a Rays uniform.
ETA: 2009Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9MLB 26 10 8 3.65 153.0 116 65 6.28
#9 Andrew McCutchen Outfielder Pittsburgh Pirates
Age: 21
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 5'11''
Wt: 175 lbs.
The Pirates must be thrilled with what they saw from McCutchen in '08. His Double-A numbers look bad, but trust me, they were horrid in the beginning of the season before he took off in the second half. He is a five-tool player and could become one of the better defenders in the majors. His size makes him look like he won't have a lot of power, but that hasn't been the case. He reminds me a bit of Torii Hunter, but his offensive potential is definitely greater. He should probably start '08 with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians.
ETA: mid-20082007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIAA 118 446 .258 .327 .383 .710 10 48AAA 17 67 .313 .347 .418 .765 1 5
#10 Homer Bailey Pitcher Cincinnati Reds
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'4''
Wt: 185 lbs.
The Reds definitely have some prospects to look forward to, and two of them are projected top-of-the-rotation starters in Cueto and Bailey. Bailey has the potential to be a #1 starter, whereas Cueto projects more as a number two, but nonetheless both will play big roles in Cincinnati as they begin to rebuild their team from within. The Reds will probably turn to the soon-to-be 22-year-old as a starter in '08, and don't be surprised if he puts all his '07 numbers behind him with a great '08 season. Injuries slowed him down in 2007, but he should be ready to go in 2008. He's got the stuff, he just needs to put it out there now.
ETA: 2008Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9A+ 2 0 1 10.13 8.0 7 5 7.88AAA 12 6 3 3.07 67.1 59 32 7.89MLB 9 4 2 5.76 45.1 28 28 5.56
#11 Nick Adenhart Pitcher Los Angeles Angels
Age: 21
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'4''
Wt:190 lbs.
Adenhart has been impressive since he was taken with the 413th pick in the 2004 draft. He has won 28 games opposed to just 15 loses and has held his a very strong 3.14 ERA through 361.1 innings. Adenhart mixes a mid-90's fastball with a curve and a circle change which is his strikeout pitch. He had Tommy John surgery after he was drafted and has come back very strong. He'll start the '08 season in Triple-A and with all the options the Angels have at pitcher, unless he really impresses he may have to wait to get his chance at the major leagues until September call-ups.
ETA: Late 2008Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9MLB 26 10 8 3.65 153.0 116 65 6.28
#12 Johnny Cueto Pitcher Cincinnati Reds
Age: 22
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 5'11''
Wt: 174 lbs.
Johnny Cueto really made his way through the Reds minor league's in 2007. He started off in Advanced-A with the Sarasota Reds and made his way up to Triple-A with the Louisville Bats. He mixes a mid-90's fastball with a change-up and a hard-breaking slider. I know that my ranking for Cueto may come as a surprise, but I think he has "top-of-the-rotation-starter" written all over him. He'll likely start the 2008 season in
ETA: 2008Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9A+ 14 4 5 3.33 78.1 72 21 8.27AA 10 6 3 3.10 61.0 77 11 11.36AAA 4 3 1 2.05 22.0 21 2 8.59
#13 Brandon Wood Shortstop Los Angeles Angels
Age: 23
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'2''
Wt: 180 lbs.
Wood has been on the very of breaking into the majors for the last two years. His overall numbers aren't overwhelmingly impressive, but his power potential is amazing. If he can ever produce close to where his potential is, he should be racking in (at least) 35-40 home runs per season with about 40 doubles. His OPS should be somewhere around .850. Wood's biggest flaws are that he strikes out a lot and that he does not play good defense. He's been moving back and forth between shortstop and third base, but his defense is just so bad that he may be forced to move to the outfield or become the designated hitter if he should remain with the Angels. He should probably be with the Angels to start the season, the only question is where will he play?
ETA: 20082007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIAAA 111 437 .272 .338 .497 .835 23 77MLB 13 33 .152 .152 .273 .425 1 3
#14 Fernando Martinez Outfield New York Mets
Age: 19
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Ht: 6'1''
Wt: 190 lbs.
The Mets had three top young outfield prospects, and now are down to two. They chose to trade Lastings Milledge for pretty much nothing, which leaves them now with Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez as their future outfielders. Martinez is a very young, raw player but he's also shown that he does have a lot of talent and should become a major league start at some point in his career. Martinez is just 19 and probably will start 2008 in Triple-A with the New Orleans Zephyrs. He should start in Double-A, but the Mets have tendency to rush some of their young prospects. He should be completely healthy this season, after only playing half a year because of a right-hand contusion. He probably won't play center field in the Majors, as he has Carlos Beltran as the starter for the foreseeable future and Carlos Gomez is probably the next best option after Beltran. Martinez could play the corner outfield, but may end up at first base.
ETA: Late 20082007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIR 3 9 .111 .200 .333 .533 0 1AA 60 236 .271 .336 .337 .713 4 21
#15 Rick Porcello Pitcher Detroit Tigers
Age: 19
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'5''
Wt: 195 lbs.
Rick Porcello was rated the #1 high school pitching prospect in the 2007 draft, but due to the fact that he's represented by Scott Boras, he fell all the way to the 27th pick, right into the Tigers lap. He has a mid-90's fastball with a lot of sink to it which will definitely fool batters. He projects as a #1 starter, with 4 pitches. He has a fastball, and is working on his curve, change-up and slider. He'll probably be with the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps to begin 2008, but could make the jump from Low-A to Double-A if he shows he has the stuff. I see him moving through the system at a fairly high speed.
ETA: 2010Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9Not Available
#16 Ian Kennedy Pitcher New York Yankees
Age: 23
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'0''
Wt: 190 lbs.
The Yankees have to be feeling good about their 3 young pitchers. Kennedy projects to be a #2 starter, but he should be a great #3 or 4 starter with Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Chien-Ming Wang already ahead of him (and Andy Pettitte as well in '08). Kennedy has a low-90's fastball with command of his curve, change-up and slider as well. He's a good control pitcher, but does have the capabilities of striking out a few batters. He probably will be in the Yankees rotation, but could move between rotation and bullpen with Mike Mussina this season.
Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9A+ 11 6 1 1.29 63.0 72 22 10.29AA 9 5 1 2.59 48.2 57 17 10.54
AAA 6 1 1 2.08 34.2 34 11 8.83
MLB 3 1 0 1.89 19.0 15 9 7.11
ETA: 2008
#17 Jacoby Ellsbury Outfielder Boston Red Sox
Age: 24
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Ht: 6'1''
Wt: 185 lbs.
Ellsbury's name should be familiar to readers of this site. His name has come up many times in trade talks with the Twins and Red Sox revolving around Johan Santana. Well, any player who's being considered in the Johan Santana discussions as the centerpiece of the returning deal for the Twins, must be a good player. And indeed is the case with Ellsbury. He's not a great power hitter, although he did hit a few home runs for the Red Sox later in the season, but he does play great defense at a premium position and he also utilizes his speed very well on the base paths to both steal bases and to get on base at a high clip. He projects to be a .300/.380/.400 kind of guy who could steal 30+ bases a season while being mentioned as a gold glove winner. I project him to be on the opening day roster whether it's in Boston or in Minnesota.
ETA: 2008Level G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIAA 17 73 .452 .518 .644 1.162 0 13AAA 87 363 .298 .360 .380 .740 2 28
MLB 33 116 .353 .394 .509 .903 3 18
#18 Carlos Gonzalez Outfielder Arizona Diamondbacks
Age: 22
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Ht: 6'1''
Wt: 170 lbs.
Carlos Gonzalez has a lot of tools to make him one of the best young outfield prospects in the game. He can hit for both power and average as well as play defense at a very good level. He really needs to work on his plate discipline as he strikes out about 3 times per time he walks. With the amount of young outfielders in the Diamonbacks outfield, unless there is a trade or injury, I expect Gonzalez to spend most of the season in Triple-A and make an appearance during September call-ups.
ETA: Late 2008Level G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIAA 120 458 .286 .330 .476 .806 16 75AAA 10 42 .310 .396 .500 .896 1 11
#19 Adam Miller Pitcher Cleveland Indians
Age: 23
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'4''
Wt: 180 lbs.
Adam Miller has been up and down on my prospect list while I was making it. I had him first slated at #9 but I decided that his stats were just not up to snuff to be worthy of a top 10 candidate, so I pumped him down to #29. Then I thought, well I think that his ceiling is still incredibly high for a late-20's prospect, so I pumped him up and just to keep the train rolling, I moved him to #19. His stats at Triple-A over the last year and a half are far from impressive. But he still projects as a top of the rotation starter or possibly a dominate closer with his mid-90's fastball and great slider. I see Miller as taking over the closer-role for the Indians in 2009 if they find out he can't stay healthy enough for a rotation spot. The Indians could have one of the best bullpens in baseball if Kobayashi and Miller can pitch to their abilities. Miller will likely fight for a roster spot in Spring Training and I think the Indians will keep him on their roster one way or another, whether it's in the bullpen or in the rotation.
ETA: 2008Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9MLB 19 5 4 4.82 65.1 68 21 9.37
#20 Jordan Schafer Outfielder Atlanta Braves
Age: 21
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Ht: 6'1''
Wt: 190 lbs.
The Braves seem to be producing young outfielders in their minors at a very high rate, and it's true. According to Baseball America.com, 4 of the top 5 Braves prospects for 2008 are all outfielders. Schafer at #20 probably will surprise some people, but I think that he has a lot of talent. I really like what I've seen from Schafer. He reminds me a lot of Grady Sizemore and I think that's a very good comparison. He plays great defense and he has a good bat and should be able to hit both at the top of the order, or in the middle. His OBP and ability to steal a base make him a threat on the base paths as well. He also has good gap power and should be able to hit about 20 home runs per season while having a .300+ average. He probably will start the 2008 season in Double-A with the Mississippi Braves.
ETA: 2009Level G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIAA 120 458 .286 .330 .476 .806 16 75AAA 10 42 .310 .396 .500 .896 1 11
#21 Mike Moustakas Shortstop Kansas City Royals
Age: 19
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'0''
Wt: 195 lbs.
Moustakas was one of the best hitters in the draft last June, although some thought "Moose" wasn't even the best player on his own high school team. Juan Dominguez, Moustakas' teamate was later selected by the Florida Marlins with the 12th overall pick. I think that the Royals choice for choosing Moustakas over a guy like Josh Vitters who was probably the best hitter in the draft, was the fact that the team already has Alex Gordon at third base and they plan on keeping him there. Adding a shortstop of Moustakas' caliber should put the vastly improving Royals in good shape for their infield for the next decade or so. Moose will probably start the '08 season with the Single-A Burlington Bees.
ETA: 20112007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIR 11 41 .293 .383 .493 .822 0 10
#22 Ian Stewart Second Base Colorado Rockies
Age: 22
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'3''
Wt: 205 lbs.
Stewart has been up and down on the Top Prospect list ever since the Rockies selected him with the 10th pick in the 2003 draft. He's consistently displayed good power at each level he's played. But something that he's been consistent with that isn't a good thing is his poor plate discipline. He has a good .295 average with a .374 on-base percentage in 2040 MiLB AB's, but he's also struck out about twice as many times as he's walked. His glove has improved, but he's still not exactly polished on defense. He could start '08 with the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox, but the biggest reason for that is that there really isn't room for him on the team and he should play everyday. Garrett Atkins is currently the third baseman for the Rockies, which now they have a decision to make. Do they look to trade one of them to improve their rotation? Or do they move Stewart to another position (second base) where they have a hole at and where he can play everyday. Those questions should be answered by the times the season starts.
ETA: 20082007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIAAA 112 414 .304 .379 .478 .857 15 65MLB 35 43 .209 .261 .372 .633 1 9
#23 Carlos Triunfel Shortstop Seattle Mariners
Age: 18
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 5'11''
Wt: 175 lbs.
Triunfel could potentially be an 18 year-old at Double-A at the start of the 2008 season. That along with solid minor league numbers is the reason why I have ranked him in the top 25. He's a raw player who has a lot of potential at shortstop. He may never develop power, but his plus range with solid glove make him a potential gold glove winner at the major league level. He could move up multiple levels again in '08, although I think they should take it slow as the Mariners already have Yuniesky Betancourt at shortstop and he's doing a find job.
Level G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIR 3 11 .273 .231 .273 .504 0 3A 43 152 .309 .342 .388 .730 0 14A+ 50 208 .288 .333 .356 .689 0 22
ETA: 2010
#24 Reid Brignac Shortstop Tampa Bay Rays
Age: 22
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'3''
Wt: 170 lbs.
The Rays have to be feeling good about their farm system right now. At this time, they probably aren't favorites to win the division, or even finish in higher than 5th place for that matter, but let me tell you, they are definitely improving. Brignac is one of the reasons why I'm so high on the Rays. he displays a great bat while playing a premium position at shortstop. The Rays have so many up and comers that they'll likely have to find new homes for their current players or even better, trade them to fill an existing hole. Brignac figures to be the shortstop of the future, even though the club just traded for Jason Bartlett. Bartlett might be better served at second base due to his errors on routine plays. On top of the great young batters, the team is also in discussion to build a new stadium. The laughing stock of the league could quickly become a contender, and Brignac is one of the reasons why I feel so optimistic of their future. Brignac will more than likely start the '08 season in Triple-A with the Durham Bulls.
ETA: Late 20082007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIAA 133 527 .260 .328 .433 .761 17 81
#25 Travis Snider Outfield Toronto Blue Jays
Age: 20
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Ht: 5'11''
Wt: 230 lbs.
Snider, the Jays first round pick in the 2006 draft has played incredibly well at both levels of professional baseball. He hit .325/.412/.567 with 11 home runs and 41 RBI in 194 at bats in Rookie ball in '06. The biggest thing I see he needs to improve on is his plate discipline. He had an unspectacular 2.66 K/BB ratio in '07. Of course it's not bad, since he was only 19, but it's something that he'll have to improve on as he continues to develop. He also has a very strong arm which the Blue Jays can look forward to in the future. I see him becoming a potential #1 prospect if he can continue to develop like he has. He'll probably start the '08 season in Single-A with the Dunedin Blue Jays.
ETA: Late 20102007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIA 118 457 .313 .377 .525 .902 16 93
#26 Andy LaRoche Third Base Los Angeles Dodgers
Age: 24
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 5'11''
Wt: 180 lbs.
LaRoche is and has been ready to prove himself at the major league level. Unfortunately, the Dodgers already have Nomar Garciaparra at third base and his only other options are to go to second base which is already occupied by Jeff Kent and first base which is held by James Loney. I think the Dodgers would be best off trading Garciaparra. LaRoche I think could help them this year, and although I think that every good team needs depth, I'm not sure Garciaparra would accept a bench role and LaRoche deserves to start. Nomar isn't chopped-liver, but I definitely think he's better served as a role player right now than an everyday player. LaRoche should be with the Dodgers from the start of the 2008 season. Even if LaRoche isn't the opening day starter, he'll get his fair share of at bats with Garciaparra more than likely missing some time to rest or because of injury. Although I must add that LaRoche's inability to also stay healthy might be a reason why the Dodgers platoon both players in '08 with LaRoche taking over full-time duties in '09.
ETA: 20082007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIAAA 73 265 .309 .399 .589 .988 18 48MLB 35 93 .226 .365 .312 .677 1 10
#37 Wade Davis Pitcher Tampa Bay Rays
Age: 22
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'5''
Wt: 220 lbs.
Like I said, they aren't done. Davis has emerged as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. His great 9.42 K/BB ratio though his minor league career and ability to control the strike zone makes him an intriguing pitching prospect to say the least. He throws in the upper 90's and has a great curve ball. With his repertoire of pitches and his size, it makes one think he'll become a front of the rotation starter to accompany Scott Kazmir and the newly acquired Matt Garza. Wade and McGee should be in Tampa by the middle of the 2009 season. Right around the time another prospect (check back on Friday to see who) should also be arriving. Wade will start the '08 season in Triple-A with the Durham Bulls, but he could see his first taste of the Big Leagues by the end of the season.
ETA: Late 2008Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9A+ 13 3 0 1.84 78.1 88 21 10.11AA 14 7 3 3.15 80.0 81 30 9.11
#28 Jacob McGee Pitcher Tampa Bay Rays
Age: 21
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Ht: 6'3''
Wt: 190 lbs.
McGee is one of the reasons why the Rays should feel optimistic of their future rotation. McGee along with Matt Garza and Scott Kazmir alone would make a potentially great 1-3 in a rotation, but believe me, they aren't done with pitchers. He mixes a mid-90's fastball with a hard curve ball and a good change up. All 3 are plus pitches. I think a very fitting comparison is his future teammate Scott Kazmir, both southpaws have very lively arms. McGee should probably start the '08 season in Double-A with the Montgomery Biscuits as he hasn't had a lot of seasoning there, but it shouldn't be too long before he's in Triple-A Durham.
ETA: 2009Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9A+ 21 5 4 2.93 116.2 145 39 11.19AA 5 3 2 4.24 23.1 30 13 11.57
#29 Ross Detwiler Pitcher Washington Nationals
Age: 22
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
Ht: 6'5''
Wt: 185 lbs.
Detwiler is a crafty southpaw pitcher who uses four pitchers all fairly well. He has a two and a four-seam fastball and he also mixes in a change-up and curve ball. He should progress fast through the Nationals system and he could be starting games for the Nationals by seasons end. His size is of question due to his height and low weight. He should probably start the '08 season in Advanced-A with the Potomac Nationals, but could start with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators.
ETA: 2008Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9R 4 0 0 2.25 12.0 15 3 11.25A+ 5 2 2 4.22 21.1 13 9 5.48MLB 1 0 0 0.00 1.0 1 0 9.00
#30 Matt Wieters Catcher Baltimore Orioles
Age: 21
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'5''
Wt: 230 lbs.
Wieters is a very good young catcher who for his size, may still be able to provide gold glove cailber defense behind the dish. He's a switch hitter and has good power from both sides of the plate and can spray the ball to all parts of the field. Although he hasn't played any games of professional baseball, he will probably start the 2008 season with the Class-A Delmarva Shorebirds, and if all goes good, he'll probably advance through the system fairly quickly.
ETA: 20102007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBINCAA 57 218 .358 .480 .592 1.072 10 59
#31 Josh Vitters Third Base Chicago Cubs
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'3''
Wt: 200 lbs.
Vitters didn't really got much of a chance to display his talents after he was drafted, but let me tell you, this kid has it all. He's a solid defender, but his glove could use a little work. But there's no doubt that his bat is what makes him special. Many feel that his power and excellent bat speed will allow him to hit 30+ home runs with little doubt. I think of him having comparable numbers to Mets third baseman David Wright. And I really think that the city of Chicago will idolize him like the city of New York does with Wright.
ETA: 20112007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIR 7 30 .067 .094 .067 .161 0 2A- 7 21 .190 .261 .190 .451 0 1
#32 Joey Votto First Base Cincinnati Reds
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'3''
Wt: 220 lbs.
Votto is one of the better all-around hitting prospects in the game. His solid average will make him a threat as he also displays a great amount of power as well. He'll have to earn his spot into the starting lineup as Dusty Baker has a liking for veteran players (sound familiar Twins fans?), and the Reds did exercise Scott Hatteburg's '08 option in hopes that they'll have a good competition in spring training. My bet is that Votto will get a good amount of at bats early on, which should make him the favorite to be starting by mid-season. He should start the season with the Reds, unless they want to use his roster spot (if he's on the bench) for another player.
ETA: 20082007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIAAA 133 496 .294 .381 .478 .859 22 92MLB 24 84 .321 .360 .548 .907 4 17
#33 Giovany Gonzalez Pitcher Chicago White Sox
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
Ht: 5'11''
Wt: 185 lbs.
One of the reasons I'm sure why the White Sox felt comfortable trading pitcher Jon Garland for shortstop Orlando Cabrera was because of the emergence of Gonzalez. His fantastic numbers at Double-A (as well as his numbers through his entire minor league career) suggest that he could one day become a good number two pitcher in the majors. He mixes a mid-90's fastball with one of the best curve balls in the minors, which is one of the reasons why he has been able to strikeout opposing batters at such a high mark. He was traded by the White Sox along with Aaron Rowand to the Phillies to acquire Jim Thome in 2005. In 2006, he was traded along with Gavin Floyd back to the White Sox for Freddy Garcia. It must be destiny. With the rotation up in the air, don't be surprised to see Gonzalez pitching for the White Sox sooner than some might expect. He'll start the 2008 season with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, unless he blows away his opposition, and his coaches in Spring Training.
ETA: 2008Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9AA 27 9 7 3.18 150.0 185 57 11.10
#34 Chase Headley Third Base San Diego Padres
Age: 23
Bats: Switch
Throws: Left
Ht: 6'2''
Wt: 195 lbs.
Well, this is the reason why Matt Antonelli had to make the switch from third base to second base. And rightfully so, Headley is a great talent and a solid defender at third base. His ridiculous 1.016 OPS at Double-A with the San Antonio Missions gave the Padres a shot at calling him up while skipping Triple-A. That didn't work out as well as they thought, but he never really got a chance to prove himself (18 at-bats is not enough of a sample size to work with). The Padres have a predicament that most teams would love to be in...they have too many third baseman! The team already has Kevin Kouzmanoff at third right now, which means that another switch is likley. It'll probably be Kouzmanoff moving to left field, but I think anything is possible. Headley should probably start the 2008 season with the Triple-A Portland Beavers.
ETA: 20082007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIAA 121 433 .330 .437 .580 1.016 20 78MLB 18 8 .222 .333 .278 .611 0 0
#35 Matt Antonelli Second Base San Diego Padres
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'1''
Wt: 190 lbs.
Antonelli first started at third base, and has permanently switched switched to second base, with a few games at third here and there. The reason for that, you'll find out. But Antonelli is a great all-around hitter. He posses adequate power with good plate discipline. He's batted .298/.406/.453 with 21 home runs and 11 RBI in 739 MiLB at bats. The former 19th round pick by the Dodgers back in 2003 decided to go to college and it looks like he made the right decision as he was drafted in the first round of the 2006 draft. He'll likely start the 2008 season in Triple-A with the Portland Beavers.
ETA: Late 20082007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIA+ 82 347 .314 .409 .499 .907 14 54AA 49 187 .300 .395 .476 .871 7 24
#36 Luke Hochevar Pitcher Kansas City Royals
Age: 24
Bats: Right
Throws: Rightt
Ht: 6'5''
Wt: 205 lbs.
Hochevar, the #1 overall pick of the 2006 draft has had a lot of trouble adjusting to professional baseball after he advanced from Class-A Burlington. His career minor league numbers are 5-11 with a 4.26 ERA. He made it all the way to the majors last season even with pretty bad numbers at both Double-A and Triple-A. He faired well in the majors and started the last game of the season against the Minnesota Twins. He allowed two runners over 3 innings of work and picked up his first major league loss. However, his other 3 performances in relief were pretty impressive as he allowed just 1 run over the other 9.2 innings of work. He could start the 2008 season with the Royals, but he should probably start in Triple-A.
ETA: 2008Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9AA 17 3 6 4.69 94.0 94 26 9.00AAA 10 1 3 5.12 58.0 44 21 6.83MLB 4 0 1 2.13 12.2 5 4 3.55
#37 Jeff Clement Catcher Seattle Mariners
Age: 24
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'1''
Wt: 210 lbs.
Probably the biggest downfall of Clement is that he lacks a true position. He's played catcher since he was drafted, but some feel that his inability to throw out runners will never make him a good defensive catcher. And with Kenji Johjima already at that position, it'll be interesting to see how they work Clement into their lineup. Clement has some serious power potential. The type of potential that could make him a potential 35-40 home run kind of guy. But I'm suspecting that the Mariners plan on trading Richie Sexson in order to put Clement at first base. But otherwise he may be primarily used at DH. clement will probably start the 2008 season with the Mariners unless they want him to work on his glove at a different position in Triple-A.
ETA: 20082007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIAAA 125 455 .275 .370 .497 .867 20 80MLB 9 16 .375 .474 .813 1.286 2 3
#38 Carlos Carrasco Pitcher Philadelphia Phillies
Age: 21
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'3''
Wt: 178 lbs.
Carrasco started the '07 season off strong with the Advanced-A Clearwater Threshers in the Florida State League, he had success in Double-A with the Reading Philies, but it wasn't the same. He won the same amount of games, but he did so with an ERA 2 points higher and he also had a 5.89 BB/9 ratio. Or to put that into another way, he had 46 walks compared to 49 strikeouts in just over 70 innings. His 2006 season with the Lakewood BlueClaws was very good as he posted a 12-6 record with a 2.26 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 159.1 innings, which suggests the beginning of the 2007 season wasn't just a fluke. His age and level where he's at makes him an intriguing prospect, but he definitely has a lot to work on before reaching the majors. He should probably start the '08 season in Double-A with the Reading Phillies, and if he can prove he's effective there, he should be able to move on soon.
ETA: 2009Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9AA 12 6 2 2.84 69.2 53 22 6.85AAA 14 6 4 4.86 70.1 49 46 6.27
#39 Franklin Morales Pitcher Colorado Rockies
Age: 22
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Ht: 6'0''
Wt: 175 lbs.
Morales had another very consistent year in terms of his career numbers. Only this season, after starting in AA, he maid it all the way to the majors and even made the Colorado Rockies playoff roster and started game 4 of the NLCS to help the Rockies sweep the Diamondbacks before advancing to the World Series. His 2007 numbers are almost a replica of his 4 seasons in the minor leagues, the only thing that was really different was that before '07, he had a very good K/9 ratio. He will probably start the '08 season in the Rockies rotation.
ETA: 2008Level G W L ERA IP K BB K/9AA 17 3 4 3.48 95.2 77 45 7.24AAA 3 2 0 3.71 17.0 16 13 6.88MLB 8 3 2 3.43 39.1 26 14 5.95
#40 Elvis Andrus Shortstop Texas Rangers
Age: 19
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'0''
Wt: 185 lbs.
Andrus is not going to be a middle of the lineup hitter. His best assets are his defense and his speed. His glove suggests that he could some day be one of the best defensive shortstops in the game, and his speed makes some optimistic that he could potential steal 30+ bases a season. His bat could you s a little work, but he has an alright on base percentage. He just needs to stay patient at the plate and look for the pitch he knows he can give a ride. He'll probably start the 2008 season with the Frisco RoughRiders, but could wind back up at Advanced-A if he doesn't seem ready.
ETA: 20102007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIA+ 99 385 .244 .330 .335 .665 3 37A+ 27 110 .300 .369 .373 .742 2 12
#41 Wladimir Balentien Seattle Mariners
Position: Outfielder
Age: 23
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'2''
Wt: 190 lbs.
Balentien has been a very underrated player in terms of "Top Prospects" since he was assigned to the Mariners Rookie League in 2003 as an 18 year old. The Mariners originally signed him in 7 days after his 16th birthday back in 2000. But through 2007 or 5 seasons in the Mariners organization, Balentien already has hit 104 home runs in 1898 at bats. That's extreme power. Of course he has some flaws which include a very bad K/BB ratio which would make Adam Dunn look like Joe Morgan. But even with that, he has a respectable .274 average and .344 on-base percentage throughout the minors. He's likely going to be with the Mariners to start the '08 campaign. But whether it's as a starter or on the bench, will remain to be seen.
ETA: 20082007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIAAA 124 477 .291 .362 .509 .871 24 84MLB 3 3 .667 .500 2.000 2.500 1 4
#42 Anthony Swarzak Minnesota Twins
Position: Pitcher
Age: 22
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'3''
Wt: 195 lbs.
Swarzak had a very bad start to the 2007 season. After a miserable first 2 starts for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats, Swarzak was suspended for 50 games after testing positive to a drug of abuse (it was not steroids). After he returned, he made 3 starts with the Advanced-A Fort Myers Miracle and he dominated his opposition in those three starts which warranted his call-up back to New Britain. He continued his late season success by going 5-2 at New Britain with a sub 2.69 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 76 innings. He's a potential #2 starter, but with the Twins, he may never be more than a #3 pitcher, because of the depth the Twins have in the minors, which is a good thing for Twins fans. He'll likely be the staff "Ace" for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings to start the 2008 season.
ETA: Late 20082007 G W L ERA IP K BB K/9A+ 3 0 0 2.30 15.2 18 5 10.34AA 15 5 4 3.23 86.1 76 23 7.92
#43 Daric Barton Oakland Athletics
Position: First Base
Age: 22
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'0''
Wt: 225 lbs.
Barton is one of the best all-around hitting prospects in baseball. He was originally drafted as a catcher by the St. Louis Cardinals, and later was traded with a couple players, most notable Dan Haren, to the Athletics in the Mark Mulder trade. Barton had limited time in the majors in '07, but he really made the most of it in his late-season call-up. He'll likely be with the Athletics come opening day. Where he'll be playing is another question.
ETA: 20082007 G AB AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIAAA 136 516 .293 .389 .438 .827 9 70MLB 18 72 .347 .426 .639 1.067 4 8
#44 Jose Tabata New York Yankees
Position: Outfield
Age: 19
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 5'11''
Wt: 160 lbs.
This name should be familiar with readers, as I've mentioned his name in some of the (you know who) rumors recently. Tabata is a very young, athletic outfielder who could develop all 5-tools to become a future All-Star in the majors. He's been moved slowly through the Yankees system as he learns both the game and the new country. The Yankees signed him as a 16-year-old out of Venezuela. He has pretty consistent numbers from the Rookie League up through Advanced-A. He'll likely start the 2008 season with the Double-A Trenton Thunder.
ETA: 20102007 G PA AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIA+ 103 411 .307 .371 .392 .763 5 54
#45 Chris Marraro Washington Nationals
Position: Outfield
Age: 19
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'3''
Wt: 210 lbs.
This 2006 draft pick has started to become a recognized prospect throughout baseball. At just 19 years-old, some think he could already have enough time at Advanced-A to justify a start to the 2008 season in Double-A with the Harrisburg Senators. His young age and raw power potential make him a great young prospect. He does have bad plate discipline, but that's not unusual for a player his age, especially at his level. He should probably start the 2008 season in Advanced-A with the Potomac Nationals, but that's not a certainty. But with the Nationals acquiring both Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes in the last week, I don't think they need to rush him.
ETA: 20102007 G PA AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIA- 57 222 .293 .337 .545 .882 14 53A+ 68 255 .259 .338 .431 .769 9 35
#46 Tyler Robertson Minnesota Twins
Position: Pitcher
Age: 20
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Ht: 6'5''
Wt: 220 lbs.
Robertson had a fantastic season for the Class-A Beloit Snappers. The 19-year-old southpaw had a fantastic 3.7 K/BB ratio in just his second season of professional baseball. Robertson was a third round for the Twins in 2006 pick out of Bella Vista High School in California. He figures to start the 2008 campaign in Advanced-A Ft. Myers Miracle.
ETA: 20102007 G W L ERA IP K BB K/9A 18 9 5 2.29 102.1 123 33 10.82
#47 Max Scherzer Arizona Diamondbacks
Position: Pitcher
Age: 23
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'3''
Wt: 190 lbs.
Scherzer was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round of the 2006 draft. After being the last first rounder to sign, he didn't get any experience of professional baseball in '06. But that didn't faze him in '07 as he started in Advanced-A and was quickly moved up to Double-A. Scherzer is a good strikeout pitcher, but he struggled in Double-A by walking 4.89 batters per 9 innings. But he is definitely on the fast track to the Majors. He could start in Triple-A with the Tucson Sidewinders or in Double-A with the Mobile BayBears. It's really a toss-up where he'll start.
ETA: Late 20082007 G W L ERA IP K BB K/9A+ 3 2 0 0.53 17.0 30 2 15.88AA 14 4 4 3.91 73.2 76 40 9.29
#48 Matt LaPorta Milwaukee Brewers
Position: First Base/Outfield
Age: 23
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 6'2''
Wt: 212 lbs.
LaPorta was drafted by the Brewers with the 7th pick in the first round of the 2007 draft. He played college baseball with he Florida Gators and his .328/.438/.696 with 28 home runs and 79 RBI helped powered the Gators to the College World Series, but they lost to the Texas Longhorns in the Championship game. LaPorta was injured in his junior season at Florida and decided to come back for his senior season, which proved to be the right move. His position isn't exactly known just yet, but he did play catcher and first base in college. His knee injuries make him a likely DH or first baseman, but without the DH in the NL and with Prince Fielder already set to cover first base for what they hope is the next 10-15 years, it looks like LaPorta will be forced to find another position. Right now, the Brewers have him in the outfield, but we'll see how his knees hold up. He may be a candidate to move to first base at some point, as the Brewers are not high on Ryan Braun's defense at the hot corner. He'll probably be with the Advanced-A Brevard County Manatees to start the '08 season.
ETA: Late 20092007 G PA AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIR 7 27 .259 .286 .519 .804 2 4A- 23 88 .318 .392 .750 1.142 10 27
#49 Jason Heyward Atlanta Braves
Position: Outfield
Age: 18
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Ht: 6'4''
Wt: 220 lbs.
Heyward was selected by the Braves with the 14th pick of the 2007 draft. His frame for his age is remarkable considering that he already has a great deal of power in his bat. He'll only get better as long as he can stay healthy. His speed and glove skills are average, which may limit him to becoming a first baseman in the majors. But he definitely has a big powerful bat which will only get better with age. He'll likely start the 2008 season with the Class-A Rome Braves.
ETA: 20122007 G PA AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RBIR 8 27 .296 .355 .556 .910 1 5R 4 16 .313 .353 .375 .728 0 1
#50 Scott Elbert Los Angeles Dodgers
Position: Pitcher
Age: 22
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Ht: 6'2''
Wt: 190 lbs.
Elbert had a rough 2007 season. He developed tendinitis in his left(throwing) shoulder in May and ended up having surgery on is in June. He's been going throw rehab without any setbacks, and could be a possible option to start the '08 season with the Double-A Jacksonville Suns. He and pitcher Clayton Kershaw (who you'll definitely be hearing about later) figure to give the Diamondbacks two of baseballs best two southpaw pitchers. Hopefully for the Dodgers and Elbert, both can make it to the big leagues without any more injuries so they can see that dynamic duo at work.
ETA: 20092007 G W L ERA IP K BB K/9A+ 3 0 1 3.86 14.0 24 10 15.43
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