Top 25 Prospects

1

NAME: Matt Wieters POSITION: Catcher AGE: 23 | BATS: S | THROWS: R ORGANIZATION: Balitmore Orioles

2008 STATISTICS LVL AVG R HR RBI OBP SLG MLB .355 89 27 91 .454 .600 Scouting Report: Wieters is not only the best Orioles prospect, but he’s the best offensive prospect in all of baseball for 2009. The switch hitting catcher has the tremendous ability to hit for average and power (better hitter from the left side and more power from the right). While he’s only an average catcher at best, if he can improve on his footwork and receiving skills a little more he should be ok. Otherwise a move to another position might be a good idea both defensively and to help preserve his bat. Based on his position and from what Wieters has shown thus far his ceiling looks to be a much more powerful Joe Mauer. That’s how special he is.

2

NAME: David Price POSITION: Pitcher AGE: 23 | BATS: L | THROWS: L ORGANIZATION: Tampa Bay Rays

2008 STATISTICS LVL G IP W-L ERA SO WHIP MiLB 19 109.2 12-1 2.30 109 1.13 Scouting Report: David Price is the best pitcher we have seen come out of college in a long, long time. His devastating fastball runs 90-95 mph and has a tailing motion away from righties making it extremely difficult to hit. The lanky-lefty also has a high-70’s slurve and a wicked 84-86 mph slider that he throws effectively with two strikes. If you want to try to find something to improve it would be that he needs to get a third plus-pitch such as the change-up he is working on and can at times have control problems. Otherwise he is going to be something special as a pro and already showed that in his much anticipated arrival on the Rays late in 2008 (make sure to check out my in-depth Prospect Spotlight of David Price).

3

NAME: Jason Heyward POSITION: Outfield AGE: 19 | BATS: L | THROWS: L ORGANIZATION: Atlanta Braves

2008 STATISTICS LVL AVG R HR RBI OBP SLG MiLB .323 88 11 52 .388 .483 Scouting Report: Talented young outfielder has harnessed very strong plate discipline with huge power potential thanks to a strong and athletic build. With potential plus power (despite lower than expected power numbers in 2008), looks to be a 30+ home run hitter for Atlanta. Has the tools to be a star in the Majors and will shoot through the Atlanta system fairly quickly. My analysis last year was that he could possibly slide over to first base with Jeff Francoeur currently in right but with Francoeur’s struggles last season I don’t see that being on their minds any longer. This is especially the case since Heyward is a good outfielder with an above-average arm and decent speed. Everything you ever hear about him is what a good attitude he has which is great to hear about a talent like him.

4

NAME: Madison Bumgarner POSITION: Pitcher AGE: 19 | BATS: R | THROWS: L ORGANIZATION: San Francisco Giants

2008 STATISTICS LVL G IP W-L ERA SO WHIP MiLB 24 141.2 15-3 1.46 164 0.93 Scouting Report: Unbelievably the left-handed Bumgarner started his pro career with only one pitch. As hard as that is to believe, it was (and is) a plus-plus fastball that sits in the mid-90’s (very good for a lefty) which is at least a good place to build from. He since has began to add a few more pitches including an average curve and change as well as a slider which has made the most progress and has become a solid out pitch. Bumgarner throws from a bit below a 3/4 arm slot with a short arm action. He has fantastic control on both sides of the plate and commands attention with a fantastic presence on the mound. Bumgarner has made huge strides with the addition of his new pitches and now projects to be the coveted left-handed ace for the Giants.

5

NAME: Rick Porcello POSITION: Pitcher AGE: 20 | BATS: R | THROWS: R ORGANIZATION: Detroit Tigers

2008 STATISTICS LVL G IP W-L ERA SO WHIP MiLB 24 125.0 8-6 2.66 72 1.19 Scouting Report: There has been a lot of excitement swirling around Porcello for quite some time. Not only does he have all the makings to be an ace for the Tigers, but he has very good command of his already strong arsenal of pitches which he still continues to improve. Porcello has both a two and four-seam fastball, both of which sit in the mid-90’s. His four seam has a little more speed but his two seamer is a ground ball producer. He has a change that he can throw anytime and a quickly improving curve that is starting to become a very effective strikeout pitch. With all that said, Porcello’s best asset may be his mound presence which will help carry him to stardom.

6

NAME: Lars Anderson POSITION: First Base AGE: 21 | BATS: L | THROWS: L ORGANIZATION: Boston Red Sox

2008 STATISTICS LVL AVG R HR RBI OBP SLG MiLB .317 85 18 80 .417 .517 Scouting Report: Anderson is by far the best of the very talented group of first base prospects and it’s not even very close. This large left hander can generate incredible raw plus power with his slugger’s frame. Anderson also has an excellent eye at the plate, incredible plate discipline and pitch recognition (especially for someone his age and experience) and doesn’t chase pitches too often. Has a very smooth and even swing that helps him hit the ball well to all fields and projects to hit for both power and average with fantastic OBP’s. I project him to not only get on base a lot but also hit 30+ homers in the middle of the Red Sox lineup. Anderson looks to be one of the best power hitting prospects in the game today.

7

NAME: Neftali Feliz POSITION: Pitcher AGE: 20 | BATS: R | THROWS: R ORGANIZATION: Texas Rangers

2008 STATISTICS LVL G IP W-L ERA SO GO/AO MiLB 27 127.1 10-6 2.69 153 1.19 Scouting Report: Feliz made as big a move as any prospect last season as he dominated between Class A and AA. He has an incredibly smooth, effortless and clean motion with great mechanics. His fastball has reached triple digits (sits 94-99 mph) with good movement and counters that with two improving secondary pitches including a curveball and changeup that are showing to be at least average. If he can continue to build on his secondary stuff, his projections are off the chart and is a definite ace in the making.

8

NAME: Travis Snider POSITION: Outfield AGE: 21 | BATS: L | THROWS: L ORGANIZATION: Toronto Blue Jays

2008 STATISTICS LVL AVG R HR RBI OBP SLG MLB .301 9 2 13 .338 .466 Scouting Report: Snider is best known for his powerful bat with the ability to hit it out of the park to all fields. His raw power is finally starting to translate more into home runs as his swing is becoming more fluid and his plate discipline is honed in. Fits the mold of a typical right fielder with good power, able to drive in runs and the weakness many hitters like him have in the form of too many strikeouts (has difficult time picking up breaking stuff from lefties). Snider is very athletic and while he has the bat to carry him in right field, there has been talk of him moving to first base. Snider also has been cursed with the injury bug thus far in his young career, but when healthy, he is a force in the lineup.

9

NAME: Cameron Maybin POSITION: Outfield AGE: 21 | BATS: R | THROWS: R ORGANIZATION: Florida Marlins

2008 STATISTICS LVL AVG SB HR RBI OBP SLG MiLB .277 21 13 49 .375 .456 Scouting Report: Maybin is one of those rare five-tool players that teams all clamor for. Some people have begun to get down on him, but it’s important not to focus too much on numbers at this point as he’s still learning and is still only 21 years old. He has a lighting quick bat and long arms that can generate a lot of power. Because of this I project him to be a 30-plus home run hitter down the road for the Marlins. Also due to his speed and stellar base running instincts, look for this kid to steal 30-plus bases as well making him a prime 30/30 candidate. Great range and powerful arm in center field which is perfect in Florida. Maybin showed improvement at the plate in the second half last year and still looks to be a superstar in the making. I’m also very impressed with how patient the Marlins have been in his progress as they have given him a chance to grow in the minors rather than force him into a spot in the pros. He’ll eventually learn how to harness his tools.

10

NAME: Tim Beckham POSITION: Shortstop AGE: 19 | BATS: R | THROWS: R ORGANIZATION: Tampa Bay Rays

2008 STATISTICS LVL AVG R HR RBI OBP SLG MiLB .246 35 2 14 .309 .350 Scouting Report: With the first overall pick in 2008 the Rays once again added an incredible player to their organization with Beckham. Beckham is a five tool player in the truest sense of the word and has an incredible feel for the game. With tremendous bat speed and a lot of power potential, Beckham will most likely be able to hit for a high average with the chance to develop some fairly substantial power. He also brings a little above average speed with the ability to steal bases. What makes him even more valuable is the fact that he has all these offensive tools and yet has the defensive aptitude to stay at shortstop unlike many others before him. He’s very athletic which leads to very good range at short with a solid arm and great hands. Even with all these tools, Beckham still is a bit raw and has some areas to smooth out mechanically with his swing but look for him to be number one on my list in 2010.

11

NAME: Buster Posey POSITION: Catcher AGE: 22 | BATS: R | THROWS: R ORGANIZATION: San Francisco Giants

2008 STATISTICS LVL AVG R HR RBI OBP SLG MiLB .341 10 1 6 .453 .591 Scouting Report: Posey is an incredible plus defensive catcher who possess all the tools to be a star behind the plate. Part of what makes him so athletic behind the dish is that he is a converted shortstop which also helps explain his plus arm (well that and he used to be a pitcher). Moves around effortlessly and is able to block balls in the dirt with ease. But while Posey is showing signs of being a great defensive catcher, what makes him standout is his bat. At a position that doesn’t see it too often, he has an advanced hitting approach with a compact swing, solid bat control and a great knowledge of the strike zone (could be an OBP star). While not a huge power threat, he does have some pop which will translate into a lot of doubles both in the gaps and down both lines. Posey’s combo of offense and defense makes him truly special.

12

NAME: Brett Wallace POSITION: Third Base AGE: 22 | BATS: L | THROWS: R ORGANIZATION: St. Louis Cardinals

2008 STATISTICS LVL AVG R HR RBI OBP SLG MiLB .337 41 8 36 .427 .530 Scouting Report: Wallace’s greatest asset is his approach at the plate. He has very good plate discipline considering his age as it generally takes some time to get everything in synch. But Wallace is the type of hitter who refuses to expand his strike zone and waits pitchers out, forcing them to throw him something he can make solid contact with. Wallace also does a great job in plate coverage thanks to his batting stance which crowds the plate. With his advanced approach, Wallace has the potential to translate his success to the pros and could end up being a perennial on-base machine. I project him a .280-.300 hitter, around .380-.400 OBP and a slugging percentage in the upper .500’s. Then add in his 25-30 homers and 100+ RBI and you have a pretty strong offensive weapon that Albert Pujols will love having hit behind him. With all that said, he is an average defender at third (I view him higher than most) who would be better suited to play first, but with that position locked up, he will do just fine at the hot corner (read my extended scouting report on Wallace with his “Prospect Spotlight“).

13

NAME: Elvis Andrus POSITION: Shortstop AGE: 20 | BATS: R | THROWS: R ORGANIZATION: Texas Rangers

2008 STATISTICS LVL AVG R RBI SB OBP SLG MiLB .295 82 65 54 .350 .367 Scouting Report: Some scouts have been down on Andrus saying he hasn’t developed offensively like they have hoped. I don’t think they are looking close enough at his numbers from last year as he got better progressively throughout the 2008 season and finished with a strong average. He possesses all plus tools except power which isn’t a big deal considering he looks to be the lead off hitter of the future for the Rangers. He is a very smooth ballplayer and you can see that in the way he conducts his business on the field from his swing all the way to the way he handles himself in the field. He’s an incredible runner and has really mastered the art of stealing bases. But what really has garnered him the most attention is his defense. He has a ton of range, soft hands and an accurate cannon for an arm. He looks to make the Rangers’ club this season and has a solid mentor in Omar Vizquel to help him adapt.

14

NAME: Colby Rasmus POSITION: Center Field AGE: 22 | BATS: L | THROWS: L ORGANIZATION: St. Louis Cardinals

2008 STATISTICS LVL AVG R HR RBI OBP SLG MiLB .252 58 12 38 .351 .401 Scouting Report: Colby Rasmus projects all plus tools and is the superior, impact-type prospect the St. Louis Cardinals organization has been waiting for ever since Albert Pujols was plucked from it. Some people are worried that Rasmus won’t be the same man since his injury last season, but there’s no proof of that. Rasmus is a perfect example of a five-tool player as he can run, throw, field, hit, and hit for power. He has very quick hands which gives him excellent plate coverage. Projects to have plus power and should be able to put up a fantastic stat line. Excellent bat speed, good pitch recognition, and plus runner. Not sure how much St. Louis will allow him to run once he reaches Majors but could have 20+ stolen bases per year. He’s doing an excellent job on his move to center field which is where the Cardinals desperately need someone ever since Jim Edmonds’ departure.

15

NAME: Mike Stanton POSITION: Right Field AGE: 19 | BATS: R | THROWS: R ORGANIZATION: Florida Marlins

2008 STATISTICS LVL AVG R HR RBI OBP SLG MiLB .293 89 39 97 .381 .611 Scouting Report: Stanton’s plus plus raw power is, for a lack of a better word, incredible. Perhaps the most powerful bat in all of the minors, what sets him apart from other power hitting prospects is that their power is usually projected, his is already here. He’s a big kid who fits into the prototypical right fielder/clean-up hitter mold. He has shown a lot of growth in the field thanks to his strong work ethic and dedication to getting better. He has improved not only in the field, but also at the plate as he has worked to fill some big holes in his swing. It can get long at times which leads to a lot of strikeouts. In fact a perfect comparison that I use with Stanton is that of Adam Dunn. Both fit into the same risk and reward categories with each at bat resulting in a homer, a walk or a strikeout. Since I’m a fan of Dunn, I am definitely a fan of Stanton and can’t wait to see him hitting behind Hanley Ramirez for years to come.

16

NAME: Andrew McCutchen POSITION: Center Field AGE: 22 | BATS: R | THROWS: R ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh Pirates

2008 STATISTICS LVL AVG R HR RBI OBP SLG MiLB .283 75 9 50 .372 .398 Scouting Report: McCutchen is an exciting five tool player who has been unfortunately rushed through the Pirates system. He hasn’t been able to fully develop at each level and instead of staying put and working on his skills, he has been pushed through. McCutchen has a great glove in center and despite his great defensive prowess, his impact bat may be his best skill. McCutchen has quick hands, strong wrists and a compact swing which produces a surprising amount of power for someone of his stature. He is a line drive hitter thanks to his quick bat speed and is able to hit consistently to all fields. His power hasn’t fully developed as expected, but that still has time to grow. Still learning to use his speed effectively on the bases but once he does, look out. Hopefully they give him a chance to slow things down and get his feet under him before it’s too late.

17

NAME: Trevor Cahill POSITION: Pitcher AGE: 20 | BATS: R | THROWS: R ORGANIZATION: Oakland Athletics

2008 STATISTICS LVL G IP W-L ERA SO GO/AO MiLB 21 124.1 11-5 2.61 136 2.43 Scouting Report: Cahill is a very talented athlete (former shortstop) who has a lot going for him on the mound. He has plus makeup, plus stuff and plus mound presence which all goes into making him as dominating as he is. A large part of that domination comes from his plus-fastball which has mind-blowing sink to it. It is incredibly heavy and causes most hitters to swing right over it. He counters his fastball with a slider, curve and change. While Cahill doesn’t have the best control or feel for any of these pitches, he has vastly improved on them, particularly his change. Cahill is a workhorse and I project him to be better than his counterpart, Brett Anderson, and should be a top of the rotation pitcher very soon for the Athletics.

18

NAME: Brett Anderson POSITION: Pitcher AGE: 20 | BATS: L | THROWS: L ORGANIZATION: Oakland Athletics

2008 STATISTICS LVL G IP W-L ERA SO GO/AO MiLB 20 105.0 11-5 3.69 118 1.92 Scouting Report: We saw an incredible improvement from Anderson from a year ago after showing a lot of growth on the mound. Anderson has always had superb command of his pitches and can work them on either side of the plate. His fastball saw a slight increase hitting as high as 95 mph but sitting more consistently in the low-90’s. What makes him even more effective is the fact that his secondary pitches – a curve, slider and change – can be used as both out pitches or thanks to his confidence in them, at any point in the count. At this point in time it’s difficult to project where he will fall in the rotation. Originally he looked to be a middle of the rotation guy, but thanks to his improvement in his fastball (and his command being his greatest asset) he is able reach higher as a top of the rotation starter.

19

NAME: Brian Matusz POSITION: Pitcher AGE: 22 | BATS: L | THROWS: L ORGANIZATION: Baltimore Orioles

2008 STATISTICS LVL G IP W-L ERA SO WHIP NCAA 15 105.0 12-2 1.71 141 1.00 Scouting Report: The Orioles have two of the best pitching prospects in the game today with this youngster edging out Tillman. Matusz has a quick, live arm and fantastic command of his stuff. While his fastball can reach the mid-90’s, what makes him so dominant is how he keeps hitters off balance by mixing in a strong change up, power curve and a deceptive 3/4 arm slot. He also throws all three of these pitches for strikes on both sides of the plate which just adds to his effectiveness. The fact that he has harnessed all of these traits at such a young age displays what a strong presence he has on the mound. Look for him to get better and better and become a front line starter for the O’s.

20

NAME: Frederick Freeman POSITION: First Base AGE: 19 | BATS: L | THROWS: R ORGANIZATION: Atlanta Braves

2008 STATISTICS LVL AVG R HR RBI OBP SLG MiLB .316 70 18 95 .378 .521 Scouting Report: Nobody was sure what to expect from Freddie Freeman in his first full season of pro ball in 2008 considering he was only 18 years old. But after a good first half of the season he exploded in the second half posting a line of .349/.418/.562. This got scouts (including myself) to sit up and take extra notice as most kids his age experience growing pains in their first year. Freeman’s maturity and discipline help with his outstanding pitch recognition and selection at the plate. Because of this he should be able to hit for a high average in large part due to his ability to drive the ball. He will be able to hold his own in the middle of the Braves lineup someday as a run producer. Also is a good defensive first baseman which makes him all the more valuable. With how good he has proven to be at such a young age he has set quite a high ceiling for himself which is exciting if you are a Braves fan.

21

NAME: Mat Gamel POSITION: Third Base AGE: 23 | BATS: L | THROWS: R ORGANIZATION: Milwaukee Brewers

2008 STATISTICS LVL AVG R HR RBI OBP SLG MiLB .329 96 19 97 .396 .538 Scouting Report: Gamel has had a very consistent professional career so far and has shown he can handle himself at the plate with a fantastic, pure swing. With a good eye at the plate, Gamel has the ability to hit to all fields and is a doubles machine. It appears as if the Brewers are drafting players with little concern for their defensive abilities (most recently Matt LaPorta and Ryan Braun) but it has worked out pretty well for them so far. Gamel just doesn’t have the footwork or the accuracy for the hot corner and with a slew of players without skill positions it should be interesting to see where he winds up. Of course with the way this kid can hit, they will find a spot for him somewhere.

22

NAME: Dexter Fowler POSITION: Outfield AGE: 22 | BATS: B | THROWS: R ORGANIZATION: Colorado Rockies

2008 STATISTICS LVL AVG R SB RBI OBP SLG MiLB .335 92 20 64 .431 .515 MLB .154 3 0 0 .185 .154 Scouting Report: Fowler is an incredible athlete and five-tool player who has been continuing to improve his game each season. He’s a switch hitter who has vastly improved his strike zone judgment which has translated into his power potential being uncovered with more balls hit to the gaps and an increase in homers. His plus-speed is very apparent on the base paths as well as in the field. He is a stolen base threat which will help him as a top of the order type guy. He also covers a lot of ground in center as a plus-defender and has solid arm strength. Luckily Fowler has continued to improve each season and has become an on base machine as the Rockies are in need of someone like him in their lineup as Willy Taveras never panned out.

23

NAME: Justin Smoak POSITION: First Base AGE: 22 | BATS: B | THROWS: L ORGANIZATION: Texas Rangers

2008 STATISTICS LVL AVG R HR RBI OBP SLG MiLB .304 9 3 6 .355 .518 Scouting Report: What makes this kid so special is his incredible eye at the plate, especially for a power hitter, as he consistently drew more walks than strikeouts each year in college. Smoak also posses a very sweet and fluid swing with the ability to hit productively from both sides of the plate as well as having plus-power to all fields. He has outstanding bat speed and takes healthy cuts which together helps the ball jump off his bat. While he does a great job staying inside the ball, he may need to pull the ball more (something you don’t hear too often with power hitters) rather than trying to force things to other fields. Smoak’s power will translate well to the majors and has the potential to hit 35-40 as well as hit for a high average. He’s a player for the Rangers to start building around.

24

NAME: Tommy Hanson POSITION: Pitcher AGE: 22 | BATS: R | THROWS: R ORGANIZATION: Atlanta Braves

2008 STATISTICS LVL G IP W-L ERA SO GO/AO MiLB 25 138 11-5 2.41 163 0.71 Scouting Report: The Braves are hoping this tall, lanky right hander turns out to be their future ace. Hanson has a plus-fastball with good movement in the mid-90’s, a solid change, and a “knee-buckling” curve that is one of the best in the game today to top things off. He has a very commanding presence on the mound which when coupled with the ability to throw all his pitches for strikes makes him very difficult to hit. I have seen some places that he may be given a chance to close first but I don’t see this happening considering he is looked at as a ace in the making and the Braves value starting pitching too much to do that.

25

NAME: Chris Tillman POSITION: Pitcher AGE: 20 | BATS: R | THROWS: R ORGANIZATION: Baltimore Orioles

2008 STATISTICS LVL G IP W-L ERA SO GO/AO MiLB 28 135.2 11-4 3.18 154 0.82 Scouting Report: Acquired before last season in the Erik Bedard trade, he quickly jumped up to number two on my list in 2008 after joining the Orioles organization. But after the O’s drafted Matusz he was bumped down a little here in 2009. Right now Tillman looks to be a power pitcher with a fastball that sits 90-94 mph while at times reaching 96 mph. He also has a plus overhand 12-to-6 curve that falls in the mid-70’s with a nice sharp, late break on it. While Tillman does have a nice frame and mechanics, he will only be able to succeed in the Majors if he can begin to gain a little more control and command of his plus pitches. If he is able to continue to grow and develop in this area, he looks to be a solid number two starter or even a possible ace someday. Very impressive especially considering his age.

Prospect Qualifications:

- Fewer than 130 career Major League at-bats
– Fewer than 50 career Major League innings pitched
– Fewer than 45 days on their team’s 25 man roster through career (minus time on DL and days after team’s expansion to 40 man roster in September).
– Japanese imports do not qualify as they are technically not a prospect
– Originally I was not going to include drafted HS/NCAA players but I have decided to do so