|
RK
|
Overall
|
Player
|
TM
|
Age
|
POS
|
2008 high
|
Destination
|
|
1
|
3
|
Madison Bumgarner
|
SF
|
19
|
LHP
|
Low Class A
|
High Class A
|
|
Pitching this young is very difficult to project, but he
won't be a teenager come Aug. 1; can he arrive then?
|
|
2
|
5
|
Cameron Maybin
|
FLA
|
21
|
OF
|
Majors
|
Majors
|
|
His steals will be what he should be drafted for this year,
but he figures to be able do everything long term.
|
|
3
|
8
|
Thomas Hanson
|
ATL
|
22
|
RHP
|
Double-A
|
Triple-A
|
|
Arizona Fall League is a hitter's league and it couldn't
touch him. What an amazing talent on the verge.
|
|
4
|
9
|
Jeff Samardzija
|
CHC
|
24
|
RHP
|
Majors
|
Majors
|
|
If he wins the No. 5 spot in the Cubs rotation in spring, he
might prove the most valuable on this list.
|
|
5
|
10
|
Colby Rasmus
|
STL
|
22
|
OF
|
Triple-A
|
Triple-A
|
|
He had a poor season, but he is a five-tool talent with
tremendous swagger. He could really rebound this season.
|
|
6
|
12
|
Pedro Alvarez
|
PIT
|
22
|
3B
|
DNP, signed late
|
Double-A
|
|
No. 2 overall pick in last June's draft can really mash and
should be able to move quickly with rebuilding Pirates.
|
|
7
|
16
|
Michael Stanton
|
FLA
|
19
|
OF
|
Low Class A
|
High Class A
|
|
The Florida State League will give us a much better sense of
how much monster power this guy really has.
|
|
8
|
17
|
Timothy Alderson
|
SF
|
20
|
RHP
|
Low Class A
|
High Class A
|
|
Bumgarner has trumped him in the Giants' system, but
Alderson can make his case as a future ace in his own right.
|
|
9
|
18
|
Jason Heyward
|
ATL
|
19
|
OF
|
Low Class A
|
High Class A
|
|
Some see him as a top-5 or top-10 prospect, but it is really
too early to tell because some others have bigger numbers.
|
|
10
|
20
|
Jarrod Parker
|
ARI
|
20
|
RHP
|
Low Class A
|
High Class A
|
|
The D-Backs crown jewel must now help them forget they
traded away the likes of the A's Anderson and others.
|
|
11
|
24
|
Mat Gamel
|
MIL
|
23
|
3B
|
Majors
|
Triple-A
|
|
His D is bad and his numbers were a lot better when LaPorta
was protecting him in Double-A. His bat will play, though.
|
|
12
|
26
|
Alcides Escobar
|
MIL
|
22
|
SS
|
Double-A
|
Double-A
|
|
His power should develop, but the Brewers have to be
satisfied with J.J. Hardy at
SS. Perhaps Escobar moves to 2B?
|
|
13
|
27
|
Andrew McCutchen
|
PIT
|
22
|
OF
|
Triple-A
|
Triple-A
|
|
Five-tool talent can make an immediate impact in all
Rotisserie leagues once he arrives; watch closely this
spring.
|
|
14
|
29
|
Logan Morrison
|
FLA
|
21
|
1B
|
High Class A
|
Double-A
|
|
His power numbers weren't quite there, but the FSL does have
a lot of big ballparks that suppress homer totals.
|
|
15
|
30
|
Buster Posey
|
SF
|
22
|
C
|
Low Class A
|
High Class A
|
|
Early '08 first-round pick doesn't have a whole lot of a
track record as a pro, but he could be the next Matt Wieters.
|
|
16
|
32
|
Carlos Carrasco
|
PHI
|
22
|
RHP
|
Triple-A
|
Triple-A
|
|
The Phillies might bring their prized pitching prospect
along slowly this spring, but look out once he arrives.
|
|
17
|
33
|
Fernando Martinez
|
NYM
|
20
|
OF
|
Double-A
|
Triple-A
|
|
He is extremely raw and somewhat injury prone, but his bat
is quick and his power should develop like the Mets hope.
|
|
18
|
40
|
Kyle Blanks
|
SD
|
22
|
1B
|
Double-A
|
Double-A
|
|
Monster slugger could be an impact call-up this season, but
that only happens if the Padres move Adrian Gonzalez.
|
|
19
|
41
|
Yonder Alonso
|
CIN
|
21
|
1B
|
High Class A
|
High Class A
|
|
Miami product's power is legit and Baseball America
thinks he can move Joey Votto
to LF by next season.
|
|
20
|
43
|
Josh Vitters
|
CHC
|
19
|
3B
|
Low Class A
|
Low Class A
|
|
A little behind Moustakas now after being drafted on the
same level, but he played catch up nicely last season.
|
|
21
|
45
|
Todd Frazier
|
CIN
|
23
|
SS
|
High Class A
|
Double-A
|
|
It should be a great rivalry in the Reds system between
Frazier and the Reds SS prospect that follows him on this
list.
|
|
22
|
46
|
Chris Valaika
|
CIN
|
23
|
SS
|
Double-A
|
Triple-A
|
|
A level ahead of Frazier now, but our guess is Frazier
proves more powerful; the better one is the one that stays
at SS.
|
|
23
|
47
|
Brett Wallace
|
STL
|
22
|
3B
|
Double-A
|
Double-A
|
|
He likely won't be a candidate to start out of spring
training this year, but next year he very well could be
ready.
|
|
24
|
49
|
Dexter Fowler
|
COL
|
22
|
RHP
|
Double-A
|
Triple-A
|
|
The Matt Holliday trade
opens up a chance for him, but the question is how much
speed and power will he display?
|
|
25
|
57
|
Jordan Zimmermann
|
WAS
|
22
|
RHP
|
Double-A
|
Triple-A
|
|
Nationals top pitching prospect figures to get a chance
before the year is out, but can he win with that supporting
cast?
|
|
26
|
58
|
Jhoulys Chacin
|
COL
|
21
|
RHP
|
High Class A
|
Double-A
|
|
There's something about him that just reminds us of Ubaldo Jimenez; he very well could help Fantasy owners
this year.
|
|
27
|
60
|
Angel Salome
|
MIL
|
23
|
C
|
Majors
|
Triple-A
|
|
We see him hitting his way into at-bats this season,
especially if Jason Kendall
breaks down or the Brewers go young.
|
|
28
|
63
|
Matt Antonelli
|
SD
|
23
|
2B
|
Majors
|
Triple-A
|
|
He is still better than Chase Headley
in our eyes and a potential starter at second base for the
Padres.
|
|
29
|
65
|
James McDonald
|
LAD
|
24
|
RHP
|
Majors
|
Triple-A
|
|
He is a candidate for the No. 5 spot in the rotation this
spring, but we're not sure he is an elite arm long term.
|
|
30
|
66
|
Gaby Sanchez
|
FLA
|
25
|
1B
|
Majors
|
Majors
|
|
Sanchez will compete with Dallas McPherson and Jorge Cantu
for a starting job this spring; pop gives him a chance to
star.
|
|
31
|
70
|
Jonathon Niese
|
NYM
|
22
|
LHP
|
Majors
|
Triple-A
|
|
He is a candidate for the No. 5 spot in the rotation this
spring, but he really could use some time back in Triple-A.
|
|
32
|
72
|
Jordan Schafer
|
ATL
|
22
|
OF
|
Double-A
|
Triple-A
|
|
Substance suspension taints his prospects at little, but he
still stands to help the outfield-needy Braves this season.
|
|
33
|
75
|
Angel Villalona
|
SF
|
18
|
1B
|
Low Class A
|
High Class A
|
|
His age-level ratio is outstanding as is his power
potential, but we are really yet to be impressed by him for
some reason.
|
|
34
|
77
|
Gerardo Parra
|
ARI
|
21
|
OF
|
Double-A
|
Double-A
|
|
Speed is ahead of his power, but a huge winter is helping
him enter the conservation for an impact in 2009.
|
|
35
|
80
|
Matt Dominguez
|
FLA
|
19
|
3B
|
Low Class A
|
High Class A
|
|
Not quite in the class of Moustakas and Vitters among
California 3B prospects, but his power came around last year.
|
|
36
|
81
|
David Freese
|
STL
|
25
|
3B
|
Triple-A
|
Majors
|
|
With Troy Glaus' shoulder
surgery, his 26 Triple-A homers could make him a sleeper to
start on opening day.
|
|
37
|
83
|
Neil Walker
|
PIT
|
25
|
3B
|
Triple-A
|
Triple-A
|
|
He might need a new position now that Adam LaRoche is in Pittsburgh and Alvarez is pushing him
from lower in the system.
|
|
38
|
84
|
Jesse Todd
|
STL
|
22
|
RHP
|
Triple-A
|
Triple-A
|
|
The Cardinals don't have a rotation that figures to hold him
back much when he is deemed ready by midseason.
|
|
39
|
86
|
Jason Castro
|
HOU
|
21
|
C
|
Low Class A
|
Low Class A
|
|
Stanford prospect is just getting started as a pro, but his
offensive potential at the position makes him a must-stash.
|
|
40
|
88
|
Dominic Brown
|
PHI
|
21
|
OF
|
Low Class A
|
High Class A
|
|
Baseball America draws some Darryl Strawberry
comparisons here, but the power really isn't there yet.
|
|
41
|
95
|
Daniel McCutchen
|
PIT
|
26
|
RHP
|
Triple-A
|
Triple-A
|
|
A key piece in the Xavier Nady
deal, McCutchen should push his way into the rotation this
season, if not out of spring.
|
|
42
|
97
|
Jason Motte
|
STL
|
26
|
RHP
|
Majors
|
Majors
|
|
The Cardinals could give him a look as closer, but we see a
setup man. If he closes, he will be top 10 here.
|
|
43
|
98
|
Kenshin Kawakami
|
ATL
|
33
|
RHP
|
Japan
|
Majors
|
|
Smallish right-handed import is old for a rookie, but he
could have a Hiroki Kuroda
-like impact.
|