Hot Prospect Corner: MLB.com’s Top 50 Prospects

12/5 – It’s done! The entire top 50!

12/4 – Along with prospects 11-20 I’ve added the position and organization for each player.  Sorry if this post looks a bit like patchwork, but that’s mostly because it is.  Also wordpress has a funny way of putting two or three words together sometimes when I publish posts.  I wish there was something I could do about it, but when I make the corrections the same problem sometimes occurs elsewhere.  It’s very annoying, I know.

12/3 – Note:  I decided to go ahead and just keep adding to this article rather than have a new one every day.  Also, you’ll notice that I’ve filled in some of the prospects I had previously left out.  The color of the player’s name indicates their chances of having a fantasy impact in 2009.  Red means a 75% or higher chance of 2009 impact, Blue means 50% or less, and Black indicates 2010 and beyond.

MLB.com released their top 50 prospects.  The list will be unveiled during the course of this week culminating with the top 10 on Friday December 5th.  We’ll follow along with our Hot Prospect Corner series and take a look at the prospects who may have a Fantasy Impact for 2009. 

50. Jeff Samardzja RP,SP CHC – Samardja’s role for 2009 is yet to be determined, but with the trade for Kevin Gregg and the emergence of Carlos Marmol as the new closer it seems more likely Samardzja heads back to AAA to develop as a starter.  I do think Samardzja will see big league duty again in 2009.  How much depends on his performance+Jason Marquis performance (or lack there of)+no acquisition of Peavy, etc…

49. Jeff Dominguez 3B FLA – Dominguez was the 12th overall pick in last years draft and played like it in 88 games at A ball hitting .296/.354/.499 with 18 HR’s and 70 RBI.  He’ll be 19 to start 2009 so he’s still got a lot to prove.  As far as comps, two that I’ve read:  Scott Rolen and a healthy right handed Eric Chavez.

48. Angel Vilalona 1B SF – Another very young slugger.  He has a lot to prove before the Giants give him a crack at the bigs.  His K/BB ratio was not good last season (118 K’s to 18 BB’s) and he only hit .263.  However, as Vilalona develops he has the chance to become a 30 HR/100 RBI producer at 1B. 

47. Kyle Blanks 1B SD – is a 6′6″ 270 pound slugger in the Padres organization.  He’s got upside in both power and AVG and is said to be a above average fielder and quite light on his feet for a player of his size.  Currently he is blocked by Adrian Gonzalez at 1B, but there are some who say he could possibly play some LF if needed.  He’s young enough where the Padres don’t need to rush him, but with a rebuilding process underway in San Diego, you could see some of Blanks later in the year.

46. Derek Holland SP TEX – broke out in 2008 storming through three levels of the Rangers minor league system and finishing with a 2.27 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 157 K’s in 150.2 IP.  With a patchwork back end of the rotation, don’t be surprised to see talented lefty Holland make a splash in the Texas summer of 2009.

45. James McDonald SP,RP LAD -won the Dodgers Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award for the second year in a row. He went 7-4 with a 3.26 ERA in a combined 27 games between AA and AAA.  He saw 6 IP at the big league level and may be given a shot to win a starting or bullpen spot out of spring training.

44. Jeremy Jeffress SP MIL – has some nasty stuff.  How nasty?  In his top prospects profile at MLB.com it’s described as Dwight Gooden type stuff.  Just as nasty, his off the field problems.  He’s been tested positive for marijuana multiple times and received a 50 game suspension for illegal drug use once already.  If he can gain control of his life off the field and control of his off speed stuff, the sky is the limit.  In a couple years he could be part of a really good young Brewers rotation.

43. Lou Marson C PHI – may see some time in Philly despite the presence of Ruiz and Coste.  He’s sort ofthe number one catching prospect in their system, but some say a younger Travis D’Arnaud may be the future.  No matter what, if Marson gets the call he’ll likely make his way onto fantasy rosters with 2 catcher spots because of his offensive potential.

42. Brett Wallace 3B STL – was taken 13th overall in the 2008 draft by the Cardinals.  Remember him?  He was the stocky kid at 6′1″ 245 who some thought was a stretch due to his body type.  All he did in 2008 was hit.  .327/.418/.490 in 153 AB’s at A ball and  .367/.456/.653 in 49 AB’sat AA.  With Troy Glaus always at risk of an injury, Wallace may be called upon in 2009 and could hit well from the get go. 

41. Adam Miller SP,RP CLE – was once looked at as the future star of the Indians rotation.  Now, after fighting to stay off the DL the past few seasons, his role has changed.  The Indians are looking for Miller to break camp as a part of their bullpen as a means of controlling his workload.  Though there may still be a chance Miller converts back to starting eventually, it seems that the chance for him to skyrocket to the top of the Indians bullpen would be much more favorable for fantasy owners in 2009.  Miller can bring the heat with a fastball that can touch 98 mph and a nasty slider that he throws 88-89 mph.  We’ll see if the Indians address their closer needs this offseason, but if they don’t the job could be up for grabs at any point during the season.

40. Jesus Montero C NYY – is a couple years away, but the Yankees see him as the offensive minded catcher to replace Posada. 

39. Jeremy Hellickson SP TB – is one of many good Rays prospects, though he does not offer the upside of Wade Davis.  Down the road he may become a 3-5 starter. 

38. Freddie Freeman 1B ATL – is a 6′5″ projectable slugging 1B with good defensive skills.  He’s still years away from displacing Kotchman as the Braves 1B.

37. Scott Elbert SP,RP LAD –  hads battled shoulder problems in the past and that has led to his work out of the Dodgers bullpen.  If he stays in the pen his value will be very limited.

36. Jake Arrieta SP BAL – continues to make strides in his minor league career.  With not much of a rotation in Baltimore, we could see Arrieta in 2009.  He is projected as a mid rotation guy with the upside to be a number 2 starter.

35. Nick AdenhartSP LAA – was ranked 18th last season, but after a small cup of coffee with the big club in 2008 he struggled to find his stuff once back in AAA.  Depending on what happens with John Garland’s arbitration and or any free agent signings, Adenhart could be asked to man a rotation spot.  Either way we’ll see him in Anaheim in 2009 and he’ll make for a descent spot starter fantasy wise.

34. Yonder Alonso 1B CIN – made a name for himself not only for the numbers he put up at the University of Miami, but the fact that he trained with Alex Rodriguez as well.  Alonso is going to be a classic big league slugger, but for now Joey Votto is the man at 1B.  If Alonso mashes in the minors in 2009, the Red’s will find a spot for him. 

33. Phillippe Aumont SP SEA – showed his potential as a power pitcher in 2008.  The Mariners will be very careful with Aumont as they slowly move him through the system.

32. Fernando Martinez OF NYM – is the much debated top prospect for the Mets.  He has yet to put up a breakout season in the minors, but some still see him as a star quality major leaguer.  Others see him as nothing more than a good major league outfielder.  He’s only 20 years old so there is a long way to go before Martinez makes a major league impact.  I do mark him blue, however, because if he happens to have his breakout minor league season in 2009, he could get a call up.

31. Wade Davis SP TB – should contend for a rotation spot with the Rays this spring.  Here’s my in depth article on Davis.

30. Carlos Triunfel SS SEA – may only be 18 years old, but he has the goods to make a major league impact in the next few years.  I’m not sure what the Mariners plans are for him down the road (SS,3B,2B?), but he projects as a better than average defender who should hit  for power and AVG with speed (30 SB’s in 108 games in 2008). 

29. Eric Hosmer 1B KC – was the victim of the Scott Boras/Pedro Alvarez mess late last season that cost him some playing time.  The Royals selected Hosmer 3rd overall in the 2008 draft and he’s their 1B of the future.  Just how much he mashes will determine his timetable and no, Mike Jacobs will not hold him back.

28. Carlos Carrasco SP PHI –  is the Phillies top pitching prospect.  Many see him as a front end starter who will settle in behind Cole Hamels for the next few years.  He should be an interesting pitcher to watch if and when he gets the call.

27. Austin Jackson OF NYY – could find himself in the Bronx playing centerfield for the Yankees in 2009.  While he’ll most likely start the season in the minors, it’s just a matter of time before the Yankees give up on the Melky Cabrera/Brett Gardner duo.  Jackson projects as an eventual 20/20 player.

26. Mike Stanton OF FLA – hit 39 HR’s at low A ball in 2008 and has put himself right near the top of the Marlins prospect list.  A lot of how soon he reaches the bigs will be a product of how his numbers translate at the higher minor league levels.

25. Lars Anderson 1B BOS – is a sweet swinging lefty that projects as a pure hitter with potential to develop plenty of power.  His road to the show is blocked right now and there is a chance the Red Sox go after Teixeira.  As has been a theme throughout these rankings, if he hit’s they will find a spot for him. 

24. Tommy Hanson SP ATL – has been one of the most talked about and written about prospects after his dominating AFL performance.  I took a deeper look at him a while back.  He’ll be a hot topic on just about every fantasy baseball source come January through March.

23. Mat Gamel 3B MIL – had a breakout year in AA for the Brewers hitting .327/.395/.537 with 19 HR’s.  Depending how the Brewers offseason goes, Gamel should get a good look this spring.  He’s about as good a 3B as Braun was so a Prince Fielder trade would help his cause.  I see Gamel as a .290-.300 hitter capable of around 25 HR’s per year.

22. Tim Beckham SS TB – Beckham was the number one overall selection by the Rays in 2008.  Coming straight out of high school expect a few more season in the minors before we can start to talk about Beckham getting a major league look.

21. Elvis Andrus SS TEX – keeps making strides in the minors and could get a serious look at the bigs in 2010.  I even though he might get a call this season, but the Rangers seem to refuse to move Micheal Young off of SS.  Andrus projects as a quality major league SS and leadoff hitter with plenty of speed.

20. Brian Matusz SP BAL - Mastuzis the real deal.  A 6′5″ lefty with a 90-94 mph fastball with a plus-plus curve, plus-plus slider and plus changeup.  As long as he stays healthy he’ll be in Baltimore’s rotation by 2010, if not September of this season.   

19. Buster Posey C SF - Bengie Molina’s days as the Giants backstop are nearing an end and Buster Posey should be ready to slide right into the fire.  A converted SS in college, Posey made the move to catcher and used his great athleticism to make the transition fairly quickly.  Just imagine a way more athletic Bengie Molina circa 2005 with upside for a bit more power. 

18. Jarrod Parker SP ARI – D-Backs fans can get excited over the development of young Jarrod Parker.  He features a fastball that varies in the 90’s and has a developing slider and curve.  While he still has a few levels of minor league ball left to prove himself, there is a chance you’ll see Parker in Arizona come 2010.

17. Trever Cahill SP OAK - After four successful minor league seasons in a row, Cahill is on the fast track to Oakland.  The A’s wont hesitate to give him a shot at some point if he continues to prove himself.  He’s projected as a mid rotation starter with upside for more. 

16. Chris Tillman SP BAL - Another young starter destined for Baltimore’s rotation of the future.  The future could be now for Tillman who put up a K/9 of 10.22 in 2008. 

15. Dexter Fowler OF COL – Here’s my in depth look at Fowler.

14. Matt LaPorta OF,1B CLE- The centerpiece of the Sabathia deal, LaPorta is already an advanced hitter as far as his power is concerned.  There is a very good chance he is in Cleveland by opening day 2009 and though his AVG may take some time to develop, you can expect 20+ HR’s in his first season. 

13. Brett Anderson SP OAK - It looks like a footrace between Anderson and Cahill as to who will become the better prospect, but both have considerable upside as a 2-3 SP.  Anderson’s best feature might just be his command (less that 2 BB per 9 IP in 2008) and like Cahill could be on the fast track to Oakland.

12. Andrew McCutchen OF PIT- McCutchen has 5 tool athleticism and projects to develop into a 20/40 B.J. Upton type centerfielder.  If you watch video on him you can almost see a mix of B.J. Upton and Lasting Milledge.  His development is still on the rise, but he should be in a Pirates uniform in 2009.

11. Mike Moustakas SS KC- Down the road KC is looking at a SS or 3B who will hit .290-.300 yearly with 30+ HR power.  It’s likely that Moustakas will start 2009 at AA with a chance of a September call up.  He could be making a full time major league impact by 2010. 

10. Colby Rasmus OF STL - Rasmus had a lost 2008 season due to some injury problems.  He still has the potential to become an all-star centerfielder if he puts it all together. 

9. Neftali Feliz SP TEX - Could this be the start of an era of good pitching in Texas?  Perez has one of the most electrifying fastballs in the minors that regularly reaches 99-100 mph.  His offspeed stuff is still a work in progress.  Look for his blazing fastball to be unleashed in Texas sometime after mid-season in 2009. 

8. Alcides Escobar SS MIL - As if a name like Neftali wasn’t unusual enough.  After back to back solid seasons in the minors, Escobar may have made J.J. Hardy expendable in Milwaukee.  He’s got the defensive game to play in the big leagues right now and his .328/.363/.434 with 34 SB’s shows his bat might be ready too.

7. Travis Snider OF TOR - Snider climbed all the way from high A ball to the majors in 2008 and hit a combined 25 HR’s, 36 2B’s, .357 OPB and .500 SLG.  He was the Blue Jays 1st round pick out of high school in 2006. Think of him as Jay Bruce lite.

6. Madison Bumgarner SP SF – This 18 year old 6′4″ lefthander has an amazing pro debut in 2008 going 15-3 with a 1.46 ERA, 0.93 WHIP while striking out 164 in 141.2 IP and only walking 21 at single A.  He could become the type of ace lefty teams dream about.

5. Cameron Maybin OF FLA - You most likely already know the book on Maybin.  He’s got every tool in the shed and it’s just a matter of working with them all at once.  I don’t expect a huge season in 2009, but 2 or 3 years down the road we could see one of the games biggest stars.  His plate discipline is the one thing holding him back offensively.

4. Rick Porcello SP DET- Porcello fell pretty far on draft day 2007 (round 1, pick 27), but that wasn’t because of his ability.  Many teams were scared away from drafting a young Scott Boras future star.  Truth is, he could possibly end up being better than that year’s number one pick David Price.  Porcello is projected as a clear cut number one ace capable of Cy Young contention year in and year out.

3. Jason Heyward OF ATL - Heyward is only 18, but displays a very advanced approach at the plate.  Down the road the Braves see Heyward as an all-star OF with power and speed.

2. Matt Wieters C BAL – Quickly becoming my official man crush of 2009 and he hasn’t even played a single game at the big league level.  Here’s his Possible 09 Breakouts article.

1. David Price SP TB - He almost seems like a veteran after how well he pitched in the playoffs last season.  The Rays will put Price in their starting rotation in 2009 and that could be the beginning of a very special career.  Here’s my Looking to 09 article on Price.

---

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Hot Prospect Corner: Dexter Fowler
• Hot Prospect Corner: MLB.com’s 21-50
• Top 5 DB Prospects
• Hot corner