Major League Mogul Top Prospects
June 4, 2010
#1. 1B Justin Smoak 86/97 (Texas Rangers) – My first
question has to be, why isn’t he in the majors? Smoak last season hit a
ridiculous .353 with 24 homers, and 136 RBI’s in AAA and is the future
in Texas. If he’s not up on opening day it’s a travesty. ETA: 2011 opening day.
#2. 3B Pedro Alvarez 82/97 (Florida Marlins) – Alvarez saw some MLB time this year and fared decently in September. After his line of .321, 25, 98 in AAA expect him in Florida’s opening day lineup. Considering Hanley was dealt for him, I’m surprised Florida management didn’t immediately insert him. ETA: 2011 Opening day.
#3. C Bryce Harper 78/97 (Washington Nationals) – No surprise that the Nationals took him #1 overall a year after Stephen Strasburg. Together those two look to bring a title to Washington. In AAA the 17-year old Harper only hit .302 with 9 homers, and 58 RBI’s in 73 games. ETA: 2012-late season.
#4. SP Jenrry Mejia 82/96 (New York Mets) – Certainly an MLB ready starter after the year he had. In double-A he put up a 2.76 ERA, and in Triple-A a 3.87 ERA. ETA: Opening Day 2011.
#5. 2B Dustin Ackley 82/99 (Boston Red Sox) – UNC product, Ackley was highly sought after in the Papelbon deal from the Seattle Mariners and you can see why. Ackley combines excellent speed with contact, power, plate discipline, and defense. Your proto-type 5-tool player who can play second or in center for years to come. ETA: mid-season 2011.
#6. OF Bryce Bentz 81/94 (Baltimore Orioles) – The third overall pick in the 2010 draft, Bentz is on the fast track to the majors. He saw some time in September with Baltimore but went 0-for-11. He produced solid numbers in the minors this past year after the draft, and with a productive AAA season, could see himself in Baltimore soon. ETA: opening day 2012.
#7. SP Anthony Ranaudo 79/94 (Pittsburgh Pirates) – The #2 overall pick in the 2010 amateur draft out of LSU is on the fast-track to the majors after starting 18 games for the Pirates in Single-and-Double A. He does tend to give up a lot of hits, which is not good when facing Major Leaguers. ETA: 2012.
#8. 3B James Darnell 77/97 (San Diego Padres) – A highly sought commodity, Darnell, was never moved by San Diego. A wise move for them indeed. Darnell is your typical large 3B. Below average defensively, perhaps a move to 1B soon, above average power, average contact, and the ability to draw walks. ETA: late-season 2011.
#9. SP Jameson Taillon 67/93 (Seattle Mariners) – Taillon, the #4 pick in the 2010 draft out of Woodlands, Texas, certainly has a great deal of potential. One of the key cogs in the Felix Hernandez deal, Taillon sported a cool 2.56 ERA in 12 starts in AA. He could potentially be in the majors by age 20 if he keeps this up. ETA: Late-season 2012.
#10. C Hank Conger 84/94 (Los Angeles Angels) – Conger is major league ready, as referenced by his 6-for-15 tear in September with LA. His 20 homers, 95 RBI’s, and .311 average in AAA shows that he could be the next Joe Mauer. Only time will tell with Hank the Tank. ETA: Opening day 2011.
#11. SP Zach Britton 75/93 (Baltimore Orioles) – Britton could see himself in the opening day rotation based off of his short performance in September. He pitched 9.2 innings and went 3-0 with a 0.93 ERA. His minor league numbers? Not NEARLY as good. He could use some more seasoning. ETA: Mid-late season 2011.
#12. SP Jacob Turner 80/94 (Detroit Tigers) – Turner has excellent upside. He played at 3-different levels in 2010 and had varying levels of success. His best stuff came in his 8 starts in AA where he went 4-1 with a 1.94 ERA. He could contribute to the Tigers as early as 2012. ETA: 2012.
#13. OF Peter Bourjos 81/96 (Los Angeles Angels) – Bourjos has your old-school center-fielder mold. He hits for contact, steals bases, and plays gold glove defense. Expect him to be a threat for steals every time he gets on base. ETA: Opening day 2011.
#14. 1B Allie Stetson 73/96 (New York Mets) – Stetson the 7th overall pick in the 2010 draft is on track to hit the majors soon. Soon after being drafted Stetson tore apart Single-A pitching by hitting .292 with 8 homers, 47 RBI’s and 18 doubles in just 70 games. Look for that to continue this year in Double-A. ETA: 2013.
#15. SP Tyler Matzek 82/96 (Los Angeles Angels) – A main piece in the Howie Kendrick to Colorado deal, Matzek is looking to be close to MLB level. 12-4 in 26 starts with a 2.73 ERA in AA. ETA: Mid 2011.
#16. SP Julio Teheran 81/96 (Atlanta Braves) – A high upside, Teheran had a solid season, even though his wins and losses don’t reflect that. In A ball he went 3-1 with a 2.26 ERA, and in AA 4-7 with a 3.64 ERA. Young fella is just about ready for the jump to the bigs. ETA: Opening Day 2012.
#17. OF Domonic Brown 83/94 (New York Yankees) – Brown was the main piece received when sending Joba Chamberlain packing to the White Sox and deservedly so. In 2010 Brown hit .337 with 11 homers, 87 RBI’s, 47 doubles, 6 triples, and 22 steals in 131 games in AAA; impressive numbers indeed. He should have a spot in New York’s opening day lineup this season. ETA: Opening day 2011.
#18. SP Jordan Lyles 67/94 (Houston Astros) – Lyles has a tremendous upside. Doesn’t have one stand-out attribute, but also doesn’t have a weakness. His .215 OBA, 15 walks, 51K’s, and 50 hits allowed in 62.2 innings sure boasts well for the future. ETA: 2013.
#19. SS Tim Beckham 73/96 (Tampa Bay Rays) – Beckham has the tools for success in this league at such a young age. He can hit for contact, has strong gap-to-gap power, and has an above average glove. ETA: 2013.
#20. C Austin Romine 74/94 (Chicago White Sox) – Romine was dealt to Chicago when the Yankees realized that Montero would be fine in pinstripes. All Romine did with Chicago was hit .293 with 6 homers, and 59 RBI’s in AA ball. Another season like that in AAA and Chicago may as well forget about AJ catching. ETA: mid-season 2012.
#21. SP Tanner Scheppers 78/96 (Texas Rangers) – Certainly an impressive prospect. Struggled a bit in AA this year going 4-13 with a 4.50 ERA. ETA: Opening Day 2012.
#22. OF Daryl Jones 80/90 (Cincinnati Reds) – Jones, a versatile hitter, received some opportunities in Cincinnati this year, but his real damage came against AAA pitching. In AAA Jones hit .323 with 7 homers, 55 RBI’s, and 33 doubles in 82 games before receiving a call-up to Cincinnati. ETA: Opening Day 2011.
#23. RP Josh Fields 87/92 (Seattle Mariners) – Fields is a lot like another Seattle pitcher, Teixeira. Teixeira started off 2010 as a reliever and converted nicely. Fields seems to be on his way. The biggest question in Seattle is if he will start 2010 in the minors or in Seattle. He relies heavy on his ability to get hitters out on contact or by blowing it past them. ETA: mid-season 2011.
#24. SP Kelvin De la Cruz 70/94 (Seattle Mariners) – Power pitcher with the ability to get players out multiple ways, De la Cruz was a main part of the Felix Hernandez to Cleveland deal. He has top of the rotation stuff. Produced ERA’s of 3.86 and 3.22 in Rookie ball and Single-A respectively. ETA: 2012.
#25. 2B Reese Havens 79/96 (New York Mets) – Is Havens the answer to the Mets second base woes? Right now he isn’t, but give him two more years and he will more than answer the call. Havens, a second baseman with rare power offers a lot to the Mets. ETA: mid-season 2012.
#26. 3B Logan Forsythe 77/94 (Milwaukee Brewers) – Forsythe had a lot of success at the Triple-A after his early season promotion from AA. In AAA he hit .375 with 12 homers, and 81 RBI’s in 101 games. The only issue for Forsythe? The fact that he’s being blocked by Mat Gamel. ETA: mid-late season 2012.
#27. SP Shelby Miller 71/95 (St. Louis Cardinals) – Power pitcher with above average upside. May struggle to keep batters off the bases, but he can sure sit them down. In 127 innings of minor league ball this year he had 116 K’s. However, he also gave up 112 hits. ETA: 2013.
#28. SP Danny Duffy 81/93 (Kansas City Royals) – One of the more MLB ready pitchers of all prospects, duffy could be in position to win a spot in KC’s rotation this year. Not one particular stand-out vital, but no weak vital. ETA: Opening Day 2011.
#29. 1B Marcellus Urquieta 77/94 (Milwaukee Brewers) – The 14th overall pick, Urquieta, has a good future ahead of him in the majors. In 72 games in AA he hit .284 with 10 long balls and 56 RBI’s, but like teammate Logan Forsythe, he is being blocked by an MVP candidate in Prince Fielder. ETA: 2013.
#30. 3B Bobby Bochering 75/94 (Arizona Diamondbacks) – Bochering certainly had his share of experiences in 2010. He started the season in rookie ball playing 4 games, hitting .375 in the process. He then moved up to Single-A for 28 games and hit .311 there. Following a month there he went to Double-A for a month and hit .262. Feeling he was ready for another promotion the Dbacks put him in AAA where he hit .316. But, he wasn’t done there as he started a mid-september game in Pittsburgh and went 1-for-4 with a double. To say he’s on the fast track would be accurate. ETA: 2012 opening day.
#31. SP Kyle Gibson 81/94 (Minnesota Twins) – Gibson has a chance to factor into the Minnesota Twins rotation in the 2011 season, as long as his minor league performance improves. He went 8-8 with a 4.65 ERA in AA. ETA: Mid-late season 2011.
#32. 1B Josh Vitters 81/92 (Chicago Cubs) – Vitters saw action all over the place in 2010. First he played Third Base at Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A. Where he hit .404, .305, and .304 respectively. He also contributed 31 homers throughout the season and 112 RBI’s. Since then Cubs brass saw a move to first base, and made that a reality. ETA: Opening Day 2011.
#33. SS Miguel Sano 67/93 (Minnesota Twins) – Sano, a prized Dominican import, showed some potential this year when he hit .230 with 15 homers, 31 doubles, and 71 RBI’s in 126 games. Sano has 5-tool potential and should be a welcome addition to the Twins. ETA: 2014.
#34. RP Eduardo Sanchez 80/92 (Kansas City Royals) – Out of all the relief prospects, Sanchez is quite possibly the best. He could one day supplant Soria in Kansas City or even complement him well. He’s not quite major league ready, but if he has a great start to 2011 expect him KC sooner rather than later. ETA: mid-season 2011.
#35. OF Engel Beltre 68/94 (Detroit Tigers) – Beltre has all the speed in the world and was acquired from the Dodgers when they sent Miguel Cabrera there. Beltre was able to produce 31 steals and 14 triples over his time in Single-A and Double-A. ETA: late season 2012.
#36. 2B Brett Lawrie 77/95 (Milwaukee Brewers) – Lawrie is approaching the status of being MLB ready. Last year in AAA he hit .289 with 11 homers, 38 doubles, 5 triples and 80 RBI’s. He could contribute to the Brewers as early as 2011. ETA: mid-season 2011.
#37. SP Michael Pineda 71/94 (Boston Red Sox) – A key piece in the Papelbon and Ellsbury trade to Seattle, Pineda has the tools to succeed. He could use a little more seasoning in the minors to make a serious impact come 2012. ETA: 2012.
#38. 1B Ryan Wheeler 81/92 (Arizona Diamondbacks) – Ryan Wheeler has the potential to be another Mark Teixeira. In 2010 he hit .311 over three minor league levels and also contributed 17 homers and 47 doubles. He shows terrific gap-to-gap power along with A+ contact. ETA: Opening Day 2011.
#39. SS Manny Macado 75/94 (Arizona Diamondbacks) – Macado was selected 6th overall in the 2010 MLB draft, and had a relatively successful season by hitting .249 in 71 games. He has all the tools to be a great MLB player including gold-glove quality defense. ETA: 2013.
#40. OF Marc Krauss 79/91 (Arizona Diamondbacks) – Krauss has the potential to be a 4-tool player. Critics often time with harp on his lack of speed or inability to consistently run down gapers, but they fail to notice that he makes great contact, as referenced by his .322 average in AA, shows great power, referenced by his combined 54 doubles on 3-levels this year, or his ability to draw walks. ETA: mid-season 2011.
#41. C Adam Moore 86/91 (San Francisco Giants) – Moore, at 26, has already experienced major league baseball, but hasn’t been able to stay yet. However, that wait may be over as he hit .317 with 21 homers, 107 RBI’s after the Giants received him when trading Buster Posey to Seattle. ETA: Opening Day 2011.
#42. 2B Zack Cox 76/93 (San Diego Padres) – Cox the 10th overall pick out of Arkansas had success immediately in the majors. Soon after drafting Cox the Padres moved him to second base, a position that his bat profiles well at. ETA: opening day 2012.
#43. OF Reymond Fuentes 70/94 (Boston Red Sox) – Fuentes has speed and lots of it. It was referenced a whole lot on the diamond this year as he only contributed 18 steals and four triples in 107 combined minor league games. His best tool is his ability to go from first to third, which could be huge for a potential small-ball Red Sox team. ETA: 2013.
#44. SP Brad Holt 82/93 (New York Mets) – Holt is nearly MLB-ready, but could use some more MiLB seasoning. He went 6-11 with a 5.05 ERA in AA this past year, and will need to improve on that before the Mets are willing to call him up. ETA: 2012.
#45. SP Drew Pomeranz 73/93 (Toronto Blue Jays) – Pomeranz should follow in the footsteps of Kyle Drabek to form a potent 1-2 punch in the coming years. The #11 pick in the 2010 draft out of Ole Miss should develop into a solid all-around pitcher. ETA: Late-season 2011/opening day 2012.
#46. OF Starling Marte 70/93 (Cleveland Indians) – Marte has a lot of ability to run the bases. He stole 46 bases and had 8 triples in the minors this year. Marte, acquired from Pittsburgh, could be a mainstay in Cleveland after the Indians dealt away Grady Sizemore. Marte certainly has the tools to do so. ETA: 2013.
#47. 1B James Fortescue 69/92 (Seattle Mariners) – Fortescue, the 17th overall pick in this years draft, has a lot of potential to do great things in his career. In A ball Fortescue hit .294 with 1 homer, 25 RBI’s and a .408 on base percentage after drawing more walks than he struck out. Fortescue also plays A-plus defense. ETA: 2014.
#48. OF Ryan Westmoreland 75/94 (Boston Red Sox) – Westmoreland has tools to compete for a starting job in Boston as early as 2011. Westmoreland is a very smart base runner as referenced by his 28 steals on 29 attempts this year. ETA: mid-late season 2011.
#49. RP Brett Jacobson 77/93 (Baltimore Orioles) – Jacobson could potentially become a starting pitcher in the future, but for now he remains a proto-type long reliever. He pitched great in AAA after an average run in A-ball as a starting pitcher. Look for him to effect the Orioles this year. ETA: sometime in 2011.
#50. SS Jiovanni Mier 79/92 (Houston Astros) – Mier has a ton of major league potential and as a 20-year old is just about major league ready. He’s a 5-tool player as referenced by his .338 average, 12 homers, 38 doubles, 11 triples, 38 steals, 102 RBI’s, .974 fielding %, .414 OBP, and .931 OPS. ETA: Opening Day 2012.
#2. 3B Pedro Alvarez 82/97 (Florida Marlins) – Alvarez saw some MLB time this year and fared decently in September. After his line of .321, 25, 98 in AAA expect him in Florida’s opening day lineup. Considering Hanley was dealt for him, I’m surprised Florida management didn’t immediately insert him. ETA: 2011 Opening day.
#3. C Bryce Harper 78/97 (Washington Nationals) – No surprise that the Nationals took him #1 overall a year after Stephen Strasburg. Together those two look to bring a title to Washington. In AAA the 17-year old Harper only hit .302 with 9 homers, and 58 RBI’s in 73 games. ETA: 2012-late season.
#4. SP Jenrry Mejia 82/96 (New York Mets) – Certainly an MLB ready starter after the year he had. In double-A he put up a 2.76 ERA, and in Triple-A a 3.87 ERA. ETA: Opening Day 2011.
#5. 2B Dustin Ackley 82/99 (Boston Red Sox) – UNC product, Ackley was highly sought after in the Papelbon deal from the Seattle Mariners and you can see why. Ackley combines excellent speed with contact, power, plate discipline, and defense. Your proto-type 5-tool player who can play second or in center for years to come. ETA: mid-season 2011.
#6. OF Bryce Bentz 81/94 (Baltimore Orioles) – The third overall pick in the 2010 draft, Bentz is on the fast track to the majors. He saw some time in September with Baltimore but went 0-for-11. He produced solid numbers in the minors this past year after the draft, and with a productive AAA season, could see himself in Baltimore soon. ETA: opening day 2012.
#7. SP Anthony Ranaudo 79/94 (Pittsburgh Pirates) – The #2 overall pick in the 2010 amateur draft out of LSU is on the fast-track to the majors after starting 18 games for the Pirates in Single-and-Double A. He does tend to give up a lot of hits, which is not good when facing Major Leaguers. ETA: 2012.
#8. 3B James Darnell 77/97 (San Diego Padres) – A highly sought commodity, Darnell, was never moved by San Diego. A wise move for them indeed. Darnell is your typical large 3B. Below average defensively, perhaps a move to 1B soon, above average power, average contact, and the ability to draw walks. ETA: late-season 2011.
#9. SP Jameson Taillon 67/93 (Seattle Mariners) – Taillon, the #4 pick in the 2010 draft out of Woodlands, Texas, certainly has a great deal of potential. One of the key cogs in the Felix Hernandez deal, Taillon sported a cool 2.56 ERA in 12 starts in AA. He could potentially be in the majors by age 20 if he keeps this up. ETA: Late-season 2012.
#10. C Hank Conger 84/94 (Los Angeles Angels) – Conger is major league ready, as referenced by his 6-for-15 tear in September with LA. His 20 homers, 95 RBI’s, and .311 average in AAA shows that he could be the next Joe Mauer. Only time will tell with Hank the Tank. ETA: Opening day 2011.
#11. SP Zach Britton 75/93 (Baltimore Orioles) – Britton could see himself in the opening day rotation based off of his short performance in September. He pitched 9.2 innings and went 3-0 with a 0.93 ERA. His minor league numbers? Not NEARLY as good. He could use some more seasoning. ETA: Mid-late season 2011.
#12. SP Jacob Turner 80/94 (Detroit Tigers) – Turner has excellent upside. He played at 3-different levels in 2010 and had varying levels of success. His best stuff came in his 8 starts in AA where he went 4-1 with a 1.94 ERA. He could contribute to the Tigers as early as 2012. ETA: 2012.
#13. OF Peter Bourjos 81/96 (Los Angeles Angels) – Bourjos has your old-school center-fielder mold. He hits for contact, steals bases, and plays gold glove defense. Expect him to be a threat for steals every time he gets on base. ETA: Opening day 2011.
#14. 1B Allie Stetson 73/96 (New York Mets) – Stetson the 7th overall pick in the 2010 draft is on track to hit the majors soon. Soon after being drafted Stetson tore apart Single-A pitching by hitting .292 with 8 homers, 47 RBI’s and 18 doubles in just 70 games. Look for that to continue this year in Double-A. ETA: 2013.
#15. SP Tyler Matzek 82/96 (Los Angeles Angels) – A main piece in the Howie Kendrick to Colorado deal, Matzek is looking to be close to MLB level. 12-4 in 26 starts with a 2.73 ERA in AA. ETA: Mid 2011.
#16. SP Julio Teheran 81/96 (Atlanta Braves) – A high upside, Teheran had a solid season, even though his wins and losses don’t reflect that. In A ball he went 3-1 with a 2.26 ERA, and in AA 4-7 with a 3.64 ERA. Young fella is just about ready for the jump to the bigs. ETA: Opening Day 2012.
#17. OF Domonic Brown 83/94 (New York Yankees) – Brown was the main piece received when sending Joba Chamberlain packing to the White Sox and deservedly so. In 2010 Brown hit .337 with 11 homers, 87 RBI’s, 47 doubles, 6 triples, and 22 steals in 131 games in AAA; impressive numbers indeed. He should have a spot in New York’s opening day lineup this season. ETA: Opening day 2011.
#18. SP Jordan Lyles 67/94 (Houston Astros) – Lyles has a tremendous upside. Doesn’t have one stand-out attribute, but also doesn’t have a weakness. His .215 OBA, 15 walks, 51K’s, and 50 hits allowed in 62.2 innings sure boasts well for the future. ETA: 2013.
#19. SS Tim Beckham 73/96 (Tampa Bay Rays) – Beckham has the tools for success in this league at such a young age. He can hit for contact, has strong gap-to-gap power, and has an above average glove. ETA: 2013.
#20. C Austin Romine 74/94 (Chicago White Sox) – Romine was dealt to Chicago when the Yankees realized that Montero would be fine in pinstripes. All Romine did with Chicago was hit .293 with 6 homers, and 59 RBI’s in AA ball. Another season like that in AAA and Chicago may as well forget about AJ catching. ETA: mid-season 2012.
#21. SP Tanner Scheppers 78/96 (Texas Rangers) – Certainly an impressive prospect. Struggled a bit in AA this year going 4-13 with a 4.50 ERA. ETA: Opening Day 2012.
#22. OF Daryl Jones 80/90 (Cincinnati Reds) – Jones, a versatile hitter, received some opportunities in Cincinnati this year, but his real damage came against AAA pitching. In AAA Jones hit .323 with 7 homers, 55 RBI’s, and 33 doubles in 82 games before receiving a call-up to Cincinnati. ETA: Opening Day 2011.
#23. RP Josh Fields 87/92 (Seattle Mariners) – Fields is a lot like another Seattle pitcher, Teixeira. Teixeira started off 2010 as a reliever and converted nicely. Fields seems to be on his way. The biggest question in Seattle is if he will start 2010 in the minors or in Seattle. He relies heavy on his ability to get hitters out on contact or by blowing it past them. ETA: mid-season 2011.
#24. SP Kelvin De la Cruz 70/94 (Seattle Mariners) – Power pitcher with the ability to get players out multiple ways, De la Cruz was a main part of the Felix Hernandez to Cleveland deal. He has top of the rotation stuff. Produced ERA’s of 3.86 and 3.22 in Rookie ball and Single-A respectively. ETA: 2012.
#25. 2B Reese Havens 79/96 (New York Mets) – Is Havens the answer to the Mets second base woes? Right now he isn’t, but give him two more years and he will more than answer the call. Havens, a second baseman with rare power offers a lot to the Mets. ETA: mid-season 2012.
#26. 3B Logan Forsythe 77/94 (Milwaukee Brewers) – Forsythe had a lot of success at the Triple-A after his early season promotion from AA. In AAA he hit .375 with 12 homers, and 81 RBI’s in 101 games. The only issue for Forsythe? The fact that he’s being blocked by Mat Gamel. ETA: mid-late season 2012.
#27. SP Shelby Miller 71/95 (St. Louis Cardinals) – Power pitcher with above average upside. May struggle to keep batters off the bases, but he can sure sit them down. In 127 innings of minor league ball this year he had 116 K’s. However, he also gave up 112 hits. ETA: 2013.
#28. SP Danny Duffy 81/93 (Kansas City Royals) – One of the more MLB ready pitchers of all prospects, duffy could be in position to win a spot in KC’s rotation this year. Not one particular stand-out vital, but no weak vital. ETA: Opening Day 2011.
#29. 1B Marcellus Urquieta 77/94 (Milwaukee Brewers) – The 14th overall pick, Urquieta, has a good future ahead of him in the majors. In 72 games in AA he hit .284 with 10 long balls and 56 RBI’s, but like teammate Logan Forsythe, he is being blocked by an MVP candidate in Prince Fielder. ETA: 2013.
#30. 3B Bobby Bochering 75/94 (Arizona Diamondbacks) – Bochering certainly had his share of experiences in 2010. He started the season in rookie ball playing 4 games, hitting .375 in the process. He then moved up to Single-A for 28 games and hit .311 there. Following a month there he went to Double-A for a month and hit .262. Feeling he was ready for another promotion the Dbacks put him in AAA where he hit .316. But, he wasn’t done there as he started a mid-september game in Pittsburgh and went 1-for-4 with a double. To say he’s on the fast track would be accurate. ETA: 2012 opening day.
#31. SP Kyle Gibson 81/94 (Minnesota Twins) – Gibson has a chance to factor into the Minnesota Twins rotation in the 2011 season, as long as his minor league performance improves. He went 8-8 with a 4.65 ERA in AA. ETA: Mid-late season 2011.
#32. 1B Josh Vitters 81/92 (Chicago Cubs) – Vitters saw action all over the place in 2010. First he played Third Base at Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A. Where he hit .404, .305, and .304 respectively. He also contributed 31 homers throughout the season and 112 RBI’s. Since then Cubs brass saw a move to first base, and made that a reality. ETA: Opening Day 2011.
#33. SS Miguel Sano 67/93 (Minnesota Twins) – Sano, a prized Dominican import, showed some potential this year when he hit .230 with 15 homers, 31 doubles, and 71 RBI’s in 126 games. Sano has 5-tool potential and should be a welcome addition to the Twins. ETA: 2014.
#34. RP Eduardo Sanchez 80/92 (Kansas City Royals) – Out of all the relief prospects, Sanchez is quite possibly the best. He could one day supplant Soria in Kansas City or even complement him well. He’s not quite major league ready, but if he has a great start to 2011 expect him KC sooner rather than later. ETA: mid-season 2011.
#35. OF Engel Beltre 68/94 (Detroit Tigers) – Beltre has all the speed in the world and was acquired from the Dodgers when they sent Miguel Cabrera there. Beltre was able to produce 31 steals and 14 triples over his time in Single-A and Double-A. ETA: late season 2012.
#36. 2B Brett Lawrie 77/95 (Milwaukee Brewers) – Lawrie is approaching the status of being MLB ready. Last year in AAA he hit .289 with 11 homers, 38 doubles, 5 triples and 80 RBI’s. He could contribute to the Brewers as early as 2011. ETA: mid-season 2011.
#37. SP Michael Pineda 71/94 (Boston Red Sox) – A key piece in the Papelbon and Ellsbury trade to Seattle, Pineda has the tools to succeed. He could use a little more seasoning in the minors to make a serious impact come 2012. ETA: 2012.
#38. 1B Ryan Wheeler 81/92 (Arizona Diamondbacks) – Ryan Wheeler has the potential to be another Mark Teixeira. In 2010 he hit .311 over three minor league levels and also contributed 17 homers and 47 doubles. He shows terrific gap-to-gap power along with A+ contact. ETA: Opening Day 2011.
#39. SS Manny Macado 75/94 (Arizona Diamondbacks) – Macado was selected 6th overall in the 2010 MLB draft, and had a relatively successful season by hitting .249 in 71 games. He has all the tools to be a great MLB player including gold-glove quality defense. ETA: 2013.
#40. OF Marc Krauss 79/91 (Arizona Diamondbacks) – Krauss has the potential to be a 4-tool player. Critics often time with harp on his lack of speed or inability to consistently run down gapers, but they fail to notice that he makes great contact, as referenced by his .322 average in AA, shows great power, referenced by his combined 54 doubles on 3-levels this year, or his ability to draw walks. ETA: mid-season 2011.
#41. C Adam Moore 86/91 (San Francisco Giants) – Moore, at 26, has already experienced major league baseball, but hasn’t been able to stay yet. However, that wait may be over as he hit .317 with 21 homers, 107 RBI’s after the Giants received him when trading Buster Posey to Seattle. ETA: Opening Day 2011.
#42. 2B Zack Cox 76/93 (San Diego Padres) – Cox the 10th overall pick out of Arkansas had success immediately in the majors. Soon after drafting Cox the Padres moved him to second base, a position that his bat profiles well at. ETA: opening day 2012.
#43. OF Reymond Fuentes 70/94 (Boston Red Sox) – Fuentes has speed and lots of it. It was referenced a whole lot on the diamond this year as he only contributed 18 steals and four triples in 107 combined minor league games. His best tool is his ability to go from first to third, which could be huge for a potential small-ball Red Sox team. ETA: 2013.
#44. SP Brad Holt 82/93 (New York Mets) – Holt is nearly MLB-ready, but could use some more MiLB seasoning. He went 6-11 with a 5.05 ERA in AA this past year, and will need to improve on that before the Mets are willing to call him up. ETA: 2012.
#45. SP Drew Pomeranz 73/93 (Toronto Blue Jays) – Pomeranz should follow in the footsteps of Kyle Drabek to form a potent 1-2 punch in the coming years. The #11 pick in the 2010 draft out of Ole Miss should develop into a solid all-around pitcher. ETA: Late-season 2011/opening day 2012.
#46. OF Starling Marte 70/93 (Cleveland Indians) – Marte has a lot of ability to run the bases. He stole 46 bases and had 8 triples in the minors this year. Marte, acquired from Pittsburgh, could be a mainstay in Cleveland after the Indians dealt away Grady Sizemore. Marte certainly has the tools to do so. ETA: 2013.
#47. 1B James Fortescue 69/92 (Seattle Mariners) – Fortescue, the 17th overall pick in this years draft, has a lot of potential to do great things in his career. In A ball Fortescue hit .294 with 1 homer, 25 RBI’s and a .408 on base percentage after drawing more walks than he struck out. Fortescue also plays A-plus defense. ETA: 2014.
#48. OF Ryan Westmoreland 75/94 (Boston Red Sox) – Westmoreland has tools to compete for a starting job in Boston as early as 2011. Westmoreland is a very smart base runner as referenced by his 28 steals on 29 attempts this year. ETA: mid-late season 2011.
#49. RP Brett Jacobson 77/93 (Baltimore Orioles) – Jacobson could potentially become a starting pitcher in the future, but for now he remains a proto-type long reliever. He pitched great in AAA after an average run in A-ball as a starting pitcher. Look for him to effect the Orioles this year. ETA: sometime in 2011.
#50. SS Jiovanni Mier 79/92 (Houston Astros) – Mier has a ton of major league potential and as a 20-year old is just about major league ready. He’s a 5-tool player as referenced by his .338 average, 12 homers, 38 doubles, 11 triples, 38 steals, 102 RBI’s, .974 fielding %, .414 OBP, and .931 OPS. ETA: Opening Day 2012.
Posted by Andrew Mease
A collection of articles written by the general managers of Major League Mogul.
