1. Jesus Montero-We've been hearing about Montero on the prospect front for quite a few years now, with everyone thinking he is the eventually replacement for Jorge Posada. After the Yankees signing of Russell Martin it looks like he will get 1 more year in the minors. Coming into 2010 he was Baseball America's 4th ranked prospect, and he could even be higher this year. Last year in Triple A as a 20 year old, he batted .289 with 21 home runs and 34 doubles while driving in 75 runs. He should start next year in Triple A, but if Russell Martin struggles the 6'4 catcher will get his call.
2. Bryce Harper-What could I possibly say about Bryce Harper that you haven't already heard? The 1st overall pick in the 2010 draft was the most hyped draft pick in history. He left high school early and went to Junior College just so he could be drafted in the 2010 draft when he was just 17. Harper has gigantic power and a cannon of an arm that he will show off in the outfield for the Nationals. The Nationals will try to push Harper through the minor leagues and have him in the big leagues by 2013. He'll debut at Single A and I'm sure every sports television station will let you know what happens.
3. Mike Moustakas-The reason the Royals are not last on our list, is because of their farm system highlighted by Moustakas. After missing the first 2 weeks of last season, the 2nd overall pick in 2007 exploded the rest of the season. He batted a combined .322 with 36 home runs between Double A and Triple A last season and only struck out 67 times. Moustakas is a top 5 prospect in all of baseball and he could win the 3rd base job in Kansas City. If he does he should be on everyone's radar to begin the season.
4. Julio Teheran-The Braves have a gem with this 19 year old righty. Last year he played at 3 levels, finally ending up at Double A for the last seven games. In seven starts in Double A he had a 3.38 ERA in 40 innings with 38 strikeouts. Those are amazing stats, but they are for a 19 year old in Double A playing against players much his elder. The righty still has plenty of room to grow as he's listed at 6'2 and only 150 pounds. He should start next season in Double A and should continue to improve.
5. Mike Trout-The 25th overall pick in the 2009 draft showed that he was the real deal and a future stud in the 2010 season. While playing in Single A as an 18 year old Trout batted .341 and had 28 doubles, 9 triples, and 10 home runs in 131 games. He also played great defense and stole 56 bases. If Trout's power develops he could be a legitimate five tool stud. He should start next year in Double A and we wouldn't be surprised if the Angels tried to rush the youngster through the minors.
6. Eric Hosmer-Hosmer was the 3rd overall pick in the 2008 draft and another great prospect in the Royals system. In high Class A and Double A last season the 20 year old hit .338 with 20 home runs and 14 stolen bases. Hosmer smashed 43 doubles and as he gets older those doubles could turn into home runs. Hosmer projects as a 30 to 35 home run first basemen, and Royals fans should be excited.
7. Domonic Brown-Coming into 2010 the lefty was the 15th ranked prospect by Baseball America, and he had a great season in the minor leagues. Unfortunately, for Brown and the Phillies he struggled mightily in majors. In the majors he had 62 at bats with a .210 average and 2 home runs. That shouldn't stop Brown from getting the first shot at right field with Jayson Werth in Washington. If the Phillies come out and name Brown their starter he could have a Jason Heyward type impact for the Phils.
8. Wil Myers-Here's another young position player who had a monster season as a 19 year old in the Royals farm system. Last season in Single A Myers hit .315 with a .429 on base percentage. Myers had 37 doubles to go along with 14 home runs and showed some pop for a young catcher. He also threw out 33 out 71 base runners trying to steal. The sky's the limit for this young catcher.
9. Jeremy Hellickson-Going into the 2010 season Baseball America had Hellickson rated as their 18th best prospect and baseball, and after a spectacular season he has only gone higher on our list. Hellickson had a great season in Triple A with a 12 and 3 record, a 2.45 ERA in 21 starts before getting called up for the Rays. He finished strong there with a 4 and 0 record and a 3.47 Era in 36 innings. Hellickson development can be seen as a main reason the Rays felt comfortable trading away Garza, and he could be considered one of the best young arms in baseball.
10. Kyle Drabek-The Blue Jays left Drabek in Double A all of last season and he looked every bit the top prospect he is. He went 14 and 9 with a 2.94 ERA in 162 innings. Drabek still struggled with his command with a 1.94 K/BB ratio. The prize get in the Roy Halladay trade should get a chance to earn a rotation spot in the spring and could be looking at a chance at rookie of the year honors if he gets a full season of work.
11. Shelby Miller-Cardinals top prospect just completed his first full season in Single A and did not disappoint. The 19th overall pick in the 2009 draft pick made 24 starts and had 140 strikeouts in 104 innings. He had a 3.62 ERA. He's a power arm and he should start next year in Double A as a 20 year old. He is still only 2 years out of high school and it could take him a couple more years to make it to the big leagues.
12. Brandon Belt- The 6'5 1st basemen went from outside the Giants top ten prospects to the clear number 1 in the organization in only one year. After being a 5th round pick out of Texas in 2009, Belt exploded in Single, Double, and Triple A last season. Combine in 136 games Belt hit .352 with 43 doubles, 10 triples, and 23 home runs. He had a .455 on base percentage and 112 rbi's. He even threw in 22 steals in 30 attempts. Belt emerged as a top prospect and the first basemen of the future for the Giants.
13. Zach Britton-After pushing through most of their pitching prospects, the Orioles farm system is lacking in that department compared to other years. The 23 year old Britton had a good season at Triple A, but he lacks the stuff to be a top notch prospect. Britton is not overpowering, he only struck out 124 batters in 153 innings. The Orioles rotation looks to be full to start the season, but Britton will get the call with the first injury.
14. Kyle Gibson- The 22nd pick in the 2009 draft had a great first full season in the minor leagues, and already got a non-roster invite to spring training for the Twins in 2011. Last year he started 26 games with a 2.96 Era and an 11 and 6 record. He came out of the University of Missouri and has a very polished game for such a young player. He most likely will start next year in Triple A with the logjam in Minnesota with their starters, but he most likely will get the first call if someone gets injured.
15. Manny Machado-The number three overall in the 2010 draft would have been the top positional player taken, if it wasn't "The Bryce Harper Draft". The Floridan shortstop has drawn comparisons to former Alex Rodriguez, but we think that is pushing it. Machado certainly is a five tool prospect, but we don't think he'll ever be a 40 home run a year kind of guy. That era of shortstop's hitting 40 plus home runs is over but Machado is a straight stud.
16. Michael Pineda-The 21 year old from the Dominican had a great season in the minor leagues even after missing most of the 2009 season with arm problems. He has top of the line stuff if he can develop an adequate change up as he tore up Double A with a 2.22 ERA without one. The Mariners will give him every chance to win a spot in the rotation to begin 2011, but they may send him back to the minors for more seasoning.
17. Dustin Ackley- The Mariners thought they had the next Chase Utley when they signed the former North Carolina Tarheel to a $6 million dollar signing bonus in 2009. But, the young 2nd baseball failed to overly impress by only hitting 7 home runs and having a .267 batting average in his first full season in the minor leagues. The Mariners now hope he can shake off the first season jitters and succeed in Triple A in 2011.
18. Jacob Turner-The Tigers selected Turner as the 9th overall pick in 2009 and he spent his first minor league season in Single A. In 23 starts Turner compiled a 6 and 5 record with a 3.28 ERA as a 19 year old. The 6'5 righty showed great control only walking 23 batters in 115 innings. The Tigers need to be encouraged by their former 1st round pick and will hope he continues his success in Double A next season.
19. Tyler Matzek- Matzek is another top arm in the Rockies system. The former 11th overall pick in the 2009 draft spent his 19 year old season in Single A for the Rockies. He made 18 starts and had 2.92 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 89 innings. He should began next season at Double A like Bettis, and looks to increase his innings and move through the system.
20. Miguel Sano-Last year the Twins threw 3.15 million dollars at the young teenager and scooped him up from other teams. As a 17 year old last year he split time between shortstop and third base and batted .307 in 61 games. He struck out nearly once a game but showed decent power with 7 home runs and 16 doubles. Sano is still too young to project, but he could turn into a bust or a superstar.
21. Matt Moore-Although his 6 and 11 record in high Single A last year doesn’t look impressive, the lefty was absolutely dominant for the Rays farm system last season. Moore struggled with his control at times last season, but struck out a remarkable 208 batters in only 144 innings. He features a 92-94 mph fastball with a tight curve and a changeup that should develop with time. Look for him to pitch in Double and Triple A next season and watch the strikeout's continue to pile up. Moore is one of the top left handed pitchers in the minors.
22. Desmond Jennings-Although he came into last season as Baseball America's number 6 prospect, he is still ranked below Hellickson, and Moore for us this year. Jennings statistics dropped across the board in his 2nd year in Triple A, but that could be because he was expecting to see more time in the big leagues last season. This season he should slot into Carl Crawford's left field spot, and although he won't put up the power numbers Crawford displayed he'll bring speed and defense to the outfield. If he starts out hot in Spring Training and wins the job, he could be in the consideration for Rookie of the Year.
23. Casey Kelly-You'd expect the Padres to have good prospects after trading away Adrian Gonzalez, and they do not disappoint. Kelly use to split time between shortstop and pitching his first two seasons, but the Red Sox finally got him to focus on pitching and he struggled in Double A. He had a 5.31 ERA in 21 starts, but he still has top of the rotation stuff and is only 21 years old. The potential and youth is what keeps him as the number 1 prospect in the Padres system.
24. Manny Banuelos-The 19 year lefty pitched at 3 levels last year, finally ending his season at Double A. He did not have a win in 15 starts but had a 2.51 Era in 64 innings. He struck out 85 batters and the next few years the Yankees will work on stretching him out. He'll start next year at Double A and should continue to progress.
25. Jean Segura-Segura was another Angels prospect who lit up Single A last year. Segura batted .313 last year with 24 doubles, 12 triples, and 10 home runs in 130 games. He stole 50 bases and only got caught 10 times. Along with Mike Trout he should start next season in Double A and will make those games very fun to watch, especially from a base stealing outlook.
