Commentary

Top 10 prospects by position

Originally Published: January 22, 2009
By Keith Law | Scouts Inc.

Here's a set of rankings showing the top 10 prospects at each position, including separate lists for right- and left-handed pitchers. I've combined second basemen and shortstops due to the intrinsic lack of second-base prospects in the minors; second basemen are identified by (2b) after their team affiliations. All positions are current, rather than projected, although if a player is likely to have to move off of the position it is taken into account in the rankings.

Top first basemen Top shortstops/second basemen
1. Lars Anderson, Boston
2. Justin Smoak, Texas
3. Eric Hosmer, Kansas City
4. Logan Morrison, Florida
5. Matt LaPorta, Cleveland
6. Angel Villalona, San Francisco
7. Kyle Blanks, San Diego
8. Freddie Freeman, Atlanta
9. Yonder Alonso, Cincinnati
10. Chris Carter, Oakland		 1. Tim Beckham, Tampa Bay
2. Carlos Triunfel, Seattle (2b)
3. Gordon Beckham, Chicago White Sox
4. Elvis Andrus, Texas
5. Alcides Escobar, Milwaukee
6. Jason Donald, Philadelphia
7. Wilmer Flores, New York Mets
8. Chris Nelson, Colorado (2b)
9. Reid Brignac, Tampa Bay
10. Ivan DeJesus, Los Angeles
Top third basemen Top catchers
1. Josh Vitters, Chicago Cubs
2. Brett Wallace, St. Louis
3. Pedro Alvarez, Pittsburgh
4. Mike Moustakas, Kansas City
5. Matt Dominguez, Florida
6. Mat Gamel, Milwaukee
7. Dayan Viciedo, Chicago White Sox
8. Conor Gillaspie, San Francisco
9. Lonnie Chisenhall, Cleveland
10. Todd Frazier, Cincinnati (ss/3b)		 1. Matt Wieters, Baltimore
2. Buster Posey, San Francisco
3. Carlos Santana, Cleveland
4. Tyler Flowers, Chicago White Sox
5. Taylor Teagarden, Texas
6. Angel Salome, Milwaukee
7. Max Ramirez, Texas
8. Kyle Skipworth, Florida
9. Jesus Montero, New York Yankees
10. Jason Castro, Houston
Top center fielders Top corner outfielders
1. Colby Rasmus, St. Louis
2. Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh
3. Desmond Jennings, Tampa Bay
4. Cameron Maybin, Florida
5. Dexter Fowler, Colorado
6. Austin Jackson, New York Yankees
7. Ben Revere, Minnesota
8. Jordan Schafer, Atlanta
9. Dominic Brown, Philadelphia
10. Julio Borbon, Texas		 1. Jason Heyward, Atlanta
2. Travis Snider, Toronto
3. Fernando Martinez, New York Mets
4. Mike Stanton, Florida
5. Jose Tabata, Pittsburgh
6. Daryl Jones, St. Louis
7. Aaron Hicks, Minnesota
8. Nick Weglarz, Cleveland
9. Andrew Lambo, Los Angeles Dodgers
10. Greg Halman, Seattle
Top right-handed pitchers Top left-handed pitchers
1. Neftali Feliz, Texas
2. Tommy Hanson, Atlanta
3. Rick Porcello, Detroit
4. Trevor Cahill, Oakland
5. Tim Alderson, San Francisco
6. Wade Davis, Tampa Bay
7. Jarrod Parker, Arizona
8. Chris Tillman, Baltimore
9. Jordan Walden, Los Angeles Angels
10. Jordan Zimmerman, Washington		 1. David Price, Tampa Bay
2. Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco
3. Brett Anderson, Oakland
4. Derek Holland, Texas
5. Brian Matusz, Baltimore
6. Martin Perez, Texas
7. Brett Cecil, Toronto
8. Aaron Poreda, Chicago White Sox
9. Christian Friedrich, Colorado
10. David Huff, Cleveland

Keith Law, formerly the special assistant to the general manager for the Toronto Blue Jays, is the senior baseball analyst for Scouts Inc.

Keith Law

ESPN Insider
  • Senior baseball analyst for Insider
  • Was special asst. to Blue Jays GM
  • Wrote for Baseball Prospectus

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