Evan Longoria... not to be confused with the hot chick from Desperate Housewives.
|
Call this a cross-promotional
feature, as we look at some other top tens we have been doing over the last
three weeks, the
top ten prospects per system in baseball. With that in mind, and
the AL East already completed over there, who are the top ten prospects in the
AL East, regardless of team?
Please note: if you are a Blue
Jays fan, you should not bother reading this, as it will only make you want to
cry. Not that Orioles’ fans will feel much better…
1. Clay Buchholz, Starting Pitcher, Boston Red Sox
Elite, front of the rotation
starters do not come along like this often, but Buchholz clearly is one. The
Red Sox will have to find a way to work him into a crowded rotation, but they
will, and he will be one of the favorites for Rookie of the Year this year.
Everything about Buchholz’ makeup and arsenal says that he will be a major success.
2. Joba Chamberlain, Starting Pitcher, New York Yankees
There is very little separating Buchholz and Chamberlain on this list. Right now, with Mariano Rivera likely
returning to the Bronx, Chamberlain expect to move into the rotation, where he will excel. At no level in the minors did Chamberlain post a K/BB ratio below 5:1, and his impeccable control and excellent stuff will make him an elite starter.
3. Evan Longoria, Third Base, Tampa Bay Rays
The best infield prospect in the
game today, Longoria should develop into an elite power threat at the corner
with a solid average, and he might even steal a base or two while he is at it.
4. Jacoby Ellsbury, Outfield, Boston Red Sox
This winter, the Sporting News Fantasy Source baseball annual will feature a top 50 prospects
list by yours truly. That list will feature these first four players in this
order – they are not just the best of the East, they are the best, period. Ellsbury will not hit for power, but he will definitely hit for average, get on base, and also be the first legit base-stealing threat the Red Sox have
developed since Ellis Burks – it has been a while.
5. Ian Kennedy, Starting Pitcher, New York Yankees
While not as gifted as Chamberlain, Kennedy looks like he will be a solid, middle-of-the-rotation
starter at his peak, a right-handed Andy Pettitte. His strikeout numbers will
come down from the meteoric heights they were at in the minors, but he will put up solid numbers there.
6. Jacob McGee, Starting Pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays
Finally, the Rays are developing pitching, and McGee looks like he could become the first true No. 1 starter in Rays’ franchise history. Over 140 innings between two levels this year, McGee struck out 175 and walked just 52 while holding the opposition to a batting average barely above the Mendoza Line – it is hard to argue with results like that. McGee could rocket up these lists with how well he does in Double-A this season.
7. Travis Snider, Outfield, Toronto Blue Jays
The only worthwhile prospect in the Blue Jays’ system, Snider hit 16 home runs in the Midwest League with 35 doubles, hinting at plenty more power to come as he develops. There is plenty more developing to come too, as Snider has not yet even turned 20, doing so this February. The Blue Jays might not want to rush Snider, but at the same time, they have next to nothing that is desirable at the higher levels. Look for Snider to move up to High-A this year, and watch out if he performs as well as he did this year.
8. Reid Brignac, Shortstop, Tampa Bay Rays
The good news here is that Brignac does indeed look like a legit power threat, with 17 homers and 30 doubles in the regular season and 2 homers and 2 doubles in the Arizona Fall League. The downside here though is that his average has taken a pounding this year, as he hit just .260 in Double-A and just .177 in the AFL.
9. David Price, Starting Pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays
If he had made his professional debut yet, we probably would have rated him higher as his skills are definitely elite material. We are just hedging out bets here simply because we have no numbers to work with. That said, Price too looks like a contender for the No. 1 spot for the Rays with a solid fastball and two plus-pitches in his slider and curve. A college pitcher taken in this year’s draft, Price could be up in the bigs as soon as September 2008.
10. Matt Wieters, Catcher, Baltimore Orioles
Yep – only one prospect from the Orioles too. Like Price, Wieters was a 2007 draft pick, although Wieters has made his pro debut, playing this fall out in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league. Wieters tailed off as the season went on, but he still finished hitting .284 with a home run, 17 RBI, and 13 runs scored in 102 at-bats. Wieters’ polished college bat will have him rising quickly through the ranks.
