Daric Barton will not be a massive power hitter, but he will be an on-base machine.

First Base

Daric Barton, Oakland Athletics – your prototypical Moneyball player, although the Athletics had to trade for him rather than drafting him, Barton knows how to take a walk better than most. In fact, he has consistently walked more than he has struck out at every level in the minors, and he looks to be the West Coast version of Kevin Youkilis, although Barton is more likely to develop power than Youkilis. Even without the power, Barton will be an on-base machine, and the runs and RBI will come because of that.

Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds – the Reds have finally given up on the idea of Scott Hatteberg being the savior of the franchise, and have turned first base over to one of their top prospects. The 2002 second rounder might have been with the Reds for a while now, most of the decade, but he is still just 24 years old, having hit that mark after the 2007 season ended. A legit power threat, Votto has mashed 22 home runs each of the last two seasons in the minors, and he laughed at those of us – me included – that thought his 23 stolen bases in 2006 were a fluke by stealing 17 last season. The stolen bases will eventually dry up, as he becomes more of a power hitter, but that is a good thing. Votto is a lock to become a 30+ home run hitter.

Chris Carter, Oakland Athletics – considering that he was traded twice this offseason, one might get the idea that Carter was unwanted. Quite the contrary, as there is much to love about this future power-hitting stud. He is not exactly right around the corner, though, and is probably about two years away from becoming a major league regular. The 25 homers and 25 doubles he picked up in the Sally League in 2007 at 20 say that there is greatness to come for Carter.

Steve Pearce, Pittsburgh Pirates – For some reason, the Pirates kept holding Pearce back, but his bat has finally forced the question and he should be in the bigs to stay in 2008. All he has done in the three seasons before this year in the minors is hit .302 with 64 home runs, 263 RBI, and 225 runs. Oh, and there is even more power to come, as shown by the 106 doubles. Pearce is a legitimate power threat as soon as the Pirates show that they will commit to him.

Second Base

Matt Antonelli, San Diego Padres – Antonelli split the 2007 season between High-A and Double-A, and in that time he hit 21 home runs, drove in 78 RBI, scored 123 runs, and he also stole 28 bases in 37 attempts. While the signing of Tadahito Iguchi might delay his arrival slightly, he should be up at some point this season, and he should be a starter by 2009.

Adrian Cardenas, Philadelphia Phillies – One of the top prospects in the Phillies organization, Cardenas hit .295 last season for Lakewood in the South Atlantic League in 499 at-bats, and he picked up nine home runs, 79 RBI, 70 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases. He did all of that at just 19 years old too. Cardenas’ only problem is the presence of Chase Utley in the majors, but he should rocket through the system regardless.

Emilio Bonifacio, Arizona Diamondbacks – the 22-year-old Bonifacio picked up a brief cup of coffee in the bigs in 2007, but he spent the majority of the season in Double-A Mobile. There, he hit .285 with 2 home runs, 40 RBI, 84 runs scored, and 41 stolen bases. It was his first season since 2004 where he had not stolen at least 55 bases, and he has stolen at least 40 in the last four seasons. The speed is more definitely legit here.

Chris Coghlan, Florida Marlins – a power-hitting second baseman, Coghlan was hitting .326 with 10 home runs, 26 doubles, 64 RBI, and 60 runs scored in 305 at-bats in the South Atlantic League. He struggled in his promotion to the Florida State League, but he should be fine in his second time around there.