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Baseball Prospectus의 골드스타인

1. Jay Bruce, of, Reds
2. Clay Buchholz, rhp, Red Sox
3. Evan Longoria, 3b, Rays
4. Joba Chamberlain, rhp, Yankees
5. Clayton Kershaw, lhp, Dodgers
6. David Price, lhp, Rays
7. Travis Snider, of, Blue Jays
8. Colby Rasmus, of, Cardinals
9. Homer Bailey, rhp, Reds
10. Cameron Maybin, of, Marlins
11. Rick Porcello, rhp, Tigers
12. Matt Wieters, c, Orioles
13. Franklin Morales, lhp, Rockies
14. Andy LaRoche, 3b, Dodgers
15. Wade Davis, rhp, Rays
16. Jacoby Ellsbury, of, Red Sox
17. Jordan Schafer, of, Braves
18. Desmond Jennings, of, Rays
19. Mike Moustakas, ss, Royals
20. Jarrod Parker, rhp, Diamondbacks
21. Joey Votto, 1b, Reds
22. Daric Barton, 1b, Athletics
23. Chase Headley, 3b, Padres
24. Andrew McCutchen, of, Pirates
25. Reid Brignac, ss, Rays
26. Carlos Gonzalez, of, Athletics
27. Nick Adenhart, rhp, Angels
28. Chris Marrero, of/1b, Nationals
29. Angel Villalona, 3b, Giants
30. Neftali Feliz, rhp, Rangers
31. Matt LaPorta, of, Brewers
32. Chin-Lung Hu, ss, Dodgers
33. Jeff Clement, c, Mariners
34. Ian Kennedy, rhp, Yankees
35. Ross Detwiler, rhp, Nationals
36. Jason Heyward, of, Braves
37. Geovany Soto, c, Cubs
38. Brandon Wood, 3b/ss, Angels
39. Matt Antonelli, 2b, Padres
40. Jacob McGee, lhp, Devil Rays
41. Johnny Cueto, rhp, Reds
42. Manny Parra, lhp, Brewers
43. Steven Pearce, 1b, Pirates
44. Chris Tillman, rhp, Mariners
45. Josh Vitters, 3b, Cubs
46. Fautino de los Santos, rhp, Athletics
47. Austin Jackson, of, Yankees
48. Jose Tabata, of, Yankees
49. Eric Hurley, rhp, Rangers
50. Brett Anderson, lhp, Athletics
51. Fernando Martinez, of, Mets
52. Adam Miller, rhp, Indians
53. Justin Masterson, rhp, Red Sox
54. J.R. Towles, c, Astros
55. Carlos Triunfel, ss, Mariners
56. Gio Gonzalez, lhp, Athletics
57. Jed Lowrie, ss, Red Sox
58. Elvis Andrus, ss, Rangers
59. Jordan Walden, rhp, Angels
60. Ryan Kalish, of, Red Sox
61. Matt Latos, rhp, Padres
62. Engel Beltre, of, Rangers
63. Brent Lillibridge, ss, Braves
64. Gerardo Parra, of, Diamondbacks
65. Carlos Gomez, of, Twins
66. Scott Elbert, lhp, Dodgers
67. Alan Horne, rhp, Yankees
68. Carlos Carrasco, rhp, Phillies
69. Chris Perez, rhp, Cardinals
70. Brandon Jones, of, Braves
71. Bryan Anderson, c, Cardinals
72. Luke Hochevar, rhp, Royals
73. Michael Main, rhp, Rangers
74. Chris Davis, 3b, Rangers
75. Chorye Spoone, rhp, Orioles
76. Jeremy Jeffress, rhp, Brewers
77. Taylor Teagarden, c, Rangers
78. Wes Hodges, 3b, Indians
79. Deolis Guerra, rhp, Twins
80. Chris Nelson, ss, Rockies
81. Michael Burgess, of, Nationals
82. Greg Reynolds, rhp, Rockies
83. Gorkys Hernandez, of, Braves
84. Henry Sosa, rhp, Giants
85. Radhames Liz, rhp, Orioles
86. Jair Jurrjens, rhp, Braves
87. Aaron Poreda, lhp, White Sox
88. Chris Volstad, rhp, Marlins
89. Hank Conger, c, Angels
90. Max Scherzer, rhp, Diamondbacks
91. Casey Weathers, rhp, Rockies
92. Dexter Fowler, of, Rockies
93. Wladimir Balentien, of, Mariners
94. Neil Walker, 3b, Pirates
95. Michael Bowden, rhp, Red Sox
96. Joe Savery, lhp, Phillies
97. Ben Revere, of, Twins
98. Trevor Cahill, rhp, Athletics
99. Chris Carter, 1b, Athletics
100. Lars Anderson, 1b, Red Sox


Top 100 prospects of 2008
By Keith Law Scouts Inc. (Archive)
http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/columns/story?columnist=law_keith&id=3221365&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dlaw_keith%26id%3d3221365

# -- player's age as of April 1, 2008

RANK	PLAYER	POS.	ORGANIZATION	#AGE
1	Evan Longoria	3B	Tampa Bay Rays TOP '07 LEVEL: AAA (Durham)	22
Evan Longoria is good at baseball. He has very quick wrists and takes short paths to the ball no matter where it's pitched, resulting in lots of hard contact and a whole-field approach. He has plus power already and could grow into more, which would make him a consistent 30-plus home run hitter. He's a tough out who works the count and will foul pitches off to get to something he can drive, but will take his walks and should post on-base percentages in the low .400s. On defense, he has had no trouble moving from his college position of shortstop and should be among the league's best defenders at third in 2008. He has good range in both directions, soft and sure hands, and a strong and accurate arm. He reads the ball well off the bat and adjusted quickly to the faster reaction times required at the hot corner. If the player I've just described sounds more than a little like David Wright, you've got the idea. Longoria is three years younger than Wright today, and while he'll debut a year later than Wright did, he has a similar skill set and upside to the Mets' third baseman, who would have been my choice for National League MVP in 2007. Longoria is the favorite to start at third base on Opening Day for Tampa Bay, making him the favorite to win the AL's Rookie of the Year award in 2008.
2	Jay Bruce	RF	Cincinnati Reds TOP '07 LEVEL: AAA (Louisville)	20
Bruce is probably the top power-hitting prospect in the minors right now, unsurprising for a kid who was already well-developed physically at the time he was drafted. Bruce sets up very deep but generates excellent bat speed and is strong enough to drive balls out to all fields. He's played center field but is best suited for right, and has a plus arm to play there. Because of the deep load at the plate, he can overcommit on breaking stuff and can be beaten with hard stuff inside, and he's shown only moderate plate discipline in the minors. There's no reason he couldn't step in right now and win the Rookie of the Year Award in the NL if he's given an everyday job.
3	Joba Chamberlain	RHP	New York Yankees TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	22
You may have heard of this fellow. Best known to big league fans as a dominant setup guy, Chamberlain is best cast as a four-pitch starter who projects as a true No. 1 starter. He has a four-pitch repertoire where all pitches project as average or better: a plus 94-98 mph four-seamer, a toxic 83-87 mph slider with good tilt and variable break, an 11/5 curveball with good depth, and a straight 81-84 mph changeup with good arm speed. The fastball and slider are already big league out pitches and in relief, he can probably get away without the other two pitches. Chamberlain has a great pitcher's build with broad shoulders and the height to get good downhill plane on his pitches, and his arm is quick. He's battled his weight in the past, leading to knee trouble, and he had bicep tendinitis in college that allowed him to fall to the Yankees in the supplemental round.
4	Clay Buchholz	RHP	Boston Red Sox TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	23
Buchholz didn't quite get the cult following of Joba, but made a name for himself by throwing a no-hitter in his second big league start. Buchholz is an unusual pitching prospect in that he already brings two plus secondary pitches to the table, including one of the best right-handed changeups in the game today, with good tumble and fading action, and he sells it well with perfect arm speed. If his changeup is a solid 70 on the 20-80 scale, his curve projects as no worse than a 60, with a sharp, accelerating downward break. His fastball is just average at 89-94, but he commands it well and gets good downhill plane from a high release point. He is a superb athlete who (so the story goes) outran Jacoby Ellsbury in the 60-yard dash when they were teammates at Lowell. And because he's quick to the plate, he should do well in controlling the running game.
5	Colby Rasmus	CF	St. Louis Cardinals TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Springfield)	21
Rasmus has been very quiet in his march toward the big leagues and up prospect lists. Rasmus comes from a baseball-mad family -- judging by the number of Rasmuses I've seen at some high school showcases, I believe he has about a bazillion brothers -- and has an outstanding feel for the game. His tools all project to plus; he has very quick hands and gets his bat started early, so his plate coverage (even inside) is excellent, and he should grow into plus power, especially to pull. He's a plus runner who gets from zero to full speed quickly, so he should be an asset on the bases capable of stealing 20-plus bags a year. His arm is plus and would be playable in right, but he's adapting well to center field and only struggles now with balls hit over his head, something that should improve in time. Cardinal fans may have been disappointed to see Jim Edmonds go, but they'll love his replacement.
6	Clayton Kershaw	LHP	Los Angeles Dodgers TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Jacksonville)	20
Kershaw has about as good an arm as you're likely to see on a young left-hander. His arm works extremely well, with little effort and quick movement through his delivery. His stuff is outstanding, a plus-plus fastball at 93-96 with good downhill plane and a two-plane hammer curve in the mid-70s that must cause left-handed hitters to strain their obliques as they try to hold up. He has a changeup with good fading action, but doesn't sell it well enough and right-handers can sit on it a little bit, although he can improve that with experience. The Dodgers promoted fellow pitching prospect Scott Elbert aggressively and worked him hard in 2006, and he responded with a shoulder injury that required surgery in May. They worked Kershaw less hard -- he faced 93 fewer hitters than Elbert did -- but still pushed him to AA before he was ready, and 19-20-year-old pitchers do get hurt. That's the only thing likely to stop him from becoming a top-of-the-rotation starter.
7	Travis Snider	RF	Toronto Blue Jays TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Lansing)	20
The word on Snider out of high school from his detractors was that he was stiff, slow, a little heavy, had bad knees and so on. The word on him now is that he can flat-out hit, and his detractors have shut their mouths for the time being. Snider sets himself up well to hit for average and power, with a low load, a simple swing and a very short path to the ball. He's got some loft to his swing to drive balls out, with plus power already, but will shorten up to go the other way on offspeed stuff. He's a solid-average runner and has at least a 60 arm in right field. He has a good idea at the plate, and his contact rate should improve as he develops. This was a steal of a pick at No. 14 in '06; among hitters, only Longoria (No. 3 selection) looks better right now.
8	Franklin Morales	LHP	Colorado Rockies TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	22
The Rockies have done well in Latin America over the past five or six years, remedying the franchise's decision to skimp on that area in the first decade of its existence. Morales is the best product so far, a potential No. 1 starter with two plus pitches and a delivery that shows the ball to hitters late. His fastball is plus at 93-95, and he'll run it in hard on hitters on both sides of the plate. His curve has a big two-plane break with very good depth, making him deadly against left-handed hitters. He has some areas on which he needs to work; his command and control are both below average, and the way he rushes his arm through his delivery (providing some of the deception) may limit how good his command can become. His changeup is just a show-me pitch at the moment as well.
9	Homer Bailey	RHP	Cincinnati Reds TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	21
Bailey didn't take the same step forward in 2007 as some of the other top pitching prospects in the game, but it's too early to jump off the bandwagon. What Buchholz and Chamberlain did is the exception, not the rule, when it comes to pitchers without much pro experience; look at Chad Billingsley's first go-round in the majors and the improvement he showed in his second year in 2007. Bailey was in the big leagues a bit too soon, then suffered a groin injury that prevented his return until September. His stuff remains outstanding: a 93-97 mph fastball and a power curveball with a sharp downward break. His changeup remains a show-me pitch, but the real obstacle for him is fastball command, and there are no mechanical reasons why his command won't eventually be above-average, at which point he'll give the Reds the true No. 1 starter they've been looking for.
10	Fernando Martinez	OF	New York Mets TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Binghamton)	19
It's been fashionable this offseason for some writers to bash the Mets' top prospects, mostly vis-à-vis the Johan Santana trade talks, but this criticism has been way overblown. Martinez's 2007 performance doesn't impress on a quick look, but consider these facts: He played the entire season at age 18 in AA; and he was hitting .309/.372/.409 as late as May 25 before the effects of a contusion on his left hand ruined what remained of his season. He was shut down on June 23 and missed the rest of the year. Martinez shows huge raw power in BP that will make its way into his game performances, and he has a solid approach with good pitch recognition for someone so young. He has good range in center and a plus arm if he outgrows center field and has to move to right. To put his development in more perspective, if he'd played a full year at AA and hit .290/.360/.410 or so, he would have been on pace to debut in the big leagues at 19 or 20 and be a big league regular before he turned 21. He's going to be a star, but everyone has to bear in mind how young he is to keep his performance in perspective.
11	Desmond Jennings	OF	Tampa Bay Rays TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Columbus)	21
Cleveland actually had Jennings under control after taking him in the 2005 draft, but made little effort to sign him, so he went back into the pool in 2006. The Rays took him in the 10th round and signed him for just $150,000, less than any other U.S.-born player in the top 40 prospects here. Jennings is a burner with 70 speed on the 20-80 scale, and he has quick wrists and a short stroke that let him generate line drives to all fields. His defense in center is still a work in progress, as he uses his raw speed to make up for late jumps on balls away from his starting position. The biggest question on Jennings' upside is his power, but as he matures and gains strength, his swing should be enough for 20-plus homers a year, with more if he can learn to extend his arms on pitches out over the plate.
12	Andrew McCutchen	CF	Pittsburgh Pirates TOP '07 LEVEL: AAA (Indianapolis)	21
McCutchen started off horribly in AA this year, but finally turned his season around in his last 40-odd games there, hitting .307/.382/.460 from July 1 until a mid-August promotion to AAA. McCutchen has incredibly quick wrists that give him tremendous plate coverage and result in a lot of hard, line-drive contact, as well as flashes of raw power. The player-development fiasco in the Pirates' minor league system under Dave Littlefield has hurt McCutchen, however, as he doesn't use his lower half and get his weight transferred with his swing, so all his power now is in his wrists and forearms; once he gets his whole body involved, he should have 30-plus homer power. He's a 65-70 runner with good baserunning instincts, and he plays a plus center field. Take heart, Pirate fans: Nyjer Morgan's goofy routes have only a year or so left in Pittsburgh's center field.
13	Cameron Maybin	OF	Florida Marlins TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	20
The big league callup was a mistake, obviously, but as long as there's no long-term harm done from the time he spent in Detroit, he still has the same huge upside that had him at No. 15 last year. Maybin already shows plus power in games, and the ball really flies off his bat. But his swing is long and gets out of control, and he glides through it at times, leaving him swinging off his front foot and generating less than maximum power. He crushes fastballs, but needs to improve his recognition of and adjustment to offspeed stuff. Even if his contact issues don't go away, he's a plus glove in center with a strong arm and 30-plus homer potential, which would make him an above-average regular with star potential if he can stay back at the plate and do a better job of recognizing offspeed pitches.
14	Matt Wieters	C	Baltimore Orioles TOP '07 LEVEL: College (Ga. Tech)	21
The best prospect in the 2007 draft fell to the fifth team picking due to his bonus demands, giving the Orioles the best prospect they've had since Erik Bedard came out of the system in 2003. Wieters is a tall, wiry-strong, switch-hitting catcher who sprays the field with line drives and shows plus power from the left side. He has a plus arm behind the plate and was 92-94 off the mound as a reliever at Georgia Tech, but needs to refine his receiving skills. The biggest long-term concern with Wieters is his size: He's 6-foot-5, which means there's a lot of pressure on his knees when he squats. The history of catchers his height is filled with players who moved off the position or who suffered leg and knee injuries, including the best all-around catcher in the majors today, Joe Mauer. If Wieters can buck history and stay behind the plate, he'll be rivaling Mauer for that title in just a few years.
15	Wade Davis	RHP	Tampa Bay Rays TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Montgomery)	22
The Rays have an embarrassment of pitching riches, with Davis at the head of the class. He projects as a potential No. 1 starter with some improvement in his command and his worst secondary pitch, his changeup. Davis already has three plus pitches in his repertoire: a 92-95 mph fastball with late life up in the zone, a hard-breaking 12-to-6 curveball near 80 mph, and a sharp two-plane slider at 84-87 mph. He shows some feel for the change, but it's inconsistent, and he uses his slider as his main out pitch against lefties. There are some minor mechanical issues for Davis to work on, including maintaining a consistent release point and staying on top of the ball, but nothing major that points to injury or command woes. Davis has a large frame without much projection, but who needs to project on stuff like this?
16	David Price	LHP	Tampa Bay Rays TOP '07 LEVEL: College (Vanderbilt)	22
As I said above, the Rays are stacked with top-flight arms in their system. Price, the No. 1 overall pick in 2007 and my No. 2 prospect heading into the draft, is coming off a dominant spring season for Vanderbilt where he struck out over 36 percent of the batters he faced. He has top-of-the-rotation stuff, including a plus fastball, best at 89-93 mph but flashing 94-95 with reduced command; a late-breaking upper 70s slider with a short break and good tilt; and an 81-85 mph changeup that comes in late down and in to righties. He pitches to both sides of the plate, really trusts all three of his pitches and works in the lower half of the zone. His delivery isn't clean, with some effort to get his arm around his body and a little bit of a head-jerk, but nothing likely to hold down his performances. He could debut as early as this summer and should be big league-ready no later than mid-2009.
17	Josh Vitters	3B	Chicago Cubs TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Boise)	18
Vitters was the top prep hitter in the 2007 draft and could easily have gone first or second overall. He's an offensive third baseman with a simple, direct swing and plus-plus bat speed, making lots of contact and hitting everything hard to all fields. He already shows good raw power to pull and will drive balls out the other way as he adds experience and muscle. At third base, he's rough, but has enough athletic ability to be at least average at the position, and he has plenty of arm strength for the position. He's a star and he should move quickly for a high school product.
18	Carlos Triunfel	SS	Seattle Mariners TOP '07 LEVEL: A (High Desert)	18
Triunfel was born in February of 1990, yet finished the year hitting for average (.288/.333/.356) in high-A, usually the starting point for 21- and 22-year-old college products in their first full seasons. A minor league hitter who makes a lot of contact and hits for average against pitchers three or four years his senior is marked for stardom, and Triunfel's physical tools bear that out. He has a very quick bat, mostly in his wrists, and a strong build with a thicker lower half than you typically see in teenaged infielders. He also has a laser of an arm. There's some question over whether he'll stay at short, but he's built a bit like Miguel Tejada, who's spent over 10 years at the position in the majors and was a plus glove at his peak. There's a risk the Mariners will rush Triunfel -- they rush everyone else, so why not? -- but if they let his bat determine his development pace, they have a potential star on their hands.
19	Jacoby Ellsbury	CF	Boston Red Sox TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	24
It'll be hard for Ellsbury to top his 2007 big league performance, capped off with a world championship and plenty of pink "ELLSBURY" T-shirts spotted around town, and there's a logjam in the Boston outfield right now that will hold his playing time down, barring a trade. Ellsbury's calling card is his defense, with Gold Glove potential -- as in deserving one, since the winners of that award aren't always the most deserving candidates -- and the raw speed to help him play the difficult center field in Fenway. That speed, coupled with good baserunning instincts, makes him a threat to steal 40-plus bags per year at a high success rate, which is a must in the Red Sox's stat-savvy system. At the plate, Ellsbury has a quick, slashing stroke, generating line drives and using the whole field, limiting his potential home run peak to 10-15. He also has excellent plate discipline, making him an ideal leadoff hitter regardless of your school of thought on what a good leadoff hitter should be. There's no wonder he's coveted by other teams when the Sox come calling for established stars.
20	Angel Villalona	3B	San Francisco Giants TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Salem-Keizer)	17
The Giants of the early 2000s were notorious for skimping on amateur signing bonuses, giving away first-round picks and doing little in Latin America. So when they paid over $2 million to sign Villalona just days after his 16th birthday in August of 2006, not only was it a surprise, it was a signal that the organization was committing to acquiring top-flight amateur talent. Signing Villalona was tantamount to getting an extra top-10 pick in the amateur draft -- perhaps better, since he could be in the organization for what would have been his senior year had he been an American-born prospect. Villalona himself is very physically developed, with an early-20s build even before he turned 16; while this will probably force him over to first base, it does provide for significant power potential. He has a quick bat and a fluid swing, and has shown the ability to use the whole field. He's a long way off and has only played five games above rookie ball, but the physical promise here -- a middle-of-the-order bat with a 40-plus homer ceiling -- is tremendous.
21	Jose Tabata	RF	New York Yankees TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Tampa)	19
Tabata was in the top 10 last year, but a nagging hamate injury ended his 2007 season early, requiring surgery in August. Tabata has a quick bat and great hand-eye coordination, and he squares up balls as well as anyone on this list. He also has good pitch recognition, although that can manifest itself in working the count to get to a fastball he can drive. His raw power hasn't shown up in games, which could be explained by the hamate injury; hand and wrist injuries sap power, and full recovery from a broken hamate bone can take up to a year. Tabata can play center but has been bumped to right field by fellow Yankee prospect Austin Jackson (No. 24), and Tabata should be plus there with an above-average arm. He'd rank higher if the hamate problem was fully behind him, but until that becomes clear, there's still some risk here.
22	Rick Porcello	RHP	Detroit Tigers TOP '07 LEVEL: H.S. (New Jersey)	19
The top prep pitcher in the 2007 draft, Porcello has outstanding stuff and just looks the part of a big league ace. Porcello is already sitting at 92-94 mph and will touch 97 a few times an outing with two curveballs, both 12-to-6, one a late-breaker near 80 mph and the other a slower version in the upper 60s. His changeup shows promise; he turns the pitch over well, but slows his arm enough for hitters to notice. He has a very quick arm and a projectable frame, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him sitting at 95-plus mph in a few years, working his way toward the top of the Tigers' rotation.
23	Nick Adenhart	RHP	Los Angeles Angels TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Arkansas)	21
Adenhart was a first-round talent until he blew out his elbow during his senior spring in high school, but got first-round money from the Angels and has become their best prospect and a potential No. 2 starter. Adenhart's best attributes are his command and his feel for pitching, both of which are already plus, but that doesn't mean his stuff isn't strong. His fastball is solid-average at 90-93 mph, flashing better than that, and his curve already grades out as plus, with an almost 12-to-6 break that has just a little tilt to it. His changeup projects as above-average as well, with a late downward action and good arm speed. He can drop his arm slot slightly at times, causing his stuff to flatten out, and he lands just a little hard with his front foot. The Angels have moved him aggressively, so his indicators haven't matched his stuff, but he's just two years or so off from contributing to a big league rotation.
24	Austin Jackson	CF	New York Yankees TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Tampa)	21
Jackson is my favorite kind of hitting prospect -- the athlete with a clue. Jackson was a top basketball prospect in high school, but the Yankees flexed their financial muscles and gave him first-round money in the eighth round, a move that looks brilliant in hindsight because of how advanced Jackson is for a multi-sport prospect. Jackson has good speed, a solid-average arm in center and good instincts on fly balls, but still has some work to do at the plate. His setup is excellent and his path to the ball is short, but he needs to continue working on keeping his weight back to get more power from the contact he makes, and he's too eager to chase the ball up. He's a potential middle-of-the-order bat because of his power and improving plate discipline.
25	Andy LaRoche	3B	Los Angeles Dodgers TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	24
Big league teams can do funny things. The Dodgers liked LaRoche enough to give him a seven-figure bonus after taking him as a summer follow in the 39th round in 2003. They moved him up aggressively, gave him a shot at the big league job and decided a month later that he couldn't hit, instead accepting mediocre production from known quantities until they started to fall out of the playoff race in September. Now, after several abortive attempts to acquire a third baseman, the Dodgers are going to give LaRoche a chance to "win" the job over Nomar Garciaparra (who can't field a lick at third and isn't much with the bat) in spring training. Here's the scoop: LaRoche can, in fact, hit, and he'll hit for average with excellent on-base percentages, with middle-of-the-road power. He can play third, but doesn't project as a plus glove. He should be handed the everyday job right now.

# -- player's age as of April 1, 2008

RANK	PLAYER	POS.	ORGANIZATION	#AGE
26	Jake McGee	LHP	Tampa Bay Rays TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Montgomery)	21
McGee is not as polished or advanced as teammate Wade Davis, but he is not far behind in reality or in the rankings. At the moment, his only plus pitch is his fastball, 92-96 mph (a 60 on the scouting scale) and coming out of his hand late to left-handed hitters. He still has some room to fill out, and it wouldn't be shocking to see him sitting at 95 mph in a few years. His curve and change both are below average, so while he has blown away hitters with his fastball to date, that's not going to continue to work in Double-A or Triple-A. He holds his velocity deep into games, so he projects as a starter down the road, but he won't get there as quickly as Davis or David Price.
27	Jordan Schafer	CF	Atlanta Braves TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Myrtle Beach)	21
Schafer isn't Grady Sizemore, but not many players are. He is an excellent athlete and has the strength in his arms to hit for average and power, but he has some mechanical issues. His load at the plate is a little too deep, and he doesn't have the bat speed to overcome it, so he commits early and often ends up way out in front. He also gets too pull-conscious in games, despite showing a good whole-field approach in batting practice. On the plus side, the ball comes off his bat well, and if he can shorten up his swing, he should see improvement in his contact and long-term in his power output. He plays a strong center field with an above-average arm. I don't project him as a top-shelf center fielder right now, but he is ranked this high because he has the physical tools to become one with some work on his swing.
28	Lars Anderson	1B	Boston Red Sox TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Lancaster)	20
The Sox ponied up for Anderson late in the 2006 draft, and he already is a better prospect than either of their first-round picks from that year. He is a left-handed hitter who projects to hit for average and power with great OBPs. His plate discipline and pitch recognition are outstanding for a prospect of any age, much less a soon-to-be 20-year-old in high Class A ball. He has a simple swing and takes a direct path to the ball, so he can let it travel and use the entire field. He shows plus raw power in batting practice, and he has room to fill out and become a 30-plus home run hitter once he changes his approach to pull balls middle-in, but that might not come for another year or two. He also is a good defensive first baseman and a fringe-average runner. A big year at Double-A would push him up to the top 10 for next offseason.
29	Adam Miller	RHP	Cleveland Indians TOP '07 LEVEL: AAA (Buffalo)	23
Miller is a potential No. 1 starter if he can keep his arm attached at all its various joints. Last year, he strained a flexor tendon in his finger and then had a sore elbow, limiting him to just 65 innings in the regular season and 13 unsuccessful innings in the Arizona Fall League. He also has had shoulder trouble in the past. When healthy, Miller has a four-seamer that sits in the mid-90s and a two-seamer in the low 90s, and he holds his velocity through 90-100 pitches. His slider already is a big league out pitch, up to 88 mph with a hard, late break, and his command has been good in the past. That No. 1 starter is somewhere under the medical dossier, screaming to get out.
30	Johnny Cueto	RHP	Cincinnati Reds TOP '07 LEVEL: AAA (Louisville)	22
Cueto doesn't get the hype of Homer Bailey because he doesn't have the same big pitcher's build, but his stuff is almost as good as Bailey's, and he might be more advanced as a pitcher. Cueto is small and squatty but strong, and he has a smooth, easy arm action that produces fastballs anywhere from 91 to 96 mph with good life up in the zone. His changeup is his best secondary pitch, with good sink and tail and excellent arm speed, while his slider flashes plus with a hard tilt but still is inconsistent. He works quickly and aggressively but does not yet have the command to succeed in the majors, especially since his fastball is somewhat true and he could be homer-prone if he doesn't work on the margins of the strike zone. If his command doesn't improve, he will be a potentially dominant closer down the road, but he also could end up a solid No. 2 starter.
31	Elvis Andrus	SS	Texas Rangers TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Myrtle Beach)	19
Atlanta pushed Andrus very aggressively while he was in its system, moving him to high Class A ball at an age when most prospects are still in short-season ball. His baseball skills are slowly catching up to his tremendous athletic ability, and if Texas manages him carefully, the Rangers have a potential star on their hands. Andrus has a very easy, almost effortless swing, and the ball flies off his bat. He has an advanced approach for such a young hitter, working the count, making the pitcher throw strikes and using the entire field. There is average power to come, and he is a plus runner who needs some work reading pitchers. He is an excellent defensive shortstop with quick reactions and good range in both directions, as well as a strong and accurate arm. He should be hitting at or near the top of the Rangers' order by 2011.
32	Geovany Soto	C	Chicago Cubs TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	25
It might not have made any difference in the playoffs, but the Cubs would have clinched their division a few days sooner had they handed Soto the catcher's job after they shipped Michael Barrett (parcel post, no less) to San Diego. Instead, they gave the remains of Jason Kendall the job, costing themselves on offense and defense. Soto has plus raw power, keeping his weight back extremely well, and he has the upper-body strength to take pitches middle-out and pull them out to left-center. He can get too pull-happy, but he has shown the ability to shorten up and go the other way, and his pitch recognition is solid. He has a strong arm and average receiving skills. There was no justification for playing Kendall over Soto, and now Soto's path is clear to play every day and make a run at the NL rookie of the year award.
33	Jason Heyward	CF/RF	Atlanta Braves TOP '07 LEVEL: Rookie (Danville)	18
Atlanta loves to take local high school products in the draft, but the Braves had no business getting Heyward, a top-10 talent, at No. 14. He is a strong 6-foot-4 outfielder with room to add even more strength, and he has a solid approach and huge power in his future. He is a good athlete who projects as a plus right fielder with a strong arm, but Atlanta should consider giving him one full year in center before moving him. He has good plate coverage, especially down, but because he sets up with the bat out from his body, he has to work on covering the ball in. Don't be surprised if he goes all Jay Bruce on the minors over the next two years.
34	Brandon Wood	3B	Los Angeles Angels TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	23
Wood's star is steadily dimming as his numbers drop and the strikeouts mount. What we know for certain about Wood is he has raw power, projecting as a 70 on the 20-80 scale; he has excellent bat speed and accelerates through the ball with good extension, producing huge pull power. On the other hand, his aggressiveness at the plate and a tendency to fly open with his front shoulder (thus getting him under the ball too much) have led to declining averages and OBPs as he has moved up the system, and those weaknesses will only be further exploited in the majors. He also needs to improve his two-strike approach and learn to use the whole field. On defense, he has soft, quick hands and good footwork with a plus arm; he should be a well-above-average defender at third, and it's not out of the question that he could play short, although he probably will outgrow the position.
35	Carlos Gomez	OF	Minnesota Twins TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	22
Gomez can fly and will be one of the fastest players in the majors once he is there for good. The rest of his game needs work, as his substantial tools don't translate into immediate major league success. He has a very quick bat but relies on his wrists and hands, hitting off his front foot too often and never getting his weight back to drive balls, so he makes contact but right now doesn't project to hit for power. In the field, he is more advanced, running down balls in all directions in center field and showing a 60-65 arm on the 20-80 scale. He missed most of the second half of the 2007 season due to a broken hamate bone in his hand, an injury that can linger into the following season, so his short-term projection isn't bright, but he has star potential if he is given time and instruction.
36	Jarrod Parker	RHP	Arizona Diamondbacks TOP '07 LEVEL: H.S. (Indiana)	19
Parker offered the best package of any high school pitcher in this draft. A 6-foot right-hander from rural Indiana, he sports a 92-97 mph fastball and a hard 83-86 mph slider with outstanding tilt. He worked primarily as a two-pitch pitcher in high school, but he has an average changeup with decent fading action and flashes a curveball with good depth, giving reason to believe he will have a repertoire at least three pitches deep in the majors. He has a very quick arm and a clean delivery, and his only problem is his height, or lack thereof, which means he struggles to work down with his fastball and can get under his slider at times. Of course, Roy Oswalt is shorter than Parker, and he has done all right for himself, so there's plenty of cause for optimism in Arizona.
37	Matt LaPorta	LF/1B	Milwaukee Brewers TOP '07 LEVEL: A (West Virginia)	23
LaPorta had more raw power than any other bat in the 2007 draft, so despite his other limitations, Milwaukee took him with the seventh overall pick. The Brewers sent him to the Sally League, where he smoked 10 homers in just 102 plate appearances. LaPorta has light-tower pull power, getting good extension through the ball, but he can get too pull-conscious and roll over on soft stuff away. He projects as a classic "three true outcomes" player -- drawing walks, hitting homers and striking out often -- but not as someone who will hit for a great average. The Brewers talked about LaPorta as a left fielder, but his future is at first base, where he should be an above-average defender.
38	Daric Barton	1B	Oakland A's TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	22
People who didn't read or didn't understand Moneyball would refer to Barton as a Moneyball player, because he gets on base and isn't a great athlete. He was a first-round pick by St. Louis, which traded him to Oakland in the Mark Mulder deal, so it's hard to argue that the market undervalued his skills (which was the real point of the book). Now, Barton would be highly coveted by a number of clubs because he is big league ready and has a very advanced approach at the plate. The question is his power, which projects in only the 15-20 homer range, light for a first baseman. That increases the pressure on Barton to put up OBPs in the low .400s to provide sufficient offensive value. He has a good enough eye and good enough plate coverage to do it.
39	Nolan Reimold	OF	Baltimore Orioles TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Bowie)	24
Reimold's biggest problem as a pro has been staying on the field. He suffered foot and back injuries tied to weightlifting in 2006, then missed half of 2007 with a strained oblique. When he has been on the field and at full strength, however, he has hit for average and power and shown good patience. He has a simple swing and stays back well on the ball, hitting hard line drives to all fields. He doesn't have huge raw power like Matt LaPorta, but he should hit 20-plus homers consistently because he makes so much hard contact and has good loft in his swing. He has plenty of range to be plus in left or right field and has an average arm. He should be an above-average regular in the majors, posting consistently strong OBPs.
40	Taylor Teagarden	C	Texas Rangers TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Frisco)	24
Teagarden was drafted out of the University of Texas as a plus defensive catcher who might hit a little. He blew out his elbow after signing and required Tommy John surgery, but he has developed into a better offensive player than the Rangers could have hoped for. He has a strong base at the plate and centers the ball extremely well, peppering the middle of the field with line drives, staying back well on breaking balls and showing a good two-strike approach. His main remaining question mark is his arm, which finally showed signs of a full recovery in Arizona. It's not a swing or hitting plan that is going to produce more than doubles power, but a catcher who works the count, hits lots of singles and doubles, and has a plus arm and good receiving skills will be one of the top 10, maybe top five, catchers in the game.
41	Manny Parra	LHP	Milwaukee Brewers TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	25
Parra had spent most of his pro career battling arm injuries before a mostly healthy 2007 that saw him throw a perfect game and throw more than 100 innings in a season for just the second time. He would have set his career high had it not been for a broken thumb suffered at the end of August, ending his season. He has a solid three-pitch mix, including a slightly above-average fastball at 89-94 mph with some run, a slurvy breaking ball he buries down and in to right-handed hitters, and a solid-to-average changeup at 81-83 mph. His arm is quick, but there is some effort and length in his delivery, which might explain all the arm problems he has had. He projects as a No. 3 starter if he can stay healthy and refine his command.
42	Carlos Gonzalez	CF/RF	Oakland A's TOP '07 LEVEL: AAA (Tucson)	22
Gonzalez, the centerpiece of Oakland's haul in the Dan Haren trade, still has not seen his performance catch up to his tools. He has a smooth, simple, left-handed swing that should generate a ton of contact, but he is too pull-oriented and leaves himself exposed on the outer half. He already has 55 power and projects to have more as he fills out, but he will need to continue to work on his pitch recognition and approach to get to that level. On defense, he played mostly right field in the Arizona system, which was chock-full of center fielders, but he could return to center in the Oakland organization, giving him some star potential. He has an average arm for right field, but he gets good reads off the ball and should be fine in center if the A's choose to put him there.
43	Chase Headley	3B	San Diego Padres TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	23
Headley was one of the best performers in the minors in 2007, raising his profile from a potential No. 2 hitter (due to his extraordinary strike-zone judgment) to a potential middle-of-the-order bat. He has outstanding hand-eye coordination to go with that plate discipline, and that has more than made up for average bat speed to date, although you still will catch him cheating on better fastballs. He showed newfound power in 2007, the result of an offseason weight-training program, although even with the added muscle, he probably is limited to a 20-25 home run ceiling in the majors. His defense at third base is no worse than average and would be a significant improvement over Kevin Kouzmanoff's, making rumors of Headley's move to left field to accommodate the stone-handed Kouzmanoff silly.
44	Jeff Clement	C	Seattle Mariners TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	24
Clement is the same hitter today he was in college -- an extremely pull-oriented hitter with a hammer-throw swing and a big weakness on pitches middle-out. But his power is big enough that if he can provide Mike Piazza-like defense behind the plate, he will be an everyday catcher in the majors. Clement, a left-handed hitter, does show the potential to at least use the left-center gap, but he might be too old to change a one-note approach. Behind the plate, Clement is barely adequate as a receiver or a thrower, and he has had on-and-off elbow trouble that gives us reason to think he won't be anything more than that. Catchers who can pop 25-plus homers are rare commodities, so look for Clement to end up a starter somewhere.
45	Ian Kennedy	RHP	New York Yankees TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	23
Kennedy's stuff alone would put him in the lower reaches of this list. He is here because he has superb command of average or fringe-average stuff, so superb that he is going to succeed in the majors where many guys with superior stuff will fail. He works with a fringe-average fastball that touches 90 mph on occasion but mostly falls in the 87-88 mph range, and he commands it to all four edges of the zone. His best secondary pitch is his changeup, slightly above average with some tailing action, but it works extremely well because he keeps his arm speed consistent. His curve is solidly average as well. Kennedy repeats his delivery as well as any prospect on this list, commands all of his pitches and has a great feel for pitching. With plus stuff, he would be in the top 10 overall, but with his stuff, he will have to settle for an upside as a borderline No. 3 starter or a great No. 4 starter.
46	Michael Main	RHP	Texas Rangers TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Spokane)	19
Main, one of the top two-way talents in the 2007 draft, could have been a first-rounder as a hitter but was a definite first-rounder off the bump. On his best days, he will pitch 95-96 mph and hit 98 mph, and on his worst days, he will pitch at 92-95 and hit 97. His power curve has a sharp downward bite, and he is becoming more consistent with the pitch, while his changeup also is showing progress. He is a superb athlete who probably could serve as a fifth outfielder in the big leagues if the manager were willing to be clever with his bench. Main repeats his delivery well, and with improvement in his command and secondary pitches, he has a shot to develop into a No. 1 starter. Right now, he projects as a No. 2 or 3.
47	Mike Moustakas	SS (?)	Kansas City Royals TOP '07 LEVEL: Rookie (Idaho Falls)	19
Moustakas was an exciting two-way prospect in the draft and had a lot of hype in late spring because of his performances as a hitter and pitcher. He is up to 97 mph off the mound with a sharp slider that projects as plus, but he is short (in baseball terms) with a non-traditional build for a pitcher, so the Royals took him as a position player. He has great bat speed and good hand-eye coordination with a solid two-strike approach. He has line-drive power and projects to hit for average and doubles rather than homers. His biggest problem is the lack of a clear position. He's not a shortstop, and he's only going to get bigger, which might preclude second base as well. He could slide to third base, given his arm strength, but the hot corner is occupied in Kansas City, and conceivably, he could become too big to stay anywhere in the infield. The Royals have indicated they don't wish to push him behind the plate, a position for which he is ideally built, as the transition would push back his ETA a year or two. The positional question holds down his value as a prospect.
48	German Duran	2B/3B	Texas Rangers TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Frisco)	23
Duran wasn't a highly regarded hitting prospect out of Texas Christian University in 2005, going in the sixth round, 16 picks behind potential 2008 first-rounder Lance Lynn. But he exploded on the scene in 2007 with strong showings in Double-A, the Futures Game and the Arizona Fall League. He has a very quick bat and takes a short path to the ball, centering very well. He is so strong up top that he drives balls out to left and left-center, helped by excellent follow-through in his swing. He has plenty of arm for third base and has average range at second base, giving the Rangers plenty of flexibility on his future position.
49	Reid Brignac	SS	Tampa Bay Rays TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Montgomery)	22
After a huge 2006 season, Brignac regressed at the plate in 2007, but he still projects as an everyday shortstop in the majors. His setup at the plate is unusual, with his hands starting high and back over his shoulder, which takes away some of the benefit of his plus bat speed by creating length in his swing. He doesn't keep his body in line with his swing -- he mistimes his hips, and he doesn't keep his head steady. So why is he here? Because he is strong with quick wrists, good bat speed, above-average power and good range at shortstop. He will be an offensive shortstop in the majors, and he is athletic enough to improve somewhat in the field, which would make him a borderline All-Star.
50	Hu Chin-Lung	SS	Los Angeles Dodgers TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	24
Hu has an incredible combination of defensive ability and instincts that should net him a long career in the majors. His ceiling is entirely determined by how much he hits, and the jury on that one is still out. He has good bat speed and excellent bat control, putting the ball in play and trying to pepper the outfield with line drives. He needs to show this year that he can turn on some hard stuff inside. He never is going to hit for power, and his OBPs always will be driven by batting average. In the field, Hu is a wizard and a future fan favorite. He has plus range in both directions and a strong, accurate arm. But best of all is his natural feel for the game and constant awareness of game situations. If he keeps getting stronger, he should be an All-Star shortstop at the big league level who competes for Gold Gloves.

# -- player's age as of April 1, 2008
* -- pitched one inning in the majors; before that, he pitched for Class A Potomac.

RANK	PLAYER	POS.	ORGANIZATION	#AGE
51	Ross Detwiler	LHP	Washington Nationals TOP '07 LEVEL: *Majors	22
Detwiler is a polished lefty from Missouri State who should move quickly through the Nats' system, although the Nationals' decision to recall him in September was a bit enthusiastic (and shortsighted, since it put him on the 40-man roster sooner than necessary). Detwiler is tall and thin, but has broad shoulders and should be durable despite concerns about his slight build at the moment. His fastball is already above average at 90-94 and flashes plus, and his slider projects as an out pitch if he can stay on top of it consistently, giving it a sharp, late bite. He has a solid-average changeup with good arm speed to fill out his repertoire, as well as a show-me curve. He's a strike thrower with good feel, so while his ceiling is limited to mid-rotation duty, he's a high-probability prospect who should be in Washington's rotation soon.
52	James McDonald	RHP	Los Angeles Dodgers TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Jacksonville)	23
McDonald signed as a pitcher as a draft-and-follow prospect, hurt his arm, moved to the outfield, hurt his coaches by not hitting a lick and moved back to the mound, where he's hurt opposing hitters by racking up K's like there might be a run on the strikeout banks. McDonald is Clay Buchholz Lite: average fastball or slightly below, above-average curve and changeup, good control and feel for pitching. His curve gets swings and misses in the minors, but it's a bit of a slow roller and he'll have to use it more sparingly in the big leagues unless he can tighten its rotation.
53	Carlos Carrasco	RHP	Philadelphia Phillies TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Reading)	21
The Phillies' system is not strong, and Carrasco is the one legitimate above-average prospect in it at the moment. Carrasco's best attribute is his easy velocity, mostly 90-94 and touching 95 at times, with fringe-average command. His secondary stuff is a work in progress, with his short downer curveball ahead of his changeup, on which he slows his arm too much. Because his arm works well, it's possible to project him as someone who'll have three average pitches down the road, and he might pick up a few more miles an hour as he fills out or if he lengthens his stride a bit, all of which would make him a solid No. 3 starter in the majors.
54	Matt Dominguez	3B	Florida Marlins TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Jamestown)	18
Dominguez is a solid offensive and defensive infielder with a chance to be a star in both aspects of the game. He's somewhat raw for a California product, but has a quick bat and good straightaway raw power. He tends to drift through his swing rather than gathering his weight and powering through the ball, something that can be fixed through instruction. At third, he has a plus arm and reads the ball well off the bat, and he projects as a Gold Glove-caliber defender down the road.
55	Jed Lowrie	SS/2B	Boston Red Sox TOP '07 LEVEL: AAA (Pawtucket)	23
Lowrie has transformed himself since his time as a second baseman at Stanford, where he put up excellent offensive stats with an extreme metal-bat swing and was below-average defensively. Now he's a capable hitter from both sides of the plate with a real (that means wood) bat, and he's good enough defensively to handle shortstop every day in the majors. Lowrie centers the ball extremely well -- the one thing that has carried over from college -- and takes a short path to the ball. He shows more strength in his swing from the right side, but his left-handed swing is very compact with good extension at the end, and he should be a legitimate switch-hitter in the majors. On defense, his range should be adequate at short, and his transfer on the double play is lightning-quick. He could step in right now and play short (or second) for a number of big league clubs, and he has to be putting pressure on the Sox to think about moving Julio Lugo.
56	Joey Votto	1B	Cincinnati Reds TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	24
Votto is similar to the player he'll eventually replace in Cincinnati, Scott Hatteberg, but with a bit more power. Votto's calling card is his plate discipline, as he's drawn at least 69 unintentional walks in four of his five full seasons in the pros. He has a max-effort swing that produces average to slightly above-average power, and while he stays back well on the ball, he has a hard time changing his swing once he's committed to a pitch. He's average defensively at first but looked somewhat Ryan Klesko-esque in a trial in left field last year.
57	Fautino de los Santos	RHP	Oakland A's TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Winston-Salem)	22
De los Santos was the potential star among the three players the A's received from the White Sox for Nick Swisher. He's a two-pitch pitcher with a 91-95 mph fastball with some late life and a hard breaking ball with a sharp 11-to-5 break. His command is below average, and he has a tendency to leave his front shoulder open, especially when throwing the breaking ball, and he doesn't have a solid third pitch. At worst, he projects as a power two-pitch reliever in a set-up or closer role, but he has a chance to mature into a top-of-the-rotation starter.
58	Justin Masterson	RHP	Boston Red Sox TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Portland)	23
Masterson has worked primarily as a starter in college and in the minors, but his future is in the bullpen. He's a two-pitch pitcher who comes from a low three-quarter slot, generating plus sink on a fastball that's 85-89 mph when he's pitching in the rotation but has been comfortably in the low 90s when he's relieved in the past. He has a tight low-80s slider with a short and very sharp break that gives him his best chance to miss bats. His changeup is well below average, and it's hard to turn a pitch like that over from his arm slot; as a result, lefties have hit him increasingly hard as he's moved up the ladder. He should appear in the Red Sox's pen this year.
59	Tim Alderson	RHP	San Francisco Giants TOP '07 LEVEL: Rookie (Ariz.)	19
Alderson's an odd bird, working from the stretch even with no one on base. His fastball is already solid-average at 90-94 mph, with more velocity to come down the road. He pounds the strike zone and shows good command. His best secondary pitch is a hard curveball with tight rotation and a late two-plane break, while his changeup is a ways off. Alderson comes at hitters from a low three-quarter slot, and his arm is very quick, so the ball pops out of his hand and gets in on hitters quickly. He has some minor mechanical issues that will require work, including a slightly stiff front leg and a tendency to throw across his body to get deep to his glove side, but nothing that would prevent him from becoming a No. 2 or 3 starter in the majors.
60	Eric Hurley	RHP	Texas Rangers TOP '07 LEVEL: AAA (Okla. City)	22
Hurley projects more as a two-pitch reliever than as a starter in the big leagues, although the Rangers will probably give him a shot in the rotation before they force a conversion. He has a fastball just above average, 91-94, touching 95, and a power slider with good tilt and depth. His delivery leaves a lot to be desired, as there's a fair amount of effort required and he doesn't get his lower half involved, and he has yet to develop an adequate third pitch to get lefties out consistently. He also has a tendency to get under the ball, which will lead to a lot of home runs in Arlington. The arm is live, he throws strikes and he works well to both sides of the plate, so he's going to have success in some role, but he'll need at least a third pitch to earn a spot in the rotation.
61	J.R. Towles	C	Houston Astros TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	24
Towles has had little trouble hitting for average throughout his pro career, but it will be interesting to see what he does when consistently facing big league pitching. Towles sets up with a big, deep load and almost locks his lead elbow; as a result, his plate coverage isn't great and he struggles to reach the ball down, getting very long with an exaggerated finish just to reach balls in the lower third of the zone. He's a dead-pull hitter, which is a good thing for a right-handed bat in Houston's ballpark, but he'll have to show he can adjust to the ball away as well as down. His arm is fringe-average and he's an adequate plate blocker, but isn't plus in any aspect of his defense. Given his performance history, he should be at least an everyday catcher in the majors, but he's not a star and may settle in as a barely average regular.
62	Nick Weglarz	LF	Cleveland Indians TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Kinston)	20
Weglarz is still young and a good three or four years off, but he's showing signs of developing into a middle-of-the-order bat. Weglarz has a patient approach and works to get to a pitch he can drive, either to pull or hit to the opposite field. He has quick wrists and centers balls well, and generates some power through the natural loft in his swing, but needs to work on powering through the ball rather than striding first and then connecting. In left field he's a work in progress and may end up at first base, where developing that home run power will be more critical.
63	Brett Cecil	LHP	Toronto Blue Jays TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Auburn)	21
Cecil is one of the best pure-closer prospects in the minors, although it's not out of the question that Toronto could try to convert him to the rotation. Cecil has two plus pitches already in a 91-94 mph fastball with good bore and a sharp, diving 83-86 mph slider, and his curveball has good depth and isn't far from average already. His arm action is a bit long, but it's fluid and he repeats his delivery well in relief. He made two starts for Maryland last spring, going over 140 pitches in his first one -- gotta love college coaches -- and he does have the size most teams want to see in a starter. If he stays in the pen, he should move quickly and could debut in the majors this year.
64	Chris Marrero	1B	Washington Nationals TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Potomac)	19
Marrero is a classic "stuck at first base" player -- can't play anywhere else and isn't a plus defender at first -- who will have to hit his way to the big leagues. His best tool is his power, both to pull and to the opposite field, but the rest of his game has holes. His bat is somewhat slow and his swing is long, making it questionable whether he'll be able to show power against better stuff in the high minors. His defense at first is adequate but won't be an asset. He's here because there's a good chance he hits 25-30 homers once he gets to the majors, but the rest of his skill set will keep him from being a star.
65	Felipe Paulino	RHP	Houston Astros TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	24
A converted infielder, Paulino has reportedly hit triple digits in the past, and he'd probably do so again as a reliever, which is his ultimate role. Working as a starter, Paulino has a 93-94 mph four-seamer that's true but has some late life, allowing him to miss some bats in the upper half of the zone. His potential out pitch is a hard 12-to-6 curve from 76 to 81 mph, with a sharp, late, downward break. It's not a consistent pitch for him, and when he relies on his four-seamer too heavily, hitters can sit on it, making him homer-prone. In relief, however, Paulino should see a tick up in velocity and be able to work more effectively without a third pitch.
66	Tommy Hanson	RHP	Atlanta Braves TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Myrtle Beach)	21
Atlanta took Hanson out of Riverside Junior College in 2005, paying him over $300,000 to buy him out of a scholarship to Arizona State, and he's the best pitching prospect remaining in the Braves' system after the massive Mark Teixeira deal last summer. Hanson already runs his fastball up to 91-95 mph, but at a somewhat slight 6-foot-6, he still has projection left in his body. He also features an above-average curveball and an average change, while his stuff plays up because he has good deception in his delivery. His arm action is fluid and his command is improving. He's a few years off, although Atlanta has tended to promote pitchers quickly once they show that their command is good enough to handle the next level.
67	Aaron Poreda	LHP	Chicago White Sox TOP '07 LEVEL: Rookie (Great Falls)	21
Poreda is still a project, but he brings one undeniable tool to the table. Left-handers with plus velocity (93-97 consistently, with anecdotal reports of 98 plus) and excellent sink to generate ground balls are rare birds, making Poreda a very good value for a late first-round selection. His secondary stuff remains raw. He's messed around with a curveball and slider, with the latter showing more promise, and his low three-quarter arm slot has made it hard for him to master a changeup. He's big and can hold his velocity, but the White Sox should move him slowly to give him time to develop at least one -- preferably two -- average offspeed pitches so he can fulfill his promise as a No. 2 or 3 starter.
68	Kyle Blanks	1B	San Diego Padres TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Lake Elsinore)	21
The Padres have been light on power-hitting prospects for several years now, preferring polished college hitters in the draft who bring more probability to the table but less upside. They snagged Kyle Blanks in the 42nd round in 2004 out of high school, and he exploded this year into their second-best offensive prospect. Blanks is strong and athletic at 6-foot-6; while he's limited to first base, he's more than playable there, but his ticket to the majors is his bat. He has a simple swing with good loft and powers through the ball, keeping his hips in almost perfect sync with his hands for maximum impact. Blanks' zone is big and he can get long when trying to cover pitches down, similar to Richie Sexson, who would be a good comparison for Blanks if the latter can improve his patience.
69	Chris Davis	3B	Texas Rangers TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Frisco)	22
We're comfortably in one-big-skill territory in this section of the rankings, and Davis has -- you guessed it -- one big skill: raw power that grades out comfortably at 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. Davis is extremely strong and powers balls out to right and right center with a pull-oriented approach. His plate discipline is weak and he's susceptible to even average offspeed stuff. His future at third is questionable, with a move to first the most likely outcome.
70	Ian Stewart	3B	Colorado Rockies TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	22
After his full-season debut Stewart looked like a No. 3 hitter with the potential to hit .300/.400/.550 when he reached his peak, but he's slid backward each year since, and now projects as more of a .280/.350/.440-type hitter who can contribute but isn't a star. Stewart has a lot of extra movement in his swing that limits his contact rate and robs him of some power before he reaches the ball, although he gets good extension when he squares a ball up. He's solid-average or better defensively at third and wouldn't be a drop-off in overall value from Garrett Atkins should the Rockies decide to trade their incumbent third baseman for other help.
71	Sean Gallagher	RHP	Chicago Cubs TOP '07 LEVEL: Majors	22
Gallagher could step in as the fifth starter right now for most noncontending clubs, and has a good chance to end up a solid No. 4 in the majors. He works with a three-pitch mix: a 92-94 mph four-seamer that's a little too true, a tight 12-to-6 curve that gets swings and misses for him and a solid-average changeup with some fading action. His control is above average but his command is below, and despite having a quick arm there's some effort in his delivery that may hold his command back long term.
72	Fernando Perez	CF	Tampa Bay Rays TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Montgomery)	24
Perez has a heck of a story -- a high school soccer star and Columbia grad who had limited baseball experience when he signed, but who has shown very rapid improvement in some of the most difficult areas of the game, including pitch recognition (where he's already plus) and reading balls off the bat (still needs work, but getting better). Perez has a quick bat and something of an inside-out swing geared toward contact over power, and he's a 70 runner who still needs to learn the art of base stealing. Because he gets on base and can play a passable center field already, he projects as a solid leadoff guy, but despite his age there's a chance he could improve beyond that.
73	Mitch Boggs	RHP	St. Louis Cardinals TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Springfield)	24
Boggs could pitch in the majors right now as a reliever, although the Cardinals have been developing him as a starter due to his durable frame and ability to hold his stuff through 90-plus pitches. Boggs has a plus pitch in his 93-96 mph fastball and a future-plus pitch in his sharp downer breaking ball at 82-84 mph. His fastball command, especially to his glove side, needs work and may just result from a little herky-jerky movement early in his delivery. More troubling is that for some reason he has struggled to miss bats despite his solid stuff, which would portend a move to the bullpen long term unless he finds a way to finish hitters off.
74	Henry Sosa	RHP	San Francisco Giants TOP '07 LEVEL: A (San Jose)	22
Sosa has a live arm in a system that now has more than its share of live arms. He has a promising three-pitch mix, sitting at 92-94 and touching 97 on his fastball and sporting a power curveball in the mid-80s and a solid-average changeup with good arm speed. His control is poor and his feel for pitching is weak. He's too happy to try to overpower guys with heat rather than use his secondary stuff to put guys away. His delivery is odd with a dice-roller arm action and problems rushing his arm through, neither of which is conducive to good fastball command. He shouldn't move up quickly, but if he's given time he has a chance to be a No. 2 or 3 starter.
75	Jeremy Hellickson	RHP	Tampa Bay Rays TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Columbus)	20
Hellickson has outstanding command of a solid-average fastball at 90-94 mph, but lacks a plus secondary pitch to allow him to continue to rack up strikeouts at higher levels. He comes at hitters from a low three-quarter slot that makes the ball appear very late to right-handed hitters. Hellickson was effective against lefties in 2007, but he'll have to improve his changeup (which he turns over well but which comes in too hard) to keep that up at higher levels. His breaking ball is slurvy and inconsistent, but he will throw some with a sharper, two-plane break. Right-handers with good command of average fastballs pitch in the big leagues in the backs of rotations, so for Hellickson to be more than a No. 4 or 5 starter, he'll have to dial up one of those secondary pitches.

# -- player's age as of April 1, 2008

RANK	PLAYER	POS.	ORGANIZATION	#AGE
76	Josh Donaldson	C	Chicago Cubs TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Boise)	22
Donaldson's huge pro debut may be setting unrealistic expectations, but he could end up a steal at the 48th overall pick. Primarily a third baseman in college, he's playable already behind the plate with soft hands, good footwork and a solid-average arm. He centers balls well and has above-average raw power, but he tends to lunge for the ball too often instead of staying back.
77	Chris Nelson	SS	Colorado Rockies TOP '07 LEVEL: A (Modesto)	22
Nelson's career had been a disappointment before 2007 due to injuries and poor performance, but he re-established some value with a big year in the hitter-friendly California League. He does several things well but lacks a single outstanding tool; he should hit for some average and some power; he's an above-average runner but not a burner; he's adequate at short but not a Gold Glover. This doesn't affect his rating, but he is also hopelessly blocked in Colorado behind Troy Tulowitzki.
78	John Jaso	C	Tampa Bay Rays TOP '07 LEVEL: AA (Montgomery)	24
If it was a certainty that Jaso could catch, he'd be in the top 40. He's a pull-oriented hitter with good power and a quick bat, although his swing gets long and he can hook balls slightly. He's fringy behind the plate in all aspects, including a below-average arm.