Balls, Bulls, Bears!

This is refreshing. A prospect list that doesn’t look past 2010, instead choosing to focus on what the prospects will accomplish in 2010 and 2010 alone.

Jason Grey over at ESPN gives it a go, all the while trying to make it abundantly clear that this is a list for April to October, 2010.

1. , OF, Braves

My Take: Nothing new here. Heyward just keeps impressing and every day it looks more and more like he’ll start the season in the show.

2. , SP, Nationals

My Take: I think he should start in the high-minors — It just seems like the right move. Undoubtedly, the fans will be calling for him when the Nationals start the season 0-and-1.

3. , SS, Brewers

My Take: I’m not a huge Escobar fan, but he could be useful in fantasy. The stolen bases are there, and the kid can slap the ball enough to get on base, but so much of his value will be tied up in where he bats in the Brewers’ lineup.

4. Wade Davis, SP, Rays

My Take: Davis is seemingly a veteran. He’s definitely got the stuff and is worth a late round flier.

5. Brian Matusz, SP, Orioles

My Take: Love this kid, it’s just too bad that he doesn’t have any licensed cards on the market.

6. Scott Sizemore, 2B, Tigers

7. , OF, Rays

My Take: Everything you look for in an outfield prospect. Hopefully he manages to grab a starting gig and hold it for the season, but there’s a tonne of competition in Tampa.

8. , SP, Rangers

My Take: Throws hard. Might be more useful as a reliever than a starter in the fantasy world, but the Rangers need to move him to a SP to get even the slightest return on investment.

9. , C, Indians

My Take: While Montero might be a better long-term prospect; it’s Santana’s year.

10. , OF, Tigers

My Take: From overvalued to undervalued, just like that. Because Yanks fans know his name, his cards are still selling for higher than they should be.

11. Brett Wallace, 3B/1B, Blue Jays

My Take: Wallace needs to find a spot to play. The Blue Jays are so awful this year, it really doesn’t make sense to rush any of their prospects. If he does mash in AAA, he’ll be joining last year’s #6 overall prospect, , for years to come.

12. , 1B, A’s

My Take: Carter can kill the ball, but he needs a smidgen more refining. I think he contributes this year.

13. Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Pirates

My Take: Never really liked him. I don’t follow him.

14. , 2B, Rockies

My Take: Young Jr. was last year’s AFL Cinderella story and absolutely everyone wanted him to break camp as a big-leaguer. He’s got the speed to make a difference and a good chunk of versatility.

15. , 1B, Marlins

16. Gaby Sanchez, 1B/3B, Marlins

17. Justin Smoak, 1B, Rangers

My Take: Smoak’s going to find a home in Texas, it’s just a matter of what month. ’ statistics are painful to look at, and while Texas can’t just give up on him, there’s no reason to let Smoak waste away.

18. , SP, Rays

19. Josh Bell, 3B, Orioles

20. Alex Avila, C, Tigers

21. Daniel Hudson, SP, White Sox

22. , OF, A’s

My Take: The Perfect Outfielder. Wallace for Taylor was a great swap on both parts and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Taylor up sooner rather than later.

23. , OF, Indians

24. , 3B, Cardinals

25. Chris Heisey, OF, Reds

26. Michael Saunders, OF, Mariners

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I’ve posted up the current list of Non-Roster Invitees here, but occasionally it’s difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff. Some teams have their prospects already on the roster; other teams just enjoy inviting 42-year old grizzly Canadians over prospects. As is generally the case, any catcher with a pulse will get an invite to Spring Training so there’s a decent amount of 2009 Draft Picks that’ll make the list.

Boston Red Sox

Casey Kelly: Elite Prospect. Focusing Solely on Pitching.
: 2007 Draft, 3rd Round, 320K Signing Bonus. Mid-90′s fastball w/ life.
: Solid Catcher. Some Power. Impressive late showing in AA and the AFL. Should arrive in 2011.
: Stock’s dropped. K’s too much. Power Frame not producing expected results.
: Interesting prospect. AA wasn’t kind to him in 2009. Moves around defensively. Solid build for MI.
Che-Hsuan Lin: 2007 Int’l FA, 400K Sign. Athletic. Plus defensive tools. Contact needs improving. Swing needs simplifying.

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When it comes to pitching prospects, the Baltimore Orioles really know how to stash ‘em. The AL East is stacked full of top-notch, five star, prospects and the Orioles are responsible for the majority of the men on the mound.

Marc Hulet takes a peek at the entire Orioles system:

1. Brian Matusz, LHP, Majors
DOB: February 1987 Bats: Left Throws: Left
Signed: 2008 1st round – University of San Diego
MLB ETA: Now 40-Man Roster: Yes Options: 2
Repertoire: 88-94 mph fastball, plus curveball, slider, change-up

2. Josh Bell, 3B, Double-A
DOB: November 1986 Bats: Both Throws: Right
Signed: 2005 4th round – Florida HS (Los Angeles NL)
MLB ETA: mid-2010 40-Man Roster: Yes Options: 3

3. , RHP, Double-A
DOB: December 1987 Bats: Right Throws: Right
Signed: 2005 3rd round – Maryland HS
MLB ETA: Late-2010 40-Man Roster: Yes Options: 3
Repertoire: 88-94 mph fastball, slider, change-up

4. , RHP, Double-A
DOB: March 1986 Bats: Right Throws: Right
Signed: 2007 5th round – Texas Christian University
MLB ETA: Late-2010 40-Man Roster: No Options: 3
Repertoire: 87-93 mph fastball, slider, change-up

5. , LHP, High-A
DOB: December 1987 Bats: Left Throws: Left
Signed: 2006 3rd round – Texas HS
MLB ETA: Mid-2011 40-Man Roster: No Options: 3
Repertoire: 88-93 mph fastball, slider, curveball, change-up

6. , 1B, Triple-A
DOB: November 1986 Bats: Right Throws: Right
Signed: 2005 1st round – Virginia HS
MLB ETA: Mid-2010 40-Man Roster: Yes Options: 3

7. Caleb Joseph, C, High-A
DOB: June 1986 Bats: Right Throws: Right
Signed: 2008 7th round – Lipscomb University
MLB ETA: Late-2011 40-Man Roster: No Options: 3

8. , RHP, Majors
DOB: May 1984 Bats: Right Throws: Right
Signed: 2006 18th round – Utah Valley State College (Seattle)
MLB ETA: Now 40-Man Roster: Yes Options: 2
Repertoire: 89-95 mph fastball, slider, change-up

9. Troy Patton, LHP, Triple-A
DOB: September 1985 Bats: Both Throws: Left
Signed: 2004 9th round – Texas HS (Houston)
MLB ETA: Mid-2010 40-Man Roster: Yes Options: 2
Repertoire: 87-91 mph fastball, slider, change-up

10. , 3B, Double-A
DOB: January 1986 Bats: Right Throws: Right
Signed: 2007 7th round – Wofford College (Cincinnati)
MLB ETA: Late-2010 40-Man Roster: No Options: 3

ESPN pays Keith Law a rather large wad of cash-money to analyze and rank wads of prospects. Law generally offers an interesting top-100 by sticking to his guns regardless of whether or not a player’s improved. If Keith Law says a prospect has a looping swing, it doesn’t matter if the player ever changes his swing; To Keith, nothing’s changed and he’ll proceed to rank that prospect lower than any of the other major sources.

1 , OF, ATL
2 , RHP, WAS
3 , C, CLE
4 , C, SFO
5 , OF, FLA
6 , OF, TAM
7 , LHP, TEX
8 , CF, SEA
9 Justin Smoak, 1B, TEX
10 , C, NYY
11 Brian Matusz, LHP, BAL
12 , SS, CHC
13 , RHP, TEX
14 Domonic Brown, RF, PHI
15 Wade Davis, RHP, TAM
16 Aroldis Chapman, LHP, CIN
17 , RHP, TAM
18 Casey Kelly, RHP, BOS
19 Aaron Hicks, RHP, MIN
20 Brett Wallace, 1B, TOR
21 , 1B, FLA
22 , LHP, COL
23 , RHP, NYM
24 , OF, OAK
25 , LHP, BAL
26 , 3B, CLE
27 , OF, SDG
28 , LHP, SFO
29 Tim Beckham, SS, TAM
30 , 3B, CHC
31 , C, WAS
32 Ryan Westmoreland, OF, BOS
33 , 1B, OAK
34 Eric Hosmer, 1B, KAN
35 Pedro Alvarez, 3B, PIT
36 , LHP, COL
37 , RHP, ARI
38 Shelby Miller, RHP, STL
39 Dee Gordon, SS, LAD
40 , RHP, TOR
41 , 3B, NYM
42 , C, MIN
43 Arodys Vizcaino, RHP, ATL
44 Carlos Triunfel, 2B, SEA
45 Casey Crosby, LHP, DET
46 Simon Castro, RHP, SDG
47 Brett Lawrie, 2B, MIL
48 , LHP, COL
49 , OF, LAA
50 Jay Jackson, RHP, CHC
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The Orioles system is lookin’ damn fine. You need a left handed pitcher? What about a righty? Power? Control? They’ve got it all.

Will Lingo over at Baseball America puts together the Orioles Top-10 Prospects.

1. Brian Matusz, lhp
2. Josh Bell, 3b
3. , lhp
4. , rhp
5. , rhp
6. , 1b
7. , rhp
8. , rhp
9. Mychal Givens, ss
10. Caleb Joseph, c

John Sickels put together his version of the Baltimore Orioles top prospect list, but originally and inexplicably had Matusz as a B+. Thankfully Sickels has moved Brian Matusz to an A and all is right with the world.

1) Brian Matusz, LHP, Grade A
2) , RHP, Grade B+
3) , LHP, Grade B+
4) Josh Bell, 3B, Grade B
5) , RHP, Grade B
6) , 1B, Grade B-
7) , RHP, Grade B-
8) Mychal Givens, SS, Grade B-
9) , 3B-1B, Grade C+
10) , RHP, Grade C+

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