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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Kevin Goldstein takes a look at Pittsburgh’s Top-Prospect list. The Pirates have improved ten-fold since Huntington took office. Here’s Basbeall Prospectus’ look at the Pirates’ system:

Five-Star Prospects
1. Pedro Alvarez, 3B
Four-Star Prospects
2. , C
3. , OF
Three-Star Prospects
4. Starling Marte, OF
5. Chase D’Arnaud, SS
6. , RHP
7. , OF
8. Colton Cain, LHP
9. Rudy Owens, LHP
10. Zack Von Rosenberg, RHP
Two-Star Prospects
11. , RHP

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Marc Hulet of Fangraphs takes the time to examine the wonderful work done by Pirates’ GM, Neal Huntington.

Huntington has had two very solid drafts in a row, opting for top-tier talent last year in Pedro Alvarez and quantity over quality this year. Two solid approaches, two very good drafts.

While was an overdraft to save some coin, he impressed in his pro debut.

1. Pedro Alvarez, 3B, High-A
DOB: February 1987 Bats: L Throws: R
Signed: 2008 1st round – Vanderbilt University
MLB ETA: Mid-2010 40-Man Roster: Yes Options: 2

2. , RHP, Double-A
DOB: May 1985 Bats: L Throws: R
Signed: 2006 1st round – University of Houston
MLB ETA: Mid-2010 40-Man Roster: Yes Options: 3
Repertoire: 90-95 mph fastball, curveball, change-up

3. , OF, Triple-A
DOB: August 1988 Bats: R Throws: R
Signed: 2005 non-drafted international free agent (Venezuela – New York Yankees)
MLB ETA: Mid-2010 40-Man Roster: Yes Options: 3

4. , RHP, Double-A
DOB: November 1988 Bats: R Throws: R
Signed: 2007 1st round – Arizona HS (San Francisco Giants)
MLB ETA: Mid-2010 40-Man Roster: No Options: 3
Repertoire: 86-92 mph fastball, plus curveball, change-up

5. , LHP, High-A
DOB: November 1987 Bats: L Throws: L
Signed: 2006 2nd round – New Hampshire HS (Atlanta Braves)
MLB ETA: 40-Man Roster: Options:
Repertoire: 89-93 mph fastball, curveball, change-up

6. Chase D’Arnaud, SS, High-A
DOB: January 1987 Bats: R Throws: R
Signed: 2008 4th round – Pepperdine University
MLB ETA: Mid-2011 40-Man Roster: No Options: 3

7. Rudy Owens, LHP, Low-A
DOB: December 1987 Bats: L Throws: L
Signed: 2006 28th round – Arizona HS
MLB ETA: Mid-2012 40-Man Roster: No Options: 3
Repertoire: 86-90 mph fastball, curveball, plus change-up

8. Starling Marte, OF, Low-A
DOB: October 1988 Bats: R Throws: R
Signed: 2007 non-drafted international free agent (Dominican Republic)
MLB ETA: Late-2012 40-Man Roster: No Options: 3

9. , OF, High-A
DOB: September 1987 Bats: R Throws: R
Signed: 2007 non-drafted international free agent (Venezuela – Atlanta Braves)
MLB ETA: Mid-2011 40-Man Roster: Yes Options: 3

10. , RHP, Rookie Ball
DOB: November 1989 Bats: R Throws: R
Signed: 2008 20th round – New Jersey HS
MLB ETA: Mid-2013 40-Man Roster: No Options: 3
Repertoire: 88-94 mph fastball, slider, change-up

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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John Sickels puts together his list of Top-20 Pittsburgh Pirates prospects over at minorleagueball.com

1) Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Grade A
2) , OF, Grade B
3) , C, Grade B
4) Zack Von Rosenberg, RHP, Grade B-
5) , RHP, Grade B-
6) , RHP, Grade C+
7) Chase D’arnaud, INF, Grade C+
8) Starling Marte, OF, Grade C+
9) Rudy Owens, LHP, Grade C+
10) Ronald Uviedo, RHP, Grade C+

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John Perrotto had the pleasure of drawing up one of the more interesting systems in the league. Alvarez appears to be healthy and Tabata still makes scouts drool with his ceiling rather than his fists.

Recently acquired ’s in the midst of a free-fall, but there’s no reason he can’t return to his SF form.

. Pedro Alvarez, 3b
2. , of
3. , c
4. , rhp
5. Chase D’Arnaud, ss/2b

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