Baseball Prospectus is proud to present its Top 100 Prospects list for 2009. Compiled by Kevin Goldstein after months of research and analysis, the list represents the best balance of skills analysis and performance analysis in the industry.
For expanded commentary on all 100 players and many more, pick up Baseball Prospectus 2009, available at Amazon.com now and in bookstores nationwide.
1. Matt Wieters, C, Orioles
2. David Price, LHP, Rays
3. Madison Bumgarner, LHP, Giants
4. Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Pirates
5. Travis Snider, OF, Blue Jays
6. Neftali Feliz, RHP, Rangers
7. Rick Porcello, RHP, Tigers
8. Colby Rasmus, OF, Cardinals
9. Buster Posey, C, Giants
10. Jason Heyward, OF, Braves
11. Cameron Maybin, OF, Marlins
12. Dexter Fowler, OF, Rockies
13. Tommy Hanson, RHP, Braves
14. Mike Stanton, OF, Marlins
15. Tim Beckham, SS, Rays
16. Chris Tillman, RHP, Orioles
17. Lars Anderson, 1B, Red Sox
18. Eric Hosmer, 1B, Royals
19. Brian Matusz, LHP, Orioles
20. Michael Ynoa, RHP, Athletics
21. Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals
22. Justin Smoak, 1B, Rangers
23. Trevor Cahill, RHP, Athletics
24. Brett Anderson, LHP, Athletics
25. Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates
26. Matt Dominguez, 3B, Marlins
27. Jhoulys Chacin, RHP, Rockies
28. Gordon Beckham, SS, White Sox
29. Wade Davis, RHP, Rays
30. Matt LaPorta, 1B, Indians
31. Michael Bowden, RHP, Red Sox
32. Jarrod Parker, RHP, Diamondbacks
33. Carlos Santana, C, Indians
34. Josh Vitters, 3B, Cubs
35. Yonder Alonso, 1B, Reds
36. Ben Revere, OF, Twins
37. Brett Wallace, 3B, Cardinals
38. Jesus Montero, C, Yankees
39. Aaron Hicks, OF, Twins
40. Derek Holland, LHP, Rangers
41. J.P. Arencibia, C, Blue Jays
42. Greg Halman, OF, Mariners
43. Carlos Carrasco, RHP, Phillies
44. Fernando Martinez, OF, Mets
45. Wilin Rosario, C, Rockies
46. Austin Jackson, CF, Yankees
47. Angel Villalona, 1B, Giants
48. Chris Carter, 1B, Athletics
49. Desmond Jennings, OF, Rays
50. Jordan Schafer, OF, Braves
51. Alcides Escobar, SS, Brewers
52. Jake Arrieta, RHP, Orioles
53. Logan Morrison, 1B, Marlins
54. Wilmer Flores, SS, Mets
55. Michael Taylor, OF, Phillies
56. Jordan Zimmerman, RHP, Nationals
57. Brett Lawrie, C, Brewers
58. Mat Gamel, 3B, Brewers
59. Ethan Martin, RHP, Dodgers
60. Tim Alderson, RHP, Giants
61. Phillippe Aumont, RHP, Mariners
62. Reid Brignac, SS, Rays
63. Jordan Walden, RHP, Angels
64. James McDonald, RHP, Dodgers
65. Michael Burgess, OF, Nationals
66. Michael Main, RHP, Rangers
67. Chris Perez, RHP, Cardinals
68. Engel Beltre, OF, Rangers
69. Mat Latos, RHP, Padres
70. Scott Elbert, LHP, Dodgers
71. Nick Adenhart, RHP, Angels
72. Jeremy Jeffress, RHP, Brewers
73. Elvis Andrus, SS, Rangers
74. Aaron Poreda, LHP, White Sox
75. Michael Saunders, OF, Mariners
76. Jason Castro, C, Astros
77. Andrew Lambo, OF, Dodgers
78. Gorkys Hernandez, OF, Braves
79. Angel Salome, C, Brewers
80. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Braves
81. Ross Detwiler, LHP, Nationals
82. Kyle Skipworth, C, Marlins
83. Nick Weglarz, OF, Indians
84. Kellen Kulbacki, OF, Padres
85. Jeff Samardzija, RHP, Cubs
86. Todd Frazier, SS, Reds
87. Josh Reddick, OF, Red Sox
88. David Cooper, 1B, Blue Jays
89. Daniel Schlereth, LHP, Diamondbacks
90. Brett Cecil, LHP, Blue Jays
91. Jose Tabata, OF, Pirates
92. Kyle Drabek, RHP, Phillies
93. Adrian Cardenas, SS, Athletics
94. Jefry Marte, 3B, Mets
95. Ivan DeJesus Jr., SS, Dodgers
96. Drew Stubbs, OF, Reds
97. Daniel Bard, RHP, Red Sox
98. Brandon Erbe, RHP, Orioles
99. Brandon Allen, 1B, White Sox
100. Adys Portillo, RHP, Padres
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Do you guys get more or less depending on where we buy the book?
Andrus at 73 and Brignac at 62...? I understand Brignac profiles as a more complete hitter and Andrus\'s secondary skills are fairly limited, but that still strikes me as a strange choice.
One of the best things about your prospect lists is the top 11 players under 25 in each organization, which puts many of these prospects into perspective. Have you thought about a similar Top 100 list?
I guess what I\'m wondering is, what do you see in Smoak and Hosmer that you like better than Alonso?
(With Alonso\'s beefy build, great walk rate, and power toward LCF, I\'ve been hoping for him to become the next Jim Thome!)
Thanks.
Or should I just wait for the Athletics top 11?
Well, Carrasco\'s a 5-star, and F-Mart\'s a 4-star...kind of looks like there are 43 5-star players according to KG.
I\'d also be interested to know the magnitude in difference, in your opinion, between 5 and 4.
I assume, for example, that Carrasco and Halman are closer in your rankings than Carrasco and FMart, right? Or is there a pretty fine line between 5 stars and 4 stars?
(And yes, I know it is an art, not a science.)
And will he sign?
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090213&content_id=3827028&vkey=news_sea&fext=.jsp&c_id=sea&partnerId=rss_sea
No further details as of yet
Haven\'t Tea and MaxRam been in your top 100 before?
Also, I\'m quite pleased Skipworth as made so much progress. It makes me feel better about the Marlins not getting Posey, me being both a huge Marlins and Seminole fan.
My question is, how many of the bottom guys would it take for you to trade for the top guy? If you were a GM with Wieters would you need guys 98-100 or 96-100 or 90-100 or 80-100 or what to make that trade?
Happy St. Valentine\'s Massacre Day.
Guess this kind of thinking is what drove me into health care and not something like the serious, emotionally charged world of baseball projections.
Love the list- counting down the days until UPS shows up at my door with the 2009 Baseball Prospectus.
Based on Pittsburgh\'s need for an impact player now...what are the odds that Alvarez is up mid season?
i like the players you listed, but i was shocked inoa is ranked 20th overall. sure he\'s got a huge ceiling and he\'s shown good mechanics, but he\'s 6ft7 and only 16. kinda makes you wonder if he\'ll still have good mechanics if he grows another several inches over the next few yrs. i agree he\'s a top 100 talent, and i know i\'m not as knowledgable as you, so i could end up being very wrong, but i really think you overranked him quite a bit.
Compare that to teammate Wade Davis who had a 136:66 K/BB ratio in 160 IP.
I would put money down that Hellickson will have a better career than Davis.