2010 Top 10 NL Prospects - December

by Eli Greenspan on Nov 29, 2009 12:54 PM EST

Jason Heyward (Source:Cliff Welch/Icon SMI)

Take a look at the National League's top ten prospect ratings for the month of December in preparation for Opening Day 2010. Players considered for these rankings have no more than 50 at-bats or 15 appearances at the major league level.

The skinny

Jason Heyward, Braves: .323 average, 17 home runs, 51 strike outs, 51 walks.

Stephen Strasburg, Nationals: 4-1 W-L, 4.26 ERA, 23 K - 7 BB, 5 AFL starts.

Madison Bumgarner, Giants: 12-2 W-L, 1.93 ERA, 92 K, 25 appearances b/w A and AA.

Buster Posey, Giants: .325 average, 18 home runs, .416 on-base percentage in 115 games.

Christian Friedrich, Rockies: 6-5 W-L, 2.41 ERA, 159 K - 43 BB, OPP average of .215.

Josh Vitters, Cubs: 316 average, 15 home runs, .351 OBP in 70 games at Single-A.

Pedro Alvarez, Pirates: .288 average, 27 home runs, .378 OBP in 126 minor league games.

Jason Castro, Astros: .300 average, 10 home runs, .380 OBP, 76 K - 55 BB.

Mike Stanton, Marlins: .294 average, .390 OBP, 12 home runs, 12 extra-base hits, 50 games in High-A.

Starlin Castro, Cubs: .299 average, .342 OBP, 28 SB, 23 doubles. .376 AFL average (101 at-bats).

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Comments

Are these your personal rankings?

Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's

by Giant among Angels on Nov 29, 2009 6:49 PM EST reply actions

No they are scientific facts!

say hey nation is the Ralph Nader of McC.-Xanthan

by say hey nation on Nov 30, 2009 9:27 AM EST up reply actions

be careful with that science

"Hey Fat Kid...the monster is right behind you! RUNNNN!!" -The Host

by bwellnjonesco on Nov 30, 2009 1:14 PM EST up reply actions

You must be a Cub fan

To put Vitters that high. There are legitimate questions about his plate discipline and his defense not to mention the fact that he is still in Single A. You do realize that he took 7 walks in 288 PA’s right? He was HBP more often than he walked.

"I learned a long time ago if you keep checking your stats all year, you're going to end up in the toilet." - Chris Carpenter, 2009.

by indakind on Dec 1, 2009 1:19 PM EST reply actions

No way on Vitters, for sure, and Jason Castro is questionable as well.

Yeah, I think that Vitters and Friedrich are too high, and where is Tyler Matzek?

I would say that the Top 10 is Strasburg, Heyward, Posey, Stanton, Bumgarner, Starlin Castro, Alvarez, Matzek, Brown, and Friedrich. Jarrod Parker would be there too if he was still 100% healthy.

I don’t know how you could ignore potential superstars like Dominic Brown and Tyler Matzek. Castro’s offensive upside is rather limited, but of his offensive breakout was done in the launching pad of Lancaster, and Vitters is still very raw and is completely dependent on developing offensively in order to come close to his ceiling, he’ll offer little value defensively or on the basepaths.

by Satchel Price on Dec 3, 2009 11:55 PM EST reply actions