Tracking the MLB's Top Prospects, Pt. 1: Nos. 1-10

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

This story was written by Stan Whyte, currently a writer for Baseball Reflections.com.

Back on Jan. 22, Keith Law of Scouts, Inc. wrote a column for ESPN.com that ranked the top 100 prospects in the Major Leagues for the 2009 regular season. Since most of us do not pay whatever fee that is charged to get ESPNinsider, we only have access to the top 20. So here is a first half list of that Top-20 and tracking what they’ve done thus far in 2009. For some of these young stars, their call up to the Majors could be much sooner, rather than later.

1. Matt Wieters, C, Baltimore Orioles organization

This youngster has been the most mentioned amongst scouts, fantasy experts, and anyone else who has an opinion on the game. Some thought that Wieters would make the Orioles out of spring training but it was not to be. Seeing as how Wieters only had experience in Double-A ball previous to this year, asking a catcher to immediately play in the Majors at the young age of 22 is just slightly unfair.

As of May 14, Wieters is hitting .263 in 95 at-bats for Triple-A Norfolk and has a respectable on-base percentage of .366. Being a switch hitter, he has struggled against lefties, posting only a .200 average against them in 20 at-bats. By comparison, Gregg Zaun, starting for the Orioles, is hitting just .212 with an on-base percentage of .309. Wieters is likely to see a call up later this summer but could make an appearance in Baltimore sooner if any injuries occur.

2. David Price, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays organization

From 2008 ALCS hero to starting for Triple-A Durham of the International League in 2009? It might sound crazy, but moving Price back to the Minors was actually a great decision by the Rays' front office. Price was expected to compete for a possible spot in the Rays’ rotation this season and posted a 1.08 ERA in one start and three games overall this spring. However, concerns about his makeup as a starter persisted and the decision was made to put the Vanderbilt grad back in Durham where he could develop his change up to accompany his powerful fastball and devastating slider.

Rays starters currently have a 5.07 ERA through May 14, so it makes you wonder, "how much longer will Price be held in Durham to develop his game, especially if the Rays rotation continues to flounder?" Currently, Price is 1-4 with a 4.60 ERA in 29.1 innings pitched this season. If Price doesn’t want to be shuffled between Minor League starter and Major League reliever, like so many other top prospects, then he will have to develop some consistency as a starter while at Durham.

3. Jason Heyward, RF, Atlanta Braves organization

Only 19, this New Jersey native is at least a few years away from making the big leagues. However, the Braves have shown the ability to develop some top outfielders such as Jeff Francoeur and, recently, Jordan Schafer. Heyward, who plays right field  like his Major League counterpart, Francoeur, is a physical specimen at 6'4" and has the potential to be a perennial 30-homer player in the majors.

Heyward started 2009 out at Myrtle Beach in the Class A Advanced Carolina League. So far, he’s hitting at a .265 clip to go along with 13 RBI and a respectable .832 on-base plus slugging percentage. He should continue to develop and top out at Double A by the end of the season.

4. Neftali Feliz, RHP, Texas Rangers organization

This 20-year-old starter was a part of the Mark Teixeira trade a few years back and has progressed into a top starter in the Rangers organization. Last year, he topped out at Double A Frisco and this year is starting in Triple A Oklahoma City. Aside from Kevin Millwood and Scott Feldman, who have ERA of 2.98 and 2.74 in 12 combined starts, the starting rotation has an ERA of 5.32.

Small ballpark aside, the Rangers' rotation has been ineffective this season. With a potent offense and bolstered by a reliable bullpen, they lead the AL West by 2.5 games as of May 16. It looks like there might not be a need for Feliz to get his call up just yet.

5. Travis Snider, LF, Toronto Blue Jays

Notice how we did not put “organization” next to where Snider plays. Well, that is because he’s the full-time starter out in left for the first-place Jays this season—that’s right: first-place for the sole team north of the border. And it is early May so how long before we stop calling them pretenders and start calling them contenders? It took until July or so before people actually took the Rays seriously and they made it all the way to the World Series.

According to Law, it is Snider’s own fault that he has made it to the bigs so soon, seeing as how he is only 21, because he never encountered any stumbling blocks at any level of the Minors. In his rookie campaign, he’s currently hitting .253 with 12 RBI through 91 at-bats. His history and past performance suggests that he should be hitting for a higher average than where he currently is, so we’ll continue to track that as the season progresses.

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