MLB Predictions: The Next 10 Position-Player Prospects To Reach the Majors
The best part about the offseason is that even Chicago Cubs fans like this writer can find reasons for optimism when the games haven’t started yet. For some teams, it’s a big free-agent signing to overhaul the lineup (see Gonzalez, Adrian). For others, though, it’s a hot prospect getting his chance to shine with the big club. Here are 10 youngsters (though, alas, no Cubs) who will likely be seeing major league action in 2011.
10. 3B Lonnie Chisenhall, Cleveland Indians
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Chisenhall hasn’t yet played above AA ball, but the Indians' top prospect (ranked #36 overall in MLB.com’s Top 50) still has a real shot to make the big club this year if his progress continues.
He put up a promising .801 OPS for Akron a year ago, but more importantly for his prospects, he plays third base.
The current Cleveland depth chart has light-hitting utility man Jayson Nix as the front-runner for that position, a situation that could be bad news for Tribe fans. Don’t be surprised if Chisenhall is wearing an Indians uniform this summer, if only out of desperation.
9. C Hyun Choi (Hank) Conger, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
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Although Conger didn’t look especially impressive in last year’s September call-up, hitting a paltry .172, he’s expected to enter spring training in a three-way battle to replace the traded Mike Napoli behind the plate. As a 22-year-old at AAA Salt Lake last season, Conger played well, putting up a solid .847 OPS.
Even if Jeff Mathis or Bobby Wilson takes the starting job ahead of him, expect to see Conger in an Angels uniform as a backup in 2011.
8. 1B Brandon Belt, San Francisco Giants
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Ranked 26th among MLB.com’s Top 50 prospects entering the season, Belt appears to be the Giants' first baseman of the future.
After he put up a striking 1.043 OPS in the Arizona Fall League, that future is starting to look awfully close.
Even though the Giants aren’t desperate for a first baseman, thanks to last year’s unexpectedly strong performance from Aubrey Huff, Belt is likely to see major league action this year as San Francisco grooms him to take over for the long haul.
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7. 3B Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals
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MLB.com calls Moustakas the seventh-best prospect in the league entering this season, and his 36 homers combined at AA and AAA last year certainly look like legitimate corner-infielder material. Although Mike Aviles, the Royals’ projected third baseman to start the season, hit a respectable .304 last year, he walked just 20 times in over 400 plate appearances and has no power to speak of.
The Royals would likely be better off with Aviles, who can play several defensive positions, as a utilityman, with Moustakas taking over the regular third base duties. Don’t be surprised to see that arrangement in place before the season is out.
6. OF Desmond Jennings, Tampa Bay Rays
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The addition of Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez to the Tampa Bay roster plugs the immediate holes at LF and DH that Jennings might have been forced to fill.
Nevertheless, MLB.com’s 11th-ranked prospect is a very good bet to play most, if not all, of this season in a Rays uniform.
Despite a disappointing September call-up in which he hit just .190, Jennings has loads of potential, especially as a speedster (37 steals in 109 games with AAA Durham last year). With Carl Crawford gone, the Rays will be missing his spark on the basepaths. Expect Jennings to start filling that role well before the year is out.
5. 3B Brent Morel, Chicago White Sox
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White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has already acknowledged that Morel will be in contention for the starting third base job in spring training.
Though his bat isn’t his strong suit (.687 OPS in his September call-up), Morel is a better glove man than veteran Mark Teahen, whom he’ll battle for the starting job. Even if Teahen plays well enough to start, though, Morel could easily be kept on the roster as a defensive reserve. Either way, Morel should be on the South Side to stay before the end of the year.
4. OF Domonic Brown, Philadelphia Phillies
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With Jayson Werth in Washington, the Phillies have a hole in right field and Brown is expected to battle Ben Francisco for a chance to fill it. His September call-up last year wasn’t anything special, but after dazzling at AAA Lehigh Valley (.951 OPS in 28 games), Brown could be in Philadelphia to stay.
If he does start the year at Lehigh, though, he’s a safe bet to return quickly, if only to provide an aging Phillies outfield with some speed.
3. 1B Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves
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Freeman’s poor showing in September (.500 OPS in 20 games) notwithstanding, he’ll have the inside track on the Braves’ first base job entering the season.
With trade-deadline rental Derrek Lee having left for Baltimore, the Braves have no established, major league first basemen. Freeman, the club’s top prospect at the position for some time, will do his best to emulate the major league debut of housemate Jason Heyward. After posting an OPS of .898 while playing strong defense at AAA Gwinnett last year, he should at least be able to make the major league roster this spring.
2. 2B Dustin Ackley, Seattle Mariners
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Ackley’s long-awaited debut in a Seattle uniform could come as early as Opening Day, with the Mariners expected to open competition for the middle infield spots in spring training. Ackley’s main competition comes from two journeymen, Adam Kennedy and Brendan Ryan, who have never been mistaken for Joe Morgan.
After shredding Arizona Fall League pitching for a .424 average and earning that league’s MVP, Ackley looks ready to step into the starting job for the Mariners.
1. OF Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
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Harper is Bryce Harper, which is probably all you need to hear if you’ve read this far.
Oh, and the Nationals’ projected left fielder is Roger Bernadina, who put up a .691 OPS last season. Harper is only 18, and it might not be the best idea for the Nats to call him up this year. But they’re hurting for a leftfielder, and with Stephen Strasburg hurt they’re going to be desperate for a box office draw like Harper, whether he’s ready or not.
Whether he’ll perform or not, fans should brace themselves for his major league debut this season.
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