MLB Power Rankings: Rating Each Team's Top Prospect
A team's prospects are its key to success for years to come.
In 2010, many of the year's top prospects made big impacts for their respective teams.
Last year's top prospect, Jason Heyward, went on to help lead the Atlanta Braves into the playoffs for the first time since 2005.
Using Baseball America's list of the top prospects in every organization, here is a ranking of every team's top prospect.
30. Mark Rogers, P, Milwaukee Brewers
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After trading away many of their top prospects for Zack Greinke, the Brewers' top prospect for 2011 is now pitcher Mark Rogers.
A former first round pick, Rogers made his major league debut in 2010, starting two games for Milwaukee while appearing in relief in two others.
Barring injury, Rogers will be limited to a relief role in 2011.
29. Matt Dominguez, 3B, Florida Marlins
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The Marlins first round pick in 2007 is slowly climbing his way up the organizational ladder, reaching AA in 2010.
If Dominguez, who has a lifetime .330 OBP, can find a way to get on base more often, he'll find his way to the bigs in no time.
28. Jose Iglesias, SS, Boston Red Sox
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With Casey Kelly now with the Padres, Jose Iglesias is the Red Sox top prospect.
Iglesias has shown great potential in the field, but with only 15 walks in 2010, he must develop into a more patient hitter before the Red Sox will call him up.
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27. Brett Jackson, OF, Chicago Cubs
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Jackson is the Cubs' best power hitting prospect, and has shown speed on the base paths as well, stealing 30 bases in 2010.
The 22-year-old should be playing for Chicago at some point in 2011.
26. Jordan Lyles, P, Houston Astros
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Lyles has had a couple of solid season in the minors, posting a career ERA of 3.54.
Lyles will most likely start 2011 in AAA, but the 20-year-old could be promoted at midseason.
25. Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B, Cleveland Indians
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Chisenhall is the Indians' third baseman of the future, and the future may be now for the 22-year-old.
He will have a chance to win the starting third baseman job in Spring Training, though spending some time at AAA to start 2011 may be a better bet for Chisenhall.
24. Grant Green, SS, Oakland Athletics
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The big shortstop out of USC is the best pure hitter the A's have in the minors.
He also has good power for a shortstop, but must improve his defense in order to live up to the hype.
23. Jarrod Parker, P, Arizona Diamondbacks
8 of 30
Despite missing the entire 2010 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, Parker is still the Diamondbacks' top prospect.
Ranked as one of Baseball America's top prospects for the past three years, Parker will most likely start the season in the minors, further rehabilitating his elbow.
22. Dee Gordon, SS, Dodgers
9 of 30
Dee Gordon, the son of major league pitcher Tom Gordon, is one of the best shortstop prospects in the league.
Gordon has plenty speed, but his batting average and on-base percentage regressed slightly in 2010.
He could get called up in 2011, but expect Gordon to be the Dodgers' starting shortstop in 2012.
20. Tyler Matzek, P, Colorado Rockies
10 of 30
Matzek has a great year in class A, striking out almost a batter per inning while having a sub-3.00 ERA.
He is still young, so don't expect him in the majors until 2012.
21. Jenrry Mejia, P, New York Mets
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Mejia started the 2010 season with the Mets as a reliever, but was demoted shortly thereafter.
He will have another chance in 2011 to make the Opening Day roster, except this year it will be as a starter.
19. Casey Kelly, P, San Diego Padres
12 of 30
Kelly was the key piece the Padres got in return for Adrian Gonzalez.
A converted shortstop, Kelly still has some time left in the minors as a pitcher before he will be in San Diego.
18. Kyle Gibson, P, Minnesota Twins
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In 2010, Gibson started the year in high A, but progressed all the way to AAA by the end of the year.
If Gibson continues to breeze through the minor, he could make his way into the Twins rotation by the end of 2011.
17. Chris Sale, P, White Sox
14 of 30
The White Sox top prospect played a total of 11 games in the minors before being called up.
With Bobby Jenks changing the color of his socks, Sale will open 2011 as Chicago's closer.
16. Manny Machado, SS, Baltimore Orioles
15 of 30
Machado, the third overall selection in the 2010 MLB Draft, is the best pure hitter and the best defensive infielder in the Orioles' organization.
The 18-year-old will need some time in the minors, but come 2013 he will be Baltimore's starting shortstop.
15. Jacob Turner, P, Detroit Tigers
16 of 30
The Tigers' top prospect has great off speed pitches and a pretty good fastball.
Still only 19, Turner has at least another year in the minors before he is ready for the majors.
14. Brandon Belt, 1B, San Francisco Giants
17 of 30
The champs' top prospect will have a great shot at starting at first base on Opening Day.
Belt had a great 2010 season, hitting .352 with 23 homers in 136 games.
After Buster Posey's success in 2010, the Giants may be more inclined to try Belt out at first to start the season.
13. Martin Perez, P, Rangers
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Perez has struggled at AA, unable to get his ERA below 5.50.
Despite the struggles, he has a world of talent. If he can correct his AA issues, Perez has the stuff to be the Rangers' ace for years to come.
12. Shelby Miller, P, St. LouisCardinals
19 of 30
Miller dominated in 2010, striking out 140 batters in just 104 innings.
He should only have one more year of minor league ball left before he'll join the Cardinals' rotation.
10. Jameson Taillon, P, Pittsburgh Pirates
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Jameson Taillon was one of the best high school players last season and allowed him to be taken second overall in 2010 MLB Draft by the Pirates.
The 6'6" pitcher is by far the best pitcher in the Pirates organization and will one day be Pittsburgh's ace.
10. Jesus Montero, C, New York Yankees
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Montero has been one of the best prospects in baseball for a couple years now.
The Yankees "catcher of the future" is expected to split the catching duties with Russell Martin in 2011, with the hope that he'll take over for good in 2012.
9. Kyle Drabek, P, Toronto Blue Jays
22 of 30
Drabek got his feet wet in the bigs in 2010, starting three games in September.
With the departure of Shaun Marcum, Drabek will start the season in the Blue Jays rotation and try to build off of his first three major league starts and become the Blue Jays' ace.
8. Eric Hosmer, 1B, Kansas City Royals
23 of 30
Hosmer had a great season in 2010, belting 20 homers and hitting .338.
With Billy Butler entrenched at first, the Royals can take their time with his development, waiting until he's for sure ready for the majors.
7. Dustin Ackley, 2B, Seattle Mariners
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Ackley barely holds off Michael Pineda as the Mariners' top prospect.
He will have a great shot at starting the season in Seattle as the Mariners second baseman.
Though his stats were a little down compared to what he should have produced, Ackley remains a top 10 prospect with as much talent as anyone in the minors.
6. Aroldis Chapman, P, Cincinnati Reds
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Chapman was a key contributor for the Reds during their playoff push in 2010, giving them a great relief option in front of Francisco Cordero.
Chapman, who can reach 105 mph with his fastball, projects to be the Reds' closer of the future, though becoming a starter hasn't been ruled out yet.
5. Domonic Brown, OF, Phillies
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With Jayson Werth in Washington, Brown will start the season in the Phillies' outfield.
He has enormous potential, and will one day be a 30-30 players.
4. Julio Teheran, P, Atlanta Braves
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Teheran has the biggest upside of any minor league pitcher.
The hard throwing Colombian will most likely make his major league debut for the Braves sometime in 2011.
3. Jeremy Hellickson, P, Tampa Bay Rays
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Hellickson pitched great for the Rays when he was called on to make a couple of spot starts.
He will open the season as the Rays second best pitcher, and is the preseason favorite to be AL Rookie of the Year.
2. Bryce Harper, OF, Washington Nationals
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Harper is the hitting version of Stephen Strasburg. The 18-year-old phenom comes into the minor leagues with more hype than anyone other than Strasburg.
"The Chosen One", as dubbed by Sports Illustrated, also more power potential than any other minor leaguer before him.
It could be a couple years before he reaches the majors, but when he does, no home run record will be safe.
1. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
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Trout is the best overall baseball player in the minor leagues.
He is a fantastic athlete, gets on base frequently, and rarely makes a mistake in the field.
The one thing he lacks is power, but at only 19 years of age, he still has time to develop.
Trout will reach the majors in 2012 and be an All-Star for the Halos for many years.
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