MLB Power Rankings: Grading the Performance of Baseball's Top 50 Prospects
The baseball season is young, but already some of the game's top prospects have been called up to the big leagues and have already begun to make an impact.
On the other hand, others have taken steps back after big seasons in 2010 put them on the prospect map.
So here is a look at Baseball America's Top 50 prospects for 2011, with a grade for each prospect's performance thus far in 2011.
Grading System:
A: Exceeding Expectations
B: At Expectations
C: Slightly Below Expectations
D: Taken A Step Back
F: Taken A Huge Step Back
No. 50: SS Billy Hamilton, Reds
1 of 50
The 20-year-old Hamilton was the Reds' second-round pick in the 2009 draft, and he burst onto the prospect scene last year with a .318 BA, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 48 SB season in the Rookie League.
However, he is off to a terrible start this season, hitting just .217 through 28 games at Single-A. Beyond that, he has already made 12 errors, giving him a fielding percentage of just .890 at shortstop. He has stolen 22 bases this season, but as the saying goes, you can't steal first.
Grade: F
No. 49: C Wilin Rosario, Rockies
2 of 50
Rosario is regarded as a top-flight defensive catcher, as he threw out 41 percent of would-be base stealers last season in his first year at Double-A. On top of that he also found his power stroke last year, hitting .285 BA, 19 HR, 52 RBI to make him one of the top catching prospects in baseball.
He is off to a similar start this season, hitting .282 BA, 5 HR, 11 RBI in 22 games so far, and he could be the Rockies' everyday catcher by next season, if not sooner, as long as he keeps it up.
Grade: B
No. 48: SP Trey McNutt, Cubs
3 of 50
McNutt, a former 32nd-round pick back in 2009, came out of nowhere to post a line of 10-1, 2.48 ERA, 132 Ks in 116.1 innings line last season, as he advanced all the way from Low Single-A to Double-A.
With the offseason trade of Chris Archer to the Rays for Matt Garza, McNutt is now the Cubs' top pitching prospect, and he is off to a decent start this season with a 2.55 ERA in four starts at Double-A. With just seven starts above Single-A under his belt, he is still a year away at least, but he is on the right track.
Grade: B
.png?w=256)
No. 47: SP Alex White, Indians
4 of 50
White made his pro-baseball debut last season, and he did not disappoint as he won 10 games and posted a 2.45 ERA in 25 starts, reaching as high as Double-A.
On the fast track, he opened this season at Triple-A and posted a 1.90 ERA through four starts before receiving a big-league call-up. He has continued to impress with the parent club, winning his first start and throwing back-to-back quality starts to open his career.
Grade: A+
No. 46: C Tony Sanchez, Pirates
5 of 50
The fourth-overall pick in the 2009 draft, Sanchez did nothing but hit in his first two pro seasons, batting .309 and .314, and he spent all of last season at High Single-A as the team is not rushing his development.
He opened this season at Double-A, and has hit .284 with a solid .414 OBP through 24 games so far this year, as he looks destined to be the Pirates catcher of the future, although it may still take a couple years of seasoning.
Grade: B-
No. 45: CF Aaron Hicks, Twins
6 of 50
The 19th-ranked prospect entering last season, Hicks fell down the list a bit when he failed to advance above Low Single-A all of last season, despite a decent .279 BA, 8 HR, 49 RBI, 21 SB season.
He opened this season at High Single-A, and he has struggled mightily, hitting just .206 and stealing just two bases so far this season. His development has been slow, and this is certainly not what the Twins want to see from their 2008 first-round pick.
Grade: F
No. 44: SP Jenrry Mejia, Mets
7 of 50
Mejia made his big-league debut last season, appearing in 33 games for the Mets, three of which were starts, and posting a 4.62 ERA over 39 innings. However he struck out just 22 batters while walking 20, as the 20 year old was clearly in need of more development time.
He opened this season at Triple-A, and returned to a starting role, and he has pitched well so far with a 2.86 ERA in 28.1 innings, although his walk and strikeout numbers are still not where they need to be.
Grade: B
No. 43: SP Dellin Betances, Yankees
8 of 50
Betances first cracked the top-100 prospects list back in 2007, when he was ranked 100th, and he is back on it this season after going 8-1, 2.11 ERA, 108 Ks in 85.1 innings last season while reaching Double-A for the first time last year.
He opened this season at Double-A as well, and he has posted a 1.38 ERA in 13 innings over three starts, and he may make his way to Yankee Stadium in the near future if he continues his dominance.
Grade: B+
No. 42: SP Jordan Lyles, Astros
9 of 50
Lyles is coming off a season in which he posted a 3.57 ERA over 26 starts between Double-A and Triple-A, while posting a respectable 7.8 K/9 mark.
He opened this season at Triple-A, and has a 3.55 ERA in 33 innings over six starts, and he could be one of the first starters called up this season if the Astros need another arm.
Grade: B-
No. 41: SP Manny Banuelos, Yankees
10 of 50
Signed as a 17-year-old out of Mexico in 2008, Banuelos opened eyes last season when he posted a 2.51 ERA while striking out 85 batters in just 64.2 innings. Even more impressively, he ended the season at Double-A after opening it in the Rookie League.
So far this season, he has a 2.57 ERA in five starts at Double-A, and after getting an extended look this spring, he could be in line for a big-league spot as soon as next year, when he'll be just 21 years old.
Grade: B+
No. 40: 3B Brett Lawrie, Blue Jays
11 of 50
Traded this offseason from the Brewers in the deal that sent Shaun Marcum out of Toronto, Lawrie is coming off a great season in which he hit .285 BA, 8 HR, 63 RBI, 30 SB as a 20-year old at Double-A.
He opened this season at Triple-A, and he looks to be as major-league ready as any prospect, with a line of .336 BA, 6 HR, 21 RBI, 8 SB through 30 games, and all that while he is making the transition from second base to third base.
Grade: A
No. 39: 1B Jonathan Singleton, Phillies
12 of 50
Singleton was taken in the eighth round of the 2009 draft out of high school, and he played most of last season at the age of 18. However, that didn't stop him from tearing up Low Single-A pitching, as he hit .290 BA, 14 HR, 77 RBI in just 376 at bats.
He is off to a nice start again this season, hitting .308 with a .416 OBP at High Single-A, and while he is still a ways away, he looks to have a bright future as a slugger with good plate discipline to boot.
Grade: A-
No. 38: CF Brett Jackson, Cubs
13 of 50
Jackson showed why the Cubs made him their first-round pick in 2009 last season, when he hit .297 BA, 12 HR, 66 RBI, with 32 2B, 14 3B, and 30 SB as well, as he established himself as a legitimate five-tool player and the Cubs' top position player prospect.
He opened the season at Double-A, and he has picked up right where he left off with a line of .301 BA, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 11 SB and he looks to be the heir to Marlon Byrd in center field when his contract it up after the 2012 season.
Grade: A
No. 37: SP Mike Minor, Braves
14 of 50
Minor got called up late last season by the Braves, making nine appearances, eight of which were starts, and going 3-2, 5.98 ERA, 43 Ks in 40.2 innings, and he had a shot at the fifth starter job this spring.
That was given to Brandon Beachy, however, and Minor has posted a sterling 1.93 ERA in five starts at Triple-A. He also made one spot start for the big-league club, but struggled, giving up five runs on seven hits over just 4.1 innings. Still, his future is bright and he should see more big league action before 2011 if over.
Grade: B
No. 36: C Travis D'Arnaud, Blue Jays
15 of 50
D'Arnaud has shown solid power from the catcher's position throughout his minor league career, hitting 13 HR with 71 RBI in 2009, and 6 HR with 38 RBI in 263 at bats last season at High Single-A.
He opened this season with his first action at Double-A, and he has struggled mightily, hitting just .216 in 51 at bats. Throw in the fact that the Blue Jays already have a promising young catcher in J.P. Arencibia and his future is a bit cloudy to say the least.
Grade: D-
No. 35: SP Randall Delgado, Braves
16 of 50
Delgado, signed out of Panama at the age of 17, posted a 3.30 ERA over 28 starts last season with 162 strikeouts in 161 innings. He also reached Double-A at just 20 years old, putting him on the prospect map.
He opened this season at Double-A, and has been solid with a 2.51 ERA over 32.1 innings with 31 strikeouts, and he should continue to rise through the Braves system in the coming years.
Grade: B+
No. 34: SP Kyle Gibson, Twins
17 of 50
Gibson was taken in the first round of the 2009 draft, but did not make his pro debut until last season, and what a debut it was. He went 11-6 with a 2.96 ERA over 152 innings, and after opening the season at High Single-A, he ended the year with three stellar starts at Triple-A as he gave up just three runs in 15.2 innings.
He began this season at Triple-A, and has a 3.66 ERA over six starts, striking out 33 batters in 32 innings, and he could see big-league action later this year, as he was easily one of the most polished pitchers of his draft class.
Grade: A-
No. 33: SP Jarrod Parker, Diamondbacks
18 of 50
Parker, the ninth pick in the 2007 draft, is coming off of Tommy John surgery that cost him all of his 2010 season, after he reached Double-A in 2009 at just 20 years old.
His comeback has been a slow one, and he has struggled so far this season with a 7.43 ERA in five starts at Double-A. Considering he is coming off an injury, an adjustment period is to be expected, but he needs to turn it around soon if he hopes to retain his top-prospect status.
Grade: D
No. 32: SP Tyler Matzek, Rockies
19 of 50
Matzek was the 11th pick in the 2009 draft, and the first high-school pitcher selected, and he pitched extremely well last season at Low Single-A, going 5-1 with a 2.92 ERA in 18 starts and 88 strikeouts in 89.1 innings.
This season has been a different story, however, as he has looked totally overmatched at High Single-A, with a 9.82 ERA in 18.1 innings. The most disturbing stat may be his 24 walks, giving him an 11.8 BB/9 mark and offsetting an impressive 10.3 K/9 mark.
Grade: F
No. 31: SP Casey Kelly, Padres
20 of 50
Kelly, the centerpiece of the trade that sent Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox this offseason, has come a long way since originally being drafted as a shortstop in the first round of the 2008 draft. After dominating Single-A after being converted, he was adequate last season at Double-A with a 5.31 ERA in 21 starts.
This season he looks to be taking the next steps towards being a future big-league starter, as he has posted a 3.78 ERA in six starts, while walking just nine hitters in 33.1 innings.
Grade: B+
No. 30: C Gary Sanchez, Yankees
21 of 50
Sanchez, signed as a 17-year-old out of the Dominican Republic last season, showed tremendous offensive potential in his first pro season, hitting .329 BA, 8 HR, 43 RBI and making it to Low Single-A.
This season he opened the season at Single-A, and has suffered some growing pains, hitting just .207 so far, and time will tell if last season was a fluke or if this is just a bump in his road to future big-league success. Still, he is among the youngest players at his minor-league level.
Grade: D
No. 29: SP Kyle Drabek, Blue Jays
22 of 50
The centerpiece of the trade that sent Roy Halladay from the Blue Jays to the Phillies, Drabek showed last season why the Blue Jays insisted he be included in the deal, going 14-9 with a 2.94 ERA in 27 starts at Double-A. That earned him three late-season starts with the big-league club, and he posted a 4.76 ERA over 17.0.
That was enough for the Jays to give him a shot at the starting rotation out of spring training, and he seized it. He is off to a strong start this year, going 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven starts, although walks have been an issue, as he has given out 25 free passes in 38 innings. Still he seems like he is in the majors to stay at 23 years old.
Grade: A-
No. 28: SP Zach Britton, Orioles
23 of 50
Britton opened the 2010 season having never pitched above High Single-A in four minor-league seasons. He opened the season at Double-A, and responded better than anyone could have hoped, going 10-7 with a 2.70 ERA in 26 starts between Double-A and Triple-A.
He opened the 2011 season in the Orioles rotation, and he has been terrific, going 5-2 with a 2.93 ERA in 43 innings over seven starts, as he is currently second in the AL in wins, and sixth in WAR among pitchers.
Grade: A+
No. 27: SP Chris Archer, Rays
24 of 50
Archer was the Chicago Cubs minor-league pitcher of the year last season, going 15-3 with a 2.34 ERA while striking out 149 in 142.1 innings between High Single-A and Double-A. That was enough for to make him the main piece of the deal that sent Matt Garza from Tampa to Chicago this offseason.
Thus far, he has been unable to match his 2010 stats however, as he has a 5.93 ERA through 27.1 innings and six starts at Double-A this season. He came out of nowhere last season, and time will tell if that was a fluke or not.
Grade: D-
No. 26: SS Dee Gordon, Dodgers
25 of 50
Gordon is the best base-stealing prospect in baseball, with 158 steals in 350 career minor-league games, including 53 last season at Double-A. He is also a solid hitter, as he holds a .297 career minor-league average.
This season he is off to a similar start at Triple-A, hitting .294 with 14 steals through 26 games so far. However, it is his defense that will keep him in the minors, as he 37 errors last season, and already has nine this season. Until that improves, he is a liability.
Grade: C
No. 25: 3B Lonnie Chisenhall, Indians
26 of 50
Chisenhall is the Indians' top offensive prospect, and among the top third-base prospects in all of baseball, and he is coming off a very good season at Double-A last year, when he posted a line of .278 BA, 17 HR, 84 RBI. He also trimmed his errors from 22 in 2009 to 17, as he looks to show that he can play the hot corner at the next level.
This year he has done nothing to discourage the Indians from thinking he is their future at third base, hitting .294 BA, 2 HR, 18 RBI in 28 games, and if the Indians stay competitive he may see some big-league action this season.
Grade: B+
No. 24: SP Martin Perez, Rangers
27 of 50
Perez has consistently been one of the youngest players in the league at each stop in his minor league career, and he may be the most advanced pitching prospect for his age in all of baseball. Last season, at 19 years old, he spent the full season at Double-A, and held his own with a 5.96 ERA in 99.2 innings over 23 starts.
In Double-A again to open this season, he has looked even better with a 3.33 ERA in 27 innings over six starts. He should have no trouble reaching Triple-A this season, and could be in line for a big league job as early as next year as he continues his rapid development.
Grade: B
No. 23: 1B Brandon Belt, Giants
28 of 50
Belt, a fifth-round pick in the 2009 draft, had a phenomenal first pro season in 2010 when he hit a combined .352 BA, 23 HR, 112 RBI, 22 SB while posting a .455 OBP between High Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A.
He opened the 2011 season as the Giants starting first baseman, but after struggling to a .192 average through 52 at bats, he was send back down to Triple-A where he is currently hitting .417 BA, 2 HR, 13 RBI in 15 games. He is a future star, and he will be back in the majors in no time.
Grade: A
No. 22: CF Desmond Jennings, Rays
29 of 50
Viewed as the logical heir to Carl Crawford, many thought Jennings would open the season as the starting left fielder, but the emergence of Sam Fuld has allowed him more time to develop after a less than convincing .278 average last season at Triple-A.
He is off to great start this year back at Triple-A,with a line of .304 BA, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 8 SB in 31 games, and he will no doubt benefit from a bit more seasoning before taking over as the Rays leadoff hitter of the future.
Grade: B+
No. 21: SP Jacob Turner, Tigers
30 of 50
Taken with the ninth-overall pick in the 2009 draft, Turner opened his pro career at Single-A and quickly advanced to High Single-A, posting a 3.28 ERA in 115.1 innings at just 19 years old.
Seemingly on the fast track, he opened the 2011 season at Double-A and has not missed a beat, with a 3.13 ERA in his first five starts, as he's tallied 26 strikeouts to just seven walks over 31.2 innings.
Grade: B+
No. 20: RP Chris Sale, White Sox
31 of 50
Fast track does not describe the way the White Sox rocketed Sale to the major leagues last season, as he was taken 13th overall in last June's draft. From there, he signed quickly, made four appearances at High Single-A, seven appearances at Triple-A, and he was in the big leagues on August 6th.
He then proceeded to post a 1.93 ERA with four saves in 21 relief appearances, as he struck out 32 batters in just 23.1 innings. This season has been a different story, however, as he has a 7.15 ERA in his first 11 outings after losing out on the closer's role this spring.
Grade: D
No. 19: SP Mike Montgomery, Royals
32 of 50
Montgomery has dominated at every level since being taken in the first round of the 2008 draft, and he moved into elite prospect territory last season when he posted a 2.61 ERA in 93 innings between Rookie League, High Single-A, and Double-A.
He opened this season at Triple-A, impressive considering he is still just 21 years old. His numbers have been equally impressive, as he has posted a 2.45 ERA in 33 innings over six starts, and he could find himself in Kansas City before too long.
Grade: A-
No. 18: SP John Lamb, Royals
33 of 50
Last season in just his second pro season, and at the age of 19, Lamb introduced himself as one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball. He went 10-7 with a 2.38 ERA over 147.2 innings while striking out 159 between Single-A and Double-A.
This season, he opened at Double-A, and has a 3.22 ERA over 22.1 innings and while he has not been quite as dominant as he was last season, he is still just 20 years old, and could see the big leagues by next season at this pace.
Grade: B
No. 17: 1B Freddie Freeman, Braves
34 of 50
Last season, Freeman turned some heads when he opened the season at Triple-A, despite being just 20 years old. He responded with a .319 BA, 18 HR, 87 RBI season and cemented his place as the Braves first baseman of the future.
When the team chose not to re-sign Derrek Lee, the future became now, and Freeman was handed the reigns to open the 2011 season. He has held his own to this point, with a .241 BA, 4 HR, 12 RBI line, and if he can finish the season at .250 BA, 15 HR, 65 RBI the Braves will no doubt be happy with that production out of a 21-year-old.
Grade: B-
No. 16: SP Michael Pineda, Mariners
35 of 50
With one of the best fastballs in all of the minor leagues, Pineda enjoyed a great season last year, going 11-4 with a 3.36 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 139.1 innings.
That was enough to earn him a spot in the Mariners rotation out of spring training to open this season, and he has looked like a veteran thus far, going 4-2 with a 2.58 ERA in six starts. He has also struck out 39 hitters in 38.1 innings, as he and Felix Hernandez could form an amazing 1-2 punch for the next decade.
Grade: A+
No. 15: RP Matt Moore, Rays
36 of 50
Moore was among the top strikeout pitchers in all of minor league baseball last season, and he gives the Rays yet another young stud starter. With a 3.36 ERA and 208 strikeouts in 144.2 innings at High Single-A last season, he gave a glimpse of what should be an extremely bright future.
He opened the 2011 season at Double-A, the highest point he has reached at the age of 22, and while his ERA is up a bit to 4.60, he has fanned 41 hitters in 29.1 innings, and he looks to be the next great strikeout pitcher.
Grade: B-
No. 14: SS Manny Machado, Orioles
37 of 50
The third overall pick in the 2010 Draft, Machado was the first high school position player selected, and he has already drawn comparisons to one Alex Rodriguez in his short career. After signing quickly, he played nine game between Rookie League and Low Single-A last season, and hit .306 BA, 1 HR, 5 RBI at the age of 17.
He opened the 2011 season at Single-A, and has done nothing but hit so far, with a .333 BA, 5 HR, 21 RBI line through just 25 games, and he has made just four errors so far, as he looks to have the defensive skills to stay at shortstop. The sky is the limit for Machado, and look for him to be in the top five on this list next season.
Grade: A
No. 13: SP Shelby Miller, Cardinals
38 of 50
The flame-throwing Miller immediately became the Cardinals' top prospect when they selected him 19th overall in the 2009 draft, and he impressed last year with a 3.62 ERA in 24 starts, striking out 140 hitters in just 104.1 innings.
This season he opened the year at High Single-A, and has registered a 3.21 ERA in his first five starts, while striking out 42 batters in 28 innings. He could move quickly through the system this season and be in the majors by next year if he continues this success.
Grade: B+
No. 12: 2B Dustin Ackley, Mariners
39 of 50
The second overall pick in the 2009 draft, Ackely made his pro debut last season at Double-A, and was at Triple-A by season's end, as he hit a respectable .267 BA, 7 HR, 51 RBI, 10 SB.
He got a long look this spring as the team considered making him their everyday second baseman out of spring training, but he was instead sent to Triple-A to open the year. He has struggled early, hitting just .230, but he does have 5 home runs and 14 RBI, and his average should come around. Look for him to make his debut after the All-Star break.
Grade: C-
No. 11: SP Jameson Taillon, Pirates
40 of 50
The second overall pick in last year's draft, Taillon signed late and did not pitch at all last season, but his high school numbers of 8-1, 1.78 ERA, 114 Ks in 62.2 innings as well as his high 90s fastball are enough to make him one of baseball's top young arms.
He has not disappointed to open his pro career, with a 1.64 ERA over 11 innings in his first three starts at Single-A, and he has struck out 11 while walking just two. The Pirates have no reason to rush Taillon, so look for him to dominate the minor league for the next few seasons.
Grade: A
No. 10: RF Wil Myers, Royals
41 of 50
Myers, the Royals' third-round pick 2009, has always been viewed as a fantastic offensive catcher. However, he broke out last season with a .315 BA, 14 HR, 83 RBI, 12 SB season at Single-A.
He opens the 2011 season at Double-A, and the Royals have decided to move him out from behind the plate and he has been playing mostly right field this season. His offensive numbers are down a bit as he is hitting just .277 BA, 2 HR, 8 RBI, but that is to be expected with him focused on the defense of his new position.
Grade: C+
No. 9: 3B Mike Moustakas, Royals
42 of 50
After a disappointing 2009 season in which he hit just .250 dropped him on most prospect rankings lists, he responded with the arguably the best offensive season of any minor leaguer in 2010. His line of .322 BA, 36 HR, 124 RBI was absolutely ridiculous, while his 21 errors at third base are still a bit concerning.
He opened 2011 at Triple-A, and he has continued to rake with 5 HR and 23 RBI through his first 28 games, although he is hitting just .250. He should be in Kansas City at some point this season, and he will look to help fans forget about Alex Gordon at third base.
Grade: B
No. 8: 1B Eric Hosmer, Royals
43 of 50
Hosmer looked to be on his way to being a flop after a .241 BA, 6 HR, 41 RBI season in 2009, but LASIK surgery in the offseason before the 2010 season began made all the difference. He went on to post a .338 BA, 20 HR, 86 RBI line between High Single-A and Double-A, and re-establish himself as a top prospect.
After opening the 2011 season at Triple-A with a .439 BA, 3 HR, 15 RBI line, he was called up and made his debut on May 6th. So far in three games, he is 3-for-9 with one RBI.
Grade: A+
No. 7: RP Aroldis Chapman, Reds
44 of 50
Chapman electrified the baseball world last season when he was called up, as he consistently throws over 100 MPH, and has thrown some of the fastest pitches ever recorded in baseball history. In his 15 appearances last season he was dominant, with a 2.03 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 13.1 innings.
This season he opened in a setup role, and has been great once again with a 2.13 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 12.2 innings. Whether he will end up as a starter or a closer remains to be seen, but for now he is no doubt an asset out of the 'pen.
Grade: A
No. 6: SP Jeremy Hellickson, Rays
45 of 50
Hellickson was the 18th-ranked prospect entering last season, and he lived up to that with a 12-3 record and 2.72 ERA in 21 minor league starts, as he pitched 119.1 innings and struck out 127 batter. That earned him a late season call-up, and he went 4-0, 3.47 ERA, 33 Ks in 36.1 innings.
All of that, coupled with the trade of Matt Garza to the Cubs, made Hellickson a lock for the big league rotation this season, and through six starts so far this season, he has gone 3-2 with a 3.72 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 36.1 innings.
Grade: A
No. 5: SP Julio Teheran, Braves
46 of 50
Regarded as the top pitching prospect in baseball entering the season, Teheran is coming off of a 9-8 season in which posted a 2.59 ERA while fanning 159 hitters in 142.2 innings and reached as high as Double-A at the age of 19.
Opening this season at Triple-A, Teheran went 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in his first five starts, and that was enough for the Braves to call him up, as he made his debut on May 7th. It was a shaky debut, as he went just 4.2 innings and gave up three runs, but he should get plenty more chances to show what he can do.
Grade: A
No. 4: RF Domonic Brown, Phillies
47 of 50
Brown was the Phillies' top position player prospect last season, as he hit .327 BA, 20 HR, 68 RBI, 17 SB between Double-A and Triple-A, leading him to be named to heir to the vacant right field job when Jayson Werth left town for a big payday in Washington D.C. with the Nationals.
However, a hand injury this spring shelved Brown to open the year, and he is just now getting in his rehab work. That said, he has hit .390 BA, 4 HR, 9 RBI in 11 minor league games so far, and should be ready to join the Phillies soon. Time will tell if he can fill Werth's shoes, however.
Grade: Incomplete
No. 3: C Jesus Montero, Yankees
48 of 50
While Russell Martin's renaissance has delayed Montero's taking over of catching duties for the Yankees, there is no doubt that he will be their heir to Jorge Posada perhaps as soon as next year, as Martin is little more than a stopgap option.
That said, Montero could immediately become one of the league's top offensive catchers, as he hit .289 BA, 21 HR, 75 RBI last season, and is off to another good start this year at Triple-A, hitting .354 BA, 1 HR, 7 RBI through 23 games.
Grade: A-
No. 2: CF Mike Trout, Angels
49 of 50
While Trout was certainly a highly regarded prospect entering the 2010 season after hitting .352 in 44 games at Single-A in 2009, no one could have predicted hit 2010 numbers. With a line of .341 BA, 10 HR, 58 RBI, 56 SB at Single-A, Trout vaulted himself into the upper echelon of prospects.
This season, the 19-year-old opened the season at Double-A, and he has responded well with a .304 BA, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 5 SB line through 25 games thus far. He is a superstar in the making, and should be fun to watch in the years to come.
Grade: A
No. 1: RF Bryce Harper, Nationals
50 of 50
Not since LeBron James has a prep athlete been as hyped as Harper, and he has done nothing to discourage the hype to this point in his career. After impressing in the Arizona Fall League, and Spring Training, the uber-prospect opened his minor-league career at Single-A this season.
The 18-year-old has been a beast so far this season, hitting .371 BA, 7 HR, 24 RBI, 5 SB through his first 97 at bats, and he could be in line for a promotion to Class-AA soon. While the Nationals insist they won't rush him, it's hard to imagine he won't be in Washington at some point in 2012.
Grade: A
.png?w=480)
