All The Hype

AL

C- Matt Wieters- Baltimore- After being the #1 prospect in all of baseball going into the 2009 season, Wieters was called up to the Baltimore shortly after the beginning of the season and did not meet expectations. He has held his own at the plate in 2009, but that’s about it. Luckily, Wieters is only a rookie and has his whole career ahead of him to live up to the “Next Piazza” expectations and prove that the hype was warranted. Expect him to start doing this in 2010 with a breakout season in which he establishes himself as a true rising star in the Majors.

Projected 2010 Stats:  BA .285  HR 21  RBI 83  SB 1

1B- Billy Butler- Kansas City- Butler reminds me of Mark Grace with a little more power. He will not hit 40 homeruns in a season at first base, but you can count on him to be right around 20 and pound out a ton of doubles while hitting right around .300. Like Grace, Butler may never be a huge star in the majors, but he has the bat to quietly put up some big career numbers. His 2009 season has been an improvement from the previous two which creates an expectation for him to continue to improve moving into 2010.

Projected 2010 Stats:  BA .304  HR 18  RBI 90  SB 0

2B- Ben Zobrist- Tampa- If your second baseman is an offensive threat, you have a hot commodity on your hands. Zobrist has been just that for the Rays this year, even finding his way onto the All Star team. If the Rays can revert back to their 2008 form next year and Zobrist does exactly what he has done in 2009, his final numbers are going to end up a lot more impressive being in the middle of a talented, young offense.

Projected 2010 Stats:  BA  .290  HR  23  RBI 71  SB 21

3B- Gordon Beckham- Chicago- After a horrendous debut week during which he started his career 0 for 13 and moved to 2 for 28, Beckham came alive and turned it around. From there, he has become one of the front running contenders for the AL Rookie of the Year Award, boosting his average to .300. Beckham should have no problem carrying his success into 2010, where he may be one of the better third basemen in the league.

Projected 2010 Stats:  BA .310  HR 24  RBI 96  SB  12

SS- Elvis Andrus- Texas- The second youngest player in the Majors during the 2009 season, Andrus put up respectable numbers as a rookie. As part of a deep and powerful Ranger lineup, his numbers should only get better as he matures heading into the 2010 season.

Projected 2010 Stats:  BA  .278  HR  8  RBI  55  SB  44

OF- Travis Snider- Toronto- After getting his feet wet with Toronto in 2008 and 2009, Snider seems to be on the verge of breaking out very early in his Major League career. He has one of the better bats the Blue Jays’ lineup has seen in some time and is likely to be right in the middle of whatever they do in 2010.

Projected 2010 Stats:  BA:  .281  HR  20  RBI 89  SB 4

OF- Nolan Reimold- Baltimore- Another 2009 rookie, Reimold has been impressive in the time he has spent with the Orioles (a little over half the season). He has shown that he can do a little bit of everything, balancing power with a bit of speed and a solid batting average. He should be able to build on his rookie season going into 2010 and improve his game, and his numbers.

Projected 2010 Stats:  BA  .279  HR 23  RBI 77  SB 18

OF- Matt LaPorta- Cleveland- The cornerstone of the deal that sent CC Sabathia to Milwaukee in 2008 is yet to find his groove in the Majors. But with the tools LaPorta has (including a very impressive 70 rating on the 20-80 power scale), he is destined to be an impact player in the Indians’ lineup sooner or later. And what better time is there than 2010 when he will probably get a chance to start?

Projected 2010 Stats:  BA .263  HR 27  RBI 91  SB 8

SP- Rick Porcello- Detroit- As Major League Baseball’s youngest player at age 20 in 2009, Porcello silenced his critics by showing that he was indeed ready to pitch in the big leagues by joining an elite group of pitchers to win 10 or more games at age 20 or younger. Porcello has shown the maturity and poise of a seasoned veteran and has been very effective for Detroit. He does not usually strikeout a ton of guys (although some speculate that Porcello will eventually begin to rack up the Ks as his off-speed pitches become more consistent), but his low to mid 90s sinker is one of the most effective and efficient pitches in baseball because it induces quick groundball outs and lots of double plays. His secondary stuff is coming along, and when it gets here, Porcello could be virtually unhittable. It is scary to think that if he is able to pitch like this at age 20, how good is he going to be in five or eight years when he should be hitting his prime?

Projected 2010 Stats: IP 201.1  W-L  18-6  ERA 3.66  K  123

SP- Gavin Floyd- Chicago- Floyd has the stuff to be one of the best pitchers in baseball. He has shown what he is capable of at times so far and that came together in 2008 when he won seventeen games for the White Sox. He has managed to put up very respectable lines over the last two seasons, yet when he goes to the mound, it is almost as if he is a different pitcher out there every time. If he can become more consistent, this 26-year-old is going to be one of the top pitchers in the American League, because when he is on, he is filthy.

Projected 2010 Stats:  IP  223.2  W-L  16-9  ERA  3.77  K  171

SP- David Price- Tampa- This guy is just too talented to have another year like 2009. He should start the season in the rotation for the Rays in 2010 which should allow him to find his comfort zone a lot faster. His mid to upper-90s fastball, effective changeup, and devastating slider should be enough to allow Price to cruise through hitters next season.

Projected 2010 Stats: IP 195.1  W-L  16-7  ERA  3.48  K  186

SP- Brett Anderson- Oakland- Although Anderson’s 2009 campaign has been average at best, at times he has flashed some true brilliance (working a no-hitter late into the final three innings of one game and shutting out Boston in another). He seems to improve every start and which should allow him to end the season on a high note, giving him some confidence during the offseason. Opponents are going to have to be careful with this kid in 2010, because he could already be the dominant starter Oakland was hoping he would be.

Projected 2010 Stats:  IP 204.0  W-L  15-9  ERA  3.91  K 163

RP- Neftali Feliz- Texas- It remains unknown whether Feliz will end up a starter or if he will come out of the bullpen, but for now, we will assume he will remain a reliever, potentially getting a few opportunities to make some spot starts for the Rangers. Feliz has electric stuff featuring an upper-90s fastball which makes him a perfect candidate to close for the Rangers. He gave us all a preview of what he is capable of striking out 16 batters in his first 10 innings in the majors, and lighting up the radar gun to triple digits on a number of occasions. As long as he can continue to throw strikes, this kid is going to be lights out.

Projected 2010 Stats: IP: 118.0 W-L  6-2  ERA  2.28  K  141

RP- Ryan Perry- Detroit- Perry started the 2009 season with Detroit after only a handful of innings in the minors after being drafted in 2008. He started off great, then struggled and was optioned to Triple-A Toledo for a couple weeks before being recalled to Detroit. Ever since he came back to Detroit, he has been very effective and has given the Tigers an upper-90s presence out of the bullpen in Joel Zumaya’s absence. When he has good control, he is very difficult to hit, and this was the problem that he seemed to fix in Triple-A as he has not had control problems since. Look for Perry to potentially move into the setup role in 2010 and maybe even get a chance to close a few games. Ultimately, he will likely be the Tigers’ closer someday.

Projected 2010 Stats: IP 84.1 W-L  4-3  ERA  2.77  K  79

Wild Card- Jesus Montero-C, New York- Lots of things are still uncertain regarding Montero. One of those is the question of whether or not he will be 100% and ready to go at the start of 2010 after badly breaking and dislocating the middle finger of his glove hand. While a finger injury might not seem that serious, it is when you’re talking about a baseball player who has to wrap that finger tightly around a bat to be effective. And even if he is ready to go, will he be ready for the majors? And once he gets to the majors, will he still be catching? My initial feeling would be that yes, his surgically repaired finger will be ready to go, but it will still take him some time in the minors before he will see any time with the Yankees. One thing that is certain is that this guy can flat out hit. He hits for average and he hits for power and he does it at every level of ball he plays. It is that bat that will eventually carry him to New York, whether it be 2010 or 2011, but I am betting Montero will see a mid-season call-up and will impress people immediately with his lumber.

Projected 2010 Stats (in about half the season):  BA  .325  HR  7  RBI  36  SB 0

Special Mention: Desmond Jennings-OF, Tampa Bay

NL

C- Yadier Molina-St Louis- “Yadi” is the best defensive catcher in baseball, period. They love the guy in St. Louis and rightfully so. He has a cannon for an arm and will likely win the gold glove in the NL for the second consecutive season. While Molina doesn’t have a ton of power, he carries his weight with the bat, and is one of the toughest guys in the league to strike out. Before 2009, he had not shown a ton of speed on the basepaths, but this year he has even swiped some bags. This guy is everything a team can ask from their catcher, and he is well on his way to becoming a perennial all-star.

Projected 2010 Stats:  BA  .313  HR  7  RBI  54  SB  6

1B- Joey Votto- Cincinnati- When you talk about young first basemen with potential, one of the guys that tops the list is Votto. After finishing 2^nd in Rookie of the Year voting in 2008, Votto has put together an impressive 2009 season and is living up to expectations. The Reds may still be a long way away from being a serious contender, having two solid young power hitters in the middle of their lineup like Votto and Jay Bruce is a great way to get going in the right direction. Votto may someday be a 40 homerun guy and can bat over .300 at the same time. He may not be there just yet, but he is well on his way to a top 5 NL first baseman.

Projected 2010 Stats: BA  .309  HR 31  RBI 99  SB 3

2B- Orlando Hudson- LA Dodgers- Hudson is a solid all-around ballplayer. He hits for average, will steal a handful of bases and hit a handful of homers and plays gold glove defense. He’s been an all-star before, but as long as this guy is playing for a winning team like the Dodgers, he is going to get a lot more visibility. While Hudson will continue to be overshadowed by the likes of Chase Utley when people talk about elite second baseman, he is clearly one of the top guys in the league at the position.

Projected 2010 Stats:  BA  .298  HR  12  RBI  63  SB  8

3B- Mark Reynolds- Arizona- You don’t hear a lot about Reynolds, but this guy has some serious power. After a big 17 homer season in his rookie campaign two years ago, Reynolds has continued to crush the ball out of the park, hitting 28 homers and driving in 97 in 2008, and blasting 40+ homers in 2009 to rank himself close behind the league leader Albert Pujols. Reynolds is also capable of stealing 20+ bases in a season. He had a surprisingly low batting average in 2008, but appears to be back on track in 2009. If he could cut down on the strikeouts, Reynolds could be one of the most dangerous hitters in the game.

Projected 2010 Stats:  BA .263  HR  38  RBI  112  SB 19

SS- Alcides Escobar- Milwaukee- Coming into 2009, Escobar was the top ranked shortstop prospect in all of baseball. He’s got incredible range, an exceptional glove, and a great arm in the field and was said by some scouts to be the best defensive middle infielder in the minor leagues going into 2009. This is the kind of guy that people hate to play against. Not only does he make all the plays on defense, but he has very good speed and his bat has improved more and more each year. Heading into what should be his first full season in the majors in 2010, Escobar seems ready to show off what he can do, and will likely fall into one of the top two spots in the lineup eventually.

Projected 2010 Stats:  BA  .270  HR  2  RBI  52  SB  34

OF- Andrew McCutchen- Pittsburgh- McCutchen’s 2009 season speaks for itself. He exceeded all expectations, even showing much more power than he supposedly had. This guy absolutely burns on the basepaths as one of the fastest players in the majors. Look for him to steal around 40 bases next season and play some very good defense out in centerfield, where his speed helps him cover as much ground as anyone in the league.

Projected 2010 Stats:  BA  .277   HR  16  RBI  73  SB 39

OF- Josh Willingham- Washington- Has anyone noticed how good of a season this guy is having in 2009? His numbers speak for themselves as he has been an offensive force for the Nationals. Even playing for the Nats, if he can have this good of a season again next year, it will be hard for him to continue to be ignored.

Projected 2010 Stats:  BA  .310  HR  23  RBI  88  SB  5

OF- Matt Kemp- Los Angeles- Kemp keeps getting better and better every year, and 2010 should be no different. He has played a huge part in the Dodgers success over the last two seasons, and if he continues to improve at the pace he has, he could easily be one of the most feared hitters in the league next year. He strikes out a lot, but he mixes a nice combination of power and speed that could eventually lead to a 30-30 season.

Projected 2010 Stats:  BA  .302  HR  27  RBI  109  SB  33

SP- Tommy Hanson-Atlanta- After a highly anticipated debut, Hanson continued to shine, quickly becoming a cornerstone in the Braves’ rotation. He has a unique delivery, but his power fastball and filthy off-speed have led him to an exceptional rookie campaign. The challenge for him in 2010 will be moving closer to the top of the rotation from the 5^th spot. He will face better pitchers, but with his stuff, he should continue to mow through NL hitters in 2010.

Projected 2010 Stats:  IP  211.1  W-L  13-8  ERA 3.52  K 173

SP- Ubaldo Jiminez-Colorado- Ever since he debuted in the majors, it has seemed like this guy was on the verge of greatness, and I think he will cross this line in 2010. The 2009 season has been his best yet, as he is looking like he will finish the season over .500 and his ERA is almost a full run lower than it was a year before. He strikes out just under one batter per inning and as long as he throws strikes with consistency, he is one of the better pitchers in the league. Another thing that should work in Jiminez’s advantage is the fact that the Rockies have turned into a contender over the last couple years. Look for this guy to really emerge in 2010.

Projected 2010 Stats: IP 200.1 W-L 15-9  ERA 3.32  K 181

SP- Josh Johnson- Florida- This guy very quietly put up some great numbers in 2008 going 7-1 with a 3.61 ERA in a short season. In 2009, he picked up right where he left off and has really emerged as one of the best pitchers in the league. Johnson was an all-star in 2010, but the amount of success he has in 2010 will prove what this guy can really do. Look for him to repeat as an all-star, and possibly even get a mention in the Cy Young race toward the end of the year.

Projected 2010 Stats:  IP 229.2  W-L  17-7  ERA 3.09  K 186

SP- JA Happ- Philadelphia- This 2009 rookie had about as good of a start to his career as possible, posting an exceptional record and ERA and making himself a true Rookie of the Year contender. On a team as good as the Phillies have been the last couple years, any pitcher that has some talent is probably going to have a lot of success. Look for him to have another great season during his sophomore campaign.

Projected 2010 Stats:  IP  198.2  W-L  14-6  ERA  3.12  K  122

RP- Carlos Marmol- Chicago- After a brilliant 2008 season, Marmol has been disappointing in 2009. His control has been a major issue which seems to be one reason he was unable to take over the closing duties when Kerry Wood packed his bags for Cleveland. Those same control problems have taken him from being almost a guaranteed free inning in 2008 to being somewhat unreliable in 2009. This guy has nasty stuff when he is on, and I am willing to bet that he will show up in spring training ready to get back to his dominant ways in 2010.

Projected 2010 Stats:  IP 92.1  W-L  5-2  ERA  2.29  K  78

RP- Blake Hawksworth- St Louis- After his career was put into question when he tore his labrum (tendon in upper-arm) in 2004, Hawksworth has rebounded all the way back. For some time, Hawksworth’s velocity dropped from the mid-90s to the upper-80s and it appeared that he did not have it in him to be the pitcher the Cardinals expected (he was said to be the pitcher with the highest ceiling since Rick Ankiel for St Louis). But since then, Hawksworth has brought the velocity all the way back, consistently hitting 95 on the gun. He has been outstanding from the bullpen in 2009 for the 1^st place Cardinals. He may not strike a ton of batters out, but he has excellent control and throws strikes which is what teams want and need out of relievers. Moving forward, it is unknown whether he will continue to be a reliever or if he will be converted back into a starter. Regardless, this is one guy that has shown that he can really get the job done and will be an important piece of the all-important bullpen for St. Louis.

Projected 2010 Stats:  IP 122.0  W-L  3-1  ERA 2.48  K 53

Wild Card- Cameron Maybin- OF, Florida- Maybin has been one of the top prospects in baseball for a few years now, but he has not yet been able to remove the tag of “prospect”. After experiencing some Major League success at the end of the 2008 season (batting .500 (16 for 32) and going 4 for 4 stealing bases), Maybin’s 2009 debut was highly anticipated and he was expected to be a big part of the Marlin’s offense. That didn’t go as planned, and Maybin was optioned to Triple-A where he has spent the majority of the season. The tools are still there, it’s just a matter of Maybin putting it all together at the big league level. Maybe he will never be the superstar that everyone seemed to be expecting, but do not give up on this kid yet. He still has all the makings of a top-of-the-lineup force, and he will only be 23 years old when the 2010 season starts. Maybin could surprise a lot of people when he gets another chance in the Majors without as much pressure as was on him at the beginning of 2009.

Projected 2010 Stats:  BA .303  HR 6  RBI 43  SB 16

Special Mention: Logan Morrison-1B, Florida