2010 MLB Top Prospects

2010 MLB Top Prospects
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This is Baseball America's 21st annual Top 100 Prospects list, our definitive annual ranking of the best professional talent in baseball below the major league level. And this year, we're turning the focus in the list to the best tool for each player. We'll highlight that tool, as well as giving it a grade on the 20-80 scouting scale—where 20 is the worst, 80 the best, and 50 major league average.

The Top 100 Prospects list is the culmination of our offseason prospect coverage, which begins with our reviews of the top talent in each minor league and proceeds with ranking the talent in each major league farm system. Our staffers and correspondents talk to general managers, managers, scouting directors, farm directors, scouts, coaches and other people in the game. Four people contributed to the voting this year: Co-Editors Will Lingo and John Manuel, executive editor Jim Callis and assistant editor Conor Glassey. Each person compiled a top 150 list, and we then reviewed the composite numbers and made adjustments before locking down the final list.

The rankings follow our standard prospect guidelines, which means any player who has not exceeded 130 at-bats, 50 innings or 30 pitching appearances in the major leagues (without regard to service time) is eligible. As always, our view is not necessarily to what a player will do this season, but what his ultimate major league ceiling is, weighed against the likelihood that he will reach that ceiling.

01 JASON HEYWARD OF, BRAVES
Best Tool: Bat.
BA Grade: 80.
Opening
Day Age: 20 ETA: 2010

11 DUSTIN ACKLEY OF/1B/2B, MARINERS
Best Tool: Bat.
BA Grade: 80.
Opening
Day Age: 22 ETA: 2011

02 STEPHEN STRASBURG RHP, NATIONALS
Best Tool: Fastball.
BA Grade: 80.
Opening
Day Age: 21 ETA: Mid-2010

12 ALCIDES ESCOBAR SS, BREWERS
Best Tool: Defense.
BA Grade: 70.
Opening
Day Age: 23 ETA: 2010

03 MIKE STANTON OF, MARLINS
Best Tool: Power.
BA Grade: 80.
Opening
Day Age: 20 ETA: Mid-2010

13 JUSTIN SMOAK 1B, RANGERS
Best Tool: Bat.
BA Grade: 70.
Opening
Day Age: 23 ETA: Mid-2010

04 JESUS MONTERO C,
YANKEES
Best Tool: Power.
BA Grade: 80.
Opening
Day Age: 20 ETA: 2011

14 MADISON BUMGARNER LHP, GIANTS
Best Tool: Fastball.
BA Grade: 65.
Opening
Day Age: 20 ETA: Mid-2010

05 BRIAN MATUSZ LHP, ORIOLES
Best Tool: Changeup.
BA Grade: 70.
Opening
Day Age: 23
ETA: 2010

15 DOMONIC BROWN OF, PHILLIES
Best Tool: Arm.
BA Grade: 70.
Opening
Day Age: 22 ETA: 2011

06 DESMOND JENNINGS OF, RAYS
Best Tool: Speed.
BA Grade: 80.
Opening
Day Age: 23 ETA: Mid-2010

16 STARLIN CASTRO SS, CUBS
Best Tool: Bat.
BA Grade: 65.
Opening
Day Age: 20 ETA: 2011

07 BUSTER POSEY C, GIANTS
Best Tool: Bat.
BA Grade: 70.
Opening
Day Age: 23 ETA: Mid-2010

17 MARTIN PEREZ LHP,
RANGERS
Best Tool: Curveball.
BA Grade: 65.
Opening
Day Age: 19 ETA: Mid-2011

08 PEDRO ALVAREZ 3B, PIRATES
Best Tool: Power.
BA Grade: 80.
Opening
Day Age: 23 ETA: Mid-2010

18 JEREMY HELLICKSON RHP, RAYS
Best Tool: Command.
BA Grade: 65.
Opening
Day Age: 22 ETA: Mid-2010

09 NEFTALI FELIZ RHP, RANGERS
Best Tool: Fastball.
BA Grade: 80.
Opening
Day Age: 21 ETA: 2010

19 AARON HICKS OF, TWINS
Best Tool: Arm.
BA Grade: 75.
Opening
Day Age: 20 ETA: Mid-2011

10 CARLOS SANTANA C, INDIANS
Best Tool: Power.
BA Grade: 65.
Opening
Day Age: 23 ETA: 2010

20 LOGAN MORRISON 1B, MARLINS
Best Tool: Bat.
BA Grade: 65.
Opening
Day Age: 22 ETA: 2010