Top 5 Prospects

5. Jesus Montero, C, New York Yankees – Montero could rank higher on this list. I really believe he’s the best offensive prospect in the minor leagues, and aside from maybe Jason Heyward, it’s not all that close. He’s already probably the best pure hitter in the minors and his power potential is up there with Stanton and Alvarez. The problem is position. He is listed as a catcher, but most don’t believe he will play there in the big leagues. It’s not that he’s a bad catcher – in fact I really liked what I saw from him behind the plate last year. He’s still bellow average but he could be a solid defender behind the plate. But he’s also a massive human being. If he was going to be a catcher, he’d probably be my #1 prospect, as his minor league offensive production compares very well to Heyward, and his offensive ceiling has been compared to Mike Piazza and Manny Ramirez among others. Montero is actually a few months younger than the Braves right fielder, and also played at A+ and AA last season, hitting .337 with a .951 OPS. He also hit 17 homers, although he did it in only 344 at bats, before being shut down late in the year with a broken finger. Montero’s contact skills are amazing for a player with his raw power. In 2009, his K% dropped under 14%. And yes, Montero has plenty of power. At only 19 years old, he posted a .224 ISO last season. Soon after his promotion to AA, at only 19 years old, he went on a tear, hitting a home run in five consecutive games. As Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus points out, outside of Trenton, a pitchers park, Montero hit .400 with a 1.175 OPS and 7 of his 9 AA homers. Montero possesses some of the best raw power in the minor leagues, and 40 home run seasons are likely in his future. The only issue here, aside from his position, is the fact that he doesn’t walk quite enough, although he is improving, and he more than makes up for it with his frequent contact and light tower power. No matter where he plays, his bat will make him an all-star caliber major leaguer. The best hitter in the minors, and very young for his level. An amazing prospect. Major league comparison: Mike Piazza or Miguel Cabrera.

4. Desmond Jennings, CF, Tampa Bay Rays – After missing much of the 2008 season due to injury, Jennings came back better than ever in 2009. He has true five tool potential, the most impressive of which is clearly his speed. In 2009, Jennings stole 52 bases and hit 10 triples, after 45 steals in 2007. Jennings hit a career high 11 homers last season, and he has yet to fill out completely. He does have good raw power, although his propensity to hit the ball on the ground may hinder his development in this area. The thing that makes me believe he has a great hot at fulfilling his enormous potential is his plate discipline. Not only does he make a ton of contact, he also walks quite a bit as well, with a 57/57 walk to strikeout rate last season. His defense is also a major asset, and he’s +22 runs for his minor league career. It’s rare that you find a player with tools like Jennings’ has, as well as an advanced approach at the plate and awesome defense. Super star upside. Could force his way into the Tampa Bay lineup really soon. MLB comparison: More patient Carl Crawford.

3. Neftali Feliz, RHP, Texas Rangers - Feliz’s potential is incredible, and there is an argument to be made that he should rank ahead of Stephen Straburg. Strasburg has the slight edge, do mostly to his command, but that’s no knock on Neftali. In 2009, Feliz started in AAA, eventually transitioning into a relief role, and finding himself in Texas down the stretch. In his first 22 innings, Feliz struck out 28 batters, walking only 1, with an ERA of .41. He faded just a bit in September, but there is no questioning the fact that he can already get Major League hitters out. His fastball is already one of the best in baseball, sitting in the mid to high 90s. An athletic pitcher, Feliz has a smooth delivery and easy velocity. He also has two other plus pitches, a curveball and changeup, and both are only getting better. His control has always been a bit of an issue, but it improved quite a bit last season. He may start next year in the bullpen, and should be on an innings limit, but his future is no doubt in the rotation. MLB comparison: Pedro Martinez.

Strasburg is the best pitching prospect to come out since Prior.

2. Stephen Strasburg, RHP, Washington Nationals - I seriously considered putting Strasburg #1, as I’ve never seen a prospect quite like him coming out of college. I don’t think I’ve seen a prospect like him, period, so even without any minor league innings, I feel he needs to be in the top couple of spots. His skill set is crazy. If you created a 21 year old right handed pitcher in MLB 2K, and maxed out all his skills, he might look a little like Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg throws in the upper 90s, hitting triple digits with ease, as well as a plus power curveball in the mid-80s that should be a legitimate strikeout pitch in the big leagues. Strasburg has a decent changeup, although some think it’s a better pitch at this point than others. His command is also top notch and his athletic build should help him avoid injuries and rack up innings. That alone would make him among the best prospects in recent memory, but let’s not forget his performance at San Diego State. In 2009, Strasburg went 13-1 with a 1.31 ERA, 16.1 K rate, and 1.6 BB rate. He gave up a total of 4 homers, after giving up just one in 2008. For his career at SDSU, Strasburg had a 1.59 ERA, a 7.5 K/BB rate, and a FIP of 1.00. His mechanics have some worried, but they aren’t too bad, and predicting injury based on mechanics can be a very foolish process. His pro debut in the AFL went well. In 19 innings, he struck out 23 batters (although he walked 7) and posted an incredible 4.67 ground out to air out ratio. Some think Strasburg will jump right to the big leagues, although I would likely give him some time in the minors, both to make sure he was ready and delay his arbitration. His upside is ridiculous. Possibly the most talented pitcher in the world right now. Major league comparison: Mark Prior.

1. Jason Heyward, OF, Atlanta Braves - Heyward is the safest bet in the minors, which is crazy considering his age. In 2009, as a teenager, Heyward hit .327 with a .967 OPS through three levels, culminating in a 24 AB stint with AAA Gwinnett, where he hit .333, with 5 walks and 5 strikeouts. His polish is unprecedented at 19, and his tools are among the best in baseball. They have to be to get you drafted 14th overall out of high school. With strong wrists and a quick bat, Heyward will never have trouble driving the ball. He has yet to develop into a real slugger, but he posted a very solid .227 ISO last season, and 17 homers in 370 at bats is great, especially considering his age to level. Most scouts see him becoming a consistent 30+ homerun hitter at the big league level. Heyward also has a very advanced approach at the plate. Last year, he walked more and cut down on the strikeouts. Heyward was never a line drive hitter through the minors, and that continued at advanced A ball in ‘09. However, after a promotion to AA, Heyward was able to raise his LD% over 20% for the first time in his career. He’s a good athlete and baserunner, who has stolen 25 out of 28 bases the past two seasons. On top of all this, Heyward is a very good defender in RF with one of the better arms in the minor leagues, at +13 runs in RF for 2008, and +9 in right for 2009. Heyward should reach the big leagues at some point during the 2010 season, and while it’s probably worth it to let him stay down for a few months, develop a bit more, and avoid super-two status, he’s good enough that we could see him in the show before his 21st birthday. There’s even talk of him starting the year in the Braves lineup. Major league comparison: Gary Shefield.