2010 Diamond Futures Top 300 Prospects (#50 - #1)

Stephen Strasburg is this year's runner-up

It’s been a little over a week since we began this series, and finally we are at the cream of the crop—Minor League baseball’s best prospects. While there may be a few surprises here, and a few names that you might not recognize as well as some others, all of these player’s are here because what they have done thus far in their professional career, gives us every reason to believe in their future success. So without delaying any longer, here is the remainder of the list:

2010 Top 300 Prospects

50) Mier, Jiovanni , HOU - SS
49) Crow, Aaron , KCR - R
48) Liddi, Alex , SEA - 3B
47) Crosby, Casey , DET - L
46) Martinez, Fernando , NYM - RF
45) Scheppers, Tanner , TEX - R
44) Vitters, Josh , CHN - 3B
43) Trout, Mike , LAA - CF
42) Withrow, Chris , LAD - R
41) Gibson, Kyle , MIN - R
40) Rondon, Hector , CLE - R
39) Taylor, Michael , OAK - LF
38) Moore, Matthew , TBR - L
37) Carter, Chris , OAK - 1B
36) Friedrich, Christian , COL - L
35) Mejia, Jenrry , NYM - R
34) Turner, Jacob , DET - R
33) Norris, Derek , WSN - C
32) Alonso, Yonder , CIN - 1B
31) Freeman, Freddie , ATL - 1B
30) Green, Grant , OAK - SS
29) Escobar, Alcides , MIL - SS
28) Montgomery, Michael , KCR - L
27) Kelly, Casey , BOS - R
26) Drabek, Kyle , TOR - R
25) Chisenhall, Lonnie , CLE - 3B
24) Wallace, Brett , TOR - 3B
23) Brown, Domonic , PHI - RF
22) Westmoreland, Ryan , BOS - CF
21) Bumgarner, Madison , SFG - L
20) Chapman, Alrodis , CIN - L
19) Matzek , Tyler , COL - L
18) Morrison, Logan , FLA - 1B
17) Parker, Jarrod , ARZ - R
16) Castro, Starlin , CHN - SS
15) Hicks, Aaron , MIN - CF
14) Hellickson, Jeremy , TBR - R
13) Perez, Martin , TEX - L
12) Ackley, Dustin , SEA - CF
11) Smoak, Justin , TEX - 1B
10) Feliz, Neftali , TEX - R
9) Matusz, Brian , BAL - L
8) Santana, Carlos , CLE - C
7) Stanton, Mike , FLA - RF
6) Montero, Jesus , NYY - C
5) Jennings, Desmond , TBR - CF
4) Posey, Buster , SFG - C
3) Alvarez, Pedro , PIT - 3B
2) Strasburg, Stephen , WSN - R
1) Heyward, Jason , ATL – RF

Diamond Futures’ Retrospective: Our 2001 Top 100

Josh Beckett began a two year run atop the list in 2001

A number of you have inquired recently as to where you can find our previous Top Prospect Lists. Since our early lists were developed for a site that has changed ownership and management a couple of times over the last few years (www.topprospectalert.com ) and, to the best of my knowledge removed their archives from the beginning of the decade a couple years ago, and a site that no longer exists, we don’t have convenient links to point you toward. We did post our very first Top 100 list, from February of 2000, back in October (http://baseballnumbers-diamondfutures.blogspot.com/2009/10/diamond-futures-retrospective-2000-top.html), but, at least to my knowledge, the electronic links to the early lists have long since faded away. So, since there appears to be an interest, we will begin posting our previous lists, a couple per week, between now and the start of the season.

We actually began developing prospect lists in 1998-1999, where we identified the top prospects for each league. In 2000, we began doing a Top 100 list, and the following year expanded the list to 300 prospects. Today, we will look back at our 2001 list. While we are extremely proud of our 2001 list, mainly because we recognized the potential of Jimmy Rollins and Albert Pujols before most anyone, hopefully you will see that as the years have moved on, we have actually gotten better—as we have discovered better ways to value players that have minimal professional playing time. Additionally, while we are confident that our methods stack up favorably against any others available—we aren’t perfect, and sometimes our ‘misses’ can be more fun than our ‘hits’. Some of the significant misses from our 2001 list include: Ryan Anderson - #4; Antonio Perez - #12; Hee Choi - #21; injured pitchers Bobby Bradley-#22 and Chin-hui Tsao-#24; two of our perennial favorites, Jerome Williams-#26 and Chris Snelling-#28; and the ‘Nuke LaLossh’ of his day..Nick Neugebauer-#33. In addition to Rollins and Pujols, some of our better calls included: Jack Cust-#18; Francisco Rodriguez-#27; Jake Peavy - #30; John Garland - #45; Carlos Zambrano - #51; Brandon Phillips - #53; Adam Wainwright - #57; John Lackey - #69; and a relatively unknown Canadian, Justin Morneau - #84. The complete list is posted below:

Diamond Futures’ 2001 Top 100 Prospects

1 ) Beckett , Josh , RHP , FLA
2 ) Burroughs , Sean , 3B , SDP
3 ) Hamilton , Josh , OF , TBR
4 ) Anderson , Ryan , LHP , SEA
5 ) Patterson , Corey , OF , CHN
6 ) Rollins , Jimmy , SS , PHI
7 ) Sabathia , C.C. , LHP , CLE
8 ) Johnson , Nick , 1B , NYY
9 ) Pujols , Albert , 3B , STL
10 ) Suzuki , Ichiro , OF , SEA
11 ) Pena , Carlos , 1B , TEX
12 ) Perez , Antonio , SS , SEA
13 ) Sheets , Ben , RHP , MIL
14 ) Dunn , Adam , OF , CIN
15 ) Wells , Vernon , OF , TOR
16 ) Oswalt , Roy , RHP , HOU
17 ) Giles , Marcus , 2B , ATL
18 ) Cust , Jack , OF , ARZ
19 ) Soriano , Alfonso , SS/2B , NYY
20 ) Blalock , Hank , 3B , TEX
21 ) Choi , Hee , 1B , CHN
22 ) Bradley , Bobby , RHP , PIT
23 ) Rauch , Jon , RHP , CHA
24 ) Tsao , Chin-hui , RHP , COL
25 ) Kearns , Austin , OF , CIN
26 ) Williams , Jerome , RHP , SFG
27 ) Rodriguez , Francisco , RHP , ANA
28 ) Snelling , Chris , OF , SEA
29 ) Jiminez , D'Angelo , SS/2B , NYY
30 ) Peavy , Jacob , RHP , SDP
31 ) Cruz , Juan , RHP , CHN
32 ) Smith , Bud , LHP , STL
33 ) Neugebauer , Nick , RHP , MIL
34 ) Rivas , Luis , 2B , MIN
35 ) House , J.R. , C , PIT
36 ) Johnson , Adam , RHP , MIN
37 ) Mench , Kevin , OF , TEX
38 ) Chen , Chin-Feng , OF , LAD
39 ) Henson , Drew , 3B , CIN
40 ) Borchard , Joe , OF , CHA
41 ) Cuddyer , Mike , 3B , MIN
42 ) Redding , Tim , RHP , HOU
43 ) Betemit , Wilson , SS , ATL
44 ) Brown , Dee , OF , KCR
45 ) Garland , Jon , RHP , CHA
46 ) Escobar , Alex , OF , NYM
47 ) George , Chris , LHP , KCR
48 ) Crawford , Carl , OF , TBR
49 ) Myers , Brett , RHP , PHI
50 ) Restovich , Mike , OF , MIN
51 ) Zambrano , Carlos , RHP , CHN
52 ) Huff , Aubrey , 3B , TBR
53 ) Phillips , Brandon , SS , MTL
54 ) Uribe , Juan , SS , COL
55 ) Gonzalez , Adrian , 1B , FLA
56 ) Pineiro , Joel , RHP , SEA
57 ) Wainwright , Adam , RHP , ATL
58 ) Belisle , Matt , RHP , ATL
59 ) Ainsworth , Kurt , RHP , SFG
60 ) Gobble , Jimmy , LHP , KCR
61 ) Bridges , Donnie , RHP , MTL
62 ) Nunez , Abraham , SS , FLA
63 ) Crede , Joe , 3B , CHA
64 ) Wilkerson , Brad , OF , MTL
65 ) Lopez , Felipe , SS , TOR
66 ) Cole , Brian , OF , NYM
67 ) Colome , Jesus , RHP , TBR
68 ) Ortiz , Jose , 2B/SS , OAK
69 ) Lackey , John , RHP , ANA
70 ) Baez , Danny , RHP , CLE
71 ) Ludwick , Ryan , OF , OAK
72 ) Jennings , Jason , RHP , COL
73 ) Prokopec , Luke , RHP , LAD
74 ) Blanco , Tony , 3B , BOS
75 ) Santiago , Ramon , SS , DET
76 ) Izturis , Cesar , SS , TOR
77 ) Christensen , Ben , RHP , CHN
78 ) Strange , Pat , RHP , NYM
79 ) Infante , Omar , SS , DET
80 ) Cornejo , Nate , RHP , DET
81 ) Cedeno , Jovanny , RHP , TEX
82 ) Tankersley , Dennis , RHP , SDP
83 ) Hill , Bobby , SS/2B , CHN
84 ) Morneau , Justin , 1B/C , MIN
85 ) Abernathy , Brent , 2B , TBR
86 ) Werth , Jayson , C , BAL
87 ) Hernandez , Carlos , LHP , HOU
88 ) Buehrle , Mark , LHP , CHA
89 ) Cabrera , Miguel , SS , FLA
90 ) Montanez , Luis , SS , CHN
91 ) Torcato , Tony , 3B , SFG
92 ) Hinske , Eric , 3B , CHN
93 ) Lawrence , Brian , RHP , SDP
94 ) Hart , Jason , 1B , OAK
95 ) Bradley , Milton , OF , MTL
96 ) Torres , Joe , LHP , ANA
97 ) Inge , Brandon , C , DET
98 ) Rodriguez , Wilfredo , LHP , HOU
99 ) Utley , Chase , 2B , PHI
100 ) Stephens , John , RHP , BAL

2010 Diamond Futures Top 300 Prospects (#100 - #51)

Juan Francisco should be belting homers in Cincinatti in 2010

With the fifth installment in the series, we are just about finished counting down the Top 300. Why do we do the top 300? Our research has shown that few significant Major League players, were never considered among the Top 300 prospects in baseball (you’ll get more on this when we publish our Prospect Value study in a couple of week), and we would rather not miss anyone. So over the course of the next week or so, you can find out who we consider this year’s Top 300 prospects, as we count them down all the way to #1.

Of course if you want the Top 500, or just can’t wait until we count them all the way down, you can always order the Prospect eGuide, and get your copy of the complete list (plus much more) delivered to your in-box the same day. You’ll find complete details here: http://baseballnumbers-diamondfutures.blogspot.com/2010/02/2010-diamond-futures-prospect-eguide-is.html.



2010 Top 300 Prospects


100) Hosmer, Eric , KCR - 1B
99) Arrieta, Jake , BAL - R
98) Ynoa, Michael , OAK - R
97) Melville, Timothy , KCR - R
96) Arguelles, Noel , KCR - L
95) Anderson, Lars , BOS - 1B
94) Britton, Zachary , BAL - L
93) Reckling, Trevor , LAA - L
92) Jackson, Austin , DET - CF
91) White, Alex , CLE - R
90) Viciedo, Dayan , CHA - 3B
89) Lyles, Jordan , HOU - R
88) Darnell, James , SDP - 3B
87) Sanchez, Tony , PIT - C
86) Chacin, Jhoulys , COL - R
85) Banuelos, Manuel , NYY - L
84) Ramos, Wilson , MIN - C
83) Mitchell, Jared , CHA - CF
82) Beckham, Tim , TBR - SS
81) Jackson, Brett , CHN - CF
80) Colome, Alexander , TBR - R
79) Hudson, Daniel , CHA - R
78) Francisco, Juan , CIN - 3B
77) Wheeler, Zack , SFG - R
76) Sano, Miguel , MIN - 3B
75) Conger, Hank , LAA - C
74) Flores, Wilmer , NYM - SS
73) Miller, Shelby , STL - R
72) Leake, Mike , CIN - R
71) Duffy, Danny , KCR - L
70) Gordon, Dee , LAD - SS
69) Castro, Simon , SDP - R
68) Revere, Ben , MIN - CF
67) Vizcaino, Arodys , ATL - R
66) Kalish, Ryan , BOS - LF
65) Teheran, Julio , ATL - R
64) Myers, Wil , KCR - C
63) Dominguez, Matt , FLA - 3B
62) Davis, Wade , TBR - R
61) Garcia, Jaime , STL - L
60) Moustakas, Mike , KCR - 3B
59) Bell, Josh , BAL - 3B
58) Alderson, Tim , PIT - R
57) Decker, Jaff , SDP - LF
56) Tabata, Jose , PIT - CF
55) Tate, Donavan , SDP - CF
54) Storen, Drew , WSN - RP
53) Castro, Jason , HOU - C
52) Borchering, Bobby , ARZ - 3B
51) Lawrie, Brett , MIL - 2B

Strasburg or Heyward: The Battle for #1

It has been quite a while, especially since we incorporated college data into our model, since choosing the overall top prospect has been such a difficult choice for us. Using a statistical model, usually provides a relatively clear choice—even if it sometimes isn’t the conventional one. However, in evaluating Stephen Strasburg, it became clear, to us, as to some of the limits of our data modeling techniques.

Our system is actually a fairly simple concept. You examine a player in critical areas (statistical as well as phenotypic), locate the most similar players from our vast database then determine how the comparison group performed over their careers. While we can run into some difficulties with extremely precocious players, this usually doesn’t impact the battle for the top spot, because you usually have a track record that provides a fair group of comparable players to model against. Take a player like Jason Heyward for instance, developing our typical 90 player comp list was relatively easy, and the top twenty comps were very strong for him. But what happens when you have a player that there has never been another one like him? That essentially is the challenge that we face this year with Stephen Strasburg.

Ignoring the statistical side of things for the moment, Strasburg entered the 2009 collegiate season as the top rated player in the draft. The previous summer he had already become the top pitcher on a national team that featured two very successful rookie pitchers from the 2009 Major League season and had beaten out a pitcher who was an early first round pick in the previous draft, who also is a current top ten prospect. Without question, in the spring of 2009, Strasburg was clearly the best amateur pitcher in the game. So what did he do? He went out in the 2009 collegiate season and posted what is arguably either the #1 or #2 best season, by a college pitcher, in the last 40 years. He was the #1 prospect on Draft Day. He was the first overall selection. And he signed for the most bonus money ever given to a draft pick. He is arguably (it’s actually a rather easy argument to make) the best pitcher ever drafted. Because he signed late, we have no performance data on him. So how do we find comps on him?

Thanks to the folks at Baseball America, we actually have a fairly decent record of the draft for the last thirty years. Do you know how many college pitchers entered the draft as the ‘top- rated player’, and actually were chosen first overall? Three—Andy Benes in 1988, Ben McDonald in 1989 and Paul Wilson in 1994. Three other pre-draft #1s were selected second, but only Mark Prior in 2001 was considered to be a ‘signability’ reason for not going #1. It became obvious to us that, despite having one of the most complete historical records of minor league players available, we needed better information to accurately assess players that have minimal professional track records. This led us to begin a project that you will be hearing more about in the coming months, where we have begun to assemble pre-signing ‘scouting’ information on nearly 12,000 players from a period that covers the last thirty years. We decided to use that information to try to develop our comp list for Strasburg this year.

After we finally felt comfortable on how we were going to approach Strasburg’s evaluation, we set out on our normal processes. As I said, Jason Heyward was rather easy. His top ten comparables look like this:

1) Carlos Gonzalez
2) Troy O’Leary
3) Ryan Klesko
4) Adrian Gonzalez
5) Justin Upton
6) Gary Sheffield
7) Billy Butler
8) Delmon Young
9) Ruben Mateo
10) Lloyd Moseby

When you evaluate Heyward, you get an expected career WAR of 25.2, with a 52% chance of becoming a ‘star’ and an 8% chance of becoming a ‘bust’.

Following our normal processes with Strasburg, we developed a comp list where the top ten names on the list were these:

1) Andy Benes
2) Mark Prior
3) Justin Verlander
4) Paul Wilson
5) Mike Moore
6) Braden Looper
7) Darren Dreifort
8) Paul Shuey
9) Matt Anderson
10) Ben McDonald

Strasburg’s calculated expected career WAR is 16.1, with a 39% chance of becoming a ‘star’, and an 11% chance of becoming a ‘bust’.

Normally, this would be the end of the story. Heyward has the greatest expected career WAR, the greater chance of becoming a ‘star’, and the lower chance of becoming a ‘bust’. However, we noticed an interesting thing about Strasburg’s comparable list. While with a normal player, like say Heyward, you have names like Manny Ramirez, Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones and Miguel Cabrera that fall on various places throughout his list, and there is a fairly even distribution of WAR values throughout the list. However, with Strasburg, the top ten comparables are the highest group of WAR values, higher than the top twenty, which is higher than the top forty, which is higher than the list as a whole. In other words, there is a decreasing level of player the further down you go on the list, meaning that Strasburg is actually sitting at the top of a very short list of comparables and is likely considerably better than his calculated expected career WAR.

The problem that we find, is that since there has never been another pitcher like Strasburg (or at least very few), at this stage of his career, we really don’t mathematically know what to expect from him. Our intuition tells us that, despite the inherent risks with pitchers, while Heyward may be a once in a decade type of prospect, Strasburg is likely a once in a generation, or even once in a lifetime, type of prospect. Our intuition tells us that we should rank Strasburg #1. In the end, we stay true to our models, and Jason Heyward is the Diamond Future’s #1 prospect of 2010.

Tomorrow we resume our countdown of the Top 300 Prospects. Of course if you want the Top 500, or just can’t wait until we count them all the way down, you can always order the Prospect eGuide, and get your copy of the complete list (plus much more) delivered to your in-box the same day.

You’ll find complete details here: http://baseballnumbers-diamondfutures.blogspot.com/2010/02/2010-diamond-futures-prospect-eguide-is.html.

Gain the Fantasy League Advantage!

Get ahead of your competition in your dynasty league, with the low-down on the best of the Minor League prospects, with the Diamond Futures' 2010 Prospect eGuide. In it you will get a team-by-team look at each organization's prospects, plus much, much, more.


In a nearly 300 page .pdf document, delivered to your 'inbox' you will receive the following:


Minor League Player profiles— nearly 600 in all

Rankings of the Top 50 prospects in each organization

The Diamond Futures' Minor League Top 500 Ranking

Prospect Rankings by Position

Winter Wonders—our recap of notable performances from the Winter Leagues

Diamond Futures’ Preseason 2010 Amateur Draft Top 100

Up-to-date Team rankings reflecting the most current player moves


300 Pages of valuable prospect information for you to use all season long…delivered directly to your InBox (same day) in .pdf format.

You can compare prices for this kind of information elsewhere, but this premier edition is available right now,through us, for only $9.95.

2010 Diamond Futures' Top 300 (#150 - #101)

Brandon Allen just missed the Top 100

Part Four of our Top 300 list, takes us all the way down to number 100. Why do we do the top 300? Our research has shown that few significant Major League players, were never considered among the Top 300 prospects in baseball (you’ll get more on this when we publish our Prospect Value study in a couple of week), and we would rather not miss anyone. So over the course of the next week or so, you can find out who we consider this year’s Top 300 prospects, as we count them down all the way to #1.

Of course if you want the Top 500, or just can’t wait until we count them all the way down, you can always order the Prospect eGuide, and get your copy of the complete list (plus much more) delivered to your in-box the same day. You’ll find complete details here: http://baseballnumbers-diamondfutures.blogspot.com/2010/02/2010-diamond-futures-prospect-eguide-is.html.


2010 Top 300 Prospects

150) Gose, Anthony , PHI - CF
149) Rincon, Edinson , SDP - 3B
148) Stassi, Max , OAK - C
147) Morales, Angel , MIN - CF
146) Cumberland, Drew , SDP - SS
145) d'Arnaud, Travis , TOR - C
144) Triunfel, Carlos , SEA - SS
143) Pineda, Michael , SEA - R
142) Desmond, Ian , WSN - SS
141) Marrero, Chris , WSN - 1B
140) Lindblom, Josh , LAD - RP
139) Rodriguez, Rafael , SFG - RF
138) Jackson, Jay , CHN - R
137) Burgess, Michael , WSN - RF
136) Rizzo, Anthony , BOS - 1B
135) Profar, Jurickson , TEX - SS
134) DeJesus, Ivan , LAD - SS
133) Kipnis, Jason , CLE - 2B
132) Burke, Kyler , CHN - RF
131) Minor, Mike , ATL - L
130) Miller, Aaron , LAD - L
129) Bethancourt, Christian , ATL - C
128) Lobstein, Kyle , TBR - L
127) Font, Wilmer , TEX - R
126) Kiker, Kasey , TEX - L
125) Salcedo, Adrian , MIN - R
124) Weglarz, Nick , CLE - LF
123) Gillies, Tyson , PHI - CF
122) Jones, Daryl , STL - LF
121) Saunders, Michael , SEA - LF
120) Tazawa, Junichi , BOS - R
119) Martin, Ethan , LAD - R
118) James, Chad , FLA - L
117) Elbert, Scott , LAD - L
116) Main, Michael , TEX - R
115) Reddick, Josh , BOS - CF
114) Brignac, Reid , TBR - SS
113) Iglesias, Jose , BOS - SS
112) McAllister, Zach , NYY - R
111) Lee, Hak-Ju , CHN - SS
110) Gibson, Derrik , BOS - 2B
109) Brantley, Michael , CLE - CF
108) Romine, Austin , NYY - C
107) Walden, Jordan , LAA - R
106) Frazier, Todd , CIN - LF
105) Delgado, Randall , ATL - R
104) Cashner, Andrew , CHN - R
103) Wheeler, Tim , COL - CF
102) Neal, Thomas , SFG - LF
101) Allen, Brandon , ARZ - 1B

Diamond Futures’ Pre-Season College Top 25

The Texas Longhorns appear poised to finish one game further in 2010

The college baseball season kicks into high gear this weekend, and with it comes our Pre-Season Rankings. Beginning in March, our top 25 will become a regular weekly feature all the way through the College World Series.


1) Texas -
While catcher Cameron Rupp will key the offense, this is a pitching dominated team. Sensational 2009 frosh, Taylor Jungmann will head a talented rotation that also features likely first round pick Brandon Workman. They have the talent, the experience and the coaching, and are favorites to avenge last season’s runner-up finish.

2) Louisiana State –
While they graduated a number of key pieces from last year’s Championship Team, the Tigers remain an experienced bunch with a nice balance between offense and pitching/defense. Micah Gibbs, Blake Dean and Leon Landry will provide the offensive punch, while Anthony Ranaudo, the best junior pitcher in the country heads the rotation.

3) Virginia –
Led by junior Jarrett Parker, the Cavaliers return every one of their position players from a team that finished 2009 with a 49-15 record. Sophomore Danny Hultzen who finished 9-1 with a 2.17 ERA heads the rotation.

4) Cal State Fullerton –
The Titans return one of the best rotations in the college game, with junior Danny Renken as the Friday night starter. Offensively, they were hit hard by departures, but return Gary Brown and Chris Colon, two of the most exciting offensive players in the nation.

5) UC Irvine –
The Anteaters are one of the more experienced teams in the Nation, as they return seven offensive starters and their rotation will be headed by returning seniors Dan Bibona and Christian Bergman. This is a team that entered the CWS in 2009 as the #6 overall seed, and there is no reason to think they shouldn’t be even better this year.

6) Rice –
The Owls, led by super-soph Anthony Rendon and junior shortstop Ricky Hague, will put up a ton of runs this season…The question is whether they will be able to hold their opponents to less, as only one starter returns with an ERA less than 6.00.

7) Florida State -
The Seminoles are the poster child for the ‘team’ concept, as they have a lot of returning depth but few stars, Sophomore Sean Gilmartin is the Friday night starter and he should match up well with most anyone.

8) Georgia Tech -
The offense, led by junior Derek Dietrich and senior Tony Plagman, will lead the team, but Friday night starter Deck McGuire is one of the best in the country and closer Kevin Jacob looks to have taken major steps forward over the summer.

9) Florida –
Matt den Dekker will provide the veteran leadership on offense, and sophomore Preston Tucker is a potential first round pick in 2011, but their pitching staff lacks experience and will likely feature an all-sophomore weekend rotation, which may get them in trouble in the SEC.

10) Arizona State -
The Sun Devils will be young on offense, as they lost their top two players Jason Kipnis and Carlos Ramirez to the draft. Their leadership will be missed as they will start five sophomores and a freshman. The same goes for the pitching, as Mike Leake will be hard to replace. Josh Spence returns, but this is a traditionally power house program that is entering the year with major uncertainties.

11) Texas Christian –
The Horned-Frogs will start three freshman and two sophomores on offense, and their staff ace is likely to be freshman Matt Purke. So needless to say, while they may be a talented group, they will be inexperienced.

12) Miami –
The offense will have a lot of questions heading into the season, as the Hurricanes feature five new starters, including three freshman. Yasmani Grandal keys the attack and is looking to shore up his draft stock that has become shaky. The rotation has plenty of uncertainties of its own, as Eric Erickson returns from Tommy John surgery while Chris Hernanedez looks to rebound from disappointing sophomore season.

13) Coastal Carolina –
Few teams will be faster than the speedy Chanticleers, led by junior CF, Rico Noel. However, the fate of the team likely resides in the arms of Cody Wheeler and Anthony Meo.


14) Oregon State –
The Beavers could be a National powerhouse if they only had a moderate amount of offense, but as it currently looks, this is a team that will rely on its pitching and defense. Sophomore Sam Gaviglio, who went 10-1, 2.73, will likely be the Friday night starter, but juniors Tyler Waldron, Greg Peavey and Tanner Robles provide significant rotation depth. Junior Kevin Rhoderick could be one of the most potent closers in the country.

15) Clemson –
First baseman Ben Paulsen is now with the Rockies, and he is replaced by freshman Richie Shaffer…but that is the only offensive departure from the 2009 squad. The pitching is another matter, as outside of junior Casey Harman, it is an experienced bunch.

16) Arkansas –
Zack Cox and Andy Wilkins key an offensive attack that doesn’t have but one other hitter that posted an average above .265 in 2009. On the other side, Dallas Keuchel is now in the Minor Leagues, leaving a rotation that has talent, but is relatively unproven. Sophomore Drew Smyly and/or junior Brett Eibner need to step up.

17) North Carolina –
The Tar heels offense lost one of the best players in school history when Dustin Ackley was drafted by the Mariners, and enter 2009 with five new starters—none of which were with the program in 2009. This will increase the focus on junior Matt Harvey, who was disappointing last season, but has the raw ‘stuff’ to be one of the best Friday starters in the Nation.

18) Louisville –
Senior Andrew Clark and junior Phil Wunderlich form a potent 1-2 punch in the middle of the lineup, but they rotation lacks a true ace. If someone steps up to claim the Friday night role, the Cardinals could be dangerous.

19) East Carolina –
Cape Cod League MVP keys an unproven offensive attack, and the Pirates have a solid rotation, but lack star material. They will be tough in Conference USA, but may not have enough to compete with the better teams from the top cpnferences.

20) San Diego –
The Toreros are a team that is dominated by a deep and talented rotation that features Friday night starter, senior, A.J. Griffin, and two potential first round picks in juniors Kyle Blair and Sammy Solis. Blair is coming off of a solid summer on the cape, and this could be one of the best weekend rotations in the country.

21) Mississippi –
The Rebels’ offense lacks true ‘star’ players, but it has the potential to be a devastating unit. Drew Pomeranz, a likely early first round pick in June, keys the rotation, but there is little quality behind him. This could make for a number of slugfests in 2010.

22) South Carolina –
Senior Nick Ebert will provide plenty of firepower for the Gamecock offense, and Sam Dyson returns as the Friday night starter, looking to make amends for a disappointing 2009. If Dyson is able to hold down the front of the rotation, the pitching depth is impressive.


23) Ohio State –
The Buckeyes return their top five offensive performers and their entire weekend rotation from a team that won the Big Ten in 2009, making expectations high in Columbus. Alex Wimmers, the junior right-hander, is potential first round material and was absolutely dominant toward the end of the 2009 season.

24) UCLA –
The offense is shaky, as senior 1B, Justin Uribe’s .864 is the top returning OPS from 2009. The pitching however is another matter altogether, as sophomore Gerrit Cole is possibly the best pitching prospect in his class and Trevor Bauer and Rob Rasmussen are solid.

25) Georgia –
No team on this list has been hit as hard by departures as the Bulldogs have. Their starting nine, in 2010, will consistent of seven sophomores and two freshman. This will put the spotlight on Friday night starter Justin Grimm, a likely first round draft pick in June, and closer, senior AlexMcRee. There isn’t a lot of experience behind Grimm, but there is substantial talent.