Highlighting top Orioles prospects for '10

We break down the top five prospects for each organization for 2010, taking into consideration: games, at-bats, innings and major-league service time. We expect these players to have rookie status remaining heading into next year.

According to MLB rules: "A player shall be considered a rookie unless, during a previous season or seasons, he has (a) exceeded 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the major leagues; or (b) accumulated more than 45 days on the active roster of a major league club or clubs during the period of 25-player limit (excluding time in the military service and time on the disabled list)."

Note: Statistics are those at each stop in the minors this season and age represents how old they will be on opening day 2010.

Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles spent another season in the basement, but the parade of elite talent gives them plenty of hope now, even in the AL East. Matt Wieters got all the hype, but Chris Tillman, Nolan Reimold, Brad Bergesen and David Hernandez also arrived to become big leaguers that will be counted on for 2010. The five on this list won't be far behind either and likely will all contribute next season, if not out of spring training.

1. Brian Matusz, SP, 23

Matusz's first pro season saw him finish up in the major leagues in sometimes dominant fashion. He went 5-2 in eight starts for the Orioles and figures to be a fixture in the rotation out of spring training next year. Having thrown just 44 2/3 innings, he will be a front-runner for AL Rookie of the Year honors and a solid sleeper in all leagues on Draft Day. Long term, he is a potential top five Fantasy starter in the mold of Cole Hamels.

2. Jake Arrieta, SP, 24

Arrieta at times pitched better than any of the Orioles' prospects, but he was the most-notable one to not get a late-season look. It wasn't because of anything he did down in the minors. He combined to go 11-11 with a 3.40 ERA, .240 batting-average against, 148 strikeouts and 56 walks in 150 2/3 innings between Double- and Triple-A. The fact he has no major league experience makes him a long shot candidate for the back end of the Orioles rotation, but we should see him up in the majors and proving useful in deeper Fantasy leagues by June 1, 2010.

3. Brandon Erbe, SP, 22

It was an injury-plagued year for Erbe, but it still was an impressive one. The right-hander made just 18 starts (86 2/3 innings), but he posted a combined 2.70-.183-73-37 between low Class A and Double-A. He was unhittable in Double-A, allowing a mere .170 BAA. He will open the 2010 back in the minors, but like Arrieta, he has a good chance to help Fantasy owners in deeper leagues by midseason.

4. Joshua Bell, 3B, 23

The Dodgers were willing to part with this power-hitting prospect for George Sherrill at the trade deadline and now the O's might consider him a long-term solution at third base. He wasn't a real well-regarded prospect after his disappointing 2008, but he more than made up for it in 2009, hitting .295 with 20 homers, 76 RBI, 65 runs, three steals, .376 on-base percentage and a .516 slugging percentage. He also had 35 doubles in his 448 at-bats between Class A and Double-A. Bell needs more time in the high minors, but he could make a midseason impact in a Reimold-like way by midseason.

5. Troy Patton, SP, 24

Patton, a shoulder surgery survivor and once the key piece in the Miguel Tejada trade, had a tale of two seasons coming off his injury-washed out year of 2008. Patton dominated Double-A to the tune of (6-2)-1.99-.211-47-18 in 63 1/3 innings, but he proved far more human in Triple-A: (1-3)-6.45-.337-26-14 in 44 2/3 innings. Patton apparently needs more time to heal and improve back in Triple-A. Consider him a long shot to be the elite pitcher he was once projected to become, though.

Best of the rest: Matthew Hobgood, SP; Brandon Snyder, 1B; L.J. Hoes, 2B; Caleb Joseph, C; Billy Rowell, OF; Justin Turner, 2B; Chris Lambert, SP; Pedro Beato, SP; Brett Jacobson, SP; Brandon Cooney, RP; Kam Mickolio, RP; Steve Johnson, SP; Brandon Waring, 1B; Xavier Avery, OF; Matthew Angle, OF; Greg Miclat, SS; Mychal Givens, SS; Tyler Townsend, 1B; Randy Henry, SP; Ashur Tolliver, SP; Chorye Spoone, RP; Zach Britton, RP; Bobby Bundy, SP; Tyler Henson, 3B; Tony Butler, SP; Bob McCrory, RP; Ryan Adams, 2B.

2009 rookies to exhaust eligibility (expected): Wieters, C; Tillman, SP; Reimold, OF; Bergesen, SP; Hernandez, SP; Koji Uehara, SP; Jason Berken, SP; Michael Aubrey, 1B; Jeff Fiorentino, OF; and Lou Montanez, OF.

Last year's top five here: Wieters, Tillman, Arrieta, Reimold and Montanez (and Patton injury-mention).

You can e-mail Emack your Orioles prospect questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Prospects in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses to all questions.