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.
Arizona Diamondbacks
It was a tough year in Arizona and it ended even worse when the D-Backs No. 1 prospect came down with elbow woes. There is help on the farm to supply the rebuilding team with some talent, but trades with the intention of competing now have cost them some good young players. A bumper 2009 draft crop should make them an elite farm system again in a few years, though. None of the newbies yet rank in the top five here, but they will next year once we get a better look at them as professionals.
1. Jarrod Parker, SP, 21
Parker caught a bad break at the end of the season, eventually needing offseason Tommy John surgery that ended his season. The procedure will not only knock him out of 2010 rotation candidacy, but keep him out for the full season and likely force him to work his way back in the minors to start 2011. It is a bad blow for his keeper owners, but if you can wait two years, you could have a Fantasy ace on your hands. He was looking to us like the next Jake Peavy -- now complete with injury concerns.
2. Brandon Allen, 1B/OF, 24
The White Sox gave up on Allen in a deal for reliever Tony A. Pena and it could prove to be a steal. At 6-feet-2 and 235 pounds, Allen has legit pop in his bat and could work his way into at-bats at first base or left field next season. Although he wasn't stellar in his 104 at-bats with the D-Backs, he combined to hit .298 with 20 homers, 75 RBI, 78 runs, seven steals, a .373 on-base percentage and a .503 slugging percentage. Consider him more of a sleeper in NL-only leagues initially, but he has long been considered a potential run producing prospect.
3. Daniel Schlereth, RP, 23
If middle relievers mattered more in Fantasy, Schlereth would be at least second on this list. As it is, the 2008 first-round pick could develop into a potential closer long term. But, like so many minor league relievers, he has a great arm and needs to develop command. Schlereth throws hard but his 15 walks in 18 1/3 down the stretch for the D-Backs suggest he is not ready to be trusted in a prominent role. His walk rate wasn't impressive in the minors either, allowing 17 free passes in 27 2/3 innings. His 0.98 ERA and .165 batting-average against certainly show he is tough to hit when does get it over the plate, though. Consider him a relief flier in deeper leagues in 2010, as he should make the team out of spring training -- maybe even as a setup man for Chad Qualls or Juan Gutierrez.
4. Kevin Mulvey, SP, 24
Mulvey, once a key piece in the Mets' trade for Johan Santana, didn't impress anyone in Minnesota, which allowed him to be claimed on waivers by the D-Backs. But a groundball pitcher like Mulvey needs time to develop. He could serve as a back-end starter for the D-Backs in 2010 and regain his status that once made him a prospect jewel.
5. Trent Oeltjen, OF, 27
The Australian doesn't have the elite talent of some of the D-Backs' slew of early round picks from 2009, but he could develop into a useful Fantasy player in deeper leagues -- mostly due to his steals potential. Oeltjen got off to a great start with the D-Backs in his brief call-up only to tail off and prove to be merely a reserve outfielder. Back in Triple-A, Oeltjen went .303-10-64-78-22 (.362-.500) and flashed speed with his 14 triples. He won't have a starting job in 2010 with the D-Backs but he could surprise in spurts.
Best of the rest: Bobby Borchering, 3B; Pedro Ciriaco, SS; A.J. Pollock, OF; Wade Miley, SP; Rusty Ryal, 2B; Barry Enright, SP; Bryan Augenstein, SP; Wes Roemer, SP; John Hester, C; Cesar Valdez, SP; Tony Barnette, SP; Kevin Eichhorn, RP; Kyler Newby, RP; Chris Owings, SS; Jordan Norberto, RP; Mark Hallberg, 2B; Matt Davidson, 3B; Mike Belfiore, SP; James Skelton, 2B; Trevor Harden, SP; David Nick, SS; Ryan Wheeler, 3B; Collin Cowgill, OF; Cyle Hankerd, OF; Reynaldo Navarro, SS; Ed Easley, C; Leyson Septimo, RP; Daniel Stange, RP; Bryan Shaw, RP; Ryne White, 1B; Evan Frey, OF; Cole Gillespie, OF; Eric Smith, SP; Marc Krauss, OF; Rossmel Perez, C; Isaias Asencio, OF; and Keon Broxton, OF.
2009 rookies to exhaust eligibility: Juan Gutierrez, RP; Gerardo Parra, OF; Josh Whitesell, 1B; Clay Zavada, SP; Esmerling Vasquez, RP; and Billy Buckner, SP.
Last year's top five here: Parker, SP; Valdez, SP; Whitesell, 1B; D'Antona, 3B (left for Japan); and Parra, OF.
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