2010 Draft Prep: Top AL-only prospects
We outlined the Top 25 rookies to target on Draft Day and Fantasy Baseball's Top 100 prospects, so now we split them off with the Top AL prospects for those in AL-only leagues.
These prospects might not necessarily make the team out of camp, but they will be some of the most-hyped minor leaguers throughout the season. They are ranked for their potential long-term rewards in Fantasy leagues.
There are 100's of others that can get call-ups and help Fantasy owners in the near future, too, so go through our Organizational Prospect Reports we did last fall to get an even deeper view of all the teams' top farmhands.
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| RK | Player | POS | TM | AGE | 2009 high | 2010 start |
| 1 | Neftali Feliz | SP | TEX | 21 | Majors | Majors |
| The Rangers have finally stuck gold on one of their own pitching prospects and haven't traded him, yet. | ||||||
| 2 | Desmond Jennings | OF | TB | 23 | Triple-A | Triple-A |
| As if the Rays needed any more premium guys, Jennings will soften Carl Crawford's eventual departure. | ||||||
| 3 | Brian Matusz | SP | BAL | 23 | Majors | Majors |
| He already reminds me of former Orioles ace Mike Mussina in his much, much younger years. | ||||||
| 4 | Dustin Ackley | 1B | SEA | 22 | NCAA | High Class A |
| We list him at his drafted position, but if he takes to second base, he is minors' class of that spot. | ||||||
| 5 | Carlos Santana | C | CLE | 23 | Double-A | Triple-A |
| Unlike the catcher ranked next on the list, we are certain he will be staying behind the plate long term. | ||||||
| 6 | Jesus Montero | C | NYY | 20 | Double-A | Triple-A |
| Jorge Posada's heir has been trying his hand at other positions, but this ranking banks on him catching. | ||||||
| 7 | Jeremy Hellickson | SP | TB | 22 | Triple-A | Triple-A |
| In another organization, he would be a candidate for a rotation; he has to wait his turn with the Rays. | ||||||
| 8 | Justin Smoak | 1B | TEX | 23 | Triple-A | Triple-A |
| His power bat isn't too far from the major leagues and Texas is a nice park to slug quickly to prominence. | ||||||
| 9 | Kyle Drabek | SP | TOR | 22 | Double-A | Triple-A |
| He has gotten his Tommy John elbow surgery out of the way early at least; better than his dad? | ||||||
| 10 | Casey Kelly | SP | BOS | 20 | Low Class A | High Class A |
| We figure he can make an impact in the Red Sox bullpen later this season if they so choose. | ||||||
| 11 | Martin Perez | SP | TEX | 18 | Double-A | Double-A |
| Teenager really didn't star in Double-A but his age-level ratio is pretty off the charts at this point. | ||||||
| 12 | Wade Davis | SP | TB | 24 | Majors | Majors |
| You could pick some pitching prospects with higher ceilings, but he is a pretty good bet to succeed. | ||||||
| 13 | Chris C. Carter | 1B | OAK | 23 | Triple-A | Triple-A |
| You have to love the power potential; heck, he has been traded for some big-name players. | ||||||
| 14 | Brett Wallace | 1B | TOR | 23 | Triple-A | Triple-A |
| He has bounced around in the past year, but his bat should still play even at the deep first base position. | ||||||
| 15 | Lonnie Chisenhall | 3B | CLE | 21 | Double-A | Double-A |
| It won't be difficult for him to push his way to the majors, if he can get off to a hot start through June 1. | ||||||
| 16 | Michael Taylor | OF | OAK | 24 | Triple-A | Triple-A |
| The A's added a potential Carlos Gonzalez-type outfield talent they traded away to get Matt Holliday. | ||||||
| 17 | Aaron Crow | SP | KC | 23 | DNP -- unsigned | Double-A |
| Sitting out a year set him back, but he could come on quickly with a healthy first half this season. | ||||||
| 18 | Michael Montgomery | SP | KC | 20 | High Class A | High Class A |
| Watching which Royals starter becomes the better major leaguer will be intriguing in a few quick years. | ||||||
| 19 | Matt Moore | SP | TB | 20 | Low Class A | High Class A |
| High strikeout rate will be something to watch as he gets advanced to the high levels; there's huge upside here. | ||||||
| 20 | Aaron Hicks | OF | MIN | 20 | Low Class A | Low Class A |
| He is years away, but his potentially high ceiling makes him a prospect worth stashing long term. | ||||||
| 21 | Scott Sizemore | 2B | DET | 25 | Triple-A | Majors |
| He won't be an elite player by any stretch, but a potential 20-20 second baseman is still a Fantasy commodity. | ||||||
| 22 | Michael Bowden | SP | BOS | 23 | Majors | Triple-A |
| Red Sox's logjam holds him back for now, so he might have to serve Justin Masterson-like role for franchise. | ||||||
| 23 | Junichi Tazawa | SP | BOS | 23 | Majors | Triple-A |
| He will be a serviceable No. 5 starter fill-in coming up from Triple-A as needed this season. | ||||||
| 24 | Ryan Westmoreland | OF | BOS | 19 | Low Class A | Low Class A |
| He is a real long way from Boston right now, but the big-market hype machine is running full strength on him. | ||||||
| 25 | Daniel Hudson | SP | CHW | 23 | Majors | Triple-A |
| Freddy An. Garcia can't be counted on at No. 5, so Hudson will at least be a June 1 call-up candidate. | ||||||
| 26 | Casey Crosby | SP | DET | 21 | Low Class A | High Class A |
| He has been drawing comparisons to Clayton Kershaw by Baseball America, so there is plenty to live up to. | ||||||
| 27 | Tyler Flowers | C | CHW | 24 | Majors | Triple-A |
| Pierzynski's replacement can slug with the best at the position, which could make him intriguing in 2010. | ||||||
| 28 | Jared Mitchell | OF | CHW | 21 | Low Class A | High Class A |
| Former football player is raw by baseball standards, but his physical skills grade very highly right away. | ||||||
| 29 | Austin Jackson | OF | DET | 23 | Triple-A | Majors |
| He doesn't figure to be great right away, but you can see some speed-and-power potential long term. | ||||||
| 30 | Adam Moore | C | SEA | 25 | Triple-A | Majors |
| Jeff Clement and Kenji Johjima are no longer blocking him, so consider him the M's catcher of choice right now. | ||||||
| 31 | Josh Bell | 3B | BAL | 23 | Double-A | Triple-A |
| There is legit corner-infield pop in his bat, which could make him a candidate to arrive later in 2010 as a regular. | ||||||
| 32 | Jake Arrieta | SP | BAL | 24 | Triple-A | Triple-A |
| Other Orioles prospects have surged past him, but he won't be completely forgotten about for an arrival this year. | ||||||
| 33 | Alex Avila | C | DET | 23 | Majors | Majors |
| He might start the year as a backup in Detroit, but his pop will make him intriguing in most league's by year's end. | ||||||
| 34 | J.P. Arencibia | C | TOR | 24 | Triple-A | Triple-A |
| There is 30-homer potential in his bat, but his batting average was low last year in Triple-A, where he will return. | ||||||
| 35 | Mike Moustakas | 3B | KC | 21 | High Class A | Double-A |
| His stock has slipped some, but a big year in Double-A this season could put himself in the mix for a 2011 job. | ||||||
| 36 | Tanner Scheppers | SP | TEX | 23 | Independent | Double-A |
| There is some concern about his shoulder, but the stuff he once showed keeps him among the elite prospects. | ||||||
| 37 | Tim Beckham | OF | TB | 20 | Low Class A | High Class A |
| He was a disappointment in his first pro season, but his talent and age give him plenty of time to make it. | ||||||
| 38 | Dayan Viciedo | 3B | CHW | 21 | Double-A | Triple-A |
| Everyone loved him last spring -- much more than us -- and now he is falling through the cracks; he's still good. | ||||||
| 39 | Reid Brignac | SS | TB | 24 | Majors | Majors |
| He has been talked about as a run-producing shortstop for years, but he will have to earn his at-bats this spring. | ||||||
| 40 | Wilkin Ramirez | OF | DET | 24 | Majors | Triple-A |
| He still whiffs too much, but his speed-and-power mix could make him a candidate to help the Tigers right now. | ||||||
| 41 | Michael Saunders | OF | SEA | 23 | Majors | Triple-A |
| He likely won't start, which could punch his ticket to Triple-A, so he can play every day and get full-time at-bats. | ||||||
| 42 | Jacob Turner | SP | DET | 18 | High school | Low Class A |
| One of the best high school arms in the 2009 draft, according to scouts, so he has long-term keeper value. | ||||||
| 43 | Kyle Gibson | SP | MIN | 22 | NCAA | High Class A |
| He would be ranked a lot higher if not for injury woes that kept him from making his pro debut late last year. | ||||||
| 44 | Max Ramirez | C | TEX | 25 | Triple-A | Triple-A |
| It was a disaster season for him in 2009, which was supposed to be one where he could break through. | ||||||
| 45 | Ben Revere | OF | MIN | 21 | High Class A | Double-A |
| Burner will never develop power on his small frame, but he could be a 50-plus basestealer in a few years. | ||||||
| 46 | Danny Valencia | 3B | MIN | 25 | Triple-A | Triple-A |
| His 38 doubles combined last year suggest his power will be more impressive once he arrives, perhaps very soon. | ||||||
| 47 | Hector Rondon | SP | CLE | 22 | Triple-A | Triple-A |
| The Indians briefly considered him in relief, but they are making a good decision to keep him stretched out. | ||||||
| 48 | Carlos Carrasco | SP | CLE | 23 | Majors | Triple-A |
| One of the key pieces of the Cliff Lee deal last year wasn't impressive right away, but we won't give up on him. | ||||||
| 49 | Wilson Ramos | C | MIN | 22 | Double-A | Triple-A |
| Barring a very unlikely free-agent departure of Joe Mauer, Ramos will mean more as trade bait to Minnesota. | ||||||
| 50 | Jason Knapp | SP | CLE | 19 | Low Class A | Low Class A |
| He struggled with injuries after being acquired in the Lee deal, but the teenager has plenty time on his hands. | ||||||
| 51 | Michael Brantley | OF | CLE | 22 | Triple-A | Majors |
| Acquired in the CC Sabathia trade, this slap-hitting basestealer could be the Indians' opening-day left fielder. | ||||||
| 52 | Nick Hagadone | SP | CLE | 24 | High Class A | High Class A |
| One of the key pieces of the Victor Martinez trade; if Santana can star and the pitching comes through ... | ||||||
| 53 | Hank Conger | C | LAA | 22 | Double-A | Triple-A |
| Injuries had derailed him, but his successful comeback in 2009 restores his top prospect status at catcher. | ||||||
| 54 | Grant Green | SS | OAK | 22 | High Class A | High Class A |
| Southern Cal product is a middle infielder with a compact stroke; could be a slugging shortstop for the A's. | ||||||
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| 55 | Lou Marson | C | CLE | 23 | Majors | Majors |
| 56 | Alex Liddi | 3B | SEA | 21 | High Class A | Double-A |
| 57 | Zach Stewart | SP | TOR | 23 | Triple-A | Triple-A |
| 58 | Jake McGee | SP | TB | 23 | High Class A | Triple-A |
| 59 | Noel Arguelles | SP | KC | 20 | Cuba | Low Class A |
| 60 | Zach McAllister | SP | NYY | 22 | Double-A | Triple-A |
| 61 | Austin Romine | C | NYY | 21 | High Class A | Double-A |
| 62 | Trevor Reckling | SP | LAA | 20 | Double-A | Triple-A |
| 63 | Ryan Kalish | OF | BOS | 22 | Double-A | Triple-A |
| 64 | Jemile Weeks | 2B | OAK | 23 | Double-A | Double-A |
| 65 | Peter Bourjos | OF | LAA | 23 | Double-A | Triple-A |
| 66 | Lars Anderson | 1B | BOS | 22 | Double-A | Double-A |
| 67 | Travis D'Arnaud | C | TOR | 21 | Low Class A | High Class A |
| 68 | Josh Reddick | OF | BOS | 23 | Majors | Triple-A |
| 69 | Brandon Erbe | SP | BAL | 22 | Double-A | Triple-A |
| 70 | Alex White | SP | CLE | 21 | NCAA | High Class A |
| 71 | Kasey Kiker | SP | TEX | 22 | Double-A | Triple-A |
| 72 | Brad Mills | SP | TOR | 25 | Majors | Triple-A |
| 73 | Greg Halman | OF | SEA | 22 | Double-A | Double-A |
| 74 | David Cooper | 1B | TOR | 23 | Double-A | Triple-A |
| 75 | Michael Ynoa | SP | OAK | 18 | DNP -- injured | Low Class A |
| 76 | Eric Hosmer | 1B | KC | 20 | High Class A | High Class A |
| 77 | Beau Mills | 1B | CLE | 23 | Double-A | Double-A |
| 78 | Adrian Cardenas | 2B | OAK | 22 | Triple-A | Triple-A |
| 79 | Kila Ka'aihue | DH | KC | 26 | Triple-A | Triple-A |
| 80 | Brent Morel | 3B | CHW | 22 | High Class A | Double-A |
| 81 | Andrew Brackman | SP | NYY | 24 | Low Class A | High Class A |
| 82 | Zach Britton | SP | BAL | 22 | High Class A | Double-A |
| 83 | Alex Colome | SP | TB | 21 | Low Class A | Low Class A |
| 84 | Mike Trout | OF | LAA | 18 | Low Class A | Low Class A |
| 85 | Miguel Sano | SS | MIN | 16 | Dominican | Low Class A |
You can e-mail Emack your Fantasy Baseball pitching questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put AL-only 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.
