Quite a few new names on this week's top 50s and team top 5s, as the deadline for teams to sign their 2008 draft picks passed on Auguste 15. Due to Major League Baseball's new compensation rules, failing to sign first round picks isn't as big a deal as in past years, as teams receive a comp pick after the position in which the player in question was signed. For example this year, the Nationals failed to come to terms with Aaron Crow, the No. 9 overall pick. That is disappointing in the sense that the Nationals will lose a year of development time, but they will receive the No. 10 pick as compensation in 2009.
Notable additions this week among the 2008 draftees include Pedro Alvarez, Buster Posey, and Eric Hosmer among others. I recognize that these guys haven't proved themselves in pro ball, but prospect lists are all about potential and these guys have it in spades.
American League
12 Austin Jackson NYY OF A- .299 this month, but no HRs and a 26:2 K:BB. May be more of a mid-2009 guy now.
13 Eric Hosmer KC 1B A- Incredibly high ceiling - great raw power and can hit to all fields. Should move quickly.
21 Jed Lowrie BOS SS B+ .314/.376/.482 for the Red Sox is far more than they could have hoped for. He's here to stay.
22 Justin Smoak TEX 1B B+ Like Teixeria, he's a switch-hitting 1B with power. Probably a notch below that level.
28 Lars Anderson BOS 1B B .377-5-19 in 17 August games to bring line up to .324/.417/.536. BOS 1b of the future (Youk to 3B)?
12 Michael Bowden BOS SP A- 1 ER allowed in each of last 3 GS and a 23:5 K:BB in AAA for Boston's top SP prospect.
14 Brian Matusz BAL SP A- Gets a 40-man roster spot after being drafted in 2008 and should see Baltimore late next year.
15 Chris Tillman BAL SP A- 28:3 K:BB in 18 innings over last 3 GS. Tillman/Matusz = Palmer/McNally? Ok a stretch, but…
17 Jordan Walden LAA SP B+ 4.60 ERA since promotion to Cal league, but encouraging 32 K in 31.2 innings.
21 Tim Melville KC SP B+ Fell to the 4th round due to signability concerns, so KC signing him is a huge boost for its farm system.
National League
8 Dexter Fowler COL OF A- 3 hits in a recent game for Team USA. We may see him in COL in September.
10 Pedro Alvarez PIT 3B A- Bat will move him quickly but may move across the diamond in favor of Andy LaRoche.
11 Buster Posey SF C A- Nation's top college player will replace Benji Molina no later than 2010.
16 Matt Gamel MIL 3B B+ 5-for-13 with 2 HR in last 3 games but still just .207 in August. Has really dropped off since June.
19 Yonder Alonso CIN 1B B+ Excellent plate discipline and power to all fields. Where he fits on the Reds is TBD.
2 Max Scherzer ARI SP A 6 shutout, 1-hit innings last time out. May be a start or two away from returning to Arizona rotation.
3 Madison Bumgarner SF SP A Last time out - 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 12 K. Ho-rum. 1.52 ERA, 145:20 K:BB.
6 Tommy Hanson ATL SP A- Last 10 GS: 2.25 ERA and 11.4 K/9. Turns 22 in a week and could get a September look.
11 Jarrod Parker ARI SP A- 3 ER or less in each of last six starts and 8.7 K/9 in a great full-season debut for former 1st rounder.
20 James McDonald LAD SP B+ 10 K in each of first 2 AAA starts but 5 ER in start no. 3. Maybe next in line for call to LA.
Each week we provide over 60 updates to our top 100 prospects (50 hitters and 50 pitchers) as well as our team-by-team top 5s in Prospect Central. Link: http://www.fantistics.com/baseball00/M-Prospect.htm. Not a member? Join today link:www.fantistics.com/join/join.php3
