This week's Prospect Spreadsheet update wraps up my contribution in this area this year. The minor league season is just about over, though guys like David Price are staying down to help their teams through the playoffs. This year's awards are pretty easy:
Pitcher of the year: David Price, Rays - Lives up to his No. 1 overall draft pick slotting.
Hitter of the year: Matt Wieters, Orioles - Switch-hitting catcher with a 1000+ OPS. Incredible. And to think, the Pirates could have drafted Wieters and B.J. Upton over Daniel Moskos and Bryan Bullington.
The "I came out of nowhere" award: Ben Revere, Twins - Okay, so he was a first rounder, but most thought the Twins OVERdrafted him. Wrong.
American League
1 Matt Wieters BAL C AA .355/.454/.600. Bat is pretty much ready, but he'll have to wait until 2009 (early).
6 Matt LaPorta CLE OF AA .279/.386/.539 and could compete for 1B or OF job in 2009.
8 Mike Moustakas KC SS A- .330 with 7 HR in August could lead to a huge breakout in High-A next year. Can he stay at SS?
9 Travis Snider TOR OF MLB Should play quite a bit down the stretch and may push Adam Lind to DH next year.
12 Austin Jackson NYY OF AA .229 in last 10 games. Just 9 homers, but he'll be in line for CF job sometime next year.
1 David Price TAM SP A Won't get the call until AAA playoff run is over. Not much value this year, but next year…
4 Neftali Feliz TEX SP A Finishes with a 2.69 ERA and 153:51 K:BB in just 127+ innings. We'll see him in TEX by mid-2009.
6 Rick Porcello DET SP A 1.80 ERA in August. Now let's see if they let him throw the slider next year.
7 Trevor Cahill OAK SP A- 2.19 ERA in 37 AAA innings. Probably a late-2009 debut.
8 Wade Davis TAM SP A- 2 ER, 15 K in 12 IP over last 2 GS. Sounds like his debut will have to wait until 2009.
National League
2 Cameron Maybin FLA OF AA No call-up yet, but you have to figure he'll get some time in CF this month. Starter from day 1 in '09.
3 Andrew McCutcheon PIT OF AAA .373 with 34 SB and should be day 1 starter and leadoff hitter, probalby on Opening Day.
4 Jason Heyward ATL OF A+ 3-for-21 in High-A, but very strong season (.380 OBP) and should be even better in 2009.
5 Dexter Fowler COL OF MLB May get at-bats if club falls out of contention. In line to start from day 1 next year.
7 Colby Rasmus STL OF AAA Just a .752 OPS in a down year, but will compete for CF job next spring.
2 Max Scherzer ARI SP A Late-inning relief role and possible closer sleeper this year, member of rotation in 2009.
3 Madison Bumgarner SF SP A 1 ER in 5 IP last time out actually increased ERA. Ends with 164:21 K:BB in huge year.
5 Tommy Hanson ATL SP A- 1.80 ERA in 3 GS to finish a storng 2009. We'll see him in ATL by mid-2009 if not sooner.
11 Jarrod Parker ARI SP A- 5 inning one-hitter to finish strong first full year. He's one to watch, but still young.
16 Carlos Carrasco PHI SP B+ Name wasn't listed as one of the team's callups, which is surprising. Will be up early in 2009 though.
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
