Mid-April Update: Top 25 NL Prospects for 2008 and 2009

This list will be updated on a roughly bi-weekly basis to account for changes based on player performance, injuries, and loss/gain of playing opportunity.

Also, as players on the list lose their rookie eligibility, surpass 130 AB or 50 IP in the majors, they will 'graduate' from the list.

Here's the update for mid-April - all stats are through April 15th:

Top 25 NL Prospects for 2008 and 2009

1. (-) Cameron Maybin, OF, FLA
AA Carolina: .297 BA / .972 OPS - 3B(1), HR(2), 6 r, 4 rbi, 3 SB, 11 b, 18 K in 37 AB

2. (+9) Johnny Cueto, RHP, CIN
CIN: 19.1 ip, 11 h, 8 er, 1 bb, 24 K - 3.72 ERA / 0.62 WHIP / .167 BAA

3. (+9) Geovany Soto, C, CHC
CHC: .289 BA / .910 OPS - 2B(2), 3B(1), HR(2), 4 r, 9 rbi, 7 bb, 9 K in 45 AB

4. (-2) Joey Votto, 1B, CIN
CIN: .300 BA / .700 OPS - HR(1), 4 r, 2 rbi, 0 bb, 5 K in 30 AB

5. (-1) Clayton Kershaw, LHP, LAD
AA Jacksonville: 14 ip, 13 h, 5 r (4 er), 6 bb, 19 K - 2.57 ERA / 1.36 WHIP / .245 BAA

6. (+1) Andy LaRoche, 3B, LAD
Extended Spring Training, Rehab Assignment targeted for late April, likely mid-May return

7. (-4) Jay Bruce, OF, CIN
AAA Louisville: .294 BA / .778 OPS - 2B(1), 3B(1), HR(2), 7 r, 7 rbi, 3 sb, 1 bb, 12 K in 51 AB

The signing and success of Corey Patterson is the reason for the drop here.

8. (-) Andrew McCutchen, OF, PIT
AAA Indianapolis: .244 BA / .815 OPS - 2B(3), HR(2), 9 r, 7 rbi, 1-for-3 on steal attempts, 7 bb, 6 K in 45 AB

9. (-4) Chase Headley, 3B/OF, SD
AAA Portland: .244 BA / .676 OPS - 2B(2), HR(1), 7 r, 3 rbi, 5 bb, 16 K in 45 AB

10. (+3) Manny Parra, LHP, MIL
MIL: 9.1 ip, 9 h, 5 er, 3 bb, 11 K - 4.82 ERA / 1.29 WHIP / .250 BAA

11. (-1) Franklin Morales, LHP, COL
COL: 10 ip, 9 h, 7 er, 7 bb, 3 K - 6.30 ERA / 1.60 WHIP / .243 BAA

Needs to get the walks down and the Ks up quickly.

12. (-6) Colby Rasmus, OF, STL
AAA Memphis: .192 BA / .576 OPS - 2B(1), HR(1), 6 r, 4 rbi, 2 sb, 9 bb, 11 K in 52 AB

Horrid start for Rasmus, the walks are the only silver lining.

13. (+1) J.R. Towles, C, HOU
HOU: .207 BA / .947 OPS - 2B(1), HR(3), 4 r, 7 rbi, 6 bb, 5 K in 29 AB

14. (-5) Steven Pearce, 1B/OF, PIT
AAA Indianapolis: .264 BA / .676 OPS - 2B(6), 2 r, 8 rbi, 3 bb, 7 K in 53 AB

15. (+7) Max Scherzer, RHP, ARI
AAA Tucson: 12 ip, 5 h, 1 r (0 er), 2 bb, 18 K - 0.00 ERA / 0.58 WHIP / .122 BAA

Off to a blistering start at Tucson!

16. (-) Brandon Jones, OF, ATL
AAA Richmond: .250 BA / .739 OPS - 2B(6), 10 r, 5 rbi, 7 bb, 11 K in 44 AB

17. (NR) Homer Bailey, RHP, CIN
AAA Louisville: 19 ip, 14 h, 3 er, 3 bb, 13 K - 1.42 ERA / 0.89 WHIP / .209 BAA

Command has always been the issue for Homer, the low walk count may mean he's turning the corner.

18. (+1) Ian Stewart, 3B, COL
AAA Colorado Springs: .313 BA / 1.008 OPS - 2B(3), 3B(1), HR(3), 11 r, 13 rbi, 8 bb, 13 K in 48 AB

19. (+5) Carlos Carrasco, RHP, PHI
AA Reading: 11 ip, 8 h, 3 er, 4 bb, 14 K - 2.45 ERA / 1.09 WHIP / .211 BAA

20. (-2) Chris Marrero, 1B/OF, WAS
High-A Potomac: .250 BA / .800 OPS - 2B(3), 3B(1), HR(2), 8 r, 7 rbi, 5 bb, 9 K in 48 AB

21. (-6) Matt Antonelli, 2B, SD
AAA Portland: .200 BA / .860 OPS - 2B(2), 3B(2), HR(2), 9 r, 6 rbi, 8 bb, 10 K in 40 AB

22. (-2) Matt LaPorta, OF, MIL
AA Huntsville: .211 BA / .735 OPS - 2B(2), 3B(1), HR(1), 6 r, 8 rbi, 7 bb, 10 K in 38 AB

23. (-) Ross Detwiler, LHP, WAS
High-A Potomac: 9.1 ip, 8 h, 4 er, 3 bb, 9 K - 3.86 ERA / 1.18 WHIP / .229 BAA

24. (+1) Chris Volstad, RHP, FLA
AA Carolina: 17 ip, 18 h, 5 er, 6 bb, 6 K - 2.65 ERA / 1.41 WHIP / .211 BAA

25. (NR) Dexter Fowler, OF, COL
AA Tulsa: .311 BA / .992 OPS - 2B(1), 3B(3), HR(2), 8 r, 11 rbi, 4 sb, 6 bb, 12 K in 45 AB

Current K-Rate is .261, already a slight improvement over his 2007 K-Rate of .267 at the High-A level. Also, two home runs this season already matches his 2007 total that took 245 ABs to reach.

DROPPED OFF THE LIST:

Jordan Schafer, OF, ATL
50 game suspension for violation of the performance enhancing drug policy majorly stunts his 2008 development process.

Chin-Lung Hu, SS, LAD
Development being delayed by extended tenure on the Dodgers active roster with little playing time.

MID-APRIL UPDATE: Top 25 AL Prospects for 2008 and 2009