May 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 - most stats are through April 30th (a few minor leaguers stats run through May 1st):

Top 25 NL Prospects for 2008 and 2009

1. (-) Cameron Maybin, OF, FLA
AA Carolina: .217 BA / .722 OPS - 14 r, 3 HR, 8 rbi, 5 SB, 20 b, 37 K in 92 AB
.132 BA over last 10 games of April

If he doesn't step it up soon he'll be dropping down this, and many other lists.

2. (-) Johnny Cueto, RHP, CIN
CIN: 35 ip, 32 h, 21 er, 6 bb, 33 K - 5.40 ERA / 1.086 WHIP

Horrible start at St. Louis on April 29th - 7 runs (6 earned) over 1.2 innings - this is going to happen from time to time with such a young talent.

3. (+2) Clayton Kershaw, LHP, LAD
AA Jacksonville: 25.2 ip, 17 h, 7 r (4 er), 10 bb, 31 K - 1.40 ERA / 1.05 WHIP / .185 BAA

4. (+2) Andy LaRoche, 3B, LAD
Started Rehab Assignment with six games at Double-A Jacksonville in late April, moved to Triple-A Las Vegas on 4/29 and homered on 4/30.

5. (+10) Max Scherzer, RHP, ARI
Triple-A Tucson: 23 ip, 12 h, 3 er, 3 bb, 38 K - 1.17 ERA / 0.65 WHIP
First appearance with Arizona - 4.1 perfect innings with 7 Ks

6. (+2) Andrew McCutchen, OF, PIT
AAA Indianapolis: .296 BA / .938 OPS - 20 r, 6 HR, 16 rbi, 5-for-8 on steal attempts
.341 BA over last 10 games in April including 7 bb, 3 K over 41 AB

7. (-) Jay Bruce, OF, CIN
AAA Louisville: .307 BA / .869 OPS - 16 r, 5 HR, 21 rbi, 6 sb

8. (+14) Matt LaPorta, OF, MIL
AA Huntsville: .319 BA / 1.138 OPS - 22 r, 9 HR, 30 rbi, 13 bb, 16 K in 91 AB
.375 BA with 7 HR over his last 40 April ABs

9. (+15) Chris Volstad, RHP, FLA
AA Carolina: 38 ip, 29 h, 11 er, 10 bb, 29 K - 2.61 ERA / 1.03 WHIP / .215 BAA
Last 2 April starts: 14 ip, 6 h, 2 er, 1 bb, 14 K

10. (-1) Chase Headley, 3B/OF, SD
AAA Portland: .242 BA / .712 OPS - 12 r, 2 HR, 10 rbi, 9 bb, 26 K in 91 AB
.216 BA over last 10 April games

11. (NR) Jaime Garcia, LHP, STL
AA Springfield: 29 ip, 21 h, 9 r (7 er), 13 bb, 36 K - 2.17 ERA / 1.17 WHIP / .202 BAA

12. (+5) Homer Bailey, RHP, CIN
AAA Louisville: 39.1 ip, 30 h, 10 er, 9 bb, 32 K - 2.29 ERA / 0.99 WHIP / .213 BAA

13. (+3) Brandon Jones, OF, ATL
AAA Richmond: .264 BA / .693 OPS - 12 r, 0 HR, 9 rbi, 2 sb, 13 bb, 25 K in 91 AB
.289 BA over last 10 April games (38 AB)

14. (-) Steven Pearce, 1B/OF, PIT
AAA Indianapolis: .236 BA / .671 OPS - 7 r, 2 HR, 16 rbi, 1 sb, 2 bb, 20 K in 106 AB

15. (-2) J.R. Towles, C, HOU
HOU: .197 BA / .780 OPS - 7 r, 4 HR, 10 rbi in 61 AB

16. (-4) Colby Rasmus, OF, STL
AAA Memphis: .204 BA / .671 OPS - 17 r, 5 HR, 12 rbi, 4 sb, 17 bb, 19 K in 108 AB
.167 BA over last 10 April games (36 AB), but with excellend 6 bb to 5 K ratio

17. (NR) Jon Meloan, RHP, LAD
AAA Las Vegas: 25.2 ip, 25 h, 8 r (7 er), 12 bb, 25 K - 2.45 ERA / 1.44 WHIP / .269 BAA

18. (NR) Brett Carroll, OF, FLA
AAA Albuquerque: .418 BA / 1.376 OPS - 18 r, 9 HR, 23 rbi, 1 sb, 8 bb, 18 K in 67 AB
.518 BA with 7 HR over last 10 April games (36 AB)

19. (NR) Sean Gallagher, RHP, CHC
AAA Iowa: 29 ip, 21 h, 11 r (10 er), 9 bb, 30 K - 3.10 ERA / 1.03 WHIP / .196 BAA

20. (-2) Ian Stewart, 3B, COL
AAA Colorado Springs: .255 BA / .870 OPS - 23 r, 6 HR, 21 rbi, 13 bb, 27 K in 98 AB

21. (-2) Carlos Carrasco, RHP, PHI
AA Reading: 29 ip, 28 h, 13 er, 12 bb, 32 K - 4.03 ERA / 1.38 WHIP / .264 BAA

22. (-1) Matt Antonelli, 2B, SD
AAA Portland: .195 BA / .711 OPS - 15 r, 2 HR, 6 rbi, 2 sb, 15 bb, 17 K in 82 AB

23. (+2) Dexter Fowler, OF, COL
AA Tulsa: .291 BA / .841 OPS - 17 r, 3 HR, 15 rbi, 7 sb, 11 bb, 20 K in 103AB

24. (NR) Daryl Thompson, RHP, CIN
AA Chattanooga: 31.1 ip, 20 h, 6 r (2 er), 4 bb, 36 K - 0.57 ERA / 0.77 WHIP / .185 BAA

25. (NR) Antonio Bastardo, LHP, PHI
Hi-A Clearwater: 30.2 ip, 20 h, 4 er, 10 bb, 47 K - 1.17 ERA / 0.98 WHIP / .183 BAA
Last 2 April starts: 15 ip, 6 h, 2 er, 1 bb, 25 K - WOW!


GRADUATED FROM THE LIST:

Geovany Soto, C, CHC (Highest Rank #3)
CHC: .330 BA / 1.036 OPS - 12 r, 5 HR, 21 rbi in 91 AB

Joey Votto, 1B, CIN (Highest Rank #4)
CIN: .308 BA / .880 OPS - 14 r, 4 HR, 13 rbi in 78 AB

Manny Parra, LHP, MIL (Highest Rank #10)
MIL: 23.2 ip, 29 h, 13 er, 13 bb, 19 K - 4.94 ERA / 1.77 WHIP / .302 BAA

Franklin Morales, LHP, COL (Highest Rank #11)
COL: 25.1 ip, 28 h, 18 er, 17 bb, 9 K - 6.39 ERA / 1.78 WHIP / .286 BAA


DROPPED OFF THE LIST:

Chris Marrero, 1B/OF, WAS (Last appeared at #20 on Mid-April Update)
High-A Potomac: .216 BA / .667 OPS - 10 r, 2 HR, 8 rbi, 11 bb, 16 K in 88 AB

Ross Detwiler, LHP, WAS (Last appeared at #23 on Mid-April Update)
High-A Potomac: 19 ip, 21 h, 10 er, 13 bb, 17 K - 4.74 ERA / 1.79 WHIP / .280 BAA

Jordan Schafer, OF, ATL (Last appeared at #16 on April Update)
50 game suspension for violation of the performance enhancing drug policy majorly stunts his 2008 development process.

Chin-Lung Hu, SS, LAD (Last appeared at #22 on April Update)
Development being delayed by extended tenure on the Dodgers active roster with little playing time.

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

MAY UPDATE: Top 25 AL Prospects for 2008 and 2009