Top 150 Prospects

Rotoworld has come out with its top 150 prospects. In order to be eligible, players must have no more than 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the majors. Also, they cannot have spent more than 45 non-September days on an active roster.

Here are some highlights:

1. Delmon Young - OF Devil Rays - DOB: 09/14/85 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: 2004 #13, mid-2004 #4, 2005 #2, mid-2005 #2, 2006 #1, mid-2006 #1

.316/.341/.474, 8 HR, 59 RBI, 65/15 K/BB, 22 SB in 342 AB for Triple-A Durham
.317/.336/.476, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 24/1 K/BB, 2 SB in 126 AB for Tampa Bay

Young did little to enhance his stock after entering 2006 as the game's best prospect, but the drop in power and the pathetic walk rate weren't enough to cost him his placement. Neither was the ugly incident in April in which he threw a bat at an umpire and drew a 50-game suspension. There's no doubt Young is going to hit for power. He'll have 30- or maybe even 40-homer ability in his prime. Also, he makes contact often enough that he's not going to need to walk to be a very good player. He'll probably be a 50-walk guy someday anyway. It'd be quite a disappointment if he didn't go to at least a few All-Star Games in his career.

2. Alex Gordon - 3B Royals - DOB: 02/10/84 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: 2006 #11, mid-2006 #3

.325/.427/.588, 29 HR, 101 RBI, 113/72 K/BB, 22 SB in 486 AB for Double-A Wichita

Mark Teahen had a breakthrough season in 2006, but he's about to get shoved to the outfield to make room for the Royals' best prospect in decades. Gordon signed too late to play in the minors in 2005 after being drafted second overall out of the University of Nebraska, but a solid showing in the AFL gave the Royals few reservations about having him begin 2006 in Double-A and he was one of the best players in the Texas League from day one. Gordon combines 30-homer power with some terrific on-base skills. It shouldn't be long before he's hitting .290-.300 in the majors, and he'll be a factor on the basepaths, though odds are that he's not going to last as a basestealer. With questions about his ability to stay at third base seemingly answered, he has a chance to be an MVP candidate at his peak. The Royals will give him every opportunity to make the team out of the spring training.

3. Philip Hughes - RHP Yankees - DOB: 06/24/86 - ETA: June 2007
Previous rankings: mid-2005 #47, 2006 #29, mid-2006 #6

2-3, 1.80 ERA, 19 H, 30/2 K/BB in 30 IP for Single-A Tampa
10-3, 2.25 ERA, 73 H, 138/32 K/BB in 116 IP for Double-A Trenton

Hughes, a 2004 first-round pick, emerged as the game's top pitching prospect in a 2006 in which he limited hitters to a .179 average and struck out nearly five batters for every one he walked. With plenty of movement on his 91-94 mph fastball and a curveball that's become a dominant second pitch, he has ace upside. His third pitch is a changeup that's a little above average. Since he doesn't have far to go when it comes to command, he'd likely have success in a major league rotation right now. The Yankees, though, would prefer to not have to turn to him right away. Barring injury, he should be up for good by midseason.

17. Jose Tabata - OF Yankees - DOB: 08/12/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2006 #136, mid-2006 #18

.298/.377/.420, 5 HR, 51 RBI, 66/30 K/BB, 15 SB in 319 AB for low Single-A Charleston

Tabata more than held his own as a 17-year-old in full-season ball, though he did decline rather than improve as the year went on. Part of the problem was a hand injury suffered in July. He later aggravated the injury in Venezuela, where he hit .275/.392/.422 in 51 at-bats. A center fielder initially as a pro, Tabata made the move to right last year and should stay there. He has a great idea of what he should be doing at the plate for someone so young, and he's likely to develop 30-35 homer power. While he's not going to reach the majors anytime soon, he looks like a potential star.

41. Dustin Pedroia - 2B Red Sox - DOB: 08/17/83 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: 2005 #61, mid-2005 #27, 2006 #23, mid-2006 #30

.305/.384/.426, 5 HR, 50 RBI, 27/48 K/BB, 1 SB in 423 AB for Triple-A Pawtucket
.191/.258/.303, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 7/7 K/BB, 0 SB in 89 AB for Boston

The general view seems to be that Pedroia's stock has fallen over the last year, but after a slow start brought on by a shoulder injury suffered in spring training, he was productive as a 22-year-old in Triple-A, batting .330 and slugging .461 in 282 at-bats. Also, he showed terrific range at second base, the position that figures to be his long-term home. More than anything else, it was his arm that got him taken off shortstop. He did make the mistake of swinging for the fences too often after reaching the majors, but that's something time can take care of. The Arizona State product will be decent this year, and he should settle in as an above average regular beginning in 2008.

42. Jacoby Ellsbury - OF Red Sox - DOB: 09/11/83 - ETA: April 2008
Previous rankings: 2006 #138, mid-2006 #67

.299/.379/.418, 4 HR, 32 RBI, 28/25 K/BB, 25 SB in 244 AB for Single-A Wilmington
.308/.387/.434, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 25/24 K/BB, 16 SB in 198 AB for Double-A Portland
.276/.342/.371, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 16/8 K/BB, 7 SB in 105 AB for Peoria (AFL)

What Ellsbury lacks in offensive upside, he makes up for with potential Gold Glove defense in center field. The 2005 first-round pick out of Oregon State was one of the premier defenders in the minors last season, and he could offer just enough with the bat to be a leadoff man in the majors. The left-handed hitter shows gap power and the ability to hit for average. A few more walks would be nice, but at least he doesn't strike out very often. He'd probably be able to hold his own in the majors this year if Coco Crisp gets hurt again. A strong season split between Double- and Triple-A would make Crisp expendable next winter.

45. Clay Buchholz - RHP Red Sox - DOB: 08/14/84 - ETA: Aug. 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #122

9-4, 2.62 ERA, 78 H, 117/29 K/BB in 103 IP for low Single-A Greenville
2-0, 1.13 ERA, 10 H, 23/4 K/BB in 16 IP for Single-A Wilmington

Buchholz was supposed to something of a raw product after getting drafted 41st overall out of a Texas junior college in 2005, but he's opened his pro career with a 2.47 ERA and a 185/42 K/BB ratio in 160 1/3 innings. Now it looks like the Red Sox could have him start this year at Double-A, though that's in large part because they don't want him to have to deal with the harsh environment at Lancaster in the California League. Buchholz works comfortably in the low-90s and has four pitches, though his curve lags behind his slider and change. As impressive as his command is, he would seem to have No. 2-starter potential.

56. Humberto Sanchez - RHP Yankees - DOB: 05/28/83 - ETA: Aug. 2007
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #29

5-3, 1.76 ERA, 47 H, 86/27 K/BB in 71 2/3 IP for Double-A Erie
5-3, 3.86 ERA, 50 H, 43/20 K/BB in 51 1/3 IP for Triple-A Toledo

After posting a 5.21 ERA at Single-A Lakeland in 2004 and a 5.56 ERA at Double-A Erie in 2005, Sanchez finally began to fulfill his potential last season, at least until he hurt his elbow in July. He made just one start over the final six weeks of the season. Sanchez has always had big-time stuff, but inconsistency, along with questions about his arm, has led many to believe his future may lie in the pen. It's more likely that he'll end up there now that he's a Yankee, the result of the Gary Sheffield trade. Sanchez can throw in the mid-90s and his hard curveball is quite a strikeout pitch. He'll probably reach the Bronx as a middle reliever before the end of the year.

92. George Kottaras - C Red Sox - DOB: 05/16/83 - ETA: April 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2005 #102, 2006 #89, mid-2006 #71

.276/.394/.451, 8 HR, 33 RBI, 68/50 K/BB, 0 SB in 257 AB for Double-A Mobile
.210/.286/.361, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 30/12 K/BB, 0 SB in 119 AB for Triple-A Portland

Kottaras, who was picked up from the Padres for David Wells at the end of August, possesses rare on-base ability for a catcher and appears likely to develop 15- homer power.
His status as a prospect, though, hinges on his ability to stay behind the plate.
He's not fast enough to become an option at another key position, so if he has to move, he'd be a first baseman or a corner outfielder. Kottaras has enough of an arm to be an adequate catcher if he can make enough progress on the other parts of his game.
The Red Sox have no intention of having him change positions anytime soon.
Ideally, he'd make enough progress defensively this year that he could begin splitting time with the aging Jason Varitek in 2008.

97. Michael Bowden - RHP Red Sox - DOB: 09/09/86 - ETA: 2009
Previous rankings: none

9-6, 3.51 ERA, 91 H, 118/31 K/BB in 107 2/3 IP for low Single-A Greenville
0-0, 9.00 ERA, 9 H, 3/1 K/BB in 5 IP for Single-A Wilmington

Bowden was taken six spots after Clay Buchholz in the 2005 draft and the two are often compared to one another. Bowden has the advantage of youth and his curveball is probably a better weapon than any of Buchholz's offspeed pitches. Still, he gets dropped a bit here because of a delivery that could lead to arm problems down the line. Also, his changeup doesn't quite measure up. He has plenty of potential if his elbow and shoulder hold up. Still, it'd be no surprise if physical problems get him sent to the bullpen someday.

116. Daniel Bard - RHP Red Sox - DOB: 06/25/85 - ETA: 2009
Previous rankings: none