Name: Josh Vitters | Organization: Chicago Cubs
Position: Third Base | Drafted: 2007 #3 overall pick
Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 195

Josh Vitters looks to be a force in the middle of the Cubs lineup. (flickr / mwlguide)

As many know, the Chicago Cubs franchise has been cursed for decades. The curse continued again this year with a very quick exit from the playoffs. While 2008 was yet another painful season for Cubs fans all over the country, their failures from 2006 ended up rewarding them with the best hitter available in the draft.

History: High school third baseman Josh Vitters had been on everyone’s radar for quite some time due in large part to his well known high school, Cypress High School, and his brother Christian Vitters, who was drafted in 2006 by the Oakland A’s. But Josh’s play in 2007 is what really solidified him as a wanted man as he dominated in some major high school events like the Area Code Games, World Wood Bat Championships, Aflac Classic (doubling three times), and picking up MVP honors at the Cape Cod Classic. All of these just capped off some very strong back-to-back seasons as a junior and senior with impressive stat lines of .352 (31-for-88), 7 doubles, 9 homers, and 32 RBI in 2006 and, despite a horrible battle with pneumonia in 2007, still posted .371 (26-for-70), 6 doubles, 8 homers, and 25 RBI. After accomplishments like this, it’s no wonder he was so highly touted entering this year’s draft.

After drafting Vitters with their number one pick in 2007 (third overall), many Cubs fans began to become worried as their new prized pick held out from signing up until 20 minutes before the deadline. Since Cubs fans have long become used to consistent abuse, it wouldn’t have surprised many people if he hadn’t signed. But now that Vitters has his large deal inked, Cubs fans can begin waiting with baited breath for this young slugger to join them in the historic Wrigley Field. And with his skills it shouldn’t be a long wait at all.

Vitters may need to find a new home with Aramis Ramirez holding down third. (flickr / mwlguide)

Scouting Report: There’s no secret what makes Josh Vitters so highly rated. He has dazzled scouts with the natural power that he generates with his stellar bat-speed and ability to make excellent contact with the bat. The way he so consistently gets great contact with the meaty part of the bat, it’s almost as if he were swinging a club with an enormous barrel on it with great double and home run power to all fields. Vitters is also able to handle pretty much any type of pitches he’s faced like a pro but does have the tendency to chase bad pitches from time to time. What makes him even more special is his uncanny hand-eye coordination, fast wrists, and beautiful, fluid swing. These are some of the most difficult things to teach a young hitter and the fact that he has already harnessed these items is nothing short of miraculous.

Many scouts are so blinded by his bat skills that his defensive problems are often overlooked. While Vitters does play at an “offensive” position at third base, he does have problems with his glove work at times. Vitters has developed some pretty good footwork over at the hot corner as well as fairly good hands, but he struggles judging hops and can often boot the ball even on some rather routine plays. Due to his offensive skills and the fact that he’s far from a defensive gem, he could be moved around the diamond and have it justified. Unfortunately for the Cubs they are in the National League without the DH rule and have both third and first filled with Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee. Vitters does have an excellent arm so right field could be an option as well. But with a bat like Vitters’ the Cubs will do what they have to do to get him in their lineup.

Vitters looks to be in the Pat Burrell mold. (flickr / mwlguide)

I project Josh Vitters to be a 30-40 homer guy with around 100-115 RBI and average anywhere between .265-.285. His batting average will depend a lot on how he adjusts to major league pitchers as he will need to learn a little more patience at the plate and wait for his pitch. If he doesn’t learn this, pitchers will catch on very quickly and give him junk more often than not knowing that he will most likely waive at it. This issue could also come into play when Vitters finds himself in a slump as power hitters like him tend to try to over-compensate by swinging at more bad pitches trying to make something happen. However in a lineup with a lot of powerful hitters such as the Cubs, Vitters could benefit from being sandwiched between a couple of other big bats in order to get more hittable pitches.

If you need a Major League player comparison to help put all of this together, you can look at someone similar to Pat Burrell as they both were similar players at a young age in regards to strengths and weaknesses. While some get on Burrell about his average woes, you still know what you will get out of Burrell year in and year out. This kind of consistency should be what we see from Vitters once he reaches the big time in Chicago. I do however see Vitters as having a better batting average, but this is only if he can learn the strike zone a bit better.

The Chicago Cubs organization and its fans should be very excited with the talented youngster from California that they drafted last season. With a solid draft and the success they had winning the division, the future looks bright for the Chicago Cubs organization.

By Matthew Whipps
“The Diamond Cutter“
Major & Minor League Baseball Columnist
mlbdiamondcutter@gmail.com | thefranch15e

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As we led up to both the start of the 2008 season and our “Diamond Cutter” top 100 prospects list, we took a look at the top five prospects from every single Major League team. Each team had its top five prospects along with a brief scouting report on each player that I have pulled from my scouting notes. Today I have updated the rankings for the Cleveland Indians Minor League organization due to the recent trade picking up Matt LaPorta. As always, let me know how you feel about the rankings in the comments section below or via email.

1.) Matt LaPorta, OF/1B: This former catcher is a big, strong power hitter who made a big name for himself in college. LaPorta has an easy loft to his swing and a strong, powerful frame which still has room to add some muscle. He has fantastic plate discipline and can flat out hit for power to all fields in any stadium. LaPorta doesn’t have much speed and many (including myself) expected him to struggle adjusting with his move to the outfield. He is a better fit at first base (thanks to good hands and solid instincts) and has been seeing a lot of time in that spot which is currently a hole in the Indians organization. The fact that he’s such a hard worker has helped a lot in his transition to new positions.

2.) Adam Miller, RHP: Despite having to battle back from a couple of different injuries, Adam Miller continues to be the Indians top prospect. Miller’s arsenal includes a mid to upper-90’s four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, change-up, and a great power slider with late break on it. He also has a great make-up and good command of his pitches. As of now he is projected as being a front line starter but that could change depending on how he returns from his injuries. If he doesn’t bounce back he could slip down to be a middle or back of the rotation guy or even to the bullpen.

3.) Beau Mills, 3B: Mills is a big, left-handed hitting third base prospect with a ton of upside. He has excellent hitting skills and has a chance to be a very good hitter as a professional. He does a great job adjusting to pitches and really makes pitchers pay when they make a mistake. Mills also has plus power with a solid line drive swing. He has some loft to his swing and will hit a lot of doubles and homers as a pro. Currently he’s a third baseman with average skills (range, arm, etc) and has many people saying he may end up at first base which I feel would be best for him.

4.) Chuck Lofgren, LHP: Lofgren is a polished lefty who has continued to improve his abilities on the mound. He has a low-90’s fastball and a fantastic change-up that many feel is one of the best in the Minors. Lofgren’s ability to get into the Indians’ starting rotation may run into a snag with how many players on currently on the list. He may find a spot in the bullpen in the meantime until someone falls off or gets injured.

5.) Wes Hodges, 3B: Hodges is a good overall athlete with a solid bat. His bat has great potential to hit for average as he makes good contact, has strong hands, has great bat speed, and a consistent eye at the plate. Hodges has improved his ability to drive the ball which as he does this more will continue to improve his power numbers. With Beau Mills most likely moving to first, Hodges has a shot to be Cleveland’s future third baseman.

By Matthew Whipps
“The Diamond Cutter“
Major & Minor League Baseball Columnist
mlbdiamondcutter@gmail.com | thefranch15e

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By now, everyone has heard just about everything there is to know about some of the biggest prospects in the game. There probably isn’t too much new I can tell you about guys like Jay Bruce, Joba Chamberlain, Clay Buchholz or Evan Longoria. There has been so much media attention given to the top tier of prospects (more than I can ever remember) that there is a whole gang of young players that are constantly overlooked and forgotten.

So with that being said, I have decided to put together a collection of prospects called “The Best Prospects You Don’t Know” for both leagues comprising of the top prospect at each position (and here’s the key) who you may not know much about. So below is the National League team I have compiled of all the best who you may have never heard about. As always let me know what you think and if I have missed anyone you think deserves to be on here.

CATCHER: J.R. Towles, HOU
After flying through the Minors in 2007 and joining the Astros by year’s end, it gives you a good idea of how good of a young catcher this kid is. Towles is a very good hitter who can hit for average and has above average power (for a catcher) thanks to his very good eye at the plate. He’s a dead pull hitter (which is fine in Houston’s ballpark) but he does need to learn to hit to other fields to be successful in the big leagues. Last season he had 40 at-bats with Houston and hit .375/.432/.575 with 12 RBI. Defensively he is rather quick behind the plate and calls a good game but he could use some work in a few areas such as throwing out base runners. Otherwise projects to be an above average everyday catcher in the Majors.

(click here to continue this article on Big League Futures)

Catch my “Diamond Cutter” major league coverage now featured on Baseball Digest Daily and my prospect coverage on Big League Futures!

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Well Yankee fans, fantasy owners and anyone with “Joba Fever” the debate on where phenom pitcher Joba Chamberlain will start the season has finally been officially answered. New Yankee manager Joe Girardi announced Wednesday that Joba will start the year in the bullpen but did not announce that he will be Mariano Rivera’s set-up guy.

(click here to continue this article on Baseball Digest Daily)

Catch my “Diamond Cutter” major league coverage now featured on Baseball Digest Daily and my prospect coverage on Big League Futures!

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The first round of the 2005 first-year player draft saw an incredible crop of talent come from it. Players like Justin Upton, Troy Tulowitzki and Ryan Braun have already reached the Majors and have made major contributions to their teams playoff runs while others like Alex Gordon, Matt Garza and Ryan Zimmerman have been anointed as franchise players in their organizations. Not to mention 12 of the top 30 picks at one time or another were listed on my top 25 prospect list over the past couple of years. So with all this talent that exploded on to the scene in 2005, why is this article directed exclusively at the high school outfielders?

(click here to continue this article on Baseball Digest Daily)

Catch my “Diamond Cutter” column now featured on Baseball Digest Daily or my column “Twins Killings” every day only on the Most Valuable Network.

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Finally after months of analysis of my scouting reports and endless nit-picking about location, I finally have finished The Diamond Cutter top 100 prospects list. Thank you to all of you who have been emailing me wondering where it was. Thank you for your patience and I hope it was worth the wait!

Below is my top 100 list and make sure to let me know what you think. So without further ado, the list:

1.) Jay Bruce / OF / CIN
2.) Evan Longoria / 3B / TB
3.) Joba Chamberlain / RHP / NYY
4.) Clay Buchholz / RHP / BOS
5.) David Price / LHP / TB
6.) Colby Rasmus / OF / STL
7.) Clayton Kershaw / LHP / LAD
8.) Cameron Maybin/ OF / FLA
9.) Homer Bailey / RHP / CIN
10.) Rick Porcello / RHP / DET

(click here to continue with the top 100 prospects on Baseball Digest Daily)

Catch my “Diamond Cutter” column now featured on Baseball Digest Daily or my column “Twins Killings” every day only on the Most Valuable Network.

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As we lead up to both the start of the 2008 season and our “Diamond Cutter” top 100 prospects list, I will be taking a look at the top five prospects from every single Major League team. Each team will have its top five prospects along with a brief scouting report on each player that I have pulled from my scouting notes. Today we continue with the American League Central with the pitcher and hot corner deep Cleveland Indians Minor League organization. As always, let me know how you feel about the rankings in the comments section below or via email.

1.) Adam Miller, RHP: Despite having to battle back from a couple of different injuries, Adam Miller continues to be the Indians top prospect. Miller’s arsenal includes a mid to upper-90’s four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, change-up, and a great power slider with late break on it. He also has a great make-up and good command of his pitches. As of now he is projected as being a front line starter but that could change depending on how he returns from his injuries. If he doesn’t bounce back he could slip down to be a middle or back of the rotation guy or even to the bullpen.

2.) Beau Mills, 3B: Mills is a big, left-handed hitting third base prospect with a ton of upside. He has excellent hitting skills and has a chance to be a very good hitter as a professional. He does a great job adjusting to pitches and really makes pitchers pay when they make a mistake. Mills also has plus power with a solid line drive swing. He has some loft to his swing and will hit a lot of doubles and homers as a pro. Currently he’s a third baseman with average skills (range, arm, etc) and has many people saying he may end up at first base which I feel would be best for him.

3.) Chuck Lofgren, LHP: Lofgren is a polished lefty who has continued to improve his abilities on the mound. He has a low-90’s fastball and a fantastic change-up that many feel is one of the best in the Minors. Lofgren’s ability to get into the Indians’ starting rotation may run into a snag with how many players on currently on the list. He may find a spot in the bullpen in the meantime until someone falls off or gets injured.

4.) Wes Hodges, 3B: Hodges is a good overall athlete with a solid bat. His bat has great potential to hit for average as he makes good contact, has strong hands, has great bat speed, and a consistent eye at the plate. Hodges has improved his ability to drive the ball which as he does this more will continue to improve his power numbers. With Beau Mills most likely moving to first, Hodges has a shot to be Cleveland’s future third baseman.

5.) Aaron Laffey, LHP: Laffey is only two outs away from losing his prospect eligibility so he technically qualifies for this list. Laffey is an incredible ground ball pitcher which pro coaches love to see. He has good command of his fastball that sits in the upper-80’s with good sink but isn’t his best pitch. His best pitches are his change-up and slurvy breaking ball that generates a lot of grounders. Look for him to be part of the Indians rotation heading into 2008.

Catch my column “Twins Killings” every day only on the Most Valuable Network.

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As we lead up to both the start of the 2008 season and our “Diamond Cutter” top 100 prospects list, I will be taking a look at the top five prospects from every single Major League team. Each team will have its top five prospects along with a brief scouting report on each player that I have pulled from my scouting notes. Today we move on to the AL Central with the depleted Chicago White Sox farm system. As always, let me know how you feel about the rankings in the comments section below or via email.

1.) Aaron Poreda, LHP: Poreda’s success seemed to just pop up over night. He gained a miraculous 6-7 mph on his fastball over the course of last season brining it up to the mid-90’s. He does a great job of throwing it for strikes and has a nice sink to it and can run in on hitters. While he has a nice fastball, his slider and change-up need a lot of work in order for him to be successful. He’s a big strong lefty with a solid frame. Since his success happened seemingly out of nowhere, he hasn’t yet gained the poise he needs on the mound. This will improve as he gains experiences and begins to throw his secondary pitches more effectively.

2.) Jack Egbert, RHP: Egbert certainly hasn’t dazzled anyone with his stuff during his pro career but he keeps getting the job done on the mound. While he is extremely old for AA ball (25 years old) he does have some characteristics that pro coaches like to see. His fastball sits around 90 mph, he has a good sinker and he has a change-up that usually keeps hitters off guard. But the thing coaches love the most is how he keeps the ball on the ground. In fact, over the last 342.2 innings he’s only given up five home runs. What coach wouldn’t love that?

3.) Nevin Griffith, RHP: Griffith is very mature and has excellent demeanor on the mound for someone his age. His fastball has a nice tailing action and sits around 91-93 mph. He also has a curve that sits 86-88 mph and a change-up around 80 mph that he is still working on becoming comfortable with. His sharp slider is his strikeout pitch and it sits in the low-80’s with great control when he’s on. He already has the mentality, body and arm to be an above-average pitcher so if he can harness his curve and change he might be a nice low pick for the Sox down the road.

4.) Lance Broadway, RHP: It’s difficult to get a good read on how Lance Broadway will turn out. He’s got ho-hum stuff and has limited upside despite success in his only MLB start. He has been working feverishly on improving the location of his fastballs as well as the effectiveness of his change-up in order to make an impact for the White Sox. Looking at his stuff and potential, I see him as a number five starter at best in his career and may even end up in the bullpen if he lasts in the Majors.

5.) John Shelby, OF: Shelby’s name isn’t mentioned often in the talks of big baseball prospects but some scouts are very high on him. Thus far in his pro career he hasn’t done too much to impress me to say he can be anything more than a reserve player at the Major League level. He finished off 2007 strong after a lethargic beginning to the year. When Shelby makes contact with the ball (which is more often now since cutting back on his strikeouts) he does hit the ball hard and has shown some power potential despite his small stature. He’s a little old for the level he’s been playing at in the Minors so he will need to make some vast improvements in order to make it up the ladder.

Catch my column “Twins Killings” every day only on the Most Valuable Network.

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As we lead up to both the start of the 2008 season and our “Diamond Cutter” top 100 prospects list, I will be taking a look at the top five prospects from every single Major League team. Each team will have its top five prospects along with a brief scouting report on each player that I have pulled from my scouting notes. Today we wrap up the NL Central with the St. Louis Cardinals. As always, let me know how you feel about the rankings in the comments section below or via email.

1.) Colby Rasmus, OF: Colby Rasmus projects all plus tools and is the superior, impact-type prospect the St. Louis Cardinals organization has been waiting for ever since Albert Pujols was plucked from it. Rasmus is a perfect example of a five-tool player as he can run, throw, field, hit, and hit for power. He has very quick hands which gives him excellent plate coverage. Projects to have plus power and should be able to put up a fantastic stat line. Excellent bat speed, good pitch recognition, and plus runner. Not sure how much St. Louis will allow him to run once he reaches Majors but could have 20+ stolen bases per year. He’s doing an excellent job on his move to center field which is where the Cardinals desperately need someone ever since Jim Edmonds departure.

2.) Chris Perez, RHP: Chris Perez projects to be the future closer for the St. Louis Cardinals. Perez has a fantastic mid-90’s fastball with good sinking action on it. He also offers up a plus slider that reaches the mid to upper 80’s. This combination of pitches is perfect for a power closer and should make it much easier for him to be successful. The problem however is that when Perez makes mistakes, he makes them up in the zone which leaves his pitches very vulnerable and can get hit very, very hard. He needs to work on keeping the ball down (especially in a crucial save situation where you only have a one to three run cushion) and if he can he will make a solid closer.

3.) Jamie Garcia, LHP: Garcia is an excellent athlete who has run into some elbow injury problems recently. Garcia has a plus curveball that he tends to get a little curveball-happy with and it started wearing on his arm (may miss most or all of 2008). He will need to cut back a little bit on his curve and start relying more on his change-up and plus fastball with great sinking action that sits in the low to mid-90’s. The sinking action is so solid on his fastball that he has made himself one of the best ground ball pitching prospects in baseball. If not for his injury and the upcoming significant time he will miss, he would probably be in the number two spot on this list.

4.) Bryan Anderson, C: Bryan Anderson is a few ticks above average as a catcher with some areas to work on. Overall he’s decent but he does have some polishing to do in terms of his game. On one hand he is improving on calling a game and has a strong arm but he does need to work a little on blocking balls in the dirt. Offensively he has a nice, smooth left handed swing which generates a lot of line drives. He doesn’t have much power to speak of but then again he won’t ever really be thought of as an offensive catcher.

5.) Adam Ottavino, RHP: Ottavino looks to have a very strong set of developing pitches in his repertoire. Currently he has a plus fastball that sits in the low to mid-90’s (at times can crank up to 98 mph) and a set of developing pitches including a quality slider (on the brink of being a consistent plus pitch) and curve. One of the biggest things holding him back right now with these pitches is his control. He tends to struggle a bit with this and might be able to clean it up with some work on his mechanics. If he’s able to fix his control problems, he projects to be a high as a number two starter but my guess is he’ll be more of a mid-rotation type guy.

Catch my column “Twins Killings” every day only on the Most Valuable Network.

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Apparently last season’s strict set of pitching rules for phenom pitcher Joba Chamberlain, also known as the “Joba Rules”, have a new edition out for the 2008 season.

According to ESPN.com, the New York Post reports that the New York Yankees will begin the 2008 season with Chamberlain coming out of the bullpen as Mariano Rivera’s set-up man as opposed to joining the rotation.

The current plan (which I’m sure has its wiggle room if need be) is to have the 22-year old start the season in the bullpen and limit his innings. Then in around June he will head down to the minors to get some work in as a starter only to rejoin the club as part of the Yankee rotation. Essentially the “Joba Rules” are to limit his arm to 140 innings in the 2008 campaign.

I can’t say that this is a huge surprise as I know how protective the Yankees are about Chamberlain and his arm. Many have wondered if he has the endurance and durability to be a starter at the Major League level. This new set of rules, as disappointing as it may be to many Yankees fans, is the smartest move long term for the man who invoked “Joba Fever” on baseball last season.

Personally I think Chamberlain is an outstanding talent and whatever the Yankees have to do to protect him is the best thing to do. Regarding Chamberlain’s abilities, here is a quick scouting report I wrote on him for my “2008 Top 5 Prospects: New York Yankees” column a few weeks ago.

Chamberlain has already proven to be a big time Major League pitcher coming out of the bullpen for the Yankees last season and causing Joba-fever everywhere. He has a mid to upper-90’s fastball, a sharp moving plus slider, and an improved changeup. The righty has plus stuff and plus command with a big frame that he uses for his power pitches. Has also learned to incorporate his secondary pitches more rather than relying strictly on fastballs. Looks to be moved to the rotation in 2008.

Now as far as Chamberlain’s long term success, we will have to look at who he is as a pitcher. There’s no doubt that he has the skill set as well as the personality to be a shutdown set-up man and closer, but to truly realize his abilities you need to have him in the rotation. I discussed Chamberlain’s skill set the other day in my “Clay vs. Joba” column where I compared the two pitchers and who is better. While Chamberlain’s fastball and slider are devastating and perfect for an end of the game guy, he does need to solidify at least one more pitch to become an effective starter. Two such pitches he needs to sharpen are his change and his curveball. Here’s an excerpt from my column discussing these two pitches:

• Chamberlain has been working on improving his change-up and it is getting better with time. As of now it is sitting in the low-80’s and is lacking enough movement to make it a stand out pitch. It is effective enough of a pitch to incorporate into his game plan but it will take more work to be a solid Major League pitch.

• Chamberlain is also at a bit of a disadvantage with this pitch too as he doesn’t use his curve as much as Buchholz for a couple of reasons. For one it’s not nearly as good as his fastball or slider which he predominantly uses coming out of the bullpen. Secondly it just isn’t that effective of a pitch for him yet as he doesn’t have reliable control over it. It is more of a slow looping curve that generally sits between 79-82 mph. This approach is ok during his time in the bullpen when a dominating fastball and hard slider will work great, but he may want to fine tune it a little more before joining the Yankees rotation.

I’m sure this will be one of the top priorities of the Yankees during his seasoning process as adding two more plus type pitches is exactly what Chamberlain needs.

Once again I want to reiterate that this is the best move the Yankees can do for this youngster’s future. With so many young, talented pitchers like Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy ready to insert into the rotation, there shouldn’t be any rush with Joba.

I for one can’t wait to see how this new set of “Joba Rules” plays out and just how good he can be as a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball.

Catch my column “Twins Killings” every day only on the Most Valuable Network.

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As we lead up to both the start of the 2008 season and our “Diamond Cutter” top 100 prospects list, I will be taking a look at the top five prospects from every single Major League team. Each team will have its top five prospects along with a brief scouting report on each player that I have pulled from my scouting notes. Today we continue on with the NL Central with the Pittsburgh Pirates. As always, let me know how you feel about the rankings in the comments section below or via email.

1.) Andrew McCutchen, OF: Andrew McCutchen is one of the four from the famed crop of high school outfielders in the 2005 draft. He is a smart and exciting player with a stellar glove in center field. Despite his great defensive prowess, his impact bat may be his best skill. McCutchen has quick hands and a compact swing which produces a surprising amount of power for someone of his stature. He is a line drive hitter due to his quick bat speed and is able to hit consistently to all fields. He’s very fast both on the base paths and in the outfield. He’s just about ready to join the Pirates as their everyday center fielder.

2.) Neil Walker, 3B: The much debated move of Neil Walker from catcher to the hot corner appears to have paid off. Of course this isn’t too surprising given Walker’s fantastic athletic ability as well as his soft, quick hands and defensive prowess. The big fear is whether or not his bat would carry over to the hot corner and so far it has. Walker has a strong frame with muscular arms and legs which give him fabulous power potential as line drives jump off his bat. He has excellent physical make-up which is why they decided to take the risk which now that it has paid off, should get him to the pros quickly.

3.) Steve Pearce, 1B/OF: Thus far Steven Pearce has had success at every level in his professional career. Pearce’s greatest asset is his strong offensive abilities. He has the bat to hit for both average and power and has an excellent eye at the plate which will really help with his on base percentage. Defensively he’s nothing to get excited about as once again, he’s in the lineup for his bat, not his glove. He, along with McCutchen and Walker, seem to be the only bright spots in the Pirates thirsty Minor League system.

4.) Daniel Moskos, LHP: This starter turned reliever turned in very strong results since his switch to the bullpen. This should get him to the Majors fairly quickly if he can continue his success. Moskos has a strong fastball in the mid-90’s (up to 96 mph), a plus slider in the mid to upper-80’s and a mediocre change-up. As a reliever he probably won’t need to rely on his change all that much especially considering how strong his slider is. He has an undersized frame which means he is forced to use his entire body to get everything he has into his pitches. With his two primary pitches along with his less than fluid delivery, he is a perfect fit for the Pirates bullpen.

5.) Brad Lincoln, RHP: Brad Lincoln was the Pirates top overall pick in the 2006 draft. He had a good start to his new career until the injuries started mounting up. First he was hit with an oblique injury which was followed up by a Tommy John surgery causing him to miss all of last season. Its not sure how he will bounce back but before going down he had a good moving fastball which sat in the mid-90’s as well as a hard breaking curveball. He had a little trouble with the command of his pitches before the injury so it will definitely be a tough battle for him once he comes back from the surgery. As with all Tommy John surgeries it will take about a year for Lincoln to potentially regain what he once had.

Catch my column “Twins Killings” every day only on the Most Valuable Network.

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As we lead up to both the start of the 2008 season and our “Diamond Cutter” top 100 prospects list, I will be taking a look at the top five prospects from every single Major League team. Each team will have its top five prospects along with a brief scouting report on each player that I have pulled from my scouting notes. Today we continue on with the NL Central with the Milwaukee Brewers. As always, let me know how you feel about the rankings in the comments section below or via email.

1.) Matt LaPorta, 1B/OF: This former catcher is a big, strong power hitter who made a big name for himself in college. LaPorta has an easy loft to his swing and a strong, powerful frame which still has room to add some muscle. He has fantastic plate discipline and can flat out hit for power to all fields in any stadium. LaPorta doesn’t have much speed and has struggled some adjusting with his move to the outfield. He is a better fit at first base but that spot is already anchored down on the Brewers by Prince Fielder. It appears as if the Brewers will continue on with playing him in left.

2.) Manny Parra, LHP: If Parra can fight off the seemingly endless injury problems he can have some great success with the Brewers as a starter or long reliever. Parra’s greatest weapon is fastball combo with a low-90’s two-seam fastball and a mid-90’s four-seamer. Parra also has three developing secondary pitches including a splitter, curveball and most polished of the three, a change-up which he uses to keep hitters off balance from his hard fastball. As important as the work on his secondary pitches are to his success, more importantly he just needs to stay healthy and try to finish off a full season in the Majors.

3.) Jeremy Jeffress, RHP: Jeffress is an intense and confident young pitcher when he’s on the mound. The flamethrower has a strong fastball in the mid to upper-90’s and can dial it up to over 100 mph at times. He also has a nasty slider that he needs to become a little more consistent with as well as a developing curve and change-up. Even though he throws incredibly hard, he tends to lose velocity as games go on so that coupled with his slider and intensity make him the perfect candidate to be a closer when he hits the big leagues. If he can address his substance abuse problem (suspended 50 games last season which will carry over into 2008) he will have a very bright future ahead of him.

4.) Mat Gamel, 3B: Gamel has had a very consistent professional career so far and has shown he can handle himself at the plate. With a good eye at the plate, Gamel has the ability to hit to all fields and is a doubles machine. It appears as if the Brewers are drafting players with little concern for their defensive abilities (see Matt LaPorta and Ryan Braun) but it has worked out pretty well for them so far. Gamel just doesn’t have the footwork or the accuracy for the hot corner and with a slew of players without skill positions it should be interesting to see where he winds up.

5.) Alcides Escobar, SS: It’s good to see a Brewers prospect that wasn’t drafted solely for their offensive ability. Alcides Escobar is the exact opposite actually as defense is his strong point and offense is what is his a chilies heel. He is a great fielder with stellar range and a very strong throwing arm. But as I said, offense is his weak spot and needs to become a more patient hitter at the plate as he is a hacker. When he does put the ball in play he takes advantage of his speed very well. He’s a very good base runner but needs some work on his base stealing ability. If he can work on these things he could be a good lead off hitter down the road.

Catch my column “Twins Killings” every day only on the Most Valuable Network.

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Joba vs. Clay and Clay vs. Joba. That’s all we seem to hear in the world of prospects ever since last season when these two enigmas exploded on to the scene and helped guide their respective teams into the playoffs. Both players play on major market teams, both players play on World Series contending teams and both players play on opposite sides of the biggest rivalry in sports today: Yankees vs. Red Sox.

So is all the hype for these young guns worth it? You better believe it. If their star potential wasn’t obvious enough before they made their debuts then their dazzling work on the mound this past summer and fall shouldn’t have left any doubt in your mind.

With that being said we now have to do what we analysts do and compare and contrast these young righties to figure out who is better and why. I plan on breaking down each pitcher individually (in alphabetical order to not show favoritism) and their specific games by first looking at their arsenal of pitches and then following that up with their pitching makeup (everything else that goes into being a pitcher). Hopefully this will help give a better look at them and just why they are two of the most impressive young pitchers to hit the Majors in quite some time.

Pitch Repertoire

The Fastball

• Buchholz has a nice combination of a two and four-seam fastballs that sit anywhere in the low to mid-90’s. His two-seamer has the better movement and can bust in on lefties while the four-seamer could use a little more movement on it to make it more effective. He also works his large arsenal of pitches off of his fastball very well thanks to the great movement on his secondary pitches.

• Chamberlain on the other hand is a power pitcher with a big frame whose fastball sits in the mid to upper-90’s and occasionally hits triple digits. He also has very good control of his fastball and is able to locate it anywhere in the zone. This also helps set up his slew of secondary pitches.

Decision: Chamberlain gets the edge with his fastball due to having quite a few more mph on it as well as having better movement.

The Change-up

• Right off the bat Buchholz has a major advantage in this competition due to the fact that he has one of the best change-ups in baseball. The pitch settles in right around 80 mph which he uses as one of his two out pitches and is almost unhittable when he is on with it. What makes it so hard to hit is that he disguises it so well with his normal delivery that it becomes very deceptive.

• Chamberlain has been working on improving his change-up and it is getting better with time. As of now it is sitting in the low-80’s and is lacking enough movement to make it a stand out pitch. It is effective enough of a pitch to incorporate into his game plan but it will take more work to be a solid Major League pitch.

Decision: This one isn’t even close as Buchholz holds a MAJOR advantage over his adversary in this battle. Anytime your pitch is one of the best of its kind in the game today, it’s is very difficult to find someone to rival it.

The Curveball

• Almost as good as his change-up, Buchholz’s knee buckling curve freezes hitters in their tracks. It’s a hard breaking 12-to-6 overhand curveball that just drops right off the table. Like his change-up, he uses it as his out pitch (depending on which pitch is on that night) and will usually sit in the 76-81 mph range. With a solid fastball and one other out plus pitch, the thought of being a batter and worrying about a second can’t be easy.

• Chamberlain is also at a bit of a disadvantage with this pitch too as he doesn’t use his curve as much as Buchholz for a couple of reasons. For one it’s not nearly as good as his fastball or slider which he predominantly uses coming out of the bullpen. Secondly it just isn’t that effective of a pitch for him yet as he doesn’t have reliable control over it. It is more of a slow looping curve that generally sits between 79-82 mph. This approach is ok during his time in the bullpen when a dominating fastball and hard slider will work great, but he may want to fine tune it a little more before joining the Yankees rotation.

Decision: Buchholz wins this battle too as, like their change-ups, Chamberlain’s curveball isn’t even in the same league as Buchholz’s.

The Slider

• As Buchholz’s fourth pitch, his slider comes in somewhere in the low to mid-80’s. Right now it is an above average pitch but shows the potential to be yet another plus pitch. As scary as that sounds, his slider has continued to improve over the past few years and isn’t far off from being yet another plus pitch to add to his bag of incredible pitches.

• Chamberlain’s other dominating pitch is his plus slider. It sits in the neighborhood of 85-89 mph and is used just as much (and effectively) as his fastball. As a power pitcher, Chamberlain uses his hard slider as his strikeout pitch as he keeps it low in the zone and constantly over matches hitters as they swing and miss. When he has it working it is a simply devastating pitch that even if you know it is coming is almost impossible to hit.

Decision: While Buchholz continues to improve his slider, the edge right now has to be given to Chamberlain simply because of how nasty of a pitch it can be. Now in a few years the tables may turn on who has the better slider, but for now Chamberlain can rest assured he has locked this up.

Pitch Repertoire Results: Even though these two split the four pitches by each winning two, I have to give the edge to Clay Buchholz in the pitch repertoire category for a couple of reasons. As I mentioned, Buchholz has one of the best change-ups in all of baseball and a curveball that isn’t far behind. While Chamberlain has a fantastic fastball-slider combination working for him, the fact that Buchholz has an increasingly effective slider on the rise gives him the slight edge in this match-up.

Pitcher’s Makeup

The Delivery

• Buchholz’s delivery looks like you are watching an instant replay on a loop. He has a very repeatable motion after some great strides towards improving it over the course of the last couple of seasons. His delivery melds perfectly with his pitches as he’s able to throw his fastball and change from the same arm slot with the same motion to help make it that much more untouchable. The only concern I have with his delivery is the high arm angle that he pitches with. It could be an issue down the road with injuries so it is something they will need to keep an eye on.

• Chamberlain grades very high when it comes to his delivery despite the fact that it at times can seem a bit violent. But anytime you have a pitcher trying to hit triple digits on the gun you are going to see some sort of effort put into it. Chamberlain’s strong frame and powerful legs are used very prevalently in his delivery which is where he generates his dominating stuff.

Decision: Again, this is an extremely difficult decision between these two. I am going to give the slight edge to Chamberlain because he’s able to repeat his motion so consistently and with so much force.

The Mechanics

• Just like his delivery, Buchholz is very much under control with his pitches. He has solid mechanics from the moment he starts his movement all the way until he releases the pitch.

• While Chamberlain has a very good delivery, he does have a little room for improvement in his mechanics. The real test will be when he moves from the bullpen to the rotation and has to go 6 or 7 innings versus one or two.

Decision: Buchholz edges out Chamberlain due to his ability to stay in control at all times without showing any flaws.

The Big Game Factor

• Buchholz is built to be a big game pitcher for the blood thirsty Red Sox Nation. This kid does not rattle easily and has the presence on the mound to pitch in a very intense city like Boston.

• Like Buchholz, Chamberlain is perfect to pitch in a big time city like New York for a big time team like the Yankees. It has been said numerous times that he has ice water running through his veins and has shown it coming down the stretch run last season.

Decision: As of right now it has to be given to Chamberlain. While Buchholz had some incredible performances at the end of last season for the Red Sox (including a no hitter), Chamberlain was put in some of the most intense situations out of the bullpen at the end of games when the Yankees’ season was on the line. In my book that is proof enough for me.

FINAL GRADE

On the outside you wouldn’t think these two pitchers would have anything in common. One is a wiry 6-3, 190 pound string bean and the other is a meaty 6-2, 230 pound beast. Each have different dominating pitches yet each have an excellent make-up. So as different as they may be, they seem to be just as similar.

The best part about doing the first ever “Versus Series” column with these two is I really can’t go wrong no matter who I choose. As for my final decision, I know I am going against the grain and may have a lot of people argue with me, but I have to go with Clay Buchholz by the narrowest of margins. After the 2008 season I may sing a different tune when we get a chance to see Chamberlain start, but for now I am going to give the nod to Buchholz for his overall ability as a pitcher both now and into the future.

These are just two more stars that have been injected into the intense Yankees vs. Red Sox rivalry and I can’t wait for the opportunity to see them go head to head very soon.

As we lead up to both the start of the 2008 season and our “Diamond Cutter” top 100 prospects list, I will be taking a look at the top five prospects from every single Major League team. Each team will have its top five prospects along with a brief scouting report on each player that I have pulled from my scouting notes. Today we continue on with the NL Central with the almost bare Houston Astros system. As always, let me know how you feel about the rankings in the comments section below or via email.

1.) J.R. Towles, C: After flying through the Minors in 2007 and joining the Astros by year’s end, it gives you a good idea of how good of a young catcher this kid is. Towles is a very good hitter who can hit for average and has above average power (for a catcher) thanks to his very good eye at the plate. He’s a dead pull hitter (which is fine in Houston’s ballpark) but he does need to learn to hit to other fields to be successful in the big leagues. Defensively he is rather quick behind the plate and calls a good game but he could use some work in a few areas such as throwing out base runners. Otherwise projects to be an above average everyday catcher in the Majors.

2.) Felipe Paulino, RHP: Paulino had a brief stint in the Majors at the end of last season and had some good and bad experiences on the mound. The young right hander has a hard fastball in the upper-90’s (at times hitting triple digits) along with a low 90’s slider and developing change. He can have bouts of control problems as well as delivery troubles (which leads to him leaving pitches up and giving up home runs), but with a little work he can minimize these issues. The Astros are gearing him towards starting as of now but he may be better suited to be a closer with his blazing fastball and hard slider.

3.) Michael Bourn, OF: Despite playing in more than 120 games in 2006 and 2007 for the Phillies, Bourn is still considered a rookie since he is under the 130 career at bat maximum. Bourn’s greatest asset is his plus speed which translates well both to base running and his defense. While he holds some of the key characteristics for an ideal lead off hitter with his speed and offensive approach, he will need to work a little on his plate discipline and ability to get on base. If he can improve in that area it shouldn’t be long until he’s in center field for the Astros.

4.) Mitch Einertson, OF: With little competition in the Astros organization when it comes to outfield prospects (or prospects in general), Mitch Einertson should continue to shoot up this top prospects list if he continues his improved play. He continues to show more power potential and is a very good fastball hitter who can spray the ball to all fields. He showed that he is a consistent hitter and looks to have good gap power which will equate to a lot of doubles for the corner outfielder. If he continues his improved play he may be at the top of this list going into 2009.

5.) Bud Norris, RHP: Right now the Astros are using Bud Norris as a starting pitcher in the system but it looks to me as if he is more built to be a reliever. Norris has a mid-90’s fastball and a nice low to mid-80’s curveball. He has some issues such as fatigue, command problems and the inability to find a groove in his delivery that, while they can be worked out, lead me to believe that he may be better built to be a middle or late innings reliever if he reaches the big leagues. As of right now nothing spectacular jumps out at me about him other than his curve.

Catch my column “Twins Killings” every day only on the Most Valuable Network.

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As we lead up to both the start of the 2008 season and our “Diamond Cutter” top 100 prospects list, I will be taking a look at the top five prospects from every single Major League team. Each team will have its top five prospects along with a brief scouting report on each player that I have pulled from my scouting notes. Today we continue on with the NL Central with the prospect rich Cincinnati Reds. As always, let me know how you feel about the rankings in the comments section below or via email.

1.) Jay Bruce, OF: Bruce is a monster of a prospect and a five tool player to boot who can impact the game with his power bat, speed, and defense. He has a powerfully lofted swing with fantastic bat speed which gives him the ability to hit for power and average. He needs to work on his plate discipline and he also tends to struggle against lefties and off speed pitches which racks up his strikeout total. If he can learn these items the next few years and combine that with his current skills, he will be a monster with 35-40 HR in the hitter friendly Great American Ballpark.

2.) Homer Bailey, RHP: Bailey has all the pieces to be a number one starter for years to come. He’s tall with a big league frame with superb arm action. He has a 3/4 slot motion that allows him to stay tall along with two plus pitches (fastball at 89-97 mph and brutal curveball 75-80 mph) along with a bat-splitting breaking ball which, when he has command of them, can make him virtually untouchable. (entire “Prospect Spotlight” scouting report).

3.) Johnny Cueto, RHP: Cueto has a great arm action, excellent movement, and very good command on his fastball (89-94 mph) as well as his slider and change. His slider is his best pitch and is one of the best in the Minors. He has very good control but can struggle at times with leaving pitches up in the zone. This has improved a lot however due to how smart of a pitcher he is and his improved command. Cueto is still very young and does not need to be rushed through the system. Often is forgotten about and over-shadowed due to Homer Bailey’s presence, but the Reds organization knows what they have in him and know he will be something special.

4.) Joey Votto, 1B: Votto is the top powering hitting corner infielder in the entire Reds system. He has an excellent approach to the plate with a great eye. Despite his plate discipline, he is aggressive at the plate and has very good gap power which should add up to a lot of doubles in his career. Has good speed especially for a catcher turned first baseman. He has across the board tools but does still struggle a bit in his new position at first and has even dabbled in the outfield recently.

5.) Drew Stubbs, OF: Stubbs is a tough one to get a read on. On one hand he incredibly athletic and is a potential five tool player with incredible raw talent. But on the other hand he strikes out too much and can struggle making contact at the plate. If the right coaches can mold him he has unlimited potential with his speed and power. Stubbs is also a fantastic defensive outfielder with great range thanks to his plus speed. If he can learn to shorten up his swing and become a little smarter on the bases, Stubbs could hit 20-30 homers and steal 40+ bases in the Great American Ballpark. Or he could fizzle out and never reach AAA.

Catch my column “Twins Killings” every day only on the Most Valuable Network.

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As we lead up to both the start of the 2008 season and our “Diamond Cutter” top 100 prospects list, I will be taking a look at the top five prospects from every single Major League team. Each team will have its top five prospects along with a brief scouting report on each player that I have pulled from my scouting notes. Today we move on to the NL Central with the deep Chicago Cubs top 5. As always, let me know how you feel about the rankings in the comments section below or via email.

1.) Josh Vitters, 3B: Vitters was the best high school hitter in this past year’s draft. What makes him so special at the plate is his uncanny hand-eye coordination, fast wrists, and beautiful, fluid swing. He has great bat speed with a short, compact swing that generates incredible home run and gap power. It’s hard to believe he’s only 18 years old, but considering his 6-foot-3 build, he still has a lot of potential to add mass and in turn adding more power. Vitters should be a huge addition to the Cubs roster in the next few years (entire “Prospect Spotlight” scouting report).

2.) Geovany Soto, C: Soto made a very smooth transition to behind the plate at the Cubs request. Now it seems as if his bat is catching up with his glove finally as he has made excellent strides in both average and power. He has shown excellent discipline both at the plate and behind it. His rise up scouting charts was almost as fast as his rise through the system as the Cubs have a legitimate catching prospect for the first time in years.

3.) Sean Gallagher, RHP: Gallagher has the mentality that the plate belongs to him and not the hitter. With this fearless attitude, Gallagher isn’t afraid to come inside on batters which is incredibly important, especially for a youngster. His repertoire includes two fastballs - one in the low-90’s with good sinking movement and the other a few mph faster that rises, a stellar curveball, a change and a very successful slider all of which he has very good command of. It’s not often you see a pitcher this young with so many pitches at his disposal and such strong poise on the mound.

4.) Eric Patterson, OF: Patterson finally looks to be a legitimate lead off hitter the Cubs have been looking years for. His greatest attribute is his blazing speed and stellar base running instincts. He also has a lead off hitter’s approach at the plate as he works the count well and when he swings the bat he tends to slap the ball and hit line drives. Biggest weakness is his strikeout rate as he can sometimes get out of his game and try to do too much by swinging at bad pitches. The Cubs have moved him from second base to the outfield but the fact that he can play either makes him very valuable especially as their savior in the lead off spot.

5.) Tyler Colvin, OF: Colvin has a nice approach at the plate with a short compact swing and quick wrists which helps make him a very good contact hitter. At first he only seemed to have gap power but that has begun to develop more into overall power. Colvin has plus speed which translates very well into smart base running as well as an improved approach to base stealing thanks to some work with the Cubs. His athleticism and speed provides him good range in the outfield to go along with an above average arm and glove. Well rounded player that should fit in the best in leftfield.

Catch my column “Twins Killings” every day only on the Most Valuable Network.

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As we lead up to both the start of the 2008 season and our “Diamond Cutter” top 100 prospects list, I will be taking a look at the top five prospects from every single Major League team. Each team will have its top five prospects along with a brief scouting report on each player that I have pulled from my scouting notes. Today we wrap up the AL East as we check in with the prospect thirsty Toronto Blue Jays. As always, let me know how you feel about the rankings in the comments section below or via email.

1.) Travis Snider, OF: Snider is part of the famed crop of high school outfielders in the 2005 draft. Snider is best known for his powerful bat but has the weakness many hitters like him have in the form of too many strikeouts. Snider is very athletic and has the bat to carry him in right field but there has been talk of him moving to first base. Snider also has been cursed with the injury bug but when healthy, he is a force in the lineup.

2.) Brett Cecil, LHP: While there is some debate on what role Cecil should play on a staff, the answer seems pretty clear that he is best fit to be the closer of the future for Toronto (or at least a very strong set-up man). Cecil has a decent fastball in the low-90’s which could use a little more velocity, however what makes him so special is his devastating slider. The slider (his out pitch) sits anywhere in the low to mid-80’s and is virtually unhittable to lefties. This is his money pitch that will get him to the Majors but he still needs a change-up to challenge righties.

3.) Kevin Aherns, SS: Aherns recently became a switch hitter and is picking up on it rather quickly thanks to his great baseball instincts. He has a very smart approach at the plate with very quick hands which projects him to have some power potential in the future. Plus arm strength and soft hands help even out his lack of range. Looks like he will most likely make the move to third base once he gets closer to the Majors.

4.) J.P. Arencibia, C: If you are looking for the next gold glove catcher, Arencibia is not your man. However if you are looking for adequate catcher with a big bat, well then look no further. Arencibia is a little below average behind the plate but he should be ok if he stays back there. Has plus raw power that can help people forget about his defensive woes and if his bat becomes big enough a move to DH may not be a bad idea.

5.) Justin Jackson, SS: Jackson is a tough one to scout as he really hasn’t shown that much consistency to get excited about. He does have some raw skills that could be molded into something pretty good. Jackson has very good bat speed but his swings can be a little long and loopy at times causing some ugly contact. Doesn’t have good speed when he begins running but has good acceleration which will hamper him being a base stealer. Needs to get stronger and probably move to third base for him to find a place in the big leagues.

Catch my column “Twins Killings” every day only on the Most Valuable Network.

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As we lead up to both the start of the 2008 season and our “Diamond Cutter” top 100 prospects list, I will be taking a look at the top five prospects from every single Major League team. Each team will have its top five prospects along with a brief scouting report on each player that I have pulled from my scouting notes. Today we continue with the prospect rich American League East as we check in with the seemingly endless Tampa Bay Rays system. As always, let me know how you feel about the rankings in the comments section below or via email.

1.) Evan Longoria, 3B: Longoria has natural power to all fields due to strong wrists and quick bat. Also has a knack for getting on base so look for a high OBP from him. Very good defensively at third base and while he has the athleticism to play a middle infield spot, look for him to stick at third base for the Rays. Longoria should end up with the Rays coming out of Spring Training in 2008 and truly is a star in the making.

2.) David Price, LHP: David Price is the best pitcher we have seen come out of college in a long time. His fastball runs 90-95 mph and has a tailing motion away from righties. The lanky-lefty also has a high-70’s slurve and a wicked 84-86 mph slider that he throws effectively with two strikes. Needs to get a third plus-pitch such as the change-up he is working on and can have control problems at times. Otherwise he is going to be something special as a pro (entire “Prospect Spotlight” scouting report).

3.) Jacob McGee, LHP: McGee has shown that he is a mature and crafty young left. His pitch selection include a low-90’s plus-fastball with very good movement and an above average changeup and curveball. While he has struggled in the past with control (especially with his secondary pitches) he has learned to harness them and has improved immensely in that area. McGee is just another great Devil Rays’ prospect.

4.) Wade Davis, RHP: Davis rounds out one of the best collection of young arms in any Minor League system. Davis is a hard thrower with a fastball in the upper-90’s and a sharp moving curve. He is currently working on refining at least one more pitch to help in his battles and to make his other two pitches that much more effective. Looks to land as a solid middle of the rotation guy or even as high as a number two starter.

5.) Reid Brignac, SS: Brignac would be a lot higher on this list but his less than impressive defense at a defensive position hurts him. This is in part due to the fact that he is a bit on the large side for a middle infielder. Despite any defensive inadequacies, he has shown he is a very good hitter and has proven to be one of the top offensive shortstops in the Minors.

Catch my column “Twins Killings” every day only on the Most Valuable Network.

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As we lead up to both the start of the 2008 season and our “Diamond Cutter” top 100 prospects list, I will be taking a look at the top five prospects from every single Major League team. Each team will have its top five prospects along with a brief scouting report on each player that I have pulled from my scouting notes. Today we will continue on with our journey around the American League East by checking up on the deep, rich and prospect-replenished New York Yankees organization. As always, let me know how you feel about the rankings in the comments section below or via email.

1.) Joba Chamberlain, RHP: Chamberlain has already proven to be a big time Major League pitcher coming out of the bullpen for the Yankees last season and causing Joba-fever everywhere. He has a mid to upper-90’s fastball, a sharp moving plus slider, and an improved changeup. The righty has plus stuff and plus command with a big frame that he uses for his power pitches. Has also learned to incorporate his secondary pitches more rather than relying strictly on fastballs. Looks to be moved to the rotation in 2008.

2.) Ian Kennedy, RHP: Kennedy is yet another great young pitching prospect in the Yankees organization. He has a four seam (88-94 mph) and two seam (a newer pitch at 89 mph) fastball, great command of a plus-changeup, as well as a curve and slider. Kennedy is a very intelligent pitcher choosing to set-up hitters and attack their weaknesses rather than try to overpower them. He has great mechanics and uses this and control to his advantage.

3.) Jose Tabata, OF: With some debate over who is the best Yankee outfield prospect, Tabata takes that honor thanks to his great hitting prowess. Tabata is an excellent hitter and hits the ball hard all over the field. Due to this and his great plate discipline, he looks to have the makeup to be a potential batting champion competitor someday. He has developing power that has been hampered by his lingering wrist injury so it will be interesting to see how he develops into a slugger once he heals. Is above average defensively and will round out at a corner outfield position.

4.) Austin Jackson, OF: Jackson is another shining star that the Yankees have waiting in the wings. Jackson is a good contact hitter with some good power potential. Needs a little more polishing at the plate to really establish himself (already started this by cutting down his strikeouts). He is a strong athlete who will be a very nice base stealer someday with his plus speed. Also transfers his speed well in the outfield and is also plus defensively.

5.) Alan Horne, RHP: After battling back from Tommy John surgery, Horne has now begun to regain his velocity. Horne posses a low to mid-90’s fastball (finally reaching back to about 95 mph), a hard 12-6 curve that drops out of nowhere, and a nasty hard slider all with great movement on them. Has developed nicely with his control and command but still has some bouts of inconsistency with his delivery. Due to this he can get into some ruts on the mound and can sometimes have troubling digging out. Looks to be a middle of the rotation guy someday in pinstripes.

Catch my column “Twins Killings” every day only on the Most Valuable Network.

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As we lead up to both the start of the 2008 season and our “Diamond Cutter” top 100 prospects list, I will be taking a look at the top five prospects from every single Major League team. Each team will have its top five prospects along with a brief scouting report on each player that I have pulled from my scouting notes. Today we continue digging into the AL East with the prospect rich Boston Red Sox. As always, let me know how you feel about the rankings in the comments section below or via email.

1.) Clay Buchholz, RHP: Buchholz has already proven he has the tools and talent to be an ace in the big leagues. He has a mid-90’s fastball and an incredible set of pitches with a change up (one of the best in baseball) and knee-buckling curveball (both which can be unhittable) and puts it all together with great control. Very good at handling pressure and has the makeup to be a big game pitcher which is exactly what a team like Boston needs. Enough good stuff can’t be said about this youngster as he looks to have his eye on being one of the best young pitching prospects we’ve seen in a long time.

2.) Jacoby Ellsbury, CF: Ellsbury is an amazing athlete and will be a team leader for years to come. He has excellent speed and demonstrates that with his great base running ability as well as his superb glove in center field. Looks to be a great candidate to hit lead off for the Sox with very good gap power. Constantly compared to a young Johnny Damon only with a better swing. Has already proven himself at the Major League level to be a star in the making.

3.) Lars Anderson, 1B: This large left hander can generate incredible raw plus power with his slugger’s frame. Anderson also has an excellent eye at the plate, incredible plate discipline and pitch recognition and doesn’t chase pitches too often. Has a very smooth and even swing that helps him hit the ball well to all fields and projects to hit for both power and average with fantastic OBP’s. Anderson looks to be one of the best power hitting prospects in the game today.

4.) Jed Lowrie, SS: Lowrie looks to be a solid middle infielder at the Major League level with average range and a fairly good glove. Not sure if he will end up at shortstop or second base as he would be fine at both. Either way he seems to have good pop for a middle infielder and hits very well from both sides of the plate. Lowrie also has a great eye at the plate and does a great job at working pitchers and waiting for his pitch.

5.) Justin Masterson, RHP: Masterson was a very successful college closer and has been in the process of being converted to a starter. Masterson may be better suited for the bullpen and I believe will end up back there eventually. Two and four seam fastballs with good movement, solid slider (85-87 mph) and four-seam circle changeup (80-84 mph) with a very good drop.

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As we lead up to both the start of the 2008 season and our “Diamond Cutter” top 100 prospects list, I will be taking a look at the top five prospects from every single Major League team. Each team will have its top five prospects along with a brief scouting report on each player that I have pulled from my scouting notes. Today we jump away from the National League and start digging into the AL East with the prospect hungry Baltimore Orioles. As always, let me know how you feel about the rankings in the comments section below or via email.

1.) Matt Wieters, C: Major League Baseball will soon have yet another strong offensive catcher thrust upon it once Wieters makes his debut. The switch hitting catcher has the tremendous ability to hit for average and power (better hitter from the left side and more power from the right). While he’s only an average catcher at best, if he can improve on his footwork and receiving skills a little more he should be ok. Otherwise a move to another position might be a good idea both defensively and to help preserve his bat.

2.) Chris Tillman, RHP: Just picked up in the Erik Bedard trade, he quickly took over the number two spot on this list thanks to the potential he has in the future. Right now Tillman looks to be a power pitcher with a fastball that sits 90-94 mph while at times reaching 96 mph. He also has a plus overhand 12-to-6 curve that falls in the mid-70’s with a nice sharp, late break on it. While Tillman does have a nice frame and mechanics, he will only be able to succeed in the Majors if he can begin to gain a little more control and command of his plus pitches. If he is able to continue to grow and develop in this area, he looks to be a solid number two starter someday.

3.) Troy Patten, LHP: If Troy Patten can fight off the injuries and his seemingly annual bout of arm fatigue, he will make a very good Major League pitcher. Patten brings his solid stuff and great command of his pitches (two fastballs, slider, and a change) to the Orioles as part of the Miguel Tejada trade with Houston this winter. If he can stay healthy and strong Patten looks like he could iron out to be a solid middle of the rotation type guy that is in high demand these days.

4.) Nolan Reimold, OF: Reimold looks to be a solid corner outfielder of the future for the O’s with a big bat to boot. While it may not be perfect, he posses a very nice swing and a keen eye at the plate. This coupled with a powerful bat will make him a nice addition to the Orioles before too long. Look for a potential 25-30 homers from this kid if he can keep some protection around him in the lineup.

5.) Billy Rowell, 3B: Rowell excites many people at the incredible power potential he posses at the hot corner. With the body frame to continue to pack on muscle along with a very nice swing, the Orioles are hoping he develops into the player they drafted in 2006. After a shaky start and inconsistent year many began to get down on Rowell and began to doubt what they thought he could be. He should be able to bounce back and put up some solid numbers and help anchor the middle of the Baltimore lineup in a few seasons.

(* This list was updated on 2/9/08 after the Erik