Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit: Top Prospects

Every season, right around this time, there is a large flock of prospects all trying to prove to themselves and the front office that they belong in big league baseball. The key to fantasy baseball success when speaking of these prospects is to know whether or not they are going to make the team out of Spring Training. If not, you need to weigh the time line of each player and figure out if he should be a selection in your fantasy draft or if you'll be spending FAAB money or using waiver priority status on him.

Choose wisely when considering the acquisition of prospects. Most of these guys have bright, rocket-ship upside. But, not all will become effective fantasy assets.

Tommy Hanson, Braves - Unless a string of injuries occur to the Braves rotation this spring, Hanson will start the season at Triple-A Gwinnett. He'll, most likely, be the first starter called up as he was a strikeout machine in the Arizona Fall League and is still showing off his arm this spring. He's good enough to make a front-of-the-rotation impact almost instantly.

Matt Wieters, Orioles - In 437 minor league at-bats Wieters hit .355 with 27 home runs. He's also hitting .367 with three doubles and a home run in 30 spring at-bats. Remember, however, that Wieters has only one professional season under his belt and he's never seen a pitch above Double-A. He'll start the season in the minors and how soon he gets called up will determine his 2009 fantasy value. If you're in a keeper league, he's a must-add immediately.

David Price, Rays - We all remember what Price did in the postseason last year. He also was 12-1 with 109 strikeouts in 19 starts in the minors. Unfortunately for fantasy GMs, Price will start the season back at Triple-A where he can get more experience as a starter and work on a changeup. His value is only in keeper leagues right now. But, he'll contribute in all formats when called up since he pitches on such a good team.

Travis Snider, Blue Jays - Snider performed well in his late-season call-up, hitting .301 in 73 at-bats. He also hit .275 and 19 home runs in combined Double-A and Triple-A last season. Snider enters the season as a lock for a starting outfield slot in Toronto and has huge upside with the power in his bat. He's a very solid last-round selection for your fantasy team.

Max Scherzer, Diamondbacks - Scherzer is a dominating force on the mound with a fastball that touches the upper 90s on the radar gun. He struck out 66 batters last year in 56 innings at the major-league level and was even better in Triple-A, striking out 79 in 53 innings. He's slated as the Diamondbacks' fifth starter and since he's a power pitcher playing on a quality team in a division full of pitchers parks, he should be selected in fantasy drafts starting in the 17th round in mixed leagues.

Colby Rasmus, Cardinals - Rasmus actually dropped in the prospect rankings with his typical slow start in 2008. He added a few injuries to the mix and never made it to St. Louis in 2008. He, most likely, won't start the 2009 season in St. Louis either. When healthy, he has huge power upside but he still may have to wait a few months to break into the Cardinals' outfield. Unless you're in a super deep keeper league, it's best to wait on Rasmus until he's called up.

Jordan Zimmermann, Nationals - The Nationals' top pitching prospect spent last year in Advanced-A and Double-A racking up a 10-3 record with a 2.89 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 134 innings. But, he might be locking up the fifth rotation spot in Washington this spring by dominating hitters. He's pitched 12.1 innings and struck out 16 while only walking two. He hasn't given up an earned run all spring. It's time to start taking late-round fliers on him in fantasy drafts. He could be special in 2009.

Cameron Maybin, Marlins - Maybin is a five-tool prospect with massive upside potential. He's playing very well this spring, hitting .333 in 36 at-bats, and has shown flashes of brilliant speed. The Marlins are set to use Maybin in center field and as their leadoff hitter. He should be drafted in all formats and is my early Rookie of the Year frontrunner.

Madison Bumgarner, Giants - As an 18-year-old in his first professional season Bumgarner struck out 164 batters and only walked 21 in 141.2 innings. He was 15-3 with a 1.46 ERA. Now that was just in Single-A for the Giants, and as lovely as those numbers are, Bumgarner probably won't be joining the Giants' rotation this season at all. Leave him alone unless you have a minor league system to work with in your fantasy league.

Pablo Sandoval, Giants - Sandoval batted .345 in 145 major league innings last season, but more important to fantasy owners he spent time playing first base, third base and catcher. A 22-year-old hitter who jumped from Advanced-A to the Giants in less than a year, Sandoval is also a line drive hitter who should develop some power as he gets older. Don't expect him to be behind the plate in '09, but expect him to be gone by the 19th round in most fantasy drafts.

Gio Gonzalez, Athletics - Gonzalez didn't shine is his brief call-up late last season, but the proof is in the pudding with the dominance he has shown on the mound in his years in the minors. In each of his first five professional seasons, Gonzalez has struck out more than a batter per inning. He may start the season in the bullpen, but his calling is in the front of the rotation. He should be on deep AL-only draft boards as well as long-term keeper leagues. Mixed leaguers should keep an eye on him as soon as he hits the rotation.

Gaby Sanchez, Marlins - It looks as if Sanchez is going to be given the starting job at first base for the Marlins this season. That makes him draft-ready for deep NL-only leagues right now. The 17 home runs and 92 RBI with a .314 batting average for the Double-A Mudcats last season show mixed-league GMs that he should be on their radar. If he shows that power stroke for the Marlins this season, grab him off of the waiver wire as soon as you can.

Rick Porcello, Tigers - Porcello only has one professional season under his belt, but that isn't stopping the Tigers from considering him for a rotation spot out of camp this spring. He's more likely to start 2009 in the minors or in the Tigers bullpen. But, he projects as the future Tigers ace and should be owned in all long-term keeper leagues. Other fantasy GMs should use a wait-and-see approach on Porcello. If he makes the rotation this season, sign him immediately.

Brett Gardner, Yankees - This speedster is locked in a battle for the Yankees' center field job this spring -- a competition most feel he's winning. He's a speedster, stealing 37 bases in Triple-A last year and 39 the year before. His ability to get on base and his great wheels will be a great asset to AL-only owners right now. If he does win the job outright and hits at the top of the order, he will start looking good to mixed-league fantasy teams too.

Neftali Feliz, Rangers - At only 20 years old, Feliz is quickly becoming the best pitching prospect in all of baseball. He might not start the season in Texas, but he already should be owned in all deep keeper leagues. He struck out 154 batters in 127.1 innings in combined Single-A and Double-A action last year and only gave up three home runs. That kind of power pitching with the ability to keep the ball in the park will get Feliz to the big club quickly.

Daniel Murphy, Mets - Murphy impressed in hie short call-up last season hitting .313 in 131 at-bats, but what has solidified his hold on the starting left field job is his .375 batting average with five extra-base hits this spring. As the Mets starting left fielder and likely second hitter in the lineup, Murphy is draftable in all NL-only leagues and should be quickly signed in mixed leagues if he continues to hit like he has over his last 179 at-bats.

Brett Anderson, Athletics - Anderson had a 4.37 strikeout-to-walk ratio in two minor league stops last season and struck out 118 batters in only 105 innings. This groundball pitcher is a must-have in deep keeper leagues and is one of the top prospects in baseball. If he breaks camp in the A's rotation, all fantasy GMs need to monitor his progress and sign him as quickly as he shows that he's ready to live up the all of the hype.

Elvis Andrus, Rangers - Andrus has been given the starting job in Texas at shortstop and that alone should merit a look from AL-only folks. His 54 stolen bases and .295 batting average at Double-A Frisco last season mean that you can safely take a late-round flier on him in mixed leagues as well. He's never going to be a bruiser at the plate, but his high average / great speed combo will work well for you.

Trevor Cahill, Athletics - It only seems like Oakland has all of the pitching prospects in baseball ... OK they do. Cahill struck out 136 batters in only 124.1 combined minor league innings last season and had a WHIP of 1.01. He's only 21 years old and hasn't pitched above Double-A, but Cahill's reported to have the most upside of any of the A's pitching prospects and should be owned in deep keeper leagues. His very outside shot at making the rotation this season means that everyone in the fantasy realm should keep an eye on him and pounce if he's in Oakland next month.

Mat Gamel, Brewers - Gamel has a small chance at winning the starting third base job this spring, but probably will head back to Triple-A for a little more seasoning. He hit .325 with 20 home runs and 99 RBI in combined minor league action last season and projects as a middle-of-the-lineup RBI machine. He has more talent than anyone currently fielding third base for the Brewers so his arrival is shortly due. He should be owned in all deep keeper leagues and even you NL-only owners can consider taking a late-round flier on him, just in case he makes the team.