Prospects Next in Line for Top 100

Many players who have the talent to be considered Top 100 prospects just don't quite have the seasoning or experience to crack the list. These players certainly have the talent to make such a list in the near future, however.

So, who might we see on the Top 100 list in 2011, or even 2012? Many of those players are yet to be drafted or signed, but some are waiting right now in the low levels of the minor leagues. We'll take a look at a handful of young stars who could find themselves high up on future Top 100 lists.

Roman Mendez, RHP, Boston Red Sox: Everyone likes power arms, and Mendez is one of the better ones in the lower minors. I first caught a glimpse of the hard-throwing righty at spring training in 2009. The stuff was outstanding, that much was clear. Mendez was living at 94-97 mph, and reaching as high as as 98 on occasion. But his control looked spotty.

TOP 100 PROSPECTS

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Rankings: Nos. 1-25 | 26-100
By Team: Organizational Rankings Mendez saw many of his fastballs sail to the backstop, and he was noticeably overthrowing. That was the spring. By summer, Mendez was a different pitcher and he dominated the Gulf Coast League. His delivery began to look more fluid, there was a tick less velocity and much better command of his pitches. His suspect control became a non-issue as he walked just eight batters in almost 50 innings of work.

He's now living around 93-95 mph with the fastball. Aside from the good heater, he flashed what appeared to be a split-changeup at 82-86 mph with diving action. It's still an inconsistent pitch, but it showed signs of being a plus offering down the road. His 76-80 mph curveball was even more unreliable, but he mixed in a few that flashed above-average. If he can gain some consistency with his secondary pitches, Boston will have a pitcher with frontline starter or closer potential in the 19-year-old.

Christian Bethancourt, C, Atlanta Braves: Once in awhile you see a player with a totally unique skill-set, and Bethancourt is one of those guys. A supremely athletic, wiry and strong catcher who can swipe a base, Bethancourt is a fascinating talent even before you consider his throwing arm. Another player out of the Braves' impressive Panamanian pipeline, the 18-year-old had a strong offensive season in 2009 and seems to be learning at a rapid pace. The power has come along nicely, and he still has a lot of room to grow physically.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a better arm behind the dish. There aren't many that grade out as an 8 on the scouting scale, but he may have one of them. His overall actions and hands could help him develop into an elite defensive catcher. He's got a long way to go in terms of physical maturity and development as a hitter, but the Braves have reason to be thrilled with the tools and performance thus far from this uniquely talented backstop.

Jeff Kobernus, 2B, Washington Nationals: Injuries cut short what should have been an impressive pro debut for Kobernus in 2009. The Nationals took Kobernus with their second-round pick in June, and he may end up being one of the better picks in the class. His season never got off the ground, as a knee injury ended his year after just 10 games with short-season (Single-A) Vermont.

What stands out about the right-hand hitting second baseman is his bat. Scouts look for players with a feel at the plate, and Kobernus has that. His bat control is outstanding and he's able to let the breaking ball track deep with his compact stroke. He also flashed good power to the gap in right-center. He has the look of a hitter than can advance quickly once he gets acclimated to pro baseball. Kobernus' setup and swing path are reminiscent of Jeff Kent.

Had he not been injured, he likely would have performed well and figured prominently in the Top 100 prospects list. Look for him to begin the 2010 season in Low-A ball.

Domingo Santana, OF, Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies' GCL squad was stocked with high upside-talent in 2009, and possibly the best pure talent of the bunch was one of their top international signings of the year, Domingo Santana. Unlike Singleton, Santana is very raw, but has the long, wiry frame and plus raw power that give someone star potential. He didn't turn 17 until August, yet still managed to have an impressive first taste of professional baseball.

Although raw, Santana does not expand the zone much, and produces big loft off the bat. The power plays well to all parts of the park, and he only figures to get stronger as he fills into his 6-foot-5 frame. Santana will likely have his struggles as he makes changes to his sometimes long swing, but the finished product could be a potent home run threat.

Gustavo Pierre, SS, Toronto Blue Jays: If you like raw tools, keep a close eye on Pierre. Even at the Gulf Coast League level, he's an exciting player to watch. Pierre has an extra-athletic, strong frame. He looks similar to Hanley Ramirez, and his long-term tools may not be all that different from the Marlins' superstar either.

Pierre may prove to be a bit too sloppy with the glove to stick at shortstop, but, at 18, he still has plenty of time to prove he can play the position. His above-average speed, throwing arm and plate prowess are what make him especially interesting. The right-handed-hitting Pierre received a $700,000 bonus from Toronto in 2008, and so far he's looked to be worth every penny. He's inconsistent and very impatient at the plate at this stage, but his hand-eye coordination may make him especially unique. Pierre has the ability to drive pitches well out of the zone into the gaps.

If he can learn even the slightest bit of plate discipline and pick pitches to drive, he's going to be one dangerous hitter.

Frankie Piliere spent the last three seasons working as a scout, most recently in the professional scouting department for the Texas Rangers in 2009. He now serves as the National Baseball Analyst here at FanHouse.