Baseball’s top corner infield prospects: 2010 outlooks and future stat projections

Ryan Westmoreland underwent successful brain surgery on Tuesday. I wish him and his family the best during this horrific ordeal.

This week I’m rolling out 2010 outlooks and future stat projections for the top 15 corner infield prospects in baseball.

I was met with an interesting question in my inbox this week, presumably from a Brandon Allen fan, and it fits this week’s thoughts perfectly: What separates Lars Anderson at No. 34 on my top 100 list from Brandon Allen at No. 83?

It’s a question that deserves an answer, as simple as it may be. At this point their projected numbers look similar, but it’s the upside of Anderson that has him ranked almost 50 slots higher. Anderson has the tools to put my current prognostication to shame, while Brandon Allen seems locked into his projections. Anderson needs to prove himself fast, however, or he will be right where Allen is by this time next year. Or possibly lower.

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Justin Smoak / 1B / Texas
2010 thoughts:
Chris Davis and Vladimir Guerrero hold down the first base and designated hitter spots, meaning there is a chance that Smoak spends the entire year in Triple-A Oklahoma City. I say he gets a permanent call-up in August or September, however.
Average-year projection:
.304 / .397 / 26 HR / 36 2B / 1 3B / 96 RBI / 85 R / 88 BB / 112 SO / 2 SB / 1 CS
Prime-year projection:
.324 / .424 / 31 HR / 38 2B / 2 3B / 110 RBI / 99 R / 96 BB / 103 SO / 3 SB / 1 CS

Pedro Alvarez / 3B/1B / Pittsburgh
2010 thoughts:
Alvarez should move quickly through Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis, meaning a July call-up seems to be the best bet.

Logan Morrison / 1B / Florida
2010 Thoughts:
Morrison is competing against Gaby Sanchez for the everyday first base job out of spring training. While I expect Florida to send Morrison down to Triple-A for a couple more months, I don’t expect much from Sanchez. Expect Morrison in the majors full time in June.
Average-year projection:
.301 / .394 / 23 HR / 39 2B / 1 3B / 92 RBI / 83 R / 90 BB / 106 SO / 2 SB / 1 CS
Prime-year projection:
.317 / .410 / 27 HR / 41 2B / 2 3B / 104 RBI / 94 R / 96 BB / 100 SO / 3 SB / 1 CS

Mike Moustakas / 3B / Kansas City
2010 thoughts:
Moustakas will take the Double-A plunge. Expect the swim to last all of 2010.

Chris Carter / 1B / Oakland
2010 thoughts:
Carter has Daric Barton and Jack Cust in front of him at the major league level, and Oakland isn’t an organization that rushes prospects before they’re ready. I expect him to spend the year at Triple-A Sacramento, with perhaps a September call-up.
Average-year projection:
.268 / .354 / 28 HR / 38 2B / 1 3B / 97 RBI / 81 R / 77 BB / 139 SO / 4 SB / 2 CS
Prime-year projection:
.278 / .373 / 34 HR / 39 2B / 2 3B / 111 RBI / 91 R / 85 BB / 132 SO / 5 SB / 3 CS

Brett Wallace / 1B/3B / Toronto
2010 thoughts:
Wallace should spend most of the year in Triple-A Las Vegas, but Lyle Overbay and Randy Ruiz won’t stand in his way. Expect a permanent call-up in August.
Average-year projection:
.282 / .351 / 22 HR / 33 2B / 1 3B / 88 RBI / 83 R / 64 BB / 121 SO / 1 SB / 1 CS
Prime-year projection:
.291 / .366 / 26 HR / 35 2B / 2 3B / 98 RBI / 91 R / 72 BB / 113 SO / 2 SB / 1 CS

Lars Anderson / 1B / Boston
2010 thoughts:
Expect Anderson to split the season between Double-A and Triple-A.
Average-year projection:
.270 / .355 / 22 HR / 36 2B / 1 3B / 87 RBI / 77 R / 76 BB / 135 SO / 2 SB / 2 CS
Prime-year projection:
.281 / .370 / 27 HR / 38 2B / 2 3B / 98 RBI / 86 R / 83 BB / 125 SO / 3 SB / 2 CS

Freddie Freeman / 1B / Atlanta
2010 thoughts:
Freeman should spend most of the year at Double-A Mississippi, and he seems to be a lock for some Triple-A time, too. He could even get a taste of the majors, but I wouldn’t count on anything more than a September call-up.

Lonnie Chisenhall / 3B / Cleveland
2010 thoughts:
Expect Double-A Akron to be Chisenhall’s home for the entire year.

Eric Hosmer / 1B / Kansas City
2010 thoughts:
Hosmer should start the year back at Advanced-A Wilmington, with his first Double-A test coming around July.

Yonder Alonso / 1B / Cincinnati
2010 thoughts:
A combination of Double-A and Triple-A time will prepare Alonso well for a September call-up.

A Hardball Times Update
Goodbye for now.

Brandon Allen / 1B / Arizona
2010 thoughts:
Adam LaRoche will be difficult to bump from first base, meaning Allen won’t see much of the majors. Perhaps some August/September work will be needed.
Average-year projection:
.267 / .345 / 21 HR / 29 2B / 1 3B / 79 RBI / 70 R / 66 BB / 122 SO / 2 SB / 1 CS
Prime-year projection:
.277 / .360 / 25 HR / 32 2B / 2 3B / 87 RBI / 77 R / 72 BB / 115 SO / 3 SB / 2 CS

Alex Liddi / 3B / Seattle
2010 thoughts:
We’ll see what Liddi is really made of as he takes his game to the Double-A level. Expect a full season there.

Ike Davis / 1B / NY Mets
2010 thoughts:
At an uncertain position, Daniel Murphy
seems like he will get the initial shot at first base for the Mets. Davis will be waiting patiently at Triple-A, where he could spend most of the year. Trying to find a middle ground, expect a full-time debut for Davis in August or September.
Average-year projection:
.270 / .352 / 19 HR / 31 2B / 1 3B / 76 RBI / 69 R / 70 BB / 129 SO / 1 SB / 1 CS
Prime-year projection:
.279 / .364 / 24 HR / 33 2B / 2 3B / 85 RBI / 76 R / 77 BB / 120 SO / 2 SB / 1 CS

James Darnell / 3B / San Diego
2010 thoughts:
Darnell should spend a great portion of the year at San Antonio facing off against Double-A pitching.


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Jacob Rothberg
14 years ago

I know he’s old and sort of a failed prospect, but isn’t there still some projection left in Brian Dopirak’s bat?

Mark
14 years ago

While I understand the need to keep these articles to a certain word level – the teasing of only showing some of the prospects Avg and Prime level productions is uncalled for…

Can you provide Yonder’s at least to make this reader happy. 

Thanks

nick
14 years ago

Are those rate stats OBP/SLG?

Jack
14 years ago

I’m surprised not to see Mat Gamel on this list.  After all, McGehee is only projected to have a .690 OPS by THT.  Also, a Rickie Weeks injury could open a spot for him.  His downturn at AAA last year can be partially explained away by Milwaukee’s mismanagement of his playing time.

He only had 148 ab’s last year, so he is still a MLB rookie?  I suppose he could be outside of your parameter of rookie if his service time is expired…

Lars’ projections seem very generous for a guy who seemed to finally take an adjustment in BAAIP last year and therefore saw his OPS dive to .673. 

Keep up the great work guys!

Matt Pullman
14 years ago

Batting average/OBP.

If Chris Carter’s average OBP is .268 and only slugs .354 I’ll be pretty disappointed as an A’s fan.