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

Below are the game’s top 16 middle infield prospects, complete with average- and prime-year projections if sufficient time has been spent at Double-A or beyond.

Scott Sizemore / 2B / Detroit
2010 thoughts:
Detroit shouldn’t have to worry about second base for a while. Sizemore has it locked down.
Average-year projection:
.274 / .351 / 16 HR / 41 2B / 4 3B / 74 RBI / 85 R / 69 BB / 116 SO / 11 SB / 3 CS
Prime-year projection:
.285 / .370 / 22 HR / 41 2B / 5 3B / 85 RBI / 94 R / 76 BB / 110 SO / 15 SB / 4 CS

Alcides Escobar / SS / Milwaukee
2010 thoughts:
J.J. Hardy is out of the way, and Escobar is here to stay.
Average-year projection:
.284 / .336 / 6 HR / 27 2B / 6 3B / 59 RBI / 89 R / 42 BB / 99 SO / 28 SB / 7 CS
Prime-year projection:
.296 / .353 / 8 HR / 31 2B / 8 3B / 66 RBI / 98 R / 49 BB / 92 SO / 35 SB / 8 CS

Brett Lawrie / 2B/3B/OF / Milwaukee
2010 thoughts:
Lawrie should split the year between Double-A Huntsville and Triple-A Nashville.

Jiovanni Mier / SS / Houston
2010 thoughts:
Expect Mier to remain in Single-A Lexington for the year, but an eventual trip to Advanced-A Lancaster would not be a shock.

Carlos Triunfel / 3B/2B/SS / Seattle
2010 thoughts:
Triunfel is another youngster who should split 2010 between Double-A and Triple-A.

Starlin Castro / SS / Chicago Cubs
2010 thoughts:
I’m counting on a full year at Double-A Tennessee from Castro, although I could envision Chicago pushing him, possibly all the way to the majors.

Grant Green / SS / Oakland
2010 thoughts:
Green should move fast. Expect him to start at Advanced-A Stockton and finish with Triple-A Sacramento.

Dustin Ackley / 2B/OF/1B / Seattle
2010 thoughts:
Ackley could see three minor league levels, but with the position change I’m counting on just two, culminating in an important Double-A test.

Eric Young / 2B/OF / Colorado
2010 thoughts:
Young’s outlook hinges on Clint Barmes. I expect enough success from Barmes to keep Young at bay, but even then Young should at least get some major league utility time later in the year.
Average-year projection:
.278 / .348 / 7 HR / 29 2B / 6 3B / 58 RBI / 90 R / 60 BB / 90 SO / 30 SB / 8 CS
Prime-year projection:
.288 / .370 / 9 HR / 32 2B / 8 3B / 65 RBI / 100 R / 68 BB / 84 SO / 36 SB / 9 CS

Jemile Weeks / 2B / Oakland
2010 thoughts:
Weeks should spend most of the year at Double-A Midland, but, depending on Adrian Cardenas, he could see Triple-A time by July.

Danny Espinosa / SS / Washington
2010 thoughts:
There is nothing wrong with Espinosa taking the year to adjust to the challenge of Double-A pitching.

Tim Beckham / SS / Tampa Bay
2010 thoughts:
Continue to take it slow, Tampa. Beckham needs maturation time. I anticipate that he will spend the entire year at Advanced-A Charlotte.

Reid Brignac / SS / Tampa Bay
2010 thoughts:
Tampa’s middle infield is tight, leaving me to believe that Brignac will once again spend most of the year at Triple-A Durham, experiencing just a taste of the majors here or there.
Average-year projection:
.270 / .329 / 10 HR / 31 2B / 3 3B / 68 RBI / 72 R / 49 BB / 100 SO / 9 SB / 3 CS
Prime-year projection:
.281 / .345 / 13 HR / 32 2B / 4 3B / 74 RBI / 79 R / 55 BB / 92 SO / 12 SB / 4 CS

Wilmer Flores / 3B/SS / NY Mets
2010 thoughts:
Advanced-A St. Lucie should be Flores’ home throughout 2010, as one level per year should be New York’s motto.

Dee Gordon / SS / LA Dodgers
2010 thoughts:
Gordon should start the year at Advanced-A Inland Empire, and with success he could hit Double-A Chattanooga by midseason.

A Hardball Times Update
Goodbye for now.

Miguel Sano / SS/3B / Minnesota
2010 thoughts:
2010 will be a year of cultural adjustment for Sano, and all that I am counting on is some minor success at one of Minnesota’s rookie-level affiliates.


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Adam
14 years ago

No mention of Ian Desmond?!

JJO
14 years ago

Ackley is starting the year at AA.

Tacoma News Tribune

schmenkman
14 years ago

Great stuff.  Would it be possible to add either SLG or OPS (or wOBA) to the projections?

Jeff W.
14 years ago

Des-mond [clap – clap]
Des-mond [clap – clap]
Des-mond [clap – clap]
Des-mond [clap – clap]
Des-mond [clap – clap]

Give the people what they want!

Steve
14 years ago

Any thoughts on Chase D’Arnaud?  I would take him over a few guys on this list.

Pecos
14 years ago

The Cubs have already said they plan to start Castro out at Triple-A Iowa.