Stephen Strasburg and other prospect notes

The signing period is behind us, and the 2009 draft class has been added to the ongoing THT Top 100 Prospects list. Check it out. It is about as deep a prospect list as you are going to find. That will be the case until all of this year’s MLB rookie class graduate from the list in the off-season. Here is the lowdown on some of the newest big names to hit the top of the list.

Stephen Strasburg / SP / Washington / N/A / 7/20/88 / ETA: 2010 / High: #3 / Low: #3 / This Week: New
2009 Thoughts:
It doesn’t look like Strasburg will see the majors this year, but I’m expecting at least a taste of life at Double-A.
Average Year Projection:
Too early to tell.
Prime Year Projection:
Too early to tell.
Notes:
8/19/09 – Washington played their cards right and got a deal done with the most hyped pitching prospect in history. They knew Strasburg wouldn’t walk away from a record setting deal of any sort, and now Washington D.C. is officially back on the baseball map.

Donavan Tate / OF / San Diego / N/A / 9/27/90 / ETA: 2012 / High: #17 / Low: #17 / This Week: New
2009 Thoughts:
Expect Tate to get his feet wet at the rookie level.
Average Year Projection:
Too early to tell.
Prime Year Projection:
Too early to tell.
Notes:
8/19/09 – San Diego has signed themselves one of the more gifted position players in recent years. As long as they let his numerous tools develop properly, we could be looking at the next Jason Heyward, superstar level outfield prospect.

Zack Wheeler / SP / San Francisco / N/A / 5/30/90 / ETA: 2012 / High: #34 / Low: #34 / This Week: New
2009 Thoughts:
San Francisco will take it slow for the rest of the year. No need to rush high school arms in their first year.
Average Year Projection:
Too early to tell.
Prime Year Projection:
Too early to tell.
Notes:
8/19/09 – The Giants have found themselves another potential pitching star in Wheeler. His pure stuff, at this point, isn’t quite on par with Bumgarner’s, but he certainly has a more electrifying arm than former first round pick Tim Alderson. He is a good pick for an organization that has done very well with their high picks in recent years.

Christian Friedrich / SP / Colorado / Advanced-A / 7/8/87 / ETA: 2011 / High: #34 / Low: #60 / This Week: +16
2009 Thoughts:
A taste of Double-A could, and should, be in the near future. His dominance of the California League demands it.
Average Year Projection:
Too early to tell.
Prime Year Projection:
Too early to tell.
Notes:
8/19/09 – Not only has Friedrich had an unreal breakout campaign, he is having himself the type of year that could earn some major hardware come awards time. Friedrich has done the impossible and flat out laughed in the face of California League hitters. I would love to see a Double-A promotion. And so would opposing Cal League hitters. Friedrich is rocketing up prospect boards everywhere.

Tyler Matzek / SP / Colorado / N/A / 10/19/90 / ETA: 2012 / High: #51 / Low: #51 / This Week: New
2009 Thoughts:
Matzek is another in a strong class of high school hurlers who project to get some work in rookie ball before the year is up.
Average Year Projection:
Too early to tell.
Prime Year Projection:
Too early to tell.
Notes:
8/19/09 – Between Chacin, Friedrich, and now Matzek, Colorado really seems to be putting together some outstanding pitching, which they have lacked since the team’s inception. Matzek was the best high school pitcher in the 2009 draft class, and now he will get every opportunity to show why.

Jacob Turner / SP / Detroit / N/A / 5/21/91 / ETA: 2012 / High: #53 / Low: #53 / This Week: New
2009 Thoughts:
Detroit likes to push their pitching prospects, but Turner shouldn’t see competition outside of rookie ball this year.
Average Year Projection:
Too early to tell.
Prime Year Projection:
Too early to tell.
Notes:
8/19/09 – Turner is a future ace in the making, and Detroit has a solid reputation for developing pitching. I like Turner’s chances to separate himself from most of his fellow 2009 high school pitching draftees. Select him in your keeper league with confidence. He is Detroit’s new No. 1 prospect.