By Jim Callis
November 19, 2007

Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2008.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Josh Vitters, 3b 2. Geovany Soto, c/1b 3. Tyler Colvin, of 4. Jose Ceda, rhp 5. Sean Gallagher, rhp 6. Donald Veal, lhp 7. Josh Donaldson, c 8. Jeff Samardzija, rhp 9. Tony Thomas, 2b 10. Kevin Hart, rhp

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Tony Thomas Best Power Hitter Josh Vitters Best Strike-Zone Discipline Sam Fuld Fastest Baserunner Leon Johnson Best Athlete Tyler Colvin Best Fastball Jose Ceda Best Curveball Casey Lambert Best Slider Alessandro Maestri Best Changeup James Russell Best Control Mark Holliman Best Defensive Catcher Welington Castillo Best Defensive Infielder Josh Lansford Best Infield Arm Josh Lansford Best Defensive Outfielder Sam Fuld Best Outfield Arm Kyler Burke

PROJECTED 2011 LINEUP

Catcher Geovany Soto First Base Derrek Lee Second Base Tony Thomas Third Base Aramis Ramirez Shortstop Ronny Cedeno Left Field Alfonso Soriano Center Field Felix Pie Right Field Tyler Colvin No. 1 Starter Carlos Zambrano No. 2 Starter Rich Hill No. 3 Starter Sean Gallagher No. 4 Starter Ted Lilly No. 5 Starter Donald Veal Closer Carlos Marmol

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2007 1998 Kerry Wood, rhp Cubs 1999 Corey Patterson, of Orioles 2000 Corey Patterson, of Orioles 2001 Corey Patterson, of Orioles 2002 Mark Prior, rhp Cubs 2003 Hee Seop Choi, 1b Kia (Korea) 2004 Angel Guzman, rhp Cubs 2005 Brian Dopirak, 1b Cubs 2006 Felix Pie, of Cubs 2007 Felix Pie, of Cubs

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2007 1998 Corey Patterson, of Orioles 1999 Ben Christensen, rhp Out of baseball 2000 Luis Montanez, ss Orioles 2001 Mark Prior, rhp Cubs 2002 Bobby Brownlie, rhp Indians 2003 Ryan Harvey, of Cubs 2004 ^Grant Johnson, rhp Cubs 2005 Mark Pawelek, lhp Cubs 2006 Tyler Colvin, of Cubs 2007 Josh Vitters, 3b Cubs ^ Second round

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Mark Prior, 2001 $4,000,000 Corey Patterson, 1998 $3,700,000 Josh Vitters, 2007 $3,200,000 Luis Montanez, 2000 $2,750,000 Bobby Brownlie, 2002 $2,500,000

CUBS LINKS

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After coming within five outs of making the World Series in 2003, the Cubs spiraled downward. They blew the National League wild card in the final week of the 2004 season, then dropped to 79 victories in 2005 and 66 in 2006 despite expecting to contend in both years.

The farm system regressed as well. Chicago topped Baseball America's organization talent rankings at the outset of the 2002 season, then steadily slipped to third, seventh, 10th, 15th and 18th over the next five years as injuries, trades and attrition took their tool.

Desperate to reverse their fortunes in 2007, the Cubs had no other choice last offseason but to plunge into the free-agent market. Chicago doled out contracts totaling $297.7 million to 10 free agents—and it worked.

Returnee Aramis Ramirez and newcomers Alfonso Soriano, Ted Lilly, Jason Marquis, Mark DeRosa and Cliff Floyd played significant roles as the Cubs won 85 games, just enough to squeak by in the NL Central.

The farm system also played a significant role, as several homegrown products who had come up in previous seasons took steps forward. Carlos Marmol went from a 5.99 ERA as a starter in 2006 to a 1.43 ERA as an untouchable setup man in 2007. Rich Hill and Sean Marshall solidified the rotation by posting identical 3.92 ERAs and combining for 18 wins.

Ryan Theriot unexpectedly claimed the shortstop job and, along with former Louisiana State double-play partner Mike Fontenot, injected some much-needed energy into the lineup.

Geovany Soto performed so well during his September callup that he started two of the Cubs' three playoff games behind the plate. Kevin Hart also earned a postseason roster spot after opening eyes in September.

Chicago will continue to rely heavily on veterans as it tries to build on its 2007 turnaround, though a few youngsters will get the opportunity to contribute. The catching job is Soto's to lose. Hart and Sean Gallagher will compete for jobs at the back of the rotation and in long relief, and Billy Petrick also will factor into the bullpen. Felix Pie, who lost his rookie status while serving as an extra outfielder, could play a more prominent role.

The Cubs haven't signed a position player who developed into an all-star for them since Joe Girardi in 1986, but they have high hopes for Soto, Pie and four players taken by highly regarded scouting director Tim Wilken in his two drafts for the team.

Both of Wilken's first-rounders, third baseman Josh Vitters (2006) and outfielder Tyler Colvin (2005), and two other 2006 draftees, catcher Josh Donaldson and second baseman Tony Thomas, appear on this Top 10 Prospects list.

While general manager Jim Hendry and his crew are on much firmer ground after the reversal of fortune, change is still afoot.

The Tribune Co., which bought the team from the Wrigley Family in 1981, plans on selling the club in order to relieve some of its debt. The process is moving slower than expected and is unlikely to occur before the start of the 2008 season, but the Cubs are expected to become the first MLB team to fetch $1 billion dollars if, as planned, Wrigley Field is included in the transaction.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects  (How to subscribe)

Pre-Order the 2008 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team