By Mike Berardino
December 17, 2008

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, 2009.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Cameron Maybin, of 2. Mike Stanton, of 3. Logan Morrison, 1b 4. Sean West, lhp 5. Ryan Tucker, rhp 6. Matt Dominguez, 3b 7. Kyle Skipworth, c 8. Gaby Sanchez, 1b/3b 9. Chris Coghlan, 2b 10. Jose Ceda, rhp

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Logan Morrison Best Power Hitter Mike Stanton Best Strike-Zone Discipline Chris Coghlan Fastest Baserunner John Raynor Best Athlete Mike Stanton Best Fastball Jose Ceda Best Curveball Brad Hand Best Slider Sean West Best Changeup Aaron Thompson Best Control Graham Taylor Best Defensive Catcher Brett Hayes Best Defensive Infielder Matt Dominguez Best Infield Arm Matt Dominguez Best Defensive Outfielder Cameron Maybin Best Outfield Arm Brett Carroll

PROJECTED 2012 LINEUP

Catcher Kyle Skipworth First Base Gaby Sanchez Second Base Dan Uggla Third Base Matt Dominguez Shortstop Hanley Ramirez Left Field Logan Morrison Center Field Cameron Maybin Right Field Mike Stanton No. 1 Starter Josh Johnson No. 2 Starter Ricky Nolasco No. 3 Starter Chris Volstad No. 4 Starter Andrew Miller No. 5 Starter Sean West Closer Ryan Tucker

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 A.J. Burnett, rhp Blue Jays 2000 A.J. Burnett, rhp Blue Jays 2001 Josh Beckett, rhp Red Sox 2002 Josh Beckett, rhp Red Sox 2003 Miguel Cabrera, 3b Tigers 2004 Jeremy Hermida, of Marlins 2005 Jeremy Hermida, of Marlins 2006 Jeremy Hermida, of Marlins 2007 Chris Volstad, rhp Marlins 2008 Cameron Maybin, of Marlins

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 Josh Beckett, rhp Red Sox 2000 Adrian Gonzalez, 1b Padres 2001 Garrett Berger, rhp (2nd round) Bridgeport (Atlantic) 2002 Jeremy Hermida, of Marlins 2003 Jeff Allison, rhp Marlins 2004 Taylor Tankersley, lhp Marlins 2005 Chris Volstad, rhp Marlins 2006 Brett Sinkbeil, rhp Marlins 2007 Matt Dominguez, 3b Marlins 2008 Kyle Skipworth, c Marlins

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Josh Beckett, 1999 $3,625,000 Adrian Gonzalez, 2000 $3,000,000 Livan Hernandez, 1996 $2,500,000 Kyle Skipworth, 2008 $2,300,000 Jason Stokes, 2000 $2,027,000

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Trading off franchise stalwarts Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis for a package of kids was supposed to send the Marlins into another freefall as they retooled for the future. Instead, it set them up for a surprising 84-win season while adding to a rapidly growing stash of prospects in a well-balanced system.

Saddled with the sport's lowest Opening Day payroll ($22 million, roughly half of what the second-lowest club, the Rays, spent) and widely predicted to lose 90-plus games, Florida rallied under second-year manager Fredi Gonzalez to post the third-highest victory total (84) in their existence. The Marlins finished third in the rugged National League East, 7½ games behind the eventual World Series champion Phillies. Despite a flawed blueprint that relied too heavily on the home run and included a shaky defense, they missed the wild card by just 5½ games.

As for the seemingly endless push for a new baseball-only stadium in Miami's Little Havana, Florida moved closer than ever to realization despite wasting many months dealing with a lawsuit from former NFL owner Norman Braman. The team still hopes to break ground by the spring of 2009 and open by 2012 at the latest.

In mid-May, the Marlins signed Hanley Ramirez to a six-year, $70 million extension. It was the largest contract ever awarded by a Jeffrey Loria-owned team.

But in the offseason, they once again sought to keep its payroll down while also adding some speed and defense. Florida traded Kevin Gregg, Mike Jacobs, Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham before they could go to arbitration, getting Emilio Bonifacio and Leo Nunez for the big league roster and righthanders Jose Ceda and P.J. Dean plus infielder Jake Smolinski for their farm system.

As for last winter's blockbuster, Andrew Miller, the big lefty who highlighted the six-player haul the Marlins received from the Tigers for Cabrera and Willis, had an uneven first season in South Florida. He finished up in the bullpen after missing more than a month in the second half with patellar tendinitis, though he did show enough to convince management to trade Olsen.

The other megaprospect in the Cabrera-Willis deal was electric center fielder Cameron Maybin. He was an eye-popping revelation once he was recalled for the season's final 10 days and ranks No. 1 on this prospect list for the second straight year.

In the minors, Florida affiliates won at a combined .530 clip—their best record since 2001—while receiving a number of outstanding performances, particularly from their growing crop of position prospects. Gaby Sanchez was named MVP of the Double-A Southern League, while fellow first baseman Logan Morrison earned the same honor in the high Class A Florida State League and easily won the batting title with a .332 average. Outfielder Mike Stanton, playing at age 18 in his first full pro season, blasted 39 homers for low Class A Greensboro.

Picking sixth in the June draft, their highest slot since they took Adrian Gonzalez No. 1 overall in 2000, the Marlins selected high school catcher Kyle Skipworth. Following former all-star Charles Johnson as just the second backstop taken in the first round by Florida, Skipworth immediately became the best catching prospect in a system that had lacked one. However, the Marlins continued to sit on the sidelines of the international market, where they were one of just six clubs not to hand out a single six-figure bonus in 2008.

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