By Derrick Goold
January 14, 2009

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. Colby Rasmus, of 2. Brett Wallace, 3b 3. Chris Perez, rhp 4. Jess Todd, rhp 5. Bryan Anderson, c 6. Clayton Mortensen, rhp 7. Daryl Jones, of 8. Jason Motte, rhp 9. David Freese, 3b 10. Pete Kozma, ss

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Brett Wallace Best Power Hitter Colby Rasmus Best Strike-Zone Discipline Jarrett Hoffpauir Fastest Baserunner Daryl Jones Best Athlete Daryl Jones Best Fastball Jason Motte Best Curveball Jaime Garcia Best Slider Chris Perez Best Changeup P.J. Walters Best Control Fernando Salas Best Defensive Catcher Nick Derba Best Defensive Infielder Pete Kozma Best Infield Arm Tyler Greene Best Defensive Outfielder Colby Rasmus Best Outfield Arm Jon Edwards

PROJECTED 2012 LINEUP

Catcher Yadier Molina First Base Albert Pujols Second Base Pete Kozma Third Base Brett Wallace Shortstop Khalil Greene Left Field Ryan Ludwick Center Field Colby Rasmus Right Field Rick Ankiel No. 1 Starter Adam Wainwright No. 2 Starter Jess Todd No. 3 Starter Clayton Mortensen No. 4 Starter Kyle Lohse No. 5 Starter Todd Wellemeyer Closer Chris Perez

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 J.D. Drew, of Red Sox 2000 Rick Ankiel, lhp Cardinals 2001 Bud Smith, lhp Out of baseball 2002 Jimmy Journell, rhp Out of baseball 2003 Dan Haren, rhp Diamondbacks 2004 Blake Hawksworth, rhp Cardinals 2005 Anthony Reyes, rhp Indians 2006 Anthony Reyes, rhp Indians 2007 Colby Rasmus, of Cardinals 2008 Colby Rasmus, of Cardinals

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 Chance Caple, rhp Out of baseball 2000 Shaun Boyd, of Camden (Atlantic) 2001 Justin Pope, rhp Phillies 2002 Calvin Hayes, ss (3rd round) Out of baseball 2003 Daric Barton, c Athletics 2004 Chris Lambert, rhp Tigers 2005 Colby Rasmus, of Cardinals 2006 Adam Ottavino, rhp Cardinals 2007 Pete Kozma, ss Cardinals 2008 Brett Wallace, 3b Cardinals

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

J.D. Drew, 1998 $3,000,000 Rick Ankiel, 1997 $2,500,000 Chad Hutchinson, 1998 $2,300,000 Brett Wallace, 2008 $1,840,000 Shaun Boyd, 2000 $1,750,000

CARDINALS LINKS

Cardinals' Team Page Cardinals Top 10 Scouting Reports  Last Year's Cardinals Top 10 Prospects 2008 Draft: Cardinals (Basic Database) 2008 Draft: Cardinals  (Advanced Database) 2008 Draft Report Cards: St. Louis Cardinals  Complete Index of Top 10 Prospects Pre-Order the 2009 Prospect Handbook

The Cardinals had followed a tried and true pattern over the past decade, contending with veteran-laden teams and using their farm system to provide an occasional supplement or, more frequently, to bring back older players in trades.

Since 2005, St. Louis has pledged to restock and lean on its system to do what it long had counted on free agents and trades for. The initiative became more prominent—and more pressing—following the firing of general manager Walt Jocketty and the promotion of assistant GM John Mozeliak to replace him at the end of the 2007 season. At the same time, Jeff Luhnow became the overseer of both scouting and player development.

Mozeliak worked to break down the walls that had developed in the front office and get everyone pulling in the same direction. He determined to clear the way for prospects to get to the majors. If there was a need, a prospect was promoted. The same practice will be in place for 2009 as well, when the Cardinals expect the arrival of outfielder Colby Rasmus and a handful of nearly-ready pitchers.

They went into 2008 viewing it as a transition year and performed slightly better than expected, finishing 86-76, though they missed the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 1998-99. More important to the organization's long-term plan, 11 Cardinals made their major league debuts, including the first members of the 2004, 2005 and 2006 draft classes to reach St. Louis.

Righthanders Clayton Mortensen (supplemental first round) and Jess Todd (second round), two of the team's first four picks in the 2007 draft, also made compelling bids for September callups, personifying the team's plan to push its prospects. What had been an internal suggestion to accelerate the development of prospects became a policy.

"We had to promote players more quickly than planned in 2007 because of injuries and, to be honest, I was surprised at how well our players played when they moved up," Luhnow said. "It gave me and us collectively more confidence that, hey, maybe we can push these guys faster. This year, we've seen guys respond."

Mortensen finished his first full pro season in Triple-A, as did Todd, who began 2008 in high Class A. Lefthander Jaime Garcia started the year in Double-A and ended it in the major league bullpen (though he had Tommy John surgery after the season). Third baseman David Freese (Triple-A) and outfielder Daryl Jones (high Class A) both started at a level considered a reach by some, and both blossomed.

Throughout the system, the Cardinals' prospect push resulted in their affiliates having among the youngest rosters in their league. And youth still served. Their top six affiliates all contended for playoff spots deep into August, and all six finished with winning records.

St. Louis' first-round pick in June, Brett Wallace, will be on the fast track, as he's expected to replace Troy Glaus at third base when Glaus becomes a free agent after the 2009 season. The Cardinals also showed a newfound aggression on the international market, handing out the three highest bonuses in franchise history for Latin American talents. Those investments were highlighted by a $1.1 million bonus for Dominican third baseman Roberto de la Cruz.

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