By Kary Booher
January 16, 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. Jason Castro, 2. Bud Norris, rhp 3. Ross Seaton, rhp 4. Brian Bogusevic, of 5. Chris Johnson, 3b 6. Jordan Lyles, rhp 7. Felipe Paulino, rhp 8. Drew Sutton, 2b/ss 9. Collin DeLome, of 10. Jay Austin, of

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Brian Bogusevic Best Power Hitter Chris Johnson Best Strike-Zone Discipline Drew Sutton Fastest Baserunner Jay Austin Best Athlete Jay Austin Best Fastball Bud Norris Best Curveball Ross Seaton Best Slider Samuel Gervacio Best Changeup Brad Dydalewicz Best Control Pollin Trinidad Best Defensive Catcher Jason Castro Best Defensive Infielder Tommy Manzella Best Infield Arm Chris Johnson Best Defensive Outfielder Josh Flores Best Outfield Arm Yordany Ramirez

PROJECTED 2012 LINEUP

Catcher Jason Castro First Base Lance Berkman Second Base Drew Sutton Third Base Chris Johnson Shortstop Tommy Manzella Left Field Carlos Lee Center Field Michael Bourn Right Field Hunter Pence No. 1 Starter Roy Oswalt No. 2 Starter Bud Norris No. 3 Starter Ross Seaton No. 4 Starter Jordan Lyles No. 5 Starter Wandy Rodriguez Closer Jose Valverde

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 Lance Berkman, of Astros 2000 Wilfredo Rodriguez, lhp Out of baseball 2001 Roy Oswalt, rhp Astros 2002 Carlos Hernandez, lhp Dodgers 2003 John Buck, c Royals 2004 Taylor Buchholz, rhp Rockies 2005 Chris Burke, 2b Diamondbacks 2006 Jason Hirsh, rhp Rockies 2007 Hunter Pence, of Astros 2008 J.R. Towles, c Astros

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 Mike Rosamond, of Out of baseball 2000 Robert Stiehl, rhp Out of baseball 2001 Chris Burke, ss Diamondbacks 2002 Derick Grigsby, rhp Out of baseball 2003 Jason Hirsh, rhp (2nd round) Rockies 2004 Hunter Pence, of Astros 2005 Brian Bogusevic, lhp Astros 2006 Max Sapp, c Astros 2007 *Derek Dietrich, 3b (3rd round) Georgia Tech 2008 Jason Castro, c Astros *Did not sign

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Chris Burke, 2001 $2,125,000 Jason Castro, 2008 $2,070,000 Max Sapp, 2006 $1,400,000 Brian Bogusevic, 2005 $1,375,000 Robert Stiehl, 2000 $1,125,000

ASTROS LINKS

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When the Astros wheeled across the finish line in 2008, team officials said they had two reasons to be optimistic. The big league club improved by 13½ games over the year before, and the June draft launched what Houston hopes is the rebirth of a depleted farm system.

If that sounds as if it's grasping at straws, well, it is. The Astros have traveled a bumpy and unsettling road since their 2005 World Series loss to the White Sox, so they'll take anything they can get in order to combat the painful reality that they have fallen from power in the National League Central.

While the Astros finished 86-76 and leapfrogged the Cardinals for a third-place finish, they had to hoof it to get there. Talk of wild-card contention briefly bubbled up in August but quickly faded despite a 42-24 second half. Nevertheless, it provided first-year general manager Ed Wade with some comfort after attempting to clean up the mess he inherited.

The immediate future hardly looks encouraging, however. Between the majors and the recent draft class, the farm system has been gutted in recent years by trades, the loss of draft picks and the unwillingness of owner Drayton McLane to pony up signing bonus money that might have cushioned the fall.

In 2007, for example, Houston gave up its first- and second-round picks as free-agent compensation, then failed to sign its third- and fourth-rounders. A year later, just one player from the first six rounds of that draft, outfielder Collin DeLome, remains in the organization.

The aftermath has been tough to stomach. Astros minor league affiliates combined for a disturbing .397 winning percentage in 2008, easily the worst mark in baseball. Scouts from other organizations say they have to search far and wide to find Houston prospects who might be big league contributors.

The Astros say the reconstruction is under way. They spent $6.5 million on the 2008 draft, their first under scouting director Bobby Heck. Heck, a former disciple under then-Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik, demonstrated that he wasn't afraid to take chances, spending the 10th and 38th choices on catcher Jason Castro and righthander Jordan Lyles though neither was considered a consensus talent for those slots. Initial returns on both players, however, were positive.

After the season, Houston handed out contract extensions through 2010 to Heck, farm director Ricky Bennett and assistant GM David Gottfried.

At the same time, however, the Astros continued their penurious ways by announcing they would pull out of Venezuela. Thanks to the efforts of Andres Reiner, who left to join the Rays three years ago, they had been scouting pioneers in the nation, signing such players as Bobby Abreu, Freddy Garcia, Carlos Guillen, Melvin Mora and Johan Santana.

The organization also experienced several changes. Longtime field coordinator Tom Wiendenbauer was reassigned to the scouting department, with administrative coach Al Pedrique taking his place. Triple-A Round Rock manager Dave Clark moved up to become the big league third-base coach after Jackie Moore left to become bench coach for the Rangers.

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