By Tom Haudricourt
January 19, 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. Alcides Escobar, ss 2. Mat Gamel, 3b 3. Brett Lawrie, c/3b 4. Jeremy Jeffress, rhp 5. Angel Salome, c 6. Lorenzo Cain, of 7. Cutter Dykstra, of 8. Taylor Green 3b 9. Cole Gillespie, of 10. Jonathan Lucroy, c

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Mat Gamel Best Power Hitter Brett Lawrie Best Strike-Zone Discipline Taylor Green Fastest Baserunner Lee Haydel Best Athlete Brent Brewer Best Fastball Jeremy Jeffress Best Curveball Cody Scarpetta Best Slider Zach Braddock Best Changeup Bobby Bramhall Best Control Chris Cody Best Defensive Catcher Carlos Corporan Best Defensive Infielder Alcides Escobar Best Infield Arm Alcides Escobar Best Defensive Outfielder Lorenzo Cain Best Outfield Arm Brendan Katin

PROJECTED 2012 LINEUP

Catcher Brett Lawrie First Base Prince Fielder Second Base J.J. Hardy Third Base Mat Gamel Shortstop Alcides Escobar Left Field Ryan Braun Center Field Rickie Weeks Right Field Corey Hart No. 1 Starter Yovani Gallardo No. 2 Starter Manny Parra No. 3 Starter Jake Odorizzi No. 4 Starter Carlos Villanueva No. 5 Starter Zach Braddock Closer Jeremy Jeffress

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 Ron Belliard, 2b Nationals 2000 Nick Neugebauer, rhp Out of baseball 2001 Ben Sheets, rhp Brewers 2002 Nick Neugebauer, rhp Out of baseball 2003 Brad Nelson, 1b Brewers 2004 Rickie Weeks, 2b Brewers 2005 Rickie Weeks, 2b Brewers 2006 Prince Fielder, 1b Brewers 2007 Yovani Gallardo, rhp Brewers 2008 Matt LaPorta, of Indians

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 Ben Sheets, rhp Brewers 2000 Dave Krynel, of Diamondbacks 2001 Mike Jones, rhp Brewers 2002 Prince Fielder, 1b Brewers 2003 Rickie Weeks, 2b Brewers 2004 Mark Rogers, rhp Brewers 2005 Ryan Braun, 3b Brewers 2006 Jeremy Jeffress, rhp Brewers 2007 Matt LaPorta, of Indians 2008 Brett Lawrie, c/3b Brewers

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Rickie Weeks, 2003 $3,600,000 Ben Sheets, 1999 $2,450,000 Ryan Braun, 2005 $2,450,000 Prince Fielder, 2002 $2,400,000 Mark Rogers, 2004 $2,200,000

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The Brewers farm system already had provided the big league club with three-fourths of an infield (Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy), a pair of slugging corner outfielders (Ryan Braun, Corey Hart) and an ace in the making (Yovani Gallardo). It kept on giving in 2008, providing the ammunition for Milwaukee to acquire C.C. Sabathia.

Not many clubs would trade their top prospect for a rental, but that's exactly what the Brewers did in early July. They included outfielder Matt LaPorta, their 2007 first-round pick who was tearing up Double-A, with lefty Zach Jackson, righty Rob Bryson and a player to be named (outfielder Michael Brantley) to get Sabathia, a pending free agent.

The Brewers figured Sabathia was just the pitcher to get them over the top and into the postseason for the first time since 1982. He was everything Milwaukee hoped for and more, going 11-2, 1.65 and pitching a four-hitter against the Cubs on the final day of the season to clinch a wild-card berth.

Though Sabathia lost his lone playoff start as the Phillies eliminated the Brewers in the National League Division Series and later left for a $161 million contract from the Yankees, general manager Doug Melvin said he'd make the trade again.

"We have no regrets," Melvin said. "C.C. got us to the playoffs. We wouldn't have gotten there without him. The fact that we were able to make the deal is a tribute to the depth of talent in our farm system."

Even after all the recent graduations to the majors and the Sabathia deal, the system continues to churn out talent. Manny Parra won 10 games as a rookie, and in a preview of coming attractions, shortstop Alcides Escobar, third baseman Mat Gamel and catcher Angel Salome made their big league debuts in September.

Milwaukee was able to restock through the draft, where compensation for the loss of free agents Francisco Cordero and Scott Linebrink gave the club six of the first 62 selections in June. After popping Canadian high school slugger Brett Lawrie in the first round, the Brewers focused on pitching.

The Brewers may have a similar bonanza in 2009, when they'll get two early picks for Sabathia and as many as three more if both Ben Sheets and Brian Shouse also leave via free agency. But for the first time in nine years, Jack Zduriencik won't be running their draft.

The Mariners hired Zduriencik, the scouting director whose astute draft picks are the prime reason Milwaukee has finished .500 or better in three of the last four years after 12 straight losing seasons, as their general manager in October. Zduriencik took assistant scouting director Tony Blengino and Eastern crosschecker Tom McNamara with him to Seattle. The Brewers promoted Western crosschecker Bruce Seid to replace Zduriencik and tabbed Midwest crosschecker Ray Montgomery as Seid's assistant.

Milwaukee will enter 2009 with a new manager as well. Owner Mark Attanasio made the decision to fire Ned Yost after a September swoon, and interim manager Dale Sveum wasn't retained. The Brewers then turned to Ken Macha, who had a .568 winning percentage and captured two division titles in four years with the Athletics from 2003-06.

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