By Tracy Ringolsby
January 26, 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. Dexter Fowler, of 2. Jhoulys Chacin, rhp 3. Christian Friedrich, lhp 4. Wilin Rosario, c 5. Hector Gomez, ss 6. Casey Weathers, rhp 7. Esmil Rogers, rhp 8. Seth Smith, of 9. Michael McKenry, c 10. Charlie Blackmon, of

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Seth Smith Best Power Hitter Joe Koshansky Best Strike-Zone Discipline Matt Miller Fastest Baserunner Corey Wimberly Best Athlete Dexter Fowler Best Fastball Juan Morillo Best Curveball Christian Friederich Best Slider Parker Frazier Best Changeup Jhoulys Chacin Best Control Parker Frazier Best Defensive Catcher Michael McKenry Best Defensive Infielder Heider Velasquez Best Infield Arm Heider Velasquez Best Defensive Outfielder Dexter Fowler Best Outfield Arm Brian Rike

PROJECTED 2012 LINEUP

Catcher Chris Iannetta First Base Brad Hawpe Second Base Hector Gomez Third Base Ian Stewart Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki Left Field Seth Smith Center Field Dexter Fowler Right Field Tyler Massey No. 1 Starter Ubaldo Jimenez No. 2 Starter Aaron Cook No. 3 Starter Jhoulys Chacin No. 4 Starter Jeff Francis No. 5 Starter Christian Friedrich Closer Manny Corpas

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 Choo Freeman, of Dodgers 2000 Choo Freeman, of Dodgers 2001 Chin-Hui Tsao, rhp Royals 2002 Chin-Hui Tsao, rhp Royals 2003 Aaron Cook, rhp Rockies 2004 Chin-Hui Tsao, rhp Royals 2005 Ian Stewart, 3b Rockies 2006 Ian Stewart, 3b Rockies 2007 Troy Tulowitzki, ss Rockies 2008 Franklin Morales, lhp Rockies

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 Jason Jennings, rhp Rangers 2000 *Matt Harrington, rhp Out of baseball 2001 Jayson Nix, 2b White Sox 2002 Jeff Francis, rhp Rockies 2003 Ian Stewart, 3b Rockies 2004 Chris Nelson, ss Rockies 2005 Troy Tulowitzki, ss Rockies 2006 Greg Reynolds, rhp Rockies 2007 Casey Weathers, rhp Rockies 2008 Christian Friedrich, lhp Rockies

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Greg Reynolds, 2006 $3,250,000 Jason Young, 2000 $2,750,000 Troy Tulowitzki, 2005 $2,300,000 Chin-Hui Tsao, 1999 $2,200,000 Chris Nelson, 2004 $2,150,000

ROCKIES LINKS

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After a dream season the year before, 2008 was a bit of a nightmare for the Rockies.

Colorado was Baseball America's Organization of the Year in 2007, winning a franchise-record 90 games with a largely homegrown team that blazed into the postseason with wins in 14 of its final 15 games. The Rockies then blew through the playoffs and reached the World Series for the first time ever before getting swept by the Red Sox.

With a young core of players who all seemed to still be on the way up, along with a farm system that BA rated as the game's seventh-best entering the year, Colorado had high expectations heading into the season. The front office made few moves and was willing to rely on its farm system to fill any holes that appeared.

The major league team never got it together, however, limping along on the fringes of contention all season in the mediocre National League West. The Rockies finally fell out of the running in September and finished 74-88, a decline of 16 wins from 2007.

Troy Tulowitzki, depended on as a franchise cornerstone, was hurt much of the year and batted a lackluster .263/.332/.401 when he did play. Several other young players took steps back as the offense scored 113 fewer runs than it had the year before. On the pitching front, Jeff Francis saw his ERA balloon to 5.01. Former No. 1 prospect Franklin Morales, who looked like a future ace at the end of 2007, went 1-2, 6.39 in five starts and found himself back in Triple-A.

Reflecting the disappointment of the season, the front office made wholesale changes to the big league staff after the season, keeping manager Clint Hurdle but getting rid of just about everyone else. The Rockies also traded their best player, Matt Holliday, to the Athletics ahead of his impending free agency.

The news wasn't any better on the farm, where Morales' performance was reflective of a system where most of the top prospects regressed. Ian Stewart and Greg Reynolds did graduate to the big leagues, though neither marked himself as a surefire regular going forward. Shortstop Hector Gomez and righthander Casey Weathers both had Tommy John surgery.

One bright spot for the organization was the continued development of outfielder Dexter Fowler, who becomes the Rockies' top prospect after playing for Team USA in the Olympics. He'll be expected to step in at center field after the Rockies cleared the way by nontendering Willy Taveras after last season.

Fowler is a great example of Colorado's aggressive nature in recent drafts. In August 2004, the Rockies saved $2 million when they traded Larry Walker to the Cardinals. They used a chunk of that money to sign Fowler, days before he planned to enroll at Miami.

The Rockies' increased presence in Latin America continues to pay dividends. Venezuelan righthander Jhoulys Chacin and Dominican catcher Wilin Rosario were two of their few prospects who significantly boosted their stock in 2008. Chacin led all minor leaguers with 18 wins, while Rosario ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Rookie-level Pioneer League.

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