By Andrew Baggarly
November 30, 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. Buster Posey, c 2. Madison Bumgarner, lhp 3. Zack Wheeler, rhp 4. Thomas Neal, of 5. Dan Runzler, lhp 6. Tommy Joseph, c 7. Roger Kieschnick, of 8. Ehire Adrianza, ss 9. Brandon Crawford, ss 10. Francisco Peguero, of

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Buster Posey Best Power Hitter Chris Dominguez Best Strike-Zone Discipline Buster Posey Fastest Baserunner Darren Ford Best Athlete Mike McBryde Best Fastball Dan Runzler Best Curveball Eric Surkamp Best Slider Dan Runzler Best Changeup Craig Clark Best Control Madison Bumgarner Best Defensive Catcher Buster Posey Best Defensive Infielder Brandon Crawford Best Infield Arm Brian Bocock Best Defensive Outfielder Mike McBryde Best Outfield Arm Mike McBryde

PROJECTED 2013 LINEUP

Catcher Buster Posey First Base Tommy Joseph Second Base Nick Noonan Third Base Pablo Sandoval Shortstop Brandon Crawford Left Field Thomas Neal Center Field Francisco Peguero Right Field Roger Kieschnick No. 1 Starter Tim Lincecum No. 2 Starter Matt Cain No. 3 Starter Madison Bumgarner No. 4 Starter Zack Wheeler No. 5 Starter Jonathan Sanchez Closer Brian Wilson

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2009 2000 Kurt Ainsworth, rhp Out of baseball 2001 Jerome Williams, rhp Athletics 2002 Jerome Williams, rhp Athletics 2003 Jesse Foppert, rhp Giants 2004 Merkin Valdez, rhp Giants 2005 Matt Cain, rhp Giants 2006 Matt Cain, rhp Giants 2007 Tim Lincecum, rhp Giants 2008 Angel Villalona, 3b/1b Giants 2009 Madison Bumgarner, lhp Giants

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2009 2000 Boof Bonser, rhp Twins 2001 Brad Hennesey, rhp Orioles 2002 Matt Cain, rhp Giants 2003 David Aardsma, rhp Mariners 2004 Eddy Martinez-Esteve, of (2nd round) Giants 2005 Ben Copeland, of (4th round) 2006 Tim Lincecum, rhp Giants 2007 Madison Bumgarner, lhp Giants 2008 Buster Posey, c Giants 2009 Zack Wheeler, rhp Giants

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Buster Posey, 2008 $6,200,000 Zack Wheeler, 2009 $3,300,000 Rafael Rodriguez, 2008 $2,550,000 Angel Villalona, 2006 $2,100,000 Tim Lincecum, 2006 $2,025,000

GIANTS LINKS

Giants' Team Page Giants Top 10 Scouting Reports  Last Year's Giants Top 10 Prospects 2009 Draft: Giants (Basic Database) 2009 Draft: Giants  (Advanced Database) 2009 Draft Report Cards: San Francisco Giants  Complete Index of Top 10 Prospects Pre-Order the 2010 Prospect Handbook

Following four consecutive losing seasons, the Giants witnessed a return to respectability in 2009 and surprised many by contending into September. Their 88-74 record was a 16-game improvement over the previous year and it came just in time for general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy, who got two-year contracts (plus a club option for 2012) one week after the season ended.

San Francisco did miss the playoffs for a sixth consecutive year, however. And there's no guarantee they'll continue their upward trajectory in 2010, especially if they're unable to fortify a lineup that ranked last in the National League in on-base percentage and 15th in slugging. The impatient approach of Giants hitters—they averaged the fewest pitches per plate appearance in the majors—was a product of the personnel, but hitting coach Carney Lansford took the fall after the season.

Aside from Pablo Sandoval, the runner-up for the NL batting title, all of the Giants' highlights came on the mound. Randy Johnson won his 300th game, Jonathan Sanchez tossed the club's first no-hitter in 33 years and Tim Lincecum led the major leagues with 261 strikeouts en route to his second straight Cy Young Award. Matt Cain established himself as a first-time all-star while nearly matching Lincecum start for start, and for the first time, Barry Zito performed like he wasn't fretting over being called a $126 million failure.

Sabean's work to rebuild the bullpen proved fruitful, too. Jeremy Affeldt finished with a 1.73 ERA in 74 highly leveraged appearances and closer Brian Wilson improved in almost every statistical category from his all-star performance in 2008. The farm system gave Bochy no shortage of bullpen choices, including three electric arms in September in Madison Bumgarner, Dan Runzler and Waldis Joaquin.

The Giants defied their own pronouncements when they called up Bumgarner and catcher Buster Posey for the stretch run. Posey got only 17 at-bats in September as San Francisco faded from the playoff chase, and perhaps the club's most important offseason decision will be to determine if he's ready to start on Opening Day.

Bochy and Sabean have reputations for favoring veterans and giving short leashes to unestablished players, so their extensions were unpopular with some Giants fans. Their critics will monitor the Posey situation carefully.

Managing partner Bill Neukom lauded the farm system's 411-286 (.590) record, by far the best among major league organizations. Four of San Francisco's six U.S.-based affiliates reached the playoffs, with high Class A San Jose and short-season Salem-Keizer winning league titles.

Neukom said the Giants would continue to invest heavily in player development and emphasize homegrown talent. They committed $3.3 million to high school righthander Zack Wheeler, whom they tabbed with the sixth overall pick in the  draft. Scouting director John Barr also drafted a couple of power hitters in high school catcher Tommy Joseph and Louisville third baseman Chris Dominguez. Two prolific sluggers at San Jose, outfielders Thomas Neal and Roger Kieschnick, offered further hope at striking a balance in a traditionally pitching-heavy system.

For years, club officials felt pressure to take advantage of Barry Bonds' presence to take annual shots at the World Series. Now a different window is opening, which should bring its own sense of urgency in 2010. Lincecum will no longer work cheap after gaining arbitration status, and Cain is one year closer to free agency.

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