By Ben Badler
January 6, 2010


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.

Editor's Note: The Top 10 order as originally posted was incorrect. It has been edited to match the rankings as they will be in the 2010 Prospect Handbook.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Carlos Santana, c 2. Lonnie Chisenhall, 3b 3. Nick Hagadone, lhp 4. Jason Knapp, rhp 5. Michael Brantley, of 6. Nick Weglarz, of 7. Hector Rondon, rhp 8. Carlos Carrasco, rhp 9. Alex White, rhp 10. Jason Kipnis, 2b/of

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Michael Brantley Best Power Hitter Nick Weglarz Best Strike-Zone Discipline Carlos Santana Fastest Baserunner Delvi Cid Best Athlete Michael Brantley Best Fastball Nick Hagadone Best Curveball Alexander Perez Best Slider Nick Hagadone Best Changeup Carlos Carrasco Best Control Hector Rondon Best Defensive Catcher Carlos Santana Best Defensive Infielder Jason Donald Best Infield Arm Carlos Rivero Best Defensive Outfielder Jordan Henry Best Outfield Arm Matt Brown

PROJECTED 2013 LINEUP

Catcher Carlos Santana First Base Matt LaPorta Second Base Luis Valbuena Third Base Lonnie Chisenhall Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera Left Field Michael Brantley Center Field Grady Sizemore Right Field Shin-Soo Choo Designated Hitter Nick Weglarz No. 1 Starter Nick Hagadone No. 2 Starter Jason Knapp No. 3 Starter Hector Rondon No. 4 Starter Justin Masterson No. 5 Starter Carlos Carrasco Closer Alex White

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2009 2000 C.C. Sabathia, lhp Yankees 2001 C.C. Sabathia, lhp Yankees 2002 Corey Smith, 3b Royals 2003 Brandon Phillips, ss/2b Reds 2004 Grady Sizemore, of Indians 2005 Adam Miller, rhp Indians 2006 Adam Miller, rhp Indians 2007 Adam Miller, rhp Indians 2008 Adam Miller, rhp Indians 2009 Carlos Santana, c Indians

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2009 2000 Corey Smith, 3b Royals 2001 Dan Denham, rhp Angels 2002 Jeremy Guthrie, rhp Orioles 2003 Michael Aubrey, 1b Orioles 2004 Jeremy Sowers, lhp Indians 2005 Trevor Crowe, of Indians 2006 David Huff, lhp (1st supplemental) Indians 2007 Beau Mills, 3b/1b Indians 2008 Lonnie Chisenhall, 3b Indians 2009 Alex White, rhp Indians

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Danny Baez, 1999 $4,500,000 Jeremy Guthrie, 2002 $3,000,000 Jeremy Sowers, 2004 $2,475,000 Alex White, 2009 $2,250,000 Michael Aubrey, 2003 $2,010,000

INDIANS LINKS

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

The Indians thought a few better players or even better fortune would get them to the playoffs. After all, they had scored more runs than they allowed in each of the previous five seasons, which included a pair of 90-plus win campaigns.

The 2009 season disavowed them of that belief.

Cleveland tied Kansas City for last place in the American League Central with a 65-97 record, their worst mark since 1991 and a performance that ultimately cost manager Eric Wedge his job.

The Indians went outside the organization for his replacement, hiring Manny Acta, who went 158-252 (.385) while managing the Nationals for parts of the last three seasons.

Acta tried to oversee a rebuilding effort in Washington, and that's what he has on his hands in Cleveland. The 2009 Indians had a middle-of-the-road offense, but the Orioles and Nationals were the only teams in baseball that allowed more runs.

Cleveland was plagued by poor pitching from both starters and relievers, and a defense that ranked 27th in the majors in defensive efficiency.

Things look better in the farm system, where the Indians have one of the deepest collections of prospects around. Much of that talent came via the trade market, including five of their top eight prospects: catcher Carlos Santana, lefthander Nick Hagadone, righthanders Jason Knapp and Carlos Carrasco and outfielder Michael Brantley.

Those players didn't come cheaply, however, as they were parts of deals including the two Game One starters in the 2009 World Series—Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia—as well as three-time all-star Victor Martinez and solid veteran Casey Blake.

Smaller deals that shipped off Rafael Betancourt, Mark DeRosa and Ryan Garko during the 2009 season provided additional depth.

The Indians are developing an intriguing group of homegrown Latin American players, most notably Venezuelan righthander Hector Rondon, Dominican lefty Kelvin de la Cruz and Venezuelan shortstop Carlos Rivero.

But Cleveland was burned in Latin America last year when it found out that Dominican shortstop Jose Ozoria, who was believed to be 16 when he signed for $575,000 in 2008, was actually three years older and named Wuali Bryan.

While the Indians have built an impressive farm system, trading away big leaguers in exchange for prospects every year isn't a sustainable model for competing.

They realize they need to get more out of their drafts, especially now that they're picking fifth overall in 2010.

It's Cleveland's highest draft position since taking Paul Shuey second overall in 1992, and it will have to get more than the last time it had a top-10 choice and drafted Jeremy Sowers sixth overall in 2004.

The Indians have a strong nucleus of up-the-middle talent to build around, with Grady Sizemore in center field, Asdrubal Cabrera at shortstop and Santana soon to arrive behind the plate.

In the short term, one of the Indians' most important tasks will be to improve their run prevention. The Indians don't have any defensive stalwarts on the cusp of the major leagues, but they do have Rondon and Carrasco close to helping the major league starting rotation and several potentially useful bullpen arms nearly ready to offer relief.

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