By Nathan Rode
November 5, 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, 2011.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects  (How to subscribe)
Blue Jays Chat  Nathan Rode	Pre-Order the 2011 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team

TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Kyle Drabek, rhp 2. Deck McGuire, rhp 3. Anthony Gose, of 4. Travis D'Arnaud, c 5. Zach Stewart, rhp 6. Asher Wojciechowski, rhp 7. J.P. Arencibia, c 8. Carlos Perez, c 9. Aaron Sanchez, rhp 10. Jake Marisnick, of

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Carlos Perez Best Power Hitter J.P. Arencibia Best Strike-Zone Discipline Brad Emaus Fastest Baserunner Anthony Gose Best Athlete Jake Marisnick Best Fastball Zach Stewart Best Curveball Kyle Drabek Best Slider Deck McGuire Best Changeup Henderson Alvarez Best Control Drew Hutchison Best Defensive Catcher Travis D'Arnaud Best Defensive Infielder Adeiny Hechavarria Best Infield Arm Gustavo Pierre Best Defensive Outfielder Anthony Gose Best Outfield Arm Anthony Gose

PROJECTED 2014 LINEUP

Catcher Travis D'Arnaud First Base Adam Lind Second Base Aaron Hill Third Base Jose Bautista Shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria Left Field Travis Snider Center Field Anthony Gose Right Field Vernon Wells Designated Hitter J.P. Arencibia No. 1 Starter Kyle Drabek No. 2 Starter Ricky Romero No. 3 Starter Brandon Morrow No. 4 Starter Deck McGuire No. 5 Starter Shaun Marcum Closer Zach Stewart

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2010 2001 Vernon Wells, of Blue Jays 2002 Josh Phelps, c Bridgeport (Atlantic) 2003 Dustin McGowan, rhp Blue Jays 2004 Alexis Rios, of White Sox 2005 Brandon League, rhp Mariners 2006 Dustin McGowan, rhp Blue Jays 2007 Adam Lind, of Blue Jays 2008 Travis Snider, of Blue Jays 2009 Travis Snider, of Blue Jays 2010 Zach Stewart, rhp Blue Jays

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2010 2001 Gabe Gross, of Athletics 2002 Russ Adams, ss Mets 2003 Aaron Hill, ss Blue Jays 2004 David Purcey, lhp Blue Jays 2005 Ricky Romero, hp Blue Jays 2006 Travis Snider, of Blue Jays 2007 Kevin Ahrens, 3b Blue Jays 2008 David Cooper, 1b Blue Jays 2009 Chad Jenkins, rhp Blue Jays 2010 Deck McGuire, rhp Blue Jays

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Adeiny Hechavarria, 2010 $4,000,000 Adonis Cardona, 2010 $2,800,000 Ricky Romero, 2005 $2,400,000 Felipe Lopez, 1998 $2,000,000 Deck McGuire, 2010 $2,000,000

BLUE JAYS LINKS

Blue Jays' Team Page Blue Jays Top 10 Scouting Reports  Last Year's Blue Jays Top 10 Prospects 2010 Draft: Blue Jays (Basic Database) 2010 Draft: Blue Jays  (Advanced Database) 2010 Draft Report Cards: Toronto Blue Jays  Complete Index of Top 10 Prospects Pre-Order the 2011 Prospect Handbook

A year into their new regime, the Blue Jays already were beginning to see results. Alex Anthopoulos took over as general manager last October and quickly began a much-needed rebuilding process. Toronto had been treading water as the fourth-best team in the American League East, and one of the worst farm systems in baseball wasn't going to provide nearly enough help for a quick turnaround.

Anthopoulos quickly made his mark by trading franchise icon Roy Halladay to the Phillies in December. In return, the Blue Jays received three quality prospects in righthander Kyle Drabek, outfielder Michael Taylor (who was flipped to the Athletics for first baseman Brett Wallace) and catcher Travis d'Arnaud. That was just the first of several moves that infused young talent into the system.

Anthopoulos vowed to focus more on scouting and player development, and he made good on that promise. He doubled the size of the scouting staff and appointed Andrew Tinnish as scouting director, replacing Jon LaLonde, who was reassigned. Armed with more scouts, nine picks in the first three rounds and the go-ahead from management to spend, Tinnish and his crew had one of the best drafts in 2010.

The Blue Jays spent $11.6 million on bonuses, the third-highest amount in draft history, handing out 20 six-figure bonuses, including $2 million for first-rounder Deck McGuire and $1.5 million for fifth-rounder Dickie Joe Thon. McGuire and sandwich picks Asher Wojciechowski and Aaaron Sanchez all cracked this Top 10 Prospects list.

Toronto also made a splash in the international market. In April, the Jays signed Cuban shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria to a $10 million major league contract that included a franchise-record $4 million bonus. They later landed a pair of top international amateurs from Venezuela in righthander Arodis Cardona ($2.8 million) and third baseman Gabriel Cenas ($700,000).

The Blue Jays did some more dealing at the trade deadline as well. Toronto initially tried to pry outfielder Anthony Gose from the Phillies in the Halladay trade but were rebuffed. They got a second chance when Philadelphia sent him to the Astros as part of a package for Roy Oswalt. The Jays sent Wallace to Houston for Gose, and also got younger at shortstop by swapping Alex Gonzalez to the Braves for Yunel Escobar.

At the major league level, Toronto finished fourth in the AL East for the third consecutive year. However, the Jays won 85 games (up from 75 in 2009) and received some promising glimpses of the future. Jose Bautista crushed 54 homers, leading the major leagues and erasing George Bell's franchise record of 47. The Jays topped the big leagues with 257 homers, with seven different players hitting at least 20.

Brandon Morrow was a revelation after arriving in a trade that sent Brandon League and outfield prospect Johermyn Chavez to the Mariners just before Christmas. Morrow threw a 17-strikeout one-hitter against the Rays and won 10 games, one of four Toronto pitchers to reach double digits in victories—none of whom were older than 28.

Catcher J.P. Arencibia had a big league debut to remember, giving fans a taste of his power by going 4-for-5 with a double and two homers against Tampa Bay. Drabek earned a September callup and acquitted himself well in three starts.

The rebuilding process is only beginning in Toronto. While the Blue Jays won't return to contention overnight, 2010 was a pretty good start.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects  (How to subscribe)

Pre-Order the 2011 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team