MiLB Top 10 Prospects Flashback: 2009 Pioneer League

Image credit: Nolan Arenado

Even with its picturesque backdrops, the Rookie-level Pioneer League earned a reputation as unrelenting. It plays 76 games, more than any other Rookie league. Its North and South divisions are separated by great distances and mountainous terrain. Oh, and because of its altitude, the Pioneer League is one of the highest scoring environments in affiliated baseball.

Some scouts eagerly volunteer for Pioneer League coverage because of its scenic beauty; players are less eager. Even still, the league has seen its share of epic prospect classes: David Wells and Cecil Fielder in 1982, Helena teammates Gary Sheffield, Greg Vaughn and Darryl Hamilton in 1986; Great Falls teammates Pedro Martinez and Raul Mondesi in 1990 and Joey Votto and Chad Billingsley in 2003.  

However, the Pioneer League class of 2009 has them all beat for sheer volume of future major league regulars.

2009 Pioneer League Top 10 Prospects

No	Player	Pos	Team	Org	PA/IP	WAR
1	Wil Myers	C	Idaho Falls	Royals	3,353	11.4
2	Jake Odorizzi	RHP	Helena	Brewers	1,042	15.9
3	Bobby Borchering	3B	Missoula	D-backs	—	—
4	Garrett Richards	RHP	Orem	Angels	803	10.3
5	Patrick Corbin	LHP	Orem	Angels	1,206	20.5
6	Jean Segura	2B	Orem	Angels	4,645	18.9
7	Chris Owings	SS	Missoula	D-backs	2,346	0.4
8	Nolan Arenado	3B	Casper	Rockies	4,558	32.1
9	Chris Balcom-Miller	RHP	Casper	Rockies	—	—
10	Eric Arnett	RHP	Helena	Brewers	—	—

Nolan Arenado (No. 8) showed a “mature, balanced approach” and the “bat speed and raw strength suggest potential plus home run power.” His “soft hands and plus arm strength” play well at third base. “You know he wants the ball hit to him, and that’s an intangible you can’t teach,” Arenado’s manager said.

Wil Myers (No. 1) fell to the third round in 2009 but signed for first-round money. Of his offensive upside, we wrote that he “uses no batting gloves or finger tape, trusting his quick hands and strong wrists to hit with authority.” Myers signed as a catcher, where he wasn’t “always fluid behind the plate,” though he projected for “well above-average power.”

Patrick Corbin (No. 5) played baseball and basketball in junior college and his “premium athleticism and loose arm portend more velocity down the road.” His “quiet confidence” and hard slurve that “sometimes features sharp, deep tilt” marked him as a starter.

The 2009 Pioneer League top 10 was so deep it also featured future quality big leaguers Jake Odorizzi (No. 2), Garrett Richards (No. 4) and Jean Segura (No. 6).

Pioneer League All-Time BA No. 1 Prospects

Players listed with career major league plate appearances/innings and FanGraphs WAR. Stats for active players current through mid August.

Year	Player	Pos	Team	Org	PA/IP	WAR
1982	Joe Citari	1B	Butte	Royals	—	—
1983	Kurt Stillwell	SS	Billings	Reds	3,478	1.2
1984	Mark Berry	C	Billings	Reds	—	—
1985	Mike Devereaux	OF	Great Falls	Dodgers	4,102	13.0
1986	Gary Sheffield	SS	Helena	Brewers	10,947	62.1
1987	Andres Santana	SS	Pocatello	Giants	2	-0.1
1988	Jose Offerman	SS	Great Falls	Dodgers	6,582	13.9
1989	Tom Goodwin	OF	Great Falls	Dodgers	4,315	3.9
Year	Player	Pos	Team	Org	PA/IP	WAR
1990	Raul Mondesi	OF	Great Falls	Dodgers	6,369	26.5
1991	Tyrone Hill	LHP	Helena	Brewers	—	—
1992	Chad Mottola	OF	Billings	Reds	137	-1.1
1993	Kym Ashworth	LHP	Great Falls	Dodgers	—	—
1994	Aaron Boone	3B	Billings	Reds	4,333	10.0
1995	Ben Davis	C	Idaho Falls	Padres	1,698	3.7
1996	Vladimir Nunez	RHP	Lethbridge	D-backs	442	-0.2
1997	Jhensy Sandoval	OF	Lethbridge	D-backs	—	—
1998	Austin Kearns	OF	Billings	Reds	4,179	16.7
1999	Francisco Rodriguez	RHP	Butte	Angels	976	24.5
Year	Player	Pos	Team	Org	PA/IP	WAR
2000	Dave Krynzel	OF	Ogden	Brewers	54	0.0
2001	Mike Jones	RHP	Ogden	Brewers	—	—
2002	James Loney	1B	Great Falls	Dodgers	5,487	6.8
2003	Ian Stewart	3B	Casper	Rockies	1,692	2.1
2004	Chris Nelson	SS	Casper	Rockies	901	-1.9
2005	Jay Bruce	OF	Billings	Reds	6,555	20.5
2006	Bryan Morris	RHP	Ogden	Dodgers	236	2.6
2007	Todd Frazier	SS	Billings	Reds	4,826	24.6
2008	Wilin Rosario	C	Casper	Rockies	1,601	-0.5
2009	Wil Myers	C	Idaho Falls	Royals	3,241	10.4
Year	Player	Pos	Team	Org	PA/IP	WAR
2010	Billy Hamilton	2B/SS	Billings	Reds	3,111	10.1
2011	Trevor Story	SS/3B	Casper	Rockies	2,396	16.5
2012	David Dahl	OF	Grand Junction	Rockies	1,001	3.1
2013	Hunter Dozier	3B	Idaho Falls	Royals	1,030	2.2
2014	Aristides Aquino	OF	Billings	Reds	235	1.0
2015	Brendan Rodgers	SS	Grand Junction	Rockies	88	-0.7
2016	Riley Pint	RHP	Grand Junction	Rockies	—	—
2017	Jo Adell	OF	Orem	Angels	41	-0.6
2018	Grant Lavigne	1B	Grand Junction	Rockies	—	—
2019	Liover Peguero	SS	Missoula	D-Backs	—	—