With the minor league season in its final month, let's look forward at year-end top prospect lists. Who has helped his stock with a solid '09 campaign? The following should now be on everyone's fantasy radar. Many of these players could still be had in dynasty formats but are still a season or two away from Major League contributions.
Pitchers
Martin Perez, P, Rangers: I read a scouting report back in October that compared his arsenal to that of a young Johan Santana and was immediately smitten. Perez has certainly lived up to the hype in '09, posting a 2.31 ERA and 105/33 K/BB ratio in 93 2/3 innings in Single-A, all as an 18-year-old. He works around the 93-94 mph range with his fastball but can touch 96. The young Venezuelan also shows the makings of both a plus curve and change, which solidify the Santana comparisons. He was recently promoted to Double-A, and could be on the fast track for a major league debut in mid-2010.
Jenrry Mejia, P, Mets: A finger injury shut him down for a few months this summer, but many believe this was just a way to preserve his young arm from an innings overload. Baseball America's John Manuel compares him to a young Edwin Jackson, which I think is a spot-on, especially when you look at Mejia's 98 mph fastball. His 4.38 ERA in five Double-A starts isn't spectacular, but he's holding his own, impressive for an 19-year-old. He should head into 2010 as the Mets' top pitching prospect and could be in the rotation by 2011.
Matt Moore, P, Rays: He's been a strikeout machine in Single-A this season, mowing down 141 batters in only 100 2/3 innings pitched — an eye-popping number for any level. Moore works in the 92-94 mph range, touching 95 at times. He has a true plus curveball — which could be plus-plus over time — that serves as his out pitch. The young lefty also throws an average change, which lags behind his other two offerings. The knock on him is control, apparent when you look at his 5.19 BB/9 rate in '09. If he can harness his stuff, he could be a top-of-the-rotation starter, making his debut some time during the 2011 season.
Hitters
Chris Carter, 1B, Athletics: One of the biggest power bats in the minors, he sports a line of .333/21/90 in Double-A this year, an impressive follow up to his 39 home runs at Single-A in '08. Carter has made his greatest strides in plate discipline, as he's cut his K-rate from 30.8 percent in '08 to 24 percent in '09 — at a more advanced level. The A's have taken a very slow approach with him, advancing him a level each season, which puts him on pace for a possible mid-2010 debut, but more realistically spring 2011.
Thomas Neal, OF, Giants: He's been one of the most impressive hitters in the California League (Advanced A) in '09, posting a line of .337/18/73. He has an OPS of 1.011 and he's slugging .586, which are simply gaudy numbers. He continues to refine his plate discipline as well, but still needs to cut down on strikeouts (21.6 percent) and increase his walks (11.1 percent). He'll start 2010 in Double-A, and with a strong season in the minors, could be in San Francisco in 2011.
Dominic Brown, OF, Phillies: He was tearing the cover off the ball in Single-A (.303/11/44), and has continued that since his promotion to Double-A, blasting three homers and batting .342 in just 10 games at that level. Brown is one of the most athletic players in the minors, flashing true five-tool potential, always aggressively sought by fantasy owners. He will be pushing for playing time in the Phillies outfield by mid-2010 and should be a regular fixture in a major league outfield by the 2011 season.
