by Ben Carsley, Staff Writer

What do Matt Kemp, Tim Lincecum, and Troy Tulowitzki have in common? None of them qualify for this list of the Top 25 best fantasy cogs under the age of 25.

Using the cut-off date of Opening Day 2010 as my guide, I poured over every roster and checked the age of every fantasy relevant player on every MLB team. After excluding everyone with a DOB that ends in 84 or later, here are my results. Fresh from my cheat-sheet to your computer screen, I present to you a keeper-league owner’s best friend: The Top 25 Under 25.

As you will see, this feature is split into two parts. No worries, I won’t tease you – the Top 12 is in the first installment.

All Average Draft Positions (ADPs) are courtesy of Mock Draft Central.

1) Evan Longoria (3B, Tampa Bay Rays) Age: 24, ADP: 9

• (2nd among 3B)

An absolute fantasy monster, Longoria has everything a fantasy owner could want from a first round pick, as he is balanced, reliable, and plays a shallow position. Longoria is one of the best and most exciting players in the game, and I have no problem with his ADP. That said, in non-keeper leagues, I’m not sure if I agree with him going behind the suddenly undervalued David Wright. Grab Longoria in the bottom half of the first round, and except a monster season of .285/35 HRs/120 RBIs/8 SBs.

2) Justin Upton (OF, Arizona Diamondbacks) Age: 22, ADP: 24

• (6th among OF)

Baseball America’s second highest rated prospect in 2006, fantasy owners have long had their eyes on Upton, who’s ADP has been steadily rising over the past two years. I’m as much of a believer in his potential as anyone, and I think he makes a great third-round pick, making his current ADP of 24 very fair. I like Upton to hit .290-30-90 with 18 SB this year, although I wouldn’t be surprised if he hit 20 points better either. Don’t take him over Ryan Braun, Matt Kemp, or Carl Crawford, but you can make the argument that Upton is the fourth best fantasy outfielder heading into the season (although I personally like Grady Sizemore more).

3) Felix Hernandez (SP, Seattle Mariners) Age: 23, ADP: 32

• (5th among SP)

While I personally refrain from drafting pitchers within the first four rounds of a draft, King Felix’s talent is undeniable. Thus, his ADP of 32 is fair. He’s currently ranked behind only Tim Lincecum, Roy Halladay, C.C. Sabathia, and Zack Greinke, and while I would personally rank Hernandez above Greinke, they’re too close for me to have a serious problem with it. Hernandez has only gotten better each year since being called up to the majors, and I expect that trend to continue in 2010. Watch Hernandez go 18-6 with a 2.25 ERA and 220 Ks this season, and enjoy as he anchors your fantasy staff.

4) Pablo Sandoval (3B, San Francisco Giants) Age: 23, ADP: 38

• (6th among 3B)

I’ve never been a huge Sandoval believer, but even his biggest fans should accept that selecting the “Kung Fu Panda” in the fourth round is a reach. Sandoval is a good fantasy option at third base, and I like him to hit around .315-22-90, but those numbers do not warrant him being selected before players like Justin Morneau or Ichiro Suzuki. Sandoval would be a fine choice in the early sixth/late fifth round, but if he’s my fourth-best fantasy player, I’m not going to feel too comfortable.

5) Yovani Gallardo (SP, Milwaukee Brewers) Age: 24, ADP: 88

• (17th among SP)

Gallardo is one of my favorite fantasy pitchers headed into this year, and I’ve waited on pitching and made him my fantasy ace in several of my drafts thus far. Gallardo represents great value with his current ADP, as fantasy owners who select him will be getting a stud four-category producer in the ninth round. The Brewers’ defense is less than phenomenal, but I still expect Gallardo to take a step forward and go 16-8 with a 3.50 ERA and 225 Ks this year. Adam Wainwright and Javier Vazquez have higher ADPs, but ride Gallardo instead in 2010.

6) Tommy Hanson (SP, Atlanta Braves) Age: 23, ADP: 80

• (16th among SP)

Gallardo and Hanson are basically interchangeable in my rankings, as I believe Hanson will have a phenomenal year as well. All of Hanson’s advanced stats (such as an insanely low, Sabathia-esque 0.7 HR/9) suggest that he will continue to have success in 2010. While I’m not quite ready to give him the title of fantasy ace yet, I wouldn’t be surprised if he earns that distinction this year. I project that Hanson will go 16-4 with a 3.25 ERA, 190 Ks, and a very low WHIP. He’s a solid pick from the seventh round on and a superb No. 2 fantasy starter.

7) Jay Bruce (OF, Cincinnati Reds) Age: 23, ADP: 116

• (38th among OF)

It pains me to write about the type of season I believe Bruce is going to have, because as an active participator in fantasy leagues, I don’t want to see him lose his sleeper status. I believe Bruce will break out in a huge way this year and be a Top 50 fantasy player, hitting .280-35-100. Many of you will be skeptical of that projection, but anyone with Bruce’s talent, a BABIP of .221, and a 16.8 HR/FB percentage is destined for greatness. Even if those advanced stats don’t convince you, please at least help change the fact that Bruce is being selected behind players such as Brad Hawpe, Alex Rios, and Jason Kubel. Grab Bruce in the eight or ninth round, watch him pile up the power numbers, and don’t forget to thank me in October.

8) Matt Wieters (C, Baltimore Orioles) Age: 23, ADP: 91

• (4th among C)

Wieters is a rare example of a player whose ADP and positional ranking make perfect sense to me. After a solid but unspectacular 2009 season, I project Wieters to hit .285-20-85 this year, and do believe that he will be the fourth most valuable fantasy catcher, behind only Joe Mauer, Brian McCann, and Victor Martinez. The tenth round is a great spot to grab Wieters, and I wouldn’t call grabbing him in the ninth to be much of a reach either.

9) Brett Anderson (SP, Oakland Athletics) Age: 22, ADP: 155

• (35th among SP)

Anderson is another one of my favorite sleepers headed into the 2010 season, as I see the lefty becoming a Top 25 fantasy starter. Anderson needs to do a better job of working out of jams (only a 67-percent LOB), but has the arsenal needed to shut down hitters in the spacious Coliseum. I believe Anderson will have a breakout year and go 15-9 with a 3.75 ERA and 170 Ks, outperforming many pitchers drafted ahead of him, such as Scott Baker, Max Scherzer, and Wandy Rodriguez. Anderson’s current ADP has him going in the 16th round, and unless I was already loaded in the starting pitching department, I would grab him there in a heartbeat.

10) Gordon Beckham (2B/3B, Chicago White Sox) Age: 23, ADP: 87

• (10th among 2B, 9th among 3B)

I love Beckham’s position versatility this year, and given the shady track records of Aaron Hill and Ben Zobrist, he could end up being a Top Seven second baseman for fantasy owners. I project an all-around solid .285-20-70 line with 10 SBs for Beckham this year, and believe he’ll be even better in the future. The eighth round is a little too early to take him for my tastes, and I’d still rather have Dan Uggla, but given his 2B eligibility, Beckham is a borderline Top 100 fantasy player in my book.

11) Adam Jones (OF, Baltimore Orioles) Age: 24, ADP: 89

• (30th among OF)

I feel the same way about Jones that I do about Sandoval, in that I do like him, but apparently not as much as some, as his current ADP has him as a ninth round selection. Fantasy owners can dream on Jones, as he has 30 HR/20 SB potential, but his low ISO and 28.1% FB rate lead me to believe he may never quite hit the 30 HR threshold. I project Jones to hit .275-20-80 with 18 SBs, which makes him a fine 11th-13th round pick, but until Jones proves he can start generating some more lift with his swing, he’s not a Top 100 player to me.

12) Clayton Kershaw (SP, Los Angeles Dodgers) Age: 22, ADP: 94

• (19th among SP)

People will likely be surprised to see Kershaw this far down on the list, and based on upside alone, he’s the best pitcher in this ranking not named Felix. But people forget that even Hernandez needed a few years in the majors before he fully dominated, and I see Kershaw following the same path. I believe Kershaw will be very useful as a fourth fantasy starter this year, but he’s being well over-drafted because of his name value, and is not someone I would select with one of my first ten picks. Kershaw will likely be a Top 10 pitcher some day, but for now, I expect him to go 15-8 with a 3.50 ERA and 180 Ks, making him a good but overvalued fantasy asset.

by Stephen Sheridan, Managing Editor

Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Emmanuel Burriss, Brandon Crawford, Ehire Adrianza, Nick Noonan, Brian Bocock, Madison Bumgarner, Todd Wellemeyer,  Joe Martinez, Kevin Pucetas, Atlanta Braves, Jason Heyward

Welcome to the first spring training edition of Touch ‘Em All, our quick, four-stop tour around the fantasy prospect blogosphere.

Indians Prospect Insider blogger, Tony Lastoria, has a great rundown of 2010 prospect guides, including MLBFP’s Top Prospects by Division Series (more on this in a bit). If you’re a Cleveland Indians fanatic, I strongly urge you to purchase Tony’s book, 2010 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More.

Kevin O’Brien over at Remember ‘51 has been showering MLBFP with praise since we broke onto the scene. To show our appreciation, let me bring your attention to an excellent piece he posted about four young middle infielders that struggled in the San Francisco Giants organization last season: Emmanuel Burriss, Brandon Crawford, Ehire Adrianza, and Nick Noonan. I was particularly interested his take on Crawford, as I picked him up in a NL dynasty league last season:

Why Giants Fans Should Be Hopeful of Crawford:
Crawford has always drawn raves for his glove and he still remains a solid defensive player. His RF/G was 4.58 in combined Single-A and Double-A play in 2009, so that should give some Giants fans hope considering Edgar Renteria's RF/G was 3.74 for the Giants in 2009. If anything, Crawford would be a solid upgrade over Renteria or even Juan Uribe (who had a 3.78 RF/G in 2009 at shortstop).

Granted, defense isn't everything. Brian Bocock was a good defender too. However, unlike Bocock, Crawford does have an ability to hit. His combined stats in Single-A and Double-A last year were still decent (.282 average, .742 OPS) and he had a solid campaign in Arizona Fall League this year (as evidenced by a .312 average and .850 OPS). If Crawford can get back to Single-A form somewhat, or hover around those combined-level stats from 2009 in 2010, it isn't impossible to think that he could be competing for the starting shortstop job in 2011 once Edgar Renteria's contract is up.

Why Giants Fans Should Be Skeptical of Crawford:
He is 23-years-old, and played three years of college baseball at UCLA. So, he's not exactly young considering where he's at in the minor league system, and he doesn't have a whole lot of time to develop in comparison to guys out of high school (such as Nick Noonan). Therefore, Crawford ceiling may not be very high, and Giants fans could see him reach it in a couple of years considering his college experience.

That being said, despite his three years of college ball, and two years of professional ball, Crawford has serious issues at the plate. At four levels of play (rookie, short-season Single-A, Advanced Single-A, and Double-A), Crawford's BB/K ratios haven't been great. He had 0.00 BB/K ratio in Arizona and Salem Keizer (because he drew no walks, but then again, it was only a five game sample) and a 0.20 BB/K ratio with the Defenders. Even in his solid outing in San Jose, he BB/K ratio wasn't good at 0.31 (a 30.5 percent strikeout rate probably contributed to such a high ratio)

MLB.com added an excellent tool to the fantasy section of their site called Position Decisions. I highly recommend it as it breaks down all the spring training battles to the nth-degree. Let me give you an example. For the Giants No. 5 starter, they have it as: Madison Bumgarner vs. Todd Wellemeyer  vs. Joe Martinez vs. Kevin Pucetas. The winner? Our No. 11 MLB Fantasy Prospect, Madison Bumgarner (pictured right), but with a caveat.

The Giants have proven that they're not afraid to give their younger pitchers opportunities. Bumgarner's only 20. But the ballclub is in win-now mode. The Giants won't hesitate to rely on someone besides Bumgarner if he struggles; likely Wellemeyer.

Finally, in a post that’s aptly titled, Jason Heyward: First Ballot BP Hall of Famer, Base Heads front-man Paul Bourdett takes a lighthearted look at the ridiculous hype coming out of Braves camp. For those of you considering a trip to Lake Buena Visa to check out “J-Hype” firsthand, Paul provides the top ten “much safer locations for your car than the right field parking lot of the Braves spring training facility.” Great stuff, Mr. Bourdett!

I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a shout-out to our newest addition, Ben Carsley, for his tremendous work in cranking out his first feature: the 2010 MLB Fantasy Prospects By Division Series. Y’all will be able to get to this piece all season by scrolling down the adjacent column to the right of this post. Superb job, Ben. Superb.

Also, in what is beginning to be a regular occurrence, my main man Billy Root’s article on 2010 Impact Rookies was picked up by SI.com, just recently. That’s right, fantasy prospectors, MLBFP is for real.

By Bill Root, Executive Editor

I’ve been agonizing over whether to place Jason Heyward or Stephen Strasburg at the top of my prospect list. Really, over the past month, I’ve dedicated more time analyzing this question than I’ve spent on any other pressing issue in my life. Hi, my name is Bill Root, and I am a prospectoholic.

As you can see, unlike most other lists, Heyward is a bridesmaid on my Top Fantasy Prospects list. Nevertheless, spare me the angry emails and comments – I strongly agree that Heyward morphs into a fantasy stud over the next few years. Nevertheless, as I will explain in my Strasburg scouting report, the “S.S. Express” is more deserving of being the ultimate cream of my fantasy crop. Bluntly, as I tweeted on my Twitter account, I am not sure when there’s been a better two-some at the top of prospect lists over the past decade. Heyward and Strasburg will both be fantasy cornerstones.

I am going to keep this scouting report short and sweet because there’s been so much written about Heyward. At 6-4, 220-pounds, he’s a massive left-handed slugger. To be honest, after seeing him in his first spring training action today, he looks bigger than those measurements. Heyward destroyed minor league pitching last year despite being only 19-years-old for a majority of the season. Specifically, across three levels, Heyward hit .323, with 17 HRs, 10 SBs, and a .963 OPS.

As I stated in my Impact Rookies article, “the 20-year-old left-handed slugger will hit .280-plus upon arrival because of his superior strike zone judgment (1.47 BB/K rate at Double-A), picture-perfect swing (22.8-percent line drive rate at Double-A), and ability to hit southpaws (.357 v. lefties in career).” Notably, however, don’t expect the dingers to come in waves at the outset. The raw power is there, but he’s still developing a consistent HR stroke. In addition, because J-Hey displayed at least some struggles with off-speed stuff in the past, the fastball won’t be the pitch of choice against Heyward. Heyward will have to display patience and adjust to change-ups/breaking balls in every count situation. At that point, he will start seeing the HR-friendly heaters.

Heyward is competing for a starting job in the Braves’ outfield. Because the Braves’ didn’t grab Johnny Damon or another outfielder off the free agent wire, there’s a good chance he’s in the starting lineup on Opening Day – if he has even an average spring. That said, Heyward’s ADP is currently 295 in mixed leagues. That price is a little high, but at least in the reasonable range. Of course, based on the over-publicized news that he’s crushing cars like Grave Digger in batting practice, he just keeps shooting up draft boards.

The hype is getting a little out of control. In fact, in some leagues, I’ve seen him drafted ahead of a guy like Vernon Wells. Take a pass on Heyward in redraft leagues if you have to pay an unreasonable price – which is getting close to inevitable.

Contributed by Kenny Walter

Spring is in the air for baseball fans across the nation and the boys of summer have reported for duty. Unfortunately, many of you reading this are still shoveling mounds of snow. It’s been a chilling winter, but this year’s batch of hot prospects is on the way to heat things up. As spring training gets underway, we here at MLB Fantasy Prospects will keep a keen eye on any developments in the prospect ranks. Can Stephen Strasburg make the Nationals out of camp? Is Desmond Jennings looking like a contributor for Tampa Bay? We will keep you well-informed.

Let’s take our first, fantasy prospect spin around the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues.

Jason Heyward (OF, Atlanta Braves)

Ok, wasn’t the hype machine supposed to be following a young righty pitcher for the Nationals? What’s his name again (see about four inches above)? The reports coming out of the Braves spring training complex are enough to make you forget about that guy in Washington all together. According to CBS Sports Fantasy News, Bobby Cox thinks the ball sounds different coming off Heyward’s bat. He compared the sound to another player you may have heard of – Hammerin’ Hank!

If that’s not good enough, it appears the Braves have had to make special accommodations for their newest star. Heyward has smashed so many shots out into the parking lot, that to avoid more car damage, they have added extra netting to rein in the 20-year-old’s blasts. It seems experts are betting the Braves start Heyward out in the minors, but I just don’t see it. They did start Tommy Hanson off down on the farm, but Atlanta seems to give their bats a shot at the “Show” when they’re ready. Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones were added to the roster as young talents. Cox will get players he likes into the line-up. I can recall Cox bringing up Kelly Johnson and penciling him right into the number three hole. The Braves have been desperately searching for an impact bat for some time now and it appears they found their man. We will continue to monitor the situation when spring games begin, but these kinds of reports should allow you to bid with confidence.

Chris Tillman (RHP, Baltimore Orioles)

Tillman had been reportedly experiencing some back pain, but was able to throw his batting practice session on Friday. Tillman was a key piece in the Orioles trade with the Mariners for Erik Bedard, but has been passed in the organization ranks by Brian Matusz. He said it was hard for him to dial it back a bit and not go 100-percent. This can be viewed two ways. Scary in that he may further damage to back and noble as it shows how much of a competitor he can be. I’ll take the later. Back injuries are tricky, but they can also be monitored and rehabbed successfully.

Tillman might have a rotation spot all but locked up and many fantasy players are ignoring him, instead focusing in on Matusz. Don’t make that mistake. This kid has a nasty curveball and lots of heat on his fastball. The American League East is always one of the toughest divisions and the injury could stall some progression, but monitor his spring outings. He will surely be overlooked. If he can stay healthy, he is poised to take another step toward being a fantasy contributor.

Kyle Blanks (OF, San Diego Padres)

Blanks has reportedly dropped 15-pounds this off-season – reporting to camp in terrific shape. The Padres have moved him to LF in order to accommodate Adrian Gonzalez. Blanks could return to first base if the Padres trade Gonzalez, which has been rumored. This could give his fantasy owners an advantage if he becomes eligible at both positions. Either way, the Pads are ready to get his bat in the line-up.

Blanks is an enormous, intimidating player and has seen his weight fluctuate up to 300-pounds. If he has indeed lost 15-pounds this off-season, that would put him around a lean mean weight of 260-265. He’s 6-6, and if he keeps his body conditioned, he could be primed for a break-out season. In over 1,400 ABs in the minors, he maintained a .304 average and batted .325 at Double-A. So, along with great power, he may add a respectable average, unlike other mashers such as Adam Dunn. He tackled Triple-A in 2009 and was called-up by June. In just 148 ABs, he managed to smack 10 HRs.

Making consistent contact is going to be Blanks’ biggest problem. Mark Reynolds could have some company in chasing his strikeout record this year. Though, if Blanks can keep his average in the .275-.290 range, most fantasy players won’t mind. Watch this guy when the spring games begin and don’t worry about Petco Park – this kid could hit bombs out of Yellowstone.

by Stephen Sheridan, Managing Editor

The Associated Press reported that “Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson arrived at the Oakland Athletics’ spring training facilities Saturday and at least a two dozen A’s were listening intently as he spoke on stealing bases, among other subjects.” Athletics GM, Billy Beane, invited Henderson to spring training after the greatest base-stealer in history spent time with the club’s instructional league teams.

MLBFP contributor Jamie Engber snapped the following shot of top prospects Chris Carter and Michael Taylor receiving some pointers from Henderson:

“I just want to ask, ‘How do you do it and how can I do it?”’ Taylor told the AP, “I’d like to know how he got his jumps and what to look for. Even if I learn one thing, it’s worth it.”

Growing up, I had a framed, Rickey Henderson rookie card hanging in my bedroom, so I’m feeling kinda’ nostalgic as I type this post, y’all. It’s because of this guy that I can honestly tell the world that other fantasy baseball prospect websites were “the symbol” of good analysis. “But today, [MLBFP] is the greatest of all-time. Thank you.”

You can head on over to Fathead.com and purchase an autographed picture of Rickey celebrating his record-breaking stolen base, among other great baseball memorabilia items.

by Ben Carsley, Staff Writer

As you know, all good things must come to an end, so it’s time to wrap-up my Top 10 Fantasy Prospects by Division Series. It’s been quite the journey, covering everyone from Jason Heyward to Jay Jackson, and giving dynasty league owners enough material to last for several seasons. For you impatient prospect gurus, our final division, the American League West, features some of the game’s most major league-ready prospects.

The Top 10

1) Neftali Feliz (SP/RP, Texas Rangers)  ETA: 2010

Acquired from the Braves as part of the Mark Teixeira trade in 2007, Feliz has some of the highest upside of any prospect in baseball. Feliz has an absolutely electric arm, and his tailing, 98 mph fastball may already be on the short list of best heaters in the game. In terms of his secondary offerings, he still needs to develop command and consistency with his breaking pitch and changeup. Called up to the majors late last season as a reliever, Feliz dominated the American League, going 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 20 relief appearances. If Feliz finishes games, he has the makings of a Joe Nathan-type shutdown closer, capable of saving upwards of 40 games a year with a sub-2.00 ERA, making him a Top 60 fantasy player. Feliz has always posted great strikeout numbers, as he averaged a 10.6 K/9 ratio in his four seasons in the minors, and this trend is almost certain to continue in the bigs. If he masters his command and develops an dependable secondary arsenal, the sky is the limit for Feliz. In fact, as a starter, he has Pedro Martinez-like upside. For now, though, my crystal ball tells me Feliz turns into reliever, and that he will be closing games in Texas by June. Feliz is a good pick in all leagues, but be careful not to overdraft him just because he’s a sexy pick.

2) Justin Smoak (1B, Texas Rangers)  ETA: Mid-2010

A future first round fantasy pick, Smoak has all the makings of an elite, four-category fantasy producer. Smoak soared through the Rangers’ minor league system and reached Triple-A in just his second professional season. A true switch hitter, with serious power from both sides, Smoak is not just a hacker, as he has compiled a .292 BA and .403 OBP in the minors as well. Smoak is frequently compared to Mark Teixeira, and while there are some similarities, Smoak’s smoother swing but slightly inferior raw power reminds me more of Chipper Jones. In his prime, lines of .300-30-100 are well within reach for Smoak, which will make him a Top Five fantasy first baseman. Chris Davis currently blocks Smoak at first base, but the switch-hitting slugger is too good of a hitter to keep in the minors for long. Look for Smoak to get the call to the majors in June or July, and start hitting right away. He will be long gone in dynasty leagues, and isn’t worth reaching for in shallow redraft mixed leagues, but in deep mixed leagues or AL-only leagues, Smoak isn’t a bad late-round flier if you can afford the roster spot. There’s a bevy of good young first baseman in the minors right now, but Smoak is the best of the bunch.

3) Dustin Ackley (2B/OF, Seattle Mariners)  ETA: Mid-2011

The second overall pick in the 2009 draft, the Mariners were more than happy to select Ackley as their consolation prize to the Stephen Strasburg sweepstakes. Ackley has an extraordinarily advanced bat for someone who has just been drafted, which is why I have aggressively projected him to be major league-ready after only a season and a half in the minors. A potential five-category producer, the only grey area in Ackley’s game is his power, as his ceiling is probably 25 homerun power. Notably, some scouts believe he may be restricted to the 10-15 homerun range. What is not in dispute is that Ackley has the hitting skills to hit .320 in the majors, and has enough speed to steal 20-40 bases a year. Ackley’s ultimate fantasy value is hard to project without knowing where he lands on the diamond. If he’s an outfielder, or second baseman in the ideal fantasy world, he could be a Top 30 fantasy player, with an ultimate Derek Jeter-like ceiling of hitting .320-20-70 with 30 stolen bases. If Ackley doesn’t develop power or has to move to first base (his college position), his value would obviously diminish. He should be owned in all dynasty leagues, and will begin to make fantasy contributions early next season.

4) Martin Perez (SP, Texas Rangers)  ETA: 2011

Perez has the highest upside of any pitcher in the division – even greater than Feliz – and is one of the Top Five pitching prospects in baseball. Perez will be just 19-years-old this season, and if all goes well, he should finish the year in Triple-A. Armed with an above average fastball, a devastating curveball, and a good changeup, Perez has the necessary weapons to shut down hitters at any level. Perez struggled in a brief stint at Double-A last season, but went 5-5 with a 2.31 ERA and 105 Ks in only 94 IP in Single-A. A potential Top Three fantasy pitcher, Perez often draws comparisons to fellow Venezuelan southpaw Johan Santana, and while I generally try to stay away from consensus comparisons, it’s a fair projection based on Perez’s upside. I expect Perez to breeze through Double-A and receive a promotion to Triple-A by July, which would put him on track for a chance to crack the Rangers’ rotation in 2011. Perez is not a bad candidate to be the No. 1 fantasy prospect in all of baseball at this time next year; his dynasty league owners should hold on to him at all costs.

5) Chris Carter (1B/OF, Oakland Athletics)  ETA: Mid-2010

One of the best power hitters in the minors, Carter has racked up 118 homeruns in his 5 years as a professional, including totals of 25, 39, and 28 over the past 3 seasons. Carter is very limited defensively, and listing him as an outfield option is probably too generous. Notably, however, shouldn’t become a full-time DH for a few years, giving him increased fantasy value in the meantime. Carter hit a career-high .337 in Double-A last season, and while I do believe his new emphasis on pitch selection will pay some dividends, fantasy owners should expect batting averages more along the lines of .270-280 for Carter in the majors. Carter has sweet upside for a fantasy first baseman. Adrian Gonzalez-like number (.275-35-90) are well within his reach when he hits his prime. For now, Carter is blocked by several “Quad-A” players, such as Daric Barton and Jake Fox, but he will likely force himself into the lineup by July. Carter could use another half-season of seasoning in Triple-A, so he might not be worth grabbing in redraft leagues just yet. If he does somehow win a starting job out of spring training, however, he;s a solid late-round flier for any owner looking for a quick power fix, and could hit 15 bombs if given 300 ABs.

6) Michael Taylor (OF, Oakland Athletics)  ETA: Mid-2010

A big corner outfielder, with solid tools across the board, Taylor is one of the more underrated prospects in baseball. Toronto, which received Taylor from the Phillies in the Roy Halladay trade, then sent the outfielder to Oakland for 1B/3B prospect Brett Wallace It’s somewhat puzzling why Toronto made this move as Taylor was arguably the third-best outfielder in their organization for the brief time he was in the fold. Regardless, Taylor now faces a similar quandary as fellow prospect Chris Carter, in that he is not blocked by any one good player, but rather by a plethora of below-average ones. If Taylor received 500 ABs in 2010, he would be a borderline fifth fantasy outfielder, capable of hitting .280-15-70 with 10-plus stolen bases as well. Unfortunately, I don’t see the A’s allowing Taylor to receive any significant ABs until July or August, meaning he may be a fantasy non-factor for much of 2010. In his prime, I like Taylor to be a better-hitting Hunter Pence-type outfielder, capable of putting up lines of .300-20-80 with 15 swipes. For now, leave Taylor undrafted in redraft leagues, but see if you can trade for him in dynasty leagues and expect him to produce enough in 2011 to be a solid third fantasy outfielder.

7) Hank Conger (C, Los Angeles Angels)  ETA: 2011

One of the better catching prospects in baseball, Conger finally stayed healthy in 2009 and put up some impressive numbers. As a 21-year-old in Double-A, Conger hit .295-11-68 with a .369 OBP in 458 ABs, restoring his status as an elite prospect. Conger is a switch-hitter with solid power from both sides of the plate, although he hits for a slightly better average from the right and with more pop from the left. Conger faces some obstacles that may delay his big league ETA. He’s blocked by two good major league catchers in Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis, and is only adequate defensively, which wouldn’t hold him back in many organizations, but may in one run by Mike Scioscia. Still, Conger’s upside is a Top Seven fantasy catcher, capable of hitting .290-20-80, similar to the modern day Jorge Posada. Overshadowed by other catching prospects, such as Carlos Santana, Buster Posey, and Derek Norris, there’s a chance Conger may be available in dynasty leagues. If he is, Conger is a nice grab, as he’s one of the five best catching prospects in the minors.

8) Michael Saunders (OF, Seattle Mariners)  ETA: 2010

Saunders would be higher on this list, but the Mariners’ offseason moves seem to indicate they don’t think he’s ready for regular major league ABs quite yet. After the Mariners acquired Milton Bradley and Eric Byrnes, and resigned Ken Griffey Jr., the odds of Saunders getting 300-plus ABs this year are pretty slim. An all-around average offensive player, Saunders would have been a nice sleeper as a fifth fantasy outfielder this year, capable of hitting .280-15-80 with five stolen bases, if he was given 400 ABs. He will never be a huge contributor to any one fantasy category, but profiles as a Conor Jackson-type solid utility player, capable of boosting team batting average and runs while providing some power and speed. Saunders is still worth drafting in AL-only leagues, but has lost most of his value in redraft leagues. Significantly, Bradley is injury-prone and Byrnes hasn’t been productive since 2007, thus owners should still keep their eyes on Saunders this season. He’s a nice waiver wire pickup if he starts getting regular ABs.

9) Tanner Scheppers (SP, Texas Rangers)  ETA: mid-2011

Although Scheppers was drafted just this past year, his great fastball, filthy curveball, and developing changeup make him nearly major league-ready. If Texas converts him to a reliever, it’s not out of the question that Scheppers could reach the majors by the end of 2010, and fare pretty similarly to how Nefatli Feliz did in the bullpen in 2009. In this role, Scheppers could develop into a Joakim Soria-like Top 10 fantasy closer. If they allow Scheppers to take his time and develop as a starter, he has top-of-the-rotation stuff, and his arsenal of pitches reminds me a lot of Yovani Gallardo, which would make him a solid No.2 fantasy starter. My instincts tell me that Scheppers’ future is directly linked with Feliz’s. If Feliz can start, Texas will likely groom Scheppers to be their closer of the future. If Feliz becomes the Rangers’ fireman, than Scheppers will likely be allowed to start. Either way, dynasty owners should be all over Scheppers. He does have some significant injury history, but his upside is too great to ignore.

10) Grant Green (SS, Oakland Athletics)  ETA: 2012

The 13th overall pick in the 2009 draft, Green’s prospect star as diminished a little bit, as he was once the favorite to be the first position player taken in last year’s draft. A fast, athletic shortstop with a line-drive swing, Green doesn’t have tremendous power potential, but could contribute solidly in every other fantasy category, especially for a middle infielder. Some scouts question whether Green can stay at shortstop. Of course, if he has to move to third base or the outfield, his fantasy value would take a tremendous hit. The A’s believe Green will grow into some power, and if he does, he could be an elite fantasy shortstop. For now, however, I see a little Edgar Renteria in Green. In the future, look for .290 BA/10 HRs/75 RBIs/20 SBs lines from Green; Top 10 fantasy shortstop material. Green should move fairly quickly, and given that only Cliff Pennington blocks him from major league ABs, he could push for time as early as July 2011.

The Next Five

11) Mike Trout (OF, Los Angeles Angels)  ETA: 2013

One of my favorite sleeper prospects, the best thing Trout can do for fantasy owners is stop growing. The favorite to be Torii Hunter’s heir in center field, Trout has five-category fantasy potential and plus speed, but may lose some of that ability if he keeps filling out. As of right now though, Trout compares favorably to Johnny Damon, and is someone I highly recommend to dynasty league owners looking for a prospect bargain.

12) Peter Bourjos (OF, Los Angeles Angels)  ETA: 2011

Bourjos faces somewhat of a conundrum, as he has Hunter in front of him and Trout behind him, threatening his major league playing time. Bourjos’ defensive ability means he’s a better major league prospect than fantasy one, but he still has plus-speed, and could wind up as a poor man’s Jacoby Ellsbury, hitting .280 with 40-plus stolen bases.

13) Trevor Reckling (SP, Los Angeles Angels)  ETA: 2011

Reckling faces an uphill battle to be a starter, as he needs a third pitch and better command, but his fastball and disgusting slurve give him some serious potential. Rushed in 2009, the Angels will likely hold Reckling back a bit in 2010 to give him time to reach his Randy Wolf-like potential as a No .3 innings eater and No. 5 fantasy starter.

14) Max Stassi (C, Oakland Athletics)  ETA: 2013

Taken in the third round of the 2009 draft, Stassi was a first-round talent but fell do to signability issues. He’s a few seasons away, but has the ability to be a Top 10 fantasy catcher in the Jason Varitek mold, capable of providing stellar defense, while hitting .280-20-80 per season in his prime. Dynasty owners looking for a catcher may want to consider taking Stassi before his name value catches up with his potential.

15) Adam Moore (C, Seattle Mariners)  ETA: 2010

Moore isn’t a terrific prospect, but is the favorite to be Seattle’s starting catcher in 2010. If given 450 ABs, he’s capable of posting Kelly Shoppach-like numbers -- .270-15-60. Sadly, that makes Moore a borderline starter in AL-only leagues, as he should outhit Jason Kendall, Lou Marson, and possibly John Buck.