The Top 10 Prospects: AL Central

You can view our previous Top 10 Prospects columns: NL West | NL Central | NL East | AL West

The Chicago White Sox organization improved its minor league depth this past off-season with the trade of Javier Vazquez to Atlanta, as well as through the signing of Dayan Viciedo. The Cleveland Indians’ top prospects came from a combination of the amateur drafts, international signings, and trades. The club absolutely robbed the Dodgers for catcher Carlos Santana in a trade last season for Casey Blake. The Minnesota Twins organization has created incredible depth through the good ol’ fashion way: Draft and Development.

Kansas City has also learned about the value of drafting well, and the organization out-spent every other organization in baseball last year while acquiring talent in the June amateur draft. The Tigers also benefited from the 2008 draft, although it took a number of players with lower overall ceilings. Those players, though, will likely make it to the Majors much quicker, as one draftee – Ryan Perry – is already pitching at the Major League level.

The Minnesota Twins:
1. Aaron Hicks, OF, Extended Spring Training
2. Ben Revere, OF, Fort Myers (A+)
3. Wilson Ramos, C, New Britain (AA)
4. Anthony Swarzak, RHP, Rochester (AAA)
5. Jose Mijares, LHP, Rochester (AAA)
6. Danny Valencia, 3B, New Britain (AA)
7. Shooter Hunt, RHP, Beloit (A)
8. Angel Morales, OF, Beloit (A)
9. Kevin Mulvey, RHP, Rochester (AAA)
10. Tyler Robertson, LHP, Fort Myers (A+)

Other Prospects of Note: Jeff Manship, Carlos Gutierrez, David Bromberg, Deolis Guerra, Brian Duensing, Trevor Plouffe, Chris Parmalee, Joe Benson

Kansas City Royals
1. Eric Hosmer, 1B, Burlington (A)
2. Mike Moustakas, 3B, Wilmington (A+)
3. Tim Melville, RHP, Extended Spring Training
4. Mike Montgomery, LHP, Extended Spring Training
5. Danny Duffy, LHP, Wilmington (A+)
6. Daniel Cortes, RHP, Northwest Arkansas (AA)
7. Kila Ka’aihue, 1B, Omaha (AAA)
8. Daniel Gutierrez, RHP, Injured
9. Blake Wood, RHP, Northwest Arkansas (AA)
10. Johnny Giavotella, 2B, Wilmington (A+)

Other Prospects of Note: Tyler Sample, Carlos Rosa, Kelvin Herrera, Henry Barrera, David Lough, Derrick Robinson, Jose Bonilla, Yowill Espinal

Detroit Tigers
1. Rick Porcello, RHP, Detroit
2. Ryan Perry, RHP, Detroit
3. Casey Crosby, LHP, West Michigan (A)
4. Jeff Larish, 1B, Detroit
5. Wilkin Ramirez, OF, Toledo (AAA)
6. Cale Iorg, OF, Erie (AA)
7. Cody Satterwhite, RHP, Erie (AA)
8. Scott Sizemore, 2B, Erie (AA)
9. Brett Jacobson, RHP, Lakeland (A+)
10. Ryan Strieby, 1B, Erie (AA)

Other Prospects of Note: Casey Fien, Freddy Dolsi, Scott Green, Jonathan Kibler, Dusty Ryan, Casper Wells, Alex Avila, Will Rhymes

Cleveland Indians
1. Carlos Santana, C, Akron (AA)
2. Matt LaPorta, OF, Columbus (AAA)
3. Adam Miller, RHP, Columbus (AAA)
4. Nick Weglarz, OF, Akron (AA)
5. David Huff, LHP, Columbus (AAA)
6. Beau Mills, 1B, Akron (AA)
7. Michael Brantley, OF, Columbus (AAA)
8. Kevin De La Cruz, LHP, Kinston (A+)
9. Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B, Kinston (A+)
10. Hector Rondon, RHP, Akron (AA)

Other Prospects of Note: Tony Sipp, T.J. House, Jonathan Meloan, Luis Valbuena, Carlos Rivero, Wes Hodges, Trevor Crowe, Cord Phelps

Chicago White Sox
1. Gordon Beckham, SS, Birmingham (AA)
2. Dayan Viciedo, 3B, Birmingham (AA)
3. Tyler Flowers, C, Birmingham (AA)
4. Chris Getz, 2B, Chicago
5. Aaron Poreda, LHP, Birmingham (AA)
6. Brandon Allen, 1B, Birmingham (AA)
7. Jordan Danks, OF, Winston-Salem (A+)
8. John Shelby, OF, Birmingham (AA)
9. Clayton Richard, LHP, Chicago
10. John Ely, RHP, Birmingham (AA)

Other Prospects of Note: Clevelan Santeliz, Gregory Infante, Lance Broadway, Brent Lillibridge, Cole Armstrong, Eduardo Escobar, Brent Morel, Jon Gilmore