Top 10s Revisited: NL East

With clubs set to infuse more talent into their systems next week, and with two months of minor league data to analyze, it’s a great time to take a quick look at how the Top 10 prospects are doing in each system. Today, we’ll take a look at the National League East.

*The Top 10 lists originally appeared in FanGraphs’ Second Opinion fantasy guide published in March.

Philadelphia Phillies

The organization hasn’t had a ton of prospects take a huge step forward this season, outside of Brown. The outfielder continues to show improved power, which increases his value significantly. He could be ready for the Majors by mid-2010… there’s just no where to play him. Aumont, back in the starting rotation, has definitely been a disappointment and he’s walked 26 batters in 23.0 May innings. It looks like Gillies, another player obtained in the Cliff Lee trade, had his ’09 numbers skewed by the California League.

Atlanta Braves

I think it’s safe to say that Heyward’s impact at the MLB level has been well documented. He’s not the only impressive player from this list, though, that has seen his value increase dramatically. The club has seen a number of starting pitchers up their games, including Teheran, Vizcaino, Delgado, and Minor. Once known for drafting and developing prep pitching, not one of those pitchers was taken out of high school, but that does display the club’s diversity (two players acquired via international free agency, one drafted out of college, one nabbed via trade). Minor, who is second in the minors in strikeouts, may have taken the biggest leap forward, followed by Teheran.

Washington Nationals

The overall depth on the Top 10 list is not that great, but the Top 4 is pretty impressive… even with Norris taking a couple of trips to the disabled list. Strasburg should be joining Storen and Desmond in the Majors within the next week or two. The club will have to draft really well next week or the 2011 Top 10 list could look pretty sad, as there are not a ton of players taking big steps forward in the system beyond the aforementioned prospects.

New York Mets

The MLB club has already received a pretty hefty impact from Davis and Mejia, even if the club is rubbing Mejia’s value (and future) in the mud. Niese was also having a respectable season before hitting the disabled list. Flores has taken a big leap forward with a strong start to his year and he currently has an .842 OPS while repeating low-A ball. Nieuwenhuis is quietly having a nice season.

Florida Marlins

Although I don’t completely agree with it, Stanton should be up some time in June, as he’s been tearing the cover off the ball in double-A and currently has 18 homers and 39 walks in 45 games. He also has 47 strikeouts and is just 20 years old. Morrison would probably get a positive grade if it weren’t for all the injuries he’s endured over the last 12 months. He could soon create a log jam at first base if Sanchez continues to hit well in the Majors. Both Tucker (.324 average allowed vs right-handed hitters) and Dominguez (.705 OPS) are having rough – but not completely hopeless – seasons.

Up Next: The AL Central