San Diego Padres Top 20 Prospects for 2008

Thomas Merton, a favorite padre of mine

San Diego Padres Top 20 Prospects for 2008

All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change.

1. Chase Headley, 3B, Grade B+ (should this be A-?)
   
2. Matt Antonelli, 2B, Grade B+
   
3. Matt Latos, RHP, Grade B
   
4. Wade LeBlanc, LHP, Grade B
   
5. Will Inman, RHP, Grade B
   
6. Kellen Kulbacki, OF, Grade B
   
7. Cedric Hunter, OF, Grade B- (I still like his chances)
   
8. Kyle Blanks, 1B, Grade B-
   
9. Chad Huffman, OF, Grade B-
   
10. Nick Hundley, C, Grade C+
    
11. Drew Miller, RHP, Grade C+ (great arm, could be higher)
    
12. Steve Garrison, LHP, Grade C+
    
13. Josh Geer, RHP, Grade C+
    
14. Mitch Canham, C, Grade C+
    
15. Cory Luekbe, LHP, Grade C+
    
16. Jeremy Hefner, RHP, Grade C+ (really like this guy)
    
17. Carlos Guevara, RHP, Grade C+ (excellent Rule 5 pick)
    
18. Michael Gardner, RHP, Grade C+ (excellent Rule 5 pick)
    
19. Corey Kluber, RHP, Grade C+
    
20. Ernest Frieri, RHP, Grade C+

Other C+ guys include Drew Cumberland, Luis Durango, Drew Freese, Danny Payne, Nick Schmidt, and very good LOOGY Joe Thatcher. All interchangeable with the C+ guys above. And there are some Cs I like. . .Cesar Carrillo pending his elbow recovery. Cesar Ramos and Will Venable may contribute. Watch a draft sleeper named Wynn Pelzer, has a very live arm.

Of course, full statistics and reports on over 1,000 other players will be in the 2008 Baseball Prospect Book, now available for pre-order. Ships the first Monday in February!