For the last few years you've identified a handful of players from Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects list whom you expect to make the biggest jumps in the upcoming season. I've always found this insightful. Can you please identify your picks to do so in 2009?
Stephen Giles
Charlotte
Stephen is being kind. In the past, I've forecast breakouts for such players as Lars Anderson, Jay Bruce, Colby Rasmus and Travis Snider, but I wasn't as accurate in my predictions a year ago. Undaunted, I'll try again.
Three players from the upper half of the Top 100 list who could jump to elite status in 2009 are Rays shortstop Tim Beckham (No. 28), Diamondbacks righthander Jarrod Parker (No. 29) and Cardinals third baseman Brett Wallace (No. 40). The best candidates to make a significant leap from the bottom half of the Top 100 are Cubs third baseman Josh Vitters (No. 51), White Sox third baseman/outfielder Dayan Viciedo (No. 61), Pirates outfielder Jose Tabata (No. 75), Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (No. 87) and Mariners righthander Phillippe Aumont (No. 93).
Going off the board for breakout candidates who didn't crack the Top 100, I'll take Rangers outfielders Engel Beltre and Julio Borbon, Dodgers righty Ethan Martin, Rays righty Jeremy Hellickson, Rays lefty Matt Moore, Royals lefty Mike Montgomery and Royals righty Tim Melville.
Baseball America
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