Most of the major prospect experts have published their Top 50/Top 100 prospect lists for 2010. I will look at it from a different point of view. I will take a look at the prospects who will be an injury away from getting a call up to the big league club in 2010.
An Injury Away: NL East Prospects Who Could Get The Call
NL East
Phillies-outfielder Dominic Brown is the Phillies top prospect, and possible starting rightfielder in 2011 after Jayson Werth leaves for free agency, but my choice here is reliever Philippe Aumont. The Phillies will have Aumont start in AA Reading this season as a starter, but should the Phillies bullpen run into problems closing games, Aumont has the fastball to get 3 outs come July.
Mets-outfield prospect Fernando Martinez just needs a solid spring and an injury-free 2-3 months, and he could get a call once Jeff Franceour or Gary Matthews go into the expected long slump. Or, if Carlos Beltran can't make it back till July/August timeframe. I would not be surprised that Beltran takes longer than expected to return this season, as he wants to be injury free for his walk year in 2011.
Braves-this is an easy choice, and I don't have to write too much about him as he is the #1 prospect in baseball. Should the Braves decide to send outfield prospect Jason Heyward down to AAA to start the season, he will be the first prospect called up if their is an injury to Nate McLouth, Matt Diaz or Melky Cabrera. A close second is first base prospect Freddie Freeman. With the injury history of Troy Glaus, Freeman could get called up before his September cup-of-coffee.
Marlins-The major concern with outfield prospect Michael Stanton is his strikeout rate in 2009. But he has bigtime power and could get a call should one of Cameron Maybin, Cody Ross or Chris Coghlan go down with an injury. Marlins color analyst Tommy Hutton has said that he thinks both Stanton and first base prospect Logan Morrison will log some major league time by this summer.
Nationals-pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg is the easy choice here, but I will throw out SS prospect Ian Desmond. Check out what Fantasy Alpha has to say about Desmond here. Ther Nationals are obviously not happy with Christian Guzman's fielding or bat, as he is an empty .300 hitter with a deteriorating glove. Look for Desmond to see some time at SS or 2B in 2010.
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