Draft prep: Top National League prospects

Feb. 13, 2008
By Eric Mack
Senior Fantasy Writer
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Breaking down our Preseason Top 100 prospects, we outline the top NL-only prospects to watch. Lists such as this one have become more and more pertinent in recent years as teams are eschewing costly midseason trades in order to give chances to their lower-level farm hands. We also have a separate AL-only prospect list.

We guarantee not all of these players will appear in the majors this season -- and we certainly left out some names who will surprise -- but use this list as a guide to help you find hidden gems in deeper long-term keeper leagues. We rank them based on their projected contributions in Fantasy this year only, taking the younger and raw prospects' talent and hype in consideration as well.

Note: All players on this list remain rookie eligible, according to official MLB rules, meaning they have less than 130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched or 45 days of service time in the major leagues.

CBSSports.com's top National League prospects
Rk	Player	TM	Age	Pos	2007 high	Destination
1	Jay Bruce	CIN	20	OF	Triple-A	Triple-A
Might not start year in majors, but next "Larry Walker" will get a chance soon enough.
2	Cameron Maybin	FLA	20	OF	Majors	Majors
Initially will contribute in steals, but he is an elite talent with 40-40 potential long term.
3	Geovany Soto	CHC	25	C	Majors	Majors
Triple-A MVP's numbers came out of nowhere, but they were so good you have to take notice.
4	Andy LaRoche	LAD	24	3B	Majors	Majors
Dodgers say he will enter spring on equal ground with Nomar Garciaparra for starting 3B job.
5	Joey Votto	CIN	24	1B	Majors	Majors
Great OPS bat has wide-open shot in a great hitter's park, but he plays a competitive position.
6	Kosuke Fukudome	CHC	30	OF	Japan	Majors
Import is a well-rounded outfielder the Cubs are paying a lot of money to produce.
7	Colby Rasmus	CIN	21	OF	Double-A	Majors
Some in Cards organization believe he is capable of handling the huge jump from Double-A.
8	Franklin Morales	COL	22	LHP	Majors	Majors
Stretch run was great, but he won't have a certain rotation spot like Ubaldo Jimenez does.
9	Homer Bailey	CIN	21	RHP	Majors	Majors
Talent is as good as anyone's but he has some significant development steps to take still.
10	Chase Headley	SD	23	3B	Majors	Majors
Move to outfield should get him a great chance to open year in San Diego's starting lineup.
11	Ian Stewart	COL	22	3B	Majors	Majors
If we were certain he can handle the defensive switch to second, he would be in the top 10.
12	Matt Antonelli	SD	22	2B	Double-A	Triple-A
A year behind Headley, but we wouldn't doubt he could open the year in LF in San Diego.
13	Hiroki Kuroda	LAD	33	RHP	Japan	Majors
Reports say he can throw mid-90s with outstanding command. He's old, but at least intriguing.
14	Steve Pearce	PIT	24	1B/OF	Majors	Majors
His bat is ready, but he needs a position. The Pirates need to play guys like Pearce.
15	J.R. Towles	HOU	24	C	Majors	Majors
Astros are ready to hand the position over full time to this future top-10 Fantasy catcher.
16	Clayton Kershaw	LAD	20	LHP	Double-A	Double-A
Scouts are unanimous on his high ceiling, but he is just too young to consider for '08.
17	Manny Parra	MIL	25	LHP	Majors	Majors
If he wins a rotation spot out of spring training, move him into the top 25 rookies portion.
18	Carlos Carrasco	PHI	21	RHP	Double-A	Triple-A
If he gets a chance to start for the Phils in '08, look out for some potentially huge dividends.
19	Johnny Cueto	CIN	22	RHP	Triple-A	Triple-A
It shouldn't take much for him to get a look. If he opens in rotation, he is a top-20 guy.
20	Andrew McCutchen	PIT	21	OF	Double-A	Triple-A
Looks like another Lastings Milledge to us; can arrive soon but star later down the road.
21	Max Scherzer	ARI	23	RHP	Double-A	Triple-A
06 No. 1 pick had solid first pro season and has a good shot at ending in D-Backs' rotation.
22	Jordan Schafer	ATL	21	OF	High Class A	Double-A
Not candidate to open year in CF for Atlanta, but we like his chances of finishing there.
23	Christopher Marrero	WAS	20	1B	High Class A	High Class A
Age will keep him from making a huge impact this year, but he could rise quickly.
24	Jair Jurrjens	ATL	22	RHP	Majors	Triple-A
If he winds up in Braves rotation to start the season, you should move him into the top 20.
25	Collin Balester	WAS	21	RHP	Triple-A	Triple-A
It won't take much for the Nats' closest pitching prospect to earn rotation spot.
26	Brandon Jones	ATL	24	OF	Majors	Majors
Might start year as reserve with Braves, but he lacks real power or steals potential.
27	Jayson Nix	COL	25	2B	Triple-A	Triple-A
Reports may have him ahead of Stewart for starting 2B job, but we obviously like Ian more.
28	William Inman	SD	21	RHP	Double-A	Double-A
Key piece in the Scott Linebrink to Brewers deal has struggled above Class A so far.
29	Chris Volstad	FLA	21	RHP	Double-A	Double-A
The rebuilding Marlins won't need to see much more of him before they call him up.
30	Ross Detwiler	WAS	22	LHP	Majors	High Class A
Sixth overall pick should be watched for potentially huge second-half dividends.
31	Matt LaPorta	MIL	23	OF	Low Class A	Double-A
Seventh overall pick in '07 draft has great bat that won't need much minors time.
32	Joe Savery	PHI	22	LHP	Low Class A	High Class A
Rice product shouldn't need much time in minors, so Phils may give him look late.
33	Gaby Hernandez	FLA	21	RHP	Double-A	Triple-A
Another pitcher the rebuilding Marlins will give a look to far sooner than others would.
34	Neil Walker	PIT	22	3B	Triple-A	Triple-A
His numbers would have played a lot better at catcher than at third base.
35	Joe Mather	STL	25	OF	Triple-A	Triple-A
Third-rounder from '01 has been in system awhile, but peaked with 31 HRs last year.
36	Brent Lillibridge	ATL	24	SS	Triple-A	Triple-A
Figures to be fall-back option if Yunel Escobar falters or gets injured in first full season.
37	Fernando Martinez	NYM	19	OF	Double-A	Double-A
Injuries and being rushed up the Mets' chain have kept him from posting good numbers.
38	Brett Sinkbiel	FLA	23	RHP	High Class A	Double-A
First-round pick has to get over nagging injuries, but Marlins won't be afraid to advance him.
39	Chin-Lung Hu	LAD	24	SS	Majors	Triple-A
Could develop into .300 hitter in majors and might be Rafael Furcal's successor.
40	Chris Coghlan	FLA	22	2B	High Class A	Double-A
Power at second could help Marlins deal off much older Dan Uggla for more prospects.
41	Jason Heyward	ATL	18	OF	Low Class A	Low Class A
An outstanding debut has toolsy high school draftee high on Braves' prospect radar.
42	Josh Vitters	CHC	18	3B	Low Class A	Low Class A
Another '07 first-rounder who could arrive quickly but won't impact Fantasy this year.
43	Angel Villalona	SF	17	3B	Low Class A	Low Class A
Scouts and Baseball America love his high ceiling, so that's enough for us.
44	Tim Alderson	SF	19	RHP	Low Class A	Low Class A
6-foot-7 prospect throws in low-90s but you should expect more power to come.
45	Jarrod Parker	ARI	19	RHP	High school	Low Class A
Baseball America has compared him to Scott Kazmir and Tim Lincecum, wow!

You can e-mail Emack your Fantasy Baseball questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: NL-only prospects in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses to all questions.