Anything can happen between now and June but, these guys seem to be the cream of the crop.  The Padres have the 9^th pick overall in the 2010 first-year player draft.  So who could be available at #9?  Once again pitching is the strength of the draft with college hitters being the weakness. Harper could easily be the only position player taken in the top 10.

Position Prospects:

Bryce Harper- Catcher, College of Southern Nevada, Born Oct. 16, 1992, Draft Day Age=17.6, 6-3/205, Bats Left/Throws Right.

Harper is the hype monster!  No draft prospect has ever been hyped like Bryce Harper and for good reason.  He is one of the best draft prospects ever.  He is considered a once in a lifetime type talent and will likely hear his name called first overall in the 2010 first-year player draft.  What is even more impressive is how he's doing it.  Harper is skipping his senior year of high school and has enrolled in the College of Southern Nevada to become eligible a year earlier at 17.   So far Harper has been impressive at the College of Southern Nevada.  He's hitting .362 .426 .723 with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs and 15 RBI.  He also has 3 stolen bases and a 6/9 BB/SO ratio.  Harper was a catcher in high school but, is playing some 3B for the Coyote's.  In professional ball he profiles as more of a right fielder to take full advantage of his bat.  If he keeps these kinds of numbers up the only thing that will keep the Nationals from taking him first overall is his price tag.  Considering Harpers talent and his adviser (Scott Boras), the price is going to be steep.  Harper is a true 5 tool talent.  He hits for average, has prodigious power, a great arm, speed and good defense behind the plate.  His passion for the game brings it all together.

Christian Colon- Shortstop, Cal State Fullerton, Born May 14, 1989, Draft Day Age=21.1, 6-0/180, Bats Right/Throws Right.

Colon is the top middle infield prospect coming into the 2010 season.  His best tool is his bat.  He had a strong sophomore season hitting .357 with 8 homeruns and 40 RBI.  He also played very well for USA’s college national team leading the team in homeruns, RBI’s and stolen bases.  His summer ended on bad note when he suffered a broken leg in the final game.  While his defense is solid, he may end up at second base.  He has average range and fantastic hand eye coordination.  He has good bat speed and makes consistent hard contact.  His bat will ultimately determine how far his career goes.  He could be an above average major league SS/2B.

Zack Cox- Third Baseman, Arkansas, Born: May 9th, 1989, Draft Day Age=21.1, 6-0/215, Bats Left/Throws Right

The draft eligible sophomore recovered from a slow start to have a solid freshman season.  He has good bat speed and uses the whole field.  He profiles as a decent third baseman with a strong arm.  In fact, he even pitched in relief for the Razorbacks and had 4.82 ERA with 15 K’s in 18.1 IP.  Cox was the Cape Cod League All-Star Game MVP and a freshman All-American by Louisville Slugger.  Cox struggled at the beginning of the year with metal but, hit .344 with wood in the Cape Cod League.  He should land somewhere in the top 15 with a good sophomore season.

Honorable mentions:

Manny Machado, SS, Brito HS, Miami, 6-2/180, Bats Right/Throws Right.  Machado is a lean athletic kid.  He’s smooth at SS with good hands and a good arm.  He’s a natural hitter with an open stance that sprays line drives to all fields.  He could develop above average power when he fills out.

Yordy Cabrera, SS, Lakeland HS, Florida, 6-4 190, Bats Right/Throws Right.  Cabrera is a legitimate 5 tool talent.  He has a fantastic Power/Speed combination, good infield movements and a great arm.  He also has been used as a closer topping his fastball out at 94 MPH.

LeVon Washington, CF/2B, Chipola JC, Florida, 5-10/170, Bats Left/Throws Right.  Washington is re-entering the draft after the Tampa Bay Rays failed to sign him as the 30^th overall pick in last year’s draft.  Washington’s defense is a question mark but, he is a very exciting offensive player.  He has special speed (6.21 seconds in the 60-yard dash) and contact skills.  He’s got a quick bat with gap power.  He could be an elite leadoff hitter in the major leagues.  He should be selected in the first round again in 2010.

Pitching Prospects:

Jameson Taillon- Right-handed Pitcher, The Woodlands (HS) in Texas, Born November 18, 1991 Draft Day Age=18.6, 6-7/235, Bats Right/Throws Right.

Taillon (pronounced "TAY-own") has the ultimate projection at 6-7/235 and has drawn comparisons to Stephen Strasburg at only 17 years old.  His fastball sits at 93-95 MPH and touches 96.  He has a very good low 80’s curve with late break, a solid slider and the makings of a solid changeup.  There’s really not much more that needs to be said for this potential front of the rotation starter that should go at least in the top 5.

Anthony Ranaudo- Pitcher, Louisiana State Born Sept. 9, 1989 Draft Day Age=20.7, 6-7/235, Bats Right/Throws Right.

Ranaudo is another pitcher with great size and projection.  Ranaudo was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 11^th round of the 2007 draft but, decided to go to LSU instead.  He uses his height to his advantage to create a good downhill plane.  He finished the year with a 3.04 ERA and a 159/50 K/BB ratio.  He has a 90-93 MPH fastball with a good curveball and changeup.  He projects as a workhorse ace that will also likely be taken within the first 5 picks.

A.J. Cole- Pitcher, Oviedo HS (FL), Born Jan. 5, 1992, Draft Day Age=18.4 6-5/190, Bats Right/Throws Right.

Cole’s smooth and easy delivery produces fastballs that sit 90-95 MPH and can touch 98.  He has a curveball that has the potential to be a plus pitch and an inconsistent changeup.  Like Taillon and Ranaudo, Cole has good physical projection.  Cole could develop into a front of the rotation pitcher if his secondary pitches continue to develop.  He has been compared to Rick Porcello and should hear his name called early in the first round.

Honorable Mentions:

Deck McGuire, RHP, Georgia Tech, 6-6/220, Bats Right/Throws Right.

McGuire’s stuff and size are very comparable to Ranaudo.  He should go in the first round and possibly in the top 10.  Some scouts have concerns about how he handles pressure situations.

Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Mississippi, 6-5/230, Bats Right/Throws Left.

Pomeranz also has very good physical projection and he’s a lefty.  He’s got a 90-94 MPH fastball, biting 12-6 curve and a solid changeup.  Pomeranz broke the team USA strikeout record by fanning 17 in only 6 innings VS. Guatemala.  He should go in the first round and could creep into the top 10.

Karsten Whitson, RHP, Chipley (Fla.) HS, 6-4/195 Bats Right/Throws Right.

Whitson pounds the strike zone with a 90-95 MPH fastball that requires little effort.  He also has a sharp slider in the 78-81 range.  He should hear his name on the first day of the draft.

Others to keep an eye on:

Chris Sale LHP, Dylan Covey RHP, Alex Wimmers RHP, Josh Sale OF, Bryce Brentz OF, Rick Hague SS, Stetson Allie RHP/3B, Nick Castellanos 3B…

This barely begins to scratch the surface of the talent of the 2010 draft class.  My early prediction for the Padres is that they go with another high school player unless by some miracle someone like Harper (who should be in HS) or Ranaudo falls to #9.  I also think it will most likely be a pitcher.