Baseball America is cranking out its top 10 prospects lists for every organization. Those lists will expand to top 30 when BA puts out its wonderful Prospects Handbook.

The Top 10:

Name, age at start of 2009 season, position
1. Lars Anderson, 21, 1B
2. Michael Bowden, 22, RHP
3. Nick Hagadone, 23, LHP
4. Daniel Bard, 23, RHP
5. Josh Reddick, 22, OF
6. Casey Kelly, 19, RHP/SS
7. Ryan Westmoreland, 18, OF
8. Michael Almanzar, 18, 3B
9. Tamaico Navarro, 21, SS/3B
10. Stolmy Pimentel, 19, RHP

The list demonstrates the thinning of the prospect pool at the upper levels. Only four of the players have reached Double-A (Anderson, Bowden, Bard and Reddick), and only one (Bowden) has moved beyond that.

Hagadone is an interesting pick at No. 3 since he has thrown only 34 pro innings and is coming off Tommy John surgery.

Bard shows great promise with his fastball but needs polish, especially with his control and a secondary pitch. BA says he may start 2009 in Pawtucket, but I think he begins in Portland.

Reddick is in a slump. He hit .214 in Portland and is struggling in the Arizona Fall League. Adapting to the Red Sox approach at the plate (patience) has been a problem.

Instead of Navarro, I might have gone with Sea Dogs shortstop Argenis Diaz. He hit .288 in Portland and his glove has no rival.

For more on the prospects, see Baseball America

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