Top 10 College Prospects For The 2009 MLB Draft

The MLB Draft takes a back seat to the NBA and NFL Drafts due to the fact that it’s selections usually take multiple years in the minor league system before making an impact on the pro level.  But that doesn’t belittle the importance of making the right pick come draft day, which will be especially easy for the Washington Nationals, who have the first pick in this year’s annual gala. Here, we’ve broken down the Top 10 College Prospects looking to be taken off the board, giving you a quick preview of the upcoming 2009 MLB Draft.

(Click players names to view official MLB.com Draft Report along with video and statistics)

1.  Stephen Strasburg – RHP, San Diego State

There has never been a more clear-cut number-one overall selection. Strasburg is becoming a legendary pitching prospect oozing with can’t-miss potential.  The powerful right-hander has struck out more than half the batters he has faced throughout his collegiate career and scouts insist he is only getting better and better.  In his final home start for the Aztecs, he threw a 17-strikeout no-hitter against Air Force that put his season record at 11-0 with 164 strikeouts in only 87.1 innings (which includes a 23-strikeout game).  The only question that remains is how much money will he and villainous agent Scott Boras set the record books with once the Washington Nationals tab him with the first pick.

2.  Dustin Ackley – 1B, North Carolina

Ackley has been considered one of the the greatest hitters in the nation over his three seasons as a Tar Heel.  He has impressed scout after scout with his .409 BA/36 HR/185 RBIs career numbers, and his ridiculous OPS of 1.273 for the 2009 season.  The UNC first baseman could go as high as the second overall pick in the upcoming draft.

3.  Grant Green – SS, USC

The thing that makes Grant Green so intriguing is the effortless way he thrives at the plate and the charismatic way he carries himself on the field.  Green has been compared to the likes of Troy Tulowitzki and sometimes even the great Derek Jeter.  Green’s high potential at a key position like shortstop will have teams willing to use an early first round pick on him hoping to nail down the position for years to come.

4.  Alex White – RHP, North Carolina

The other A-plus prospect on the Tar Heel roster is right handed pitcher Alex White.  White has been dominant at times over his brief two-year career at UNC, posting a 13-3 record and 2.83 ERA this season, while averaging more than a strikeout per inning (113 in 101.2 innings pitched).

5.  Kyle Gibson – RHP, Missouri

Gibson is an intriguing prospect trying to follow in the footsteps of fellow Missouri pitchers, Max Scherzer and Aaron Crow, to be selected in the upper half of the first round.  Gibson is an intriguing prospect especially because he is a 6-6 210 lb pitcher with a plus fastball, a plus change-up, and a solid slider.  With proper teaching, he could use his tall frame to mold his slider into a deadly strikeout pitch – and he’s already averaged greater than 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings as a Tiger.

6.  Andrew Oliver – LHP, Oklahoma State

Oliver has been a highly touted left-handed pitcher since his days of dominance in Vermilion, Ohio, where he posted a 21-4 high school record with a 0.96 ERA and 354 strikeouts.  He was drafted out of high school in the 17th round by the Minnesota Twins, but decided to go to Oklahoma State instead.  In 2008, he was a convincing 7-2 with a 2.20 ERA, which led to his selection onto the USA Collegiate National Team, where he posted a 2-0 record while holding hitters to a .159 average.

7.  Kentrail Davis – OF, Tennessee

The stocky and powerful outfielder from Tennessee is built like a beast who will provide a great bat to whichever team selects the Volunteer outfielder.  His .330 average, 13 homers, and 44 RBIs as a freshman helped garner him First Team Freshman All-American honors last year, and helped put him in the minds of MLB scouts around the league.

8.  Kendal Volz – RHP, Baylor

Another intriguing right-handed pitching prospect out of Baylor is trying to follow in the footsteps of former NL Rookie of the Year, Jason Jennings.  Volz busted onto the scene and solidified his standing as a top hurler in this year’s draft after a dominant performance as a member of the USA Collegiate National Team.  There, he allowed only one unearned run in 14 innings and lead the staff with a disgusting 0.00 ERA, all while holding opponents to a .130 batting average.

9.  Rich Poythress – 1B, Georgia

This big powerful first basemen out of Georgia is equipped with the body to become a basher at the next level.  Poythress helped the Bulldogs reach the 2008 College Baseball World Series, while batting .374 with 15 homers and 75 RBIs on the season.  He also made First Team All-SEC Defensive Team with a .995 fielding percentage.

10.  Mike Leake – RHP, Arizona State

Leake is a California native who came to the Sun Devils and has taken the Pac-10 by storm.  He followed up a First Team All-Pac-10 Team freshman season with another outstanding performance that named him Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year last year.  He was also honored as a First Team All-Pac-10 selection and Second Team All-American, posting an 11-3 record and 3.49 ERA.