Here is the top 5 from Kevin Goldstein at Baseball Prospectus:
1. Jay Bruce, OF, Reds
2. Clay Buchholz, RHP, Red Sox
3. Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays
4. Joba Chamberlain, RHP, Yankees
5. Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Dodgers
Interesting that Goldstein ranks Buchholz ahead of Chamberlain. I think Joba has a slight edge over Clay but I’m probably splitting hairs.
Other Yankees ranked on Goldstein’s list were Ian Kennedy (34), Austin Jackson (47), Jose Tabata (48), and Alan Horne (67).
And now here is Keith Law’s (ESPN) top five:
1. Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays
2. Jay Bruce, OF, Reds
3. Joba Chamberlain, RHP, Yankees
4. Clay Buchholz, RHP, Red Sox
5. Colby Rasmus, CF, Cardinals
Other Yankee’s ranked by Law include Jose Tabata (21), Austin Jackson (24), Ian Kennedy (45) and Andrew Brackman (100).
So they both agree on Chamberlain, Tabata, Kennedy and Jackson, while Goldstein likes Horne and Law likes the upside of Brackman.
Not a bad showing here by the Yankees, especially from Austin Jackson. After his terrific end to the 2007 season at High-A Tampa and a spectacular showing in the Hawaiian Winter League, he’s shot up everyone’s lists.