Here's the long-awaited NL Top 10 Prospects column. The overall top 150 will follow. It might happen this week, but I'm not promising it. I do guarantee that I'll have notes columns up on Sunday (AL) and Monday (NL).

National League West

Arizona Diamondbacks

1. Max Scherzer - RHP - DOB: 07/27/84 - ETA: July 2008
2-0, 0.53 ERA, 5 H, 30/2 K/BB in 17 IP (A+ Visalia)
4-4, 3.91 ERA, 64 H, 76/40 K/BB in 73 2/3 IP (AA Mobile)
1-1, 2.13 ERA, 6 H, 18/5 K/BB in 12 2/3 IP (AFL Scottsdale)

It took nearly a full year and $4.3 million in guaranteed money, but the Diamondbacks were able to sign the 11th overall selection in the 2006 draft. Scherzer, a Missouri product, got off to a dominant start after finally making his pro debut last June and ended up with 106 strikeouts in 90 2/3 innings in the minors. Working out of the pen in the Arizona Fall League, he had three times as many strikeouts as hits allowed. Scherzer could be the same kind of asset that Brandon Morrow was for Seattle last year if the Diamondbacks were to turn to him as a reliever now. However, they plan to keep developing him as a starter and hope that his changeup comes along. He has a wicked slider, and his tops out at 95 mph as a starter, 98 mph as a reliever. He's just as likely to be a closer as a starter by 2010, but he has plenty of upside in either role.

2. Jarrod Parker - RHP - DOB: 11/24/88 - ETA: 2011

If the Diamondbacks hadn't spent big to land Scherzer at the end of May, perhaps they would have taken Rick Porcello with the 12th overall pick in the 2007 draft. They instead went for the right-hander widely regarded as the No. 2 high school pitching prospect in the nation in Parker. Already possessing four pitches, including a mid-90s fastball and plus slider, Parker has the same kind of upside as Porcello, though because of his small frame, he might be more susceptible to injury. At least his delivery raises no major red flags. He's advanced enough to open his pro career in full-season ball at low-A South Bend.

3. Gerardo Parra - OF - DOB: 05/06/87 - ETA: 2010
.320/.370/.435, 6 HR, 57 RBI, 51/30 K/BB, 24 SB in 444 AB (A- South Bend)
.284/.303/.382, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 17/4 K/BB, 2 SB in 102 AB (A+ Visalia)

Clearly the best bet in a now weak group of Diamondbacks position prospects, Parra excels at putting the bat on the ball and has hit .318 the last two years. He doesn't offer a lot of power yet, but it's easy to see him becoming a 40-double, 15-homer guy in time. Since he's a fine defensive outfielder, that should be enough to make him a regular. He's a bit stretched in center, but he has plenty of arm for right and could be well above average there in time. He also has an ideal skill set for a fourth outfielder, though he shouldn't have to worry about being typecast in his prime. Since the Diamondbacks hope to be set in the outfield for at least the next three years, they could move Parra in a deadline deal. He should be ready to play for some team in 2010.

4. Brooks Brown - RHP - DOB: 06/20/85 - ETA: May 2009
6-3, 2.81 ERA, 66 H, 74/23 K/BB in 80 IP (A+ Visalia)
4-4, 3.66 ERA, 64 H, 54/36 K/BB in 66 1/3 IP (AA Mobile)

Brown doesn't have the upside teams usually look for in first-round picks, but the sandwich pick out of Georgia in 2006 should prove useful as a fourth or fifth starter or multi-inning reliever. He has pretty good command of a four-pitch arsenal that includes an 89-90 mph sinking fastball and a quality slider. If he's sent to the pen, he'd likely gain velocity and drop his less effective curve and changeup. Since the Diamondbacks aren't lacking for rotation candidates, he figures to at least break into the majors as a reliever initially. He'll be an option before the end of this year, though with the crowd ahead of him, his opportunity might not come.

5. Juan Gutierrez - RHP - DOB: 07/14/83 - ETA: Aug. 2008
5-10, 4.15 ERA, 154 H, 108/63 K/BB in 156 IP (AAA Round Rock)
1-1, 5.91 ERA, 25 H, 16/6 K/BB in 21 1/3 IP (Houston)

An unheralded piece in the Jose Valverde trade, Gutierrez came to the Diamondbacks as one of the most polished prospects left in a barren Houston system. Unfortunately for him, he would have had a much better chance of helping his old team this year. Gutierrez sits in the low-90s with his fastball, and when he gets ahead, both his curveball and changeup become tough to lay off. When he pitches from behind in the count, as he did too often last year, he's pretty hittable. The Astros wanted to keep him in the rotation, but he's probably going to be a reliever if he makes it in Arizona. He'd have setup man potential in that role. Given that other teams still see him as a starter, it'd be no surprise to see him included in another deal this summer.

6. Barry Enright - RHP - DOB: 03/30/86 - ETA: June 2009
0-0, 0 Sv, 0.00 ERA, 4 H, 12/3 K/BB in 8 IP (SS-A Yakima)
0-0, 1 Sv, 0.00 ERA, 1 H, 1/0 K/BB in 2 IP (A- South Bend)
0-0, 1 Sv, 0.00 ERA, 3 H, 4/2 K/BB in 5 IP (A+ Visalia)

The Diamondbacks grabbed Enright out of Pepperdine in the second round of the 2007 draft and used him out of the bullpen the rest of the year in an effort to conserve his arm. He didn't allow a single earned run in 15 innings at three levels, suggesting that he's already on the fast track. Enright wouldn't seem to have a lot of room for growth. His fastball rarely exceeded 90 mph as a starter, but he succeeded by spotting it well and mixing in a plus slider. A very good fielder, he does the little things well enough that he might have a shot at making it as a fourth or fifth starter in the majors. He'll probably finish this year in Double-A.

7. Emilio Bonifacio - 2B - DOB: 04/23/85 - ETA: April 2009
.285/.333/.352, 2 HR, 40 RBI, 105/38 K/BB, 41 SB in 551 AB (AA Mobile)
.217/.333/.261, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3/4 K/BB, 0 SB in 23 AB (Arizona)

Bonifacio isn't really any better of a prospect now than he was when he ranked 14th on the list a year ago, but of the 13 players ahead him then, all but Cyle Hankerd either graduated or got traded.

Bonifacio's main asset remains his outstanding speed. He's capable of bunting for basehits and then getting to second on his own, and his quickness makes him an above average defender at second base. Unfortunately, he rarely drives the ball from either side of the plate and he strikes out far too often for a singles hitter. He'll probably pick up some other positions and have a career as a utility player, but the Diamondbacks will want him to continue to focus on second base for now. He'll be a fallback in 2009 if Orlando Hudson leaves and Chris Burke disappoints as his replacement.

8. Wes Roemer - RHP - DOB: 10/07/86 - ETA: 2010
1-0, 4.50 ERA, 11 H, 18/2 K/BB in 12 IP (SS-A Yakima)

A 6-foot right-hander, Roemer seems to pitch with a chip on his shoulder. He was well known for working inside during a successful career at Cal-State Fullerton and actually ended up hitting 20 more batters than he walked during his time in school. After trying to tie up hitters with his low-90s fastball, he tends to use his slider to go for strikeouts. He'll have to polish his change and mix up his pitches a little better if he hopes to make it to the majors as a starter. He might be a better bet out of the pen.

9. Ed Easley - C- DOB; 12/21/85 - ETA: 2010
.250/.319/.419, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 30/9 K/BB, 1 SB in 124 AB (SS-A Yakima)

Even though there were several teams looking for young catchers in last year's draft and few top prospects available, Easley lasted until the 61st pick and went to a team with two catchers in Chris Snyder and Miguel Montero it hopes to employ for a long time. Easley was steady both offensively and defensively at Mississippi State. He has an above average arm and is mechanically sound behind the plate. His bat is in question, and though he has 15-homer power, the on-base skills probably won't be there to make him an ideal everyday option. Still, he should make it as at least a quality backup.

10. Tyrell Worthington - OF - DOB: 08/02/88 - ETA: 2013
.135/.238/.189, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 11/5 K/BB, 1 SB (R Missoula)

Worthington is so raw that he really shouldn't have made the top 10, but with this being the weakest list the Diamondbacks have featured in a long time, his upside gets him a spot Worthington passed on a football scholarship to sign with Arizona after being drafted in the fifth round last year. He has excellent speed and should become a quality defensive center fielder with experience. It's sure to be a couple of years before his bat comes around and he begins putting up quality minor league numbers, but with so many young regulars under control for five or six years, the Diamondbacks can afford to be patient.


Next five: RHP Billy Buckner, RHP Esmerling Vasquez, RHP Dallas Buck, OF Cyle Hankerd, SS Reynoldo Navarro

Buckner, who came over from Kansas City for Alberto Callaspo, has a better chance of making it as a middle reliever than as a starter. The Diamondbacks lost value in that deal. … Vasquez would have ranked fourth on the list before suffering a torn right labrum diving for a ball in the Arizona Fall League. … Buck will be one to watch once he returns from Tommy John surgery, though he's not going to be full strength until 2009. … Hankerd, just the second repeater from 2007, hit .285/.368/.422 in a nice environment for offense at high-A Visalia last year. … Navarro, a 2007 third-round pick, is a legitimate shortstop with modest offensive potential.


2007 top 15: Chris Young, Justin Upton, Carlos Gonzalez, Miguel Montero, Dustin Nippert, Micah Owings, Alberto Callaspo, Chris Carter, Mark Reynolds, Tony Pena, Greg Smith, Cyle Hankerd, Brett Anderson, Emilio Bonifacio, Gerardo Parra

2006 top 15: Justin Upton, Conor Jackson, Carlos Quentin, Stephen Drew, Chris Young, Dustin Nippert, Carlos Gonzalez, Garrett Mock, Miguel Montero, Matt Torra, Micah Owings, Tony Pena, Jon Zeringue, Enrique Gonzalez, Matt Chico

2005 top 10: Carlos Quentin, Conor Jackson, Sergio Santos, Josh Kroeger, Jon Zeringue, Chris Snyder, Tony Pena, Dustin Nippert, Jamie D'Antona, Bill Murphy

2004 top 10: Scott Hairston, Sergio Santos, Chad Tracy, Dustin Nippert, Brian Bruney, Edgar Gonzalez, Tony Pena, Conor Jackson, Josh Kroeger, Mike Gosling

2003 top 10: Scott Hairston, John Patterson, Chad Tracy, Lyle Overbay, Mike Gosling, Oscar Villarreal, Sergio Santos, Luis Terrero, Brian Barden, Jesus Cota

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