As those who followed our Top 40 Prospects countdown over the last month and a half know, the selection of the master list was a melding of the individual views from four of us here at The Birdhouse, stlcardinals.scout.com.
As a result, a handful of deserving players on each of our personal lists did not make the consolidated Top 40. This is the first of four articles where each of us will highlight those prospects – our “Best of the Rest”.
Here is the overall Top 40, with my list next to it. Highlighted are the names unique to each list.
| Rank |
Group |
|
Mileur |
| 1 |
Colby Rasmus |
1 |
Colby Rasmus |
| 2 |
Brett Wallace |
2 |
Brett Wallace |
| 3 |
Brian Anderson |
3 |
Jess Todd |
| 4 |
Jess Todd |
4 |
Bryan Anderson |
| 5 |
Darryl Jones |
5 |
David Freese |
| 6 |
David Freese |
6 |
Daryl Jones |
| 7 |
Jason Motte |
7 |
Mitchell Boggs |
| 8 |
Mitchell Boggs |
8 |
Jason Motte |
| 9 |
Jaime Garcia |
9 |
Clayton Mortensen |
| 10 |
Jon Jay |
10 |
Jon Jay |
| 11 |
Clayton Mortensen |
11 |
Richard Castillo |
| 12 |
Pete Kozma |
12 |
Adam Ottavino |
| 13 |
Adam Ottavino |
13 |
Allen Craig |
| 14 |
Allen Craig |
14 |
Jaime Garcia |
| 15 |
Richard Castillo |
15 |
Pete Kozma |
| 16 |
Niko Vasquez |
16 |
Nick Additon |
| 17 |
Tyler Greene |
17 |
Francisco Samuel |
| 18 |
Lance Lynn |
18 |
Lance Lynn |
| 19 |
Francisco Samuel |
19 |
Niko Vasquez |
| 20 |
Josh Kinney |
20 |
Adam Reifer |
| 21 |
Nick Additon |
21 |
Tyler Greene |
| 22 |
Adam Reifer |
22 |
Fernando Salas |
| 23 |
P.J. Walters |
23 |
Scott Gorgen |
| 24 |
Fernando Salas |
24 |
Steven Hill |
| 25 |
Tyler Herron |
25 |
Deryk Hooker |
| 26 |
Scott Gorgen |
26 |
Nick Stavinoha |
| 27 |
Deryk Hooker |
27 |
Josh Kinney |
| 28 |
Shaun Garceau |
28 |
Shaun Garceau |
| 29 |
Steven Hill |
29 |
Tyler Herron |
| 30 |
Nick Stavinoha |
30 |
Arquimedes Nieto |
| 31 |
Mark Worrell |
31 |
Shane Robinson |
| 32 |
Jon Edwards |
32 |
David Kopp |
| 33 |
Shane Robinson |
33 |
Curt Smith |
| 34 |
David Kopp |
34 |
Ryde Rodriguez |
| 35 |
Roberto De La Cruz |
35 |
Mark Worrell |
| 36 |
Jose Martinez |
36 |
Colt Sedbrook |
| 37 |
Luke Gregerson |
37 |
Jon Edwards |
| 38 |
Arquimedes Nieto |
38 |
Luke Gregerson |
| 39 |
Curt Smith |
39 |
P.J. Walters |
| 40 |
Ryde Rodriguez |
40 |
Mike
Parisi |
This year I had only two of my Top 40 prospects miss the cut in the Birdhouse’s combined rankings; middle infielder, Colt Sedbrook, that I had at #36 and right-handed pitcher, Mike Parisi, who just missed my cut, at #40.
Colt Sedbrook, the Birdhouse’s Batavia Player of the Year, led the New York-Penn League Champion Muckdogs, in most offensive categories, racking up multi-honors last year including; NYPL mid-season All-Star, Baseball America’s Class-A Short Season All-Star team and the 2009 Topps/Minor League Baseball Short-Season/Rookie All-Star team.
The 23-year-old Sedbrook, hit .305 with nine doubles, five triples, two homers and 33 RBIs for the Batavia Muckdogs. His batting average and 84 hits ranked among the leaders in the NY-Penn League. Selected by the Cardinals in the 22nd round (665th overall) of the 2008 First Year Player Draft, Sedbrook appeared to me to be a potential steal in last year’s draft. Not afraid to take charge on the infield, Sedbrook has those intangibles that tend to make up for a lack of tools that could carry him to “The Show”. He’ll get a chance to showcase his talent in full-season ball in 2009 and should break into our Top 40 rankings at the end of the year.
Mike Parisi, selected in the ninth round (270th overall) of the June, 2004 First-Year Player Draft, made his major league debut last season before being shut down in August and having Tommy John surgery that will keep him sidelined for most, if not all of the 2009 campaign.
Parisi, who turns 26 in April, appeared in 12 games for the Cardinals last year, including, two starts, posting a major league record of 0-4 with an 8.22 ERA. Mike’s major league debut was somewhat disappointing, considering he went 8-2 with a 3.86 ERA for Triple-A Memphis.
In November the Cardinals outrighted the right-handed pitcher off their 40-man roster to Triple-A Memphis, exposing Parisi to the December’s Rule 5 Draft. Of course there wasn’t any interest in a prospect that won’t be able to pitch anywhere next season, let alone take up a coveted spot on a 25-man roster.
The Cardinals, who control Mike’s contract through the 2010 season, will likely sign Mike to another one-year contract in March. In the meantime, Mike’s 8-2 record with a 3.86 ERA for Triple-A Memphis and a trip to the big show, will not soon be forgotten by the only second Major League Baseball player to hail from Sachem High School in Lake Ronkonkoma, New York on Long Island.
To reference our entire list of top 40 Cardinals prospects for 2008 and read about each individual player, click here. You can also learn more about each of the voters’ philosophies in making their selections and much more.
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