Every year, the Baseball America writers produce an in-depth analysis of top prospects from every major league baseball organization. This year's edition is more of the same, with updated rankings and analysis for all 30 organization's farm systems. This project really draws on the strength of the BA team, as no other publication does a more thorough job of talking to pro scouts. The 2008 rookies are covered, but you'll also learn about recent draftees and guys who are years away from the major leagues. Each player entry includes biographical information, a paragraph summary of scouting reports, and basic statistics when available. There are a few 'extras', too. This year, Baseball America brought back their early 2008 draft rankings so you can get a head start on learning about the top prospects for the June draft.
Of course, the book isn't perfect. The writing isn't always easy to read. The analytical skills of the writers are also questionable. The rankings still reflect traditional scouting biases and may overemphasize player size, fastball velocity among pitchers, and speed/athleticism among hitters. Just last year, they ranked Daniel Bard ahead of 2007 AL Rookie of the Year Dustin Pedroia. There are plenty of similar rankings in this book, where Drew Stubbs is still portrayed as a top-five prospect within his organization.
But the rankings are really a small part of this work, and there is just an amazing amount of information in this book. Buy this book and learn about the history, strength, and weaknesses of over 900 young baseball players that the average fan has never heard of.
