backstop has been as good as advertised, making his pro debut all the way with Class A Advanced Frederick in the Carolina League. He's hit .341 through his first 27 games, while sporting a .966 on-base plus slugging percentage that leads the league. He's also thrown out 40 percent of would-be basestealers.

6. Ross Detwiler, LHP, Washington Nationals
The surprise September callup last year began the season with Class A Advanced Potomac and has scuffled a little bit. In six starts, the southpaw has a 5.18 ERA over 24 1/3 innings. He's yielded 30 hits -- for a .309 average -- and walked 14, which hasn't helped.

7. Matt LaPorta, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
Making his full-season debut all the way up in Double-A doesn't seem to faze LaPorta. Neither does moving fromleft to right field, evidently. LaPorta has hit .333 through 29 games, leading the Southern League in home runs (9), RBIs (32), slugging (.716) and OPS (1.147).

8. Casey Weathers, RHP, Colorado Rockies
The Rockies didn't hesitate to push Weathers, a college closer and senior, quickly moving him to Double-A to start the year. Though he's not closing, he does have a 1.54 ERA in 11 outings, holding Texas League hitters to a .171 batting average against.

9. Jarrod Parker, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Parker's been everything the D-Backs had hoped for and more during his pro debut in the full-season Midwest League. The high school right-hander has a 1.31 ERA through five starts, slowly building himself up and going deeper in each game he's pitched. He's racked up 19 K's and walked