After a monster 2011 season, Arenado jumps from No. 44 to No. 21

Just as we did prior to the start of the 2011 season, The Golden Sombrero is currently unveiling our Top 50 Prospects.  Due to the promotion of many of baseball’s finest prospects over the course of last season, our new list features a slew of new names thanks to strong performances across various minor league levels.  Only time will tell whether this new crop of prospects will match the hype and success of last season’s, but one thing is certain – they are the future of baseball.  Before we crack the Top 10, however, here is a quick recap of the players we’ve highlighted thus far, and where they were ranked headed into the 2011 season:

50. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

49. Christian Yelich, OF, Miami Marlins – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

48.  Joseph Wieland, RHP, San Diego Padres – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

47. Jarred Cosart, RHP, Houston Astros – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

46. Michael Choice, OF, Oakland Athletics – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

45. Matt Harvey, RHP, New York Mets – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

44. Sonny Gray, RHP, Oakland Athletics – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

43. Zack Cox, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals, — Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

42. Yasmani Grandal, C, Cincinnati Reds – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

41. Zack Wheeler, RHP, New York Mets – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

40. Hak-Ju Lee, SS, Tampa Bay Rays – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

39. Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle Mariners – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

38. Wil Myers, OF, Kansas City Royals – Pre-2011 Rank: 15

37. Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Boston Red Sox – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

36. Brett Jackson, OF, Chicago Cubs – Pre-2011 Ranks: 43

35. Carlos Martinez, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

34. Gary Brown, OF, San Francisco Giants – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

33. Randall Delgado, RHP, Atlanta Braves – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

32. Starling Marte, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

31. Robbie Erlin, LHP, San Diego Padres – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

30. Arodys Vizcaino, RHP, Atlanta Braves – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

29. Jonathan Singleton, 1B/OF, Houston Astros – Pre-2011 Rank: 37

28. Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Kansas City Royals – Pre-2011 Rank: 35

27. Travis d’Arnaud, C, Toronto Blue Jays – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

26. Manny Banuelos, LHP, New York Yankees – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

25. Miguel Sano, 3B, Minnesota Twins – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

24. Josh Bell, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates – Pre-2011 Rank: N/A

23. Martin Perez, LHP, Texas Rangers – Pre-2011 Rank: 28

22. Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Colorado Rockies – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

21. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies – Pre-2011 Rank: 44

20. Archie Bradley, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks – Pre-2011 Rank: N/A

19. Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Chicago Cubs – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

18. Tyler Skaggs, LHP, Arizona Diamondbacks – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

17. Devin Mesoraco, C, San Diego Padres – Pre-2011 Rank: 27

16. Bubba Starling, OF, Kansas City Royals – Pre-2011 Rank: N/A

15. Jarrod Parker, RHP, Oakland Athletics – Pre-2011 Rank: 8

14. Jacob Turner, RHP, Detroit Tigers – Pre-2011 Rank: 19

13. Jurickson Profar, SS, Texas Rangers – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

12. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates – Pre-2011 Rank: 14

11. Danny Hultzen, LHP, Seattle Mariners – Pre-2011 Rank: N/A

#25 Miguel Sano

Minnesota Twins

DOB: 5/11/1993

Previous Rank: N/R

ETA: 2014

Sano was the top international free agent in 2009, and he absolutely torched the Appalachian League in 2011 posting a .292/.352/.637 slash line with 20 jacks.  He was the consensus top player in the league and one of the top players in the low Minors nationwide.  Sano can go out to all fields but demonstrates a great deal of rawness at the plate and in the field.

He gets down late and cannot hold back on breaking stuff out of the zone as a result, but that can be a quick fix for an athlete as strong and agile as Sano.  His arm has plenty of juice for any spot on the field, suggesting that he can stay at the hot corner.  Nevertheless, defense is way more than arm strength, and Sano is flat out rough in terms of footwork and glovework.

That said, with his bat and age on his side, Sano should be able to make a jump into the high Minors some time in 2012.  He has a long way to go, and is likely to lose a step as he matures, but if he can convince enough people that he belongs at third and develop some discipline in the box, he can be one of the game’s elite infielders.  Third base has been a revolving door in Minneapolis, but with Sano, the Twins firmly believe, as do many across the game, that those days may be behind the organization.

• This week Braves’ manager Fredi Gonzalez stated that youngsters Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel could split the closing duties in 2011, just as Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez did in 2009.  Last season, Kimbrel burst on the scene and to say the least, was absolutely filthy.  In just 20 2/3 innings, Kimbrel recorded 40 strikeouts, which for those of you keeping score at home is a ridiculous 17.4 K/9.  He also racked up four wins and a save along the way, and allowed just a single earned run.  If he can repeat his success, Kimbrel could very well become a household name in 2011.

• The Cleveland Indians cleared catcher Carlos Santana to resume all baseball activities, and he will be ready for the start of Spring Training next week.  In 2010, Santana’s eye-opening rookie campaign came to an abrupt halt after he suffered a hideous knee injury on August 2.  Considering that the switch-hitting catcher posted slashes of .260/.401/.467 last year in 192 plate appearances, the fact that he’s been cleared significantly increase his fantasy value.  I’m really excited to see what this guy can do over the course of a full, healthy season.

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