27. Taylor Teagarden - C Rangers - DOB: 12/21/83 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #135, 2008 #34

.169/.279/.305, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 23/8 K/BB, 1 SB in 59 AB (AA Frisco)
.238/.352/.409, 6 HR, 15 RBI, 49/27 K/BB, 0 SB in 164 AB (AAA Oklahoma)
.167/.167/.667, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 4/0 K/BB, 0 SB in 6 AB (Texas)

If not for a sore shoulder, Teagarden probably would have been the choice to replace the injured Gerald Laird on the roster last month. He recovered quickly, but the Rangers opted to stick with Max Ramirez, who otherwise would have made this list at around No. 60 or so. Teagarden has the skills to be a front-line defensive catcher, though his arm may not be strong enough to make him a Gold Glove candidate. On offense, he’s an all-or-nothing guy, but he will make up for mediocre averages with a fine walk rate. 15-20 homers per year would be a reasonable expectation. Whether it happens in Texas or not, he should be a rock-solid regular for a long time.

28. Nick Adenhart - RHP Angels - DOB: 08/24/86 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #21, 2007 #21, mid-2007 #22, 2008 #28

6-9, 5.89 ERA, 116 H, 70/44 K/BB in 96 1/3 IP (AAA Salt Lake)
1-0, 9.00 ERA, 18 H, 4/13 K/BB in 12 IP (AL Los Angeles)

Adenhart opened the season 4-0 with an 0.87 ERA for Salt Lake in April, but he struggled in three starts following a promotion to the majors in early May and has been awful ever since. He’s just 21 and he’s pitching in a hostile environment in Salt Lake and the PCL, so it’s not a major problem that the results haven’t been there lately. Still, it would be nice to see some sort of turnaround before the end of the season. Adenhart throws in the low-90s, and both his hard curve and changeup are major league pitches. That there’s still plenty of interest in him in trade talks suggests that he hasn’t fallen far in anyone’s eyes.

29. Gio Gonzalez - LHP Athletics - DOB: 09/19/85 - ETA: Sept. 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2005 #81, 2006 #84, mid-2006 #62, 2007 #78, mid-2007 #21, 2008 #33

7-6, 4.34 ERA, 96 H, 117/53 K/BB in 110 IP (AAA Sacramento)

The thrice-traded Gonzalez has turned in a couple of the PCL’s best performances this year. He allowed one hit and struck out 12 in eight scoreless innings on June 18 and fanned 13 in a complete-game one-hitter on July 4. He has been inconsistent, but with a total of three earned runs allowed in his last four starts, he’s lowered an ERA that has been over 5.00 most of the way to 4.34. His recent success led to some speculation that he could replace Joe Blanton in Oakland’s rotation, but he’ll have to wait a little longer. It’d be a surprise if he didn’t get an opportunity in September. Gonzalez’s velocity comes and goes, but when he’s in the low-90s, he can dominate. His curveball is a well above average second pitch, and he has an average change. Command will determine if he can reach his ceiling and become a No. 2 starter. He currently projects as more of a No. 3.

30. Mike Moustakas - 3B Royals - DOB: 09/11/88 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: 2008 #51

.246/.307/.403, 12 HR, 43 RBI, 58/27 K/BB, 5 SB in 345 AB (A- Burlington)

Moustakas, the second overall selection in the 2007 draft, didn’t even have an extra-base hit through 74 at-bats this season, but he has 12 homers since, giving him nice power numbers for a 19-year-old in full-season ball. He’s been particularly good lately, hitting .302 with an 11/10 K/BB ratio in 86 at-bats since the All-Star break. The Royals have already moved him off shortstop, but there was never any real chance that he’d stay there. Curiously, they’ve chosen to play him at Alex Gordon’s position for now. He might still end up as a right fielder. His swing promises the ability to hit for average, and he could be a 30-homer guy in his prime.