By Ryan Roach

The Future Stars of The Cage is expanding!

In the past, our Future Stars of The Cage section centered around a 50 Player listing of minor league players who were rising toward a call-up to the Majors.

Fast forward to today...

Top 100 Fantasy Baseball Prospects: Within the week, we'll be adding an additional 50 players to the list, with bonus commentary on the Top 50 Fantasy Baseball Prospects.

Add to that, this valuable list of "25 Fantasy Baseball Prospects Who Should Hit The MLB in 2009", and you have all the makings of a unique Fantasy Baseball tool, sure to put you ahead of your competition this season.

25 Fantasy Baseball Prospects
Who Should Hit The MLB in 2009 

1. Gio Gonzalez – SP (OAK)

2. Nick Adenhart – SP (LAA)

3. David Huff – SP (CLE)

4. Jeff Samardzija – RP (CHC)

5. Taylor Teagarden – C ( TEX )

6. Chris Perez – RP (STL)

7. Elvis Andrus – SS ( TEX )

8. James McDonald – SP (LAD)

9. Brett Cecil – SP (TOR)

10. Aaron Poreda – SP (CWS)

11. Kila Ka’aihue – 1B (KC)

12. Jeff Niemann – SP (TB)

13. Adam Miller – SP (CLE)

14. Michael Saunders – OF (SEA)

15. Lou Marson – C (PHI)

16. Matt Antonelli – 2B (SD)

17. Jordan Zimmerman – SP (WSH)

18. Ryan Perry – RP (DET)

19. Max Ramirez – C ( TEX )

20. Jonathan Meloan – RP (CLE)

21. J.P. Arenciba – C (TOR)

22. Jaime Garcia – SP (STL)

23. Will Inman – SP (SD)

24. Brent Lillibridge – SS (CWS)

25. Jason Donald – 2B/SS (PHI)

WaiverShark, Ryan Roach - seen here decked out in a hard to find Joakim Soria “Mexicutioner” T-shirt, has recently taken full reign of:

Ryan is a list man extraordinaire, so he has put his fantasy thinking cap on to lay down a straight forward rankings list of our Top 50 Prospects, "Future Stars of The Cage", which is chalk full of budding young talent. Many players here should see their MLB tenure begin sometime during the 2009 Fantasy Baseball season - of course there are a few who still may be a couple of seasons away from making any real serious impact.

Ryan will color code the players to reflect if their stock is on the rise, or falling– as well as to let you know if a player has been called up to the Show.

For now, he jokes that ALL players have been listed in “offseason orange”

Ryan will also be heading up this year’s edition of The Cage.

Our 2009 Waiver Wire Pick-up feature – THE CAGE will take on a much more simplistic approach in 2009, giving you an at-a-glance waiver resource unlike any other.

And last, but not least, The Shallow and The Deep will launch this March – just in time for the 2009 Fantasy Baseball MLB season! Check back to find out how this new feature will help you rise to the top of your league!

Without further ado: All hail the head of the kids table: Tampa Rays phenom - David Price!

TOP 50 PROSPECTS

1. David Price - SP (TB)

2. Matt Wieters - C (BAL)
3. Cameron Maybin - OF ( FLA )
4. Travis Snider - OF (TOR)
5. Jason Heyward - 1B (ATL)
6. Andrew McCutchen - OF (PIT)
7. Madison Bumgarner - SP (SF)
8. Colby Rasmus - OF (STL)
9. Rick Porcello - SP (DET)
10. Matt LaPorta - OF (CLE)
11. Trevor Cahill - SP (OAK)
12. Dexter Fowler - OF ( COL )
13. Brett Anderson - SP (OAK)
14. Neftali Feliz - SP ( TEX )
15. Jarrod Parker - SP (ARI)
16. Chris Tillman - SP (BAL)
17. Mike Moustakas - 3B/SS (KC)
18. Alcides Escobar - SS (MIL)
19. Carlos Carrasco - SP (PHI)
20. Taylor Teagarden - C ( TEX )
21. Mat Gamel - 3B (MIL)
22. Buster Posey - C (SF)
23. Reid Brignac - SS (TB)
24. Yonder Alonso - 1B (CIN)
25. Fernando Martinez - OF (NYM)

26. Lars Anderson - 1B (BOS)
27. Wade Davis - SP (TB)
28. Thomas Hanson - SP (ATL)
29. Austin Jackson - OF (NYY)
30. Elvis Andrus - SS ( TEX )
31. Brian Matusz - SP (BAL)
32. Scott Elbert - SP (LAD)
33. Justin Smoak - 1B ( TEX )
34. Phillippe Aumont - SP (SEA)
35. Nick Adenhart - SP (LAA)
36. Tim Beckham - SS (TB)
37. Jeremy Hellickson - SP (TB)
38. Carlos Triunfel - SS (SEA)
39. Jeff Samardzija - RP (CHC)
40. Michael Bowden - SP (BOS)
41. James McDonald - SP (LAD)
42. Angel Villalona - 3B (SF)
43. Brett Wallace - 1B (STL)
44. Jesus Montero - C (NYY)
45. Eric Hosmer - 1B (KC)
46. Jonathan Meloan - RP (CLE)
47. Lou Marson - C (PHI)

48. Ross Detwiler - SP (WSH)
49. Josh Vitters - 3B (CHC)
50. Pedro Alvarez - 3B (PIT)

Justin Smoak – 1B

Before moving on to our Rankings of favorite fantasy 2B Second Basemen for 2009 –
There’s one last First baseman prospect that intrigues the heck out of us – and we hope he gets a shot at the friendly confines of Arlington Ballpark in Texas real soon!

The Texas Rangers STOLE this switch-hitting first baseman in the First Year Player Draft – the video below talks about his comparisons to departed former Ranger Mark Teixeira, as well as future Atlanta Braves Hall of Famer Chipper Jones.

Pretty nice company to be mentioned along with!

Imagine this kid in a line-up along with Josh Hamilton, Chris Davis, a healthy Hank Blalock and Ian Kinsler, Nelson Cruz - and Michael Young to name just a few.

The Texas Rangers are going to need to buy extra balls for batting practice if they keep landing these kinds of big boppers!

Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner are the kind of players that should make a truly dedicated Waiver Shark begin humming the ominous theme to the 1975 Spielberg classic “Jaws”

Perhaps a year, or two away from their big league call ups – we feel it still necessary to make you aware that these diamonds in the rough could become very valuable fantasy commodities – “soon”

Let’s start off by saying – Buster Posey – Is a fantastic baseball name!

We did some research by the way - and there is no relation to Indie film star Parker Posey.

But in May 2008, while playing for the Florida State Seminoles Buster Posey played his own version of “House of Games” – as he played ALL 9 positions in a seven inning contest - including a two out stint as a pitcher in which he struck out both batters he faced.

And oh, did we mention – he also hit a grand slam?

Can you imagine if he’d done this in the majors and the league you played in only needed 1 game to become eligible at a position – Move over Mark DeRosa! There’s a new Mr. Versatile – and he’s headed to the Bay area – ummm…Soon!

Sorry that we can’t be more specific on the time frame arrivals of these young future Giants stars – but we should have a much clearer picture next year during spring training as to who will be making the jump to “The Show” – and who will need some more seasoning in the minor leagues.

Madison Bumgarner/Tim Alderson

Both lefty Madison Bumgarner and right hander Tim Alderson possess amazing stuff for their age - which will  undoubtedly fuel plenty of fantasy hype the next couple years.

Giants fans needn’t fret too much if Brian Sabean fails to net a quality 3rd starter to add to the Tim Lincecum/Matt Cain duo. WaiverSharks feels they already have their man within the organization.

In fact, the Giants actually have TWO potential aces up their sleeves. These guys are only 19 and 20 years old respectively. By the time they finally do crack the majors we expect there could be quite the fervor for their fantasy services.

A Fantasy feeding frenzy if you will (Wow, that was a lot of alliteration!)

So – lock these names in your WaiverSharks memory bank– and we’ll keep you abreast to their development throughout the 2009 season and beyond.

Until then, Go & watch “Jaws” while you wait…Unless, you’re like us – just too darn busy for feature length films…

Then just watch this instead:

San Francisco sports franchises have had their fair share of troubles the past few years - we won’t extrapolate on the cities FOOTBALL woes – since we are a Fantasy Baseball site – but when a coach gets the axe seven games into a season – chances are – things are not going quite as well as hoped!

Seriously, no team who rosters Patrick Willis should be this bad – right!?

We wouldn’t even want to play two hand touch with this BEAST!

Hmmm…it just goes to show you that ONE player does not make a TEAM!

Not in any sport…

OKAY – NOW, Back to baseball talk…

Each and EVERY Fantasy manager is very much aware of the diminutive, but dominant 2008 NL Cy Young award candidate Tim Lincecum.

And many fantasy owners also have likely weathered the up and down young career of the Giants hard throwing number two starter - Matt Cain.

Lastly - perhaps a few also enjoyed employing the dirty saves “lying in bed just like” Brian Wilson provided last year.

After this – things start getting a little dicey.

Randy Winn is the consummate waiver wire Add when a 4th outfielder is needed.

But, outside of these players - thanks to the “Zito meltdown” and the Aaron Rowand back to reality check – fantasy manager’s have not rostered a plethora of San Francisco Giants the past few seasons.

In the not too distant future, we are positive – that WILL change!

Here are some “Baby Giants” – All aged 25 and younger – who could have serious fantasy relevance as early as 2009 - while others are perhaps tracking towards a 2010 arrival.

Pablo Sandoval

The arrival of Pablo Sandoval wasn’t exactly expected during the 2008 season – but the young multi-position talent made quite the impression on fantasy owners down the stretch. Depending on how many games the league you play in requires to qualify for Catcher eligibility will dictate how high most will draft the free swinging Sandoval.

WaiverSharks feels that even if he does not qualify as a catcher at the start of the 2009 season – it will only be a matter of time before he gains the Holy Grail of eligibility (catcher) anyways – since he should spell Bengie Molina behind the plate enough to acquire the C status fairly early in the year.

So we’re recommending you draft him higher than many “experts” may suggest – Worse case scenario for your gamble is you end up with a solid 1B/3B back-up to perhaps a more seasoned Fantasy corner infielder.

Nate Shierholtz

Nate Shierholtz may never become an elite first baseman in the mode of a Prince Fielder or Lance Berkman, however he does remain an intriguing left-handed prospect who could produce some above average numbers if given the every day first base gig for the Giants.

It’s still up in the air as to where Pablo Sandoval will net most of his at bats in 2009, and Travis Ishikawa and John Bowker also fuel the 1B logjam that could hurt Shierholtz Fantasy value come draft day. ***Editor’s Note: Due to the sudden emergence of the Pittsburgh Pirates Nate McLouth in 2008 – we’ll never underestimate another “Nate” again!***

Emmanual Burriss/Eugenio Velez

The Giants have been leaning towards speed when trying to assemble their future incarnate.

Emmanual Burriss and Eugenio Velez could provide the fastest double play combo in baseball – not that they turn the DP quicker then anyone – but these gazelles can both flat out ‘book’ on the base paths and could become cheap sources of steals next year.

Conor Gillaspie

Another lefty on the fast track – Third Base prospect Conor Gillaspie saw some Major League action last September – and managed to stroke his first hit off of the Arizona Diamondbacks ace Dan Haran. Not too shabby!

He doesn’t have the power that most top three baggers possess – but he could hit for a very high average – especially if he can learn to take advantage of AT&T Parks gap hitter’s dream dimensions.

Keep an eye on his 2009 Spring Training progress – as he’ll be a long shot to break the clubs pro roster since he just turned 21 years old last July.

Join us tomorrow as we discuss the Giants three brightest stars of the not too distant future –

Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, and Tim Alderson!