Top 5 risers under 25 by organization - NL West

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Now that the regular season in both the major and minor leagues is complete, we have a full grasp on which young players increased their stock. Here, I take a look at the players under 25 who I believe increased their value the most. These are not rankings in regards to talent or depth, but rather in whose value rose the most around baseball. Added weight was given to players in the majors or near major-league ready. Also, 2008 draftees are not eligible for these lists.

Sully Select: Clayton Kershaw has had high expectations surrounding him since he was drafted 7th overall in 2006. Only two years later, and this left-hander is now a mainstay of a playoff team’s rotation. Kershaw should continue to improve year-after-year as he blossoms into one of the best pitchers in baseball.

Sully Select: Chad Billingsley, who like Kershaw was a Dodgers 1st round pick (24th overall in 2003), is proving that the Dodgers know what they are doing when selecting high-school pitchers. Billingsley’s tremendous 2008 season stabilized him as the ace of the team, and another threat to be one of the best starting pitchers going forward.

2009 Outlook: The Dodgers had a very good 2008 season, but disappointed in the postseason. The likely losses of Manny Ramirez, Rafael Furcal, and Derek Lowe will have an impact, but the maturation of their young pitchers as well as Matt Kemp, James Loney, Russell Martin and a slew of other talented position players should allow them to continue to battle for divisional supremacy in 2009.

Sully Select: Justin Upton’s 2008 campaign may have been disappointing to some, but for a player his age to even be in the major leagues is an accomplishment in itself. Add in the fact that he produced an .816 OPS and smacked 15 home-runs, and what the future holds for Upton should be everything we expect – an elite right-fielder and perennial all-star.

2009 Outlook: The Diamondbacks were an inconsistent team in 2008 – starting the season as the fresh and exciting team of the year, but mixing those flashes of brilliance in with spells of horrible discipline at the plate and erratic pitching. Assuming all the youngsters take the next step forward, Arizona could be a legitimate contender in 2009, but it still may be too soon for these Baby-Backs to make a lot of noise.

Sully Select: Dexter Fowler has been a name that has intrigued many of us for the last few years. He displayed mediocre results in 2006 and 2007 -- enough to build hope but increase doubt as well. After talking with Fowler at the 2008 Futures Game, he showed me that in addition to his abilities, he also has a great head on his shoulders. In 2008, Fowler clearly put it all together, combining elite discipline with the athletic ability to play CF, as well as exponentially increasing power.

Sully Select: Jhoulys Chacin is exactly the type of pitcher that my Dominance Factor statistic hopes to find. When I first ran a bunch of players through this statistic, Chacin emerged from a player I’d hardly heard of into a Dominance Factor legend. With outstanding ability to induce groundballs, record strikeouts, and limit his walks, Chacin looks like a great bet to continue his dominance all the way to the front of the Rockies rotation.

2009 Outlook: With the departure of Matt Holliday, the Rockies will have to shake up their style of play. The Rockies have plenty of young talent, and although many have shown flashes of stardom, the majority have been inconsistent. The addition of Carlos Gonzalez adds another high-upside yet inconsistent player, and like the Diamondbacks, the future of the Rockies relies on the progression of these youngsters.

Sully Select: Tim Lincecum is a freak of nature. At 5-foot-11, 168 pounds, Lincecum twists and untwists his body to repeatedly unleash 95 mile per hour fastballs, hard curveballs that promptly dive away from bats, and devastatingly deceptive changeups. At 24 years old and with a Cy Young already under his belt, Lincecum has the ability to be one of the best pitchers of the 2010-2019 decade.

Sully Select: Madison Bumgarner may be the exact opposite of Tim Lincecum. Bumgarner throws left-handed, bats right-handed (Lincecum is the reverse), and stands a menacing 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. One thing they do have in common is the stuff to make opposing hitters look foolish, as evidenced by the 19-year-old Bumgarner’s incredible debut in which he won a slew of awards including the Minor League’s most spectacular pitcher.

2009 Outlook: The Giants offense was so dreadful in 2008 that Matt Cain, who posted a 3.74 ERA, carried an 8-14 record. Assuming the Giants can add a little offensive firepower to go with Lincecum, Cain, and Jonathan Sanchez, there may be a ray of hope for 2009. It is more likely that the Giants will remain a mediocre team until Bumgarner, Alderson, Buster Posey and others reach the majors to make an impact.

Kellen Kulbacki had a tail of two seasons in 2008. The 40th overall pick in 2007 followed his debut with a roller-coaster of a year in 2008. After injuries and the Midwest league swallowed him up to begin the season, Kulbacki finally got healthy and comfortable in the California league, where he was one of the league’s most productive hitters. In 2009 Kulbacki should be a fast riser, and has a shot of making his Major League debut in September.

2009 Outlook: The Padres, which as recently as 2006 won the NL West, are nearing a low-point for their franchise. With Jake Peavy possibly on the outs, and General Manager Kevin Towers making a mess of things to boot, the Padres are likely in for a rough 2009.

Brett Sullivan can be reached at bsullivan@projectprospect.com.