- Minnesota Twins
- Cleveland Indians
- Detroit Tigers
- Chicago White Sox
Last Year's Ranking: 9
Why They're Down: Billy Butler and Alex Gordon moved up to the big leagues; Luke Hochevar failed to live up to expectations.
Strengths: For a team desperate for pitching, there is some depth here; first-round pick Mike Moustakas gives them a big upside bat to replace Butler.
Weaknesses: Beyond Moustakas, there's not a single hitter in the system who can generate any excitement; the pitching situation is more quantity over quality than anything else.
Outlook for 2009 Ranking: Up a bit. While the rankings will likely lose Hochevar, the No. 3 overall pick in June should add another impact player to the system.