Will De Los Santos take the step forward? - Photo courtesy of Drake BomberOver the next nine days I will profile the nine players that I encourage you to pay attention to during the '09 season. These players were not included on BBTiA's Top 25 Prospects list, and they all played in the Arizona Rookie League and above during the '08 season. I excluded all players that were not stateside in '08, but I will focus on the Dominican Summer League prospects before the minor league season begins.

The prospects that will be profiled might not be the biggest names, or have the highest ceilings, but they are the players that I think have a chance to take big steps forward during the '09 season. Who is on your list?

On my list so far:

Matt West

Miguel De Los Santos

After having season-ending Thomas Edward John, Jr. surgery in '07, Miguel De Los Santos wasn't sure if he was ever going to pitch again. In fact, he was so unsure of his future that he started thinking of ways he could support his family if his body ended up failing him. His arm was his ticket to a much better life, and in his mind, that life was already slipping away from him.

Determined to pitch in '08, De Los Santos ferociously pushed himself in rehab. He was motivated by the desire to once again pitch in the United States, after managing only 5.2 innings in the Arizona Rookie League in '07. On July 14, 2008, De Los Santos once again climbed on the bump in the AZL to pitch his first professional inning only one year after his surgery. He struck out the side.

Armed with a deadly curveball, a pitch with legit plus potential, De Los Santos went on to tally over 34 innings of work and dispense of 54 hitters via strikeout. Despite the obvious rust associated with the recovery process (4.67 BB/9), the gaudy 14.02 K/9 ratio was more than enough to declare the '08 season a huge success. In addition to the curveball, De Los Santos also uses a heavy upper-80s/low-90s fastball that he is still learning to command, and a slow change-up that he was focusing on during the Fall Instructional League.

De Los Santos wants to make the jump to full-season ball in '09, but the Rangers might take it slow with him and keep him in extended spring training to start the year before moving him to short-season Spokane in June. There is a lot to like with this pitcher. The 6' 1" southpaw has the ability to miss bats and to do so when he obviously doesn't have his best stuff. The '09 season should give us an indication of how good De Los Santos can really be, and where he fits in an already crowded line making their way towards Arlington.

[Additional Reading: Prospect Interview Series: Miguel De Los Santos]