Rankings/List

The 2010 MLB Draft is just around the corner and so ushers in another year of promising new talent, and rising stars that, one day, could become the next household name or MLB great.

Admittedly, this year’s draft in regard to the High School Pool is a bit shallow, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a school of player waiting to show everyone what they got.

I put together a small list of players whom I feel hold a ton of value in addition to their natural abilities. Will Player X who is hitting over .300 fall to the 10th round, and become a steal?

Through the years, there have been many great hitters that have came through the ranks of Major League Baseball.

However, very few of them have been able to do what the men on this list have accomplished in their respective careers. I decided to take a look at what I believe are the five greatest hitters to ever stop foot on a baseball diamond to this day.

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Everyone talks about the top 10 and first round picks, but what have been the best hidden gems in the Major League Baseball Draft’s last 45 years or so?

From Albert Pujols (13th Round) to Mike Piazza (62nd Round) to Andy Pettitte (22nd Round), many superstars have been discovered well after being part of hundreds—if not thousands—of other players.

So, who’s in my personal top 10 list of under-the-radar, hidden gems in the past 45 years of MLB Drafts?

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The Red Sox were in a huge rut as they started the 2010 year 4-9.

The highly touted pitching staff, which was expected to carry this team, struggled mightly. And the offense didn't do much at the plate.

There was talk of trading David Ortiz, or just giving up on the year at end of April.

But since the sluggish start, the Sox are the hottest team in baseball. Four players in particular have heavily impacted Boston's recent successs.

These four contributors deserve all-star votes.

Oh man, it's been so many months since I've done an MLB Rumor Mill at BleacherReport.com. It's been ages, literally!

So here I am, back with the MLB Rumors. And that brings me to another thing: I haven't written an MLB article for a long time, too. Jeez.

1995 Record: 100-44

Most people would argue that the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees were the teams of the 1990s, frequently winning their division titles and also appearing in and winning several World Series Championships.

However, some may forget that the Cleveland Indians were also one of the most consistent teams in the '90s, almost always winning the AL Central.

The Indians had two World Series appearances in 1995 and 1997 and lost both to the Braves and Marlins, respectively.

With the draft on the horizon it is the perfect time to take a look back at some of baseball's all time best #1 picks. Just because someone is drafted #1 overall doesn't mean they are going to be the next best thing just look at Brien Taylor. Sometimes, however, teams who did their scouting wind up with future hall of famers.

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The San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies face off this weekend in a match-up featuring a bewildering assortment of player related in some way to other players, including Will Venable, Tony Gwynn Jr., Jayson Werth, Scott and Jerry Hairston, and Padres coach Glenn Hoffman.

Nevertheless, with Ken Griffey Jr., announcing his retirement on Wednesday, the era of Major League sons truly comes to a close.

So, we're officially one-third of the way through the minor league season.

It's time to review who's tearing it up among Orioles minor leaguers (non-prospects too!), and get to know the guys who are raking.

On the mound, Jake Arrieta is making himself a runaway candidate for O's pitcher of the year. He already has six wins, and leads the IL in batting average against. He's top five in strikeouts, innings pitched, and ERA.

At the plate, you'd have to delve way into the lower levels to find players having remarkable seasons.

It's difficult to make a list like this, because from the two spot on down to maybe six or seven, it's nearly impossible to put one guy over another.

Some pitchers had long careers and good primes, others had shorter careers but amazing primes. Pitchers are ranked on career totals, peak level performance, and length of prime.

Please note that this is a list of the top-10 pitchers in the history of Major League Baseball, and will not include Negro League players. Had I included Negro Leaguers, Satchel Paige would certainly have made my list.