MLB Top 50 Prospects: Washington Nationals' Drew Storen and Stephen Strasburg Make List.

40 • Drew Storen ended up as the 40th of MLB's Top 50 Prospects as announced on tonight's "MLB Top 50 Prospects Special", on the MLB Network, finishing one spot ahead of Washington's '08 1st Round pick Aaron Crow, who was taken 9th overall, but failed to sign, leaving Washington with two 1st Round picks in '09, numbers one and ten, which they used to select Stephen Strasburg and then Storen out of Stanford, where the 22-year-old right-hander was (7-1) with a 3.80 ERA and 7 saves in 28 games and 42.2 IP in which he walked 8 and struck out 66 as the Cardinal closer, ...In the Arizona Fall League, against the best competition he's faced so far, Storen was (2-0) with 4 saves and a 0.66 ERA in 12 games and 13.2 innings pitched, collecting 13 K's and surrendering just 3 walks and 1 ER as the Phoenix Desert Dogs' closer.

MLB Network Report: RHP Drew Storen

"...(Drew) Storen was the 10th overall pick out of Stanford, was impressive in pro ball, a 1.95 ERA in 28 relief appearances in three different levels."

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• Analysis: Storen.

• Is Stephen Strasburg MLB's No. 1 Prospect?

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• Analysis: Storen.

Greg Amsinger: "We heard all about Stephen Strasburg...Let's talk Storen. Is he a guy that can make an impact right away?

Jonathan Mayo: "He is and I think that's why he went where he went. You know, there were some signability things obviously, all that money to the guy at no. 1, but Storen was one of those college relievers, they've become very popular as high draft picks, guys who can get there quickly, and he is just a bulldog, to me he's very, very close to the big leagues. He made it to Double-A, dominated in the Arizona Fall League as well, I think he could help out the Nationals' bullpen on Opening Day. Now they may give him a little more seasoning...I can see him closing games before the season is over." 

John Hart: "Well, I'll tell you, I really like the draft pick, I think you're right. A lot of people said, well after this Strasburg, we're going to take a guy that's got good signability, but I'll tell you, this guy signed real quick, he got out and he got in the system and I think he really put himself a lot closer to the big leagues. He's an attack guy, he comes right at you with a plus fastball, got a good breaking ball, he's got a little bit of a hitch in his delivery, which is fine, I think it adds to the deception, I think this is a quick-comer, I think it's a guy that could fit very nicely into the back end of that bullpen very quickly in Washington."

• Is Stephen Strasburg MLB's No. 1 Prospect?

2 • Stephen Strasburg was widely considered the top prospect available in the '09 First-Year Player Draft before he even began the 2009 season at San Diego State University, and after he'd finished (13-1) with a 1.32 ERA in 15 GS, 2 CG and 109.0 IP, over which the 21-year-old right-hander gave up 65 hits, 16 ER and 19 walks while collecting 195 K's, there was no doubt about his status as the best player available...In the Arizona Fall League, Strasburg was (4-1) with a 4.26 ERA and 23 K's in 5 starts and 19.0 IP...Strasburg is named the no.2 prospect overall in baseball by MLB...

Analysis:

John Hart: "Well, I'll tell you, we've all heard about Stephen Strasburg and I think we're going to see the unveiling this year. This is a special player we've all heard about in the draft. I've talked to scouts who have been in this game a long time who said this is the best player I've ever scouted, and it starts with his body, he's got the big prototype body, 6'5'', 220, he's going to come right at you, he's got a clean delivery, plus plus fastball, outstanding breaking ball, feel for a changeup, throws strikes, great competitor...Look, what it comes down to, I mean the Nationals are going to have to make a decision here, how fast do we go with him? My instincts tell me they're going to slow him down, let him get fully developed, take some lumps, see how he reacts, look, very special guy, future Cy Young."

Jonathan Mayo: "This is a guy, the one small knock coming out of the draft is that he didn't have a changeup, so he goes out to the Arizona Fall League and throws a plus plus change up according to some scouts, that's almost unfair considering his other stuff. It would be a big mistake for the Nationals to rush him. Let him pitch his way up, he'll get there just based on his ability."

No.1 on the prospects countdown:

OF Atlanta Braves: Jason Heyward.