SIOC's look at the nation's Top 20 prospects

Pedro Alavarez is the nation's top prospect, and has already earned comparisons to Albert Pujols. AP

RELATED • College Baseball Preview: Top 16 teams

By Bryan Smith

The college baseball season kicked off on Friday and unlike previous seasons, the NCAA mandated a uniform start date for all teams. The date marked the true beginning of scout season and leaves the nation's top juniors with four months to prove their mettle. All Major League teams have scouting reports on college baseball's top players, but this is the season most important for their draft futures. Entering the season, here are the top 20 collegiate prospects eligible for the 2008 draft.

1. Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Vanderbilt

Quite simply, Alvarez is the best offensive player college baseball has seen in years. His body type and power profile are reminiscent of Albert Pujols. Alvarez approaches each plate appearance with a solid, patient mentality atypical for someone his age. He is the top baseball prospect not currently participating in spring training.

2. Brian Matusz, LHP, San Diego

The Los Angeles Angels offered Matusz a fortune to sign out of high school, but the southpaw wanted to honor his commitment to the Torreros. The decision was a good one as Matusz has stood above the other pitchers in his class. With three polished pitches -- including one of the nation's best changeups -- Matusz will soon be earning more money than the Angels offered him.

3. Justin Smoak, 1B, South Carolina

If Alvarez has competition for the "Best College Hitter" title, it's from Smoak, who will likely one day top 40 home runs in the majors. He's also one of the nation's most athletic first basemen and has Gold Glove potential. The key for Smoak is maintaining good bat control and keeping his strikeout numbers down.

4. Aaron Crow, RHP, Missouri

A year ago Crow was a command-first pitcher throwing in the high 80s. After tweaking his delivery, he has been reborn, touching 99 mph over the summer in the Cape Cod League. His coach and scouts attribute Crow's success to the development of off-speed stuff. With his new and improved fastball, he is one of the few pitchers who can combine velocity with the smarts of an off-speed pitcher.

5. Tyson Ross, RHP, California

Ross' 2008 season did not start off well. The first batter he faced was Kansas State right fielder Jordan Cruz, who blasted a home run to right field. After that, Ross faced 16 batters -- walking the first and retiring the next 15 -- before being removed for the day. Ross is a thick right-handed pitcher who will show three-plus pitches and has many believing he'll throw 95 mph consistently with further instruction. He was Team USA's best starter in 2007.

6. Chris Friedrich, LHP, Eastern Kentucky

It's not everyday that a Colonel gets mentioned in a column like this, but Friedrich is the type of small-school, diamond in the rough scouts love. Armed with the best curveball in the nation, Friedrich is compared to other tall southpaws with big hooks: Barry Zito, Ted Lilly, Rich Hill and Sean Marshall. Friedrich needs to command his fastball and tighten his changeup. He is the odds-on favorite to lead the nation in strikeouts.

7. Brett Hunter, RHP, Pepperdine

Hunter was the top reliever on Team USA last summer, allowing just two earned runs (and only one extra base hit) in 27.1 innings of work. Relief is probably where his future lies, but the Waves plan to use him as a starter, where his fastball averages 91-94 mph with movement. In relief, he's a nastier 94-97. His curveball is among the best in the nation and you can bet a team that sees him this spring and will imagine that two-pitch combination working in the Majors soon.

8. Yonder Alonso, 1B, Miami

It's that kind of draft where big, corner infield sluggers seem to be plentiful at the top of the draft. In many respects, Alonso holds up well in comparison to Alvarez and Smoak. On one hand, he has the best patience of the bunch and his selectivity suggests future batting averages above .300. However, Alonso is the least powerful and the least athletic of the group, something many teams will be likely overlook if he posts a .300 average and .400 OBP.

9. Lance Lynn, RHP, Ole Miss

If it's not powerful corner infielders, it's big, power right-handers that dominate this draft. The Rebels have two of them, but the better is Lynn, a 260-pounder with a powerful arsenal. At his best, Lynn will combine a 92-95 mph fastball with a hard, downer curveball. He also has tinkered with a changeup and scouts project him as a starter. While athleticism an issue, Lynn has made enough strides in repeating his delivery consistently to assuage those concerns.

10. Cole St. Clair, LHP, Rice

Last year, the Owls had a southpaw taken in the first round (Joe Savery) who coach Wayne Graham had spent the season nursing back to health. Savery was drafted partially on the strength of his merits from two years earlier, but he excelled in Graham's improved usage patterns. St. Clair is much the same -- a fantastic pitcher in 2006 who struggled with injuries last year. St. Clair has been moved from closer to starting pitcher, as he has three good pitches and the ability to go deep into games.