The 2009 season looks to be a breakout year for many rising stars in the minor leagues.

Many players got a taste of the big leagues in 2008 but are looking to stake their claim during the 2009 season.

The players below are the highest rated pitchers in the minor leagues who look to make a fantasy impact in the near future. Many players will be pushing for a spot in the 2009 season while others are still in the distance.

These rankings are ever-changing and will be updated frequently. Feel free to voice your opinion in the comments below.

Click here for the 2010 Top Pitching Prospects List

Rank* Name Team Position Age** ETA*** 1 David Price Tampa Bay Rays SP/RP 23 2009 Everyone's top pitching prospect. Will be something special for the Rays. 2 Michael Bowden Boston Red Sox SP 22 2009 Top Boston pitching prospect. Will make an impact in '09. 3 Tommy Hanson Atlanta Braves SP 22 2009 AFL MVP in 2008. Strikeout machine. Ready for the big time. 4 Chris Tillman Baltimore Orioles SP 21 2009 Much-hyped pitcher. Lived up to the billing last season. Might have control issues early on. 5 James McDonald Los Angeles Dodgers SP 24 2009 Strikeout artist primed for the big time. Keep your eye on him in spring training, 6 Jeff Samardzija Chicago Cubs RP 24 2009 Impressive numbers in major league debut. Will be a good 8th inning guy in '09. 7 Carlos Carrasco Philadelphia Phillies SP 22 2009 Exciting player who has been close to the majors. Solid winter league numbers going into the '09 season. 8 Scott Lewis Cleveland Indians SP 25 2009 Four wins in four starts as a big leaguer. Doesn't impress with his stuff but gets the job done. 9 Nick Adenhart Los Angeles Angels SP 22 2009 Had a disastrous start to his big league career. Look for him to bounce back. 10 Trevor Cahill Oakland Athletics SP 21 2009 Played on the Olympic team and impressed. Could be a late season call-up in '09. Good K-rate with low HRs. 11 Daryl Thompson Cincinnati Reds SP 23 2009 Well developed starter who should see significant time in the majors next season. 12 David Huff Cleveland Indians SP 24 2009 As ready as anyone. Should make the team out of spring. 143:29 K:BB ratio last season. 13 J.A. Happ Philadelphia Phillies SP 26 2009 Primed pitcher with solid stuff to anchor the Phillies' rotation. 14 Brett Anderson Oakland Athletics SP 21 2009 Improving his opponent's AVG. Great K:BB ratio throughout his career. 15 Derek Holland Texas Rangers SP 22 2009 Quick climb through the Rangers' organization. Spectacular numbers in AA with a 0.69 ERA in 4 starts. 16 Wade Davis Tampa Bay Rays SP 23 2009 Well-developed, ready for the big leagues. Needs room to clear in the Rays rotation. 17 Jeff Niemann Tampa Bay Rays SP/RP 26 2009 Still blocked by a solid Rays rotation. Could see significant time as a middle reliever. 18 Ryan Tucker Florida Marlins SP/RP 22 2009 Short stint in the majors last season wasn't impressive. Could be moved to bullpen. 19 Brett Cecil Toronto Blue Jays SP 22 2009 A little more seasoning in AAA could mean a call up to the bigs in '09. 20 Jason Motte St. Louis Cardinals RP 26 2009 For a team looking for bullpen help, Motte's 110 Ks in 66.2 innings will help in '09. 21 David Hernandez Baltimore Orioles SP 23 2009 Huge strikeout numbers but can be wild at times. Baltimore will need him in '09. 22 Phil Coke New York Yankees RP 26 2009 Gave up one ER in 14.2 innings during his '08 debut. Could be a solid reliever next season. 23 Carlos Rosa Kansas City Royals RP 24 2009 Kansas City will move him to the bullpen. 24 Kevin Jepsen Los Angeles Angels RP 24 2009 Solid in his '08 major league debut. Could see a good chunk of time in the Angels bulllpen. 25 Casey Weathers Colorado Rockies RP 23 2009 Future Rockies closer looking to repeat solid 2008. 26 Brad Mills Toronto Blue Jays SP 24 2010 Great led Mills to AA last season. 1.95 ERA for the year with 159 Ks. 27 Rick Porcello Detroit Tigers SP 20 2010 Consistency will be key for this young hurler. Not a dazzling pitcher but will be solid. 28 Jason Berken Baltimore Orioles SP/RP 25 2010 Impressive 2008 campaign increases the chances of Berken joining the big league roster in '10. 29 Kevin Pucetas San Francisco Giants SP 24 2010 25 wins and 6 losses over the last two seasons. Great ERA and K:BB ratio. 30 Matthew Buschmann San Diego Padres SP 25 2010 Solid overall pitcher. Doesn't dazzle but can eat up innings. 31 Will Inman San Diego Padres SP 22 2010 Impressive strikeout numbers but must work on consistency to make an impact in the bigs. 32 Vincent Mazzaro Oakland Athletics SP/RP 22 2010 Solid '08 was a stark contrast to '07. If he can repeat his numbers look for his addition to the Oakland bullpen. 33 Jon Link Chicago White Sox RP 25 2010 Solid closer who could get a shot in late '09. 35 saves in '08. 34 Jake Arrieta Baltimore Orioles SP 23 2010 Another impressive Oriole. CAR pitcher of the year. Look for quick progression through the system. 35 Neftali Feliz Texas Rangers SP 20 2010 Finished the season in AA. His great stuff won't keep him in the minors much longer, 36 Ben Snyder San Francisco Giants SP 23 2010 Shaky AA debut after promotion last year. Needs to watch opponents AVG. 37 Jeremy Hellickson Tampa Bay Rays SP 22 2010 162:20 K:BB ratio last season. Will be a nice compliment to David Price. 38 Jess Todd St. Louis Cardinals SP 23 2010 Went from A+ to AAA last season. Solid numbers overall. 39 Eduardo Morlan Tampa Bay Rays RP 23 2010 Solid relief pitching prospect. Tendency to give up hits but strikeouts are there. 40 Madison Bumgarner San Francisco Giants SP 19 2011 Big guy with 164:21 K:BB ratio. Named Class A starting pitcher of the year. 41 Dillon Gee New York Mets SP 23 2011 Good K:BB ratio. Solid starter who could advance quicker than anticipated. 42 Aaron Poreda Chicago White Sox RP 22 2011 Big pitcher at 6'6”. Will be moved to the bullpen where he will make his name. 43 Andrew Carignan Oakland Athletics RP 22 2011 Low opponents AVG but must work on command. Decent K-rate. 44 Jon Kibler Detroit Tigers SP 22 2011 Unhittable in '08 with a .190 opponents AVG. 45 Jarrod Parker Arizona Diamondbacks SP 20 2011 Impressive rookie season in A ball. Will move up quickly in Arizona's system. 46 Jeremy Jeffress Milwaukee Brewers SP 21 2011 Still developing but making significant progress. His strikeout numbers have always been there. 47 Phillippe Aumont Seattle Mariners SP 20 2011 Scouts say he is ace material. Will be on a strict pitch count in the minors. 48 Aneury Rodriguez Colorado Rockies SP 21 2011 Two complete-game shutouts last season. Keeps improving. 49 Tim Alderson San Francisco Giants SP 20 2011 Class A+ starting pitcher of the year. 13 wins and only allowed 4 HRs all season. 50 George Kontos New York Yankees SP/RP 23 2011 Solid starter who will move to the Yankees bullpen.

* - Only players projected to be in the majors in 2009 are ranked according to value. All others are randomly ranked based on ETA. ** - Age is calculated based on age at the start of the 2009 season *** - Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) to the major leagues.