4. Chris Burke, New Orleans (Astros)

Burke is the ultimate gamer who typifies what the Astros stand for: getting
down and dirty and grinding it out. He repeated a level at Double-A Round Rock
last season, proving himself again and showing this year at Triple-A that he's
major league ready, earning a brief big league promotion before the Futures
Game. He gets on base, handles the bat well, has gap power and the speed and
instincts to steal bases. He has the quickness and athleticism to be a good
second baseman at the major league level. He worked hard in spring training,
taking extra work at second, which has improved his ability to read and charge
balls. Buying Jeff Kent out for $700,000 might be more palatable than paying
him a $9 million salary, so expect to see Burke at second base in Houston next
season.