No guarantee on top picks turning out to be great players.
Thing to do is get as many players w/ good potential as possible. Sometimes that coincides w/ these kinds of lists. Sometimes it doesn't.
Looking at that 2007 list again...
Phil Hughes was #4 on 2007 Top 100 Prospects list. Hughes's current career ERA is 4.39. In no "danger" of going to All Star Game any time soon.
Homer Bailey was #5 on 2007 Top 100 Prospects list. Bailey's current career ERA is 4.50. Had 3.68 ERA in 2012. also in no "danger" of going to ASG.
Cameron Maybin was #6 on 2007Top 100 Prospects list. Hit .243w/ 110K's in 110 ABs in2012. Hardly AS caliber.
Brandon Wood was #8 on 2007Top 100 Prospects list. Had .216 BA in 105 gms this past yr. Only hit 7 home runs in 250 ABs in 2012. Hardly qualifies as "power bat" that he was called on 2007 prospects list.
Dice-K, Delmon Young, Bailey,Hughes, Maybin & Wood are sub-par players but were in the top 10 2007 prospects. That's 6 of top 10 2007 prospects (OVER HALF) that turned out to be mediocre or bad players."
This.