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Since 2005, we’ve wrapped up the minor league baseball season with the top 10 prospects with Connecticut ties.

With more state players being taken in the upper rounds of the Major League Baseball draft — 15 selected in the first 10 rounds of the draft over the past three seasons, including four first-round picks — we’ll expand the annual list to include the top 20 players. Here’s 11-20, with the top 10 coming next Sunday.

20. Brandon Josselyn, Yale, RHP, Clinton (Iowa) LumberKings (Mariners, low Class A): A position player when he entered Yale in 2006, Josselyn was moved to fill a need on the mound as a sophomore. Within two seasons, he was the Ivy League pitcher of the year and a 25th-round pick of Seattle. His mid-90s fastball helped earn him the closer’s job in Clinton, where his 14 saves ranks among the league leaders.

19. Tim Norton, UConn, RHP, Trenton (N.J.) Thunder (Yankees, Double-A): Considered one of the elite pitchers in New England prior to the 2006 draft, when the Yanks took him in the seventh round, Norton has shown his stuff when healthy. Therein lies the rub. Norton’s career has been pock-marked by long stints on the disabled list. Rotator cuff surgery kept him on the shelf nearly two full seasons. He returned in 2009 to post good numbers — a 2.75 ERA in 23 games out of the pen at advanced Class A Tampa — and was even better this year. He struck out 47 in 32 innings with a 1.39 ERA between Tampa, Trenton and a one-game trip to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. But a back muscle injury ended his season in July. Norton, who turns 28 next spring, may well enjoy a big league career if his body ever stops breaking down on him.

18. Andrew Carignan, Norwich, RHP, Stockton (Calif.) Ports (A’s, advanced Class A): Carignan, our top Connecticut prospect in 2007 and 2008, seemed destined for the closer’s job in Oakland. He saved 28 games in 2008, and burned Double-A hitters with a 2.01 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 62 innings. But arm troubles are threatening to derail his career. He missed most of 2009, and battled control problems at Stockton (he walked 31 in 29 innings, helping inflate his 6.37 ERA) before landing on the disabled list. He hasn’t pitched in a month.

17. Jesse Hahn, Norwich, RHP, unassigned (Rays): After three strong seasons at Virginia Tech, Hahn was taken in the sixth-round in June despite an arm problem that limited his postseason work for the Hokies. Turns out Hahn needed Tommy John surgery, performed in July. The Rays still signed Hahn to a $525,000 bonus, and he’s begun rehab at the team’s facility in Port Charlotte, Fla. Hahn likely won’t pitch in game action until after the all-star break next summer.

16. Max Russell, Orange, LHP, Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Kernals (Angels, low Class A): A former Register All-State pick, Russell began his pro career in June after being taken in the sixth round out of Division II Florida Southern in June. A proven winner in college, he earned his first promotion by going 4-0 with a 3.41 ERA in the short-season Northwest League. He’s been hit hard in the Midwest League, but fatigue could be a factor. He’s over 140 innings between college and the pros.

15. Chris Gloor, Quinnipiac, LHP, Augusta (Ga.) GreenJackets (Giants, low Class A): Dan Gooley, who coached Gloor at Quinnipiac, once said Gloor resembled Andy Pettitte on the mound. Both are big lefties — Gloor is 6-foot-6, 255 pounds — with fluid mechanics. Gloor certainly has big league potential, but the Giants, who took him in the 17th round in 2009, see him as a middle reliever now. His numbers have been excellent the past two seasons. Gloor is 3-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 39 appearances, including 65 strikeouts in 59 innings. Expect him to move to advanced Class A San Jose of the California League next year.

14. Pat Dean, Naugatuck, LHP, Elizabethton (Tenn.) Twins (Twins, rookie Class A): A third-round pick out of Boston College in June, Dean overmatched rookie league hitters during his six appearances. The lanky lefty is 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA in 16 innings between the Gulf Coast League and Appalachian League. It’s a strong foundation as Dean hits his first spring training in March. Continued...

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13. Josh Zeid, New Haven, RHP, Lakewood (N.J.) BlueClaws (Phillies, low Class A): If anything, Zeid has proven versatile. The Phillies’ 10th-round pick out of Tulane in 2009 began the season as the closer in Lakewood, made the all-star game, lost the job, then reemerged as a reliable starter on the favorite to win the South Atlantic League championship. Zeid is 6-4 with a 2.93 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 95 innings pitched.

12. Jim Fuller, Southern Connecticut State, LHP, St. Lucie (Fla.) Mets (Mets, advanced Class A): A stat line that jumps off the page is nothing new to Fuller, an All-American at Southern who once threw 59 straight scoreless innings. He’s been almost as sensational for the Mets, who took him in the 21st round in 2008. Fuller’s control and bulldog mentality makes up for his small frame (he’s 5-foot-10, 180 pounds). This year, he led the South Atlantic League with a 1.93 ERA over 19 starts. His Florida State League debut was rough, but followed by two solid outings. His future is likely in the bullpen, but the major leagues could be a realistic goal.

11. Eric Smith, Milford, RHP, Visalia (Calif.) Rawhide (Diamondbacks, advanced Class A): A second-round pick out of Rhode Island in 2009, Smith received a well-earned promotion after an all-star performance at South Bend of the Midwest League. California League hitters roughed him up early, but Smith is finishing strong. He’s allowed two earned runs in his last 12 innings, and struck out 10 in six shutout innings of his last start. Smith’s 7.01 ERA for Visalia is an eyesore, but he will be considered for Double-A next spring anyway.

Chip Malafronte can be reached

at cmalafronte@nhregister.com.

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