ESPN's 2010 projections are the product of an analysis of a player's past performance, growth or regression potential and expected playing opportunity. While the overall ranking is based in large part on the player's projected performance, it also takes into account risk factors such as age, injury history and past statistical fluidity, the players' ceiling (upside), as well as positional and categorical scarcity.

Positional eligibility is based on 2009 statistics. For hitters, a player must have played 20 games at a position to be eligible there in 2010. For pitchers, starting pitcher eligibility is achieved by having made at least five starts in 2009 and relief pitcher eligibility by having made at least 8 relief appearances.