Baseball Prospect Rankings for 2012
Now updated for 2012's Top Prospects
Scouting Book's Top Prospects list is a Combined List, a calculated summary of the overall valuations of the entire prospect universe.
Remember: this page is the result of an automatic process that re-sorts and re-ranks players often.
If you think you have found a mistake, please read this blog entry before telling us. Then tell us.
First drafted by the Red Sox way back in 2008, righthander Alex Meyer passed on an alleged $2M signing bonus to go attend U Kentucky, in order to reenter the draft in 2011. Apparently, he spent his time in school eating well: the youngster now tips the scales at 6-10 and 230lbs.
Full Scouting Report for Alex Meyer
SB 101BA SC BP SN ES ML 83
Nobody expected young Josh Bell to sign in 2011, which is probably why he fell to the Pirates in round two of the draft. But one should never underestimate the allure of five million shiny dollars, and young Bell shocked other managers by inking with the Pirates and passing on the University of Texas. Bell immediately became the biggest bat in a Pirate system that's very lacking in offensive muscle, but his primo status doesn't only come from relative dearth: he's a valid top prospect all on his own merit. The switch-hitter who's carrying so many Pirate hopes will open 2012 at West Virginia.
Full Scouting Report for Josh Bell
SB 102BA SC 97BP SN ES ML 69
Blessed with a name that would be right at home in a Steve McQueen movie, Georgia Tech's Deck McGuire is a bulldog indeed: an imposing 6-6, 220lb righthanded power pitcher whose mound presence and smarts earn him top marks. McGuire is a workhorse pitcher who mixes in three above-average pitches that aren't spectacular on their own, but are more than good enough to get hitters out in a variety of ways, especially when he commands them so well. His 'pitchability' has been cited by many coaches as off the scale. He's the type of polished college pitcher who could move very quickly.
Full Scouting Report for Deck McGuire
SB 103BA SC BP SN ES ML
Drafted by the Padres after winning the 2010 Brooks Wallace Award as the best shortstop in NCAA Division I, Jedd Gyorko is officially regarded as a third basemen by the organization, despite his smallish stature. Of course, his bat has been nothing small since joining the Friars: In 119 games this year between High-A Lake Elsinore and AA San Antonio, Gyorko slashed a very shiny .323/.392/.518 line, including 47 doubles and 25 homers. With numbers like that, the Padres won't mind if they have to fudge his height in the official program. He should be ready by the end of 2012, if not sooner.
Full Scouting Report for Jedd Gyorko
SB 104BA SC 86BP SN ES ML 71
The son of an Olympic softball pitcher who grew up playing in the infield dirt, Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes rose to US attention as that nation's centerfielder during 2009's World Baseball Classic. In the tournament, he slashed .458/.480/1.000 with two homers in six games. He also went a scintillating 11-for-22 with four homers in six games of the World University Baseball Championship the following year. Back in the Cuban National League for the regular 2010-11 season, Cespedes racked up a .333/.472/.667 line in 85 games.
Full Scouting Report for Yoenis Cespedes
SB 105BA SC BP SN ES ML
A high-school catcher with a tantalizing power bat (15 homers in 27 games in his senior year), the double-named Tommy Joseph was scooped up by the Giants in 2009. In addition to his terrific raw power, Joseph displays a very strong throwing arm and shows signs of excellent leadership and discipline on the field. While the catcher's position in San Francisco would seem to be locked up for the foreseeable future, the Giants are looking for cheap meidcal insurance as much as any team, especially after the ESPN highlight (lowlight?) injury suffered by Mr. Posey in 2011.
Full Scouting Report for Tommy Joseph
SB 106BA SC BP SN ES ML
A high-profile 2010 pick for the Tigers, high-schooler Nick Castellanos was one of the best bats available in the draft. He shows very quick wrists and great natural hitting ability already, which means as he grows and fills out, he could become a certifiable monster. He has surprising speed for a big guy, too. He played shortstop in high school, but Scouting Book readers know that we were pretty sure he would be a third baseman or corner outfielder as a pro from the moment the Tigers signed him. In a full season of A-ball in West Michigan, he was indeed primarily deployed at third base (we're so smart), and he raked to the tune of .312/.367/.436 while popping seven homers over 500+ at-bats.
Full Scouting Report for Nick Castellanos
SB 107BA SC 69BP SN ES ML 51
Even with the departure of Sweet Jesus Montero, Mason Williams remains in the Yankee stable providing the promise of offense-to-come. Mason, son of former NFL receiver Derwin, has already shamed the teams that passed him over four or five times each, as the fourth-round pick has turned out to be a fiery aggressive hitter and baserunner, with plus speed and solid defense in center. He's already looking like a better leadoff hitter and all around player than Brett Gardner... and Curtis Granderson can play right field, can't he?
Full Scouting Report for Mason Williams
SB 108BA SC 96BP SN ES ML 73
He might be the most talented everyday player in the Pittsburgh Pirates system, but if you haven't heard of him yet, don't feel too bad. An under-the-radar international signee from 2008, Marte is pure projection: a fast, powerful, graceful athlete with great range in the outfield and a plus arm. He has an easy, natural swing and projects to deliver at least average power down the road. He could bump Andrew McCutchen to a corner (or to another ballclub) in another couple of years.
Full Scouting Report for Starling Marte
SB 109BA SC 87BP SN ES ML 40
A part of the low-A Greenboro team that captured a championship, right fielder Marcell Ozuna was a pleasant surprise for a Marlins organization that's very poor in prospect talent. While he's always been a top-tier power hitter, 2011 was the season in which he seemed to grow a patience gland, as he cut his strikeout rate by 50% while almost doubling his walks. A well-tooled all around player entering 2012, the Marlins are hoping to see cleaner defense and a continued approach to smart baseball from Ozuna. If he improves even half as much as he did last season, he should sniff AA ball for the first time by the end of the year.
Full Scouting Report for Marcell Ozuna
SB 110BA SC BP SN ES ML
It might look like a letter fell off the back of his jersey, but outfielder Oswaldo Arcia is actually a fully-named outfield prospect working in the backwoods of Minnesota. A legit power threat, the Venezuelan Arcia only needs to refine his plate approach enough that he can take a walk once and awhile, rather than swinging and missing at ball four day after day. He's already looking just fine in the outfield, and the Twins have had plenty of time to see him in all three slots, too.
Full Scouting Report for Oswaldo Arcia
SB 111BA SC 51BP SN ES ML
A shortstop who's probably better off at second or third, Curacao native Jonathan Schoop's second turn through high-A ball in the Oriole system was a lot more successful than his first. Schoop silenced critics by slashing .271/.329/.375 at Carolina after shredding the low-A Sally League with a .316/.376/.514 line in the spring. A high-contact hitter with developing power, Schoop is still adding bulk, which should help some of the 24 doubles he hit in 2011 turn into future homers. As it is, he still looks near ready for the bigs, with only another year or so of eyeball-training remaining. He should face the toughest pitching of his career in 2012, and it'll be interesting to see how he responds.
Full Scouting Report for Jon Schoop
SB 112BA SC 89BP SN ES ML
An offensive catcher who could finally give the Sox that young bat they've wanted behind the plate for years, Ryan Lavarnway is starting to look close to ready for Fenway, too. The Yale grad certainly has the smarts for game-calling, and after a great minor league season in 2011 (.284/.360/.510 at AA Portland, and an even better .295/.390/.612 at higher-level Pawtucket) he received a callup to Boston, where he popped two home runs in September, just so everyone would remember his name. He could be a great midseason fill-in for the Sox in 2012.
Full Scouting Report for Ryan Lavarnway
SB 113BA SC BP SN ES ML 93
A big Dominican outfielder with an even bigger bat from the left side, the Cardinals' Oscar Taveras was a little too much for A-level pitchers to handle in 2011, as he smashed to the tune of a 1.028 OPS (386 .444 .584) and eight homers in Quad Cities. Even scarier, his 27 doubles will probably grow into additional dingers as his young body fills out: he's still only 19. He really needs to be in high-A or even AA ball soon so that we can all find out if that big swing has any obvious holes.
Full Scouting Report for Oscar Taveras
SB 114BA SC 35BP SN ES ML
A college ace at Georgia Tech, lefthander Jedidiah Custer Bradley compiled a three year record of 18-11, 4.62, though it was his 7-3, 3.49 final season that got him a ticket to the first round of the MLB draft, when he was selected 15th overall by Milwaukee. While his 94mph heater isn't anything special, his advanced command of the changeup is what moved him to the highest levels of the draft, and it's that same change that will get him to MLB sooner or later. Probably sooner.
Full Scouting Report for Jed Bradley
SB 115BA SC 73BP SN ES ML 97
Acquired from the Blue Jays for shortstop-closer Sergio Santos, Nestor Molina is a slip of a Venezuelan righthander who might be the best prospect in the White Sox system. (Yes, that's a little like being the most-shy of the Kardashian sisters, but still.)
Full Scouting Report for Nestor Molina
SB 116BA SC 64BP SN ES ML
A big righthander in the Carlos Zambrano mold, the amusingly-named Trey McNutt cracked three levels of the minors in 2010, then spent all of 2011 quietly racking up starts in AA Tennessee. McNutt combines an overpowering fastball with a disorienting power curve. While a third pitch would be nice to have in his back pocket, those two existing choices are both serious plus offerings, so the only real thing he's wanting for is a 'show me' selection or two. Chicago covets McNutt highly: when Tampa Bay asked for nominal top prospect Chris Archer or McNutt in a trade for Matt Garza, the Cubs didn't hesitate, and sent Archer packing immediately. McNutt will spend most or all of 2012 in the AA Tennessee rotation once again, but if he continues to dominate hitters, a cup of coffee in Chicago is not out of the question. Heck, if the club follows through on rumors it may trade another of its big starters, it's not impossible McNutt will end the season in the Wrigley rotation.
Full Scouting Report for Trey McNutt
SB 117BA SC BP SN ES ML
A defensive star in the making, outfielder George Springer brings great range, a good glove and a powerful arm to the park. If his bat can catch up with the rest of his game, he'll be patrolling spacious centerfield in Minute Maid Park come 2014 or so.
Full Scouting Report for George Springer
SB 118BA SC 33BP SN ES ML 84
A big righthanded reliever from the glittering metropolis known as Cowpens, South Carolina, Giants pitcher Richard (Heath) Hembree is a low-glamor, low-maintenance and highly durable farmhand who would probably take the mound 162 times each season if his coach asked him to. He looked pretty darn good at AA Richmond last year, striking out 34 and walking only 13 in 28 one-inning appearances. Give him another half year and he'll be ready to chew through the middle innings in San Francisco, too.
Full Scouting Report for Heath Hembree
SB 119BA SC BP SN ES ML
A huge beast of a pitcher, the six foot eight Anthony Ranaudo is one of many premium righthanded arms from the 2010 Amateur Draft. The LSU alum works with a mid-90's fastball on an (obviously) downward plane, mixing in an average curve and changeup that will have to improve before he's MLB-worthy. He made 10 starts for A-level Greenville in 2011, and sixteen more for high-A Salem in the more hitter-friendly Carolina League. Across both teams, he went 9-6, 3.97, 1.27, striking out 117 hitters in 127 combined innings, which means he should continue to move up on schedule this eason. There are still some concerns with his mechanics, as is often the case with tall pitchers, and his slightly jerky delivery worries a few scouts. Despite those concerns, though, Ranaudo is a pitcher with significant upside that should be worth the risk the Sox took on him.
Full Scouting Report for Anthony Ranaudo
SB 120BA SC 63BP SN ES ML
Prospects
Top Prospects 2012
Combined Ranking
101 to 120 of 525 Prospects
