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.
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Spending $8M to sign number one pick Gerrit Cole might have seemed extravagant for a 'small market' team like the Pittsburgh Pirates, but when you keep finishing in last place year after year, you need to get something out of it, right? The net result is that the Pirates look very wise indeed: the righthanded Cole joins Jameson Taillon in what might be the best 1-2 punch on any prospect roster in the majors.
Full Scouting Report for Gerrit Cole
SB 11BA SC 10BP SN ES ML 11
The Yankees top international signee back in 2007, righthander Arodys Vizcaino got a taste of MLB ball in 2011 and should be back to stay in early 2012. His fastball hovers in the low 90s, but should get harder as he matures. He complements that with an already-superb curve and a developing change. In any other system, he'd be a number one prospect. In Atlanta, he's easy to overlook.
Full Scouting Report for Arodys Vizcaino
SB 12BA SC 21BP SN ES ML 36
One of the top high school arms in the country, Jacob Turner was drafted in the first round (9th overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 2009. More a potential pitcher than a pitcher just yet, Turner's three starts in Detroit last season weren't exactly high art, but at least the organization has a firm handle on what they're working with now. Turner has a big, strong, projectable body and a low-90's fastball, but the rest of his arsenal is very much in-development. While he could contend for a starting job in the thin 2012 Tiger rotation, smarter money would put him back on the farm to refine his game a bit first.
Full Scouting Report for Jacob Turner
SB 13BA SC 11BP SN ES ML 15
With a nickname that sounds like something out of a Radical Feminist Manifesto, Manny Banuelos is a young and tiny lefthander signed out of Mexico who's already being heralded as a shining success story for the Yankee's international scouting team. Man-Ban's fastball is an easy 92mph, while his changeup already looks like a plus pitch, remarkable in such a young player. He's been working on adding a curve and/or slider to his mix, which would silence those calling him a bullpen-only piece, but even his existing two-pitch arsenal has been effective so far. He'll be brought along slowly, as the ever-conservative Yankees have no need to rush him, but if his next year is as good as his last, he'll have to be considered one of the top young arms in the minor leagues.
Full Scouting Report for Manny Banuelos
SB 14BA SC 9BP SN ES ML 13
Devin Mesoraco is a catching prospect who's a little late to bloom (then again, aren't they all?) in the Reds system. The 15th overall pick of the 2007 draft, Mesoraco fell off the charts for awhile after posting .260 and .228 averages in his first two full seasons of minor league ball. But a switch flipped somewhere in 2010, as Mesoraco posted a composite line of .302/.377/.587 with 26 home runs in 2010, followed by a 2011 line of 289/.371/.484 at AAA Louisville last year, complete with 15 more home runs. If the Reds seemed too eager to trade away super-prospect catcher Yasmani Grandal, there's probably no better reason than Mesoraco. He still strikes out a bit too much and can be beat by quality stuff inside, but Mesoraco suddenly looks to have very few shortcomings. He should get a shot with the Reds in late 2012.
Full Scouting Report for Devin Mesoraco
SB 15BA SC 12BP SN ES ML 14
Jarrod Parker, one of the most highly-touted prospects in the 2007 draft, fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 9th overall pick. Shipped to Oakland as a part of Billy Beane's re-re-rebuilding plan, Parker shows exceptional character and makeup, which means he may be destined for the big leagues sooner than most.
Full Scouting Report for Jarrod Parker
SB 16BA SC 23BP SN ES ML 26
The main return for the departing Dan Haren, Arizona's Tyler Skaggs is almost ready to compete at the major league level, and should contend for a rotation spot in early 2012. Skaggs was 8-6 with an ERA of 2.99 across 25 starts last year, including a 2.51 ERA in eight starts at the higher-level stop in Mobile. If he doesn't break camp with the Diamondbacks, he'll join them before the year is up.
Full Scouting Report for Tyler Skaggs
SB 17BA SC 26BP SN ES ML 21
Probably the best overall hitter in the Nats system despite lacking Bryce Harper's moonshot power, Anthony Rendon was the team's first round draft pick in 2011. A nominal third baseman, he'll probably shift to second or left field for the Nats soon, at least as long as Ryan Zimmerman appears entrenched at the hot corner. He'll definitely be a potent part of a future Nats lineup, and could debut around the same time as superprospect Bryce Harper moves to the Beltway for good.
Full Scouting Report for Anthony Rendon
SB 18BA SC 56BP SN ES ML 27
Originally drafted by the Indians, the latest junior ace from Ole Miss was also the latest top pitching prospect to be traded between rebuilding teams last year, something of a leitmotif for MLB in 2011. In fact, ex-Indian and current Rockie Thomas (Andrew) Pomeranz was probably the best lefty of the 2010 draft class, so his arrival in Colorado wasn't insignificant in any way.
Full Scouting Report for Drew Pomeranz
SB 19BA SC 14BP SN ES ML 24
The fourth overall pick in the draft, righthander Trevor Bauer was overshadowed by rotation mate Gerrit Cole while at UCLA, but after turning pro he became one of the most impressive young arms anywhere in the minors. After blowing past high-A ball last year, he found his level in AA, and that's where he should open 2012. Bauer is a smallish pitcher, with a bit of an unconventional motion, but he's not the overpowering Lincecum type, more of a bag-of-tricks pitcher with a good head for the game. While he can dial his fastball up to 96mph when he wants to, he's much more effective when he holds back and lets the natural movement of his breaking balls do the work for him. It's possible he breaks camp with the Diamondbacks, but with the team not hurting for starters just yet, it's most likely that his real prime time won't be until 2013.
Full Scouting Report for Trevor Bauer
SB 20BA SC 36BP SN ES ML 9
An undrafted free agent signing from Venezuela, teenage lefty Martin Perez was one of the Rangers' best-kept secrets until he blew away half the minor leagues in 2009. He's impressive, and slowly getting closer to MLB-ready. The skinny 20 year old turns into a wiry 21 year old this spring, and until some late-season trips in 2011, he hadn't failed to strike out a batter per inning at any point in his young career. That bounce between AA and AAA last year was part of a very aggressive promotion schedule that we have to hope at least seasoned the youngster. He should start 2012 back in AA with hopes of a midseason callup. His prime won't arrive until 2014 or so, however.
Full Scouting Report for Martin Perez
SB 21BA SC 15BP SN ES ML 29
A 6-foot-4, solidly-built athlete, Marlin prospect Christian Yelich is a left-handed hitter with a picturesque swing that's a thing of beauty. Yelich is already showing good power, and as he grows into his body, that power should grow along with him.
Full Scouting Report for Christian Yelich
SB 22BA SC 75BP SN ES ML 35
A toolsy centerfielder pushing his way up the Cubs ladder, Brett Jackson is a well-rounded player without a single defining skill, but with the right mix for a top-of-the-order role in the future. A .297/.388/.551 hitter at AAA Iowa in 2011, Jackson's mix of plus speed and mature plate discipline portends a leadoff role, though his developing power (from 12 to 20 homers last year) might make him slot into the three hole just fine, too. He's primed and equipped for an opportunity in MLB, probably the only Cubs prospect really ready to do so, so he should get a chance in 2012.
Full Scouting Report for Brett Jackson
SB 23BA SC 34BP SN ES ML 33
A powerful young bat getting a lot of attention in the Rockies system, Nolan Arenado is looking like a viable corner bat in the very near future. He slashed a ridiculous .308/.338/.520 line during his first taste of A-ball at Asheville in 2010, showing that he's a contact hitter and not just a slugger, and backed it up with a very similar .298/ .349/.487 performance at higher-level Modesto last season. He's a line-drive hitter now, but he has real developing power that could catapult him to elite status very soon. His defensive ability, while improving, is still a big question mark, though, so it's very possible that he'll be limited to first base or left field in the National League.
Full Scouting Report for Nolan Arenado
SB 24BA SC 18BP SN ES ML 22
The number two overall pick in 2011, Seattle pitching prospect Danny Hultzen is a solid lefthander who draws more than his share of Cliff Lee comparisons. With a fastball that drops in around 94mph, the comparison isn't far off base, either. In three seasons of duty at the University of Virginia, Hultzen went 32-5 with a 2.08 ERA. The Cavs ace also struck out a nasty 148 batters in 103 innings last season. Unlike some of the sexier prospects in baseball, that majority of Hultzen's ability is probably already on display: in 19 1/3 fall league innings for Seattle he posted a tidy 1.60 ERA in six starts. In addition to the well-advertised pinpoint fastball, he showed advanced ability to find and locate a nifty cutter, a decent change, and an occasionally-wicked slider, though he may back-shelf that one for awhile. His contract guarantees him a Spring Training spot, but we should see him in Seattle by midseason. Of course, if the team somehow manages to hold him back all year, it could save some money for a competitive window a few years down the road. Tough choice, Jack.
Full Scouting Report for Danny Hultzen
SB 25BA SC 13BP SN ES ML 16
The fastest legs in red stockings, infielder Billy Hamilton should soon get a shot at locking down a long-term infield job in CIncinnati's young lineup. The Pioneer League's player of the year in 2010 just kept on running wild at A-ball in 2011, stealing 103 (not a typo) bases in 130 games with Dayton, and doing so at an 84% success rate. The switch-hitting Hamilton really does look like a prototypical leadoff hitter thanks to his wheels and on-base skills. In the field, he's capable of shortstop, but more likely to land at second base come 2013 or so. If he gets a callup in late-2012, expect to see dust fly.
Full Scouting Report for Billy Hamilton
SB 26BA SC 70BP SN ES ML 34
He's clearly no shortstop anymore, as Scouting Book readers knew to expect, but that doesn't stop Miguel Sano from stepping into the number one prospect room in Minnesota. The biggest Latin American signing of 2009, Sano was a coup of sorts for the small market Minnesota Twins. A coveted athlete pursued by all the usual big-market teams, it was Minnesota's relentless (one might say 'piranha-like') tenacity that finally landed the youngster. city Cities.
Full Scouting Report for Miguel Sano
SB 27BA SC 24BP SN ES ML 23
Originally drafted out of high school by the Oakland A's back in 2007, outfielder Gary Brown chose college instead before entering the 2010 draft, when he was selected 24th overall by the San Francisco Giants. A plus-plus runner with a centerfielder's natural graces, Brown's bat has been bad but improving, giving him the right mix of tools for an MLB leadoff slot in another couple of years.
Full Scouting Report for Gary Brown
SB 28BA SC 57BP SN ES ML 48
Nobody noticed in all the hubbub about Aaron Crow, but KC's third round pick in 2009 was another steal: the high-potential catcher William (Will) Myers. 'Wumbly' is a hard-nosed grinder who some call a throwback to a dirtier era, a ballplayer's ballplayer who can perform well at almost any position. He was treated as a catcher until 2011, when the Royals started using him exclusively in the outfield as an experiment. It's a shame if he loses out on a catching career, since he certainly has the smarts for it, but it's possible that the move to a simpler position, not to mention one of greater need for the Royals. might work out for the best. Another half season of squinting at fly balls and he'll probably be ready for MLB; that's a full two years sooner than he'd be ready behind the plate.
Full Scouting Report for Wil Myers
SB 29BA SC 17BP SN ES ML 19
In addition to having the best name in the 2008 draft class, Yonder Alonso is also one of the strongest power hitters of his generation. While his bat is certainly impressive, the Cincinnati Reds draft choice was an odd selection, since they already had young MVP-caliber Joey Votto just settling in for the next decade. The Reds seemed to realize this eventually, and moved him to San Diego in 2011's offseson. Despite the crippling effects of Petco, he should still be one of a handful of premium rookie bats in 2012, especially in the power department. He's adequate but no gold-glover in the field, which means he's probably locked at first base.
Full Scouting Report for Yonder Alonso
SB 30BA SC 98BP SN ES ML 39
Prospects
Top Prospects 2012
Combined Ranking
11 to 30 of 525 Prospects
