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.

Kyle Crick

RHP

Currently

171

A very big kid from Texas with a pretty big arm, righthander Kyle Crick was the his district's 4A pitcher of the year in 2011. He brings a typical power heavy fastball from a high arm angle, and complements it with a slider that shows serious promise.

By all reports his change and curve are very much works in progress, though, so don't get too excited about this kid too soon. We didn't get much of a first-hand look at Crick in the few Fall League games he entered in 2011, so 2012 will be the real test. He should start in rookie ball and wind up in low or regular A before the year is finished.

Full Scouting Report for Kyle Crick

SB 171BA SC BP SN ES ML

Christian Colon

SS

Currently

172

A textbook shortstop from Puerto Rico, Christian Colon is a plus contact hitter with good speed, excellent baseball instincts and soft hands. He won't hit 40 home runs in any league any time soon, but CC should be a good enough contributor at all other aspects of the game to bless the Royals rosters in the next couple of years.

Full Scouting Report for Christian Colon

SB 172BA SC BP SN ES ML

Rougned Odor

SS

Currently

173

We see a lot of great names here at Scouting Book, but every once and awhile there's still one that makes us do a double-take. This offensive-minded infielder's name (nephew of Indians coach Rouglas) is really named Rougned (RYOO-nyed) Odor. We're hoping that was a little less teaseworthy for the kid growing up in Venezuela than it would have been in Lubbock.

An All-Star for the Venezuelan National Team in 2009, Odor is a short infielder with good fielding instincts, a strong arm, and a sweet swing from the left side of the plate. He's a long way from the majors, with a whole life of A-ball ahead of him first.

Full Scouting Report for Rougned Odor

SB 173BA SC BP SN ES ML

Collin Cowgill

OF

Currently

174

A part of the trade that also sent Jarrod Parker from Arizona to Oakland, outfielder Collin Cowgill is a small-framed but solidly-built slugger. Hitting right and throwing left (yes, really) the potent corner slugger is probably best-known for swatting 10 home runs for low-A Yakima over a two-week period back in 2008. His power is real (16 more dingers in his first 500 AA at-bats) but he'll need to work on his defense and discipline before he's ready to play for real in high-level ball.

Full Scouting Report for Collin Cowgill

SB 174BA SC BP SN ES ML

Tanner Scheppers

RHP

Currently

175

A hot prospect before the 2008 draft, Scheppers fell to the Pirates (and, after not signing, the Rangers in 2009) due to concerns about an unusual (but non-structural) shoulder injury. He has big upside, but as he's older than most of his same-experienced peers now, his prospect status has taken a hit. He's still only a small step away from being useful in the majors right now, though, which means he's only a single good string of appearances away from Arlington.

Full Scouting Report for Tanner Scheppers

SB 175BA SC BP SN ES ML

Kirk Nieuwenhuis

OF

Currently

176

An impressive outfield prospect in the Mets system, Kirk Nieuwenhuis is probably the organization's best true centerfielder. He needs a bit more work to polish his all-around game, but he's got the bat, glove and arm to contribute as a fourth outfielder right now. Of course, the Mets as a team have a whole lot of fourth outfielders already at the major league level. Hmm.

Full Scouting Report for Kirk Nieuwenhuis

SB 176BA SC BP SN ES ML

Ivan DeJesus

SS

Currently

177

The Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year for 2008, DeJesus doesn't have much left to prove in the minors, especially after idling with a bubbling .310/.389/.432 during a full year of AAA parking-lot ball in 2011. When he makes contact, he's a hitter in the Howie Kendrick style: gap to gap line drives with excellent bat control. In the field, he has soft hands and excellent (inherited?) baseball instincts.

The Dodgers have not been afraid to play youth in recent years, so despite his September struggles in 2011, he should get a shot at the big club again in 2012.

Full Scouting Report for Ivan DeJesus

SB 177BA SC BP SN ES ML

Norichika Aoki

OF

Currently

178

The best position player available from Japan in 2011, three-time batting champ Norichika Aoki could very well play every day for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2012. His seven year average in Japan is .340, he's reliable for 20 steals, and he has a little pop that should translate into a dozen or so homers per year in MLB. Americans may remember him hitting .324 (12-for-37) in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He's adept enough to cover any outfield position, which should help the reorganizing Brewers a lot.

Like most Japanese players, he respects the details of the game, and is a pretty safe bet to never embarrass his coaches with extracurricular rowdiness.

Full Scouting Report for Norichika Aoki

SB 178BA SC BP SN ES ML

Joe Wieland

RHP

Currently

179

Originally drafted by the Rangers, Righthander Joe Wieland is today a premium Padres pitching prospect with his sights set squarely on San Diego. A tall and thin kid with easy gas, Wieland works comfortably at 90-94mph, spiced with a genuine plus curve. Even his change shows above-average flash.

With exceptionally good command and control, he managed to string together a 1.80 ERA with an eye-popping 132:15 K:BB rate across two teams. We almost got to see his stuff on the big screen in 2011, as Wieland was called up to the major league club at the end of September, but he didn't ever get into a game. A fly-ball/strikeout pitcher, he should fit perfectly into San Diego's style of play, not to mention that ballpark.

Full Scouting Report for Joe Wieland

SB 179BA SC BP SN ES ML

Junichi Tazawa

RHP

Currently

180

The Red Sox sure spent a lot of money on a pitcher who seems to be turning into a full-time reliever already. After struggling in the rotation, Tazawa seemed to blossom somewhat when moved to the bullpen, and his fastball finally started showing some of the sizzle that was expected when he moved stateside from Japan. He'll be 24 when 2012 breaks, so this is about the time that the Red Sox will need to commit to a path for the onetime rock star: bullpen ace, or rotation enigma?

Full Scouting Report for Junichi Tazawa

SB 180BA SC BP SN ES ML

171 to 180 of 525 Prospects

Top Prospects 2012

Combined Ranking

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50	60	70	80	90
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1B	2B	3B	SS	OF
C	LHP	RHP	Matrix

Prospect Notes

Recent Player News

Roman Hernandez, KC

2/7/2012: Roman Hernandez has signed with the Royals, and will be sending a half-million dollar signing bonus back to his family in Cuba, one way or the other. Hernandez projects as a bench player with some power right now, and looks best in a corner outfield slot. At only 23, he still has room to grow, too.
More on Hernandez >

Also In The News...

Top Prospects 2012

Combined Ranking

1+	10	20	30	40
50	60	70	80	90
100	110	120	130	140
150	160	170	180	190
200	210	220	230	240
250	260	270	280	290
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350	360	370	380	390
400	410	420	430	440
450	460	470	480	490

1B	2B	3B	SS	OF
C	LHP	RHP	Matrix

CloserWatch Notes

Recent Closer News

Update: SEA: 2/6/2012

Seattle took a flier on the sometimes dominant lefty reliever Hong-Chih Kuo today, signing him to an incentive-laden 1-year deal. Kuo, one of baseball's best lefthanders the last decade or so, struggled with both physical and emotional turmoil in his last year as a Dodger.

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Scouting Book

Tools and Lists for Finding Better Baseball Prospects, Closers and More!

Baseball Prospect Rankings for 2012

Now updated for 2012's Top Prospects

RHP

Currently

171

SS

Currently

172

SS

Currently

173

OF

Currently

174

RHP

Currently

175

OF

Currently

176

SS

Currently

177

OF

Currently

178

RHP

Currently

179

RHP

Currently

180

Top Prospects 2012

Prospect Notes

Also In The News...

Top Prospects 2012

CloserWatch Notes

Update: SEA: 2/6/2012

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350	360	370	380	390
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