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.
A big, durable looking righty, Mets pitcher Jeurys Familia signed as an IFA from Dominica in 2007, and since then has been to visit every development guru on the East Coast, as scouts and coaches all tinker with his awkward delivery in the hope of adding some consistent location to his 96mph heater and stumbling slider. Everyone who's worked with Familia agrees that his control needs a great deal of work, but that's typical in a young player with such electric stuff. As with many such players, whether he ends up a starter or reliever will depend almost completely on whether he can learn to throw his raw change with consistency and deception. We won't really know for another year or two, here.
Full Scouting Report for Jeurys Familia
SB 181BA SC BP SN ES ML 90
A two-way player who was originally drafted by the Indians as a pitcher, Tennessee's Bryce Brentz should now be considered a full-time outfielder despite his early success on the mound.
Full Scouting Report for Bryce Brentz
SB 182BA SC BP SN ES ML 64
The 31st overall pick in the 2011 Draft, new Tampa Bay Ray prospect Michael Anthony Mahtook is a big, strong, fast centerfielder who starred at LSU. Mahtook hit .383 with 14 homers in his final year, and led the Southeast Conference with 39 steals. A scout's darling with good makeup and a great work ethic, Mahtook got all the tools needed to contribute to a major league offense, so it's possible he could rise to action in Tampa very, very soon.
Full Scouting Report for Mikie Mahtook
SB 183BA SC BP SN ES ML 96
A switch-hitting catcher of the type the Red Sox have kept on trying to develop for the last decade, Cleveland-native Blake Swihart has the tools necessary to succeed in the big leagues, assuming his game-calling head can develop as expected. Already blessed with solid contact ability from either side of the plate, (.448/.492/.845 for Team USA last year) he's also showing a strong and accurate throwing arm already.
Full Scouting Report for Blake Swihart
SB 184BA SC 67BP SN ES ML
An unsexy pickup by the Rangers at the bottom of the second round of the 2010 Draft, California righthander Cody Buckel was overlooked by many scouts due to his small stature, but he certainly shows pitching ability. It came through in A-level Hickory last year, to the tune of a 120:27 strikeout to ball ratio in 97 innings. Not bad for a 19-year old.
Full Scouting Report for Cody Buckel
SB 185BA SC BP SN ES ML
A workhorse lefty with a quality curveball, Holmberg was the 71st pick overall in the 2008 draft. He's not an overpowering pitcher, but he's pretty well-developed, setting up his almost MLB-ready hammer with a 90mph fastball that features tricksy late movement: it cuts in on righthanded hitters in an especially nasty way. He's a year or two away from everyday usefulness at an MLB level, but he should move quickly. He'll break more than his share of bats along the way.
Full Scouting Report for David Holmberg
SB 186BA SC BP SN ES ML
If the Pirates have collected one thing in the last few years, it's pitchers with high ceilings. The latest from a long line of lefthanders grown on the Atlanta farm, willowy Jeff Locke's 94mph fastball is a definite plus pitch, with late movement that he can command at will. His curve ball is also well under control and projects as a second plus pitch. Acquired by the pitching-poor Pirates in June 2009, 'The Redstone Rocket' has a terrific opportunity to step up as a rotation candidate in the very near future.
Full Scouting Report for Jeff Locke
SB 187BA SC BP SN ES ML
A smallish lefty drafted in 2009's third round and traded to San Diego in mid-2011, Erlin has risen very quickly through the farm system and could even get to the majors as early as 2012. Working through three levels of play in 2011, Erlin did the bulk of his work at AA Frisco after outclassing A hitters in the Carolina League. His AA numbers (5-2, 4.32, 1.20 and 61K in 67 innings) are nice but not great, but it was the 20 year old's first trip to AA, so give him some slack here.
Full Scouting Report for Robbie Erlin
SB 188BA SC 83BP SN ES ML
A high contact, line-drive hitter with decent speed and solid baseball fundamentals, Pollack is a quality outfield prospect currently developing in the Diamondback system. He has a little power, but it'll be his plus average that will have to carry him to the Bigs. Of course, he's still learning the outfield craft: Arizona converted him from shortstop to center.
Full Scouting Report for A.J. Pollock
SB 189BA SC BP SN ES ML
A lefty who can touch 96mph with a sizzling fastball, Toronto's Daniel Norris is a bit of a sleeper who should be gaining a lot more attention in the months and years to come. Norris already complements his heat with a hammer curve that can be devastating, and if he manages to get a third pitch up to even major-league average, he'll be an ace on a team known for discovering gems.
Full Scouting Report for Dan Norris
SB 190BA SC 90BP SN ES ML
Prospects
Top Prospects 2012
Combined Ranking
181 to 190 of 525 Prospects
