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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A combination OF-1B bat who might end up at DH, Parmelee has been one of the best pure power hitters in the minor leagues for more than a couple of seasons now. He has a smooth, lofty swing that puts breaking pitches into the bleachers as fast as pitchers can curse. He's got a plus arm, but lacks the speed or range to hold down right field. A definite work-in-progress, Parmelee today is a sort of poor man's Lars Anderson: a big barrel of booming potential, with underdeveloped collateral skills. The bat is so monstrous, though, that the Twins are unlikely to move him or abandon his training: the Twins refuse to lose another David Ortiz.
More Scouting Book Info on Chris Parmelee
SB 191BA SC BP SN ES ML
The rising wave of Canadian pitchers continued when Seattle chose Quebec native Philipe Aumont with their first-round pick in 2007. He was traded to the Phillies in the winter 2009 blockbuster that moved Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.
More Scouting Book Info on Phillippe Aumont
SB 192BA SC BP SN ES ML
A record-breaking $2.8M international signing for the Blue Jays, Adonis Cardona is a power righthander from Venezuela with excellent projectability, a pitcher uniformly considered the best of the 2010 class. His overhead arm action looks smooth and easy, and as a teenager he's already clocking in at 92-93mph, which means it's frightening to think what he'll do with a little more growth. Cardona also seems to have a wicked breaking ball (a hammer curve) that's advanced for his age, though he hasn't quite learned to throw it for strikes yet. He's got some growing to do, but if the Blue Jays can keep him focused and help him polish his off-speed stuff, he could break into pro ball quickly and rise to the majors a la Felix Hernandez, who made the Seattle rotation as a teenager.
More Scouting Book Info on Adonys Cardona
SB 193BA SC 84BP SN ES ML
The Dodgers first-round pick (16th overall) in 2011, Chris Reed is a big, strong lefty with a solid 94mph fastball and a polished breaking ball. His stuff is electric, especially his strikeout slider: he could be a powerful piece of an MLB bullpen at any time. The Dodgers are thus-far more inclined to let him develop as a starter, though, and given the dodgy state of their rotation, they're probably wise to do so. Reed's physique and mentality do look ideal for a rotation-anchor. Give him a year or two.
More Scouting Book Info on Chris Reed
SB 194BA SC BP SN ES ML
Cuban lefthander Gerardo Concepcion is a young phenom who's been quiet all winter, while arranging his citizenship in Mexico, working out in the Dominican Republic and generally getting ready for his new life in America. That life will have a North Side address, now, as the new Cubs brain trust scooped him up when nobody else was looking. almost fair. Concepcion can't come close to Chapman's heat, and he's even less polished, but he does bring similarly wicked stuff from a similarly tall, wiry frame. Using a deceptive sweeping delivery that makes him look a little like a slinger, Concepcion's arm action restricts his fastball to a maximum of about 92-94mph right now and probably impairs his command somewhat, but he's still got room to grow, and it's quite possible the Cubs will break his mechanics down and rebuild them in a different way, too.
More Scouting Book Info on Gerardo Concepcion
SB 195BA SC BP SN ES ML
The Indians' Bob Feller Award winner in 2011, smallish righthander Chen-Chang Lee projects as a potent bullpen weapon for the Indians in the near future. Lee was signed as an international free agent after gaining attention at the 2008 Olympics.
More Scouting Book Info on Chen-Chang Lee
SB 196BA SC BP SN ES ML
A stocky lefthander, ex-Brave prospect Brett Oberholtzer is a raw, high-ceiling arm in a system known for maximizing pitching talent. A smart pitcher who lacks great stuff but makes up for it with significant pitchability, his developing curve has the potential to be a devastating pitch. If he masters it, he should be ready for some AL-style ball in the reinvented Astros organization come 2013 or 2014.
More Scouting Book Info on Brett Oberholtzer
SB 197BA SC BP SN ES ML
An offensive-minded shortstop with great patience and power, Clemson grad Brad Miller is a potent force brewing in the Mariner system. After a three year college life in which he bashed .339/.452/.485, he signed with the Mariners after being drafted in mid-2011 and promptly did the same thing to A-level pitchers in the Midwest League. In 53 pro at-bats, his career numbers are a familiar looking .415/.458/.528.
More Scouting Book Info on Brad Miller
SB 198BA SC BP SN ES ML
A Venezuelan shortstop who won the organization'sminor league award as best everyday player in 2011, Freddy Galvis has a good shot at the big club, and soon. His season, split between the AA Reading Phillies and the AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs, gave him a combined line of .278/.324/.392 with 8 HR and 23 SB in 137 games played. Always known as a polished defender (he has one of the best gloves in the Philly system today), the new surge in offensive ability has vaulted him to the front of the Phillies prospect board.
More Scouting Book Info on Freddy Galvis
SB 199BA SC BP SN ES ML
A big, strong and hungry monster with plus contact skills and off-the-charts power, Phoenix native CJ 'Crusher' Cron slashed a nasty-looking .308/.371/.629 right through the rookie Pioneer League in 2011, capped by eight homers in his final ten games. In 2012, he should start chewing up up A-ball just as soon as they open the cage to let him out.
More Scouting Book Info on CJ Cron
SB 200BA SC BP SN ES ML
Prospects
Top Prospects 2012
Combined Ranking
191 to 200 of 525 Prospects
