Top Baseball Prospects 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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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You have to give the Blue Jays some credit. Even with their backs to the wall and the necessity of trading away the best pitcher in franchise history, they managed to come out ahead by completely restocking their depleted farm system with high-talent players like D'Arnaud. Not to be confused with infielder Chase, Travis is an offensively gifted catcher who recently hit .311/.371/.542 at double-A New Hampshire while cracking 21 homers. He's got above-average speed for a catcher and a developing eye for the strike zone that should allow him to hit high in a future Blue Jays batting order.
Full Scouting Report for Travis d'Arnaud
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The Mariners' first round pick in 2010, righthander Taijuan Walker looks like a number one starter on almost any MLB team. On the Mariners, that probably makes him a number three, or maybe two-and-a-half. (This team's pitching depth in the minors is just plain sick, which explains why they could part with young ace Michael Pineda so 'easily' this winter.) Walker works mainly with a 94mph darting fastball that has great late movement, and when he mixes in a sometimes-effective straight change at 82mph, the fastball is nearly unhittable. His breaking pitch is a slurvy curve that isn't yet ready for regular use, but he'll have time to develop. He took a big step forward in 2011, going 6-5, 2.89, 1.12 at A-level Clinton.
Full Scouting Report for Taijuan Walker
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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
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He doesn't have Bryce Harper's moonshot power, but Anthony Rendon is probably still the best pure hitter in the Nationals system today. (Overshadowed by Harper from the very beginning, 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 Harper moves to the Beltway for good.
Full Scouting Report for Anthony Rendon
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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
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Prospects
Top Prospects 2012
Combined Ranking
20 to 30 of 500 Prospects
