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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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
The younger of Baltimore's Bouncing Baby Bundies, the growly-looking Dylan is a righthander with ace upside, but he remains untested against pro hitters, and under professional pressure. His ungodly 0.25 ERA and 158 strikeouts in 71 innings as a high school senior earned him honors as the Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year, BA's High School Player of the Year Award and USA Today's National Player of the Year. That said, he's still a high school pitching prospect, among the riskiest bets in baseball, and will need more than a fastball/cutter combination to succeed as a starter, even though those two pitches are both genuine plus offerings. If you have to gamble though, note that the Baltimore organization has done nothing in the last few years to suggest they're not one of the very best incubators for pitching talent, so we're going with cautiously optimistic, here.
Full Scouting Report for Dylan Bundy
SB 31BA SC 30BP SN ES ML 10
The big slugger named Jonathan Singleton had no real future in Philadelphia, but in the AL-destined Astros he looks like a heck of a 1B/DH piece for the near future. Even as a corner outfield prospect, he's competent, and his powerful left-handed bat does nothing but hit. He should start the year in AA and be fast-tracked in time for Houston's new-look 2013 squad.
Full Scouting Report for Jonathan Singleton
SB 32BA SC 39BP SN ES ML 44
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
SB 33BA SC 77BP SN ES ML 18
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
SB 34BA SC 43BP SN ES ML 25
Originally a supplemental first round pick for the Brewers, this tall righthander has a smooth and easy delivery that portends well for his future in the system. He's still a couple of years away from serious attention, but he's worth keeping an eye on. A part of the prospect package that moved Zack Greinke to Milwaukee, Odorizzi should have a quicker path to the big leagues in Kansas City, too.
Full Scouting Report for Jacob Odorizzi
SB 35BA SC 54BP SN ES ML 47
Great baseball name, great baseball tools, great upside. Bubba Starling is a Royals proto-outfielder who has that mix of speed, power and grace that so few sluggers manage. Only Jason Heyward in recent years really matches the sweet swing and long stride of Starling. He's very young and very raw, of course, so don't get too excited too soon (do Royals fans ever get excited, really?), but he's probably one of the best offensive prospects in all of baseball already, and he's still a teenager.
Full Scouting Report for Bubba Starling
SB 36BA SC 41BP SN ES ML 17
A gritty, strong first baseman, Rizzo defeated cancer (lymphoma) to return to action in 2009, and ended up swatting near .300 in the Sally and Carolina leagues, including a dozen home runs and 37 doubles. In 2011, Rizzo batted .331 with 26 home runs and 101 RBI in 93 games for AAA Tucson. His terrific fundamentals and plus bat speed make him a tough out: he can make solid contact to all fields on anything close to the strike zone, and he's not afraid to take a walk on anything that isn't. Rizzo's defense isn't a jumbo mortgage on his hitting, either: unlike some sluggers who merely park at first base, he can actually field the position very well.
Full Scouting Report for Anthony Rizzo
SB 37BA SC 48BP SN ES ML 37
The Padres sure are good at picking up future superstars. In Casey Kelly, San Diego added a big, strong pitcher who will eventually make up for the loss of the very expensive Adrian Gonzalez. Young Casey Kelly is already 6-3 and 200lbs, with more size and strength to come as he fills out, and now that he's a full time mound monster, he can put all of that strength into his fastball.
Full Scouting Report for Casey Kelly
SB 38BA SC 88BP SN ES ML 50
The Cardinals' first pick of the 2010 Amateur Draft (25th overall), Arkansas' Zack Cox is a toolsy player with a high-end mix of baseball instincts and work ethic. He abandoned pitching to focus on hitting as a college freshman, and he hasn't looked back since. His bat speed is exceptional, and allowed him to turn on even the best heat in college ball while also letting him adjust to off-speed pitches with an ease seldom seen in NCAA.
Full Scouting Report for Zack Cox
SB 39BA SC BP SN ES ML
One of three top prospects acquired in winter 2011 from the Nationals, AJ Cole is a six-foot-five, lanky righthander who can already touch 95mph with his fastball. Cole also mixes in a power curve and passable changeup that could develop into plus pitches with good coaching and support. He's already drawing comparisons to Justin Verlander, who was a similar pitcher at the same age.
Full Scouting Report for AJ Cole
SB 40BA SC 76BP SN ES ML 88
Prospects
Top Prospects 2012
Combined Ranking
21 to 40 of 525 Prospects
