Top Baseball Prospects for 2013

Now updated for 2013'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're coming to this page directly, you're missing 9/10ths of what we do, so please also visit our home page, and read this blog entry before telling us how stupid we are. Thanks!

Stephen Piscotty

3B

Currently

210

More Scouting Book Info on Stephen Piscotty

SB 210BA SC BP SN ES ML

Richie Shaffer

3B

Currently

211

One of the higher-upside hitters in the 2012 Draft, Tampa Bay's Richie Shaffer is a nominal third baseman who can not only play first, but also a corner outfield position, thanks to his powerful arm. A right-handed hitter, Shaffer has strong wrists that deliver real plus bat speed. He only logged 138 plate appearances at low-A Hudson Valley last year, but he looked good doing it: .308/.406/.487 with four dingers and a nice walk rate for a player whose strike zone judgment has been a question to date. His power potential high, so he's definitely worth keeping an eye on, even if he struggles a bit moving up the ladder.

More Scouting Book Info on Richie Shaffer

SB 211BA SC BP SN ES ML

Gavin Cecchini

SS

Currently

212

The younger brother to Boston's Garin, shortstop Gavin Cecchini is a contact hitter with solid tools who could develop into exactly the franchise shortstop the Mets suddenly need. He'll need a few years, though, and there are some legitimate-sounding concerns about whether he can round out his game well enough to be a front-line starter. We'll wait and see.

More Scouting Book Info on Gavin Cecchini

SB 212BA SC BP SN ES ML

Jose Iglesias

SS

Currently

213

A young Cuban superstar, Iglesias signed with Boston for $8M in the summer of 2009 with the hope that he might just be the long-term answer that Fenway's faithful have been seeking at shortstop ever since Nomah left the building. While he's since been passed by even hotter prospect Xander Bogaerts, Iglesias is probably the superior fielder. More than one scout has called him 'Ozzie Smith-style slick', and he's already earned a perfect 80 on the scouting scale. His speed is at least above-average and close to a real plus tool. But there's always something, isn't there? In Jose's case, his bat just isn't there yet, and it's definitely the main concern for the Sox. Most scouts still believe he can contribute as at least an average stick once he develops a bit more. At 5-10 and 180lbs, he won't be hitting many light poles, but with Dustin Pedroia around to provide pointers, he should be able to launch a few 'frickin laser beams' now and again.

More Scouting Book Info on Jose Iglesias

SB 213BA SC BP SN ES ML

Parker Bridwell

RHP

Currently

214

A former top prospect who's slid a bit in the ranks thanks to another year of shaky control, Baltimore righthander Parker Bridwell is young enough that he shouldn't suffer a serious discount. He still features great raw stuff and a true plus fastball that springs from a perfect pitcher's frame, so the Orioles will give the kid a few more chances. To get a handle on his future, watch his walk rate in 2013.

More Scouting Book Info on Parker Bridwell

SB 214BA SC BP SN ES ML

Luis Mateo

RHP

Currently

215

A tall, lithe righthander in the Mets system, Dominican-born Luis Mateo is a hard-throwing pitcher with a quality change. He outclassed the NY-Penn League last year, striking out 85 and walking only 9 in 73 innings, but he was a 22 year old pitching to younger hitters. He'll push through A-ball this year, and if he maintains anything close to those great numbers, he'll be in AA and knocking on the door in 2014.

More Scouting Book Info on Luis Mateo

SB 215BA SC BP SN ES ML

Christian Garcia

RHP

Currently

216

A powerful righthanded reliever ready to help out in Washington right now, Miami-born Christian (CJ) Garcia is one of many young bullpen weapons the Nats plan to use to defend their NL East title. A mature prospect, Garcia has already thrown seven full seasons of minor league ball, maintaining a strikeout rate of more than a batter per inning (and more than 10 per 9 for most of that career.) He's been a reliever for the team so far, but he has the guile and pitch selection to start. His fastball is a naturally-moving mid-90's dart that he controls well, and to which he can add natural sink on command. His changeup is solid, the type one would expect from a veteran pitcher, and his curve, when it's on track, is an unhittable shame-maker. He's a strong candidate to anchor the Washington bullpen in 2013, but should the team be shy a rotation member at any point in the next couple of seasons, he may be a terrific in-house replacement, too.

More Scouting Book Info on Christian Garcia

SB 216BA SC BP SN ES ML

Chris Owings

SS

Currently

217

A slight shortstop with plus instincts, Arizona prospect Chris Owings could see a move to second base in the near future. Signed out of high school in South Carolina after being selected 41st overall in the 2009 draft, Owings is a gap-to-gap hitter with a bit of pop. He's decent defensively, and shows above average speed on the bases. He's not a likely All Star, but he could be a competent bench or utility player in the bigs at any time.

More Scouting Book Info on Chris Owings

SB 217BA SC BP 81SN ES ML

DJ Davis

OF

Currently

218

The fastest player in the 2012 draft class, young DJ Davis has base-stealing skills to burn to go along with great range in the outfield, signalling a bright future in a major league outfield as long as he can bring his bat along with him: MLB-average offensive production is all that's needed here, and Davis should be able to get there with a couple of years of experience and hard work.

More Scouting Book Info on DJ Davis

SB 218BA SC BP SN ES ML

AJ Pollock

OF

Currently

219

A high contact, line-drive hitter with decent speed and solid baseball fundamentals, Allen Pollack Jr. is a quality outfield prospect currently developing in the Diamondback system. AJ 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, a common move for high-quality athletes who lack the soft hands or accurate arms for the infield. Learning curve aside, there's nothing to worry about here.

More Scouting Book Info on AJ Pollock

SB 219BA SC BP SN ES ML

Jake Thompson

RHP

Currently

220

A prep righthander with a nasty mid-nineties fastball, Tiger prospect Jake Thompson is an imposing mound presence: a 6-4, 240lb 18-year old is a frightening thing for a teenager to face at the plate. Mix in a potentially plus slider and the situation becomes downright unfair. Thompson will work on some secondary pitches in the minors (that ever-elusive change needs a lot of work), but could well become the latest in a long line of Tiger pitching finds.

More Scouting Book Info on Jake Thompson

SB 220BA SC BP SN ES ML

210 to 220 of 750 Prospects

Top Prospects 2013

Combined Ranking

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50	60	70	80	90
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550	560	570	580	590
600	610	620	630	640
650	660	670	680	690
700	710	720	730	740

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

LAA	CHW	BAL
OAK	CLE	BOS
SEA	DET	NYY
TEX	KC	TB
HOU	MIN	TOR

ARZ	CHC	ATL
COL	CIN	MIA
LAD	STL	NYM
SF	MLW	PHI
SD	PIT	WAS

Prospect Notes

Recent Player News

Zack Wheeler, NYM

6/18/2013: Only a few hours after Matt Harvey dominated Atlanta with 13 strikeouts, Zack Wheeler struck out seven more Braves in six scoreless innings to win his MLB debut in the second half of today's doubleheader. Though he threw barely half his pitches for strikes and walked five, he should be commended for the cool he showed as he worked out of trouble again and again. With Harvey and Wheeler at the front of next year's rotation, Mets fans should have something to feel hopeful about.
More on Wheeler >

Also In The News...

Top Prospects 2013

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
300	310	320	330	340
350	360	370	380	390
400	410	420	430	440
450	460	470	480	490
500	510	520	530	540
550	560	570	580	590
600	610	620	630	640
650	660	670	680	690
700	710	720	730	740

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

LAA	CHW	BAL
OAK	CLE	BOS
SEA	DET	NYY
TEX	KC	TB
HOU	MIN	TOR

ARZ	CHC	ATL
COL	CIN	MIA
LAD	STL	NYM
SF	MLW	PHI
SD	PIT	WAS

CloserWatch Notes

Recent Closer News

Update: DET: 6/14/2013

Rumors are swirling that Detroit is seeking a veteran closer via trade to staunch the bleeding caused by Jose Valverde's ineffectiveness. If true, it will be interesting to see what the not very farm-strong Tigers will offer back in young talent.

More Info >

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For more about us, and how our prospect-ranking system works, read this.

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Scouting Book

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Top Baseball Prospects for 2013

Now updated for 2013's Top Prospects

3B

Currently

210

3B

Currently

211

SS

Currently

212

SS

Currently

213

RHP

Currently

214

RHP

Currently

215

RHP

Currently

216

SS

Currently

217

OF

Currently

218

OF

Currently

219

RHP

Currently

220

Top Prospects 2013

Prospect Notes

Also In The News...

Top Prospects 2013

CloserWatch Notes

Update: DET: 6/14/2013

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