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 big, strong lefthander who has already mastered the don't-mess-with-me look so important to mound presence, the Angels' own Nick Maronde found college success after transforming into a closer at the University of Florida. After being drafted by the Angels, he flew across the country in time to go 5-0, 2.14 with a 1.10 WHIP in the (usually) hitter-friendly Pioneer League, proving that he hadn't forgotten how to pitch six innings at a time. He's already the best lefty prospect in the Angels system, and if he can stick as a starter, his fastball-change-slider mix will be a good one.
More Scouting Book Info on Nick Maronde
SB 241BA SC BP SN ES ML
One possible shortstop of the future in San Francisco, Venezuelan Ehire Enrique Adrianza is an Alexei Ramirez-shaped live wire who's rising steadily through the system. Adrianza has a good eye at the plate, and should be able to hold his own as he moves up the ladder. His glovework also tightened up remarkably between 2009 and 2011 as he cut his errors in half while showing great range at shortstop.
More Scouting Book Info on Ehire Adrianza
SB 242BA SC BP SN ES ML
No relation to Russ, though the righthanded pitcher does have at least one other thing in common with the catcher: both are viable backups at third base. Despite a disappointing 2011, the Dodgers are still looking at Ethan as a pitcher first, though, and results notwithstanding, the powerful, savvy righthander still looks a lot like the Giants' young Tim Lincecum, with a usually-straight fastball and a nasty hard slider coming from a compact frame. He's still not close to ready, and really needs to get his walks under control, but when he does add some experience to his talent, he could be yet another in a long string of powerful home-grown Dodger arms.
More Scouting Book Info on Ethan Martin
SB 243BA SC BP SN ES ML
One of baseball's top college hitters in 2010 (.344/.481/.656 at Clemson, with a homer every 12 at-bats), outfielder Kyle Parker is a big part of the Rockies plan to pump up their offense as they return to contention in the years to come. Parker has plus power that will only look better in Coors, and soon.
More Scouting Book Info on Kyle Parker
SB 244BA SC BP SN ES ML
A fifth-round pick by the Royals back in 2008, lefty John Lamb scrambled up the ladder quickly before plateauing at AA last season. He no longer ranks among the minor league leaders in ERA and strikeouts, but he remains a cool-headed professional on the mound and seems able to succeed even when balls aren't falling his way.
More Scouting Book Info on John Lamb
SB 245BA SC BP SN ES ML
The Nats' second round pick in 2010, lefthander Sammy Solis brings a competent fastball and reasonable curve from a delivery that's almost sidearm, but it's his straight change that is his best, and that's the plus offering that should be his ticket to MLB success. He took a solid step toward that future in 2011, when he worked his way up from A-ball into high-A Potomac, posting a 6-2 record with a 2.72 ERA and a nice 1.28 WHIP at the higher level.
More Scouting Book Info on Sammy Solis
SB 246BA SC BP SN ES ML 86
A highly-prized prospect for his combination of power and speed, Rodriguez was a free-agent prize when he was stolen by the Reds as a Latin American free agent in 2008. A very young and very raw talent, he probably has the highest ceiling of any hitter in the Reds' system... but he's a long way from polished or proven. Before he can move up through the minors, he'll need to learn to hit breaking balls, and to stop swinging at everything he can reach. He slugged .393 in A-level Dayton, clubbing 7 homers and stealing 20 bases in 79 starts. That's 15/40 in a full season, which is just about right for a modern centerfielder. He's still a few years away from the Bigs, though, so hold your horses.
More Scouting Book Info on Yorman Rodriguez
SB 247BA SC BP SN ES ML
A baby star in the outfield, James Baldwin (the Third) is the son of the former pitcher, but more importantly he's his own super athelete in search of hitting prowess. He already knows how to use his plus plus speed well on the bases, so if Baldwin can add some OBP and a little pop to his improving toolset, he'll be an showcase player in Dodgertown next season. If not, he could still bounce around as a bench player, pinch runner, and defensive backup in the not-too-distant future. Signs are good so far: in 2011 he was one of the Arizona Dodgers' (Rookie) two best hitters, stroking a .261 average with surprising power: 10 homers in only 375 ABs.
More Scouting Book Info on James Baldwin
SB 248BA SC BP SN ES ML
A power pitcher from Columbia (that's South Carolina), Taylor Guerrieri is a bit of a shadow prospect in the Rays system, and he's easy to miss when you're busy being starstruck by all the Moores and Archers. But Guerrieri is a solid prospect in his own right, uncoiling a nice mid-90's fastball from a classic power pitcher's frame that can even reach 98 on occasion. His curve shows flashes of greatness and could humiliate major leaguers someday, and he's continue to sharpen it as he also works on a change and cutter. His mechanics seem solid, as much as mechanics can be judged, and at least he's consistent with his delivery, a vanilla 3/4 without any scary snapbacks or recoil. He'll continue to sharpen his command in the minors, but could be a mid-rotation contender come 2014 or so.
More Scouting Book Info on Taylor Guerrieri
SB 249BA SC BP SN ES ML 99
The lithe and wiry Reymond Fuentes shares a lot in common with his famous cousin, fellow outfielder Carlos Beltran. A superior defender who makes great reads and uses his plus plus speed to reach even the deepest gappers, Fuentes also brings a sharp and compact line-drive swing to the park. If he has weak spots, they're his lack of power and relatively weak throwing arm, but the highlight-reel catches he'll be making in expansive Petco should make those shortcomings easy to overlook. He's on a quick track to a 2013 debut, with 2012 a serious possibility despite his young age.
More Scouting Book Info on Reymond Fuentes
SB 250BA SC BP SN ES ML
It was once very frustrating to be a shortstop prospect in the Mets system, but now that the Jose Reyes era is over, Wilmer Flores is probably having trouble holding in his glee. Flores's 2011 was a full-season grind of 133 games at high-A Port St. Lucie, in which the 19 year old swatted .269/.309/.380 with nine homers and a couple of stolen bases thrown in for good measure. He's still a year or two away from Flushing, and it's possible he could outgrow shortstop, but right now all you need to remember is that this is the kind of kid the word 'elite' should be reserved for.
More Scouting Book Info on Wilmer Flores
SB 251BA SC BP SN ES ML
The junior Delino is a shorter, stronger, faster and very much more righthanded version of his father. Which is to say, he's not very much like his father at all. What Delino is is a highly athletic all around ballplayer with superior defensive skills, a contact bat that should play at almost any position and serious plus plus speed. While he's still a ways from MLB, his athleticism and bloodline propel him to the front of Houston's weak farm system right away.
More Scouting Book Info on Delino DeShields
SB 252BA SC BP SN ES ML
One of the best available veteran pitcher available from Japan this year, Softbank Hawks lefthander Wada is the all-time record holder for college strikeouts in Japan, ringing up 476 younsters in three years. More recently, he Wada registered a 1.51 ERA in 184 2/3 innings for Fukuoka last season, with a nice with 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings. As is typical of Japanese pitchers, his fastball only brushes 90mph on occasion, but he also brings good control of a confusing array of other pitches, including a plus change and a good slider. Now in Baltimore, won't be an ace, but he could be a solid contributor.
More Scouting Book Info on Tsuyoshi Wada
SB 253BA SC BP SN ES ML
An eight-time All-Star in Japan, infielder Munenori Kawasaki is a fast, slappy hitter best known for his solid fielding, and that's the value he should bring to the Mariner bench this season while playing in the shadow of the master of Fast Slappiness (and his personal idol) Ichiro Suzuki.
More Scouting Book Info on Munenori Kawasaki
SB 254BA SC BP SN ES ML
Playing for a less-known school caused Miley to slide to the 2008 draft's second round, but the lefthander was one of college ball's leading strikeout artists in his time. He looked like one heck of a steal for the Diamondbacks last year, as his 2010 line at AA Mobile was 5-2 in 13 starts with a 1.98 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 72 innings. He's still underrated by many, but he should work his way into the Arizona rotation, or at least the bullpen, before 2012 is through.
More Scouting Book Info on Wade Miley
SB 255BA SC BP SN ES ML
The Cardinals' minor league pitcher of the year for 2009, righthander Michael (Lance) Lynn is a 6-6, 260lb monster out of U Mississippi who frustrates opposing hitters with a hard sinker mixed with an effective change and curve. More of a smart, pitchability type than a power pitcher, Lynn exhibits plus command of all his pitches and has shown a knack for keeping hitters off balance. If he can hold up to the workloads of pro ball, he could be a real innings eater for the Cardinals very soon.
More Scouting Book Info on Lance Lynn
SB 256BA SC BP SN ES ML
The Tigers second round pick in 2009, lefty Andy Oliver fits the pattern of big, intimidating power pitchers so loved by the Detroit brass. In his three years at OSU, he went 18-9 with a 4.02 ERA, and he's been a strong if unspectacular workhorse as a pro ever since, racking up a 17-20, 4.12, 1.43 line in two full seasons that even included seven so-so starts in Detroit.
More Scouting Book Info on Andy Oliver
SB 257BA SC BP SN ES ML
A well-rounded righthander from Ohio State drafted the Twins in the first round of 2010, Alex Wimmers is that rare example of a college pitcher who's already got control of three pitches, including a genuine plus changeup. A big-game pitcher who excelled under pressure, Wimmers showed consistent shutdown ability whenever the Buckeyes needed it, and while he seemed a little wild at high-A Fort Myers last year, he did calm down toward the end of the season. His uncanny ability to outsmart hitters rather than blow them away with his stuff is probably his primary asset, and that should serve the future Twins well, no matter whether he comes as part of the rotation or the bullpen.
More Scouting Book Info on Alex Wimmers
SB 258BA SC BP SN ES ML
An offensively-capable shortstop, White Sox prospect Tyler Saladino rapped out a nifty .270/.363/.501 line in his first high-A experience in 2011, a full-season tour with the Winston-Salem Dash. If he keeps rising in the system, he'll probably need to move to second base in deference to franchise player Alexei Ramirez, but he has the skills and arm to play from the more challenging position, too. He'll be doing his best to push into AA this season, with Chicago a viable goal for 2013.
More Scouting Book Info on Tyler Saladino
SB 259BA SC BP SN ES ML
A sturdy outfielder who can nonetheless patrol center with skill, Pirates prospect Robbie Grossman has vaulted onto the top half of the sheet thanks to an impressive full season at high-A Bradenton last season. Grossman's .294/.418/.451 line showed strong improvement from his already-acceptable performance of a year earlier, and the way he added 24 steals to his 49 extra-base hits showed that he could bring his entire game to the park every day. He also proved durable, starting 134 out of 137 games. The switch-hitting Grossman became the first minor leaguer at any level to score 100 runs and walk 100 times in a season since Nick Swisher did so in 2004. He should play most of 2012 in Altoona, and should be contributing meaningful numbers in Pittsburgh before 2013 rolls into summer.
More Scouting Book Info on Robbie Grossman
SB 260BA SC BP SN ES ML
Prospects
Top Prospects 2012
Combined Ranking
241 to 260 of 525 Prospects
