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.
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A howitzer-armed catcher from Oklahoma State, Jonathan Denney promises both offense and defense from the backstop position. Denney has the makings of real plus power coupled with great pitch recognition. A smart player, he has soft hands and great reflexes behind the plate, and seems capable of handling a pitching staff someday, too. That means he should stay at catcher, where he has the most value. Committed to Arkansas, he's nonetheless sought-after by a number of MLB ballclubs, and seems likely to skip college for baseball if his bonus offer is lucrative enough.
Full Scouting Report for Jonathan Denney
SB 261BA SC BP SN ES ML
A lot of teams like to do it, but the Dodgers really, really, really love drafting major league bloodlines, and shortstop Jesmuel Valentin (Jose's son) will fit very nicely into that wont. A switch-hitter like his daddy, Jesmuel's swing is quite different looking, though he delivers similar plus bat speed and deceptive power. On the bases, he's above average, and in the field he seems capable of handling shortstop, though not in the most elegant way. Second base might be a better long-term home, though if he inherited his father's flexibility, he should be capable of playing any of the eight fielding positions.
Full Scouting Report for Jesmuel Valentin
SB 262BA SC BP SN ES ML
A big-bodied righthander from Orlando, Padres pitching prospect Walker (sic) Weickel was the 55th player selected overall in the 2012 draft. The 94mph he's already reaching with his fastball will increase as he fills out, and the good cut and sink he can add make him look ready to be a dominant reliever very soon. Of course, he's durable-looking and armed with a quality curveball, too, so he'll be given every possible opportunity to succeed as a starter long before it comes to that, especially given the wealth of hot relief arms in the Padre system.
Full Scouting Report for Walker Weickel
SB 263BA SC BP SN ES ML
A strong and rugged-looking righthander, Cleveland's Mitch Brown is a workhorse in the making. His breaking pitches don't really exist in any meaningful way yet, but the adroitness he exhibits with his sinking 94mph fastball is impressive, making him a promising project from here on out.
Full Scouting Report for Mitch Brown
SB 264BA SC BP SN ES ML
Originally drafted by the Dodgers in 2007, Matt Szczur passed on LA and went to Villanova University, where he played both baseball and football. (His complete college CV would read something like WR/RB/QB/KR/OF/2B/SS/Catcher.) Redrafted by the Cubs three years later, he thankfully dedicated himself to baseball and performed very well. Spending most of 2012 in high-A ball, Szczur (it sounds a lot like 'scissor') stroked a .295/.394/.407 line before bellyflopping during his AA dip in the pool. A small fielder but a fast one, with all the tools you'd expect from his background: good reflexes, smart and athletic, and generally durable. His centerfield defense needs work, but he'll probably have all year to work on that.
Full Scouting Report for Matt Szczur
SB 265BA SC BP SN ES ML
A pure power hitter with iffy judgment to date, Cardinal prospect Pat Wisdom will need to live up to his name in order to hit for a high enough average to move up. That .282 last season is enough to get a promotion this year, for example, but he'll need to keep it up. He's in a good system for this, of course, as the Cardinal farm has always excelled at squeezing maximum performance from AAAA hitters.
Full Scouting Report for Patrick Wisdom
SB 266BA SC BP SN ES ML
A polished college righthander who went from good to great when tested as a closer, VT's Jessie Hahn has dropped off many prospect lists due to his TJ surgery, but his need for it was well-known when Tampa drafted him, and he's no less exciting now that he's returning to action. Hahn struck out 55 in 52 innings of NY-Penn ball last year working as a starter once again, which isn't surprising considering his background, but what impresses us most is that he walked only 14 batters all season. Hahn already has a near-unhittable 99-101mph fastball with movement, so if he's really managed to tune up his control, he's going to be very good indeed. Watch him move up, probably all the way to AA this season, and then on to Tampa sometime next year.
Full Scouting Report for Jesse Hahn
SB 267BA SC BP SN ES ML
With a lively fastball that can touch 95mph, native Georgian Lucas Sims is the latest entry in the Atlanta pitching derby. He's raw, but he the righthander already gets so much life on his pitches that there's little doubt he'll be effective in some role or other.
Full Scouting Report for Lucas Sims
SB 268BA SC BP SN ES ML
Chris McGuiness, a Citadel grad originally drafted by the Red Sox, came to the Indians a Rule 5 selection from Texas. That means he'll need to stick on the major league roster to remain an Indian, and there are indications he may be able to do just that. McGuiness smacked 24 homers and slashed a .268/.366/.474 line at AA Frisco last season while playing first base exclusively. If he can do that again in the majors, well... those are numbers that the Indians would take from a left-handed first baseman / designated hitter.
Full Scouting Report for Chris McGuiness
SB 269BA SC BP SN ES ML
New York's second round pick in the 2010 Draft, young Angelo Gumbs was the first high school position player drafted that year, which should help you guess the gist of his ups and downs. To wit, and by the book: he's a gifted athlete, one of the best pure physical specimens in the Yankee stable, with all the signs of plus speed and power hanging on his room-to-grow frame.
Full Scouting Report for Angelo Gumbs
SB 270BA SC BP SN ES ML
Prospects
Top Prospects 2013
Combined Ranking
260 to 270 of 650 Prospects
