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. If you think you have found a mistake, please read this blog entry before telling us. Then tell us.

Junior Lake

SS

Currently

261

Another Dominican from the City of Shortstops (San Pedro de Macoris), young Junior Lake started 2011 in high-A Daytona (.315/.336/.498) and ended it in AA Tennessee, where he charted a respectable .248/.300/.380 in his first taste of high-level play. The Cubs have used the slick-fielding Lake as a shortstop almost exclusively since 2009, but he's obviously pretty blocked by Starlin Castro for the indefinite future. Assuming he continues to develop, a move to second base is likely before his arrival in 2014 or so, though if he grows much more, third base might be a better landing spot.

More Scouting Book Info on Junior Lake

SB 261BA SC BP SN ES ML

Chris Marrero

1B

Currently

262

The nephew of former major leaguer Eli, young Chris Marrero was Washington's top pick in the 2006 draft, and rated a perfect 80 on the scouting power scale, which is tremendous in someone so young. He has a knack for missing some breaking balls by a mile, but he's still very young, so give him some time to learn a little discipline. To make up for his lack of speed, the Nats have converted the onetime OF to full time first-base status, which should also let him concentrate on hitting.

He's a bit green, but a nice sleeper for late 2012 after almost, but not quite exhausting his rookie eligibility in 2011.

More Scouting Book Info on Chris Marrero

SB 262BA SC BP SN ES ML

Michael Foltynewicz

RHP

Currently

263

A big pitcher with an even bigger fastball, Michael Foltynewicz is a teenaged right-hander who scrapes 6-foot-6 and 220, with a heavy, moving fastball that can touch 98. He's still raw, and a couple of years away, but worth watching closely.

More Scouting Book Info on Michael Foltynewicz

SB 263BA SC BP SN ES ML

Russ Canzler

1B

Currently

264

A late-blooming right-handed bat who rose to attention last year as the International League (AAA) MVP while a member of the Tampa Bay system, Russ Canzler was acquired by Cleveland in the off-season. Originally drafted the Cubs back in 2004, Canzler is a versatile player who can handle any corner position, infield or out, though he's performed best as a first baseman to date.

With a good all-around grasp of the game, Canzler is no slouch, but buyer beware: that award-winning 2011 (.314/.401/.530) he enjoyed with the Durham Bulls was his best at any level of professional play, bolstered in large part by an improved walk rate, but he still struck out almost exactly once per game. Still, as a poor man's Matt LaPorta, he's ready for MLB and could provide some much-needed support for a battered Indians offense.

More Scouting Book Info on Russ Canzler

SB 264BA SC BP SN ES ML

Trevor Story

SS

Currently

265

A promising high-school bat scooped up by the Rockies in 2011's' compensation round, Irving alum Trevor Story is a sweet-swinging youngster with all-field line drive stroke and better than average wheels in the field. After a .268/.364/.436 line across 47 rookie league games, Story is ready for A ball in 2012. He's viable at either short or third right now, but won't be MLB-ready for a couple more years.

More Scouting Book Info on Trevor Story

SB 265BA SC BP SN ES ML

Travis Denker

2B

Currently

266

A stout, versatile infielder who's already bounced around a few ballclubs, Denker won't win any home run competitions. He can, however, spray hits all over the field with abandon: he's put up .300ish averages at every minor league stop since 2005. Already an ex-Mariner, ex-Red Sox, ex-Padre and ex-Giant, he's now providing some depth in the Dodger system. He needs to find a higher gear if he's ever going to break out of AAAA status.

More Scouting Book Info on Travis Denker

SB 266BA SC BP SN ES ML

Jordan Danks

OF

Currently

267

Jordan (yes, John's brother) is a prospective centerfielder of the future in Chicago. Drafted by the White Sox in the 7th round of the 2008 MLB Draft. Danks projects as a quality defender in center, with plus speed and a solid arm. At the plate, he's a lot less ready, but his quick bat delivered a 257 .344 .425 line at AAA last season, a record pretty consistent with his performance at lower levels, so he seems only a baby step away from being a solid-average contributor in MLB. His career-high 14 homers last season is almost twice as many as he hit any other year, and he was .997 smooth in 132 outfield games played, mainly in center. If he has a weakness, it's his propensity to strike out, but the White Sox would probably trade 150 whiffs for a .900 OPS, and he's on track to deliver that sometime in the next couple of years.

More Scouting Book Info on Jordan Danks

SB 267BA SC BP SN ES ML

Kent Matthes

OF

Currently

268

A hard-hitting corner outfielder from Florida, Colorado's Kent Matthes is one of the most powerful bats on the Rockies farm. A very impressive 2011 season at high-A Modesto (.334 .378 .642... that's a 1.020 OPS) was cut short by hand surgery, but Matthes should be ready for AA sometime in 2012. A massive power bat slumbering in the mountains, Matthes also brings better than expected speed and a decent glove to work everyday. A September in Denver isn't out of the question.

More Scouting Book Info on Kent Matthes

SB 268BA SC BP SN ES ML

Jeremy Jeffress

RHP

Currently

269

Acquired by the Royals in the Zach Greinke trade before the 2011 season, righthander Jeremy Jeffress is another prototypical good thing/bad thing pitching prospect. Jeffress lights up radar guns with three-figure readings almost every night (that's a good thing), but needs work on his control (bad thing). His 50 game substance abuse suspension in 2009 can be overlooked (marijuana isn't exactly a performance enhancer), but it's tougher to ignore his lack of solid secondary pitches. If the Royals need a righthander with near triple digits in their bullpen this year, he could see action in the same way he did in 2011, but the more conservative minds will want to keep developing his arsenal for a better showing in 2013.

More Scouting Book Info on Jeremy Jeffress

SB 269BA SC BP SN ES ML

Simon Castro

RHP

Currently

270

A huge, daunting figure who can touch 99mph with his heater, White Sox righthander Simon Castro is one of the most promising pitchers in a system that's not especially deep in pitching to begin with. Castro's slider is probably his best pitch, and when he's locating the fastball at the same time, he's nearly unhittable. Some scouts see a closer in Castro, but for now the Sox will follow the path the Padres started, and keep pushing him as a rotation member. One thing is sure: he's got the frame necessary to carry 200 innings, so they're probably wise to squeeze him into the rotation if possible.

More Scouting Book Info on Simon Castro

SB 270BA SC BP SN ES ML

261 to 270 of 525 Prospects

Top Prospects 2012

Combined Ranking

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

Prospect Notes

Recent Player News

Roman Hernandez, KC

2/7/2012: Roman Hernandez has signed with the Royals, and will be sending a half-million dollar signing bonus back to his family in Cuba, one way or the other. Hernandez projects as a bench player with some power right now, and looks best in a corner outfield slot. At only 23, he still has room to grow, too.
More on Hernandez >

Also In The News...

Top Prospects 2012

Combined Ranking

1+	10	20	30	40
50	60	70	80	90
100	110	120	130	140
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1B	2B	3B	SS	OF
C	LHP	RHP	Matrix

CloserWatch Notes

Recent Closer News

Update: SEA: 2/6/2012

Seattle took a flier on the sometimes dominant lefty reliever Hong-Chih Kuo today, signing him to an incentive-laden 1-year deal. Kuo, one of baseball's best lefthanders the last decade or so, struggled with both physical and emotional turmoil in his last year as a Dodger.

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Scouting Book

Tools and Lists for Finding Better Baseball Prospects, Closers and More!

Baseball Prospect Rankings for 2012

Now updated for 2012's Top Prospects

SS

Currently

261

1B

Currently

262

RHP

Currently

263

1B

Currently

264

SS

Currently

265

2B

Currently

266

OF

Currently

267

OF

Currently

268

RHP

Currently

269

RHP

Currently

270

Top Prospects 2012

Prospect Notes

Also In The News...

Top Prospects 2012

CloserWatch Notes

Update: SEA: 2/6/2012

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