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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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
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.
More Scouting Book Info on Chris Marrero
SB 262BA SC BP SN ES ML
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
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.
More Scouting Book Info on Russ Canzler
SB 264BA SC BP SN ES ML
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
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 (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
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
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
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
The least of the three prospects the Padres landed for Mat Latos, USC righthander Brad Boxberger is still no slouch. The 43rd player selected in the 2009 draft is a strong, stout pitcher who projects as a middle-of-rotation arm for the Padres in the near future, thanks to his pro-level collection of above-average pitches and his ability to survive under pressure. He works with a 92-94mph fastball that he'll work in on hitters quite fearlessly, and he complements it with a decent-and-improving curve. Most interestingly, though, he features a nifty sinking change that could be a real strikeout pitch for him once he learns to command it a bit more consistently.
More Scouting Book Info on Brad Boxberger
SB 271BA SC BP SN ES ML
A huge righthanded power pitcher from Texas, Brandon Workman is probably best known for striking out 10 batters while throwing a no-hitter in March of 2009. A sturdy innings-eater, Workman's fastball and cutter live around 92-94mph, and he can throw his 12-6 curve for strikes on command at any time. He's still developing a straight change, but he's already looking pretty polished, and he's probably almost ready to step into a lesser MLB rotation right now.
More Scouting Book Info on Brandon Workman
SB 272BA SC BP SN ES ML
With all the focus on Aroldis Chapman, will anyone remember Noel Arguelles? Like Chapman, Arguelles is a young Cuban lefthander who signed a surprise contract with a smaller market club. In Noel's case, the deal was a five-year, $7 million contract with the KC Royals. A 6-foot-4 athlete from head to toe, Arguelles came to international attention pitching the gold medal game for Cuba in the Pan American Junior Championships in 2007.
More Scouting Book Info on Noel Arguelles
SB 273BA SC BP SN ES ML
Bad from the bullpen (7.72 ERA). Great in the rotation (2.12). That's the short version of John Hellweg's 2010 tour at high-A Inland Empire. That's probably enough to inspire the Angels to treat him as a starter going forward, at least provisionally. With a high-90's fastball that looks even faster coming from his huge 6-8 frame and a serviceable change, he's definitely got the raw talent to succeed. His breaking ball, a developing slider, is still an angry inch away from big-league ready, so he's probably not that close yet. His experiences so far make him an interesting story to watch, if only to see what happens once he logs a significant number of innings to his short body of work.
More Scouting Book Info on John Hellweg
SB 274BA SC BP SN ES ML
Puerto Rican prospect Neftali Soto is a toolsy infielder who's growing up fast in the Reds' power-packed farm system. Following a down year at high-A Lynchburg, he bounced back strong in 2011 with a .272/.329/.575 line at AA Carolina while smashing 30 homers, and even had a nice taste of AAA in which he hit .412 in four games. His increasing size and strength are making third base a chore, so he might need to make 1B or RF his home soon. He should get to see Great American in 2012, though maybe not in April.
More Scouting Book Info on Neftali Soto
SB 275BA SC BP SN ES ML
The younger brother of infielder Andrew, Austin Romine was a two way player in the Buster Posey fashion, acting as his high school closer as well as everyday catcher. As you might expect, he has one of the best cannons to second of any catcher in the minors today. At the plate he has doubles power and an easy swing, which looks projectable to 20-30 homer power someday. His cup of coffee in 2011 (2 for 19 in 9 games) was a reward for a good AA season as much as it was relief for an overworked Yankee catching corps. He's still a ways away from Yankee Stadium, but he's a hard worker with enough raw talent to get there sooner or later, and he's the most promising defender of the Yankee catching prospects.
More Scouting Book Info on Austin Romine
SB 276BA SC BP SN ES ML
Nathanial Jiwani James is the fastest player in the Phillies farm system today, and now that he's been converted from a two-way player to a full-time outfielder, he should have every opportunity to put that speed to use. He's still a bit strikeout prone, but if he can pick up a little patience to go with the blazing wheels and all-fields stroke, he'll be the leading candidate to take over the top of the Phillies lineup when it's time for Jimmy Rollins to step down in the order, likely sometime in late 2013 or 2014.
More Scouting Book Info on Jiwan James
SB 277BA SC BP SN ES ML
The lesser of the spare parts returned for the Dan Haren trade, lefty Pat Corbin is no throw-in. A textbook lefty, Corbin is a smary and wiry craftsman with three solid pitches and good command, he won't break radar guns but should frustrate more than his fair share of MLB hitters very soon. The 4.21 ERA and 4:1 strikeout to walk rate notched in a full season of AA ball last year means he's knocking on the door in Phoenix. We should see him in 2012.
More Scouting Book Info on Patrick Corbin
SB 278BA SC BP SN ES ML
A small-framed midwestern shortstop drafted in the 21st round back in 2008, Vincent Logan Watkins has pulled himself up to the top tier of Cubs prospects on the strength of his steady bat. Watkins spent all of 2011 in high-A Daytona, playing quite literally all over the field, as he started games in left, right, center as well as at third base, shortstop and his 'real' position of second base. As hoped, he found a bit of power, too, slashing an impressive .352/ .404 /.756 line that should propel him to the next level of play in 2012. He looks like the best bet (so far) to join Starlin Castro in a young and exciting double-play combination in the near future... let's call it 2014.
More Scouting Book Info on Logan Watkins
SB 279BA SC BP SN ES ML
The best outfield arm in the Milwaukee system also has the best wheels. If his bat catches up to his overall athleticism, Brewer baby D'Vontrey Richardson could end up a quality major league ballplayer... but the jury is still out on his offensive ceiling despite a good showing at high-A Brevard County last year.
More Scouting Book Info on D'Vontrey Richardson
SB 280BA SC BP SN ES ML
Prospects
Top Prospects 2012
Combined Ranking
261 to 280 of 525 Prospects
