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.
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
Not to be confused with the older Oakland outfielder, this Michael ('Anthony') Taylor is a centerfielder in the Nationals organization. The Nats, who drafted him out of high school in the sixth round of the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft, have a shortage of true centerfield prospects in the system, which makes Taylor one to watch.
More Scouting Book Info on Michael Taylor
SB 281BA SC BP SN ES ML
After the knee-crunching scare Buster Posey took in 2011, it's no wonder the Giants went looking for more catchers in the draft. Andrew Susac is a prototype power hitting catcher, 6-1 and 205lbs of fast-twitch muscle from the right side of the plate. He's a couple of years from earning any sort of meaningful role on the Giants, but he combines a good work ethic with all the raw tools any catcher needs to succeed, so he should be around awhile. If he sticks at catcher, the Giants might even feel inspired to move Buster Posey to somewhere much, much safer for the rest of his career, like third or first base.
More Scouting Book Info on Andrew Susac
SB 282BA SC BP SN ES ML
The Tigers' sixth round pick in 2009, high school shortstop Dan Fields is the son of former Tigers' hitting coach Bruce Fields, which might explain his allegedly-advanced hitting ability as well as the reach that the team took in selecting him so early. Big and strong for a real shortstop, even in this post-Ripken era, Fields might be moved to third base or a corner outfield spot eventually, but it shouldn't matter: he'll rise or fall on his bat, which we have to assume will get a lot of careful coaching in the years to come. It'll need some, too: in his repeat of high-A ball in 2011, his batting average actually dropped from .240 to .220. Dad can't be pleased.
More Scouting Book Info on Dan Fields
SB 283BA SC BP SN ES ML
While it was not surprise to see him blow away lesser Rookie leaguers, Austin also looked pretty darn good at low-A Staten Island last year, dinging out a solid 323/.402 /.542 line and swiping seven bases in seven attempts.
More Scouting Book Info on Tyler Austin
SB 284BA SC BP SN ES ML
Adis (or sometimes, inexplicably, Adys) Portillo is a hard-throwing right-hander who shows more polish than most Venezuelan prospects. Portillo exhibits a dominating mound presence and great composure, featuring a moving fastball that tops out at about 94mph. It's the raw stuff he wields with three possible plus pitches, though, that puts him into the upper ranks of pitching prodigies.
More Scouting Book Info on Adis Portillo
SB 285BA SC BP SN ES ML
A nominal shortstop with a great all-around toolset, Atlanta native Matt Lipka was bumped to the outfield thanks to the plethora of infield prospects zooming through the Braves system. Of course, we always thought that his plus-plus speed was wasted at shortstop anyway. Toolsy and athletic, Lipka was a quality wide receiver in high school before deciding to focus on the safer baseball route to a professional career. He'll be an under-the-radar type in 2012 thanks to the position change, but should reappear on the top of prospect lists come 2013. Don't forget about him.
More Scouting Book Info on Matt Lipka
SB 286BA SC BP SN ES ML
A power-hitting teenager, shortstop Yady Rivera started 2011 in rookie ball but ended it in the Midwest (A) League, where he stumbled but seemed to find himself by the end of the year. He's still a few years from relevant.
More Scouting Book Info on Yadiel Rivera
SB 287BA SC BP SN ES ML
A lumbering slugger, 1B/OF Marc Krauss is one of many corner bats simmering in the Arizona farm system. While his power has proven legit, his batting eye remains in question. He very much needs to keep lighting up scoreboards in order to get past some of the team's brighter and more decorated prospects.
More Scouting Book Info on Marc Krauss
SB 288BA SC BP SN ES ML
A lefty reliever with a knee-buckling change, Dominican pitcher Edwar Cabrera has already racked up 149 strikeouts in 118 minor league innings. He'll start 2012 in AA, but could get work in the Rockies bullpen as early as this season.
More Scouting Book Info on Edwar Cabrera
SB 289BA SC BP SN ES ML
A hard-hitting Cuban expat who's been lingering in the Dominican since the end of the Series Nacional's 2010 season, Matanzas native Roman Hernandez (Jorrin) is a corner power bat who probably ends up as a right field option in MLB, especially if he gives up on his self-image as a speed threat and sticks to spraying balls all over the field, which is his real strength.
More Scouting Book Info on Roman Hernandez
SB 290BA SC BP SN ES ML
Prospects
Top Prospects 2012
Combined Ranking
271 to 290 of 525 Prospects
