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.
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
Lefthander Hector Santiago started 2011 in high-A Winston Salem, but finished it with the major league White Sox. A polished and well-rounded player, Santiago has struggled with his control from time to time, but has usually managed to strike out 9+ batters per game, and that's the usual measure of a top pitcher. His few innings with the White Sox were uninspiring, but they won't be his last. Look for him sometime during 2012's midseason.
More Scouting Book Info on Hector Santiago
SB 291BA SC BP SN ES ML
A big college bat from Vanderbilt, Aaron Westlake is a nominal first baseman who's also being groomed to cover right field or the inevitable DH platoon in Detroit, and he should be ready soon. While the .264/.328/.377 line he posted in low-A ball isn't quite up to his college level (how could it be, the kid had a four year OPS of 1.003) it was definitely enough to flag him as legitimate, so expect him to be moved right along to high-A this season, with Detroit a likely landing spot in late 2013.
More Scouting Book Info on Aaron Westlake
SB 292BA 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. While he struggles with his control sometimes, Hahn has a near-unhittable 99-101mph fastball with movement that should be enough to propel him all the way to MLB, and soon.
More Scouting Book Info on Jessie Hahn
SB 293BA SC BP SN ES ML
A squat, good-hitting catcher whose physique comes more from the Sandoval side of the Giants family tree than it does from the Posey branch, Venezuelan Hector Sanchez did such a nifty job in the minors in 2011 that the Giants zoomed him right to AT&T Park, where he nonchalantly knocked out 8 hits in his first 31 big-league at-bats (that's .324, nerds). He even popped two doubles and walked three times against only six strikeouts. If the Giants need a backup and some insurance against future Buster Posey collisions, they may have a solution in-hand already.
More Scouting Book Info on Hector Sanchez
SB 294BA SC BP SN ES ML
The Red Sox best Latin American pitching prospect only two years ago, righthander Stolmy Pimentel is only 21 this year, but some scouts are already thinking about pulling the plug on his development. His 94mph fastball has good late life, and he uses it well, balanced against a curve, change and developing sinker that could all be serious pitches in another couple of years, but the phenom's performance in 2011 was phenomenally bad, 'highlighted' by a perfect 0-9, 9.12, 1.95 turn in fifteen AA starts. He may need to be broken down and built up again from scratch to be a factor in MLB, which means you can probably forget about 2012 and even 2013 for the young Dominican.
More Scouting Book Info on Stolmy Pimentel
SB 295BA SC BP SN ES ML
A two-way star in high school, Jaff has a beautiful swing from the left side of the plate to go with a 94mph darting fastball... also from the left side. The Padres are viewing him as a centerfielder for now, though, and he has the bat and the range to hold that position down. He's young and still growing, but right now he looks like he might become the player Grady Sizemore can be when healthy.
More Scouting Book Info on Jaff Decker
SB 296BA SC BP SN ES ML
A forgotten 13th round pick in 2010, third baseman Brandon Drury would up MVP of the Appy League last year as an 18 year old slugger. A gritty player who could become a fan favorite, he's an all-around infielder who isn't always pretty but usually gets the job done. The Braves will move slowly with Drury, as they don't yet have a glaring need and a few more developed infielders already in the system. He's a 2015'er, most likely.
More Scouting Book Info on Brandon Drury
SB 297BA SC BP SN ES ML
The Phillies best third base prospect in a very long time, Dominican Maikel Franco is on a pretty good course toward the big club, though he shouldn't go ordering family pack tickets for another few years. A good all-around hitter, Franco notched an impressive .367/.411/.778 line at low-A Williamsport last year before sampling high-A ball in the fall.
More Scouting Book Info on Maikel Franco
SB 298BA SC BP SN ES ML
A tree-trunk of a young man, Cubs prospect Dan Vogelbach won't win any sprints or high-jumping contests, but lordy, lordy, the boy can hit baseballs. Plus contact, plus-plus power to all fields, and a bucketful of moon-shots every day in batting practice: these are the things young Vogelbach is made of. In the NL, a man this large (the Cubs list him at 250lbs, but they're being very polite) is destined for first base, like it or not, and thankfully Vogelbach does show good hands and footwork around the bag.
More Scouting Book Info on Dan Vogelbach
SB 299BA SC BP SN ES ML
Prospects
Top Prospects 2012
Combined Ranking
290 to 299 of 525 Prospects
