Top Baseball Prospects 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.
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Nobody noticed in all the hubbub about Aaron Crow, but KC's third round pick in 2009 was another steal: the high-potential catcher William (Will) Myers. 'Wumbly' is a hard-nosed grinder who some call a throwback to a dirtier era, a ballplayer's ballplayer who can perform well at almost any position. He was treated as a catcher until 2011, when the Royals started using him exclusively in the outfield as an experiment. It's a shame if he loses out on a catching career, since he certainly has the smarts for it, but it's possible that the move to a simpler position, not to mention one of greater need for the Royals. might work out for the best. Another half season of squinting at fly balls and he'll probably be ready for MLB; that's a full two years sooner than he'd be ready behind the plate.
Full Scouting Report for Wil Myers
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A powerful young bat getting a lot of attention in the Rockies system, Nolan Arenado is looking like a viable corner bat in the very near future. He slashed a ridiculous .308/.338/.520 line during his first taste of A-ball at Asheville in 2010, showing that he's a contact hitter and not just a slugger, and backed it up with a very similar .298/.349/.487 performance at higher-level Modesto last season.
Full Scouting Report for Nolan Arenado
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The big slugger named Jonathan Singleton had no real future in Philadelphia, but in the AL-destined Astros he looks like a heck of a 1B/DH piece for the near future. Even as a corner outfield prospect, he's competent, and his powerful left-handed bat does nothing but hit. He should start the year in AA and be fast-tracked in time for Houston's new-look 2013 squad.
Full Scouting Report for Jonathan Singleton
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A gritty, strong first baseman, Rizzo defeated cancer (lymphoma) to return to action in 2009, and ended up swatting near .300 in the Sally and Carolina leagues, including a dozen home runs and 37 doubles. In 2011, Rizzo batted .331 with 26 home runs and 101 RBI in 93 games for AAA Tucson. His terrific fundamentals and plus bat speed make him a tough out: he can make solid contact to all fields on anything close to the strike zone, and he's not afraid to take a walk on anything that isn't. Rizzo's defense isn't a jumbo mortgage on his hitting, either: unlike some sluggers who merely park at first base, he can actually field the position very well.
Full Scouting Report for Anthony Rizzo
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Great baseball name, great baseball tools, great upside. Bubba Starling is a Royals proto-outfielder who has that mix of speed, power and grace that so few sluggers manage. Only Jason Heyward in recent years really matches the sweet swing and long stride of Starling. He's very young and very raw, of course, so don't get too excited too soon (do Royals fans ever get excited, really?), but he's probably one of the best offensive prospects in all of baseball already, and he's still a teenager.
Full Scouting Report for Bubba Starling
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The classic all-promise righthander, Arizona's Archie Bradley is a lesser known but potentially outstanding pitcher who's only a changeup short of a major league career very soon. Of course, that's the pitching equivalent of a hitter who can handle everything except a curve ball, so this youngster's future will depend mighty heavily on how many MPH he can subtract when called upon. If he stumbles, his big fastball and plus curve should still serve his team well in relief, but we won't know for another year or two which road he'll be taking from Visalia to Mobile.
Full Scouting Report for Archie Bradley
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A tall and lanky teenager who arrived in the DR in the winter of 2011, outfielder Jorge Soler is one of the most promising Cuban prospects in baseball today. He's already shown off his tools in Dominica, and while he looks like a centerfielder right now, physically, his height and young age make it quite possible he'll be a corner fielder when he finishes growing. And if his loopy power swing develops as expected, he'll hit like one too.
Full Scouting Report for Jorge Soler
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The player formerly known as Carlos Matias is a high-risk, high-upside pitcher from the Dominican who brings an advanced fastball and pitchability to the US mound. He's a bit of a mystery, and there's some question about how well his stuff will translate to the US game, but his minor league performance in 2011 quelled any fears that he would be a bust, as he struck out 98 A and high-A batters in 85 innings of pro work.
Full Scouting Report for Carlos Martinez
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A wiry power pitcher with three quality pitches and developing control, Randall Delgado looks every bit the part of a young phenom: some days he can blow hitters away, while on other days he looks lost on the mound. His fastball, which can touch 95, lives more in the 92mph range with significant late movement. He got a look at the Braves big club in 2011, and he should get a much longer look in 2012. Depending on how beat up the major league staff is in midsummer, he could even get a call to stay.
Full Scouting Report for Randall Delgado
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Juan Carlos Segura is a toolbox of talent currently growing in the Los Angeles Angels system. While long-seen as a solid gloveman, he's also got true plus speed, and he's slouch with the stick, either: the diminutive Dominican slashed .281/.337/.422 at high-A Inland Empire last season, stealing 18 bases in 24 attempts while at it. He also shows exceptional discipline at the plate for such a young player. He may end up moved to the outfield, depending how the Anaheim pipeline arranges itself, but it shouldn't matter: he can play anywhere. If he can get into AA by midseason, he'll be in position to make his final push for a big-league job.
Full Scouting Report for Jean Segura
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Prospects
Top Prospects 2012
Combined Ranking
30 to 40 of 500 Prospects
