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 younger of Baltimore's Bouncing Baby Bundies, the growly-looking Dylan is a righthander with ace upside, but he remains untested against pro hitters, and under professional pressure. His ungodly 0.25 ERA and 158 strikeouts in 71 innings as a high school senior earned him honors as the Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year, BA's High School Player of the Year Award and USA Today's National Player of the Year. That said, he's still a high school pitching prospect, among the riskiest bets in baseball, and will need more than a fastball/cutter combination to succeed as a starter, even though those two pitches are both genuine plus offerings. If you have to gamble though, note that the Baltimore organization has done nothing in the last few years to suggest they're not one of the very best incubators for pitching talent, so we're going with cautiously optimistic, here.
Full Scouting Report for Dylan Bundy
SB 31BA SC 30BP SN ES ML 10
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
SB 32BA SC 39BP SN ES ML 44
The Mariners' first round pick in 2010, righthander Taijuan Walker looks like a number one starter on almost any MLB team. On the Mariners, that probably makes him a number three, or maybe two-and-a-half. (This team's pitching depth in the minors is just plain sick, which explains why they could part with young ace Michael Pineda so 'easily' this winter.) Walker works mainly with a 94mph darting fastball that has great late movement, and when he mixes in a sometimes-effective straight change at 82mph, the fastball is nearly unhittable. His breaking pitch is a slurvy curve that isn't yet ready for regular use, but he'll have time to develop. He took a big step forward in 2011, going 6-5, 2.89, 1.12 at A-level Clinton.
Full Scouting Report for Taijuan Walker
SB 33BA SC 77BP SN ES ML 18
You have to give the Blue Jays some credit. Even with their backs to the wall and the necessity of trading away the best pitcher in franchise history, they managed to come out ahead by completely restocking their depleted farm system with high-talent players like D'Arnaud. Not to be confused with infielder Chase, Travis is an offensively gifted catcher who recently hit .311/.371/.542 at double-A New Hampshire while cracking 21 homers. He's got above-average speed for a catcher and a developing eye for the strike zone that should allow him to hit high in a future Blue Jays batting order.
Full Scouting Report for Travis D'Arnaud
SB 34BA SC 43BP SN ES ML 25
Originally a supplemental first round pick for the Brewers, this tall righthander has a smooth and easy delivery that portends well for his future in the system. He's still a couple of years away from serious attention, but he's worth keeping an eye on. A part of the prospect package that moved Zack Greinke to Milwaukee, Odorizzi should have a quicker path to the big leagues in Kansas City, too.
Full Scouting Report for Jacob Odorizzi
SB 35BA SC 54BP SN ES ML 47
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
SB 36BA SC 41BP SN ES ML 17
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
SB 37BA SC 48BP SN ES ML 37
The Padres sure are good at picking up future superstars. In Casey Kelly, San Diego added a big, strong pitcher who will eventually make up for the loss of the very expensive Adrian Gonzalez. Young Casey Kelly is already 6-3 and 200lbs, with more size and strength to come as he fills out, and now that he's a full time mound monster, he can put all of that strength into his fastball.
Full Scouting Report for Casey Kelly
SB 38BA SC 88BP SN ES ML 50
The Cardinals' first pick of the 2010 Amateur Draft (25th overall), Arkansas' Zack Cox is a toolsy player with a high-end mix of baseball instincts and work ethic. He abandoned pitching to focus on hitting as a college freshman, and he hasn't looked back since. His bat speed is exceptional, and allowed him to turn on even the best heat in college ball while also letting him adjust to off-speed pitches with an ease seldom seen in NCAA.
Full Scouting Report for Zack Cox
SB 39BA SC BP SN ES ML
One of three top prospects acquired in winter 2011 from the Nationals, AJ Cole is a six-foot-five, lanky righthander who can already touch 95mph with his fastball. Cole also mixes in a power curve and passable changeup that could develop into plus pitches with good coaching and support. He's already drawing comparisons to Justin Verlander, who was a similar pitcher at the same age.
Full Scouting Report for AJ Cole
SB 40BA SC 76BP SN ES ML 88
Prospects
Top Prospects 2012
Combined Ranking
31 to 40 of 525 Prospects
