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.

Kyle Simon

RHP

Currently

311

Critics howled when Baltimore reached for Simon too early in the draft, but after he posted sub-1.00 WHIPs at three different levels of play in 2011, they became a lot quieter. A very tall, ground-ball throwing righthander from Arizona, Kyle Simon could churn through batters at almost any level as long as he keeps repeating his delivery, and so far he's shown every sign of being able to do just that, day in and day out. A hard worker without the glitz of a rockstar prospect or 100mph strikeout arm, Simon could quietly work his way into a prominent place in Baltimore in the next year or two.

More Scouting Book Info on Kyle Simon

SB 311BA SC BP SN ES ML

Cito Culver

SS

Currently

312

Yankee prospect Cito Culver is a toolsy infield prospect who many expected to fall deeper in teh draft than he did. As it is, the Yanks seem content to see him shaping up as a Howie Kendrick-style infielder: high average, acceptable speed, and minimal power.

Defensively, Culver looks capable but not spectacular in the field, so a move to second or third seems likely, here. The native New Yorker tapped out a hollow but acceptable .250/.323/.337 in his first full season of A ball last season.

More Scouting Book Info on Cito Culver

SB 312BA SC BP SN ES ML

Xavier Avery

OF

Currently

313

A pure tools selection by the Orioles in the 2008 draft, high school centerfield star Xavier Avery will probably be the fastest player in baseball if his bat can get him there. We won't know for quite a while, though, which is probably good, since we'll need practice saying his name quickly without hurting our tongues.

More Scouting Book Info on Xavier Avery

SB 313BA SC BP SN ES ML

Sammy Gervacio

RHP

Currently

314

Still rookie eligible despite memorable stints in the majors in 2009 and 2010, slight Dominican Sammy Gervacio has nastiest sliders in the system, not to mention an unforgettable setup on the mound. What he lacks in power (he's lucky to scrape 90mph now and then) he makes up for in guile and pluck, as he's been effective everywhere he's pitched. While most of his 2011 was lost to injury, he should be a dark horse candidate for a bullpen job in 2012.

More Scouting Book Info on Sammy Gervacio

SB 314BA SC BP SN ES ML

Carlos Triunfel

3B

Currently

315

Another in the endless parade of young hitters with question marks in the Mariners' system, Triunfel has slipped a bit from his high-flying days of hype, but remains intriguing because of his advanced batting development at an early age. While he lacks real power, he does have line-drive stroke and an ability to work to all fields.

A fiery competitor when he first came to the USA, no teenage shortstop looked as close to big-league-ready since Hanley Ramirez. Of course, due to Triunfel's plus arm and below-average speed, he's already been moved to third base, with right field or even first base possible as future stops on the spectrum... especially if his body continues to fill out. He's a couple of years away from growing into his real talent (and body), but he remains a significant prospect asset, epecially in the offensively-weak Mariners system.

More Scouting Book Info on Carlos Triunfel

SB 315BA SC BP SN ES ML

Yadil Mujica

SS

Currently

316

A mature prospect who'll be 27 (or so) later this year, Cuban Yadil Mujica is a contact hitter with plus speed, good range and a plus arm from shortstop. In his last year in Cuba, he hit .358/.432/.440, that average enough for twelfth-best in the league (modern Cuban baseball is hitter-friendly, which explains why so few Cuban pitchers stick in MLB.)

In the Yanks' AA system last year, Mujica scraped out a commendable .294/.273/.567 line, stole a few bases and knocked a home run. That's awfully good for a first turn in US pro ball, of course, but age isn;t on his side, so he'll need to do a bit better in 2012 if he's going to have a future in MLB.

More Scouting Book Info on Yadil Mujica

SB 316BA SC BP SN ES ML

Carlos Gutierrez

RHP

Currently

317

The ex-Miami Hurricanes closer throws a 98mph fastball that could get even faster as he comes back from TJ surgery. His breaking ball is still a bit sub-par, but if any coaching staff can coax secondary pitches from power arms, its the wizard's guild in Minnesota. Gutierrez is still a year or so away from being completely ready, but the Twins work in mysterious ways, which means he could see opportunities as a setup man as early as 2012, with the closer mantle still within reach.

More Scouting Book Info on Carlos Gutierrez

SB 317BA SC BP SN ES ML

David Cooper

1B

Currently

318

The Blue Jays have been bereft of developing power threats recently, but they're fixing it with this move. Cooper is a high-average, high-on-base machine with significant power to all fields, and better than the usual masher's ability at first base, too. He was drafted higher than expected, but the way the power bats were vanishing from the board in 2008, one can hardly blame the Blue Jays for reaching. He only hit .211 in 71 late-season ABs for the Jays in 2011, but he did nail a couple of long balls in that time, and he should be given the opportunity to do so again in 2012. Hopefully his on-base skills will come along for the ride this time.

More Scouting Book Info on David Cooper

SB 318BA SC BP SN ES ML

Mike Belfiore

LHP

Currently

319

A big lefty from Boston College, Arizona's Mike Belfiore was selected 45th overall by the Diamondbacks in 2009. A closer and first baseman in college, he combines easy heat with a plus slider: the perfect combination for a relief pitcher. While his big body and strong bat could play in the field, the Diamondbacks looked at Belfiore as a starting pitcher first, and so far they're sticking to that. Belfiore posted a 3.99 ERA in 25 starts for A-level South Bend in 2010, but slid to earth in 2011, with an ERA of 5.92 in 79 innings, most of them from the bullpen. This might be seen as a step back, but as long as he keeps up his strikeout rate (an even one per inning), he's got a bright future somewhere on a major league roster.

More Scouting Book Info on Mike Belfiore

SB 319BA SC BP SN ES ML

Deolis Guerra

RHP

Currently

320

A tall, powerful strikeout artist, Guerra has been considered in both starting and bullpen roles for the last couple of years. He should be easy to lock up in the late rounds of a deep draft this year, but he promises to be much more attractive (and widely known) next year. With electric stuff but not much pro experience under his belt yet, Guerra will probably keep striking out a batter per inning until the Twins' brain trust can't ignore him anymore.

More Scouting Book Info on Deolis Guerra

SB 320BA SC BP SN ES ML

311 to 320 of 525 Prospects

Top Prospects 2012

Combined Ranking

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1B	2B	3B	SS	OF
C	LHP	RHP	Matrix

Prospect Notes

Recent Player News

Roman Hernandez, KC

2/7/2012: Roman Hernandez has signed with the Royals, and will be sending a half-million dollar signing bonus back to his family in Cuba, one way or the other. Hernandez projects as a bench player with some power right now, and looks best in a corner outfield slot. At only 23, he still has room to grow, too.
More on Hernandez >

Also In The News...

Top Prospects 2012

Combined Ranking

1+	10	20	30	40
50	60	70	80	90
100	110	120	130	140
150	160	170	180	190
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450	460	470	480	490

1B	2B	3B	SS	OF
C	LHP	RHP	Matrix

CloserWatch Notes

Recent Closer News

Update: SEA: 2/6/2012

Seattle took a flier on the sometimes dominant lefty reliever Hong-Chih Kuo today, signing him to an incentive-laden 1-year deal. Kuo, one of baseball's best lefthanders the last decade or so, struggled with both physical and emotional turmoil in his last year as a Dodger.

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Baseball Prospect Rankings for 2012

Now updated for 2012's Top Prospects

RHP

Currently

311

SS

Currently

312

OF

Currently

313

RHP

Currently

314

3B

Currently

315

SS

Currently

316

RHP

Currently

317

1B

Currently

318

LHP

Currently

319

RHP

Currently

320

Top Prospects 2012

Prospect Notes

Also In The News...

Top Prospects 2012

CloserWatch Notes

Update: SEA: 2/6/2012

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