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.
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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
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.
More Scouting Book Info on Cito Culver
SB 312BA SC BP SN ES ML
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
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
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.
More Scouting Book Info on Carlos Triunfel
SB 315BA SC BP SN ES ML
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.)
More Scouting Book Info on Yadil Mujica
SB 316BA SC BP SN ES ML
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
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
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
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
Josh Sale (pronounced 'Solly', more or less) is a powerful Samoan motherslugger from Seattle who just keeps getting bigger and stronger as he develops. Built more like a linebacker than a baseball player, Sale's lefthanded bat already looks like a premium offensive weapon. He's been a third baseman in high school, but he's almost certainly destined for right field or first base by the time he reaches the majors, which should be in a couple of years. When he does arrive, you'll be able to hear the moonshots for miles.
More Scouting Book Info on Josh Sale
SB 321BA SC BP SN ES ML
A tall and thin righthander from Oakland, Joe Ross was the 25th overall draft selection in 2011, taken by the San Diego Padres. He signed too late to get any real time in pro ball, but he should have plenty of time to learn the game in rookie ball to open 2012, though he'd be fine at A-level Fort Wayne in the MIdwest League, too. Reports on Ross are uniform in noting that his fastball and curve project to be major league average (that's good) while his change needs a great deal of work (that's bad but not unusual).
More Scouting Book Info on Joe Ross
SB 322BA SC BP SN ES ML
Antonelli is a little-known but quality athlete who could have a bright future at almost any fielding position in Baltimore.
More Scouting Book Info on Matt Antonelli
SB 323BA SC BP SN ES ML
A Dominican who will probably be most-remembered for being one of the prospects traded for new Miami manager Ozzie Guillen, Jhan Marinez is a bit of an under-the-radar sleeper prospect now in the White Sox system who doesn't get as much attention as he probably deserves, despite his appearance in the Futures Game last season. Marinez is a slight player with a power fastball that can touch 98, but he has more success with his two-seamer, a 92mph offering with exceptional movement. His change and slider still need to improve before they're ready for the big stage, but he has so much raw talent that he's bound to make it sooner or later.
More Scouting Book Info on Jhan Marinez
SB 324BA SC BP SN ES ML
A college shortstop with enough determination to make up for his limited power ceiling, Mark Hallberg is a scrappy infielder who could make a few major league teams right now as a utility infielder and bench-deepener. The fiesty army brat smashed .362 as a Fantasy Islander in 2008, landing him the Hawaiian League MVP award and making him look like a viable starter in Arizona, but he came down to earth in the last two seasons, most recently slashing a respectable but unremarkable .279/.343/.399 line in the Diamondback waiting room in AAA Reno. He may play with the big boys in 2012, but it won't be a starring role.
More Scouting Book Info on Mark Hallberg
SB 325BA SC BP SN ES ML
A big, strong, flamethrowing star of the future signed as an international free agent in 2006, righthander Jose Ceda was probably Chicago's best remaining pitching prospect (depending on how you view the enigma of Jeff Samardzija) when he was shipped to Florida for the more established Kevin Gregg in 2008's offseason. A burly pitcher cast from Jonathan Broxton-sized iron, Ceda is a power pitcher with strikeout stuff who could ascend to closing duties for the Marlins in 2012 or 2013 Problems with his mechanics remain, though (he struggles to repeat his delivery, leading to spurts of wildness and some eye-opening walk numbers) and there is some concern about the ability of his legs and back to hold up to a season of work.
More Scouting Book Info on Jose Ceda
SB 326BA SC BP SN ES ML
A ground ball pitcher who seems to handle lefties just as well as right-handed batters, Robertson is just one of another out-machine to come from the Twins pitching factory. The combination of his strong K-BB ratio, nasty repertoire and odd delivery have gained him a few 'left-handed Lincecum' comparisons, but nobody will mistake his 6-6 frame for the diminutive Giant. After dominating the lower levels, he stumbled a bit in AA two years ago, but seems to have found his feet now, as his 88 strikeouts in 89 AA innings last season was right in line with his excellent career pattern. He's probably not a legit starting candidate anymore, but he sure looks like a strong bullpen option for the Twins in 2012.
More Scouting Book Info on Tyler Robertson
SB 327BA SC BP SN ES ML
While Freddy Freeman might have first base locked down for the next decade or so in Atlanta, the Braves also have another promising hitter who could be good enough to merit a move to another position. The unfortunately-named Joey Terdoslavich's hit 52 doubles last year at high-A (a Carolina League record) and blew away concerns about his ability to handle better pitching from either side of the plate. While a move to a corner outfield spot is likely in his future, Terdoslavich should manage to get to the Bigs one way or the other by 2014.
More Scouting Book Info on Joey Terdoslavich
SB 328BA SC BP SN ES ML
Barnese's fastball is a lively 92mph offering, and he mixes in a late-breaking slurve that's almost (but not quite) a hammer curve. Like most young pitchers, his changeup isn't really ready for the bright lights yet, but his confidence, poise and aggressive intelligence make it clear that he's capable of bigger things. His 6-8, 3.76, 1.41 line at AA Montgomery last year, however, suggests that it's not time to trade in that Biscuits uniform just yet.
More Scouting Book Info on Nick Barnese
SB 329BA SC BP SN ES ML
Another promising product of the exceptional Braves farm system, righthander Robinson Lopez worked mainly as a starter for the Braves in 2009 and 2010, and made two more starts for the Cubs affiliate after being acquired at the deadline. Still, he is seen by many as a future closer. Lopez controls his mid-90's fastball well and is able to work both sides of the plate with ease. His secondary pitches, a loopy curve and a straight change, are still very much works in progress. There has been suggestion of adding a slider to his repertoire in order to hasten his development. While he lost most of 2011 to injury, his work in the Dominican Winter League suggests that he hasn't lost much, and he should quickly rise back to the top of Chicago's bullpen depth chart.
More Scouting Book Info on Robinson Lopez
SB 330BA SC BP SN ES ML
Prospects
Top Prospects 2012
Combined Ranking
311 to 330 of 525 Prospects
