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.

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.

Full Scouting Report for Deolis Guerra

SB 320BA SC BP SN ES ML

Josh Sale

OF

Currently

321

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.

Full Scouting Report for Josh Sale

SB 321BA SC BP SN ES ML

Joe Ross

RHP

Currently

322

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).

Full Scouting Report for Joe Ross

SB 322BA SC BP SN ES ML

Matt Antonelli

2B

Currently

323

Antonelli is a little-known but quality athlete who could have a bright future at almost any fielding position in Baltimore.

Originally selected by the Dodgers, Antonelli opted for college instead, and was subsequently taken by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the 2006 MLB Amateur Draft. Always a defensive plus, he's also a much better hitter than he's yet shown in the minors, though, so we expect he may regroup and make a push back into the middle of the prospect ranks, or higher, this year.

Full Scouting Report for Matt Antonelli

SB 323BA SC BP SN ES ML

Jhan Marinez

RHP

Currently

324

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.

Full Scouting Report for Jhan Marinez

SB 324BA SC BP SN ES ML

Mark Hallberg

2B

Currently

325

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.

Full Scouting Report for Mark Hallberg

SB 325BA SC BP SN ES ML

Jose Ceda

RHP

Currently

326

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.

Full Scouting Report for Jose Ceda

SB 326BA SC BP SN ES ML

Tyler Robertson

LHP

Currently

327

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.

Full Scouting Report for Tyler Robertson

SB 327BA SC BP SN ES ML

Joey Terdoslavich

1B

Currently

328

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.

Full Scouting Report for Joey Terdoslavich

SB 328BA SC BP SN ES ML

Nick Barnese

RHP

Currently

329

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.

Full Scouting Report for Nick Barnese

SB 329BA SC BP SN ES ML

Robinson Lopez

RHP

Currently

330

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.

Full Scouting Report for Robinson Lopez

SB 330BA SC BP SN ES ML

320 to 330 of 525 Prospects

Top Prospects 2012

Combined Ranking

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50	60	70	80	90
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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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Tools and Lists for Finding Better Baseball Prospects, Closers and More!

Baseball Prospect Rankings for 2012

Now updated for 2012's Top Prospects

RHP

Currently

320

OF

Currently

321

RHP

Currently

322

2B

Currently

323

RHP

Currently

324

2B

Currently

325

RHP

Currently

326

LHP

Currently

327

1B

Currently

328

RHP

Currently

329

RHP

Currently

330

Top Prospects 2012

Prospect Notes

Also In The News...

Top Prospects 2012

CloserWatch Notes

Update: SEA: 2/6/2012

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