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.
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
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
Antonelli is a little-known but quality athlete who could have a bright future at almost any fielding position in Baltimore.
Full Scouting Report for 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.
Full Scouting Report for 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.
Full Scouting Report for 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.
Full Scouting Report for 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.
Full Scouting Report for 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.
Full Scouting Report for 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.
Full Scouting Report for 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.
Full Scouting Report for Robinson Lopez
SB 330BA SC BP SN ES ML
A righthander buried a bit too deep in the Blue Jays refreshed farm system, Aaron Sanchez struck out a batter per inning while moving from rookie ball to low-A Vancouver last season, and walked only half that many, so he seems to be on a good path to success. We'll need to see how he handles higher levels of A ball next year before we feel comfortable taking a firm stance on his future, though.
Full Scouting Report for Aaron Sanchez
SB 331BA SC BP SN ES ML
Ynoa, the child of two accomplished ballplayers, is a towering, flame throwing teenager who already had a mid-90s fastball and an advanced changeup when he was scooped up by the Athletics. Already a veteran of Tommy John surgery before his twentieth birthday, Ynoa will be back on the mound in 2011 working his way back to his deserved phenom-hood.
Full Scouting Report for Michael Ynoa
SB 332BA SC BP SN ES ML
The number one son of Moss Bluff, Louisiana, San Diego's Jace Petersen is one of the organization's most promising middle-infielders. A raw and unpolished player who nonetheless looks like a natural ballplayer, Peterson carries his athletic ability with natural grace. His plus bat speed and first-step hustle also look awfully good on film. He looked good handling the pitching at low-level Eugene after being signed, but it'll be how he handles A-ball in 2012 that determines his career track for now.
Full Scouting Report for Jace Peterson
SB 333BA SC BP SN ES ML
The FSL's 'Most Exciting Player' of 2008, outfielder Scott Cousins is the best defensive outfielder in today's Miami system, and one who could be patrolling center for the Marlins of the near future, since it's now clear that he will be blocked by Mike Stanton in right field for a very long time to come. His arm will be the best in the outfield no matter which slot he takes up, though, and his combination of baserunning chops and improving batting suggests future-leadoff-threat to us.
Full Scouting Report for Scott Cousins
SB 334BA SC BP SN ES ML
A high-octane speed threat from the International City of Shortstops (sometimes also known as San Pedro de Macoris, DR), Rockies prospect Hector Gomez is gifted with better than average base-stealing ability and a plus arm that makes him a solid defender. Gomez remains held back only by his lack of plate discipline. If he can learn to tone down the strikeouts and stop trying to pull every pitch deep, he'll be a solid contributor somewhere down the line. With Tulo anchoring shortstop in Colorado for now, though, Gomez may need to move to 2B... or to another franchise... before he gets a real shot. He looked good in a very brief MLB appearance in 2011, but he should open 2012 back in AA.
Full Scouting Report for Hector Gomez
SB 335BA SC BP SN ES ML
Acquired from the infield-deep Angels in the Scott Kazmir trade of 2009, left-handed slugger Matt Sweeney looked like a good fit for Tampa, thanks to the organization's need for corner power. A strong, tree-trunk of a hitter, most call him a third baseman, but he's looking like a Casey Kotchman-style first basemen to us right now. His 2011 season was a major disappointment in AA, which means he really needs to dial it up for 2012, or risk a future in a new field, perhaps actual lumberjackery rather than the metaphorical.
Full Scouting Report for Matt Sweeney
SB 336BA SC BP SN ES ML
Yup, he's still looming. Lifted from the Red Sox when the Rangers shipped Eric Gagne, Beltre is one of the Rangers' most infuriating young power prospects. Beltre is a lithe ballplayer with a strong arm, good speed, and what scouts have always seen as easy projectable power, but only average range, making him perhaps a better corner someday than the centerfielder he's been to date. At the plate, he has a smooth swing , though it's more than a bit long, which means at higher levels, he becomes vulnerable to tight fastballs or offspeed pitches away: every time the Rangers have moved him up, his numbers have decayed and never returned to their previous level, and his power simply hasn't shown up outside of batting practice yet. Whether he's a bust in the making or just a slow-learner, Beltre's promising mix of power and wheels are hard to give up on, but even harder to bank on. He remains a nice longshot sleeper, but he's no longer one of the Rangers' top prospects.
Full Scouting Report for Engel Beltre
SB 337BA SC BP SN ES ML
Twins outfielder Angel Morales is small but still growing, fast and getting faster, a plus fielder who's sharpening his skills every game, and did we mention the bat? He's only 21, and he'll lurk in the shadows for a bit longer, but he projects to bring a bit more pop when he does arrive. With a shot at being a truly elite five-tool player, he's one of the highest-ceiling speed-power threats in the Twins' stable. But keep your horses in check: with all the talent ahead of him, he probably won't see Minnesota before 2014.
Full Scouting Report for Angel Morales
SB 338BA SC BP SN ES ML
The first round pick of the Houston Astros (21st overall) in 2009, Jiovanni James Mier was universally acclaimed as the best 'pure' shortstop in the draft class, as opposed to all of those not-really-shortstops that are listed that way because of their advanced athleticism. A superior defender with good range, soft hands and a strong arm, he seems very likely to stick at the position. Jio's bat isn't quite as beyond-question just yet, and he hasn't done much to improve that with disappointing A-level outings in 2010 and 2011, but he should have a couple of years of additional rope to work with before Houston moves on. Don't forget about him.
Full Scouting Report for Jiovanni Mier
SB 339BA SC BP SN ES ML
Vanderbilt's elite fireman (31 saves, 0.93 WHIP) was originally drafted by the Tigers in 2006, but after re-entry was snapped up by Colorado in 2007, then shipped to ChiTown in 2011 as part of the Ian Stewart trade. Weathers works with an arrow straight 95mph fastball that seems under his complete control, mixing in a plus change for devastating effect. He can also bring a nasty slider, though he uses it sparingly. While the Cubs have no screaming need for a closer in the near future, he could be valuable soon in a setup role, or if the bullpen grows injury-riddled.
Full Scouting Report for Casey Weathers
SB 340BA SC BP SN ES ML
Prospects
Top Prospects 2012
Combined Ranking
321 to 340 of 525 Prospects
