Top Baseball Prospects for 2013
Now updated for 2013'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're coming to this page directly, you're missing 9/10ths of what we do, so please
also visit our home page , and read this blog entry before telling us how stupid we are. Thanks!
Drafted and signed right along with fellow Angel outfield prospect Mike Trout, Randall Grichuk is a slightly different kind of player, one probably better suited to a higher-power corner outfield spot than the athletic Trout. Grichuk zipped through three levels of minor league ball in 2011, then spent all of the next season with high-A Inland Empire, where he showed durability and consistent prowess by slashing .298/.335/.488 with 18 homers and 16 steals in 537 at-bats. He'll be in AA sometime this year, and knocking on the door at the Big A very soon after.
Full Scouting Report for Randal Grichuk
SB 381BA SC BP SN ES ML
The Indians' Bob Feller Award winner in 2011, smallish righthander Chen-Chang Lee projects as a potent bullpen weapon for the Indians in the near future. Lee was signed as an international free agent after gaining attention at the 2008 Olympics, but lost a year to TJ surgery recently that dropped him from many radar screens.
Full Scouting Report for Chen Chang Lee
SB 382BA SC BP SN ES ML
A pure hitter drafted 48th overall by the White Sox in 2012, Florida native Keon Barnum is already capable of putting on tentpole exhibitions in batting practice. With a big, strong bat from the left side with a stroke that might be a bit too long, we see a lot of longballs and an even larger number of strikeouts in his future. Chicago is a good place to showcase those skills.
Full Scouting Report for Keon Barnum
SB 383BA SC BP SN ES ML
A massive righthander in the Pirate system, Alabama slammer Clay Holmes is a strike thrower who's skilled at pounding the lower half of the plate, even when he can't be more accurate than that, inducing more than his share of weak contact and grounders. Holmes zipped to everyone's attention late last season as he polished up a 2.28 ERA, 1.08 WHIP season across thirteen starts for the Pirate's low-A club in State College. Holmes throws mid-90's and mixes in a dirty curve that could be a plus pitch one day. He's rough, and has some learning to do on the finer arts of pitching, but on raw stuff alone, he's one of the Pirates' most promising arms.
Full Scouting Report for Clay Holmes
SB 384BA SC BP SN ES ML
Baltimore prospect (Dennis) Michael Wright is a big righthander in a system that's proven good at getting max value from so-so talents in recent years. His shortarm delivery looks a bit jagged to some scouts, and restricts his fastball to the low 90's, though it comes with good movement and some natural sink. That movement also makes his slider an ideal double-down pitch. The change is a work in progress, but it's not far off. Assuming his journey through AA is successful, Wright should be a competent middle rotation guy in another year or two.
Full Scouting Report for Michael Wright
SB 385BA SC BP SN ES ML
The 135th player taken back in the 2011 draft, Angel pitching prospect Mike Clevinger is a righthander with decent upside despite his so-so stuff. Making only eight starts for the Class A Cedar Rapids Kernals, Clevinger looked reasonably good, enough that he should sample high-A ball in 2013. His low-to-mid 90's fastball is good when he locates it well, and his breaking ball shows signs of real plus action. If he can put the whole package together and turn it up a notch, he'll be a solid innings-eater, but we really need to see him string a few months of good results together before we're completely on the bandwagon, here.
Full Scouting Report for Mike Clevinger
SB 386BA SC BP SN ES ML
A righthanded power pitcher, Dillon Howard inherited the title of top pitching prospect in the weak Indians system almost by default the moment he was drafted. Howard went 9-1 with a 0.31 ERA in 12 starts for Searcy High School, striking out 115 batters in 58 innings (read that again if you like.) His perfect pitcher's frame, not to mention that 95mph fastball with natural sink and run, made him pretty projectable, or at least the Indians thought until he arrived at camp in 2012 badly out of shape. He spent most of the year getting back to playing size, which means 2013 is a bit of a do-over for him. He still has the big fastball with nice natural sink, and a developing curve that, while still a bit slurvy, shows real promise. Give the youngster time and coaching and he should be able to tighten it up into a solid-average offering. He's many years away.
Full Scouting Report for Dillon Howard
SB 387BA SC BP SN ES ML
A massive first baseman with equally massive power potential, Diamondback prospect Jonathan Griffin destroyed the Cal League (.304/.366/.523 with 26 homers) in 2012 before being bumped to AA. That's where he'll keep mashing in 2012, trying to cut back on the strikeouts a bit. His glove at first is adequate for a right-hander, but a little more refinement there wouldn't hurt either. If the Diamondbacks need a mid-season boost, he may get a shot, but otherwise we're looking at Griffin competing for a 2014 roster spot.
Full Scouting Report for Jonathan Griffin
SB 388BA SC BP SN ES ML
A high school slugger cooking slowly and quietly in the Twins system, Travis Harrison might be a future answer for the team at first base or DH. Or maybe right field. In any case, not at the third base he's playing today, at least not if his quickly-expanding body has anything to say about it. It'll be awhile before we know how he can handle breaking stuff, but in the mean time, that .301/.383/.461 line he posted during his first ever pro test at rookie-league Elizabethton should give Twins fans something to dream about.
Full Scouting Report for Travis Harrison
SB 389BA SC BP SN ES ML
A huge, daunting figure who can touch 99mph with his heater, White Sox righthander Simon Castro is one of the most promising pitchers in a system that's not especially deep in pitching to begin with. Castro's slider is probably his best pitch, and when he's locating the fastball at the same time, he's nearly unhittable. Some scouts see a closer in Castro, but for now the Sox will follow the path the Padres started, and keep pushing him as a rotation member. One thing is sure: he's got the frame necessary to carry 200 innings, so they're probably wise to squeeze him into the rotation if possible.
Full Scouting Report for Simon Castro
SB 390BA SC BP SN ES ML
Prospects
Top Prospects 2013
Combined Ranking
380 to 390 of 650 Prospects
