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.

Matt Skole

3B

Currently

400

A third base prospect deep in the Washington Nationals system (how discouraging for him), Matt Skole is also the brother of the better-known Jake. While Jake went to Texas in 2010's first round, Matt was drafted by the Washington Nationals in 2011's 5th.

A solid hitter with a plus eye at the plate and a nice-looking power swing that doesn't mess up his timing much, he looked very good at low-A Auburn last fall, slashing a respectable .290./382/.438, which should be enough to get himself a ticket to a higher level this season. Of course, we'll need that, in order to see him deal with some meaningful breaking balls over a longer season, before we know what we're really dealing with here.

Full Scouting Report for Matt Skole

SB 400BA SC BP SN ES ML

Jefry Marte

3B

Currently

401

Promising young infielder Jefry Marte is a high-ceiling talent who isn't lighting anyone's desire on fire just yet, but his respectable .248/.313/.346 line (with seven homers and fourteen stolen bases) as a 20 year old in St. Lucie (high A) last season does keep him on the list. He's still a long way off, but he might yet live up to his early billing as the best bat in the Mets system. Just don't bank on it happening before 2015 or later.

Full Scouting Report for Jefry Marte

SB 401BA SC BP SN ES ML

Wynn Pelzer

RHP

Currently

402

Well, it's a better name for a pitcher than 'Homer', that's for sure. Described at the time of his signing as 'a big arm with a power breaking ball' who looked a bit unrefined, Pelzer hasn't done anything to shake that label in his time on the farm. That breaking ball is a sizzling slider, and when it's matched up against the 98mph fastball he keeps in his back pocket, the combination can be close to unhittable. He's still a bit raw, as can be expected, and that oh-so-important third pitch isn't yet on tap, but as long as he keeps up the hard work and solid conditioning he's already known for, Wynn could be the stuff of headline puns in Baltimore for many years to come. He'll need a good 2012 to get there, though.

Full Scouting Report for Wynn Pelzer

SB 402BA SC BP SN ES ML

Andrew Brackman

RHP

Currently

403

Brackman was scouted by the Yankees since his days in a Cincinnati high school. Brackman is a textbook example of a signing for raw potential. The Yankees finally cut him after watching him flail in the minors for a few seasons, making him a low-risk, high-upside sort of player for the much less invested Reds organization to gamble on. The Yank systems has never been known for getting the best from young pitchers, so some new coaches could do wonders, here.

Full Scouting Report for Andrew Brackman

SB 403BA SC BP SN ES ML

Daniel Moskos

LHP

Currently

404

A big hardthrowing lefty in the Randy Myers vein, Moskos was drafted fourth overall by the Pirates in 2007, despite concerns about whether he'd be able to stick as a frontline starter. He's a quality arm with great stuff, including a 94mph heater and plus slider, but he still has quite a lot to learn about pitching, though his improvements in 2011 were obvious: After 3.43 across 42 AAA innings, he got some use in Pittsburgh, where he maintained a similar 2.96 ERA in 24 innings of relief work. While in Pittsburgh, he struck out only 11 and walked 9, however, which means the Pirate brass is probably still spending a lot of time thinking how they might have better spent that draft pick: catcher Matt Wieters was still on the board when the team selected Moskos.

Full Scouting Report for Daniel Moskos

SB 404BA SC BP SN ES ML

Hiroyuki Nakajima

SS

Currently

405

One of Japan's most talented all-around ballplayers, Seibu's Hiroyuki Nakajima is a toolsy, accomplished shortstop with a good line-drive swing and an exemplary work ethic. Playing all season at shortstop for Seibu in 2011, Hiroyuki slashed .297/.354/.433 with 16 home runs and 27 doubles, which is actually a poor year compared to his .310/.381/.479 career line. He also stole 21 out of 23 bases, showing exceptional skill. He's a solid player who could provide a strong bench presence for a good MLB club, or start for a poor one.

Full Scouting Report for Hiroyuki Nakajima

SB 405BA SC BP SN ES ML

Bryan Price

RHP

Currently

406

One of the best college closers of recent years, Rice righthander Bryan Price was a fireball threat buried deep in the Red Sox Nation before the Victor Martinez acquisition sent him him Cleveland. There are some questions about his health and the durability of his shoulder, which makes the comparisons to Joel Zumaya especially poignant. In 27 AA relief appearances (and one start) in 2011, he posted a 2.79 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and struck out 33 hitters in 52 innings of work. All but the last of those numbers was a small improvement on 2010. Health issues notwithstanding, he could see MLB bullpen action in 2012.

Full Scouting Report for Bryan Price

SB 406BA SC BP SN ES ML

Jorge Padron

OF

Currently

407

One of the more intriguing new wave of Cuban prospects, outfielder Jorge Padron is a stocky contact bat who hits from the left side. As Pinar del Rio's left fielder, Padron was among the league leaders with a .345 average. A spray hitter with gap-to-gap power, his performance against lefties makes him iffy to stick as everyday player in MLB, but his dominance of righthanded pitching and some hard work in the minors for a year or two should be enough to get him a look in Boston. Kendry Morales wasn't as polished at the same age, after all.

Full Scouting Report for Jorge Padron

SB 407BA SC BP SN ES ML

Karsten Whitson

RHP

Currently

408

Karsten Whitson is a teenage pitching prospect who might have had the highest ceiling of any of the 2010 draft class participants. Unlike most pitching prospects, who lack for a serious gap or two in their toolset, Whitson already showed a near-ideal mix of stuff, polish, pitchability and projection. His fastball was an MLB-ready 92-94 version with sink, and his slider, a hard 84mph version, showed real plus break. His third pitch was a straight change that, while still below MLB caliber, was already leaps and bounds better than what one usually sees in such a young player. The Padres were unable to sign Whitson, however, so his mailing address will be at the University of Florida for the next two or three years.

Full Scouting Report for Karsten Whitson

SB 408BA SC BP SN ES ML

Corey Wimberly

2B

Currently

409

A sixth round pick by the Rockies who ended up on the Pirates only after a detour in Oakland, second baseman Corey Wimberly has actually played every position in his six year minor league career as coaches try to find the best place for him: in 2011 he split duty between second base and the outfield positions. A player who reminds coaches of a lesser Chone Figgins, his speed could play well in the majors and should offset his lack of power: he's stolen almost 300 minor league bases but cleared the fences only 10 times in his career. (In his college career, that entertaining ratio was 82:1).

Full Scouting Report for Corey Wimberly

SB 409BA SC BP SN ES ML

400 to 409 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

3B

Currently

400

3B

Currently

401

RHP

Currently

402

RHP

Currently

403

LHP

Currently

404

SS

Currently

405

RHP

Currently

406

OF

Currently

407

RHP

Currently

408

2B

Currently

409

Top Prospects 2012

Prospect Notes

Also In The News...

Top Prospects 2012

CloserWatch Notes

Update: SEA: 2/6/2012

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