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.
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A powerful Colombian infielder who'll probably settle at second base, Pirate prospect Dilson Herrera rose to attention-worthy status by hitting his way out of Rookie ball (.281/341/.482) and into low-A at the age of 18. Herrera has a nice speed/power combination (twelve steals, eight dingers in sixty games) and decent enough foot and glovework to cover shortstop if necessary. He's raw, like any teenage player, but he shows a strong work ethic and natural aptitude for the trials of the middle infield. If his power is legitimate, he'll be a fast-riser in the system.
More Scouting Book Info on Dilson Herrera
SB 451BA SC BP SN ES ML
The final pick of 2012's first round, Brian Johnson was a two-way star in Florida, but when you're left-handed and have four quality pitches, you can probably hang up your batting gloves after turning pro. His fastball isn't stunning, topping out at 93-93mph, though it has some natural sink, but his ability to throw any of his other pitches on demand is what sets him apart, here. It's been awhile since Boston had a high-ceiling lefty pitching prospect: Johnson could break that streak.
More Scouting Book Info on Brian Johnson
SB 452BA SC BP SN ES ML
One of the best hitting prospects in the 2007 Amateur Draft, Beau Mills went to the Indians, who at the time enough had no long-term 1B or 3B solution in their system. He turned out to be pretty much as-expected, a lumbering slow slugger with so-so contact skills but plus power. The .300/.358/.522 line he posted in AA Akron in 2011 was validated by a month-long tour with the AAA Clippers in which he turned in similar numbers while homering seven times in 35 games.
More Scouting Book Info on Beau Mills
SB 453BA SC BP SN ES ML
A college pitcher drafted by the Reds in 2012, righthander Daniel Langfield showed better than expected command and control late last season. Always a smart pitcher with a classic four-pitch repertoire, Langfield now seems to be commanding all his pitches better than he did in college. The slider, in particular, looks a lot nastier, and each pitch comes with a similar motion, making all of them more effective in combination. Assuming he keeps it up, he will almost certainly be promoted all the way to AA by the end of the year.
More Scouting Book Info on Daniel Langfield
SB 454BA SC BP SN ES ML
A hard-hitting corner outfielder from Florida, Colorado's Kent Matthes is one of the most powerful bats on the Rockies farm. A very impressive 2011 season at high-A Modesto (.334/.378/.642... that's a 1.020 OPS, folks) was cut short by hand surgery, and he never really returned to any level close to that in the ensuing season.
More Scouting Book Info on Kent Matthes
SB 455BA SC BP SN ES ML
A huge Venezuelan lefthander now fully recovered from Tommy John surgery, the Indians' Elvis Araujo works with a fastball in the low 90's that can reach 96 on occasion. His secondary pitches aren't there yet, but he hasn't exactly been able to sharpen his twists and torques while nursing his tendons, so give the kid some time to get back on track. We'll know a lot more about his future by 2012's winter.
More Scouting Book Info on Elvis Araujo
SB 456BA SC BP SN ES ML
With a name that'll be a headline-writer's dream someday, May Day baby Ravel Santana is a righthanded outfielder from San Pedro de Macoris, where he was presumably ridiculed by packs of roving shortstops on his way to school each morning. Santana earned a particular kind of fame in 2011 when an especially gruesome ankle injury made the YouTube rounds (No, we're not linking it. Ewwww. )
More Scouting Book Info on Ravel Santana
SB 457BA SC BP SN ES ML
A sleeper prospect in the Nationals' system, Steven Souza is a quickly-rising bat who could be ready to help the big club in 2014 or so. After a disappointing 2011, Souza slashed a dazzling .297/.366/.572 across two levels of A-ball in 2012, adding 14 steals in the process. His power, long-expected but until now absent, also appeared, as he popped 23 homers in only 97 games. In the field, Souza has played across the spectrum from first base to shortstop, but looks most comfortable in the outfield, where his speed and athleticism are best showcased.
More Scouting Book Info on Steven Souza
SB 458BA SC BP SN ES ML
Jeimer Candelario is a corner infield prospect toiling in the lower minor league levels for the Chicago Cubs. After showboating in the DSL as a seventeen year old in 2011, Candelario found his level in A ball in 2012, slashing .281/.345/.396 with 20 extra-base hits in 71 games with Boise. There's some question about whether he can really handle the defensive requirements of third base. If he can't, there's a different question: can he hit with enough power to man first base productively? These questions will get answered over the next couple of years as Candelario attempts to work his way into high and double-A ball. Lots of upside here, with lots of possible derailments along the way.
More Scouting Book Info on Jeimer Candelario
SB 459BA SC BP SN ES ML
One possible shortstop of the future in San Francisco, Venezuelan Ehire Enrique Adrianza is an Alexei Ramirez-shaped live wire who's rising steadily through the system. Adrianza has a good eye at the plate, though he's still a below-average hitter. His defense has been developing faster, and today looks almost ready for everyday action in MLB. He'll need to produce in AA before he earns a promotion, however: that .220/.289/.310 line in 2012 isn't anything to be proud of.
More Scouting Book Info on Ehire Adrianza
SB 460BA SC BP SN ES ML
Prospects
Top Prospects 2013
Combined Ranking
450 to 460 of 650 Prospects
