Top Baseball Prospects 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.
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An unassuming righthander currently in the Twins system, Dominican Manuel Soliman was signed with much fanfare as a phenom IFA hitter back in 2007. He failed to live up to the hype and was converted to full-time pitching two years ago. Sadly, the late start means that the years in which young pitchers usually explode (or implode) is beginning to pass him by already, and it's going to take even more time for him to round out his ability enough to be a significant factor to a future MLB club. He looked alright in Beloit in 2011, striking out a great many A-level hitters on his hot fastball, but until he learns to command his secondary pitches, he can't really get much further. He could follow the path of Sergio Santos and become a confounding reliever in the big-leagues soon on the strength of his heater alone, but it seems more likely to us that his future lies in being an innings-chewer-upper in the years to come, either while providing training to minor league hitters, or by providing mopup work and rest for an MLB rotation.
More Scouting Book Info on Manuel Soliman
SB 481BA SC BP SN ES ML
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, with the same speed and discipline usually seen in Japanese players, plus a little more power than American fans might expect. A three-hole hitter with Seibu, Hiro could provide a strong bench presence for a good MLB club, or start for a poor one.
More Scouting Book Info on Hiroyuki Nakajima
SB 482BA SC BP SN ES ML
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.
More Scouting Book Info on Bryan Price
SB 483BA SC BP SN ES ML
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.
More Scouting Book Info on Jorge Padron
SB 484BA SC BP SN ES ML
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.
More Scouting Book Info on Karsten Whitson
SB 485BA SC BP SN ES ML
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.
More Scouting Book Info on Corey Wimberly
SB 486BA SC BP SN ES ML
Yet another in a wide field of pitching prospects developed by the Astros before being shipped elsewhere, Patton has demonstrated remarkable consistency, grinding his way through start after start with very few blowouts or meltdowns. His walks are a bit high, and his strikeouts a bit low, which means he'll probably need to keep walking that wire for another year to get a shot at anything near Camden Yards. He looked capable once again in 20 relief appearances for the Orioles in 2011 (2-1, 3.00, 1.00) and should be a favorite for a bullpen spot in 2012. If he fails to make the cut, don't fret: he'll be back later in the year.
More Scouting Book Info on Troy Patton
SB 487BA SC BP SN ES ML
A tall and thin slip of a pitcher, Jorge Lopez is an awkward man-boy in the Brewer system, with a bullwhip where his right arm should be. A converted shortstop, he was seen as Puerto Rico's top prospect when he was drafted 70th overall by Milwaukee in 2011. He's still very raw, but he shows good natural feel with his fastball, and his change, while a little erratic, is already developed to a higher level than most teenagers could hope to reach. He's a few years away from making an impact.
More Scouting Book Info on Jorge Lopez
SB 488BA SC BP SN ES ML
A third-round pick from the 2006 draft class, the 6-4 and 240 pound Bates is a big, strong hitter with solid plate discipline. Aaron has plus power that's near big-league ready, but not much else. His bat-speed is suspect, which means he may flounder at higher levels if he keeps trying to hit every pitch 600ft. In his first full season under the Twins' tutelage, he seemed to curtail some of his free-swingingness, slashing .316/.408/.439 and taking 53 walks versus only 90 strikeouts at AAA Rochester. He's getting pretty old to keep showing up on lists with the P-word in the title, but he does qualify, technically. He could see 1B/DH duty in Minnesota this year.
More Scouting Book Info on Aaron Bates
SB 489BA SC BP SN ES ML
A huge, hulking lumberjack of a first baseman, right-handed slugger Ryan Strieby popped 19 homers in 130 games with AAA Toledo in 2011, and as his power continues to develop he should fit right into Comerica. He's more than a little blocked by Miguel Cabrera right now, of course, and the left field conversion project didn't quite work out, so if he reaches MLB in 2012, it'll be either as trade bait or as a bench player who can push Miguel to DH duties. A hot start this spring could get him a full-time MLB job... somewhere... before the end of the year.
More Scouting Book Info on Ryan Strieby
SB 490BA SC BP SN ES ML
Prospects
Top Prospects 2012
Combined Ranking
480 to 490 of 500 Prospects
