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 multitalented prospect signed by Texas out of the DR, Guillermo Pimentel is a lithe and athletic ballplayer who can handle any outfield position. As an 19 year old now in the Mariner system, he's still filling out his frame and learning how to use his tools, but he's got a higher upside than almost any other outfield bat in the minors. In his first taste of A-ball in 2012, Pimentel slashed a .245/.289/.366 line, respectable enough for a 19 year old. He'll attempt to work his way up the A-ball ladder in 2013.
Full Scouting Report for Guillermo Pimentel
SB 491BA SC BP SN ES ML
A fifth round selection in the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft, pitcher Mason Hope is indeed one of the more promising prospects in the Miami system today. His mix of a true plus fastball and a very good curve (at least when he can locate it) is already proven devastating. He doesn't have a quality third pitch, but he'll have time to develop one. As long as he continues to beguile hitters with his existing 1-2, however, it shouldn't take more than a show-me slider or change to get him into MLB in a couple of years.
Full Scouting Report for Mason Hope
SB 492BA SC BP SN ES ML
Scouts don't love Corey Dickerson's visible tools, but on a performance basis it's hard to complain about the results. Dickerson, whose lefthanded bat contains more thunder than anyone ever expected, smashed .338/.396/.583 with nine homers in the first half of 2012. But that's just the Cal League, you say? Those are A-level pitchers, you say? Well, Mr Dickerson would like to answer you with his production from the second half of 2012, after he was promoted to AA-level Tulsa for the first time. Dickerson drilled .274/.322/.504 with thirteen more home runs, proving that better pitching wouldn't be able to stop him. He's going to have to prove it all over again in a full season of AA action, but if he does that, it's hard to imagine anyone will be able to hold him back any longer.
Full Scouting Report for Corey Dickerson
SB 493BA SC BP SN ES ML
An enigmatic righthander on the Angels' farm, prospect Ryan Chaffee was drafted way back in 2008's third round (after being drafted but not signed by the Braves a year before) and has been simmering away since. Throwing a large selection of pitches from a wide variety of arm slots, Chaffee's been able to induce ground-balls at a very promising rate while also striking out more than his share of opponents (more than one per inning, including 11 per 9 last season at AA Arkansas). Whether he can continue to confuddle MLB hitters with an arsenal based as much on deception as pure stuff is a topic that splits scouting opinions. If he does slim down the offerings, the low-90's fastball will be balanced with a 12-6 curve to lefties and a frisbee slider that he deploys almost exclusively to right-handed hitters. In all, he's got tremendous upside, but not without significant risk. Gamble away, Angel faithful.
Full Scouting Report for Ryan Chaffee
SB 494BA SC BP SN ES ML
Acquired by the Blue Jays for cash in 2012's offseason, righthander Jeremy Jeffress is another prototypical good thing/bad thing pitching prospect. Jeffress lights up radar guns with three-figure readings almost every night (that's a good thing), but needs work on his control (bad thing). His 50 game substance abuse suspension in 2009 can be overlooked (marijuana isn't exactly a performance enhancer), but it's tougher to ignore his lack of solid secondary pitches. If the Jays need a righthander with near triple digits in their bullpen this year, he could see a small bit of action in the same way he has in previous seasons, but he'll need to turn in a few weeks of solid everyday work before gaining a long-term foothold, options or not.
Full Scouting Report for Jeremy Jeffress
SB 495BA SC BP SN ES ML
A tall and lanky lefthander who's clearly ready for MLB right now, Giant pitcher Eric Surkamp proved himself with six late-season starts for San Francisco in 2011. Surkamp doesn't have a great fastball, barely scraping 90mph on a good day. But he does get some nice natural movement on it, and does locate it well most of the time. That's more than enough to set up his breaking balls, a straight change and a curve that both look like genuine plus pitches. He's had middling results to date, especially in his brief MLB time in 2012, but the raw ability is still there: check out his AA performance for a whiff of his real ability. He could string together success at any moment: he's a hair away from a 25-man player in San Francisco right now.
Full Scouting Report for Eric Surkamp
SB 496BA SC BP SN ES ML
Another hard throwing Texas righty, Arizona native Cory Burns came via the Indians. A compact fireplug of a pitcher, Burns has thus far excelled as a relief cog. Acting as Akron's closer in 2011, he racked up 35 saves and 70 strikeouts in 60 innings of work. Now with the Rangers after a brief tour with the Padres, Burns will work at AAA, providing bullpens support if and when the big-league club needs it.
Full Scouting Report for Cory Burns
SB 497BA 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, often unpolished prospect, Jace the Face nonetheless looks like a natural ballplayer. Peterson carries his athletic ability with natural grace, looking like nothing as much as a bundle of potential. His plus bat speed and first-step hustle look awfully good on film, and he looked very good handling A-ball pitching last year. Of course, AA is the real test for most prospects. Peterson should get there by the end of the year.
Full Scouting Report for Jace Peterson
SB 498BA SC BP SN ES ML
There are way too many Austins in baseball these days, and at least one too many Austin Woods. The latest, big Angel righthander Austin Wood, shouldn't be confused with Tiger lefty of the same name. Anaheim's Austin, a six-four, two-thirty linebacker type, throws a heavy 97mph fastball that could use a little more movement, and a slurvy breaking ball that's clearly his best offering: if he makes it to MLB it'll be on the strikeout potential of this pitch alone. Still working his way through A-ball, he's striking out just under one batter per inning, but he's still walking almost six per game, which doesn't bode well. Watch to see if he can keep it under control, and once he can, he'll be almost ready.
Full Scouting Report for Austin Wood
SB 499BA SC BP SN ES ML
A big righthander in the Carlos Zambrano mold, the amusingly-named Trey McNutt cracked three levels of the minors in 2010, then spent all of 2011 quietly racking up starts in AA Tennessee. McNutt combines an overpowering fastball with a disorienting power curve. While a third pitch would be nice to have in his back pocket, those two existing choices are both serious plus offerings, so the only real thing he's wanting for is a 'show me' selection or two. Chicago covets McNutt highly: when Tampa Bay asked for nominal top prospect Chris Archer or McNutt in the trade for Matt Garza, the Cubs didn't hesitate, and sent Archer packing immediately. McNutt will spend most or all of 2013 in the AA Tennessee rotation once again, but if he continues to dominate hitters, it's not impossible he will end the season in the Wrigley rotation.
Full Scouting Report for Trey McNutt
SB 500BA SC BP SN ES ML
Prospects
Top Prospects 2013
Combined Ranking
490 to 500 of 650 Prospects
