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.
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The 22nd overall pick of the 2011 player draft, tiny Hawaiian Kolten Wong already looks like St. Louis's second baseman of the very near future. A polished college hitter with a 1.013 career OPS, he's also a developing fielder who should be able to improve the .964 he recorded in his very first taste of professional baseball. He'll be in Busch by 2014, if not sooner.
More Scouting Book Info on Kolten Wong
SB 91BA SC BP SN ES ML
The A's first round pick in the 2011 draft, righthander Sonny Gray is a small, stocky pitcher with big stuff. His 95mph fastball has great natural movement, and he's already complementing it with a quality curve. As can be said of 99% of all amateurs, though, his changeup isn't really all there yet, and it'll be what matters most to move him ahead. He's succeeded pitching up in the zone until now, which might come back to bite him, especially if the San Jose Athletics give Sonny Gray real estate that's a little less forgiving than the Oakland version.
More Scouting Book Info on Sonny Gray
SB 92BA SC 31BP SN ES ML 85
A big, strong third baseman in the Matt Williams tradition, Diamondback prospect Matt Davidson hit .270 with 20 homers at high A-level Visalia in 2011, though those numbers need a hard eye: the Cal League is notoriously hitter friendly. With fellow prospect Bobby Borchering moving to the outfield this year, Davidson has a clear shot at the third base gig in Phoenix, as long as his bat remains respectable and his defense continues to improve. He's a decent 2013 bet, and could be up for a quick dip in the Arizona hot tub sooner than that.
More Scouting Book Info on Matt Davidson
SB 93BA SC BP SN ES ML
A polished college shortstop from St. John's, Joe Panik is the closest thing to MLB-ready in the Giants system today. After signing with the club last year, he went straight to low-A Salem, where he promptly hammered out a nifty .341/.401/.467 line with six homers and thirteen stolen bases in only 270 at-bats. That's perfect production for a modern shortstop, so as long as he plays up to his level, he'll be a fixture in SF sometime in 2014.
More Scouting Book Info on Joe Panik
SB 94BA SC BP SN ES ML
Sometimes it seems that the Yankee farm is all about catchers. Gary Sanchez is a very young but promising backstop from Austin, Texas who's not as far along as Montero or Romine, but has a tantalizing upside that should not be ignored. He's a big boy who could further grow into a Joe Mauer shape, and his bat comes from the same forest as the Minnesota superstar, if not quite the same tree. Unless he becomes part of a package used to upgrade Yankee pitching, he should be one of their top prospects for several more years to come.
More Scouting Book Info on Gary Sanchez
SB 95BA SC 50BP SN ES ML 53
With a WHIP under 1.00 throughout 2010 and a scary-good strikeout rate, Betances has been one of the many weapons being sharpened in Hell's Kitchen, and just in time, too: the Yankee's mighty pitching has grown a lot less fearsome in recent years. His lightning stuff has been sidelined a bit too often by minor injuries, sadly, and he underwent a bit of surprise surgery in late 2009 that slowed his development somewhat. The team also pushed him way too quickly last season, probably panicking a little over their MLB bullpen woes. Still, he remains a high-ceiling if risky long-term asset: guys with stuff this wicked always seem to find their way onto MLB rosters sooner or later.
More Scouting Book Info on Dellin Betances
SB 96BA SC 28BP SN ES ML 41
A big, strong lefthander, Nick Hagadone was the Red Sox first draft pick (a sandwich pick) in 2007. Hagadone's fastball is hard for a lefty: it ticks as high as 96mph and shows good movement. He complements it with a good slider and an above-average straight change. He was Tim Lincecum's closer in college, also making a few spot starts for the Huskies, but the Red Sox were grooming him as a starter until he was shut down for TJ surgery in mid-2008.
More Scouting Book Info on Nick Hagadone
SB 97BA SC BP SN ES ML
Now an outfielder for the Athletics, ex-USC shortstop Grant Green had a chance to be the #1 overall draft pick in 2009 until Stephen Strasburg's moment carried him into the top ranking. Green has an above average arm and plus range, and he seems to have taken to the outfield very well, though of course his prospect status takes a hit from the move to a less-valuable position.
More Scouting Book Info on Grant Green
SB 98BA SC 47BP SN ES ML 94
A tall and lanky teenager who arrived in the DR in the winter of 2011, outfielder Jorge Soler is one of the most promising Cuban prospects in baseball today. He's already shown off his tools in Dominica, and while he looks like a centerfielder right now, his size and young age make it quite possible he'll be a corner fielder when he finishes growing, especially if his loopy power swing develops as expected. He's already showing the signs of that potential plus power and his very strong arm is certainly real. His contact skills and lack of patience at the plate, though, are equally clear indicators that he's still a very rough gem.
More Scouting Book Info on Jorge Soler
SB 99BA SC BP SN ES ML
A young Cuban superstar, Iglesias signed with Boston for $8M in the summer of 2009. He might just be the long-term answer that Fenway's faithful have been seeking at shortstop ever since Nomah left the building. Iglesias's fielding has been described as 'Ozzie Smith-style slick', already meriting a perfect 80 on the scouting scale. His speed is at least above-average and close to a real plus tool. His bat isn't there yet, and it's definitely the main concern in Beantown, but most scouts feel he can contribute as at least an everyday stick once he develops a bit more. At 5-10 and 180lbs, he won't be hitting many light poles, but with Dustin Pedroia around to provide pointers, he should be able to launch a few 'frickin laser beams' now and again.
More Scouting Book Info on Jose Iglesias
SB 100BA SC BP SN ES ML
Prospects
Top Prospects 2012
Combined Ranking
91 to 100 of 525 Prospects
