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.
The Best 59 Shortstop Prospects for 2012
Showing 1 to 59 of 59. Overall SB ranking for 2012 shown in parentheses.
A graduate of Team USA's championship squad, Miami's Manny Machado is a well-rounded hitter who was recognized as one of baseball's best high-school shortstops in 2009. He hasn't have a lot of power yet, and there are questions about his speed, but he does have a solid-average bat and the sort of above-average footwork and soft hands that give him a decent chance of actually sticking at short. Like all shortstops from Miami, Machado is sometimes compared to Alex Rodriguez, though that might be stretching his upside more than a bit. So far he looks more like a future Yunel Escobar, and by 'future' we're talking 2014 or 2015. Don't be surprised if he regresses a bit coming back from his knee injury in 2011, and don't worry if he does, either. He's very young and a very long way away from MLB, so there's plenty of time for a possible break out to a higher level.
Full Scouting Report for Manny Machado
SB 8BA SC 8BP SN ES ML 6
A two-way player and 2004 Little League star who most preferred as a pitcher, righthander Jurickson Profar was signed as an international free agent in 2009. At the time, the teen was blessed with a 94mph heater and a slider that could have matured into a real plus pitch, but the Rangers were determined to make a shortstop out of him, and so far it's paying off. A full season off the mound later and he's showing off every tool in the box, including a ridiculously-advanced batting eye for a teenager. In 430 at-bats in the Sally League, Profar walked more often than he struck out (65 vs 63), an incredibly rare feat among young players.
Full Scouting Report for Jurickson Profar
SB 10BA SC 7BP SN ES ML 7
The fastest legs in red stockings, infielder Billy Hamilton should soon get a shot at locking down a long-term infield job in CIncinnati's young lineup. The Pioneer League's player of the year in 2010 just kept on running wild at A-ball in 2011, stealing 103 (not a typo) bases in 130 games with Dayton, and doing so at an 84% success rate. The switch-hitting Hamilton really does look like a prototypical leadoff hitter thanks to his wheels and on-base skills. In the field, he's capable of shortstop, but more likely to land at second base come 2013 or so. If he gets a callup in late-2012, expect to see dust fly.
Full Scouting Report for Billy Hamilton
SB 19BA SC 70BP SN ES ML 34
He's clearly no shortstop anymore, as Scouting Book readers knew to expect, but that doesn't stop Miguel Sano from stepping into the number one prospect room in Minnesota. The biggest Latin American signing of 2009, Sano was a coup of sorts for the small market Minnesota Twins. A coveted athlete pursued by all the usual big-market teams, it was Minnesota's relentless (one might say 'piranha-like') tenacity that finally landed the youngster. city Cities.
Full Scouting Report for Miguel Sano
SB 30BA SC 24BP SN ES ML 23
A headline acquisition as part of the trade of pitcher Matt Garza, Hak-Ju Lee is a big, powerful shortstop from Korea who's now prominently positioned in the Tampa Bay system. Already a polished hitter (.317/.389/.442 at high-A Charlotte last year), Lee seems to have the footwork and arm to stick at shortstop, too, and he's shown improvement in the field every season. His 32 steals in 2010 is also a highlight worth remembering. He should get a shot at Tampa life come September, and compete for a job in 2013.
Full Scouting Report for Hak-Ju Lee
SB 43BA SC 20BP SN ES ML 46
There aren't a lot of Arubans around MLB, but the tiny island's reputation should be well-represented by Red Sox infield prospect Xander Bogaerts. A player of exceptional baseball intelligence, the man with the name straight from a JK Rowlings novel has a graceful, quick swing with a little natural loft that should serve him well once his body fills out a bit more: it was already good enough for 16 homers at A-level Greenville. His contact is solid and strong to all fields, and he's an above-average baserunner to boot. His weaknesses to date are iffy strike zone judgement (he's young) and some awkwardness in the field, especially with his footwork (he's young). Given a couple more years, he could be a well-known prospect. He'll try to hit his way through A-ball this year.
Full Scouting Report for Xander Bogaerts
SB 60BA SC 42BP SN ES ML 76
An all-around ballplayer with a solid bat, infielder Zack Cozart has a great shot at breaking Spring Training with the Reds in 2012. After putting up a stellar .310/.357/.467 line in 77 games with the AAA Bats and then showing off in September by going 12-for-37 (.324) with the big league club, there's just not much more left to prove. Cozart has plus hands, great first-step range and a cannon arm in the field, making shortstop seem like his proper position from here on out. He's also an exceptionally smart baserunner who will pickpocket more than his share of prizes from inattentive pitchers. If he wins the shortstop gig outright this spring, he'll be a decent bet for ROY.
Full Scouting Report for Zack Cozart
SB 63BA SC BP SN ES ML
Don't forget about Tim Beckham. Just don't. A classic 'tools' player, BA's 2007 Youth Player of the Year Tim Beckham was a safe pick for Tampa Bay as the #1 overall pick of the 2008 draft. While he's still a couple of years from breaking into the big leagues and some of the luster has faded from his aura, he's been making measurable progress on the farm, increasing his baserunning smarts and showing improving patience at the plate in the last two seasons.
Full Scouting Report for Tim Beckham
SB 65BA SC BP SN ES ML 92
A nominal shortstop, Puerto Rican Cub Javier Baez also looks just fine at second and third, which means his ultimate position will probably come down to some mix of organizational need and how his body develops. A solid all-around athlete, there's no reason to yet believe he won't stick at shortstop, thanks to a strong arm, soft hands and good feet. He hasn't yet shown the power for a corner, though, so his best route to the majors is definitely the middle of the diamond.
Full Scouting Report for Javier Baez
SB 78BA SC 65BP SN ES ML 62
A solid, gritty shortstop without a single stand-out tool in his bag, Florida grad Nick Franklin projects as 'a switch-hitting Michael Young' according to at least one scout. He's an above-average fielder with decent range, a solid line-drive hitter with a discerning eye, and a faster-than-average baserunner with good judgment.
Full Scouting Report for Nick Franklin
SB 81BA SC 40BP SN ES ML 52
A high-school shortstop from Puerto Rico with a live bat from both sides of the plate, Cleveland's Franky Lindor is a young and talented all-around player who shows signs of all five major league tools. His glove is pretty shiny, and his baserunning smarts and instincts are already several years ahead of his age bracket. As he works his way through several hundred thousand practice swings in the next four or five years, we'll find out if he can produce the offensive side of the Indians' requirement.
Full Scouting Report for Francisco Lindor
SB 92BA SC 60BP SN ES ML 32
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.
Full Scouting Report for Joe Panik
SB 94BA SC BP SN ES ML
One of the key pieces of the trade that sent Roy Oswalt to the Phillies, Jon Villar is a well-rounded infielder who can probably stick as a big, strong shortstop, unless the Astros defer to the more-developed glove of Jio Meir in that spot. Villar spent most of the 2011 season at AA Corpus Christi, where he slashed a lukewarm .231/.301/.386, though he did look a bit better at the end of the year. He also sustained his above average speed and pop, and showed a good range in the field, despite his 23 errors in 83 games. He's learning.
Full Scouting Report for Jonathan Villar
SB 128BA SC BP SN ES ML
A good all-around athlete with superior baseball intelligence, infielder Tyler Pastornicky was an overlooked piece on the Yunel Escobar trade of 2011. His arm isn't the greatest, so he'd probably be better as a second baseman rather than a shortstop, and it isn't clear his on base skills are enough to bat high in the order, but he's got everything else necessary to be a tablesetter for the Atlanta lineup, including both raw speed and baserunning smarts. He's very likely to get a chance this Spring, as Atlanta doesn't have as many infield choices as years past. Rookie of the Year surprise or another kid pushed too fast? Tune in to TBS to find out.
Full Scouting Report for Tyler Pastornicky
SB 139BA 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.
Full Scouting Report for Jose Iglesias
SB 141BA SC BP SN ES ML
Signed as a slick fielder from Curacao, shortstop Andrelton Simmons has already become just as well-known for his bat as his glove: the Curacao native collected the batting title in the high-A Carolina League last year with a .311 average. He also stole 26 bases, though his success rate was somewhere between awful and ungodly. Still, he's a fast, contact hitter with plus instincts, a coaches' favorite who could become the heir apparent to the shortstop job in Atlanta in a couple years, especially if Eddy Salcedo outgrows the position, as expected. Watch for him in late 2013.
Full Scouting Report for Andrelton Simmons
SB 142BA SC BP SN ES ML 65
The proud owner of a name that's as much hiphop as shortstop, Reds prospect DiDi Gregorius is part of Cincinnati's posse of hard-hitting infielders of the future. Mariekson Julius Gregorius (okay, now we see why he prefers Didi) is a Netherlands native with a sweet lefthanded swing who can play all over the diamond, though he certainly does seem very much at home at shortstop. He slashed .270/.312/.392 at AA Carolina in 2011, too, proving that there isn't much left between him and the big-league club.
Full Scouting Report for Didi Gregorius
SB 146BA SC BP SN ES ML
Brian Dozier is a hard-hitting shortstop prospect in the Twins system who could be making the move to the big leagues very soon. Drafted by Minnesota in the 8th round of the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft, Dozier has been scaling the minors ever since, slashing a composite .307/.382/.420 across three full seasons and winding up at AA New Britain last fall.
Full Scouting Report for Brian Dozier
SB 158BA SC BP SN ES ML
A consistent hitter who profiles as a typical second-hole hitter, California boy Tony Wolters is a gritty baseball rat of a player who uses hustle and smarts to play higher than the level of his natural ability. A smallish infielder in the Pedroia mould, he has soft hands and a strong arm, but only average speed and range. If he keeps up his hard work, he's bound to be a fan favorite in Cleveland a few years from now.
Full Scouting Report for Tony Wolters
SB 162BA SC BP SN ES ML
The Red Sox's Cuban shortstop prospect Jose Iglesias gets a lot of ink, but 2009 defectee Hechavarria (pronounced and sometimes spelled Echavarria) is probably the superior player. In MLB terms, Hechavarria is an 'offensive-minded' shortstop in the Cal Ripken mode: a high-average hitter with above-average power. At the plate so far, though, his spray chart looks a little more like Ichiro Suzuki: he has a knack for finding infield holes and hitting behind runners.
Full Scouting Report for Adeiny Hechavarria
SB 164BA SC BP SN ES ML
We see a lot of great names here at Scouting Book, but every once and awhile there's still one that makes us do a double-take. This offensive-minded infielder's name (nephew of Indians coach Rouglas) is really named Rougned (RYOO-nyed) Odor. We're hoping that was a little less teaseworthy for the kid growing up in Venezuela than it would have been in Lubbock.
Full Scouting Report for Rougned Odor
SB 170BA SC BP SN ES ML
The Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year for 2008, DeJesus doesn't have much left to prove in the minors, especially after idling with a bubbling .310/.389/.432 during a full year of AAA parking-lot ball in 2011. When he makes contact, he's a hitter in the Howie Kendrick style: gap to gap line drives with excellent bat control. In the field, he has soft hands and excellent (inherited?) baseball instincts.
Full Scouting Report for Ivan DeJesus
SB 174BA SC BP SN ES ML
A textbook shortstop from Puerto Rico, Christian Colon is a plus contact hitter with good speed, excellent baseball instincts and soft hands. He won't hit 40 home runs in any league any time soon, but CC should be a good enough contributor at all other aspects of the game to bless the Royals rosters in the next couple of years.
Full Scouting Report for Christian Colon
SB 176BA SC BP SN ES ML
An offensive-minded shortstop with great patience and power, Clemson grad Brad Miller is a potent force brewing in the Mariner system. After a three year college life in which he bashed .339/.452/.485, he signed with the Mariners after being drafted in mid-2011 and promptly did the same thing to A-level pitchers in the Midwest League. In 53 pro at-bats, his career numbers are a familiar looking .415/.458/.528.
Full Scouting Report for Brad Miller
SB 192BA SC BP SN ES ML
A Venezuelan shortstop who won the organization'sminor league award as best everyday player in 2011, Freddy Galvis has a good shot at the big club, and soon. His season, split between the AA Reading Phillies and the AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs, gave him a combined line of .278/.324/.392 with 8 HR and 23 SB in 137 games played. Always known as a polished defender (he has one of the best gloves in the Philly system today), the new surge in offensive ability has vaulted him to the front of the Phillies prospect board.
Full Scouting Report for Freddy Galvis
SB 193BA SC BP SN ES ML
A first-round pick in the 2011 draft from the University of North Carolina, Twins shortstop prospect Levi Michael was the first everyday college player drafted first by the Twins since 1996 (Travis Lee.) Levi is an athletic switch-hitter with good bat speed and more than a hint of future power in his bat. Michael slashed .306/.432/.510 in his three years with the Tar Heels, stealing 40 bases with a nice 85% success rate.
Full Scouting Report for Levi Michael
SB 197BA SC BP SN ES ML
A slight shortstop with plus instincts, Arizona prospect Chris Owings could see a move to second base in the near future. Signed out of high school in South Carolina after being selected 41st overall in the 2009 draft, Owings is a gap-to-gap hitter with a bit of pop. He's decent defensively, and shows above average speed on the bases.
Full Scouting Report for Chris Owings
SB 220BA SC BP SN ES ML
A tweener talent from the Red Sox system, Pirate shortstop Yamaico Navarro is a native of The Land of Shortstops, San Pedro de Macoris, and he shows every sign of following in the footsteps of so many who came before. A bit bulkier than most, he might be best suited for second or third base, but for now he's an offensive-minded middle infielder with a powerful, aggressive approach at the plate. His bat is quick, and he adds some natural loft to most of his line drives, which means he could be a threat in a couple more years. In the field, he's a bit clumsy around the bag, but has a plus arm and slick glove, with a penchant for turning in dazzling plays at least once a week.
Full Scouting Report for Yamaico Navarro
SB 237BA 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, and should be able to hold his own as he moves up the ladder. His glovework also tightened up remarkably between 2009 and 2011 as he cut his errors in half while showing great range at shortstop.
Full Scouting Report for Ehire Adrianza
SB 240BA SC BP SN ES ML
It was once very frustrating to be a shortstop prospect in the Mets system, but now that the Jose Reyes era is over, Wilmer Flores is probably having trouble holding in his glee. Flores's 2011 was a full-season grind of 133 games at high-A Port St. Lucie, in which the 19 year old swatted .269/.309/.380 with nine homers and a couple of stolen bases thrown in for good measure. He's still a year or two away from Flushing, and it's possible he could outgrow shortstop, but right now all you need to remember is that this is the kind of kid the word 'elite' should be reserved for.
Full Scouting Report for Wilmer Flores
SB 246BA SC BP SN ES ML
An eight-time All-Star in Japan, infielder Munenori Kawasaki is a fast, slappy hitter best known for his solid fielding, and that's the value he should bring to the Mariner bench this season while playing in the shadow of the master of Fast Slappiness (and his personal idol) Ichiro Suzuki.
Full Scouting Report for Munenori Kawasaki
SB 252BA SC BP SN ES ML
An offensively-capable shortstop, White Sox prospect Tyler Saladino rapped out a nifty .270/.363/.501 line in his first high-A experience in 2011, a full-season tour with the Winston-Salem Dash. If he keeps rising in the system, he'll probably need to move to second base in deference to franchise player Alexei Ramirez, but he has the skills and arm to play from the more challenging position, too. He'll be doing his best to push into AA this season, with Chicago a viable goal for 2013.
Full Scouting Report for Tyler Saladino
SB 257BA SC BP SN ES ML
Another Dominican from the City of Shortstops (San Pedro de Macoris), young Junior Lake started 2011 in high-A Daytona (.315/.336/.498) and ended it in AA Tennessee, where he charted a respectable .248/.300/.380 in his first taste of high-level play. The Cubs have used the slick-fielding Lake as a shortstop almost exclusively since 2009, but he's obviously pretty blocked by Starlin Castro for the indefinite future. Assuming he continues to develop, a move to second base is likely before his arrival in 2014 or so, though if he grows much more, third base might be a better landing spot.
Full Scouting Report for Junior Lake
SB 259BA SC BP SN ES ML
A promising high-school bat scooped up by the Rockies in 2011's' compensation round, Irving alum Trevor Story is a sweet-swinging youngster with all-field line drive stroke and better than average wheels in the field. After a .268/.364/.436 line across 47 rookie league games, Story is ready for A ball in 2012. He's viable at either short or third right now, but won't be MLB-ready for a couple more years.
Full Scouting Report for Trevor Story
SB 261BA SC BP SN ES ML
The Tigers' sixth round pick in 2009, high school shortstop Dan Fields is the son of former Tigers' hitting coach Bruce Fields, which might explain his allegedly-advanced hitting ability as well as the reach that the team took in selecting him so early. Big and strong for a real shortstop, even in this post-Ripken era, Fields might be moved to third base or a corner outfield spot eventually, but it shouldn't matter: he'll rise or fall on his bat, which we have to assume will get a lot of careful coaching in the years to come. It'll need some, too: in his repeat of high-A ball in 2011, his batting average actually dropped from .240 to .220. Dad can't be pleased.
Full Scouting Report for Dan Fields
SB 279BA SC BP SN ES ML
A power-hitting teenager, shortstop Yady Rivera started 2011 in rookie ball but ended it in the Midwest (A) League, where he stumbled but seemed to find himself by the end of the year. He's still a few years from relevant.
Full Scouting Report for Yadiel Rivera
SB 283BA SC BP SN ES ML
Eduardo Escobar is a switch-hitting, slick-fielding shortstop from Venezuela who's pretty much ready to join the MLB White Sox, assuming they have a position available for him. Eduardo looked pretty solid at AAA Charlotte in 2011 (.266 .303 .354 ). So solid, in fact, that he took a few swings with the ChiSox at the end of the season (2 for 9). He's still striking out a bit more than we'd like to see; he must take a few more walks to be viable as an on-base threat, but his bat shows some pop and he's already MLB caliber with the leather, with true plus range and a cannon arm to boot. He'll get a longer look sometime in 2012.
Full Scouting Report for Eduardo Escobar
SB 304BA SC BP SN ES ML
A toolsy infielder who many expected to fall deeper in the draft, Yankee prospect Cito Culver is shaping up as a Howie Kendrick-style infielder: high average, acceptable speed, and minimal power. He looks capable but not spectacular in the field so a move to second or third seems likely, here. The native New Yorker tapped out a hollow but acceptable .250/.323/.337 in his first full season of A ball last season.
Full Scouting Report for Cito Culver
SB 309BA SC BP SN ES ML
A mature prospect who'll be 27 (or so) later this year, Cuban Yadil Mujica is a contact hitter with plus speed, good range and a plus arm from shortstop. In his last year in Cuba, he hit .358/.432/.440, that average enough for twelfth-best in the league (modern Cuban baseball is hitter-friendly, which explains why so few Cuban pitchers stick in MLB.)
Full Scouting Report for Yadil Mujica
SB 312BA SC BP SN ES ML
A fast runner from the City of Shortstops (San Pedro de Macoris, DR), Rockies prospect Hector Gomez is gifted with better than average base-stealing ability, and a plus arm that makes him a solid defneder. Gomez remains held back only by his lack of plate discipline. If he can learn to tone down the strikeouts and stop trying to pull every pitch deep, he'll be a solid contributor somewhere down the line. With Tulo anchoring shortstop in Colorado for now, though, Gomez may need to move to 2B... or to another franchise... before he gets a real shot. He should open 2012 back in AA.
Full Scouting Report for Hector Gomez
SB 331BA 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 and unpolished player who nonetheless looks like a natural ballplayer, Peterson carries his athletic ability with natural grace. His plus bat speed and first-step hustle also look awfully good on film. He looked good handling the pitching at low-level Eugene after being signed, but it'll be how he handles A-ball in 2012 that determines his career track for now.
Full Scouting Report for Jace Peterson
SB 334BA SC BP SN ES ML
The first round pick of the Houston Astros (21st overall) in 2009, Jiovanni James Mier was universally acclaimed as the best 'pure' shortstop in the draft class. A superior defender with good range, soft hands and a strong arm, he seems very likely to stick at the position. JJ's bat isn't quite as beyond question just yet, and he hasn't done much to improve that with disappointing A-level outings in 2010 and 2011, but he should have a couple of years of additional rope to work with before Houston moves on. Don't forget about him.
Full Scouting Report for Jiovanni Mier
SB 335BA SC BP SN ES ML
A true five-tool talent who has been slow to develop, the Blue Jays Justin Jackson still looks like he could play any position on the field once his skills catch up to his raw tools. Shortstop is the first position he'll need to exhaust, of coure, and his plus range, fast feet and absolute cannon of an arm could make him a gold glove candidate someday at that position. At the plate, he shows good discipline and reasonable strike zone judgement for such a young player, though neither of these traits has developed to any better level than he displayed as a 16 year old yet. When he swings, his bat usually makes solid contact, but he's still got some length in that swing that pitchers continue to exploit, holding down his performance significantly. If he can shorten his stroke and learn to handle hard stuff inside, he'll be a star in a few years, but he's not exactly on a fast track.
Full Scouting Report for Justin Jackson
SB 338BA SC BP SN ES ML
A toolsy infielder with good bat speed, Tejeda is a high-quality prospect with no obvious path in the Boston system. A smart player with a good attitude for learning and development, he possesses the raw skills to play almost any position. In Boston, that means it's possible he may be moved to third base if he develops a bit more power. At his current projection, he's more of a 10-15 homer guy than a major longball threat.
Full Scouting Report for Oscar Tejeda
SB 363BA SC BP SN ES ML
One of those offensive-minded 'shortstops' in quotation marks, A's prospect Yordy Cabrera seems to already be outgrowing the position, despite the fact he's barely old enough to shave. A 2010 draft pick out of high school, Cabrera's calling card is natural plus power from the right side of the plate. He's also got above-average wheels and a strong throwing arm, but it's the power bat the Athletics signed and it's the power bat they want to develop. As we expected, he started to show that power in A-ball last year, tapping six balls over the fence and another 21 into the gaps in 359 at-bats. That's a good start. He's got a way to grow yet, and there are the usual question marks, but if you absolutely must pencil in a Bay Area arrival, we'd bet on late 2013, probably as a third baseman or right fielder.
Full Scouting Report for Yordy Cabrera
SB 364BA SC BP SN ES ML
The Cincinnati Reds' Minor League Player of the Year for 2008, infielder Chris Valaika has kept on developing since, slashing .261/.302/.355 in AAA Louisville last season and ending the season with his second MLB callup.He looks like a long-term shortstop, with good hands and quick feet. At the plate, he has an aggressive approach that's working well so far, with good line-drive power that could blossom into 20-homer pop in the future. He'll probably start the year back in AAA, but he'll be on speed dial once again.
Full Scouting Report for Chris Valaika
SB 367BA SC BP SN ES ML
A big, lefty-hitting shortstop from UCLA, Giants' prospect Brandon Crawford had an illustrious career with the Bruins, starting each and every of the 179 games the team played during his tenure. He hit over .300 each year, helping to lead the Bruins to the NCAA Tournament each season. As a Giant progeny, he's struggled somewhat to find his stick, but he's young and hard-working enough to improve. He might not stick at short, but as long as he can continue to grow, he should be able to slide into at least a utility role sometime in 2012 or 2013.
Full Scouting Report for Brandon Crawford
SB 369BA SC BP SN ES ML
He was the Orioles' shortstop of the future until the drafting of Manny Machado, but no matter wher ehe ends up, infielder Mychal Givens should be an impact player sooner or later. In 2011, he blew through low-A (361 .337 .698) and had a more respectable good time in A-level Delmarya (.260 .229 .488). He should be able to hit near-.300 at any level once he finds his feet, and projects as a nice contact bat. His rough glovework, which was once a major concern, seems to be improving, though he'll need to be better than a 19-out-of-20 fielder to succeed at shortstop.
Full Scouting Report for Mychal Givens
SB 385BA 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 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 396BA SC BP SN ES ML
Puerto Rican native Ozzie Martinez has already bounced around a few organizations without finding a long-term home. He's a plus fielder and a decent hitter, and he's clearly pretty darn MLB-ready, which means the only remaining question is whether a club will commit to him in more than a part-time utility role. It would be nice to see what he could do with 400 at-bats.
Full Scouting Report for Osvaldo Martinez
SB 408BA SC BP SN ES ML
A defense-first shortstop with a promsing hitter's frame, Littlewood is a natural talent who could probably play anywhere on the diamond someday. The son of ex-Royal and current Dixie State College coach Mike Littlewood, Marcus is a smart, toolsy player who evokes comparisons to the similarly-built Troy Tulowitzki, though he hasn't yet shown the bat or leadership that made Tulo a young lion in Colorado. Before he gets to that level, he needs to develop his swing and eye at the plate: he didn't show a great ability to deal with pro pitching in 2011, though his eye seemed to imrpove as the year wore on.
Full Scouting Report for Marcus Littlewood
SB 427BA SC BP SN ES ML
He shares a hometown with Phillies pitcher Carlos Carrasco, but Carlos Rivero-with-an-O is better described as exactly the kind of player you expect from a shortstop: a line-drive hitter with hustle and not much pop. He's a less-than-average runner, too and he won't ever have the power numbers to be any kind of elite player, especially in talent-stacked Philadelphia. While he might be a better fit in a pirahna-style Twins offense, he does give the Phillies some extra depth for the future.
Full Scouting Report for Carlos Rivero
SB 438BA SC BP SN ES ML
A big, strong middle infielder with soft hands, Gabriel Noriega came to Seattle by way of his native Venezuela and childhood Mexico. He looked great in rookie ball, but has falled down the charts as the Mariners test him at higher levels of play. Despite the ups and downs, scouts remain impressed by his exceptional hand-eye coordination, and most expect him to hit for a high average someday even if he never develops real power. His defensive chops, already good as a teenager, have continued to improbe, and it's the combination of soft hands, quick feet and a strong arm that suggests he could very well stick at shortstop. His contact is still less-than-square too often, and he still needs to learn to take a walk sooner or later, but once he sees a couple more years of pro pitching, he'll be ready to help out in MLB, even if it's only from the bench.
Full Scouting Report for Gabriel Noriega
SB 450BA SC BP SN ES ML
A big and strong shortstop from Vanderbilt taken by the Cubs, Ryan 'Flash' Flaherty seemed blocked at short (Starlin Castro) and third (Josh Vitters), and so it wasn't a surprise when he was left exposed in the Rule V draft. While the Orioles don't have a clear spot for him, either, they also have a lot left to lose by giving him a chance. He doesn't have great raw tools, and his speed of development hasn't yet lived up to his nickname, but he does have great baseball skills and resolve. He will try to make the Orioles as a utility infielder.
Full Scouting Report for Ryan Flaherty
SB 451BA SC BP SN ES ML
Dominican shortstop Gustavo Nunez, in the words of manager Dave Dombrowski, is 'a switch hitter who can run and make some outstanding defensive plays.' While he's a bit raw at the plate, his bat looks like a viable asset as well. He'll need to learn to be a smarter baserunner rather than rely on his raw speed to succeed at higher levels: his nice .304/.368/.431 line in high A last year faded to an unacceptable .215/.252/.289 after his promotion to AA. He'll need to do better than that to move further.
Full Scouting Report for Gustavo Nunez
SB 456BA SC BP SN ES ML
After forsaking the Church of Baseball to go on a year-long Mormon mission in Portugal (which apparently has some kind of shortage of Christians?) Canadian Cale Iorg is back on the prospect lists as a high-risk up-and-coming shortstop in Detroit. Management all but anointed Iorg as the long-term Tiger shortstop a couple of years ago, but he's clearly not there yet, as his scary-bad AAA line of .208/.254/.321 last year will attest. Once regarded as a true five-tool player with a great feel for the game thanks to his lineage (he's Garth's son), he's still playing developmental catchup. Expect him back in AA to open the year, and if he fails again... blame Portugal.
Full Scouting Report for Cale Iorg
SB 472BA SC BP SN ES ML
Nioka, a free agent since 2008, is a slick fielding shortstop and quality hitter who may help many major league teams.
Full Scouting Report for Tomohiro Nioka
SB 473BA SC BP SN ES ML
Generally regarded as an all-around talent in the Padres system, infielder Drew Cumberland looked like a good candidate for a keystone position in San Diego come 2013 or so until he lost his entire 2011 to a neurological condition. Reportedly back in perfect game shape, he will look to build on his .278/.298/.333 performance at AA in 2010, which he accomplished while playing both short and second base. He's obviously a very dark horse candidate for the Padres or another team, but one with significant upside.
Full Scouting Report for Drew Cumberland
SB 492BA SC BP SN ES ML
The Pacific League rookie of the year in 1996, shortstop Makoto Kaneko is a premium infielder who could fit onto many MLB rosters tomorrow. The winner of two golden glove awards and a part of Japan's bronze medal winning 2004 Olympic team, he's a plus defender, and that's where his strength lies: while a talented overall athlete, his career hitting line in Japan is a pedestrian .256/.309/.345.
Full Scouting Report for Makoto Kaneko
SB 504BA SC BP SN ES ML
Top Prospects 2012
Combined Ranking
