Minor League Ball: Top 120 Prospects 2012



Here is a list of Top 120 Prospects for 2012.

In the past, I have avoided combining lists for hitters and pitchers, preferring to separate them since they are different species. I still think that is the right thing to do philosophically, but nobody seems to agree with me on that, and demand for combined prospect lists is very high. So, here's a combined list.



As with all such lists, the trick is finding a balance between short-term expectation, closeness to the majors, and long-term potential. A list that looks at nothing but long-term upside will look much different than a list focused on players poised to make a quick impact. This list is a hybrid of the two types and some of the rankings will reflect that.

I tend to lean towards guys close to the majors. For example, Lance Lynn is ready to perform well in the majors right now. Taylor Guerrieri isn't. Guerrieri does have a higher upside than Lynn, but he is also much, much further away from the Show and has a considerably higher risk of failure. Next year I would expect Guerrieri to rank much higher, with Lynn graduating off the list.

It is a case-by-case thing. Just keep in mind that if your favorite high-upside player doesn't rank as high as you think he should, that doesn't mean that I don't like him or that I think he sucks or that I'm trying to disrespect him. In many cases it just means we need more information or that his career is just starting out.

Most of this list lines up just fine with the grades and ratings in the 2012 Baseball Prospect Book.. There are a few places in the 50-70 range, however, where the hitter/pitcher comparison breaks down, with players right on the borderline between B and B+. Mike Olt, for example, is a strong Grade B prospect in the book, but a few of the pitchers listed after him on this list are B+ guys in the book.

I am well aware of this inconsistency. It reflects what I write in the book every year, that a letter grade is merely a shorthand notation, and that grades for pitchers do not always directly correspond with grades for hitters.

My analysis and opinions are not static, and are constantly being revised and reviewed. I intend to revise all the letter grades around Opening Day, and this Top 120 is part of that process. Keep in mind that the book contains reports and more detailed opinions on every guy on this list (along with 1085 other players).

Anyway, with all that said, I hope you enjoy the list. I will be around on-and-off today to answer questions.

1) Bryce Harper, OF, Washington Nationals

2) Matt Moore, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays

3) Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

4) Yu Darvish, RHP, Texas Rangers

5) Jurickson Profar, SS, Texas Rangers

6) Shelby Miller, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals

7) Trevor Bauer, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

8) Manny Machado, SS, Baltimore Orioles

9) Jesus Montero, C, Seattle Mariners

10) Julio Teheran, RHP, Atlanta Braves



11) Gerrit Cole, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

12) Devin Mesoraco, C, Cincinnati Reds

13) Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies

14) Wil Myers, OF, Kansas City Royals

15) Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle Mariners

16) Jameson Taillon, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

17) Yoenis Cespedes, OF, Oakland Athletics

18) Jacob Turner, RHP, Detroit Tigers

19) Dylan Bundy, RHP, Baltimore Orioles

20) Anthony Rendon, 3B, Washington Nationals



21) Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Colorado Rockies

22) Jarrod Parker, RHP, Oakland Athletics

23) Tyler Skaggs, LHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

24) Archie Bradley, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

25) Danny Hultzen, LHP, Seattle Mariners

26) Travis D'Arnaud, C, Toronto Blue Jays

27) Brett Jackson, OF, Chicago Cubs

28) Yonder Alonso, 1B, San Diego Padres

29) James Paxton, LHP, Seattle Mariners

30) Xander Bogaerts, SS, Boston Red Sox



31) Miguel Sano, 3B, Minnesota Twins

32) Arodys Vizcaino, RHP, Atlanta Braves

33) Carlos Martinez, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals

34) Christian Yelich, OF, Miami Marlins

35) Matt Harvey, RHP, New York Mets



36) Zack Wheeler, RHP, New York Mets

37) Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Chicago Cubs

38) Bubba Starling, OF, Kansas City Royals

39) Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, Kansas City Royals

40) Trevor May, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies

41) Randall Delgado, RHP, Atlanta Braves

42) Yasmani Grandal, C, San Diego Padres

43) Gary Brown, OF, San Francisco Giants

44) Addison Reed, RHP, Chicago White Sox

45) Manny Banuelos, LHP, New York Yankees

46) Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians

47) Jonathan Singleton, 1B, Houston Astros

48) Jake Marisnick, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

49) Josh Bell, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

50) Jedd Gyorko, 3B, San Diego Padres

51) Anthony Gose, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

52) A.J. Cole, RHP, Oakland Athletics

53) Michael Choice, OF, Oakland Athletics

54) Rymer Liriano, OF, San Diego Padres

55) George Springer, OF, Houston Astros

56) Kolten Wong, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals

57) Billy Hamilton, SS, Cincinnati Reds

58) Hak-Ju Lee, SS, Tampa Bay Rays

59) Nick Castellanos, 3B, Detroit Tigers

60) Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Kansas City Royals



61) Gary Sanchez, C, New York Yankees

62) Oscar Taveras, OF, St. Louis Cardinals

63) Nick Franklin, SS, Seattle Mariners

64) Starling Marte, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

65) Mike Olt, 3B, Texas Rangers



66) Jean Segura, INF, Los Angeles Angels

67) Noah Syndergaard, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

68) Justin Nicolino, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays

69) Tyrell Jenkins, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals

70) Daniel Norris, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays



71) Jesse Biddle, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies

72) Nestor Molina, RHP, Chicago White Sox

73) Drew Hutchison, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

74) Matt Barnes, RHP, Boston Red Sox

75) Zach Lee, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

76) Andrelton Simmons, SS, Atlanta Braves

77) Jonathan Schoop, SS, Baltimore Orioles

78) Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Boston Red Sox

79) Robbie Erlin, LHP, San Diego Padres

80) Deck McGuire, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

81) Joe Wieland, RHP, San Diego Padres

82) Keyvius Sampson, RHP, San Diego Padres

83) Martin Perez, LHP, Texas Rangers

84) Brad Peacock, RHP, Oakland Athletics

85) Sonny Gray, RHP, Oakland Athletics

86) Chad Bettis, RHP, Colorado Rockies

87) Nate Eovaldi, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

88) Derek Norris, C, Oakland Athletics

89) Brandon Jacobs, OF, Boston Red Sox

90) Eddie Rosario, 2B-OF, Minnesota Twins



91) Oswaldo Arcia, OF, Minnesota Twins

92) Mason Williams, OF, New York Yankees

93) Brandon Nimmo, OF, New York Mets

94) Mikie Mahtook, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

95) Jeurys Familia, RHP, New York Mets



96) Garrett Richards, RHP, Los Angeles Angels

97) Ryan Lavarnway, C, Boston Red Sox

98) Lance Lynn, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals

99) Trevor Story, SS, Colorado Rockies

100) Wily Peralta, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers

101) Mike Montgomery, LHP, Kansas City Royals

102) Alexander Torres, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays

103) Dellin Betances, RHP, New York Yankees

104) Tyler Thornburg, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers

105) Tim Wheeler, OF, Colorado Rockies

106) Allen Webster, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

107) Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays

108) Jarred Cosart, RHP, Houston Astros

109) Javier Baez, 3B, Chicago Cubs

110) Matt Adams, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals



111) Cory Spangenberg, 2B, San Diego Padres

112) Casey Kelly, RHP, San Diego Padres

113) Jed Bradley, LHP, Milwaukee Brewers

114) Garin Cecchini, 3B, Boston Red Sox

115) Zack Cox, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals

116) Leonys Martin, OF, Texas Rangers

117) Joe Panik, INF, San Francisco Giants

118) Robbie Grossman, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

119) Taylor Jungmann, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers

120) Daniel Corcino, RHP, Cincinnati Reds



ALSO CONSIDERED: Tyler Anderson, LHP, Rockies; Joe Benson, OF, Twins; Dante Bichette, Jr, 3B, Yankees; Cody Buckel, RHP, Rangers: Jose Campos, RHP, Yankees: Andrew Chafin, LHP, Dbacks; Alex Colome, RHP, Rays: Casey Crosby, LHP, Tigers; Jose Fernandez, RHP, Marlins; Sean Gilmartin, LHP, Braves; Brian Goodwin, OF, Nationals; Garrett Gould, RHP, Dodgers; Johnny Hellweg, RHP, Angels; Liam Hendriks, RHP, Twins; Alex Meyer, RHP, Nationals; Rougned Odor, SS, Rangers: Andrew Oliver, LHP, Tigers; Marcell, Ozuna, OF, Marlins; Neil Ramirez, RHP, Rangers: Trevor Rosenthal, RHP, Cardinals; Robbie Ross, LHP, Rangers: Eduardo Sanchez, RHP; Cardinals: Drew Smyly, LHP, Tigers; Robert Stephenson, RHP, Reds.