Yes, it is that time. Feel free to discuss/tear apart/drool/etc.
Rk. |
Player |
Pos., Team |
Age |
ETA |
| 1 | Bryce Harper | of, Nationals | Age: 19. | ETA: 2012. |
| He should get to the majors as a teenager; settle in and enjoy it. | ||||
| 2 | Matt Moore | lhp, Rays | Age: 22. | ETA: 2012. |
| He makes it look so easy, and he's so good he'll make David Price a No. 2 starter. | ||||
| 3 | Mike Trout | of, Angels | Age: 20. | ETA: 2012. |
| His signing scout, Greg Mohrhardt, has since been promoted to Angels crosschecker. | ||||
| 4 | Yu Darvish | rhp, Rangers | Age: 25. | ETA: 2012. |
| It's hard to moderate expectations for proven Japanese ace, but he should definitely surpass the Dice-K bar. | ||||
| 5 | Julio Teheran | rhp, Braves | Age: 21. | ETA: 2012. |
| There's absolutely no link between his last name and Darvish's Iranian heritage. | ||||
| 6 | Jesus Montero | c, Mariners | Age: 22. | ETA: 2012. |
| He should face less pressure replacing Miguel Olivo rather than Jorge Posada. | ||||
| 7 | Jurickson Profar | ss, Rangers | Age: 19. | ETA: 2013 |
| He should beat out golf, cheesy theme parks as Myrtle Beach's top 2012 attraction. | ||||
| 8 | Shelby Miller | rhp, Cardinals | Age: 21. | ETA: 2013 |
| He's looking to become the first big leaguer named Shelby, and it should happen soon. | ||||
| 9 | Trevor Bauer | rhp, Diamondbacks | Age: 21. | ETA: 2012 |
| The unique ones are the hardest to project, and no one's as unique as Bauer. | ||||
| 10 | Dylan Bundy | rhp, Orioles | Age: 19. | ETA: 2013. |
| First goal: Beat big brother Bobby to Baltimore. Next: Make the Orioles relevant. | ||||
| 11 | Manny Machado | ss, Orioles | Age: 19. | ETA: 2013 |
| Power-hitting shortstop can restore honor to the phrase "Manny being Manny." | ||||
| 12 | Gerrit Cole | rhp, Pirates | Age: 21. | ETA: 2013. |
| UCLA's second-best pitcher in 2011 still was good enough to go No. 1 in the draft. | ||||
| 13 | Tyler Skaggs | lhp, Diamondbacks | Age: 20. | ETA: 2012. |
| He didn't get the 200-strikeout memo in 2011 and thought his 198 would be enough. | ||||
| 14 | Yoenis Cespedes | of, Athletics | Age: 26. | ETA: 2012. |
| Athletics hope he works out better than their last blockbuster Cuban, Ariel Prieto. | ||||
| 15 | Jameson Taillon | rhp, Pirates | Age: 20. | ETA: 2014. |
| Ready to throw Pitch 76 as a pro for the first time as Pirates should remove the bubble wrap in 2012. | ||||
| 16 | Devin Mesoraco | c, Reds | Age: 23. | ETA: 2012. |
| The Punxsutawney, Pa., native expects to deliver at least six more years of slugging in Cincinnati. | ||||
| 17 | Travis d'Arnaud | c, Blue Jays | Age: 23. | ETA: 2013. |
| Brother Chase beat him to the big leagues, but Travis' ceiling is higher. | ||||
| 18 | Miguel Sano | 3b/ss, Twins | Age: 18. | ETA: 2014. |
| You could see more errors than home runs in his first full season, but over time homers will go up and errors will come down. | ||||
| 19 | Anthony Rendon | 3b, Nationals | Age: 21. | ETA: 2013. |
| Even with one good shoulder, he was the top hitter in last year's draft. | ||||
| 20 | Taijuan Walker | rhp, Mariners | Age: 19. | ETA: 2014. |
| Legitimate comparisons to Dwight Gooden (the good, pitching part)? Sign us up. | ||||
| 21 | Danny Hultzen | lhp, Mariners | Age: 22. | ETA: 2012. |
| He's apples to Walker's oranges as a polished college lefty, but he offers plenty of upside himself. | ||||
| 22 | Jacob Turner | rhp, Tigers | Age: 20. | ETA: 2012. |
| Already a graduate of the Rick Porcello school of accelerated Tigers timetables. | ||||
| 23 | Mike Montgomery | lhp, Royals | Age: 22. | ETA: 2012. |
| Bauer's former prep teammate has to beat Bauer to the big leagues, doesn't he? | ||||
| 24 | Bubba Starling | of, Royals | Age: 19. | ETA: 2015. |
| Won't even have to reach his ceiling to be baseball's best-ever Bubba (sorry, Bubba Smith). | ||||
| 25 | Archie Bradley | rhp, Diamondbacks | Age: 19. | ETA: 2014 |
| Which Oklahoma prep product will get to the majors Sooner, Bradley or Bundy? | ||||
| 26 | Jarrod Parker | rhp, Athletics | Age: 23. | ETA: 2012. |
| Could be the next great A's pitcher to be traded away in three years. | ||||
| 27 | Carlos Martinez | rhp, Cardinals | Age: 20. | ETA: 2014. |
| No matter what his name is, his fastball's one of the minors' best. | ||||
| 28 | Wil Myers | of, Royals | Age: 21. | ETA: 2013. |
| Gets a mulligan for his injury-plagued 2011 after posting a 1.156 OPS in the AFL. | ||||
| 29 | Manny Banuelos | lhp, Yankees | Age: 21. | ETA: 2012. |
| Yankees player-development boss Mark Newman compared his poise to Whitey Ford—when Banuelos was 18. | ||||
| 30 | Drew Pomeranz | lhp, Rockies | Age: 23. | ETA: 2012. |
| Walk rate keeps dropping, from college (4.38 BB/9) to minors (3.74) to majors (2.45). | ||||
| 31 | Martin Perez | lhp, Rangers | Age: 21. | ETA: 2013. |
| His stuff is special enough that he ranks 31st in spite of a career 20-24, 4.22 record, including a 6.43 ERA in Triple-A last year. | ||||
| 32 | Brett Jackson | of, Cubs | Age: 23. | ETA: 2012. |
| Steadily moving up the charts (38th on last year's Top 100) like a Foo Fighters song. | ||||
| 33 | Yonder Alonso | of/1b, Padres | Age: 24. | ETA: 2012. |
| Must be happy to leave left field and backing up Joey Votto behind, even for Petco. | ||||
| 34 | Jonathan Singleton | 1b/of, Astros | Age: 20. | ETA: 2013. |
| Will move back to first base now that he's no longer stuck behind Ryan Howard. | ||||
| 35 | Zack Wheeler | rhp, Mets | Age: 21. | ETA: 2013. |
| Will have to pay Paul DePodesta to dress up like Dick Tidrow now that he's a Met. | ||||
| 36 | Brad Peacock | rhp, Athletics | Age: 24. | ETA: 2012. |
| Joined Parker and other trade acquisitions to make over Athletics farm system in days. | ||||
| 37 | Francisco Lindor | ss, Indians | Age: 18. | ETA: 2014. |
| Shockingly, he's the fifth Francisco in Top 100 history, but the first hitter (following Cordero, Liriano, Rodriguez and Rosario). | ||||
| 38 | Gary Brown | of, Giants | Age: 23. | ETA: 2013. |
| He has speed and defense to spare. Now he just has to perform outside the California League. | ||||
| 39 | Anthony Gose | of, Blue Jays | Age: 21. | ETA: 2013. |
| Physical dead-ringer for Nyjer Morgan has bigger tools than T-Plush. | ||||
| 40 | Arodys Vizcaino | rhp, Braves | Age: 21. | ETA: 2012. |
| Third trip to the Top 100 for the first Arodys should be the last. | ||||
| 41 | Christian Yelich | of, Marlins | Age: 20. | ETA: 2013. |
| No one cares how you throw when you can hit and run like Yelich. | ||||
| 42 | Nolan Arenado | 3b, Rockies | Age: 20. | ETA: 2013. |
| Should be a better version of former Rockies prospect Ian Stewart—less power but more contact. | ||||
| 43 | Mike Olt | 3b, Rangers | Age: 23. | ETA: 2013. |
| See, not all the Rangers' top prospects are international signees. | ||||
| 44 | Hak-Ju Lee | ss, Rays | Age: 21. | ETA: 2013. |
| Rays might reverse policy of moving prospects slowly, considering their big league shortstops posted a .539 OPS in 2011. | ||||
| 45 | Nick Castellanos | 3b, Tigers | Age: 20. | ETA: 2014. |
| No one will be more interested in the results of Miguel Cabrera's move back to third. | ||||
| 46 | Randall Delgado | rhp, Braves | Age: 22. | ETA: 2012. |
| It feels like the mid-1990s with Atlanta's young pitching depth. | ||||
| 47 | Anthony Rizzo | 1b, Cubs | Age: 22. | ETA: 2012. |
| No prospect made as good a ballpark move as Rizzo's in going from Petco to Wrigley. | ||||
| 48 | Billy Hamilton | ss, Reds | Age: 21. | ETA: 2014. |
| Posted the first 100-steal year in the minors in a decade; can he continue to do it at higher levels? | ||||
| 49 | Rymer Liriano | of, Padres | Age: 20. | ETA: 2014. |
| The best ratio of talent to hype in the minors will put up loud Cal League numbers this season. | ||||
| 50 | Jarred Cosart | rhp, Astros | Age: 21. | ETA: 2013. |
| Another key trade piece helping to make over the Astros farm system, he seeks to marry consistency with one of the minors' most electric arms. | ||||
| 51 | Will Middlebrooks | 3b, Red Sox | Age: 23. | ETA: 2013. |
| "Middle"brooks was No. 50 before Yoenis Cespedes signed. Pure coincidence. | ||||
| 52 | James Paxton | lhp, Mariners | Age: 23. | ETA: 2012. |
| Long wait for him to begin his professional career was worth it, as fresh Canadian arm was better in 2011 than he had ever been as an amateur. | ||||
| 53 | Yasmani Grandal | c, Padres | Age: 23. | ETA: 2013. |
| Sticks with former Hurricanes teammate Yonder Alonso in moving to San Diego, and likewise avoids a major league roadblock in Mesoraco. | ||||
| 54 | Matt Harvey | rhp, Mets | Age: 23. | ETA: 2012. |
| He has the stuff to outperform recent Tar Heels alumni in a major league rotation, with the bullpen a good fallback option. | ||||
| 55 | Jean Segura | ss, Angels | Age: 22. | ETA: 2013. |
| Premium tools, but just two spots higher than he ranked last year, thanks to hamstring problems. | ||||
| 56 | Wily Peralta | rhp, Brewers | Age: 22. | ETA: 2012. |
| Best Brewers international signing since Juan Nieves? Maybe, though there's not much competition for the honor. | ||||
| 57 | A.J. Cole | rhp, Athletics | Age: 20. | ETA: 2014. |
| Projectable 6-foot-4, 190-pounder came over in trade with the Nationals and now will play the jeans salesman in "Moneyball II." | ||||
| 58 | Xander Bogaerts | ss, Red Sox | Age: 19. | ETA: 2014. |
| An Aruba native, Bogaerts apparently is Papiamento for "jaw-dropping, precocious power." | ||||
| 59 | George Springer | of, Astros | Age: 22. | ETA: 2013. |
| Figures to battle Rangers' Mike Olt for title of best UConn position player in the big leagues. | ||||
| 60 | Josh Bell | of, Pirates | Age: 19. | ETA: 2014. |
| Still waiting for the addendum to his mom's letter to major league clubs that says, " . . . unless you offer us $5 million." | ||||
| 61 | Javier Baez | ss, Cubs | Age: 19. | ETA: 2014. |
| Bat speed, Florida high school shortstop background . . . let the Gary Sheffield comparisons begin. | ||||
| 62 | Zach Lee | rhp, Dodgers | Age: 20. | ETA: 2014. |
| Would he have made the difference as Les Miles' quarterback against Alabama? Unfortunately for Louisiana State, he really knows how to pitch. | ||||
| 63 | Dellin Betances | rhp, Yankees | Age: 24. | ETA: 2013. |
| Last year he became the 10th member of New York's 2006 draft class to reach the majors. | ||||
| 64 | Matt Szczur | of, Cubs | Age: 22. | ETA: 2013. |
| Exciting high-risk, high-reward talent who should take off with football in his rearview mirror. | ||||
| 65 | Sonny Gray | rhp, Athletics | Age: 22. | ETA: 2013. |
| Following David Price and Mike Minor, Gray should be next Commodore to sail on to the majors. | ||||
| 66 | Addison Reed | rhp, White Sox | Age: 23. | ETA: 2012. |
| Making his own way after being known as Stephen Strasburg's closer in college. | ||||
| 67 | Jake Marisnick | of, Blue Jays | Age: 21. | ETA: 2014. |
| Scouts doubted his bat as an amateur, but he's putting those doubts to rest. | ||||
| 68 | Jake Odorizzi | rhp, Royals | Age: 22. | ETA: 2013. |
| Part of the Royals' "next wave," which would be really their first wave of arms. | ||||
| 69 | Trevor May | rhp, Phillies | Age: 22. | ETA: 2014. |
| While he's not a finished product, you just can't ignore 11.88 SO/9 IP over his career. At least we can't. | ||||
| 70 | Taylor Jungmann | rhp, Brewers | Age: 22. | ETA: 2013. |
| His career 1.85 college ERA could double and he'd still be an effective pro. | ||||
| 71 | Jed Bradley | lhp, Brewers | Age: 21. | ETA: 2013. |
| Jungmann's wing man was drafted three spots later and sticks with him in Top 100 as well. | ||||
| 72 | Blake Swihart | c, Red Sox | Age: 20. | ETA: 2014. |
| He'd be on the list even if he couldn't catch thanks to his hitting ability. | ||||
| 73 | Starling Marte | of, Pirates | Age: 23. | ETA: 2013. |
| Good enough defensively to spur talk of pushing Andrew McCutchen to a corner. | ||||
| 74 | Oscar Taveras | of, Cardinals | Age: 19. | ETA: 2014. |
| Granted, it was only the Midwest League, but the highest average (.386) in the loop since 1956 is enough to get your attention. | ||||
| 75 | Zack Cozart | ss, Reds | Age: 26. | ETA: 2012. |
| Big league ready for most of the last two years; just needs to stay healthy. | ||||
| 76 | Casey Kelly | rhp, Padres | Age: 22. | ETA: 2013. |
| No longer young for his age, his stuff is fine, but it's time for him to produce. | ||||
| 77 | Nick Franklin | ss/2b, Mariners | Age: 21. | ETA: 2013. |
| Switch-hitting middle infielder with power needs to show 2011 was the fluke, not 2010. | ||||
| 78 | Cory Spangenberg | 2b, Padres | Age: 21. | ETA: 2013. |
| Athleticism, speed, hitting ability and a strong pro debut make him the minors' best second-base prospect. | ||||
| 79 | Leonys Martin | of, Rangers | Age: 24. | ETA: 2012. |
| He's likely good enough to beat out Julio Borbon, David Murphy in Texas, but will he be a star or just solid? | ||||
| 80 | Michael Choice | of, Athletics | Age: 22. | ETA: 2013. |
| Presents the classic tradeoff of huge strikeout totals for large home run totals. | ||||
| 81 | Gary Sanchez | c, Yankees | Age: 19. | ETA: 2014. |
| Took hits for his defensive ability and makeup in his first full season, but dished them out with his bat. | ||||
| 82 | Jonathan Schoop | inf, Orioles | Age: 20. | ETA: 2014. |
| His power potential and infield actions are far beyond his brother Sharlon's. | ||||
| 83 | Garrett Richards | rhp, Angels | Age: 23. | ETA: 2012. |
| He has the stuff for the front of a rotation, if not yet the command or polish. | ||||
| 84 | Cheslor Cuthbert | 3b, Royals | Age: 19. | ETA: 2014. |
| Hit his way from Nicaragua's Corn Islands to our Top 100; if he stays at third, he'll be special. | ||||
| 85 | Mason Williams | of, Yankees | Age: 20. | ETA: 2014. |
| Heads up a deep, athletic group of Yankees prospects headed to low Class A Charleston. | ||||
| 86 | Chad Bettis | rhp, Rockies | Age: 22. | ETA: 2013. |
| Tyler Matzek and other premium Colorado draft arms need to figure out what Bettis is doing. | ||||
| 87 | Wilin Rosario | c, Rockies | Age: 23. | ETA: 2013. |
| His prospect stock took a tumble when his performance slipped post-knee surgery, but he still offers power and defense. | ||||
| 88 | Zack Cox | 3b, Cardinals | Age: 22. | ETA: 2013. |
| Should be a steady performer at third at a minimum, but will need to to show more power to be a premium player. | ||||
| 89 | Chris Archer | rhp, Rays | Age: 23. | ETA: 2013. |
| Still needs to prove his 2010 breakout wasn't a fluke, and might have more impact in the bullpen. | ||||
| 90 | Taylor Guerrieri | rhp, Rays | Age: 19. | ETA: 2015. |
| High risk, but brings substantial upside to an organization known for developing pitchers. | ||||
| 91 | Daniel Norris | lhp, Blue Jays | Age: 18. | ETA: 2015. |
| Toronto has tremendous pitching depth, and even though power lefty Norris hasn't debuted yet he still tops the list. | ||||
| 92 | Andrelton Simmons | ss, Braves | Age: 22. | ETA: 2014. |
| Age-appropriate Carolina League batting champs who can defend are good bets. | ||||
| 93 | Kolten Wong | 2b, Cardinals | Age: 21. | ETA: 2013. |
| Similar profile to Cory Spangenberg, with less speed but perhaps more polish. | ||||
| 94 | Tyrell Jenkins | rhp, Cardinals | Age: 19. | ETA: 2014. |
| One of Jeff Luhnow's parting gifts to St. Louis was drafting this premium athlete in 2010. | ||||
| 95 | Allen Webster | rhp, Dodgers | Age: 22. | ETA: 2013. |
| Despite low budgets, the Dodgers have scored in the draft with under-the-radar finds like Webster. | ||||
| 96 | Nate Eovaldi | rhp, Dodgers | Age: 22. | ETA: 2012. |
| Dodgers have intriguing arms to build around, if new ownership gives them the money to do so. | ||||
| 97 | Matt Davidson | 3b/1b, Diamondbacks | Age: 21. | ETA: 2013. |
| Pushing his way past Diamondbacks draft peer Bobby Borchering as a power-hitting third baseman. | ||||
| 98 | Jedd Gyorko | 3b, Padres | Age: 23. | ETA: 2013. |
| Could be the best hitter from the state of West Virginia since Nick Swisher posted a .909 OPS in the minors. | ||||
| 99 | Joe Benson | of, Twins | Age: 24. | ETA: 2012. |
| Ready for his Target Field closeup . . . so he's probably headed to Rochester. | ||||
| 100 | Christian Villanueva | 3b, Rangers | Age: 20. | ETA: 2014. |
| Best Hickory Crawdads third baseman since Jose Bautista in 2002. | ||||
Poll
Who is your #1?
47%
Bryce Harper (139 votes)
Matt Moore (88 votes)
Mike Trout (48 votes)
Yu Darvish (20 votes)
295 total votes
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