Preliminary Top 50 Pitching Prospects List for 2013

Since the minor league season ended, I've received dozens of requests for a new prospect list.

Normally I wouldn't do the next list until my book is finished in January. I don't mean to sound like Dayton Moore, but I have a very specific Process developed over the last 15 years to make sure every list is as comprehensive as possible.

For example, integrating 2012 draftees/signees who have small performance records (Gausman, Zimmer, Wacha, etc.) is problematic. With my normal Process, I have months to gather and analyze information to get the placement for those guys right. As I write the book, I do an individual analysis for each player (and about 1000 others) to get a letter grade, then do the list and make adjustments once the grades are done.

I haven't even started the grading for 2013 yet, but people want a list now, so here it is. The next version of the list will be finished when the 2013 Baseball Prospect Book goes to press in January. I'm confident in the names here, but the exact rankings, particularly outside the top ten, may look quite different in January compared to what you see here. This list should be understood as a working document.

Top 50 Pitchers

1) Dylan Bundy, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
2) Jose Fernandez, RHP, Miami Marlins
3) Gerrit Cole, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
4) Shelby Miller, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
5) Zack Wheeler, RHP, New York Mets
6) Trevor Bauer, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
7) Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle Mariners
8) Jameson Taillon, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
9) Tyler Skaggs, LHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
10) Carlos Martinez, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
11) Noah Syndergaard, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
12) Archie Bradley, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
13) Aaron Sanchez, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
14) Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
15) Robert Stephenson, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
16) Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Kansas City Royals
17) Danny Hultzen, LHP, Seattle Mariners
18) Matt Barnes, RHP, Boston Red Sox
19) Kevin Gausman, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
20) Justin Nicolino, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays
21) Trevor Rosenthal, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
22) Chris Archer, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
23) Zach Lee, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
24) Jesse Biddle, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies
25) James Paxton, LHP, Seattle Mariners
26) Tony Cingrani, LHP, Cincinnati Reds
27) Dan Corcino, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
28) Alex Meyer, RHP, Washington Nationals
29) Luis Heredia, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
30) Jarred Cosart, RHP, Houston Astros
31) Cody Buckel, RHP, Texas Rangers
32) Trevor May, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
33) Martin Perez, LHP, Texas Rangers
34) A.J. Cole, RHP, Oakland Athletics
35) Yordano Ventura, RHP, Kansas City Royals
36) Kyle Crick, RHP, San Francisco Giants
37) Jeurys Familia, RHP, New York Mets
38) Clayton Blackburn, RHP, San Francisco Giants
39) Tyler Thornburg, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
40) Allen Webster, RHP, Boston Red Sox
41) Dan Straily, RHP, Oakland Athletics
42) David Holmberg, LHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
43) J.R. Graham, RHP, Atlanta Braves
44) Victor Sanchez, RHP, Seattle Mariners
45) Nick Maronde, LHP, Los Angeles Angels
46) Michael Fulmer, RHP, New York Mets
47) Matt Wisler, RHP, San Diego Padres
48) Andrew Chafin, LHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
49) Henry Owens, LHP, Boston Red Sox
50) Michael Wacha, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals