Minor League Ball: Top 120 Prospects for 2012, Opening Day Revision

Top 120 Prospects for 2012: Opening Day

At the beginning of each month during the 2012 season, I'm going to issue a revised Top 120 Prospects list. The original version of this list was published in late February. I've made a few changes since then, and what better way is there to celebrate Opening Day by taking a new look?

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, although I tend to lean towards guys close to the majors.

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.

Player rankings are constantly being revised and reviewed. This list does not have many major changes compared to the February version. However, the rankings are likely to look considerably different a month from now, once we have data from 2012 to incorporate.

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) Gerrit Cole, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates +1 slot

11) Julio Teheran, RHP, Atlanta Braves -1 slot
12) Devin Mesoraco, C, Cincinnati Reds
13) Wil Myers, OF, Kansas City Royals +1 slot
14) Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Colorado Rockies +7
15) Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies -2

16) Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle Mariners -1
17) Jameson Taillon, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates -1
18) Yoenis Cespedes, OF, Oakland Athletics -1
19) Dylan Bundy, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
20) Anthony Rendon, 3B, Washington Nationals

21) Jarrod Parker, RHP, Oakland Athletics +1
22) Tyler Skaggs, LHP, Arizona Diamondbacks +1
23) Danny Hultzen, LHP, Seattle Mariners +2
24) Archie Bradley, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks -1
25) Travis D'Arnaud, C, Toronto Blue Jays +1

26) Brett Jackson, OF, Chicago Cubs +1
27) Yonder Alonso, 1B, San Diego Padres +1
28) James Paxton, LHP, Seattle Mariners +1
29) Xander Bogaerts, SS, Boston Red Sox +1
30) Miguel Sano, 3B, Minnesota Twins +1

31) Jacob Turner, RHP, Detroit Tigers -13
32) Christian Yelich, OF, Miami Marlins +2
33) Carlos Martinez, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
34) Matt Harvey, RHP, New York Mets +1
35) Zack Wheeler, RHP, New York Mets +1

36) Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Chicago Cubs +1
37) Bubba Starling, OF, Kansas City Royals +1
38) Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, Kansas City Royals +1
39) Yasmani Grandal, C, San Diego Padres +3
40) Trevor May, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies

41) Randall Delgado, RHP, Atlanta Braves
42) Starling Marte, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates +22
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) Hak-Ju Lee, SS, Tampa Bay Rays +2
57) Kolten Wong, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals -1
58) Billy Hamilton, SS, Cincinnati Reds -1
59) Mike Olt, 3B, Texas Rangers +6
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) Nick Castellanos, 3B, Detroit Tigers -5
65) Jean Segura, INF, Los Angeles Angels +1

66) Noah Syndergaard, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays +1
67) Justin Nicolino, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays +1
68) Tyrell Jenkins, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals +1
69) Daniel Norris, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays +1
70) Andrelton Simmons, SS, Atlanta Braves +6

71) Nestor Molina, RHP, Chicago White Sox +1
72) Drew Hutchison, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays +1
73) Jesse Biddle, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies -2
74) Matt Barnes, RHP, Boston Red Sox
75) Zach Lee, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

76) Jonathan Schoop, SS, Baltimore Orioles +1
77) Martin Perez, LHP, Texas Rangers +6
78) Chad Bettis, RHP, Colorado Rockies +8
79) Nate Eovaldi, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers +8
80) Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Boston Red Sox -2

81) Robbie Erlin, LHP, San Diego Padres -2
82) Deck McGuire, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays -2
83) Joe Wieland, RHP, San Diego Padres -2
84) Keyvius Sampson, RHP, San Diego Padres -2
85) Brad Peacock, RHP, Oakland Athletics -1

86) Dellin Betances, RHP, New York Yankees +17
87) Sonny Gray, RHP, Oakland Athletics -2
88) Brandon Jacobs, OF, Boston Red Sox +1
89) Derek Norris, C, Oakland Athletics -1
90) Ryan Lavarnway, C, Boston Red Sox +6

91) Eddie Rosario, 2B-OF, Minnesota Twins -1
92) Oswaldo Arcia, OF, Minnesota Twins -1
93) Mason Williams, OF, New York Yankees -1
94) Brandon Nimmo, OF, New York Mets -1
95) Mikie Mahtook, OF, Tampa Bay Rays -1

96) Jeurys Familia, RHP, New York Mets -1
97) Garrett Richards, RHP, Los Angeles Angels -1
98) Lance Lynn, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
99) Trevor Story, SS, Colorado Rockies
100) Wily Peralta, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers

101) Luis Heredia, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates (new)
102) Casey Kelly, RHP, San Diego Padres +10
103) Alexander Torres, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays -1
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) Jed Bradley, LHP, Milwaukee Brewers +1
113) Garin Cecchini, 3B, Boston Red Sox +1
114) Zack Cox, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals +1
115) Leonys Martin, OF, Texas Rangers +1

116) Joe Panik, INF, San Francisco Giants +1
117) Robbie Grossman, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates +1
118) Taylor Jungmann, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers +1
119) Daniel Corcino, RHP, Cincinnati Reds +1
120) Johnny Hellwig, RHP, Los Angeles Angels (new)

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; Liam Hendriks, RHP, Twins; Alex Meyer, RHP, Nationals; Mike Montgomery, LHP, Royals; Rougned Odor, SS, Rangers: Andrew Oliver, LHP, Tigers; Marcell, Ozuna, OF, Marlins; Neil Ramirez, RHP, Rangers: Trevor Rosenthal, RHP, Cardinals; Wilin Rosario, C, Rockies; Robbie Ross, LHP, Rangers: Eduardo Sanchez, RHP; Cardinals: Drew Smyly, LHP, Tigers; Robert Stephenson, RHP, Reds.

INJURY CASUALTIES:

Arodys Vizcaino, RHP, Atlanta Braves. Previously ranked 32.