MLB's Disappointing Prospects of 2012

With the graduation of super-prospects Bryce Harper, Mike Trout and Matt Moore to the majors in 2012, many fantasy nerds are looking for who will take their place atop the 2013 top prospect rankings. While several players who sat close to the super-three in prospect rankings are again thriving, like Jurickson Profar of the Rangers, others are not doing so hot. 

Here, you will find those struggling top prospects. These guys may or may not rebound and become what they were supposed to be, which is all part of the gamble in the makeup and scouting of amateur baseball players. I want to state now: This isn't a ranking that says that these guys are flame-outs; it is to simply notify those who don't follow prospects thoroughly an opportunity to see where they could buy low in lifetime fantasy leagues or to look for a new favorite team if your one hope isn't going to reach expectations.

Manny Machado, SS, Baltimore Orioles

Manny Machado won't turn 20 years old until July 6, and he is already in Double-A for the Orioles; however, he isn't hitting the way the O's were probably hoping to see him hit so far in 2012.

With a .256/.353/.390, it isn't anywhere near the power potential that hides within Machado's 6'3", 185 pound frame. In High-A in 2011, Machado hit just .245/.308/.384, so the Orioles are being very, very aggressive with him to this point.

Machado has a 39:23 K:BB in 172 at-bats, so he has shown an advanced approach at the plate, and his 13 doubles show that he can hit the ball hard. While his 2012 stats leave a lot to be desired, Machado is really the future for the Orioles, the surprise team in baseball this season, along with dominant right-handed starter Dylan Bundy. Both players will be counted on to reach their already high expectations, and Machado does have the skills to do so. You have to wonder if the Orioles were possibly a little too aggressive here, though.

Jacob Turner, RHP, Detroit Tigers

Jacob Turner started 2012 in the warmer Florida State League after coming down with shoulder tendonitis in spring training. After moving to Triple-A in early May, Turner has posted a 5.00 ERA and a 13:7 K:BB in 18 innings.

Turner has only allowed opposing hitters a .219 average, and he is keeping the ball down, but after reaching Detroit last season after 20 starts between Double-A and Triple-A, more should be expected.

The 6'5", 210-pound righty has the frame and stuff to reach the top of the Tigers rotation in the future (well, he'll probably be behind some guy named Verlander). He turned 21 on May 21, so he has plenty of time to figure things out. Turner took the quick high-school-to-the-majors-as-soon-as-possible approach that may have set back Rick Porcello, so he will probably stay in Toledo until he gets it all figured out, regardless of how many home runs Porcello and Max Scherzer give up.

Michael Choice, Outfielder, Oakland A's

Like a lot of prospects in the California League, Michael Choice was able to exploit the small ballparks to hit .285/.376/.542 with 28 doubles and 30 home runs in 2011 while posting a 134:61 K:BB in 467 at bats. Choice has always been an intriguing power prospect, but his long, awkward swing was prone to striking out even as a star at the University of Texas-Arlington.

Choice is still just 22 years old and is now in Double-A, where he has posted a .249/.338/.324 line with five doubles, three home runs and a 52:23 K:BB in just 185 at-bats. As Choice progresses through the minors, advanced leagues with advanced pitchers will continue to take advantage of his inability to make contact.

While Choice did improve his plate discipline in 2011, his all-or-nothing approach will be interesting in an A's lineup that already has Yoenis Cespedes, another all-or-nothing outfielder, present. Choice could take another step and improve his plate discipline, but one thing is for sure: If he is striking out this much, he needs to be hitting for more power than he is right now, or he won't be much of a prospect after this season.

Hak-Ju Lee, SS, Tampa Bay Rays

After hitting .190/.272/.310 in 100 at-bats in Double-A in 2011, Hak-Ju Lee returned there to start 2012. He isn't doing much better, hitting just .232/.303/.295 in 207 at bats.

Lee is an interesting prospect. His speed and ability to spray the ball all over the field makes him seem like a perfect fit for the Rays, a team that creates runs in ways that most American League teams don't. Lee isn't going to hit for much power, and he seems to make solid contact while posting solid but not spectacular walk totals.

Lee is just 21 years old, so he can still get things going and make a career for himself. Lord knows the Rays are and have been looking for a shortstop since Jose Canseco was around for the club, and while Sean Rodriguez has had a solid May, he is sort of all over the place with his consistency at the plate.

Lee could be the future or another Korean position player who just never worked out. A shout out to Hee-Seop Choi!

Brad Peacock, RHP, Oakland A's

Brad Peacock exploded in the minors in 2011 in the Washington Nationals organization, going 15-3 with a 2.39 ERA and a 177:47 K:BB in 146.2 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. He was a big part of the crazy deal that sent Gio Gonzalez to the Nationals this offseason.

Peacock is still striking out some hitters, but not nearly to the same levels as 2011, and he really isn't dominating. While his 6-2 record is solid, his 4.91 ERA and 51:18 K:BB in 55 innings isn't the pitcher the A's were looking for. 

While you can discount it all you want, the Triple-A Pacific Coast League is a notorious hitter's paradise. Peacock was a flyball pitcher last season and is the same this season, but it isn't the home runs, as he has allowed just three to this point. It's the .288 average against. He just isn't putting the ball by the advanced Triple-A hitters like he was last year.

The A's are once again in rebuilding mode, so they'll take their time with Peacock, just like the other players from deals this offseason, who they'll hope will reach the levels of the Mulder-Hudson-Zito days.

Trevor May, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies

There aren't many pitchers who strike out 200 batters in a season in the minors, so when it happens, you take notice. People noticed Trevor May due to his 208:67 K:BB in 151.1 innings in 2011 in High-A. May's stats were interesting because he posted a 3.63 ERA over those 151.1 innings, so while he had dominant stuff, he wasn't as dominant as the Matt Moore, Tyler Skaggs numbers of 2011.

May has posted a 5-2 record, 4.28 ERA and 53:22 K:BB in 54.2 innings in 2012. He only gave up eight home runs in 2011 and has already given up four (which isn't a huge number) in Double-A.

May will turn 23 in late September. His 6'5", 215-pound frame screams innings-eater, and he has to be considered one of the best, if not the best, Phillies prospect. If the Phillies become sellers due to Roy Hallday's lat injury and their struggling offense, it wouldn't be shocking to see the Phillies push this young man and bring him to Philadelphia, underwhelming statistics or not.

Jonathan Schoop, 3B, Baltimore Orioles

Another struggling Orioles prospect in Double-A, Jonathan Schoop is hitting .248/.305/.329 with seven doubles, two home runs and a 36:11 K:BB in 161 at-bats. Schoop was a shortstop prospect until this season, when Manny Machado forced him off of the position. Still, Schoop is an intriguing prospect who scouts wonder over due to his potential if he fills out.

At 6'1", 195 pounds, Schoop will play the whole season at the age of 20. In 2011, he hit .290/.349/.432 with 24 doubles, five triples, 13 home runs, 12 steals and a 76:42 K:BB in 511 at bats.  He did this at the age of 19, when most players are getting their first taste of full season ball, between Low and High-A. 

Schoop is still someone to watch. If Double-A Bowie gets Schoop and Machado going, they would be worth traveling far to watch.

Martin Perez, LHP, Texas Rangers

Martin Perez seems like he has been around forever. He really hit the prospect lists after his 2009 season, when he reached Double-A as an 18-year-old. Since then, he has continued to look masterful at times and lost others.

Perez is currently a 21-year-old in Triple-A. He has a 3-4 record, 5.80 ERA and 32:26 K:BB in 49.2 innings over 10 starts. He has now made 66 starts in Double-A or higher, posting a 17-21 record, 5.18 ERA and a 267:137 K:BB in 307.2 innings. 

Clearly, Perez is still young for his league, and the Rangers have to hold out hope that he regains the form that helped him reach the higher levels of the minors at such a young age. He could need a change in scenery, even with his tremendous upside and age, due to his continued struggles in Triple-A Round Rock.

Wily Peralta, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers

Wily Peralta was having a good season...then the Brewers called him up for a couple of days to pitch in relief. Once he returned to Triple-A, he has been miserable, going 1-5 with an 8.82 ERA and a 29:20 K:BB in 32.2 innings.

Peralta is a beefy legged starter at 6'2", 240 pounds, but the 23-year-old has what it takes to be a middle-of-the-rotation starter. He really only reached his potential last season, going 11-7 with a 3.17 ERA and 157:59 K:BB in 150.2 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. 

Peralta looks like he can use some more seasoning, unless he is just bored. He hasn't really done enough to get away with that, though.

Gary Brown, Outfielder, San Francisco Giants

The good ol' California League strikes again. Gary Brown electrified the Giants system last season by posting a .336/.407/.519 line, with 34 doubles, 13 triples, 14 home runs and 53 stolen bases in 559 at-bats. 2012 hasn't been nearly as kind.

Brown has a .250/.330/.296 line, with seven doubles, one triple, zero home runs and 14 stolen bases in 196 at bats. The outfielder will turn 24 in late September, so he probably should have been mashing High-A competition the way that he did in 2011; however, the Giants and their fans probably hoped for more.

The good news with Brown is that he has a 33:14 K:BB this season, so he is still getting on base. Center field is wide open on the Giants club, with Angel Pagan and Melky Cabrera due to hit free agency after the 2012 season. If the Giants lose both players, Brown could gain an opportunity to win a job next spring, especially if he starts hitting anywhere near what he did in 2011.