Top 10 MLB Prospects on Twitter

Major League Baseball prospects love social media.

Players are finding Twitter to be a valuable outlet to brand themselves before making it to the big leagues. It wasn't until this past year that baseball's golden boy Bryce Harper decided join the social media site. Many users thought it was a false account and still isn't verified, but it sure is Harper typing the tweets.

While Spring Training is right around the corner, everyone is tweeting about the upcoming 2012 season and prospects are filling in their fans on their long cross-country drives to their team's sites.

Here's a look at the top ten MLB prospects on Twitter.

10. Wil Myers

MLB Team: Kansas City Royals

Handle: @wilmyers

Kansas Royals prospect Wil Myers is a casual Twitter user who doesn't need 140-characters.

Like his first name, Myers tends to keep his tweets short. He often tweets where he is, what movie he's watching or putting dates on events.

Following the 21-year-old outfielder can shed some positive light for Royals fans looking forward to their crop of prospects to perform well at the major league level and turn the team into Central Division contenders.

The right-hander hit .254 with 23 doubles, eight home runs and 49 RBI at Double-A in 2011. There is a possibility of a September call-up for Myers, but as he tweeted last November, he seems to be prepared and well aware of things to come.

"Big thanks to my coaches and teammates in the #FallLeague. Felt like I made some strides and looking forward to a big 2012! #Royals"

9. Bubba Starling

MLB Team: Kansas City Royals

Handle: @Bubba_Star10

Kansas City Royals prospect Bubba Starling received a $7.5 million signing bonus after being selected fifth overall in the 2011 MLB Draft. No wonder why all of his TwitPics are of the former Team USA baseball stud smiling.  

Kansas City doesn't have a huge following through social media. Their prized first baseman Eric Hosmer only has around 20,000 Twitter followers so the ceiling can only be so high for Starling at this point in his career, but he is, hands down, a player worth following.

The 6'4", 180-pound outfielder isn't expected to make the major leagues until 2015. Scouts say he has the tools to become a superstar and will be playing in his first season of professional baseball this year.

8. Jacob Turner

MLB Team: Detroit Tigers

Handle: @Jacob_Turner22

"Linsanity has me following the NBA recently. Crazy the power media plays in celebrity status. #ZerotoHero @TrembleATC"

Detroit Tigers pitching prospect Jacob Turner could not have worded that tweet better about the quick rise of New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin. Once Turner continues to fill innings in the big leagues, his thought has potential pertain to him.

After mastering Double-A and Triple-A with three starts in the majors, Turner may find himself in the Tigers' rotation early on this season. This wouldn't come as a surprise, given his personal track record and the Tigers' tendency to promote their pitchers quickly, as seen with Rick Porcello in recent years.

In terms of tweet-to-follower ration, Turner is 170-to-5000+, which is impressive for the site. His production on the field and passion for the game will only improve those numbers.

7. Dylan Bundy

MLB Team: Baltimore Orioles

Handle: @Dylan_Bundy

Baltimore Orioles prospect Dylan Bundy may be the most unnoticed Twitter account on this list, with fewer than 2,000 followers, but once he gets his first taste of professional baseball this year that will all change.

Bundy was drafted fourth overall in the 2011 MLB Draft out of Owasso High School in Oklahoma. In his final two years of high school, he struck out 322 in 151 innings en route to becoming the first baseball player to win Gatorade's Male Athlete of the Year his senior year since the award began nine years ago. In addition to his impressive pitching stats, he also hit .467 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs at the plate as a switch-hitter.

The right-handed pitcher isn't expected to make it to the major leagues until 2014, so his Twitter account will make him the highest-profile drafted player out of high school to chronicle his professional baseball experience from the very first start.

6. Trevor Bauer

MLB Team: Arizona Diamondbacks

Handle: @BauerOutage

Probably with the coolest Twitter handle on this list, Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Trevor Bauer is an avid social media user.

Last week, the third overall 2011 MLB Draft pick created his own YouTube channel and tweeted followers the link to watch him in addition to reading his tweets. One of the videos, labeled "Trevor Bauer Slow Motion", shows a clip of his delivery during practice in extra slow motion. This brings the scout and minor league lover analysis of players to a whole other level because of the angle, speed of video and easy accessibility.

In addition to his Twitter and YouTube accounts, the UCLA product also has his own personally managed Facebook page. He engages with users through his page and replies often to his fans.

Bauer will be spending his first full season in the minor leagues this year and is expected to make it to the majors sometime in 2012.

5. Jameson Taillon

MLB Team: Pittsburgh Pirates

Handle: @JTaillon19

Last July, Pirates prospect Jameson Taillon tweeted;

"Tried out twitter, been fun.. But for now.. Gonna go without it! Maybe back on in the future! Been fun interacting with all of y'all!"

Regardless of his Twitter absence, the 6'6", 225-pound right hand pitcher still manages to have one of the biggest follows throughout the minor leagues with nearly 5,000 users.

Scouts say he has the ability to become the No. 1 starter for the Pirates in the future, given his repertoire, physique and presence on the mound. He was clocked at 99 mph in high school before being selected second overall in the 2010 MLB Draft pick. His two breaking balls, a curve and slider, are both plus-pitches and a solid change up.

As the season gets rolling, maybe he will take some of his off days to Twitter once again.

4. Manny Machado

MLB Team: Baltimore Orioles

Handle: @MannyMachado3

Baltimore Orioles top prospect Manny Machado makes this list for his five-tool talent and reply-happy Twitter account.

The third overall 2009 MLB Draft pick has been compared to MLB superstar Alex Rodriguez for his skill set and personal background, but one main aspects setting them apart is Machado's accessibility to his fan base. The 19-year-old often tweets back on the social site, which gives the future star a more human-like feel fans love rather than being an untouchable athlete.

The shortstop rarely tweets without using "@", but last week Machado sent his own tweet to cyberspace;

"I hate how MLB keeps ranking my orioles in last place again. Man I can't wait till we shut them up nd become al east division champs."

This type of confidence and skill set on the field may evolve him into becoming the best Oriole to man the middle of the infield and lineup since Cal Ripken, Jr. He will begin 2012 at Double-A Bowie.

3. Shelby Miller

MLB Team: St. Louis Cardinals

Handle: @ShelbyMiller19

Shelby Miller is looking for his third straight Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Year title this season and is one of the top pitching prospects in baseball.

Miller is only 21 years old and expected to start the season in Triple-A Memphis. Given his age and track record, the right-handed starting pitcher shows all signs of a promising and lengthy career in the major leagues, making him a good follow now, or at some point in the near future.

The 2009 MLB Draft first-round pick was suspended by the Cardinals organization last August for a "violation of team policy" for an off-field incident made public. It was a reminder to the young athlete that he is in the public eye and must be careful with his actions. His consistent "responsible tweeting" is a reflection of his acknowledgment of being an athlete.

2. Mike Trout

MLB Team: Los Angeles Angels

Handle: @Trouty20

Trout is the lone prospect on this list that has a considerable amount of major league experience and is no stranger to Twitter.

Last season, the 6'1", 200-pound outfielder played 91 games in the minor leagues at the Double-A level and saw action in 40 games in the big leagues. The stint gave him exposure on the national level leading to a bigger following on Twitter.

This year, Trout looks to spend most of, if not all, the season with the Angels, making his account to be a unique follow for users.

The 2009 MLB Draft first round pick has potential to be the first Rookie of the Year Award winner to have this type of social media follow from beginning to end of the regular season. His account can be a great way for fans to chronicle his explosion in the majors.

1. Bryce Harper

MLB Team: Washington Nationals 

Handle: @BHarper3407

One year of tweets and over 25,000 followers later, Bryce Harper is the top Major League Baseball prospect and number one prospect on Twitter to follow.

When the first overall 2010 MLB Draft pick first began using the site, many users thought the account was fake because it had never been verified and still doesn't have the little blue check mark next to his name—but it is the 19-year-old phenom.

Since Harper is in the spotlight for being the next big thing in baseball, the 6'3", 225-pound outfielder may want to think twice before clicking the button to make his 140-character messages visible. After all, the machine is proven to be a good tool to helping athletes become fan favorites.

He recently announced his favorite teams on Twitter with none of them stemming from the D.C. sports area, so fans back lashed a bit at him. Fans also scrutinized him when he asked music artist Wale for a shout out in one of his upcoming songs.

Whether it's tweeting about his puppy named Swag or using his profile to promote companies he is affiliated with, Harper is a fun and entertaining account to follow. He will never deliver a Marlins' Logan Morrison-type feed, but will most likely become one of the most followed and sought-after accounts on the site once he reaches the big leagues.