25 MLB Prospects with the Highlight Reels to Be the Next Bryce Harper

YouTube has changed the way fans and scouts alike view prospects.

While nothing beats seeing someone perform in person, being able to watch a quick video online to see what the kid is all about can save wasted scouting trips and temper false hope about so-and-so being the next great (insert team name here).

At the same time, having immediate access to these videos can have just the opposite affect, getting scouts and fans worked into a frenzy.

Bryce Harper was, and still is, a phenom. There are literally dozens of highlight videos featuring Harper on the site, including this one where he drills a 502-foot home run in 2009 that has been viewed more than two million times.

Washington Nationals fans were drooling at the thought of being able to call him their own, and sure enough, two years later, Harper is starting, and succeeding, for the Nationals.

What other prospects are out there that have the compilations, the highlight reels that make fans and scouts stand up and take notice?

After the jump we'll take a look at 25 of them—from international teenagers not yet eligible to be signed by a major league team to players who will be drafted in this year's draft. For good measure, we'll sprinkle in some of the best prospects already in minor league systems as well.

So without further ado...

Albert Almora, OF, Mater Academy Charter, Hialeah, Florida

A top 10 prospect for this year's draft—ESPN has him seventh while MLB.com has him 10th—Albert Almora shows off his sweet stroke in this highlight video.

His approach at the plate results in the ability to drive the ball to all fields, and coupled with his developing power, could make him a force to be reckoned with at the plate.

With an above-average throwing arm and the ability to make the acrobatic play on defense, whether he stays in center field or slides over to right doesn't really matter as he projects to be an above-average fielder at either spot.

Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford University

The player some believe could be the first overall pick in the draft next month, Mark Appel is a prospect who will move quickly through a team's minor league system.

With three pitches that he can throw for strikes consistently, including a fastball with late movement that he can dial up to 97 mph, his ability to change speeds seamlessly only makes him that much more effective, keeping hitters off balance and out of their element.

He's got future ace written all over him.

Trevor Bauer, SP, Mobile Bay Bears (Double-A)

Picked third overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011, Trevor Bauer has electric stuff and is one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball.

A strikeout machine (as you can see from the 15 Oregon State Beavers he sat down during a game last season for UCLA), Bauer has been dominant in Double-A this season, sitting with a 7-1 record, 1.68 ERA and 60 strikeouts in just over 48 innings pitched.

Jose Orlando Berrios, RHP, Papa Juan XXIII High School (Puerto Rico)

He's not a first round pick in this year's draft, but right-handed pitcher Jose Orlando Berrios puts on quite a show in his highlights package.

More akin to the video we saw of Yoenis Cespedes this past winter, two things can be taken above all else from this selection: Berrios is a freak athlete in phenomenal shape, and he knows how to get batters out.

An aggressive pitcher who attacks the plate with a mid-90's fastball and a power curve, Berrios figures to be selected in the first three rounds of the draft if the rankings hold true. He's ranked the 79th best draft prospect by Keith Law and ESPN while MLB.com has him 11 spots lower at 90.

Gary Brown, CF, Richmond Flying Squirrels (Double-A)

If you're into speed, look no further than Gary Brown, the top-rated prospect of the San Francisco Giants by both Baseball America and MLB.com.

His speed allows him to cover a massive amount of ground in center field, which he plays better than most.

With some power in his compact swing, Brown could very well post double-digit home runs and triples year-after-year atop the Giants lineup.

Dylan Bundy, SP, Delmarva Shoebirds (Low-A)

Selected fourth overall by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2011 draft, Dylan Bundy is as impressive a prospect as their is from last year's draft class.

In his first six professional starts, 20 innings worth of work, he's yet to allow an earned run, and only had one of the four baserunners that he's allowed (two hits, two walks) cross home plate.

Oh, did I mention the 33 strikeouts?

He's got future ace written all over him and a Bundy/Strasburg battle will bring renewed life to the Beltway.

Byron Buxton, Of, Appling H.S., Baxley, Georgia

An athletic outfielder with big-time potential, Byron Buxton could very well wind up being the first overall selection in this year's draft by the Seattle Mariners.

Buxton has a swing that generates a lot of contact, an impressive throwing arm and he's fast—really fast.

While he's still years away from reaching his power ceiling—which will come as he fills out his 6'1", 175-pound frame—some of the shots he hits during a home run derby at Wrigley Field (around the 1:30 mark) are impressive.

Gustavo Cabrera, Of, Santo Domingo Norte, Dominican Republic

When scouts look at you and the first name that comes to mind is Justin Upton, you're doing something right.

Gustavo Cabrera does everything well—and he's only 16 years old.

He has excellent bat speed and power to all fields. His speed allows him to not only be a threat on the basepaths but cover a lot of ground in the outfield, where he can harness his cannon of an arm to gun down baserunners.

Nick Castellanos, 3B, Lakeland Flying Tigers (High-A)

Blocked at third base by Miguel Cabrera, you'd think that the Detroit Tigers might look into having Nick Castellanos try another position on the field.

But that's not happened thus far, and Castellanos continues to reward the Tigers for making him a late first round selection in the 2010 draft, hitting .403/.450/.560 with two home runs and 24 RBI in 34 games played thus far in 2012.

Castellanos has power to all fields, and while his defense is still a work in progress, the high school shortstop continues to make solid progress at the hot corner.

Carlos Correa, SS, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy

No player may be rising up draft boards more than 17-year-old shortstop Carlos Correa.

At last week's Tournament of Excellence in Puerto Rico, Correa put on a clinic, hitting the ball all over the field, including two towering home runs that made scouts in attendance take notice.

ESPN's Keith Law has him ranked as the second best prospect in this year's draft and both Law and Jonathan Mayo from MLB.com expect Correa to become the highest Puerto Rican draft pick in history—Ramon Castro holds the record, being selected with the 17th pick in the first round by the Houston Astros in 1994.

Max Fried, LHP, Harvard-Westlake High School, Studio City, California

Arguably the best left-handed starter in this year's draft, our first of two Harvard-Westlake High School products on the list has a sinking fastball that sits in the low 90s on a consistent basis.

It's his assortment of breaking balls, a really nasty curveball that he can throw for strikes whenever he wants and a deceptive changeup that keeps hitters off balance, as you can see in the video.

Kevin Gausman, RHP, LSU

A future front-of-the-rotation arm, LSU sophomore Kevin Gausman belongs in the discussion as the best collegiate pitcher eligible for this year's draft.

Ranked third by ESPN and fourth by MLB.com for draft eligible prospects, Gausman has three pitchers in his repertoire.

While he has decent breaking stuff, his best two pitchers are a high-90s fastball that can touch 100 MPH and a fading, sinking changeup that projects as an above-average major league pitch.

His highlight video is one of the more interesting ones on the list, but from the little baseball we get to see, he's got all the tools to be a big-time player.

Lucas Giolito: RHP, Harvard-Westlake High School, Studio City, California

While he missed most of his senior season at Harvard-Westlake with a strained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, Lucas Giolito is still expected to be a top 10 pick in this year's MLB draft.

An imposing figure on the mound at 6'6" and 230 pounds, Giolito's fastball was clocked at 100 mph when he was a junior.

MLB.com has Giolito ranked eighth among this year's draft prospects while Keith Law and ESPN put him ninth, while adding that we he healthy this past season, he would have ranked him as the best prospect in the draft.

Billy Hamilton, SS, Bakersfield Blaze (High-A)

What Billy Hamilton lacks in power he more than makes up for with his legs.

Hamilton, called the Reds second best prospect by both Baseball America and MLB.com, went an unfathomable 103-for-123 in stolen base attempts last season. Through 32 games in 2012, Hamilton was 35-for-42.

While he may not ultimately play shortstop—though he can play the position—Hamilton projects as a premier leadoff hitter as his plate discipline continues to evolve. With a .426 OBP thus far in 2012, Hamilton's well on his way.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the thieving ways of Billy Hamilton.

Courtney Hawkins, Of, Carrol High School, Corpus Christi, Texas

Of all the players eligible for this year's draft, only Byron Buxton has more in the way of explosive potential than Courtney Hawkins.

Likely a corner outfielder as he continues to develop, Hawkins has an excellent throwing arm and the brute strength to mash balls all over the field, even when not making clean contact.

Ranked as the 10th best prospect for the draft by ESPN, the 12th best by MLB.com, Hawkins has a bright future as the next great slugging right fielder.

Lance McCullers Jr., RHP, Jesuit High School, Tampa, FL

On the radar of front offices around the league ever since unleashing a 96 mph fastball as a sophomore, whether Lance McCullers Jr. projects as a starting pitcher or a reliever, like his father remains to be seen.

A likely first round pick in this year's draft, MLB.com ranks him 18th overall while ESPN slides him in the 25th spot.

McCullers has been absolutely dominant his year with an undefeated record (11-0), a minuscule ERA (0.12) and 107 strikeouts to 18 walks over 58.1 innings pitched.

He can bring the heat with his fastball, confound hitters with an above-average slider, or throw in a still-in-progress changeup to mix things up a bit—but he attacks the strike zone with authority and very well could be an even better relief pitcher than his father was.

Amaurys Minier, SS, San Cristobal, Dominican Republic

Probably a corner outfielder at the next level, 16-year-old Amaurys Minier has a bright future playing professional baseball.

A switch-hitter, Minier's smooth swing generates power to all fields and from both sides of the plate.

Alexander Palma, Of, Maracay, Venezuela

Working with the recently retired Carlos Guillen, Alexander Palma has made big strides in all areas of his game and is considered to be one of the best international prospects in baseball.

Palma has a strong, athletic core that allows him to generate excellent bat speed, bat speed that gives him plus power now and the potential to get even better as his body continues to develop.

He's not the quickest prospect around, but this future right fielder can definitely swipe some bags when needed.

Stephen Piscotty, 3B, Stanford University

Another player that both ESPN and MLB.com agree on, ranking him as the 15th best draft-eligible prospect this season, Stanford third baseman Stephen Piscotty is a corner player, though whether it's a corner infield or outfield spot has yet to be determined.

Piscotty has a smooth swing that results in consistent, solid contact being made. While the power aspect of his game is still raw, that figures to become a bigger part of his game as he continues to bulk up.

The most impressive thing about his scouting video is an apparent lack of a weakness—Piscotty is a solid ballplayer all the way around.

Anthony Rendon, 3B, Potomoc Nationals (High-A)

Currently on the disabled list with an ankle injury, 21-year-old Anthony Rendon was the best hitter in college last season, falling to the sixth spot in the draft and the open arms of the Washington Nationals only because of a shoulder problem that he's since recovered from.

Ranked as the Nationals second best prospect behind Bryce Harper entering the season by both Baseball America and MLB.com, Rendon has an exceptional approach at the plate that allows him to cover a massive area with his bat while being able to recognize pitches almost immediately upon their release.

A plus defender at third base—which makes you think the Nats will eventually move him elsewhere given Ryan Zimmerman's presence at the hot corner—it won't take Rendon long to work his way through the Nationals minor league system.

Wendell Rijo, 2B/SS, La Romana, Dominican Republic

The son of Los Angeles Dodgers scout Rafael Rijo, 16-year-old Wendell Rijo is an intriguing middle infield prospect.

Not a physically imposing figure at 5'10", 170 pounds, Rijo doesn't have five outstanding tools or blow people away at first glance.

But when you watch him in action, there's no doubt that he could be the next big thing for middle infielders. He's a completely different player once the game starts, attacking the ball with a solid swing that sprays line drives around the field.

An above-average defensive player with a strong arm, Rijo utilizes his speed to get to balls that others cannot.

Bubba Starling, CF, Kansas City Royals System (Team TBD)

The fourth overall pick in the 2011 draft by the Kansas City Royals, Bubba Starling is a five-tool player who figures to advance quickly through the Royals minor league system.

With a swing that generates power to all fields and a cannon for a throwing arm, Starling is deceptively quick, which allows him to cover a ton of ground in center field.

He's less polished than other players on this list as he was a two-sport stud in high school—Starling was one of the best quarterbacks in the country and was set to play the position for the Nebraska Cornhuskers before the Royals offer was too enticing to pass up—but there's little doubt that Starling is a star in the making.

Taijuan Walker, SP, Jackson Generals (Double-A)

A first round pick by the Seattle Mariners in 2010, right-hander Taijuan Walker has three plus pitches and is one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball.

He could join Felix Hernandez at the front of the Seattle Mariners starting rotation in 2013 and when he does, Walker will turn a lot of heads.

Walker, with a fastball sits in the mid-90's but gets up to 98 mph, shows off his excellent mechanics and explosive stuff in this scouting video.

Zack Wheeler, SP, Binghamton Mets (Double-A)

Acquired by the New York Mets in last year's trade of Carlos Beltran to San Francisco, Zack Wheeler is the team's highest rated prospect according to both Baseball America and MLB.com.

That ranking comes for good reason—he's got two major-league ready out pitches now in his fastball, which sits consistently in the 93-to-95 mph range, and his curve, which makes batters buckle at the knees with its drastic drop.

Kolten Wong, 2B, Springfield Cardinals (Double-A)

Ranked fourth among St. Louis Cardinals prospects by MLB.com (fifth by Baseball America), Colton Wong's highlight reel shows one thing above all else.

Awesome bat speed.

Wong might get his bat through the zone as quickly as any prospect, and while he doesn't have Harper's power potential, he'll likely be a 10-to-15 home run hitter in the majors which isn't bad for a second baseman.

Not as fast as Byron Buxton, Wong has enough speed to turn his line drives into extra base hits.