Every MLB Team's Top Prospect Headed into 2013 Offseason

Now that we’ve all had some time—too much time if you ask me—to reflect on both the 2012 minor and major league seasons, it’s time that I update everyone with my thoughts on some of the game's elite prospects. More specifically, I wanted to share my opinion on each team’s top-ranked prospect as we prepare for the painfully long offseason.

After spending the last two days typing up my Arizona Fall League scouting notes, I've decided that it would be a nice change of pace to examine these prospects in a similar manner. For those unfamiliar with scouting notes, they are more of an assemblage of various thoughts and impressions than structured work. Personally, I enjoy them more because it allows for the presentation to be more concise and factual.

Having said all of that, here are my thoughts on each organization’s top prospect.

Baltimore Orioles: RHP Dylan Bundy

Position: RHP

Age: 19

Strengths: Arsenal consisting of a heavy plus fastball (94-98 mph), 12-to-6 curveball and above-average changeup; physically strong and built for innings; maintains velocity deep into games with command beyond his years; commendable training regimen; advanced feel for pitching and fearless demeanor on the mound.

Weaknesses: Has a tendency to leave curveball up in the zone. That is all.

ETA: 2013

Boston Red Sox: SS Xander Bogaerts

Position: SS

Age: 20

Strengths: Excellent bat speed with plus raw power to all fields; highly athletic for his size (6’3”, 175 pounds); ability to make adjustments; above-average arm.

Weaknesses: Barrels the ball often but still too much of a free swinger; needs to refine plate discipline and chase less breaking balls; likely to outgrow shortstop; consistently low line-drive rate is concerning.

ETA: 2014

New York Yankees: CF Mason Williams

Position: CF

Age: 21

Strengths: Plus speeds lends to his plus range and above-average defense in center field; left-handed hitter who makes consistent, hard contact with a feel for the strike zone; should develop at least average power for the position.

Weaknesses: Questions were raised about his makeup during the 2012 season; possesses plus speed but not an adept base-stealer; average arm and lack of power limits him to center field; season-ending shoulder surgery is a minor red flag.

ETA: 2015

Tampa Bay Rays: SS Hak-Ju Lee

Position: SS

Age: 22

Strengths: Plus defensive shortstop with smooth and instinctual actions; soft hands and gets rid of the ball quickly; above-average arm and wheels.

Weaknesses: Poor approach; struggles to manipulate counts in his favor; hands drift forward too often which impedes his bat speed; gets beat by too many pitches on the inner half; minimal power projection.

ETA: 2014

Toronto Blue Jays: C Travis d'Arnaud

Position: C

Age: 23

Strengths: Quick bat with a path that yields both average and power; plus arm with continually above-average catch-and-throw skills; moves well laterally and has vastly improved as a blocker and game-caller.

Weaknesses: Below-average speed; suffered two significant injuries within past year: torn thumb ligament prior to 2012 season and season-ending knee injury (torn PCL) in June.

ETA: 2013

Chicago White Sox: OF Courtney Hawkins

Position: OF

Age: 18

Strengths: Outstanding athlete for his size (6’3”, 220 pounds) with big-time strength; above-average speed; plus raw power to all fields thanks to quick wrists and explosive swing; plus arm from outfield.

Weaknesses: Free-swinger with swing-and-miss to his game; can get pull-happy; pitch recognition will need to improve as he matures; will likely be forced to move to a corner outfield spot as he develops.

ETA: 2016

Cleveland Indians: SS Francisco Lindor

Position: SS

Age: 18

Strengths: Superb shortstop with plus defensive tools across the board; plays the position with creativity and confidence; makes plays that a player his age should not; all-around instinctual player with a high baseball IQ; switch-hitter with potential for above-average hit tool from both sides of the plate; plate discipline well beyond his age and experience; smart base stealer who will only improve.

Weaknesses: Will need to add strength and show more of the power that he did as a prep player; show more consistency at the plate in future full seasons.

ETA: 2014

Detroit Tigers: OF Nick Castellanos

Position: OF

Age: 20

Strengths: Excellent bat control with an inside-out swing; drives the ball to right center field with authority with potential for slightly above-average power; welcomed move from third base to right field.

Weaknesses: Streaky hitter who needs to learn to make adjustments to avoid prolonged slumps; prone to chasing breaking balls off the plate; needs to work counts more consistently and utilize his strengths; will need considerable seasoning as an outfielder before reaching the major leagues.

ETA: 2014

Kansas City Royals: OF Wil Myers

Position: OF

Age: 21

Strengths: Easy plus raw power to all fields, thanks to quick-twitch wrists and a lofty bat path; plenty of physical strength despite wiry frame; instinctual outfielder with a plus arm; able to drive any type of pitch.

Weaknesses: Free-swinger who has sacrificed batting average for extra-base hits; can get pull-happy; slumps highlighted by excessive strikeouts.

ETA: 2013

Minnesota Twins: 3B Miguel Sano

Position: 3B

Age: 19

Strengths: True plus-plus raw power with the ability to effortlessly jump the yard to all fields; highly projectable run producer; substantially improved plate discipline over the last year; underrated athlete given his 6’3”, 195-pound frame; plus arm could play at numerous positions.

Weaknesses: Seemingly indifferent to defense at third base; strikes out too frequently and refuses to cut down length of swing in accordance with the count.

ETA: 2015

Los Angeles Angels: 3B Kaleb Cowart

Position: 3B

Age: 20

Strengths: Switch-hitter who vastly improved hit tool and plate discipline between 2011 and 2012; defense continues to improve at the hot corner with a sound glove and plus arm; above-average power has started to emerge; uses the entire field from both sides of the plate and has a legitimate feel for the strike zone.

Weaknesses: Tends to cast around the ball at times; average speed; not the base-stealer he believes he is at times; plate coverage can be inconsistent.

ETA: 2014

Oakland Athletics: RHP Dan Straily

Position: RHP

Age: 23

Strengths: Features four slightly above-average pitches that he commands well throughout the strike zone; possesses an understanding on how to exploit hitters’ flaws; throws pitches with conviction and issues few free passes.

Weaknesses: Will struggle when command isn’t sharp; will overthrow slider and make it too slurvy on occasion; effectiveness of arsenal is reliant upon fastball command.

ETA: 2013

Seattle Mariners: RHP Taijuan Walker

Position: RHP

Age: 20

Strengths: Tremendous athleticism with highly projectable frame; plus fastball with significant arm-side life complemented by a sharp, downer curveball; changeup continues to improve with experience.

Weaknesses: Lack of experience evident, as well as effect of being a young pitcher in an older league; mechanics can get inconsistent and pitches tend to lose some life; yet to show ability to make consistent, in-game adjustments.

ETA: 2014

Texas Rangers: SS Jurickson Profar

Position: SS

Age: 19

Strengths: Only non-plus tool is power; outstanding athlete who’s electric in everything he does on the field; switch-hitter with plus bat speed from both sides and excellent hand-eye coordination; electric defender capable of making highlight-reel plays with ease; highly confident player given his age and relative experience.

Weaknesses: Honestly, Profar lacks a distinct flaw in his overall game.

ETA: 2013

Houston Astros: 1B Jonathan Singleton

Position: 1B

Age: 20

Strengths: Lightning-quick bat speed with ability to sting the ball to all fields; physical player with power that’s developing ahead of schedule; advanced feel for the strike zone has resulted in plentiful walks; possesses ability to jump on fastballs through the zone.

Weaknesses: Continues to struggle with left-handed pitching; approach boarders between too patient and overly aggressive; first base only prospect; mediocre defensive first baseman.

ETA: 2013

Atlanta Braves: RHP Julio Teheran

Position: RHP

Age: 21

Strengths: Possesses above-average fastball and plus changeup; is slowly making improvements with his curveball and slider; masks pitches with deceptive arm action and smooth mechanics.

Weaknesses: Fastball gets crushed when he misses his spots and features less late life than it did a season ago; lack of breaking ball quickly catching up with him; misses up in the zone too frequently; increasingly prone to giving up the long ball.

ETA: 2013

Miami Marlins: RHP Jose Fernandez

Position: RHP

Age: 20

Strengths: Highly advanced arsenal for his age: easy plus fastball with late sink, sharp, plus late-breaking curveball and potentially above-average changeup; maintains velocity deep into games and able to finish what he started; comfortable pitching backward with a mature approach and mound presence; fierce competitor; showcases interest blend of finesse and power for a young pitcher.

Weaknesses: Has a tendency to overthrow his fastball but shows ability to make adjustments on his own; body doesn’t involve much projection at 6’3”, 215 pounds.

ETA: 2014

New York Mets: RHP Zack Wheeler

Position: RHP

Age: 22

Strengths: Gets excellent tilt on all pitches; plus fastball and curveball with steadily improving changeup—all thrown with convincing arm speed; deceptive delivery with a whippy, explosive arm; understands how to stall opposing team’s running game; projectable frame with front-line starter potential; rarely gives up the long ball; induces loads of swing-and-misses and groundball outs.

Weaknesses: Overall command still needs refinement; needs to show ability to throw his changeup for a strike early in the count.

ETA: 2013

Philadelphia Phillies: LHP Jesse Biddle

Position: LHP

Age: 21

Strengths: Highly projectable 6’4”, 220-pound frame with loads of upside; sneaky-fast above-average fastball continues to improve with refined command; curveball developing plus potential with ability to throw it for a strike and to induce whiffs; changeup gradually developing as a third weapon.

Weaknesses: Although it’s drastically improved, the southpaw still has a tendency to throw across his body; nothing in his arsenal is currently a plus, so his effectiveness is reliant upon overall command.

ETA: 2014

Washington Nationals: 3B Anthony Rendon

Position: 3B

Age: 22

Strengths: Possesses loose, explosive wrists that generate plus bat speed; scary-good plate discipline and is comfortable hitting in all counts; plus hit tool with potential for above-average power; adept to barreling the ball and driving it to all fields; instinctual defender at the hot corner.

Weaknesses: After serious injuries in each of the last three seasons, it’s definitely something worry about in future seasons; lacks quick feet at third base; yet to be seen whether he’ll hit for enough power over a full season; arm strength is enough but nothing special.

ETA: 2013

Chicago Cubs: SS Javier Baez

Position: SS

Age: 19

Strengths: Absolutely ridiculous bat speed with plus raw power to all fields; utilizes impressive strength in every swing; aggressive hitter who gets the barrel on tough pitches; slightly above-average speed plays well at shortstop and even better on the basepaths; plus arm more than enough if he ultimately moves to third base.

Weaknesses: Cares more about driving the baseball than working counts; powerful swing can be out of control and reckless at times; swing has many moving parts which inhibits his ability to recognize pitches.

ETA: 2014

Cincinnati Reds: CF Billy Hamilton

Position: CF

Age: 22

Strengths: Fastest...Player...Ever. Creates his own runs with game-changing speed; plate discipline continues to improve, and he takes at-bats with confidence; baseball skills quickly catching up to outstanding athleticism; showcases a more consistent approach from both sides of the plate; flashes more pop from the left side and gets down the line in record time; 90-grade speed will always compensate for poor reads.

Weaknesses: Despite vast improvements this past season, Hamilton’s hit tool (from both sides) is still partially suspect; right-handed swing lacks bat speed and pop; still a raw player who now has to quickly learn a new position.

ETA: 2013

Milwaukee Brewers: RHP Tyler Thornburg

Position: RHP

Age: 24

Strengths: Right-hander employs considerable torque in his delivery that makes him deceptive and gives his pitches tilt; above-average fastball is supplemented by a sharp breaking ball and fading changeup; induces a healthy mix of both strikeout and weakly-hit outs; arsenal, stature and delivery could make him a highly effective late-inning guy.

Weaknesses: Can lose the pace of his delivery and arm speed which causes his pitches to flatten and linger up in the zone; can get hit hard when fastball remains elevated; being rushed from Double-A hasn’t allowed him to refine his command; catches too much plate with secondary pitches; deception aided success in minors but won’t be nearly as effective in major leagues.

ETA: 2013

Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Gerrit Cole

Position: RHP

Age: 22

Strengths: 6’4”, 220-pound frame right-hander is the epitome of a front-line power pitcher; triple-digit fastball is absolutely explosive and is reinforced by plus secondary pitches in a wipeout, high-80s slider and a disappearing changeup of similar velocity; throws each pitch with nearly identical arm speed and carries deep into starts as well as any pitcher in the game.

Weaknesses: Fastball can be very hittable when elevated, and he struggles with his command of the pitch in bursts; still has bouts of inconsistency, especially from the stack; will seemingly lose focus at times.

ETA: 2013

St. Louis Cardinals: OF Oscar Taveras

Position: OF

Age: 20

Strengths: In my opinion, the best pure hitter in the minor leagues; takes forceful hacks yet retains ability to almost always barrel the baseball and use the whole field; possesses some of the best hand-eye coordination I’ve ever seen; grounds into very few double plays; power continues to develop against older, more advanced competition; solid-average defender who has the tools suitable for both corner outfield spots.

Weaknesses: It’s hard to find a legitimate flaw with Taveras; dude’s a truly special hitter; defense is more than enough, given his bat, though not spectacular; average, but smart, runner who should try stealing more bases next season.

ETA: 2013

Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Trevor Bauer

Position: RHP

Age: 21

Strengths: Unique and highly unorthodox delivery creates substantial deception; um, this; boasts impressive arsenal of above-average to plus pitches, including a hammer-breaking ball; intelligent pitcher who makes deliberate decisions on the mound; can be unhittable when fastball is established early in starts.

Weaknesses: Intelligence and deliberate decisions are also source of his struggles; tries to trick and outthink opposing rather than trusting his stuff; has come off as somewhat aloof and stubborn when it comes to suggestions; still needs to refine his overall command even when attacking hitters.

ETA: 2013

Colorado Rockies: 3B Nolan Arenado

Position: 3B

Age: 21

Strengths: Flat bat path through the zone gives him the ability to makes lots of hard contact; smashes the ball to all fields with solid plate coverage; adept to shooting the caps as he generates impressive extension through the baseball; has vastly improved defense over last two seasons and has solid average range, despite underwhelming speed;

Weaknesses: 2011 production appears to be a product of the hitter-friendly California League (High-A); overall power potential is suspect, especially as it relates to third-base standards; tends to be a streaky hitter; he’s a bit of a baseclogger and is a prime double-play candidate; significant questions arose this season regarding his maturity and on-field demeanor.

ETA: 2013

Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP Zach Lee

Position: RHP

Age: 21

Strengths: 2010 bonus baby has impressive command, considering his age and lack of professional experience; features a four-pitch mix that’s average to above-average across the board; all of his other pitches play up a grade when he’s command his fastball to both sides of the plate; has an advanced feel for pitching that’s mature for his age.

Weaknesses: Lacks a true plus offering that would give him No. 1 starter upside; was rushed to Double-A in his second professional season when he would have benefited from more experience in High-A; velocity grades slightly lower than it did in his professional debut, but is perhaps, a result of his emphasis on command.

ETA: 2014

San Diego Padres: OF Rymer Liriano

Position: OF

Age: 21

Strengths: Physical specimen with highly impressive blend of athleticism and strength; continues to develop physically without sacrificing above-average speed; has noticeably improved plate discipline since start of 2012 season and consciously tries to employ consistent approach; works counts in his favor and does an excellent job punishing mistakes; hasn’t flashed much power, thus far, but with his strength, it’ll come; prototypical right fielder with range and plus arm.

Weaknesses: He barrels it well but still has a tendency to overswing; capable of making the necessary adjustments but takes a bit longer than desired; although it’s less frequent, he sometimes deviates from his approach and chases secondary pitches in the dirt.

ETA: 2013

San Francisco Giants: CF Gary Brown

Position: CF

Age: 24

Strengths: Projectable leadoff hitter with 80-grade speed and lightning-quick feet; plus defensive center field due to his outstanding range and strong reads; even when struggling with the bat, he still gets on base at a decent clip; while power is unlikely, he’s still a legitimate extra-base threat every time he steps up to the plate.

Weaknesses: Ugly hitting mechanics highlighted by poor hand positioning in his setup and a front side that flies open too often; even with his plus speed, the amount of weak groundouts are excessive; very streaky hitter who struggles to break slumps; lacks the base-stealing instincts and ability to read pitchers that’s expected with his speed.

ETA: 2013