Every MLB Team's Top 5-Tool Minor League Prospect

Analyzing MLB prospects is more in depth today than ever before, but the fact is scouts still look at the same five tools to gauge a player's projectability.

Hitting for average, hitting for power, speed, fielding ability and arm strength are the five tools every player is judged on, and for a player possessing plus ability at all of them the coveted "five-tool player" description is given.

So here is a look at the top five-tool prospect in each MLB team's minor league system, players who have the physical tools to be future stars.

Arizona Diamondbacks: LF Collin Cowgill

2011 Stats: .354/.430/.554, 13 HR, 70 RBI, 95 R, 30 SB at Double-A

Cowgill will turn 26 years old shortly after the 2012 season starts, so he is on the fringe of being considered a prospect. He should break camp with the Diamondbacks after appearing in 36 games at the end of last season and making the postseason roster.

He likely will never hit more than 15 home runs, but the rest of his tools are for real and he has an absolute cannon in the outfield as he had a ridiculous 23 outfield assists in 2010. He could push Gerardo Parra for the left field job, and if nothing else will get plenty of at-bats as the team's fourth outfielder.

ETA: 2012

Atlanta Braves: 3B Edward Salcedo

2011 Stats: .248/.315/.396, 12 HR, 68 RBI, 83 R, 23 SB at Single-A

Signed as a much-hyped 17-year-old in the offseason leading up to the 2010 season, Salcedo is as raw as any prospect in baseball, but he also has unlimited upside.

He moved from shortstop to third base last season and his defense still needs work, but he has a strong arm and soft hands and should settle in at the hot corner.

His 6'3" frame should fill out and he should become more of a power threat moving forward, but his overall athleticism will make him a threat on the bases. The Braves will be patient with him and hope he starts putting it all together in the years to come.

ETA: Late 2014

Baltimore Orioles: SS Manny Machado

2011 Stats: .257/.335/.421, 11 HR, 50 RBI, 48 R, 11 SB at Single-A

The third-overall pick in the 2010 draft, Machado got off to a hot start in his first pro season but was sidelined with injuries; his final numbers didn't look as impressive as he really was when healthy.

At 6'3" he could wind up moving to third base, but he is already a very good defensive shortstop for his age with a strong arm and terrific range. His power should continue to develop as he bulks up, and if he can avoid injuries he has 30-30 potential once he reaches the big leagues.

ETA: Late 2013

Boston Red Sox: LF Brandon Jacobs

2011 Stats: .303/.376/.505, 17 HR, 80 RBI, 75 R, 30 SB

Drafted in the 10th round of the 2009 draft, the Red Sox signed Jacobs away from a scholarship to play running back at the University of Auburn, so he certainly profiles as one of the more athletic prospects in the game right now.

After a slow start to his baseball career, he broke out last season. If he can match his 2011 numbers this coming season, he will put himself in the top tier of outfield prospects.

He profiles more as a run producer than a table-setter but he should continue to steal bases and utilize his good speed as he progresses.

ETA: 2014

Chicago Cubs: CF Brett Jackson

2011 Stats: .274/.379/.490, 20 HR, 58 RBI, 84 R, 21 SB at Double-A and Triple-A

The Cubs first-round pick in the 2009 draft, Jackson has progressed quickly through the team's system and emerged as their top prospect with a stellar 2010 season.

He continued that success in reaching Triple-A for the first time last season, and could get a shot at the vacant right field job this spring—he has the plus arm to move there. He is a five-tool player in every sense of the word, and should be a perennial 20-20 player once he establishes himself in Chicago.

ETA: 2012

Chicago White Sox: CF Jared Mitchell

2011 Stats: .222/.304/.377, 9 HR, 58 RBI, 74 R, 14 SB at High Single-A

Drafted out of LSU where he starred both and a wide receiver on the football team and as an outfielder, Mitchell is as gifted an athlete as anyone in the minors.

However, he has been saddled with injuries throughout his time in the minors, and was less than impressive in his first full pro season last year.

Still just 23 years old, Mitchell still has time to turn things around, and 2012 will be a critical season for him. If he can bounce back, he has the potential to turn into a Mike Cameron-type contributor.

ETA: Late 2013

Cincinnati Reds: 3B Todd Frazier

2011 Stats: .260/.340/.467, 15 HR, 46 RBI, 47 R, 17 SB at Triple-A

The Reds lack a truly dynamic five-tool threat, as they have prospects with great power or great speed but that don't excel in both. The closest they have to a five-tool player is the 26-year-old Frazier, who profiles more as a utility infielder than anything else at this point in his career.

He has put up solid numbers at Triple-A over the past two seasons, and he earned a 41-game audition in Cincinnati last season where he had a.232 BA, 6 HR, 15 RBI and 1 SB. At the moment he looks to be the heir to Scott Rolen at third base, and if he gets regular at-bats he could hit .270 BA, 15 HR, 10 SB.

ETA: 2012

Cleveland Indians: SS Francisco Lindor

2011 Stats: .316/.350/.316, 0 RBI, 2 RBI, 4 R, 1 SB at Low Single-A

The eighth overall pick in last year's draft, Lindor should progress through the Indians system quickly despite being taken out of high school.

His defense is his best tool and he will be a Gold Glove-caliber defender at the big league level. How his offense progresses will determine when he winds up in Cleveland.

He has solid speed and should develop decent power. A .280 BA, 15 HR, 15 SB season seems like what to expect as of now, although there is certainly room for more.

ETA: 2014

Colorado Rockies: CF Tim Wheeler

2011 Stats: .287/.365/.535, 33 HR, 86 RBI, 105 R, 21 SB at Double-A

The Rockies first-round pick in 2009, Wheeler was average at best in his first two pro seasons before breaking out in a big way in 2011.

His power numbers took a big spike, and he racked up an impressive 13 outfield assists. While he may never be a .300 hitter in the big leagues, his average shouldn't be a hindrance either. His speed is legit too, and when he reaches the big leagues he should have no problem posting 20-20 seasons in Colorado.

ETA: 2012

Detroit Tigers: RF Avisail Garcia

2011 Stats: .264/.297/.389, 11 HR, 56 RBI, 53 R, 14 SB at High Single-A

Signed out of Venezuela as a 17-year-old in 2008, Garcia is a physical specimen at 6'4" and 230 pounds, and he showed significantly improved power last season.

He runs incredibly well for his size and has a very strong arm in right field; his offense is the biggest question mark moving forward. His 18/132 BB/K ratio is alarming and he will need to get a better grasp of the strike zone moving forward, but all the physical tools are there to be an impact big leaguer.

ETA: 2014

Houston Astros: CF George Springer

2011 Stats: .179/.303/.393, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 8 R, 4 SB at Low Single-A

Springer was taken with the 11th overall pick in last year's draft out of the University of Connecticut, the most polished five-tool player in the draft and a rare college talent.

The Astros are in a full-on rebuilding, and Springer could be on the fast track to patrolling center field if he performs well in his first full pro season next year.

He should have no trouble manning the treacherous center field at Minute Maid Park and whether he becomes a run producer or top-of-the-order hitter, he has the potential for 30-30 before all is said and done.

ETA: 2013

Kansas City Royals: CF Bubba Starling

2011 Stats: Did Not Play

The most talented position prospect in the 2011 draft and one of the most hyped prep athletes in recent memory, Starling is the premier five-tool talent in the minor leagues right now and has as much upside as anyone in baseball.

He has a rocket arm that earned him an offer to quarterback for the University of Nebraska, wheels that were clocked at 4.4 in the 40-yard dash and the frame to fill out into one of the game's top power hitters.

There may be no prospect in baseball right now with the God-given talents that Starling has; it's just a matter of him putting it all together.

ETA: Late 2014

Los Angeles Angels: CF Mike Trout

2011 Stats: .326/.414/.544, 11 HR, 38 RBI, 82 R, 33 SB at Double-A

The 2011 Minor League Player of the Year, Trout was the second-ranked prospect in baseball behind Bryce Harper entering the season—and he did nothing to discourage the lofty rank.

He looks as though he'll peak around 15-20 home runs per year in the majors, but his speed is for real and he should hit for a high enough average and get on base enough that he could hit at the top of the lineup.

His speed is his biggest asset defensively, allowing him to cover a good deal of ground in center field. He should see at least some big league time in 2012 after a 40-game stint with the team last year.

ETA: 2012

Los Angeles Dodgers: CF Alfredo Silverio

2011 Stats: .306/.340/.542, 16 HR, 85 RBI, 90 R, 11 SB at Double-A

A late bloomer, the now 24-year-old Silverio has been playing professionally for the Dodgers since he was 17 but it was not until last season that he finally broke out.

Posting career highs in practically everything except steals, he put himself on the top prospect map and earned himself an appearance in the Futures Game.

With his power-speed combination and plus outfield arm (19 assists last season), he could be in Los Angeles sooner rather than later as they have a clear hole in left field.

ETA: Late 2012

Miami Marlins: LF Christian Yelich

2011 Stats: .312/.388/.484, 15 HR, 77 RBI, 73 R, 32 SB at Single-A

One of the top high school position players taken in the 2010 draft, Yelich was the Marlins' first-round pick and the 23rd overall selection.

After playing just 12 games after signing, he showed a full range of skills in his first pro season last year.

The team still needs to decide if his future is in center field or one of the corners, but he already has a very professional approach at the plate, with very good on-base skills and an impressive power-speed combination. If he responds well to Double-A pitching, he could be in the big leagues in 2013.

ERA: Late 2013

Milwaukee Brewers: None

The Brewers farm system is greatly lacking in positional talent, and is lacking in anyone anywhere near a five-tool player.

Outfielder Logan Schafer profiles as a speedy leadoff-type hitter, and third baseman Taylor Green has the power to be an impact third baseman, but the position talent begins and ends there.

They did have a solid talent in Lorenzo Cain, who had a.312 BA, 16 HR, 81 RBI and 16 SB last season in the Royals system; he came to the Brewers as part of the Zack Greinke deal last offseason.

Minnesota Twins: CF Joe Benson

2011 Stats: .284/.387/.491, 16 HR, 67 RBI, 71 R, 14 SB at Double-A

A second-round pick in the 2006 draft, Benson didn't reach Double-A for the first time until 2010 when he broke out with a 27-HR season after tallying just 19 HR in his first three pro seasons.

The power has come around, but he has always had fantastic range,a rocket arm in the outfield and good enough speed to steal double-digit bags

Now with Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel potentially on their way out in free agency, Benson could be competing with fellow top prospects Ben Revere and Aaron Hicks for playing time in what will be a revamped Minnesota outfield.

ETA: Late 2012

New York Mets: RF Cesar Puello

2011 Stats: .259/.313/.397, 10 HR, 50 RBI, 67 R, 19 SB at High Single-A

Puello spent his first two pro seasons in the Rookie League before debuting in Low Single-A in 2010 at the age of 19 and showing some impressive potential.

While his average fell with the move to High Single-A last year (.292 to .259) he was still just 20 years old and his physical tools are impressive to say the least.

With another year of seasoning, the solidly built 6'2" prospect should only get more disciplined at the plate and fundamental in the field. He is still a long way off from the majors, but has more potential than any other hitter in the Mets system.

ETA: Late 2014

New York Yankees: CF Mason Williams

2011 Stats: .349/.395/.468, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 42 R, 28 SB at Low Single-A

A steal when he fell to the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2010 draft, Williams bring a very mature approach to the plate despite being taken out of high school.

He is a fantastic athlete, and that makes him an asset defensively, as he was originally drafted as a shortstop. Offensively, he is a terrific contact hitter who can hit it to all fields, and his power is the only real question at this point.

At 6' and only 150 pounds he could certainly develop 15-home-run power as he fills out, but at least should be a plus hitter with gap power.

ETA: 2015

Oakland Athletics: RF Michael Taylor

2011 Stats: .272/.360/.456, 16 HR, 64 RBI, 51 R, 14 SB at Triple-A

The key piece that the Phillies sent to the Blue Jays to acquire Roy Halladay, Taylor emerged as one of baseball's top prospects after a .320 BA, 20 HR, 84 RBI, 21 SB season in 2009.

However, since then he has regressed a bit and he will be 26 next season with just 11 big league games under his belt.

Still the 6'5" outfielder has the the physical tools and minor league track record to at least get a shot at a regular big league job; with all three of the A's starting outfielders from last year gone in free agency he could be one to watch in 2012.

ETA: 2012

Philadelphia Phillies: SS Tyler Greene

2011 Stats: .276/.386/.379, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 9 R, 5 SB at Rookie League

With a strong commitment to the University of Georgia, Greene fell to the 11th round of last year's draft despite being evaluated as a second-round talent.

He is a solid defensive shortstop with a strong arm, and he should be able to stay at the position in the pros. His bat projects to be a solid average-power mix if he can adapt to minor league pitching, and he could wind up being one of the steals of the 2011 draft and the heir to Jimmy Rollins in Philadelphia.

ETA: 2015

Pittsburgh Pirates: CF Starling Marte

2011 Stats: .332/.370/.500, 12 HR, 50 RBI, 91 R, 24 SB at Double-A

A Dominican native, Marte had not played above Single-A before last season and was looking to continue his progression as he opened the 2011 season in Double-A at the age of 22.

He did more than that though, as he broke out in a big way, displaying power that he had not shown previously. Add that to his plus speed, solid contact rate, and what is the best arm in the organization (18 assists in 2011) and he is the real deal as a five-tool player.

ETA: Late 2012

San Diego Padres: LF Jaff Decker

2011 Stats: .236/.373/.417, 19 HR, 92 RBI, 90 R, 15 RBI at Double-A

Looking at him, the 5'10" and 200-pound Decker is a stout player in the Matt Stairs mold. However, he is a fantastic hitter and impressive athlete for his size.

His average has fallen in each of the past three years as he has progressed through the minors, but he still has plus power and he walks a ton. He has a strong arm (11 assists in 2011) and surprising speed for his size, and he projects to be a high-OBP guy at the big league level who can do a little of everything.

ETA: Late 2012

San Francisco Giants: CF Gary Brown

2011 Stats: .336/.407/.519, 14 HR, 80 R, 115 R, 53 SB at High Single-A

The Giants first-round pick in the 2010 draft, Brown played just 12 games after signing and was absent from the Baseball America Top 100 list to open the season. However, when the midseason rankings were released he checked in at 33rd and he should only go up from there.

Simply put, Brown's 2011 season couldn't have been much better as his numbers were phenomenal across the board.

His peak may be 20 home runs at the next level, if that, but the rest of his tools are top-flight. He is incredibly fast and a fantastic defender with a plus arm (16 assists in 2011) and could be the Giants leadoff hitter by 2014.

ETA: Late 2013

Seattle Mariners: SS Nick Franklin

2011 Stats: .281/.352/.418, 7 HR, 26 RBI, 64 R, 18 SB

Taken out of high school with the 27th overall pick in the 2009 draft, Franklin began his pro career with a monster season when he had a .283 BA, 23 HR, 65 RBI and 25 SB as he reached Double-A at the age of 19.

However, he took a step back last season in the power department, and now entering the 2012 season the Mariners aren't sure what to expect. He certainly has five-tool potential, and if nothing else profiles as a plus offensive shortstop.

ETA: Late 2013

St. Louis Cardinals: 2B Kolten Wong

2011 Stats: .335/.401/.510, 5 HR, 25 RBI, 39 R, 9 SB at Single-A

The Cardinals 2011 first-round pick, Wong starred at the University of Hawaii where he posted ridiculous offensive numbers. He signed early and got 47 games in at Single-A where he continued his offensive assault.

Not a five-tool player in the traditional sense, all of Wong's tools grade as plus at second base where he could hit 15 home runs and steal 20 bases while hitting over .300 and playing above-average defense. He is incredibly polished and could see big league action as early as this coming season.

ETA: Late 2012

Tampa Bay Rays: CF Mikie Mahtook

2011 Stats: Did Not Play

The offensive leader at LSU, Mahtook was one of a handful of the Rays' first-round picks and joined George Springer as the top college outfielders in the draft.

He shouldn't spend much time in the minors, and while his stats may not blow people away, he profiles as a solid MLB starter who could hit .300 and consistently tally double-digit steals and home runs while playing a solid center field.

ETA: Late 2013

Texas Rangers: SS Jurickson Profar

2011 Stats: .286/.390/.493, 12 HR, 65 RBI, 86 R, 23 SB at Single-A

A former Little League World Series star, Profar is an elite talent and one of the top overall prospects in baseball. He was just 18 years old last season but dominated in a full season at Single-A.

He'll likely move to second base in the minors if Elvis Andrus is still around, but he is an above-average shortstop with a very good arm—and that would make for an amazing double play combination.

He still has plenty of filling out to go, and he has 30-30 potential with at least 20-20 expected. Really how many 18-year-olds draw more walks than strikeouts (65-63)? A rare talent who will be a superstar.

ETA: Late 2013

Toronto Blue Jays: CF Anthony Gose

2011 Stats: .253/.349/.415, 16 HR, 59 RBI, 87 R, 70 SB at Double-A

Acquired from the Astros following the Roy Oswalt trade, there is little question what tool is the most impressive on Gose—he has tallied 194 steals in three minor league seasons.

However, he has five-tool potential and displayed the best power numbers of his career last year. He still strikes out a lot and needs to improve his on-base skills, but his defense is stellar and his wheels are among the best in all of minor league baseball.

ETA: 2013

Washington Nationals: RF Bryce Harper

2011 Stats: .297/.392/.501, 17 HR, 58 RBI, 63 R, 26 SB at Single-A and Double-A

The uber-prospect to end all uber-prospects, Harper will have his every move analyzed as he progresses through the Nationals system.

He is still acclimating himself to the outfield after moving out from behind the plate, but the rest of his tools have him set up to be a future superstar. While he may not have 30-steal potential he is a stellar baserunner and has plus speed.

The Nationals will be careful not to rush him, but he could see the majors at the end of next season.

ETA: Late 2012