2013 Seedlings to Stars Top Prospects: #11-20
By Aaron Somers
We’re almost to the end (or beginning, depending on your perspective) of our rankings of this year’s top prospects. It’s been a long journey getting to this point and I know we’re all anxious to see how the end (beginning?) of the list shapes out. So, without further ado let’s jump right to it.
For perspective, here are the rankings we’ve previously covered:
- #101 through #115 (because I couldn’t settle on just 100 names)
- #91 through #100
- #81 through #90
- #71 through #80
- #61 through #70
- #51 through #60
- #41 through #50
- #31 through #40
- #21 through #30
#20 – Mike Zunino, catcher, Seattle Mariners
Height/Weight: 6’2″, 220
Born: March 25, 1991 (age 21)
2012 Stats (combined between Low-A Everett and Double-A Jackson): .360/.447/.689, 13 HR, 43 RBI, 1 SB, 23 BB, 33 SO, 44 G (190 PA)
It’s rare that a player is drafted at the start of June and finds himself promoted to Double-A before the season concludes. It’s even rarer for that player to play behind the plate. Zunino is a unique talent and possibly one of the best catchers we’ve seen come along in the draft for a number of years.
Bold Prediction: He’ll arrive in Seattle by year’s end, but won’t take on a regular role in the lineup until 2014.
#19 – Christian Yelich, outfielder, Miami Marlins
Height/Weight: 6’4″, 189
Born: December 5, 1991 (age 21)
2012 Stats (with High-A Jupiter): .330/.404/.519, 12 HR, 48 RBI, 20 SB, 49 BB, 85 SO, 106 G (447 PA)
A potential five-tool outfielder, Marlins fans have to hope that Giancarlo Stanton isn’t traded before they can see Yelich take his place in the outfield alongside the slugger.
Bold Prediction: He’ll struggle early at Double-A, but have a solid enough second half to earn a stretch invite to Spring Training next year.
#18 – Danny Hultzen, left-handed pitcher, Seattle Mariners
Height/Weight: 6’3″, 200
Born: November 28, 1989 (age 23)
2012 Stats (combined between Double-A Jackson and Triple-A Tacoma): 9-7, 3.05 ERA, 25 GS, 124.0 IP, 75 BB (5.4 BB/9), 136 K (9.9 K/9), 1.306 WHIP
Hultzen is one of the top left-handed starters in baseball but isn’t even the top pitching prospect in his own organization, which is pretty telling when you think about it.
Bold Prediction: He’ll make his debut in Seattle, but not until after the All Star Break.
Shelby Miller could have a big impact on the Cardinals season and might even challenge for the NL Rookie of the Year Award. (Image Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports)
#17 – Shelby Miller, right-handed pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals
Height/Weight: 6’3″, 195
Born: October 10, 1990 (age 22)
2012 Stats (with Triple-A Memphis): 11-10, 4.74 ERA, 27 GS, 136.2 IP, 50 BB (3.3 BB/9), 160 K (10.5 K/9), 1.376 WHIP
MLB Career: 1-0, 1.32 ERA, 6 G (1 GS), 13.2 IP, 4 BB, 16 K, 0.951 WHIP
Cardinals fans have been waiting for Miller’s arrival ever since he was first drafted and he didn’t disappoint in a brief September callup. He’ll come to Spring Training with a chance at making the team’s rotation right out of the gate and should stick with the team once he does get there.
Bold Prediction: If he spends the full season in St. Louis, expect Miller to challenge for NL Rookie of the Year honors.
#16 – Tyler Skaggs, left-handed pitcher, Arizona Diamondbacks
Height/Weight: 6’3″, 195
Born: (combined between Double-A Mobile and Triple-A Reno): 9-6, 2.87 ERA, 22 GS, 122.1 IP, 37 BB (2.7 BB/9), 116 K (8.5 K/9), 1.218 WHIP
MLB Career: 1-3, 5.83 ERA, 6 GS, 29.1 IP, 13 BB, 21 K, 1.466 WHIP
Skaggs made an extended debut this past seasons with the Diamondbacks and is expected to see even more time with the team this season. Whether that is at the start of the season, however, remains to be seen as he’s not assured of winning a spot in the team’s rotation out of Spring Training.
Bold Prediction: He’ll start the year at Triple-A but will join the D’backs starters before the All Star Break.
#15 – Travis d’Arnaud, catcher, New York Mets
Height/Weight: 6’2″, 195
Born: February 10, 1989 (age 23)
2012 Stats (with Triple-A Las Vegas): .333/.380/.595, 16 HR, 52 RBI, 1 SB, 19 BB, 59 SO, 67 G (303 PA)
Zunino makes most other catchers in the minor leagues look like amateurs at the plate. d’Arnaud might be even better. His 2012 was cut short due to injury and he’s since been traded to the Mets, but d’Arnaud could possibly be the best catching prospect to arrive in the Majors since Matt Wieters.
Bold Prediction: He’s in New York by mid-June and contends for the NL Rookie of the Year Award.
#14 – Nick Castellanos, third baseman/outfielder, Detroit Tigers
Height/Weight: 6’4″, 210
Born: March 4, 1992 (age 20)
2012 Stats (combined between High-A Lakeland and Double-A Erie): .320/.365/.451, 10 HR, 57 RBI, 8 SB, 36 BB, 118 SO, 134 G (584 PA)
Detroit has been experimenting with the idea of moving Castellanos to the outfield, as that’s the quickest way to work him into the lineup considering Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera is locked in at third base. The position change might slow Castellanos’ path to Detroit, as he’s learning on the fly it seems, but he should still be a nice addition once he does arrive.
Bold Prediction: A September callup is all he’ll see this season.
#13 – Trevor Bauer, right-handed pitcher, Cleveland Indians
Height/Weight: 6’1″, 185
Born: January 17, 1991 (age 22)
2012 Stats (combined between Double-A Mobile and Triple-A Reno): 12-2, 2.42 ERA, 22 GS, 130.1 IP, 61 BB (4.2 BB/9), 157 K (10.8 K/9), 1.289 WHIP
MLB Career: 1-2, 6.06 ERA, 4 GS, 16.1 IP, 13 BB, 17 K, 1.653 WHIP
The baseball world was shocked when Arizona dealt Bauer earlier this winter (and was even more so once we learned of their “reasons” for making some of their moves), but the Indians must have known they were getting one of the game’s top young arms.
Bold Prediction: Bauer will spend nearly the full season in Cleveland’s rotation, making the D’backs second guess their questions about his work ethic.
#12 – Archie Bradley, right-handed pitcher, Arizona Diamondbacks
Height/Weight: 6’4″, 225
Born: August 10, 1992 (age 20)
2012 Stats (with Class-A South Bend): 12-6, 3.84 ERA, 27 GS, 136.0 IP, 84 BB (5.6 BB/9), 152 K (10.1 K/9), 1.257 WHIP
Bold Prediction: He’ll jump up to Double-A, but the success won’t be as evident.
#11 – Javier Baez, shortstop, Chicago Cubs
Height/Weight: 6’1″, 205
Born: December 1, 1992 (age 20)
2012 Stats (combined between Class-A Peoria and High-A Daytona): .294/.346/.543, 16 HR, 46 RBI, 24 SB, 14 BB, 69 SO, 80 G (321 PA)
With Starling Castro set in place at short, Baez will eventually have to move off the position. That won’t be anytime soon as he’s still a few years away from being MLB-ready but he could be the best bat that the Cubbies have developed since Castro arrived on scene.
Bold Prediction: Another solid season, but at Double-A.