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The St. Louis Cardinals have one of the best systems in the game thanks to a scouting group that has nabbed a handful of late round gems in recent drafts and some top-shelf arms that compare with the best in the game.
Below are my top 16 prospects with 2012 opening day age, position, and comments on each player. Below the top 16 is a small list of additional notable names. Enjoy.
| Player | Comments | |
| 1 | Shelby Miller (21-RHP) | One of the best arms in the minors has a 93-97 mph fastball to go with a plus curveball and a good frame. He also has above-average control but needs to refine his change up improve his overall command. He, undoubtedly, has ace stuff and needs to only stay healthy to potentially reach it. |
| 2 | Carlos Martinez (20-RHP) | His command and control took a step backwards but the ace potential is still there despite lack of frame. He has one of the best fastballs in the game that can reach triple-digits and adds potentially plus offerings in his change-up and curveball. One year of not-so-great command as a 19-year old will not make me change my mind about him. |
| 3 | Oscar Taveras (19-OF) | One of the best hit tools in the minors with excellent bat speed and hand-eye coordination. He is fun to watch swing from his stance to the max effort he exerts. He even improved his plate discipline last year. He projects to have 15-20 HR power with some predicting the potential for more. He is still below-average in RF but should improve to at least average there thanks to his instincts and decent athleticism. |
| 4 | Tyrell Jenkins (19-RHP) | He is an extremely good athlete with a tall wiry frame that has room left to add muscle. He has a fastball that ranges anywhere from 91-97 with an above-average breaking ball and developing change up. His control is above-average but his command, thanks to his deliver, is a work in progress. He has top of the rotation ability and plenty of time to reach it. |
| 5 | Kolten Wong (21-2B) | Excellent hitter who could be a legitimate .300 hitter with 35+ doubles and 15+ stolen bases each year. He has plus plate discipline and good contact rates to go with above-average defense at 2B. Could be a quick mover due to his advanced approach. |
| 6 | Zack Cox (22-3B) | Cox does not quite have the hit tool of the two position players listed above him but he also has the chance to hit .300 and has 20 HR power potential. He will strike out and could benefit from a little more discipline. His defense is average and there are doubts it will ever be more than that. He could be a solid regular for a long time with the chance for an All-Star appearance or two. |
| 7 | Matt Adams (23-1B) | Huge power from this big left-hander who also has a solid hit tool. He could benefit by being a bit more selective at the plate and improve his plate discipline. He has problems with lefties and is still adjusting to 1B. He could be a regular with some slight improvements. |
| 8 | Jordan Swagerty (22-RHP) | Has a little room left in his frame to add muscle and durability to stick as a starter but he was a reliever in college and the Cardinals moved him back there at the end of the season. He has a low-90s fastball that reaches the mid-90s with a plus slider and developing change to go with above-average control and command. |
| 9 | Trevor Rosenthal (21-RHP) | Looked like a reliever to me until he had a good showing last year in A-ball. He has a mid-90s fastball and his secondary offerings are a bit behind but developing. He also has good control but needs work on his command. Could stick as a starter with the pen as a fallback option. |
| 10 | Eduardo Sanchez (23-RHP) | His plus fastball/slider combo make him a legit high-leverage reliever but lack of size and command are a problem here. |
| 11 | Charlie Tilson (19-OF) | Super athletic and should be able to stay in CF. He has good patience and surprising power for a guy his size to go with excellent speed. Could be a 15/30 leadoff guy in time or a 5th OFer. Good ceiling but low floor. Too early to tell but he has the ability to be a good player. |
| 12 | Matt Carpenter (26-3B) | Excellent plate discipline and his hit tool is above-average but he is barely average at 3B and his power is below-average for a corner. His age makes me believe an improvement is unlikely but he could be an average regular or good utility guy for a long time. |
| 13 | John Gast (23-LHP) | Looks like a pen arm right now but as a lefty with a power fastball and above-average change up. Command is holding him back. |
| 14 | Joe Kelly (23-RHP) | Size, command, and lack of third pitch are why I have always viewed him as a reliever but he is one with good fastball/sinker velocity, a decent breaking ball, and he gets a ton of groundballs. |
| 15 | Ryan Jackson (23-SS) | He is an above-average defender at SS and the glove is nearly ready for The Show. The bat, though, is behind but showed a little potential last year. If he can prove to be a league average hitter he will be a solid regular thanks to his defense. |
| 16 | Lance Lynn (24-RHP) | Couldn’t make it as a back-end starter with low velocity and lack of a third pitch but out of the pen he reaches the mid-90s and his curveball still has plus potential. Could be a high-leverage reliever. |
A few more names to watch: Maikel Cleto (RHP), Adron Chambers (OF), C.J. McElroy (OF)
-Jonathan C. Mitchell can be found writing about the Tampa Bay Rays at DRaysBay and the Florida Marlins at ESPN’s SweetSpot site Marlins Daily. You can follow him on twitter at @FigureFilbert. Be sure to follow MLBdirt at @MLBdirt
Filed under: On the Farm - Prospects Tagged: | 2012 Top Prospects, Adron Chambers, C.J. McElroy, Carlos Martinez, Carlos Matias, Charlie Tilson, Eduardo Sanchez, Joe Kelly, John Gast, Jordan Swagerty, Kolten Wong, Lance Lynn, Maikel Cleto, Matt Adams, Matt Carpenter, Oscar Taveras, Prospects, Ryan Jackson, Shelby Miller, St. Louis Cardinals, Trevor Rosenthal, Tyrell Jenkins, Zack Cox
[...] Shelby Miller (RHP – STL) [...]
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[...] came into the 2012 season ranked 90th on my overall prospect list and 6th in my St. Louis Cardinals top prospect list. After hitting .306/.363/.434 across High-A and Double-A last season Cox has fallen to a [...]
[...] came into the 2012 season ranked 90th on my overall prospect list and 6th in my St. Louis Cardinals top prospect list. After hitting .306/.363/.434 across High-A and Double-A last season Cox has fallen to a [...]