Chicago Cubs Top 15 Prospects

                          
1. Javier Baez SS                                   A
As good of a player that Starlin Castro is, Javier Baez has the chance to be better. That is saying a lot considering that you would be hard pressed to find a better young shortstop than Castro currently in the majors. When drafted 9th overall in 2011, there were some questions both about Baez's ability to remain at short and his makeup. In his first professional season Baez has done a lot to shore up those concerns. Surprisingly, Baez showed great range and solid hands in the field. If he fills out a lot more he might have to move over to third, but the Cubs will likely give him every opportunity to remain there as long as possible. Despite concerns about his maturity in high school, Baez played with an aggressive but respectful approach in 2012. They were no major incidents with his behavior last season. Baez's real value lies at the plate, where he has garnered comparisons to a young Gary Sheffield. Baez generates tremendous bat speed, his hands might be quicker than any player in the minor leagues. Baez hits hard and often, and his future bat and hit tools have been graded as high as 65 and 70, respectively. The Puerto Rican native demolished Midwest League pitching, posting an impressive .383/ .596./.979 line for Peoira. Baez has above average speed paired with excellent instincts that should allow him to steal 15 or more bases annually. Baez scuffled a bit after a promotion to Daytona, however this season was a huge success on the whole, as he truly excelled in all aspects of the game. If Baez continues to develop at such a rapid pace, Castro could find himself as an expendable trade chip in the not so distant future. He would certainly be able to net Theo and the Cubs a bounty of young arms.
2. Albert Almora OF                         B+   
Almora has plus tools in all of the five major categories but it his off the charts intangibles give him a "sixth tool" and truly sets him apart. Almora is an absolute dream for coaches because of his work ethic and genuine love for the game. Almora is very polished for a player just out of high school, and while his upside may not be as high as some of the other first rounders, he has an extremely high floor. The Cubs became enamoured with Almora very early on, and reportedly he was at the very top of their draft board. Needless to say, Theo was delighted to have him when the sixth overall pick came around. Almora has solid speed, but his instincts allow it to play up both on the base pads and in the field. Presently, his fielding ability is his most impressive part of his game. Almora gets great reads of the bat, and defense is really something he takes pride in. Almora makes good contact and  his loose swing generates a lot of line drives. As he adds strength the Mater Academy alum should hit his share of home runs too.
3. Jorge Soler OF                           B+
Following in the footsteps of fellow Cuban star, Yoenis Cespedes, Soler defected from the island to play in the big leagues. Soler signed a deal lasting 9 seasons worth $30 million. Based on their investment, the Cubs hope that Soler will anchor the middle of their line up when paired with Javier Baez to form a formidable 3-4 punch for years to come. Soler certainly has the tools to do it. Soler played professionally in Cuba so he is also more seasoned than most international signees  Soler possesses light-tower power that would probably grade as 70 on the scouting scale.  His hitting ability has been debated fiercely among scouts. His approach at the plate is consistent, but he has a tendency to over swing at times. Soler has a rocket arm so he profiles well as a right fielder. However, he desperately needs to improve his routes in the outfield before he reaches the majors.
4. Ardoys Vizcaino RHP               B
Vizcaino came to Chicago as part of the deal that sent Reed Johnson and Paul Maholm to Atlanta. Vizcaino's long term role is still up in the air at this point. He certainly has the stuff to be a big league starter, but his durability, or lack thereof, combined with previous success out of the pen lead many to believe that he could develop into a high-leverage relief option. With a fastball that operates between 93-97 out of the bullpen and a plus curve, I could see Vizcaino in the future closer's role for the Cubs. Vizcaino is also developing a third plus pitch as his change has made huge strides recently. With Carlos Marmol appearing to be on the way out of the windy-city I could see this happening sooner than later. However, Vizcaino missed all of 2012 with an elbow injury, so he more than likely will open 2013 in AAA.
5. Dan Vogelbach 1B                   B
To say that Vogelbach has a "bad body" would be a dramatic understatement. He does not look like he would be able to play in an adult softball league, let alone professional baseball. He is under 6 feet, and generously listed at 260 lbs. His high school recruiting pictures are comical, but he has worked hard to shed  some of that weight since his amateur days. In the field he will likely always be a liability no matter where he plays. With all that said, there is actually a lot to like about Vogelbach. Vogelbach works extremely hard to make up for his weaknesses and is reportedly a very good teammate. At the dish he showed a very promising approach and the ability to hit for both power and average. He was red-hot for two different Cub's affiliations (AZL and Boise) where he posted a gaudy .410/.641/1.051 slashline.  At times it seems that he can literally hit the ball a mile and in 2012 he averaged about one  home run in about every 14 at at bats. Vogelbah's ability to draw a walk makes him about as complete of hitter as you can find. If he doesn't eat himself out of baseball, Vogelbach could wind up as a steal for the Cubs as a second round pick.
6. Dillon Maples P                       B-
Maples was regarded as a near impossible sign out of Pinecrest High in 2011. He was heavily recruited by North Carolina and appeared ready to head to campus (to play both football and baseball) at Chapel Hill. However, Chicago lured him to pro ball just before the deadline with a lofty $2.5 million bonus. Maples' leg was considered to be NFL quality and he is extremely athletic. He has some big time velocity, with a fastball that sits between 93-96, but he needs to work on his location. His curve is plain nasty, with 12-6 break that has the ability to be a plus-plus pitch. Maples really needs to develop a better change up if he wants to remain as a starter though. With his athleticism and stuff Maples has the ceiling of a top of the rotation starter.
7. Brett Jackson OF                     B-
The fact that Jackson comes in at #7 here is indicative of the depth of really good hitting prospect in the Cubs system. Jackson is a great athlete who has a rare speed-power combination, but he hardly makes contact enough for any of his tools to be viable. In fact the Cubs former top prospect fanned in 41% of his at bats split between AAA and the majors. Jackson has also struggled to catch up with the inside fastball so their are concerns if he will ever be able to make an impact at the big league level. On the plus side, when Jackson does hit, he hits hard. Jackson slugged at a .479 clip for Iowa in 2012. Jackson is also a threat to steal a bag as he had 27 steals last season. Unless Jackson is able to make significant adjustments, the comp I would throw on him would be a lesser-version of Drew Stubbs.
8. Pierce Johnson P                      B-
The Cubs used their first of two supplemental picks this year on Pierce Johnson, a college pitcher from Missouri State University. In recent years MSU has been a factory for producing big league arms including the likes of Brad Ziegler, Shaun Marcum and Ross Detwiler that have all passed through the program. Johnson's repertoire includes a low-to-mid 90's heater, a hard curve with 3/4-quarter break, an improving change up and an occasional cutter. Currently his curve is his best pitch, but his fastball could also become an out-pitch if he improves his location. In the past Johnson has had trouble staying on the field, but if he can remain healthy he should rise quickly through the Cubs system.
9. Christian Villanueva 3B             B-
While in the Rangers' organization Villanueva was blocked by top prospect Mike Olt and all-star Adrian Beltre and he appeared to be the odd man out. Luckily for Villanueva, was sent to Chicago in a package that brought Ryan Dempster to Texas. Villanueva did not show up in particularly great shape to camp and got off to a sluggish start in 2012. He rebounded though and posted solid numbers the rest of the way. At the hot corner, Villanueva is a plus defender with a plus arm and good range. He is athletic enough to make a transition to second base justifiable as well. Second might actually be a better home for Villanueva, as he has only average power that doesn't profile well at third. Up to this stage in his career, Villanueva is more of doubles hitter than a home run threat. Villanueva has a compact stroke that should allow him to make solid contact.
10. Jeimer Candelairo                  B-
While Candelairo leaves a lot to be desired in the field and on the bases, he has some huge offensive potential.  Candelairo was the youngest player in the North West League and he managed to hold his own by hitting .281 for Boise. The Dominican switch-hitter has serious raw power and if he taps into it he could hit well over 20 home runs in a season. In order to continue to make contact at the higher levels, Candelairo will need to make a lot of adjustments to his swing. Many evaluators claim that he needs to quiet his hand actions and shorten up his swing. There is a long time for Candelairo to figure things out though as he will only be 19 next season. Candelairo is already a big kid, but he could get even bigger in the next few seasons. I do not think he is quick enough to stay at third so in the long term his niche might end up being at first.
11. Josh Vitters 3B                     B-

Just when it appeared that Vitters was going to be an all-time draft bust, he finally started to make strides in 2011 and earned a August call up to Wrigley. However, it is even more amazing that he is still only 22 years old. The former 3rd overall pick was once regarded as a future superstar with the ability to hit .300 and hit north of 25 home runs in a season. But Vitters appeared to flame out in AA where he hit a dismal .223 in 2010. Just as we began to officially write Vitters off he posted respectable .356/.513/.869 line in AAA. Vitters will likely never develop into the all-star caliber player the Cubs hoped he would, but he could be an every-day player at the hot corner.

12. Matt Sczcar OF                  B-
While Sczcar patrolled center field in the spring for the Wildcats, he played wide receiver for Villanova in the fall. A standout-athlete in both sports, Sczcar was selected in the fifth round by the Cubs in 2010 but he probably could have gone higher in the NFL draft. He intended to return to the NFL draft combine but after a major league debut but after hitting .347 in his limited debut season, he elected to solely focus his efforts on the diamond. Speed is Sczcar's calling card as he swiped 42 bases between two levels in 2012. Sczcar profiles as a table-setter at the big-league level because to go along with his speed, Sczcar has a line-drove that should enable him to hit for a high average. Sczcar hit well in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League, but he hit a wall after a promotion to AA. Sczcar has earned the reputation of a hard-worker and the Cubs are confident that he will be able to bounce back from his struggles and maybe reach the big leagues by next September.
13. Juan Carlos Paniagua RHP    C+
No one really knows how old Paniagua is, but he claims to be 22. Paniagua signed a contract for the third time in August with the Cubs for $1.5 million bonus. He had previously inked a $17, 000 deal in 2009 with the Diamondbacks and then again with the Yankees for $1.1 for the Yankees last year. Both deals were terminated by the MLB because of fraudulent paperwork. Despite all the turmoil, Paniagua is a very talented arm. Paniagua has a live fastball that operates in the 92-95 range and he can reach back for a little more if he needs it. He throws his change up with the same arm speed as his fastball so it is a very deceptive pitch for him. His slider also flashes plus potential but he needs to gain more consistency with it.
14. Duane Underwood                C+
Underwood entered the spring of his senior year with a lot of hype surrounding him and some expected him to go as high as the middle of the first round. However, after an erratic season where the Georgia native struggled to maintain velocity and command his pitches, Underwood slid to the second round. Underwood has an ideal pitchers frame to go along with great stuff. His fastball has touched 98 mph, but his velocity has a tendency to drop off quickly after the fist couple innings. Underwood also has decent feel for his change up. While Underwood may have more upside than any pitcher in the Cubs system, he needs to be more consistent in all parts of his game.
15. Marco Hernandez SS         C+
As a teenager in the Midwest League. Hernandez appeared to be completely over matched in 2012. He was sent back to short season ball where he salvaged his 2012 campaign. While Hernandez hit just .256 last year, he has very good bat control and should hit for a decent average if he improves his pitch recognition. While not particularly strong, Hernandez is athletic and has very good footwork at the short. He should be able to either player short or second in the big leagues. If he adds some size he could hit for 10-15 home runs annually.

Next Five: Logan Watkins 2B, Junior Lake OF, Arismendy Alcantara SS, Trey Martin OF, Tony Zynch RHP,

Minor League Radar's Preseason 2013 MLB Draft Board

The Big Board

1.) RHP Mark Appel (Stanford Sr.)
2.)OF Clint Frazier (Loganville HS, GA) Profile
3.) RHP Ryne Stanek (Arkansas Jr.) Profile
4.) OF Austin Meadows (Grayson HS, GA) Profile
5.) OF Austin Wilson (Stanford Jr.) Profile
6.) LHP Sean Manaea(Indiana State Jr.)
7.) SS JP Crawford (Lakewood HS, CA)
8.) 1B/OF Domonic Smith (Serra HS, CA)
9.) 3B/1B Kris Bryant (San Diego Jr.) Profile
10.) RHP Jordan Sheffield (Tullahoma HS, TE)
11.) C Reese McGuire (Kentwood HS, WA) Profile
12.) SS Oscar Mercado (Gaither HS, FL)  Profile
13.) RHP Kohl Stewart (St. Pius HS, TX) Profile
14.) 3B Drew Ward (Leedey HS, OK) *
15.) LHP/OF Trey Ball (New Castle, IN) 
16.) OF Justin Williams (Terrebone HS, LA) Profile
17.) RHP Jonathon Crawford (Florida Jr.) 
18.) 3B Colin Moran (North Carolina Jr.) Profile
19.) RHP Karsten Whitson (Florida Jr.) Profile
20.) C Jonathan Denney (Yukon HS, OK)
21.) OF Ryan Boldt (Red Wing HS. MN) Profile
22.) RHP Bobby Wahl (Ole Miss Jr.) Profile
23.) LHP Ian Clarkin (James Madison HS, CA)
24.) OF Aaron Judge (Frenso State Jr.)
25.) LHP Robert Kaminsky (St. Joseph Regional HS, NJ)
26.) C Jeremy Martinez (Mater Dei HS, CA)
27.) RHP Ryan Eades (LSU Jr.)
28.) RHP Trevor Williams (Arizona State, Jr.)
29.) LHP Stephen Gonsalves (Catholic HS, Sr.)
30.) LHP Kevin Ziomek (Vanderbilt Jr.)
31.) RHP Dustin Driver (Wenatchee HS, Washington)
32.) LHP AJ Puk (Washington HS, Iowa)
33.) OF Phil Ervin (Samford Jr.)
34.) C Chris Okey (Eustis HS, Florida)
35.) RHP Marco Gonzales (Gonzaga Jr.)
36.) RHP Clinton Hollon (Woodford County HS, Kentucky)
37.) SS/3B Andy McGuire (James Madison HS, Virginia)
38.) SS JaCoby Jones (LSU Jr.)
39.) LHP Garrett Williams (Calvary Baptist HS, Louisiana)
40.) RHP/ OF Michael Lorenzon (Cal State Fullerton Jr.)
41.) 1B Rowdy Tellez (Elk Grove HS, California)
42.) 3B Cavan Biggio (St. Thomas HS, Texas)
43.) 3B Trey Williams (College of the Canyons FR)
44.) 1B/OF Nick Longhi (Venice HS, Florida)
45.) 1B DJ Peterson (New Mexico Jr.)
46.) C Chris Okey (Eustis HS, Florida)
47.) C Nick Ciuffo (Lexington HS, South Carolina)
48.) RHP Brett Morales (King HS, Florida)
49.) RHP Corey Knebel (Texas Jr.)
50.) RHP Dominic Taccolini (Kempner HS, Texas)

2013 Colorado Rockies Top 15 Prospects

                                                  

1. David Dahl                                                Prospect Rating: 650
It is hard to get off to a hotter start than David Dahl did in his 2012 debut. Despite being one of the youngest regulars in the Pioneer League, Dahl raked and hit .379 on his way to the league batting crown. Furthermore, he paced the circuit in OPS and hits. Dahl has legitimate five-tool potential and has likened comparisons to both a young  Johnny Damon and Grady Sizemore. Dahl has a picture-perfect swing that should generate solid power numbers to go along with excellent speed. If Dahl improves his jump, he could prove to be a major threat on the base pads. Dahl has very mature approach at the dish and could be a fast-riser in the Rockies System. After Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton, David Dahl could have more upside than any high school player in his draft class. 

2. Nolan Arenado                                      Prospect Ranking: 650

Arenado has the makings of both a complete offensive and defensive player. While he will probably never post gaudy-home run totals, he has an above-average hit tool and projects to be a run producer. He should hit for 15-20 home runs a season with gap power that could translate into a lot of doubles. Arenado has strong hands that enable him to hit balls to all parts of the diamond, especially to the opposite field. Arenado put up eye-popping numbers in his 2011 campaign, where he led the minors with 122 RBIs and was awarded AFL MVP- but he was not the same player this year. He struggled profusely during the middle of the year for AA Tulsa, but he finished on a tear to wind up with a respectable .337/.428/.766 line.  His has worked hard to improve his foot-speed and hands at the hot corner. His manager at Modesto, Jerry Weinstein,  said that he was "as good as a young defensive player as I have seen in my years in the game." Unfortunately, Arenado's makeup is a cause of concern amongst many scouts. He plays the game with low energy. Hopefully for the Rockies he will mature as he continues to age. 

3. Trevor Story                                             Prospect Rating: 650
As a young shortstop with offensive upside and tools that all grade out as above average across the board, Story is a rare commodity. While none of his tools are flashy, his instincts and advanced approach allow them play up on the field. Story will probably never post monster power number but he could hit 15-20 home runs  annually in the big leagues. The ball explodes off his bat and when he really squares up he sounds like a super star. In his 2012 season, he connected for 18 home runs and 43 doubles for Low-A Asheville. In the field, Story has good hands but he likely will be pushed to second or third with all-star Troy Tulowiktzki currently manning short for Colorado.
4. Kyle Parker                                              Prospect Rating: 525
As an amateur Parker shined on both the diamond and gridiron. The former Clemson quarterback has compiled impressive home runs totals in each of his first two minor league seasons. 2012 saw Parker boost his average and cut down on his strike outs as he posted a .415/.562/.976 slashline. However, Parker's number have been inflated by the hitter friendly climates he has been exposed too in the last two years. In addition, Parker has not really been challenged by competition so far in his career. Coming out of college the Rockies sent him to Low-A for the entire season, and her remained in High-A all of this year. 2013 should be a telling year for Parker as he makes adjustments to AA.
5. Tim Wheeler                                            Prospect Rating: 525
After underachieving his first two professional season, Wheeler had a breakout year in 2011 where he finished second in the minor leagues with 33 home runs. However, Wheeler's power numbers fell off the map with just 2 home runs in all of 2012. This can partially be chalked up to a broken hamate injury that limited him to just 92 games for Colorado Springs. I am confident that Wheeler's power numbers will climb back to normal as his swing is tailor-made for hitting homers. Wheeler has a very quick lower-body that enables him to really get his hips open and  generate power. Wheeler also possesses well-above average speed and some scouts think he could steel upwards of 20 bags in a season. Unfortunately, Wheeler has a lot of swing and miss to his game (he fanned 142 times in 2011). Additionally, Wheeler has always really struggled against southpaws. If lefties continue to plague him, he could wind up as just a platoon player for the Rockies.
6.) Tyler Anderson                                    Prospect Rating: 500
Anderson's stuff is far from overpowering, but he has an outstanding feel for pitching which caused me to give him the nod over Chad Bettis.  Anderson fastball sits in the 89-93 range with some movement, but the lefties best pitch by far is his change up. A very-high leg kick gives Anderson some deception in his delivery and allows him to tally good strike out totals. Anderson dominated the Sally League in his first professional season, with a 12-3 mark and an 2.47 ERA. Anderson's curve is very slow and often forces batters to get way out in front of it. If everything comes together for the Oregon Alum, he could develop into a 3-starter in the MLB.
7.) Chad Bettis                                         Prospect Rating: 500
While Bettis has top of the rotation stuff, but he was a reliever in college, and I envision him returning to the pen before it is all said in done. Regardless, Bettis throws a lively fastball that sits in the upper 90's. He is also able to maintain his velocity in the late-innings of games. A shoulder injury sidelined Bettis for all of 2012 and slowed his progression to Coors Field. Prior to the injury however Bettis dominated minor league hitters. Since be drafted in the second round of 2010, Bettis has recorded an ERA of 2.70 and has struck out an average of 9.76 hitters per 9 innings. Bettis' slider is also a plus offering but he has yet to develop a good feel for his change. Bettis' ability to command a third pitch should dictate whether or not he will remain a starter.
8.) Edwar Cabrera                                  Prospect Rating:475
Similar to Anderson, Cabrera is a control-oriented pitcher who's only plus offering is his change up. Actually, his change up is more than plus pitch. In fact, it might be one of the best in the entire minor leagues. Cabrera stuck out 217 batters, more than any pitcher in the minors, in his 2011 season.In his 2012 campaign  he dominated in AA before getting the call to the show, where he got rocked, and then pitched very well for Colorado Springs in AAA. If Cabrera continues to keep the ball down in the lower half of the strike zone, he should not be able to carve out a long career as a middle to back of the rotation starter. If not, he will likely be converted to a reliever.
9.) Will Swanner                                     Prospect Rating: 475
Swanner has virtually no chance at sticking behind the plate from what I see. His receiving skills are dreadful and struggles to control runners on the base pads. I envision him as a left fielder somewhere down the road, as he is fairly athletic for a backstop. Swanner is an offensive-minded prospect with a good chance to hit for both plus power and average. Swanner has a breakout season in 2011, where he hit over .300 with 16 home runs for Asheville. Power is Swanner's calling-card, and it is at least a plus tool if not better. His swing generates a lot of loft and has the potential to hit between 20-25 homers a year. If Swanner improves his pitch-recognition, which needs a lot of work, he should continue to hit for a high average. If not, some wholes in his swing will be exposed and he might strike out too much to ever make an impact.
10.) Jayson Aquino                               Prospect Rating: 475
Following the trend Cabrera and Anderson set, Aquino does not possesses and electric fastball but has a plus change up. Readings on his fastball usually sit in the 90-92 range, however he could add a tick or two if he ads some strength. After dominating the Dominican Summer League for three consecutive summers, Aquino got the call to the states when he was assigned to the Pioneer League this August. Aquino built upon his success in 7 starts for Grand Junction where he posted a WHIP of just 0.99 and an ERA of 1.87. There is not a lot to go off here, so Aquino could rank much higher, or lower, depending on how his first professional season fairs.
11.) Eddie Butler                                  Prospect Rating: 475
I was a little surprised when the Rockies nabbed him in the sandwich round last June, but so far he is making Colorado look really good. Butler is the product of a small college, Radford, and he is not a particularly imposing physical presence on the mound. However, Butler is an aggressive pitcher with huge velocity. His heater has a lot of sink, and when he rears back he can notch it up to 97 MPH. Butler has yet to develop a feel for his change up, and his ability to do so will affect his his long term role. In his debut, Butler overpowered Pioneer League hitters, with an ERA of just 2.13.

12.) Rafael Ortega                               Prospect Rating: 450
Ortega was on a sluggish pace to the big leagues before receiving an unprecedented three-level promotion from High A to the Colorado. Despite the unusual situation, Ortega was collected and showed a lot of poise in his debut. He had two hits, drew a walk, and stole a base. Ortega is a solid all-around prospect with speed being his best tool. However, after getting caught in one third of his attempts this year, he will need to improve his jump. With the bat, Ortega makes solid contact, especially from the left side. Ortega will never be a slugger, but he has the potential to hit for decent pop if he adds some much needed strength.

13.)  Tom Murphy                                Prospect Rating: 425
Murphy is a solid catcher across the boards, and unlike Swanner, I think he will be able to remain at the position. He has good hands and enough arm strength to profile as a backstop. Murphy will need to work on the accuracy and timing over his throws to successfully defend the running game. Murphy's power was on display in the North West League this summer where he hit 6 homers, 13 doubles, and 3 triples in his 55-game debut.
14.) Corey Dickerson                        Prospect Rating: 400
After going-yard a league leading 32 times in 2011, many people in the industry attributed Dickerson's performance to the hitter friendly environment he played in while at Asheville. Asheville's home stadium, McCormick Field, is a bandbox that has some of shortest dimensions in all of the minors. However, Dickerson continued his success by slugging .542 and reaching AA. Dickerson has fringy-speed, but has good instincts that allowed him to swipe 16 bags last year. Dickerson is a poor defender in left,but his bat is what will carry him as a prospect.
15.) Charlie Culberson                     Prospect Rating: 375
Culberson mashed in the CAL league in 2010, but since then his bat has come back to earth. He still shows potential to be a solid offensive players with above average pop for a middle-infielder. Culberson is a hard nosed play with exceptional baseball bloodlines. His father and grandfather played professionally and he is related to Hall of Fame inductee George Sisler. Culberson, got a cup of coffee for Colorado but he looked slightly overpowered in most of his at bats. Culberson will need to make a lot of refinements to his approach at the plate in order to ensure a productive big league career.

Next Five: Tyler Maztek LHP, Kevin Matthes OF, Peter Tago RHP, Christhian Adames SS, Rosell Herrera SS

2013 Minnesota Twins Top 15 Prospects

                                                                   Minnesota Twins
                      

1.) Miguel Sano 3B                                           Prospect Rating: 725
 Sano might have more power than any player in the minors leagues since Giancarlo Stanton reached the majors in 2010. He is already a physical specimen and will continue to grow as he gets older. The product of the Dominican Republic was perhaps the most highly touted prospect from the island in the last decade. His story was documented in the critically acclaimed Pelotero this past year. And the hype around Sano is well warranted; Sano's power tool is an easy 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale. In his 2011 campaign, Sano ranked  2nd in Appalachian League with 20 homers (in just 66 games) as an 18-year old. In his first year of full season ball Sano paced the Midwest League in home runs, total bases, and RBIs. However their are some areas of Sano's game that are red flags. Sano struck out an average of 32% of his at bats last season. While strike outs will always be a part of his game, most scouts are confident that with more polish he will hit for average along with power. He also draws a lot of walks to help off set all the K's he piles up. Defense is also a question mark for Sano. Originally drafted as a SS, Sano already outgrew the position. He has been converted to third base, but he needs a lot more polish to handle the hot corner. There is a chance he could wind up in Right in the future as well. You are certainly buying into the bat first here, so defense takes as back seat at this point.
2.) Byron Buxton OF                                      Prospect Rating: 700
As load as Sano's tools are, Buxton's may be louder. Buxton was widely regarded as the best prospect in the 2012 draft, and the Twins nabbed him with the 2nd pick last June. Buxton has big time raw power and speed that make scouts drool. He doesn't have a tone of present power, but he has lightning quick hands that generate tremendous bat speed. He is a burner on the base paths too. In center he covers a ton of ground and has a plus arm. He should almost certainly be able to stick there. Unfortunately, Buxton is a very raw talent and may be as many as 5 years away from the big leagues. However, if everything comes together for the native Georgian, watch out.
3.) Eddie Rosario 2B                                      Prospect Rating: 600

Rosario has great pop for a second baseman, and he even out slugged Miguel Sano in the Appalachian League with 21 home runs in 2011. This year he continued his success as he posted  a .347/.499/.846 triple slash-line for Low-A Beloit. He has excellent bat speed, and should continue to hit for decent power as he reaches the next level. Rosario has a refined approach at the dish and appears to have a different plan for every at bat. Defensively, some scouts question whether he has good enough hands to remain a second. He may have to make the move back to the outfield where he began his career as a professional.
4.) Oswaldo Arcia OF                                  Prospect Rating:575
Arcia is yet another bat in Minnesota's system that can flat out rake. After hitting very well for Fort. Myers, Arcia elevated his game even more after a promotion to New Britain. He slugged at .559 clip and hit .328 for the Rock Cats in 69 games. Arcia projects as solid corner outfielder with the potential to  have above average power. He also has a good track-record for having a high average in the minors, but to maintain his success he will need to improve his plate discipline and cut down on his strikeouts.
5.) Aaron Hicks OF                                     Prospect Rating: 525
Aaron Hicks has long been one of the most of the most frustrating prospects in baseball. He is a great athlete oozing with talent, but he has never been able translate his skills into performance. Hicks has solid pop, great speed, a balanced approach, and a rocket for an arm but it almost seemed that like he would never make enough contact to use any of his assets. Everything finally started to come together for the 2008 draftee this year. He hit .287, swiped 32 bags a year, and added 13 homers. While Hick's progress is significantly behind the schedule, he is still only 22. He could get his first taste of the show sometime late this year.
6.) Max Kepler OF                                     Prospect Rating: 500
Few prospects have more interesting backgrounds than Twins' outfielder Max Kepler. Kepler inked an $800, 000 bonus out of Germany, the highest ever for a European signee. He is the son of Polish and American ballet dancers who raised Kepler in Berlin. Kepler has a big-rangy frame and has some serious power potential. He has a pretty swing from both sides of the plate, especially from the left. The German native started to harness his tools and made huge strides in 2012. He made good contact (.297) and connected for 10 home runs for Elizabethton.
7.) J.O. Berrios RHP                                   Prospect Rating: 500
In a banner year for the island, J.O. Berrios was the top arm from Puerto Rico in the 2012 draft. Berrios already has a live arm but there is not a lot of projection left for him. At 6'0" 190 Lbs. he is probably maxed out physically, but his heater comfortably sits between 92-95 and he has reportedly been clocked at 98. Berrios has an aggressive approach and he pounds away at the lower portion of the strike zone. He has a hammer curve that could develop as a plus pitch. His change up is a step or two behind his other offerings at this point. The Papa Juan XXIII graduate has #2 starter potential if he reaches his ceiling. However, there is a decent chance he will end up in the pen because of his size. 
8.) Kyle Gibson RHP                                Prospect Rating: 500
Once an elite prospect, injuries have forced Gibson to fall in recent years. He pitched under 30 innings  in 2011 and time is running out for him to reach potential. At 6'6" Gibson has a huge precense on the mound. His fastball sits in the low 90's with a lot of sink and is at least an average pitch. His best offering is his slider which has a sharp break. Gibson has good command of his pitches and if he can stay healthy he should be pitching in Minnesota this Summer. 

9.)Travis Harrison 3B                              Prospect Rating: 500
Travis Harrison profiles as a corner infielder with solid offensive upside. Harrison spurned the Gamecocks when he took a $1.05 million offer to sign with the Twins in 2011. Harrison's bat is his calling card, as he projects to hit for both average and power. He has a balanced swing that generates a lot of line drives. He could stick at third, but he more than likely will move across the diamond to first.
10.) Adrian Salcedo RHP                         Prospect Rating: 475
Salcedo will probably never be a front-line starter, but he could prove to be to be an asset as a back of the rotation guy with a great feel for pitching. Salcedo can throw all of his pitches (fastball, curve, and change up) for strikes and rarely allows free-passes. Salcedo doesn't blow up the radar guns, but if he add couple pounds to his wirey frame he could add a couple ticks on his velocity. Salcedo has one thing going for him; he gets a ton of movement on his pitches. After missing most of his 2012 season due to injuries, it will be interesting to see how Salcedo bounces back this year. 
11.)Hudson Boyd RHP                          Prospect Rating: 475        
Boyd was selected out of Bishop Verot High School with the 55th overall pick in the 2011 draft. Boyd features a solid fastball that sits between 90-94 mph and a nasty curve. His breaking ball has hard, sharp movement that could be an out pitch for him. Boyd's biggest problem is his weight. After signing Boyd reportedly weighed  close 280 Lbs, but he has shed 35 lbs. of fat since high school. It is interesting to note that he hired the wife of fellow Twins prospect, Kyle Gibson, as his nutritionist. If Boyd is able to keep his body in check he could develop into a workhorse-type starter for the Twins. 
12.)J.T. Chargois RHP                          Prospect Rating: 425
While attending Rice Chargois was a two way player for the Owls, but his future clearly lies on the hill. He fastball has a  lot of late break and has very good velocity. Chargois would be a quick-riser through the Twins system and has the electric stuff to be a late inning reliever. He has an average curve and decent feel for his change up, but Chargois lacks the durability and command to be a starter. For some scouts, his mechanics are also a cause of concern.
13.) Mason Melotakis LHP                  Prospect Rating: 400
Melokatis is one of many power relief arms in the Twins system. He has a big-time fastball that sits in the mid-90's.. Melokatis also features a slider that flashes plus-potential, but he sometimes has trouble commanding it. Melokatis enjoyed excellent success in his debut season. Between Beloit and Elizabethton he compiled an ERA of 1.88 and struck out 34 batters in just 20 innings of work.
14.) Levi Michael 2B/SS                      Prospect Rating: 375
Michael was regarded as a polished switch-hitter when he was drafted by the Twins in the first round of 2011. However he struggled in his first season hitting just .246 with little pop. Michael possesses good plate discipline and bat control so I would expect him to get back on track in 2013. Michael does not have super-star potential, but he plays good defense at both short and second and could carve out a long career as a big-league utility man.
15.) Madison Boer RHP                     Prospect Rating: 375
Boer was a dominant reliever for Oregon but he has been converted to a starter since signing. Both his fastball and slider are plus pitches but he got hammered in the Florida State League this year. I see him returning to the pen before all is said and done. 


Next Five: Adam Brett Walker OF, Matt Summers RHP, Felix Jorge RHP, Niko Goodrum SS, Luke Bard RHP