Baseball America announced its Top 20 Midwest League prospects for 2012 today, and in doing so, it noted that the Low-A league had one of Minor League Baseball’s deepest pools of talent this year. Writer Jim Callis pointed out that “even the group of players who made cameos and didn’t qualify for this list was outstanding: Kane County righthander Kyle Zimmer, Burlington shortstop Addison Russell and Peoria outfielder Jorge Soler.”
The list is topped by the two highly-touted slugging prospects to play in the league this year, Javier Baez and Miguel Sano. I don’t rank prospects, but if I did, I’d probably put those two guys at the head of this year’s MWL class, too.
Here’s the list, along with each player’s 2012 Midwest League stats:
1. Peoria Chiefs SS Javier Baez (.333, 12 HR, 33 RBI, 20 SB in 57 games)
Peoria Chiefs SS Javier Baez swings at a pitch.
2. Beloit Snappers 3B Miguel Sano (.258, 28 HR, 100 RBI, 8 SB in 129 games)
Beloit Snappers 3B Miguel Sano in the field
3. Lake County Captains SS Francisco Lindor (.257, 6 HR, 42 RBI, 27 SB in 122 games)
4. South Bend Silver Hawks RHP Archie Bradley (12-6, 3.84 ERA, 152 strikeouts in 136 IP)
RHP Archie Bradley on the mound for the South Bend Silver Hawks
5. Lansing Lugnuts RHP Noah Syndergaard (8-5, 2.60 ERA, 122 strikeouts in 103.2 IP)
6. Lansing Lugnuts RHP Aaron Sanchez (8-5, 2.49 ERA, 97 strikeouts in 90.1 IP)
Lansing Lugnuts SP Aaron Sanchez on the mound
7. Fort Wayne TinCaps C Austin Hedges (.279, 10 HR, 56 RBI, 14 SB in 96 games)
Fort Wayne TinCaps C Austin Hedges plays catch before Game 2 of the 2012 Midwest League Championship Series.
8. Cedar Rapids Kernels 3B Kaleb Cowart (.293, 9 HR, 54 RBI, 9 SB in 66 games)
9. Fort Wayne TinCaps RHP Matt Wisler (5-4, 2.53 ERA, 113 strikeouts in 114 IP)
10. Burlington Bees RHP A.J. Cole (6-3, 2.07 ERA, 102 strikeouts in 95.2 IP)
11. Lansing Lugnuts LHP Justin Nicolino (10-4, 2.46 ERA, 119 strikeouts in 124.1 IP)
Lansing Lugnuts LHP Justin Nicolino pitches in Game 2 of the 2011 Midwest League Championship Series.
12. Beloit Snappers 2B/OF Eddie Rosario (.296, 12 HR, 70 RBI, 11 SB in 95 games)
Beloit Snappers 2B/OF Eddie Rosario bats during a game earlier this year.
13. Kane County Cougars OF Jorge Bonifacio (.282, 10 HR, 61 RBI, 6 SB in 105 games)
14. Quad Cities River Bandits RHP Tyrell Jenkins (4-4, 5.14 ERA, 80 strikeouts in 82.1 IP)
15. Bowling Green Hot Rods OF Drew Vettleson (.275, 15 HR, 69 RBI, 20 SB in 132 games)
16. Kane County Cougars RHP Kyle Smith (4-3, 2.94 ERA, 87 strikeouts in 67.1 IP)
17. Fort Wayne TinCaps OF Travis Jankowski (.282, 1 HR, 23 RBI, 17 SB in 59 games)
18. Fort Wayne TinCaps RHP Adys Portillo (6-6, 1.87 ERA, 81 strikeouts in 91.2 IP)
19. Fort Wayne TinCaps SS Jace Peterson (.286, 2 HR, 48 RBI, 51 SB in 117 games)
Fort Wayne TinCaps SS Jace Peterson
20. Quad Cities River Bandits 3B Stephen Piscotty (.295, 4 HR, 27 RBI, 3 SB in 55 games)
