By Kevin Goldstein From ESPN.com
I am not a fantasy guy, but here is Goldstein's FANTASY list (see below). Harper tumbled from 2 to 12 and Peacock rocketed up to 9.
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Note: The top 12 fantasy prospects (players currently in the minor leagues) for 2012 are below. These rankings are a bit different from other prospect rankings lists; these are strictly for 2012 fantasy purposes. So not only do talent and recent performance play a role in the rankings, but potential paths to the big leagues also factor in. In addition, all young players in the minors are eligible, including those in "prospect purgatory," those who have exceeded rookie status but are still young and unproven commodities.
1. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels (Last week's rank: 1)
Last week's stats (at Triple-A Salt Lake): 9-for-24 (.375), 3 RBIs, 1 SB
Season totals: .383, HR, 7 RBIs, 4 SBs in 15 games
Update: Trout hasn't slowed down one bit, and Vernon Wells hasn't exactly sped up, though he has shown some power of late. With the Angels in last place in the American League West, the Angels should start feeling additional pressure to stop worrying about contracts and focus on winning, and Trout makes them a better team right now.
What he can do: He'll be an immediate fantasy boon the moment he arrives in the big leagues, given his ability to hit for average, steal bases and pop a few home runs.
2. Travis Snider, OF, Toronto Blue Jays (Last week's rank: 5)
Last week's stats (at Triple-A Las Vegas): 12-for-24 (.500), HR, 9 RBIs, SB
Season totals: .431-3-18, SB in 13 games
Update: Sure, Snider has flamed out in previous big league stints, but if the Blue Jays are going to take advantage of the slower-than-expected starts from a few of the division's powerhouses, it's time to see if Snider can outproduce Eric Thames in left field, which at this point wouldn't take much.
What he can do: Hit for average, get on base and hit for power. The problem is he's supposed to have done this two years ago, so while he deserves another opportunity, there are no guarantees.
3. Garrett Richards, SP, Angels (Last week's rank: 6)
Last week's stats (at Triple-A Salt Lake): 7⅔ IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K's
Season totals: 2-0, 2.14 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 21 IP, 21 K's
Update: Jerome Williams was named the Angels' fifth starter and proceeded to get pulled in the third inning after allowing five runs in his 2012 debut. Meanwhile, Richards delivered his third straight excellent start in the Pacific Coast League. A swap of the two would actually be far less painful than bringing up Trout, and the Angels do need a kick-start.
What he can do: Richards can eat up innings, rack up strikeouts and get wins once the Angels' offense gets going. He makes for a nice, cheap pickup.
4. Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B, Cleveland Indians (Last week's rank: 7)
Last week's stats (at Triple-A Columbus): 12-for-32 (.375), HR, 4 RBIs
Season totals: .344-4-9 in 15 games
Update: As long as Jack Hannahan keeps hitting, Chisenhall will remain at Triple-A. But Hannahan is not going to keep hitting. The Chisenhall questions are starting to show up in the local media, and he has done wonders by taking his demotion in stride and raking.
What he can do: Chisenhall is a plus hitter who should provide a solid batting average, and his power surge gives more confidence that he can hit 15-20 home runs annually once he gets established.
5. Josh Fields, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers (Last week: unranked)
Last week's stats (at Triple-A Albuquerque): 12-for-28 (.429), 2 HR, 6 RBIs
Season totals: .327-3-9 in 15 games
Update: He's hardly a prospect anymore, but the 2004 first-round pick who spent part of last season in Japan could be called up as a result of Juan Uribe's wrist injury. He's the hot hand at Albuquerque, he can play the position, and that just might be enough.
What he can do: Fields has always had power, but the amount of swing-and-miss in his game has always prevented him from tapping into it. At 29, he's not going to get better suddenly, but he could luck into a few bombs.
6. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies (Last week's rank: 3)
Last week's stats (at Double-A Tulsa): 7-for-20 (.350), HR, 4 RBIs
Season totals: .375-1-9 in 13 games
Update: Arenado isn't down three rankings slots because of anything he did wrong. Rather it's because Chris Nelson has suddenly taken hold of the big league third-base job while keeping his batting average around .300. If anything, it's a temporary glitch in the program; Arenado still should get plenty of big league at-bats in 2012.
What he can do: Arenado is a special hitter who should produce a high batting average right away, but even with Coors Field as his home, the power might take some time to manifest.
7. Brad Peacock, SP, Oakland Athletics (Last week: unranked)
Last week's stats (at Triple-A Sacramento): 13 IP, 6 H, 2 R (1 ER), 4 BB, 11 K's
Season totals: 1-1, 1.42 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 19 IP, 17 K's
Update: Tyson Ross got the call to be the team's fifth starter this week, but Peacock shouldn't be far behind. The league will catch on to Tommy Milone and Graham Godfrey as the season wears on, and Peacock has far better stuff than either of them. Meanwhile, Pacific Coast League hitters have yet to challenge him.
What he can do: Wins might be tough to come by in Oakland, but Peacock is an excellent fantasy sleeper; he can miss bats and maintain a low walk rate.
8. Welington Castillo, C, Cubs (Last week: unranked)
Last week's stats (at Triple-A Iowa): 7-for-17 (.412), HR, 3 RBIs
Season totals: .387-2-6 in 10 games
Update: With the Cubs already in an early-season tailspin, the team might feel more pressure to take a look at the kids from Iowa. First baseman Anthony Rizzo and outfielder Brett Jackson are the more well-known names, but like Castillo, they might require trades to get an opportunity. That said, Geovany Soto could be a nice trade chip for the Cubs, with catching at a premium.
What he can do: Castillo has the ability not only to be an everyday catcher, but to be a good offensive one who helps in both the batting average and power categories.
9. Leonys Martin, OF, Texas Rangers (Last week: unranked)
Last week's stats (at Triple-A Round Rock): 9-for-26 (.346), HR, 4 RBIs
Season totals: .362-2-7, 3 SB in 13 games
Update: The last thing the Rangers need is more offense, but they entered the year expecting Martin to play an important role before he delivered a disappointing spring. The question of when he'll come up could depend on just how long -- or how much -- the Rangers want to keep Josh Hamilton in center field. That's an injury waiting to happen.
What he can do: He won't be a big source for power, but Martin can hit, and he has the speed to steal bases. For leagues that count runs, the Rangers' lineup should help.
10. Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Boston Red Sox (Last week: unranked)
Last week's stats (at Triple-A Pawtucket): 11-for-26 (.423), 4 HR, 13 RBIs
Season totals: .368-5-16, 2 SB in 14 games
Update: With Kevin Youkilis finding some life in his bat of late, Middlebrooks is stuck at Triple-A for now. Keep in mind, though, that Youkilis has missed an average of 43 games over the past three seasons, and it's clear that at some point Middlebrooks should have a chance to prove he'll be ready to take over the position in 2013.
What he can do: Scouts don't see Middlebrooks as a .300 hitter in the big leagues, but he shouldn't embarrass himself in that category, and the power they've always believed in is starting to show up in games.
11. Julio Teheran, SP, Atlanta Braves (Last week: unranked)
Last week's stats (at Triple-A Gwinnett): 5⅔ IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K's
Season totals: 2-0, 2.19 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 12⅓ IP, 12 K's.
Update: After an ugly first start, Teheran has reeled off 10⅔ scoreless innings in his past two starts, and one of the keys to his success has been a plus breaking ball, a pitch that abandoned him during last year's big league stint. With Tim Hudson returning to the Braves, there is no room at the inn for now, but keep a close watch on Jair Jurrjens' struggles.
What he can do: A scout who saw a recent Teheran start thought his stuff would play in the big leagues, and he remains one of the best long-term pitching plays around.
12. Bryce Harper, OF, Washington Nationals (Last week's rank: 2)
Last week's stats (at Triple-A Syracuse): 7-for-29 (.241), 0 RBIs
Season totals: .232-1-5, SB in 14 games.
Update: Michael Morse's injury created a wide-open door for Harper to step through, but he's just not hitting enough to make Washington's decision an easy one. The invitation should still be there once his bat gets going.
What he can do: Harper should hit home runs immediately, while stealing what might be a surprising amount of bases. But don't expect much in the batting average department right away.
Falling out of the ranks
4. (last week's rank) Trevor Bauer, SP, Diamondbacks (at Double-A Mobile): Had his first bump in the road; a rough start and control issues continue to dog him.
8. Brian Dozier, IF, Twins (at Triple-A Rochester): His bat cooled down while Alexi Casilla's has heated up.
9. Brad Hand, SP, Marlins (at Triple-A New Orleans): He got rocked last time out, and the Marlins have no immediate need.
10. James Paxton, SP, Mariners (at Double-A Jackson): This power left-hander was dominating and throwing strikes until walking eight in his last outing.
11. Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Cubs (at Triple-A Iowa): Still crushing the ball, but with Bryan LaHair doing well, the Cubs don't need to rush him until they know they won't get a repeat of last year's big league disaster.
12. Casey Kelly, SP, Padres (at Triple-A Tucson): The bad news: Kelly was scratched from his last start because of elbow soreness. The good news: An MRI showed no structural damage.
Bonus round
For those in deeper leagues, here are three pitchers putting up big numbers in Double-A who probably won't see the big leagues until 2013.
Tyler Thornburg, SP, Brewers: This undersized righty took a perfect game into the eighth inning this week and features three-plus pitches.
Taijuan Walker, SP, Mariners: The 19-year-old has electrifying stuff and has limited Southern League hitters to a .158 batting average while striking out 15 over 11 innings.
Zack Wheeler, SP, Mets: Wheeler is a high-ceiling pitcher acquired from the Giants in last year's Carlos Beltran deal. He has mid-90s heat, a wipeout power breaking ball and 21 strikeouts in his first 15 innings.
