#12 Jameson Taillon

Pittsburgh Pirates

DOB: 11/18/1991

Previous Rank: 14

ETA: 2014

The Pirates insist on babying Taillon, who some thought actually was the top player available in the 2010 draft even ahead of Bryce Harper.  Regardless of who was better, what is certain is that Taillon was the best pitching prospect in his class, so some restraint is probably highly prudent and highly warranted.

His fastball and breaking ball are both at least 60-grades every night and can reach 70s.  His breaking ball is arguably the best pitch from any of the last five drafts, and his fastball can reach the upper-90s with good plane and arm-side activity.  His command can stand to improve, but it already has substantially since he signed.

Even though he never made it past the fifth inning of any start, he still was able to post a sub-4.00 ERA with 97 strikeouts and 22 walks in 92.0 innings.  Look for that count to jump up to the 125 IP area in 2012 and for Taillon to dominate Double-A hitters like he did Sally League hitters.  Taillon is so advanced in terms of stuff that he should never be challenged while in the Minors by anyone or anything except his own standards and the standards of his organization, which is quickly on the rise.

#13 Jurickson Profar

Texas Rangers

DOB: 2/20/1993

Previous Rank: N/R

ETA: 2013

As an 18-year-old in the Sally League, Profar very nearly slashed .290/.390/.500 as an elite fielding shortstop, earning him the SAL MVP.  Holy shit.  He’s really, really good and has so much more to gain before he actually arrives in Arlington.  An aggressive international scouting department was able to sign Profar out of Curacao while he was a 16-year-old.  He made tremendous gains at the plate in 2011 in terms of all three hitters’ tools.  He even walked more times than he struck out.

Profar is an exceptional defender and gets above average grades for his footwork, arm strength, and hand agility.  His bat track from both sides of the plate is textbook and produces quality bat speed and carry.  What’s perhaps most impressive is that he has only been hitting from both sides for two years.  There is nothing to knock with Profar except that he might be a couple inches short.  Get ready, because in a couple of years there is going to be a huge debate about where to put Elvis Andrus, Ian Kinsler, and Profar, because they all need to be on that diamond.

#14 Jacob Turner

Detroit Tigers

DOB: 5/21/1991

Previous Rank: 19

ETA: 2012

Spending most of his 2011 season in the Eastern League, Turner became the first prep pitcher from the 2009 draft to debut in the Big Leagues.  He’s 6-foot-5 and 210-pounds and has solid mechanics that produce good downward plane on his pitches.

His fastball reaches the mid-90s, but he pitches a couple ticks below that in the 91-93 mph range typically.  His curveball and changeup have the potential to be 55-60s, but need to come up some in terms of consistency.  In Double-A, Turner posted a 3.48 ERA in 113.2 innings while striking out 90 guys and walking 32.  Turner also had three stellar Triple-A starts and three disastrous Big League starts that he was rushed into.  Nevertheless, Turner should begin the season back in Triple-A with a good chance of a recall after several quality starts in the International League.

The upside with Turner is lower than each of the next guys we will release on this list and is even lower than several of the guys we’ve already ranked, but he’s already debuted, is only 20, and has size and athleticism as well as polish far beyond his years.  He’s about as sure a bet as there is in the game to stick around a rotation for a decade.

#15 Jarrod Parker

Oakland Athletics

DOB: 11/24/1988

Previous Rank: 8

ETA: 2011

Parker missed 2010 due to Tommy John, and it took him several months of 2011 to really begin to look like he did before the surgery.  Still, his second-half and track record prior to TJ were enough to sway Billy Beane to pull the trigger on the deal that recently sent All-Star Trevor Cahill to Phoenix.

On the year, Parker posted a 3.79 ERA with 112 strikeouts to 55 walks in 131 innings pitched.  Obviously we’d like to see him striking out more hitters than that, but he still received the call to the D-Backs in September and had a very impressive six-inning start and even earned a spot on the NLDS roster.

Parker has a classic mix of fastball, breaker, and changeup, all of which grade as at least solid-average offerings.  His fastball has neared triple-digits before, but he typically works in the 93-96 mph range with his 4-seamer.  He throws a heavy sinker about two mphs off of the 4-seamer, but it digs well and even gets some swings-and-misses.  Parker’s bender is a slider in the mid-80s with tight break and good shape as well as solid command.  His change is behind, but it’s going to be an above-average offering for him and is definitely a pitch that will play in Oakland to both sides of the plate.

Parker is an ace and immediately jumps to the top of the A’s prospect rankings list.  Brett Anderson, Parker, Sonny Gray, and Dallas Braden should make a very young and formidable rotation in 2013 and beyond.

#17 Bubba Starling

Kansas City Royals

DOB: 8/3/1992

Previous Rank: N/A

ETA: 2014

Starling was the top prep position player available in the 2011 draft.  His tools were the finest in the 2011 class for any position player, though.  He’s blazing fast, throws gas from the outfield, generates outstanding bat speed, and has a frame that projects both in terms of potential and the likelihood of a healthy career.  As far as we at The Sombrero are concerned, however, that is where the compliments end.

Starling is loaded with shit makeup, a lack of familiarity with the game, and poor fundamentals in terms of both mechanics and comprehension.  He signed late too, and basically missed half a season unnecessarily, suggesting that baseball is not a terribly high priority for him.  You’d think a guy who wasted as much time fooling around with a football as Starling did would want to get started early to attempt to maybe even the playing field between himself and the guys who have lived within the game for the last 10 or 15 years.

Starling then proceeded to receive an underage drinking charge.  Don’t look for this guy to ever have much in the way of baseball IQ.  Expect insane tools and athleticism, the type that guys like Starling don’t deserve.  He should spend a season and a half or two in the low Minors and about the same amount in Double-A and Triple-A.  Look for him to debut in center some time in 2014.  KC is really going to regret passing on Archie Bradley.