This year, I've changed the format of my ranking of the top 10 prospects in each organization. The criteria for organizing these lists are the same, but I've included a little more explanation of the state of the system, and discuss any prospects (top 10 and beyond) who might help the major-league team this year.
I've also folded the columns on sleeper prospects -- players who did not appear in the global top 100 but might make a big leap on to the middle of that list next year -- into these organizational reports, mentioning more than one prospect per team where it's warranted.
AL EAST | AL CENTRAL | AL WEST
NL EAST | NL CENTRAL | NL WEST
Baltimore Orioles
Org rank: 13
Farm system overview
The Orioles' system had dropped after a wave of promotions, including Matt Wieters and a passel of starting pitching prospects who have taken a few years to boost the big-league rotation. The 2012 season saw a big uptick in the value of what they had left in the minors --- Dylan Bundy emerged as the minors' best pitching prospect in 2012, while their first pick from last year's draft, Kevin Gausman, was one of the hottest names in Florida instructional league in September.
Several lower-round picks from 2012 also impressed in their pro debuts. They'd rank higher had Manny Machado not lost his rookie eligibility in September, although it's a testament to how good he is that he could hold his own in the majors while learning a new position. Look for him to break out offensively in the next two seasons.
2013 impact
Bundy could help the team in long relief or in the rotation, depending on their long-term plan for him, which I hope involves letting him throw his wipeout cutter. LJ Hoes could surface in a bench role as a pinch hitter and reserve corner outfielder.
Sleeper
Nineteenth-rounder Josh Hader, a prep lefty out of a Maryland high school, added about 5 mph after signing, sitting 91-92 and touching 94 in two-inning stints in short-season ball, with a clean delivery from a low three-quarters slot and the ability to get to the breaking ball and changeup. Ninth-rounder Brady Wager, drafted out of Grand Canyon University, has a power sinker at 92-94 with a plus slider at 85-87 and could move very quickly as a reliever.
Boston Red Sox
Org rank: 17
Farm system overview
A lot went right on the farm for Boston this year, with top prospect Xander Bogaerts making major strides on defense at shortstop, Jackie Bradley Jr., lighting everyone up with his plate discipline, and Matt Barnes and Henry Owens posting very strong full-season debuts. The system's real shortage is in big-league ready talent, with right-hander Allen Webster probably the closest, followed by Bradley, with anyone else who might debut this year a potential reserve or reliever at best.
Two of their biggest bonus signs from the last two drafts, Blake Swihart and Garin Cecchini, both bounced back after slow starts; I'd bet on at least one of the two making "the leap" in 2013, with Swihart the more likely of the two. Their system also has some intriguing second-tier prospects outside their top 10, like power-hitting first baseman Travis Shaw and the undersized defensive whiz Jose Vinicio, who makes hard line-drive contact now but will be challenged by better velocity unless he gets stronger.
2013 impact
Webster could help the team in the 'pen right now or as a mid-year rotation option if he can throw more strikes. Bradley is probably Jacoby Ellsbury's long-term replacement in center and could get a call-up this year, especially if Ellsbury is dealt. Lefty Drake Britton is the dark horse here, working at 94-97 at year-end with a four-pitch arsenal, and he could also break in as a reliever while he works on fastball command.
Sleeper
For future top-100 potential, pitcher Cody Kukuk and center fielder Manuel Margot are the best sleepers in the system. Kukuk missed much of the year after he was charged with driving under the influence, which was eventually dropped on a technicality; he's a big, physical lefty who sits in the low 90s with a possible out-pitch curveball. Margot can run and should be a plus defender in center, showing an unusually good approach for a prospect his age without any U.S. experience. Their 2012 fifth-round pick, Mike Augliera, works at 90-93 with plus sink and even better control, touching 95 in shorter outings but losing sink at the same time; he's most likely a reliever (and thus not a future top-100 guy) but could move quickly in that role.
New York Yankees
Org rank: 10
Farm system overview
The Yankees' system is top-heavy, with several elite prospects but not a ton of depth, led by the group of position players who started in low Class Charleston last year that could produce as many as three above-average or better regulars plus several other guys who'll have big-league value. The loss of Jose Campos for most of 2012 and for Manny Banuelos until 2014 hurts their pitching depth significantly, although the oft-injured Jose Ramirez was extremely effective when healthy this year.
2013 impact
None of that elite group is likely to see the majors this year, so any impact would have to come from relievers like Mark Montgomery, whose 55-grade slider plays up to a 65-70 because hitters don't see it, and the fallen prospect Dellin Betances, who showed some signs of life as a one-inning reliever in the Arizona Fall League, airing it out and working around the zone a lot more than he can as a starter.
Sleeper
Their first-rounder in 2012, Ty Hensley, had a chance to go in the top 10, but was a casualty of the Pirates' last-minute decision to take Mark Appel; Hensley's physical revealed an abnormality in his shoulder that has never prevented him from reaching 98 mph, and if he can just show that kind of stuff and last for a 120-140 inning season in 2013, he's a likely top-100 guy. Yankees folks still love outfielder Ben Gamel's chance to hit and to show more power this year after adding some weight in his offseason conditioning program.
Tampa Bay Rays
Org rank: 3
Farm system overview
They're good, because they have to be. Some setbacks among high-profile prospects this year, like Hak-Ju Lee's mechanical issues at the plate and a few players getting suspended for using weed or speed, were balanced out by the James Shields trade, which netted two top-100 prospects and a former one, and strong full-season debuts by a few members of their 2011 draft class.
2013 impact
Wil Myers, acquired from Kansas City for Shields and Wade Davis, has to get the majority of the playing time this year in right field, even if he starts the year in Triple-A to push back his free agency. Chris Archer will likely throw for the Rays in some role this year, with stuff that might be explosive in 1-2 inning stints, while Jake Odorizzi, also acquired from the Royals, is ready to pitch in the back of someone's rotation right now. The Rays aren't afraid to hand real playing time to their own prospects, but their pitching staff is pretty strong right now, so Archer, Odorizzi, Alex Colome, and their other arms may be waiting for opportunities.
Sleeper
Jake Hager just missed the Rays' top 10, but would have made most clubs' lists as a possible everyday shortstop who can handle it on defense while adding value with his bat. He struggled with plate discipline early in his first full pro year, but hit .295/.373/.443 in the second half, improving in every aspect of his game. He's got great feel for hitting and should grow into 15-homer power in time.
Toronto Blue Jays
Org rank: 24
Farm system overview
There's almost no one left after the R.A. Dickey trade and the Marlins' fire-sale deal, although the Jays wouldn't deal top prospect Aaron Sanchez, who has the raw stuff and delivery to develop into an ace if he can develop average or better control. Their system's brightest lights after that are very young Latin American pitching prospects and the fruits of a value-packed 2012 draft.
2013 impact
If they want Marcus Stroman to pitch in their bullpen this year, he's ready, with a 92-95 mph fasttball and a knockout breaking ball (two, actually, that run together in velocity and break) and a solid change. John Stilson, who has a SLAP lesion in his shoulder and a violent delivery that won't hold up in a starting role, could also be pushed quickly to the majors, with now stuff that falls just below Stroman's. Lefty Sean Nolin could be their emergency starter this year, and Kevin Pillar could be the team's call-up if it needs an extra outfielder.
Sleeper
Catcher Santiago Nessy can really throw and has power, with a chance to be an above-average defensive catcher overall. He'll head to low Class A Lansing this year at age 20, with plate discipline the main thing he needs to work on right now. Lefty Daniel Norris' season was a disappointment overall, with his stuff still so inconsistent from start to start, but on the right day you'll see 94 mph with two above-average off-speed pitches.