1. Houston Astros Mark Appel Pitcher Stanford Simply put Mark Appel is the Andrew Luck of the 2012 MLB Draft. Appel has the potential to develop into a franchise player who can change the fortunes of one MLB team. That is exactly what the Astros need. The Houston Astros are in a division where the Brewers and Cardinals made the playoffs, the Reds won the division in 2010, the Pirates appear as an upstart team, and the Cubs have 5 pitchers in their farm system. The Astros have to draft Appel with this pick. Passing on Appel would be a grave mistake for the Houston Astros.
2. Minnesota Twins Lucas Giolito Pitcher Harvard Westlake High School California Don’t worry Twins fans. Even if you cannot obtain Mark Appel your getting an awesome consolation prize with Lucas Giolito who should develop into a #1 starter.
3. Seattle Mariners Devin Marrero Short Stop Arizona State The Mariners passed on an infielder in Anthony Rendon in 2011. I doubt the Mariners pass on an infielder in 2012. The Mariners like college prospects. By process of elimination that leaves the Mariners with Devin Marrero as their 2012 first round draft pick at this time.
4. Baltimore Orioles Lance McCullers Jr. Pitcher Tampa Jesuit High School Florida The Orioles need to add another pitching prospect. Their rotation has no identity. Lance McCullers Jr. could develop into a #1 pitcher.
When most 2012 MLB Mock Drafts started Lance McCullers Jr. was the clear cut #1 overall pick. This changed because McCuller’s lacked the size. McCuller’s has pinpoint accuracy on his pitches along with deadly velocity for a starter. Lance McCullers Jr. still looks like a stone cold lock to get drafted in the top 5 even if he took himself out of contention for that top pick.
5. Kansas City Royals Trey Williams 3rd Baseman Valencia High School California Mike Moustakas was drafted 2nd overall in 2007. He posted a batting average of .263 in 89 games.
Kansas City should draft Trey Williams and develop him. The upside to drafting Trey Williams is that you have insurance at 3rd base if Moustakas flops as an MLB pro.
The Royals usually take the best high school prospect available. 2010 was the exception when the Royals became enamored by Christian Colon. The Royals are stacked at outfield so they will probably take the best high school player available who does not play in the outfield.
I do not believe Trey Williams is a top 5 pick. I feel like the Royals will reach for Trey Williams just like they reached for Colon. Its too early to say Colon was a reach, but most MLB mock drafts had him going 22nd overall and he went 4th so you have to take that into account. The Royals passed on Anthony Rendon to draft Bubba Starling.
6. Chicago Cubs Nick Williams Outfielder Galveston Ball High School Texas Their are 2 can’t miss outfielder prospects. You got home run hitter Nick Williams and 5 tool bat Byron Buxton. The Cubs need a home run hitter to anchor the outfield. I know they have Alfonso Soriano. At the same time, I feel like Nick Williams is a huge upgrade over Soriano long term. Obtaining Nick Williams would give the Cubs their first home run threat since the Sammy Sossa days.
7. San Diego Padres Byron Buxton Outfielder Appling County High School Georgia Byron Buxton is considered by some to be a top 5 pick now. Buxton has the skill set to develop into a 5 tool athlete for the San Diego Padres.
8. Pittsburgh Pirates Michael Wacha Pitcher Texas A&M Michael Wacha is 6 foot 6 220 pounds. Wacha went 9-2 with a 2.90 ERA for Texas A&M last season. Imagine how deadly the Pirates rotation would be by 2015 with a trio consisting of Gerritt Cole, Jameson Tallion, and Michael Wacha. The Pirates could make a run at the world series assuming they secure Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker long term. Kevin Gausman may be the better pitching prospect, but the Pirates usually draft pitchers based on size with their picks.
9. Florida Marlins Walker Weickel Pitcher Olympia High School Florida Walker Weickel is the top high school prospect who the Marlins could target. Weickel also happens to be a hometown prospect.
10. Colorado Rockies Kevin Gausman Pitcher LSU Gausman provides amazing value if he falls to the Rockies at #10 overall.
11. Oakland Athletics Mike Zunino Catcher Florida Zunino tallied a .371 batting average along with 19 home runs as a sophomore for the Florida Gators. Zunino recorded 33 RBI’s against SEC opponents. Zunino is the best infielder available and he would make an excellent long term fit for the Oakland Athletics.
12. New York Mets Taylore Cherry Pitcher Vandalia Butler High School Ohio Taylore Cherry is 6 foot 9 260 pounds. Cherry can throw that mid 90′s fastball. Cherry has been rising up draft boards at a very fast rate.
13. Chicago White Sox Joey Gallo 3rd Baseman Bishop Gorman High School Nevada The White Sox get the best high school prospect with this pick.
14. Cincinnati Reds Jake Barrett Pitcher Arizona State Jake Barrett posted a 4.14 ERA. At the same time even if his accuracy and mechanics tend to be overrated to a certain degree teams will fall in love with Barrett’s size along with his velocity. Someone will take a flyer on Jake Barrett believing he is a top 10 talent. At the end of the day I believe that team will be the Cincinnati Reds. Barrett will remind the Reds of a young Bronson Arroyo.
15. Cleveland Indians Branden Kline Pitcher Virginia Branden Kline really began to impress people at the 2011 College World Series. The Indians need a new college pitching prospect to develop since they traded Drew Pomeranz to the Rockies.
16. Washington Nationals Victor Roache Outfielder Georgia Southern The Nationals take the best prospect available and hope to develop him with this pick. Victor Roache is considered a top 10 prospect in the eyes of some scouts. Roache could be that next big name outfielder prospect for the Nationals to develop with Bryce Harper coming up to the MLB soon.
17. Toronto Blue Jays Max Fried Pitcher Harvard Westlake High School California Max Fried is the #2 pitcher behind Lucas Giolito at Harvard Westlake High School. Max Fried is also the top left handed pitcher in the 2012 MLB Draft.
18. Los Angeles Dodgers Brian Johnson Pitcher Florida Brian Johnson has the ability to develop into one of the top pitching prospects if he applies himself. I cannot doubt Johnson’s ability plus he would make a great complimentary pitcher to Clayton Kershaw. If you google Brian Johnson you get more results for his painful injury last season then Johnson’s bio as a pitcher.
Johnson is also the top lefty pitcher in college baseball. The question with Johnson is will he stay healthy.
19. Los Angeles Angels Lex Rutledge Pitcher Samford Lex Rutledge is 6 foot 2 205 pounds. Rutledge has the ability to develop into a top 20 pitcher.
20. San Francisco Giants Travis Jankowski Outfielder Stony Brook The San Francisco Giants love taking college baseball players. I considered Kenny Diekroger as a pick here, but I realized the Giants drafted Joe Panik with their 2011 first round pick. Travis Jankowski managed to steal a lot of bases for Stony Brook last year. On 34 attempts Jankowski managed to steal 30 bases. It always helps to have a player on your ball club who can steal 30 bases a year.
21. Atlanta Braves Chris Beck Pitcher Georgia Southern Chris Beck may have went 2-4 with an 8.31 ERA last season. Beck is 6 foot 3 220 pounds. Beck has the size for a pitcher that you look for. Beck should get better potentially skyrocketing up to the late part of the first round.
22. Toronto Blue Jays Compensation Pick Marcus Stromen Pitcher Duke Marcus Stromen is the top relief pitcher prospect in the 2012 MLB Draft. The Blue Jays rarely draft college players, but they may take one here because the Blue Jays have to take someone they know they can sign with this compensation pick.
23. St. Louis Cardinals Nolan Sanburn Pitcher Arkansas Nolan Sanburn led the Arkansas Razorbacks with 8 saves as a freshman. Sanburn could develop into an effective relief pitcher for bullpens to utilize with the proper development.
24. Boston Red Sox Duane Underwood Pitcher Pope High School Georgia There are 2 Georgia high school arms that are beginning to enter the late first round discussion. Those two players are Duane Underwood and Lucas Sims. Underwood is ranked higher than Sims so I will give the Red Sox Underwood.
25. Tampa Bay Rays Lucas Sims Pitcher Brookwood High School Georgia Lucas Sims is capable of developing into a pitching prospect for the Rays. The Rays are so stacked right now with their pitching prospects. Tampa Bay will likely develop Sims in their farm system for 5 years or use him as trade bait to get a legit player on the trade block.
26. Arizona Diamondbacks Kenny Diekroger Short Stop Stanford Kenny Diekroger was once the #2 overall pick in initial 2012 MLB Mock Drafts. Diekroger’s draft stock has taken a major hit. The Diamondbacks need a shortstop and Diekroger is considered the best player available to develop. Taking Diekroger would be a slam dunk pick for the Diamondbacks.
27. Detroit Tigers Hunter Virant Pitcher Camarillo High School California Hunter Virant could really help lower the Tigers Team ERA down the road. Verlander has anchored the Tigers rotation all year.
28. Milwaukee Brewers Gavin Cecchini Short Stop Barbe High School Louisiana Gavin Cecchini is still considered to be a top 10 pick by some. Amazing right? Some people think he is not worthy of going in the first two rounds. This is about the right range for Cecchini.
29. Texas Rangers Stryker Trahan Catcher Acadiana High School Louisiana Stryker Trahan sounds like an awesome name for a high school catcher. The Rangers may not need a catcher. At the same time Styker is an awesome first name plus Stryker may strike home runs out of the ball park.
30. New York Yankees Adam Brett Walker Outfielder Jacksonville Adam Brett Walker is 6 foot 5 225 pounds. Adam Brett Walker has the size that you look for in a clean up batter. The Yankees have one of the best farm systems along with one of the leagues highest payrolls. The Yankees can draft Adam Brett Walker and either bring him up when the time is right or trade him as bait for a high profile MLB super star on the trade block.
31. Philadelphia Phillies Josh Elander Catcher TCU Josh Elander is being considered by many to be an early 2nd round pick. Elander could easily creep up to the #31 spot barely making the first round cut if he keeps his impressive performance up.
I like the Yankees Pick with Adam Brett Walker 1B / OF (Jacksonville University / FL). He is the youngest collegiate underclassman in the Top 200 prospects listed by Perfect game today (Still 19 years old). I like the fact that the Yankees have the farm system to get him where he needs to be too. Incredible power and hit over .400 last season. The tools are there for developing something special. 6’5 and is 21 for 21 in collegiate stolen bases. A Future Bronx Bomber