MLB Prospects: 20 Early Stars from the 2012 MLB Draft Class

As part of the new collective bargaining agreement, the signing deadline was moved from August 15 to July 13, forcing MLB teams to sign their draft picks at least a month earlier than previous years.

In 2011, 98 of the 331 players drafted within the first 10 rounds were still unsigned headed into deadline day (August 15). This year, as a result of the new, accelerated signing deadline, only 17 of the 338 players selected in Rounds 1-10 remained unsigned headed into July 13.

Furthermore, this is the first year I can recall nearly every first-round (and supplemental first-round) draft pick gaining significant experience before his full-season debut in 2013. Now, instead of assigning a prospect to Class-A Short Season to open the 2013 season, his experience may garner a more aggressive and favorable promotion to Low-A, instead. Basically, every draft pick's estimated time of arrival in the major leagues could improve by as much as a full season.

Here is a look at a host of top picks from the 2012 draft class and how they’ve capitalized on the chance to make their professional debut nearly a year ahead of schedule.

Mike Zunino, C, Seattle Mariners

Short Season: .314/.412/.640, 14 XBH (7 HR), 19 RBI, 20 K/11 BB (23 G)

Making up for lost time due to his signing process, Zunino posted a 1.168 OPS with six home runs in his first 17 games. I do find the swing-and-miss in his game slightly disconcerting, so hopefully that’s something that gets ironed out before he reaches the upper minors.

David Dahl, OF, Colorado Rockies

Rookie: .379/.424/.603, 23 XBH (8 3B), 34 RBI, 8 SB, 25 K/14 BB (42 G)

With 38 hits during his current 19-game hit streak, Dahl has been absolutely on fire and drawn rave reviews from players and coaches around the Pioneer League. Since making his professional debut in June, the left-handed hitter has collected 66 hits in only 42 games and has flashed more power than expected.

Addison Russell, SS, Oakland Athletics

Rookie, Short Season: .426/.496/.738, 18 XBH (7 HR), 33 R, 31 RBI, 10 SB, 25 K/16 BB (30 G)

Not only has Russell answered questions about whether he can remain at shortstop, the first-rounder has also shown that his bat is one of the more advanced in the entire 2012 draft class.

Having already played in 30 games, Russell has been held hitless only four times this season while turning in 19 multi-hit performances. His hot bat recently made him the first high school position prospect to receive a promotion, and he’s already batting .500/.556/.875 through four Class-A Short Season games.

Corey Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers

Rookie: .292/.367/.434, 8 XBH (3 HR), 16 RBI, 5 SB, 16 K/11 BB (27 G)

One of the later signees in the 2012 draft class, Seager’s bat finally heated up this past weekend, as the left-handed hitter is 10-for-17 with three home runs and seven RBI over his last three games.

Although he may end up as a third baseman, Seager has had his share of struggles at shortstop, committing 13 errors in 26 games. Given his left-handed bat, the Dodgers will likely keep him at shortstop for as long as possible.

Michael Wacha, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals

Low-A, High-A: 9 IP, 4 H, ER, 15 K/1 BB (5 G; 2 GS)

Armed with an above-average fastball and changeup that often receives a double-plus grade, Wacha has been making quick work of minor league hitters. After pitching only five innings in the Gulf Coast League, the Cardinals aggressively promoted the right-hander to High-A, where he’s yet to allow a hit over four innings.

I wouldn’t expect him to remain unhittable as he has, especially without a true breaking ball, but there’s no reason Wacha can’t move quickly through the Cardinals’ system.

Marcus Stroman, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Low-A, Double-A: 12.1 IP, 2.92 ERA, .178 BAA, 16 K/3 BB (8 G)

Flash Gordon reincarnate Marcus Stroman has a legitimate shot of reaching the major leagues this season. The undersized, hard-throwing right-hander made his Double-A debut over the weekend after registering a 3.18 ERA, .190 BAA and 15 K/3 BB at Low-A.

Possessing an electric arsenal of two (sometimes three) plus pitches, Stroman’s pure stuff is more than enough to get big league hitters out right now.

Clint Coulter, C, Milwaukee Brewers

Rookie: .313/.432/.464, 8 XBH (4 HR), 26 RBI, 21 K/22 BB (32 G)

After a slow start to his professional career, Coulter batted .314/.462/.371 in June while driving in 16 runs. While his bat and plate discipline have been impressive, his defense has not. In 18 games behind the plate, the backstop has 15 passed balls and has thrown out only four of 37 (11 percent) base stealers.

J.O. Berrios, RHP, Minnesota Twins

Rookie: 1-0, 4 SV, 16.2 IP, 1.08 ERA, .121 BAA, 27 K/3 BB (8 G; 1 GS)

With the Twins keeping a close eye on his workload, Berrios has only logged 16.2 innings over eight appearances since making his professional debut. Still, the right-hander is recording strikeouts at an absurd rate (14.6 K/9).

He’s registered four saves through a series of two-inning relief stints, but the Twins will likely begin to stretch him out with more four- and five-inning outings.

Daniel Robertson, SS/3B, Oakland Athletics

Rookie: .306/.410/.571, 16 XBH (10 2B), 22 RBI, 15 K/16 BB (28 G)

One of my favorite position prospects headed into the 2012 draft, Robertson has the makings of a highly successful big league hitter. While his power continues to emerge, he’s proven to be a natural hitter with an approach well beyond his years.

Joey Gallo, 3B, Texas Rangers

Rookie: .297/.433/.758, 40 R, 26 XBH (16 HR), 39 RBI, 45 K/30 BB (37 G)

Yes, you read those stats correctly: 16 home runs, 30 walks, 45 strikeouts. Of Gallo’s 164 plate appearances this season, 91 have resulted in one of the three true outcomes.

The 6’5”, left-handed slugger’s 16 bombs are tied for the most in league history, so he should demolish the record over the remainder of the season. Furthermore, he has nine more home runs than any other player in the Arizona Rookie League.

Lance McCullers, RHP, Houston Astros

Rookie, Short Season: 15 IP, 1.20 ERA, .193 BAA, 16 K/6 BB (5 GS)

In any previous year where the draft deadline fell on August 15, it’s doubtful that McCullers would have ultimately signed, let alone made his professional debut.

Said to have some of the best pure stuff of any pitcher in the 2012 draft class, the right-hander posted a 1.64 ERA with 12 strikeouts in four Gulf Coast League starts. Just yesterday, McCullers was promoted to the Appalachian League and fired four one-hit innings on Monday night.

Eddie Butler, RHP, Colorado Rockies

Rookie: 5-1, 39 IP, 2.31 ERA, .231 BAA, 2.32 GB/FB, 31 K/4 BB (8 G; 7 GS)

The Rockies’ second pick overall after Dahl, Butler was a quick sign that made an immediate impact in the Appalachian League. Over his last four starts, the right-hander has allowed three earned runs on 19 hits while registering 23 strikeouts and three walks in 25 innings.

Jesse Winker, OF, Cincinnati Reds

Rookie: .367/.489/.489, 13 XBH (10 2B), 26 RBI, 29 K/32 BB (39 G)

Winker doesn’t add a lot of present power, but that hasn’t stopped him from being a legitimate run producer this season. He makes tons of consistent contact and records multi-hit games seemingly with ease.

As long as the outfielder can retain his advanced plate discipline, he should have the potential to hit for more power down the road.

Nick Williams, OF, Texas Rangers

Rookie: .346/.412/.489, 12 XBH (2 HR), 16 RBI, 11 SB, 33 K/13 BB (31 G)

Considering a tough sign after slipping into the late second round in this year’s draft, the Rangers made Williams a flattering offer to pry him away from a college commitment.

The left-handed hitter has impressed in his 31 games in the Arizona League, flashing an intriguing blend of power (12 XBH) and speed (11 SB) while demonstrating surprisingly advanced plate discipline. 

Seth Mejias-Brean, 3B, Cincinnati Reds

Rookie: .357/.416/.589, 15 XBH (5 HR), 30 RBI, 13 K/12 BB (28 G)

After bringing home the College World Series title as Arizona’s third baseman, Mejias-Brean has been assaulting rookie-level pitching to begin his professional career. The right-handed hitter already has more hits (40) and RBI (30) than the number of games in which he’s appeared (28).

Andrew Aplin, OF, Houston Astros

Short Season: .355/.449/.542, 34 R, 17 XBH (9 2B), 19 SB, 20 K/23 BB (42 G)

Drafted in the fifth round out of Arizona State, Aplin is proving to be one of the top position prospects in the lower minors after posting a .991 OPS through his first 42 games. With 17 extra-base hits, 19 stolen bases and 20 K/23 BB, Aplin has the makings of a well-rounded, projectable outfielder.

Nolan Fontana, SS/2B, Houston Astros

Low-A: .247/.488/.388, 7 XBH, 9 SB, 21 K/39 BB (27 G)

Fontana may never hit for a high average or flash a hint of power; however, his on-base skills are exceptional, as evidenced by his 39 walks in 27 games. His defense has been solid as well, giving the left-handed-hitting Fontana a legitimate chance to reach the major leagues at least as a reserve infielder.

Sam Selman, LHP, Kansas City Royals

Rookie: 4-0, 36.1 IP, 1.49 ERA, .203 BAA, 51 K/13 BB (8 G; 7 GS)

The Royals’ second-round draft pick out of Vanderbilt, the 6’3”, 165-pound Selman has excellent pure stuff with room left for projection. Appearing in eight games for Idaho Falls in the Pioneer League, the lefty has yet to allow more than two earned runs in a given outing while fanning at least seven batters in each of his last five starts.

Ross Stripling, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

Rookie: 23 IP, 0.39 ERA, .171 BAA, 28 K/2 BB (9 G; 7 GS)

A fifth-round draft pick out of Texas A&M, Stripling has had his way with the hitters in the Pioneer League. The 6’3” right-hander has missed bats with consistency while executing efficient command of all his pitches.

Don’t expect him to spend much more time in rookie ball, as Stripling appears poised for a more aggressive assignment to either Low- or High-A.

D.J. Baxendale, RHP, Minnesota Twins

Low-A: 10 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 22 K/1 BB (9 G)

Used strictly as a reliever, right-hander D.J. Baxendale has been absolutely dominant over 10 innings to begin his professional career. After allowing only one hit and one walk with 16 strikeouts in 7.2 innings in the Appalachian League, Baxendale has already fanned six batters in 2.1 innings at Low-A.