2012 MLB Draft: Breaking Down This Year's Top Prospects

We are still six months away from the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, and a lot of things are going to change between now and then. But we are starting to get a much better read on the players whose names will be called early on June 4. 

Things will be interesting this year thanks to the new collective bargaining agreement. With teams being penalized for overspending, we might see more high school players and two-sport athletes opt to not sign if they don't get the money they feel they are worth. 

But instead of being negative about draft changes, we want to take a look at the best players available this year. 

Here are the five most intriguing prospects right now, though bear in mind, a lot will change when the high school and college seasons start in February. 

Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford

Appel enters the 2012 season as the top college pitching prospect. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers out of high school three years ago, but opted to go to school instead. It appears to be a wise move, because he was a 15th-round pick then and has a chance to go No. 1 to Houston now. 

He has a prototypical pitcher's body at 6'5" and 190 pounds. He has a power arm, with a mid-90s fastball and a slider that is a legitimate strikeout pitch. He needs to develop consistency with his changeup and command if he wants to become a top-of-the-rotation starter. 

He is not a lock for the top pick, which means he will have to show some improvement this season to maintain his high marks. 

Mike Zunino, C, Florida

Last season was a banner year for Zunino. He won the SEC Player of the Year award after hitting .371/.442/.674 with 19 home runs. 

Zunino's value comes largely because he is a true catcher who will be able to handle the position in professional ball. He has soft hands and a strong, accurate arm.

His offensive production might slide as he moves through the minors due to a slight hitch in his swing that will likely prevent him from making consistent contact, but his power is legit. If he can make adjustments to hit for a high average, he will be an all-star for a long time. 

Deven Marrero, SS, Arizona State

Another candidate to go first overall, Marrero is one of those rare commodities in that he is a college shortstop who actually projects to stay at the position in the majors. 

He is a plus defender with a strong arm and with good instincts. An up-the-middle defender is a valuable asset that teams are always looking for. 

But where Marrero separates himself from a lot of shortstops is his ability to hit. He is not going to be a great hitter because he lacks bat speed, but he is capable of making consistent contact and should develop some power as he progresses. 

Lance McCullers, RHP, Tampa Jesuit High School

Of all the pitchers in this year's draft, McCullers has the most upside. He has a heavy fastball that regularly sits in the mid- to high-90s and has reportedly been clocked as high as 100 mph.  

In addition to his fastball, McCullers also features a swing-and-miss changeup and a hard, sharp, breaking curveball. His command is advanced for a high school pitcher, so he won't need as much development time as a typical 18-year-old when he does get drafted. 

He has an easy delivery that doesn't put a lot of strain on his arm. When all is said and done, he should be able to develop into an ace. 

Lucas Giolito, RHP, Westlake High School

Giolito is not far behind McCullers in the high school pitching crop. He is not as advanced at this stage of the game, but he does have No. 1 potential. 

He features a vast assortment of pitches, including a mid-90s four-seam fastball that can touch 97-98 mph. His best secondary pitch is a curveball that projects to be a plus pitch. He also throws a two-seam fastball, slider and changeup. 

His command still needs work, but that is normal for a high school pitcher. If you are looking for upside and projection, Giolito might be the second-best player available by the time draft day gets here. 

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