2012 MLB Mock Draft: College Prospects Who Will Shine in Majors

Major League Baseball's 2012 season is finally underway, but now is as good a time as any to look forward to the future.

A couple of months from now—on June 4th—the first round of MLB's First-Year Player Draft will arrive. A lot is going to happen between now and then, but all baseball fans should take some time to familiarize themselves with the top prospects in the country and where they might end up in the draft.

In other words, it's time for a mock draft. Here's an early sneak peak at what the first round of the draft might look like, with a special emphasis placed on the top college prospects in this year's draft class.

Note: Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com has scouting reports on all the top draft prospects.

1. Houston Astros: Byron Buxton, OF, Appling County HS (Georgia)

You probably won't be surprised to hear that Houston's farm system is one of the worst in the major leagues. Regardless, picking the best player in the draft is a no-brainer for them, and this year that's Byron Buxton. He projects as a star center fielder with all five tools.

2. Minnesota Twins: Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford

Three years ago, Mark Appel was a 15th-round draft pick of the Detroit Tigers. It's safe to say that going to Stanford was the smart move, as now he's in the running for the No. 1 overall pick.

Appel has everything he needs to be an ace in the major leagues. He throws his fastball in the mid 90s, and he complements it with a killer slider and an above-average changeup. He also has a great delivery, and excellent command.

The Twins need a top-flight arm in their farm system, so they shouldn't pass on Mark Appel if he's there for the taking at No. 2. Before long, he'll be in the major leagues and atop the Twins rotation for years to come.

3. Seattle Mariners: Deven Marrero, SS, Arizona State

The Mariners have some pretty talented arms in their farm system. What the organization needs is bats, and as many good ones as possible.

Deven Marrero fits the bill. He doesn't have a whole lot of power yet, but he's a line drive hitter who has little trouble shooting the ball in the gaps for extra bases. That makes him a natural fit for Safeco Field.

Where Marrero really shines, however, is on defense. He projects as a Gold Glove-caliber shortstop, with outstanding range and outstanding hands and a gun for an arm. 

In a couple years' time, Marrero and Dustin Ackley could be a dynamic duo in the middle of the field for the Mariners.

4. Baltimore Orioles: Lucas Giolito, RHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (California)

The Orioles have Dylan Bundy in their system, but they need as many arms as they can get. Lucas Giolito is a tall flamethrower with a nasty curve and a great changeup, stuff that would play very well in the AL East.

5. Kansas City Royals: Kevin Gausman, RHP, LSU

The Royals still have a strong farm system despite their recent promotions of Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and others. The best thing they can do in the draft is target more pitching, and Kevin Gausman is a guy who should be at the top of their wish list. He'll have to work on his command, but the nasty stuff is there. His ceiling is very high.

6. Chicago Cubs: Max Friend, LHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (California)

The Cubs need pitching, and as much of it as they can get. Max Fried is your typical hard-throwing lefty prospect, meaning he throws in the low-to-mid 90s with a great curveball and good control. He has ace potential, so the Cubs shouldn't pass on him.

7. San Diego Padres: Mike Zunino, C, Florida

The Padres have the deepest and most talented farm system in the major leagues. All they can do in the draft is make it deeper and even more talented.

The Padres have a solid young catcher in their system in Austin Hedges, but they shouldn't use that as an excuse to shy away from taking Mike Zunino in the draft. His ceiling is very, very high.

Zunino has some holes in his swing that he needs to fix, but he's got good pop in his bat. Behind the plate, he's an expert game manager with a solid arm. 

In other words, Zunino is the complete package. There aren't many catchers like that in the majors, much less the minors. He's going to be good.

8. Pittsburgh Pirates: Carlos Correa, SS, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy

The top two players in the Pirates' system are both pitchers, so they should look to draft a position player at No. 8. Carlos Correa projects as an elite defensive shortstop, and he has the potential to be an above-average hitter with outstanding power. You have to be strong up the middle to win, so the Pirates should give Correa a long look.

9. Miami Marlins: Lance McCullers, RHP, Jesuit HS (Florida)

The Marlins need arms in their farm system. Since they have a tradition of churning out hard throwers, Lance McCullers should be to their liking. His fastball sits in the upper 90s, and he throws a slider that has a lot of promise. If he doesn't cut it as a starter, he'll for sure cut it as a closer.

10. Colorado Rockies: Kyle Zimmer, RHP, San Francisco

The Rockies have some good bats in their system and some solid arms ready to contribute at the major league level. But let's face it, pitching is always going to be in short supply in Colorado. The Rockies should stock up on arms every chance they get.

Kyle Zimmer is a guy who should stand out to them. His fastball sits in the mid 90s, and he can run it up there at 98 miles per hour on occasion. His curve and slider are still developing, but they both project as out pitches in the majors.

Long story short, Zimmer is a guy who is going to blow hitters away once he reaches the majors. That worked for Ubaldo Jimenez in Colorado before his velocity took a nosedive. It will work for Zimmer too.

At least until his velocity takes a nosedive, of course.

11. Oakland Athletics: Joey Gallo, 3B/1B, Bishop Gorman HS (Nevada)

The A's have arms in their system, but they needs bats, preferably ones with power. Joey Gallo has as much raw power as any prospect in baseball, though he'll have to become more patient to make it in Oakland.

12. New York Mets: Albert Almora, OF, Mater Academy (Florida)

Just like the A's, the Mets have arms, but not enough bats. What's intriguing about Albert Almora is that he hasn't even filled out yet and he can already hit the ball with power to all fields. He's also an above-average center fielder. Sounds like a guy the Mets could use.

13. Chicago White Sox: Stephen Piscotty, 3B, Stanford

Virtually all of the White Sox's top prospects are pitchers. What they don't have is a third base prospect who projects as an elite power hitter. Few organizations do, of course.

As such, Stephen Piscotty should be on Chicago's radar. He's an excellent contact hitter, and he has raw power to all fields. He still has room to get stronger, which is a scary thought.

Piscotty is not an elite defender, but he doesn't project as a bad defender either. As long as he hits for power, the White Sox could live with merely average defense.

14. Cincinnati Reds: Michael Wacha, RHP, Texas A&M

The Reds have some good young prospects in their system, but they could stand to add some pitching. Michael Wacha is a guy with a hard fastball who could be a top-of-the-rotation starter if he refines his secondary stuff. Even if he doesn't, there will still be a home for him in the majors in a few years' time.

15. Cleveland Indians: David Dahl, OF, Oak Mountain HS (Alabama)

The Indians have some good young pitchers and a top shortstop prospect in Francisco Lindor, but they could stand to add an outfielder or two. David Dahl is a speedy player with a good approach at the plate, and he plays above-average defense in the outfield. He'll be a steal if he develops some power.

16. Washington Nationals: Walker Weickel, RHP, Olympia HS (Florida)

The top prospects in Washington's system are all position players. They could use an arm, and Walker Weickel is a guy who should be on their radar. He's a tall righty with a hard fastball that has good natural movement. He needs a lot of work, but his high ceiling makes him worth the trouble.

17. Toronto Blue Jays: Chris Beck, RHP, Georgia Southern 

The Blue Jays have some good position players and some talented lefties. What they need is a righty. Chris Beck doesn't project as an ace, but he has a good fastball and solid secondary stuff that has the potential to get better. 

18. Los Angeles Dodgers: Gavin Cecchini, IF, Barbe HS (Louisiana)

The Dodgers have their shortstop of the future in Dee Gordon. Now all they need is a second baseman, and they'll be strong up the middle for years to come. Gavin Cecchini projects as a second baseman in the majors, and he'll be a good contact hitter with plenty of speed.

19. St. Louis Cardinals* (compensation for Albert Pujols signing with LAA): Brian Johnson, LHP, Florida

There are some guys who look like they just plain belong on the Cardinals, and Brian Johnson is one of them.

Johnson doesn't do anything fancy on the mound, but he can throw four pitches for strikes, the best of which is a slider that already looks like a major league out pitch. 

A couple years from now, Johnson could be yet another talented pitcher doing work for the Cardinals. They have a knack for picking 'em.

20. San Francisco Giants: Matthew Smoral, LHP, Solon HS (Ohio)

The Giants have some pretty good bats in their system, but they don't have as many quality arms as they usually do. Expect them to change that this year. Matthew Smoral is a guy with an easy delivery and a solid fastball who looks like a young (or even younger) Madison Bumgarner. Sounds like a Giant already.

21. Atlanta Braves: Stryker Trahan, C, Acadiana HS (Louisiana)

The Braves have arms, but not enough bats. Stryker Trahan isn't as well-rounded as Mike Zunino, but he definitely has more power. That should appeal to the Braves, who have to realize Brian McCann isn't going to last forever. In the event that he does, they should have no trouble trading a power-hitting catcher like Trahan.

22. Toronto Blue Jays* (compensation for unsigned 2011 pick Tyler Beede): Hunter Virant, LHP, Camarillo HS (California)

Having drafted a righty earlier in the draft, perhaps the Blue Jays will go for a lefty. Hunter Virant is still very raw, but he's a projectable lefty who already has a good fastball. With a little grooming, he's only going to get better.

23. St. Louis Cardinals: Victor Roache, OF, Georgia Southern

The Cardinals have lost one of the best power hitters in the history of baseball. Drafting and developing a new one wouldn't be the worst idea in the world. 

Victor Roache is not an elite hitter. What he does have, however, is a ton of power. He generates it with insane bat speed, and he can hit the ball out to all fields. 

Roache doesn't have a bad approach to the plate, but he can stand to get a lot better. If he does develop some hitting prowess, watch out. He has the potential to be great.

24. Boston Red Sox: Marcus Stroman, RHP, Duke

As strange as it sounds, one of the biggest needs in Boston's system is relief pitching. Drafting a guy who projects as an elite reliever would be a good idea. Marcus Stroman has a hard fastball and a hammer curve, and he's drawn comparisons for former Sox closer Tom Gordon. 'Nuff said.

25. Tampa Bay Rays: Travis Jankowski, OF, SUNY Stony Brook

The Rays' farm system is stacked with pitching prospects, all of whom are very good. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they targeted an outfielder with tons of speed and an above-average bat. Travis Jankowski fits that bill to a T.

26. Arizona Diamondbacks: Courtney Hawkins, OF, Carroll HS (Texas)

The Diamondbacks have some outstanding arms in their system, so my guess is that they'll be looking for a bat in the draft. Courtney Hawkins stands out because of his power, but he also has a strikeout tendency that needs to be fixed. Judging from the team's recent history, that won't scare the Diamondbacks.

27. Milwaukee Brewers* (compensation for Prince Fielder signing with DET): Keon Barnum, 1B, King HS (Florida)

The Brewers also lost a slugging first baseman this offseason. Time to develop a new one. Keon Barnum needs a lot of polishing, but his raw power is too good to ignore and he's even a good fielder (no pun intended).

28. Milwaukee Brewers: Rio Ruiz, 3B, Bishop Amat HS (California)

The Brewers also need an answer at third base. Rio Ruiz comes with some slight health concerns, but he projects as a very good hitting third baseman with plenty of power potential. He's been compared to Eric Chavez.

29. Texas Rangers: Lucas Sims, RHP, Brookwood HS (Georgia)

The Rangers have a very underrated farm system, and they're well stocked at several different positions. They may as well just add more pitching, which is never a bad idea. Lucas Sims has an above-average fastball with a great curve. He needs a lot of development, but the Rangers have more than enough time to carry out the task.

30. New York Yankees: Andrew Heaney, LHP, Oklahoma State

The Yankees' top arms are going to be with the big club very soon, so they should get a head start on restocking their system. Andrew Heaney is a lefty with three solid pitches that he can throw for strikes, and he's developed a lot as a pitcher since he was on the draft radar coming out of high school.

31. Boston Red Sox* (compensation for Jonathan Papelbon signing with PHI): Zach Eflin, RHP, Hagerty HS (Florida)

More pitching for the Red Sox. Zach Eflin is somewhat under the radar at present, but he's got great stuff that should get even better with more development. He throws in the low 90s with sink, and his breaking stuff has a lot of potential.