2012 MLB Draft: Ranking Top 40 Prospects in 2012 Draft Class

As the MLB season continues on towards the summer months, we are now roughly two months from the June amateur draft, as teams will once again look to find their next franchise cornerstone from the high school and college ranks.

When it comes time to draft, players will rise and fall based on team needs and whether a club is looking for a projectable college player or a high-ceiling project high school player.

Without taking any of that into consideration, here is what I view as the top 40 prospects in the upcoming draft class; my list of best available talent regardless of where they are likely to end up being selected.

No. 40: Nolan Fontana, University of Florida

Position: 2B

Height/Weight: 5'11", 195

Born: 6/6/1991

Stats: .294/.412/.503, 9 HR, 27 RBI, 42 R

Aside from being a slick fielding second baseman, Fontana may well be the best top offensive second baseman in the class, with a good combination of speed and power.

He has a terrific approach at the plate, and could move quickly through the minors once he signs. While he may not be a star, he could rank among the top second basemen in baseball in his prime.

No. 39: Dylan Baker, Western Nevada Community College

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 6'3", 213

Born: 4/6/1992

Stats: 11-0, 1.84 ERA, 100 K, 63.2 IP

An Alaska native, little was known about Baker entering the season, but he has been lights-out and is without question the best community college pitcher available.

With vastly improved command and a blazing fastball, he could go much higher than this come draft day—but because of his low-level competition, he could wind up slipping and becoming a steal for whoever drafts him.

No. 38: Adam Brett-Walker, Jacksonville University

Position: OF/1B

Height/Weight: 6'5", 225

Born: 10/18/1991

Stats: .335/.426/.551, 9 HR, 36 RBI, 37 R 

Brett-Walker has drawn comparisons to Fred McGriff, and while Brett-Walker is a right-handed hitter as opposed to left-handed like McGriff, he has similar tools and could enjoy some of the same success.

He is athletic enough to be a solid outfielder, but could play first base as a pro. While power is his biggest asset, he is a solid all-around hitter coming off of a sophomore year in which he hit with a .409 BA, 13 HR and 75 RBI.

No. 37: Ty Hensley, Santa Fe High School (OK)

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 6'5", 220

Born: 7/30/1993 

Committed To: Ole Miss

There have only been six high school pitchers from the state of Oklahoma taken in the first round of the MLB draft, with two of them coming last year in Dylan Bundy and Archie Bradley.

Hensley has a mid-90s fastball, curveball and changeup. He also has good bloodlines, as his dad was a second-round pick by the Cardinals back in 1988 and went on to coach 10 years at the D-1 level. 

Hensley doesn't have the stuff of the above mentioned aces, but he is good enough to perhaps become the seventh player to join that list.

No. 36: Matthew Reckling, Rice University

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 6'4", 210

Born: 3/24/1989

Stats: 7-1, 2.38 ERA, 85 K, 72 IP 

The ace of perennial baseball powerhouse Rice, Reckling is a senior who is in just his second season as a starter, but has displayed terrific strikeout skills throughout his time at Rice, with 228 over 203 innings of work.

He has improved his command this season, cutting his BB/9 from 5.5 to 3.3, and his .172 batting average against is a testament to his terrific stuff. He could go much higher than where I have him ranked here, but his short track record of success is what keeps him this low as of now.

No. 35: James Ramsey, Florida State University

Position: OF

Height/Weight: 6'0", 190

Born: 12/19/1989

Stats: .401/.536/.731, 11 HR, 40 RBI, 60 R

Ramsey has been perhaps the best hitter in all of college baseball this season, and after earning third-team All-American honors last season, he has peaked his draft stock with a dominant senior season.

He has a complete offensive game, with terrific plate discipline, projectable power and great contact skills. He could be the first hitter from this draft class to see the big leagues.

No. 34: Brian Johnson, University of Florida

Position: LHP

Height/Weight: 6'3", 225

Born: 12/7/1990

Stats: 5-4, 4.29 ERA, 52 Ks, 65 IP

A big left-hander who has struggled a bit this season after a terrific year last year, Johnson is still viewed as one of the better southpaws in the draft class and should still be a high pick despite his pedestrian numbers.

Also a solid hitter who has a .319 BA, 5 HR, 32 RBI line on the season as a first baseman/designated hitter, Johnson has a good feel for pitching but plenty of room to improve across the board, as he is a bit of project but one who could take off quickly.

No. 33: Addison Russell, Pace High School (GA)

Position: SS

Height/Weight: 6'1", 195

Born: 1/23/1994

Committed To: Auburn

Ranked towards the top of the pack among prep shortstops entering the season, Russell has enjoyed a solid senior year and solidified his place alongside Carlos Correa and Gavin Cecchini as the top high school shortstops in the class.

It remains to be seen if he will be able to stick at shortstop or be moved to third base, but he is a solid fielder with a great arm, and he is just a smooth player in all aspects of the game.

No. 32: Trey Williams, Valencia High School (CA)

Position: 3B

Height/Weight: 6'1", 200

Born: 3/9/1994

Committed To: Pepperdine

Williams has been followed since his sophomore season, when an opposing coach intentionally walked him with the bases loaded after he homered against them five times in two games leading up to that game. He has earned the reputation as one of the most talented high school bats in the class.

He has had a down senior season that has led some to question his work ethic, but on pure tools and potential alone, he should be taken somewhere near the bottom of the first round or top of the supplemental round. He also has the glove to stick at third base, which adds to his value.

No. 31: Lucas Sims, Barbe High School

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 6'2", 195

Born: 5/10/1994

Committed To: Clemson

With a fastball that can reach the upper-90s, a plus curveball, solid changeup and a sinker that he added to the mix this season, Sims has the repertoire depth to be a solid starting pitcher.

However, he is viewed by some as a future closer with an intense demeanor on the mound. Regardless of what role he winds up in as a pro, he has the stuff to make a significant impact as a big leaguer.

No. 30: Chris Beck, Georgia Southern University

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 6'3", 190

Born: 4/6/1991

Stats: 4-6, 3.72 ERA, 97 K, 84.2 IP

Beck has not had the college season many thought he would, but his stock shouldn't be too affected by that, as he had a terrific season in the Cape Cod League that placed him among the top college arms in the draft. 

He has three plus pitches, with a fastball, changeup and slider in his repertoire, and used them to strike out 16 hitters in just six innings against College of Charleston. He has a very high floor, as he should be a solid No. 3 starter at the least, once he reaches the big leagues.

No. 29: Travis Jankowski, Stony Brook

Position: CF

Height/Weight: 6'2", 180

Born: 9/13/1991

Stats: .379/.453/.605, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 51 R

The top leadoff hitting prospect, both prep and college, Jankowski broke out in a big way last season when he hit .355 and swiped 30 bases.

That was followed by a terrific Cape Cod League season, as he hit .329 with 22 RBI and 15 steals to be named league MVP. He has picked right up from there in his junior campaign, as he has solidified his place as a first-round pick.

No. 28: Chris Stratton, Mississippi State University

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 6'3, 198

Born: 8/22/1990

Stats: 9-0, 2.19 ERA, 101 K, 82.1 IP

Few college pitchers have boosted their stock as much this season as Stratton, as he went 5-7 with a 5.21 ERA last season as a sophomore, but has been dominant this season.

With a mid-90s fastball, he has the stuff of a power pitcher, but relies on plus command to get batters out. The highlight of his season thus far was a 17-strikeout performance against LSU earlier this season; a start that truly put him on the first-round map.

No. 27: Hunter Virant, Camarillo High School (CA)

Position: LHP

Height/Weight: 6'3", 175

Born: 1/22/1994

Committed To: UCLA

Virant should rival Matt Smoral and Max Fried as the first prep left-hander off the board, and he is widely regarded as one of the most polished high school arms of the class.

With a low-90s fastball that he can dial up to 96 and a terrific curveball, he has two big-league-caliber pitches already, and should have no problem developing a quality changeup that will project him as a top-of-the-rotation starter.

No. 26: Tyler Naquin, Texas A&M University

Position: OF

Height/Weight: 6'1", 165

Born: 4/24/1991

Stats: .397/.473/.571, 3 HR, 43 RBI, 42 R

The 2011 Big-12 Player of the Year as a sophomore, Naquin has built off of that success with an equally impressive junior year that should make him first-round selection come June.

He does everything well, albeit nothing great, as he should steal a good amount of bases, provide double-digit power, a high average and terrific defense in the outfield with a cannon arm once he reaches the majors.

No. 25: Joey Gallo, Bishop Gorman High School (NV)

Position: 3B/1B

Height/Weight: 6'5", 205

Born: 11/19/1993

Committed To: LSU

The top raw-power prospect in the draft, Gallo had a .561 BA, 14 HR, 61 RBI line through his first 28 games this season and is far from just a power bat, as he has a good approach at the plate as well.

He is also a hard-throwing pitcher on the mound, capable of hitting 95 MPH on the radar gun with an impressive curveball—but slugging corner infielder is how he will make his money, as he now has 70 career home runs in high school.

No. 24: Stephen Piscotty, Stanford University

Position: 3B/1B

Height/Weight: 6'3", 195

Born: 1/14/1991

Stats: .335/.421/.514, 5 HR, 50 RBI, 34 R

A polished hitter in what is a weak college position player class, Piscotty may not have the long-term power to stick at a corner infield spot, but he has the offensive potential to be an impact player in the big leagues.

The batting average leader in the Cape Cod League, where he hit .349, he should be a quick mover in the minor leagues. While he does not have the highest ceiling, he is a relatively safe pick.

No. 23: Walker Weickel, Olympia High School (FL)

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 6'6", 200

Born: 11/14/1993

Committed To: Miami (FL)

Pitching for ESPN's No. 1 ranked high school team, Weickel has a good grasp of three pitches, with a mid-90s fastball, good changeup and biting curveball.

He was arguably the best pitcher on the USA Under-18 team at the Pan Am Championships, going 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA, and he has plenty of room to fill out his 6'6" frame as he works his way through the minors.

No. 22: Victor Roache, Georgia Southern University

Position: OF

Height/Weight: 6'1", 225

Born: 9/17/1991

Stats: .412/.600/.765, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 6 R

Perhaps the top college hitter on the board entering the season, Roache suffered a broken wrist making a diving play in the outfield, ending his season after just six games.

He led the nation last season with 30 home runs, and he has made strides in his plate discipline since coming to Georgia Southern. He has very quick hands and power to all fields. While the wrist injury will drop him down the board some, there is no chance he falls out of the first round—whichever team takes him could get the steal of the draft.

No. 21: Gavin Cecchini, Barbe High School (LA)

Position: SS

Height/Weight: 6'1", 180

Born: 12/22/1993

Committed To: Ole Miss 

A star for the USA Under-18 team last year when he led the team with a .469 average, Cecchini is a terrific defender aside from his offensive game, and could be a Gold Glove winner at shortstop or second base.

He is one of the most athletic players in the entire draft, and should be a fast mover once he signs. As he is, and because he is relatively polished at a premium position, he could be off the board long before where he is ranked here.

No. 20: Matt Smoral, Solon High School (OH)

Position: LHP

Height/Weight: 6'8", 225

Born: 3/18/1994

Committed To: University of North Carolina

A towering left-hander, Smoral has struggled at times this season with blister problems and a foot injury, but he looks to be healthy moving forward and could be a late-riser on many draft boards.

Despite his size, he still has plenty of filling out to do and also has a good deal of upside from a pitching standpoint. He has gotten by mostly on a mid-90s fastball to this point, and depending on how his changeup/slider combination develops, he has the ceiling to be a front-line guy.

No. 19: Stryker Trahan, Arcadiana High School (LA)

Position: C

Height/Weight: 6'1", 220

Born: 3/25/1994

Committed To: Ole Miss

The best prep catcher in the draft by a long shot, Trahan has the defensive skills to stick at the position at the pro level and the offensive tools to be among the best hitting backstops in all of baseball once he gets there.

He hits left-handed which is a bonus, and he ranks as not just one of the top hitting backstops, but one of the top overall hitters in the entire draft. A terrific athlete, he could shift to the outfield and more than hold his own.

No. 18: Andrew Heaney, Oklahoma State University

Position: LHP

Height/Weight: 6'2", 174

Born: 6/5/1991

Stats: 7-1, 1.65 ERA, 109 K, 93 IP

Relatively unheralded entering the season, Heaney has been dominant all season long, and he continues to move up draft boards with each start.

He has a solid three-pitch arsenal, with a fastball that sits in the low-90s, a plus changeup and a developing slider. The draft is relatively thin on left-handed pitching, and as long as he continues to pitch like he has, there is no reason he won't be a mid-first-round selection.

No. 17: Deven Marrero, Arizona State University

Position: SS

Height/Weight: 6'1", 172

Born: 8/25/1990

Stats: .276/.335/.414, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 30 R

A high school teammate of Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer, Marrero kicked off his college career with a bang, hitting .397 to be named Freshman All-American.

His average dropped to .319 last season and is down again this year, but he projects as a future No. 2 hitter who could hit .280 with decent speed—although his true value lies in his elite defense at a premium position.

No. 16: Zach Eflin, Hagerty High School (FL)

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 6'5", 200

Born: 4/8/1994

Committed To: University of Central Florida

With good size that should fill out into a prototypical power pitching frame as he progresses, Eflin has boosted his stock with a strong spring, as his fastball has spiked from the low-90s to the 94-to-95 MPH range, and he pairs that with a terrific changeup and a curveball that should only get better.

A triceps injury could cause him to drop a few spots, but he should be fine. While he is still a largely unproven commodity, he should still go in the upper half of the first round on ceiling alone.

No. 15: David Dahl, Oak Mountain High School (Ala.)

Position: OF

Height/Weight: 6'2", 190

Born: 4/1/1994

Committed To: Auburn

Dahl is the definition of a pure hitter, as his smooth left-handed swing is quick through the zone and capable of hitting the ball to all fields with solid power.

He is a relatively low-risk pick given that he is a high schooler, and he projects as a middle-of-the-order hitter capable of hitting over .300 with 25-to-30 home run potential at the big-league level.

No. 14: Courtney Hawkins, Carroll High School (TX)

Position: OF

Height/Weight: 6'3", 215

Born: 11/12/1993

Committed To: University of Texas

Hawkins has the best pure-power potential of any prep prospect on the board this season. Hawkins would likely be a late-first- or early-second-round pick as a pitcher, as he throws mid-90s with two solid secondary pitches.

However, it is as a five-tool-caliber outfielder that he will go off the board early in the first round, perhaps as the second high school hitter taken after Byron Buxton. He could be a 30 HR, 20 SB player in his prime, and his ceiling is huge.

No. 13: Marcus Stroman, Duke University

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 5'9", 180

Born: 5/1/1991

Stats: 5-4, 2.36 ERA, 119 K, 84 IP

The clear knock on Stroman is the fact that he is very undersized at just 5'9", but he has the pure stuff and the background of success to justify a high pick come June.

He is, more or less, a two-pitch pitcher at this point, but his mid-90s fastball and biting slider are terrific. The biggest card in his favor is the success he had in the Cape Cod League, where he pitched 25 scoreless innings, allowing just 10 hits with a 32:3 K:BB ratio.

Fun fact: He also plays a little shortstop for the Blue Devils, as he is a terrific all-around athlete.

No. 12: Richie Shaffer, Clemson University

Position: 1B/3B

Height/Weight: 6'3", 190

Born: 3/15/1991

Stats: .351/.481/.600, 9 HR, 42 RBI, 39 R

Shaffer has great power and profiles as a plus hitter across the board, as his good plate discipline should allow him to progress quickly at the pro level.

A Gold Glove-caliber first baseman, Shaffer has made the move to third base this season. While it remains to be seen where he'll play as a pro, that added versatility only boosts his value. He could be the second college position player taken.

No. 11: Albert Almora, Mater Academy (FL)

Position: OF

Height/Weight: 6'1", 170

Born: 4/16/1994

Committed To: Miami (FL)

Almora has kept himself near the top of most high school prospect lists, thanks to a five-tool skill set and some terrific performances during summer showcases.

He does not quite project as a future superstar, but should do a little bit of everything and be good for a .280 BA, 25 HR, 15 SB line season-in and season-out while playing stellar defense in the outfield. He could be the first high school hitter off the board after Byron Buxton.

No. 10: Michael Wacha, Texas A&M University

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 6'6", 180

Born: 7/1/1991

Stats: 7-0, 2.25 ERA, 87 K, 84 IP

Undrafted out of high school, Wacha has been terrific for the Aggies in his three years with the program, going 25-6 with a 2.48 ERA and 8.7 K/9, as he has made himself a sure-fire first-round selection.

He is by no means a flashy pick, and he does not have near the ceiling of some of the other guys in this area of the draft, but he is as safe a pick as there is. With a mid-90s fastball with good sink, a terrific changeup and a solid slider, he should enjoy a lengthy career as a middle-of-the-rotation starter.

No. 9: Max Fried, Harvard-Westlake High School (CA)

Position: LHP

Height/Weight: 6'3", 170

Born: 1/18/1994

Committed To: UCLA

A high school teammate of the top prep pitcher in the nation, Lucas Giolito, Fried was the No. 5-ranked high school prospect entering the season, according to Max Preps, and he was forced to take over as staff ace when Giolito suffered a season-ending injury.

His fastball sits in the low-90s, and he may well have the best curveball in the entire draft. He has a frame that should fill out well, and he has the potential to gain a decent amount of velocity moving forward. He has as high a ceiling as any pitcher in the draft, and his floor is not all that low, considering.

No. 8: Lance McCullers Jr., Jesuit High School (FL)

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 6'2", 205

Born: 10/10/1993

Committed To: University of Florida

A legend since he hit 96 MPH on the radar gun as a sophomore, McCullers has been lights-out all season with an 11-0 record, 0.12 ERA and 107 K/18 BB ratio over 58.1 innings.

His father was a pro baseball pitcher who spent seven seasons in the big leagues, so the pedigree is there. His command was his biggest question mark entering the season, and that has been vastly improved, as his blazing fastball and big-league-ready curveball make him one of the top prep arms available.

No. 7: Carlos Correa, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy

Position: SS

Height/Weight: 6'4", 190

Born: 9/22/1994

Committed To: Miami (FL)

In the mold of Javier Baez last year, Correa is a big shortstop with terrific offensive potential who could inevitably shift to third base given his size.

He impressed in showcases with his tremendous raw power. Despite his size, he has the glove to stay at shortstop and an absolute cannon for an arm (clocked at 97 MPH across the diamond)—regardless of where he winds up, he has some fantastic tools.

No. 6: Kyle Zimmer, University of San Francisco

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 6'2", 220

Born: 9/?/1991

Stats: 4-3, 2.71 ERA, 85 K, 76.1 IP

Zimmer is as polished as any pitcher in the 2012 draft class, and he could very well be the first player to reach the majors once he is selected.

He sits comfortably in the mid-90s and can reach back and hit 99 on the gun. He throws a ton of strikes, keeping hitters off-balance with two different curveballs and a slider that he can throw at varying speeds. He is as big a riser as anyone on the board and could challenge for the top selection.

No. 5: Lucas Giolito, Harvard-Westlake High School (CA)

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 6'6", 220

Born: July 14, 1994

Committed To: UCLA

The No. 1-ranked high school prospect in the country entering the season, according to Max Preps, Giolito certainly looked the part, as he uncorked a handful of 100 MPH fastballs in a one-hit season debut.

However, he was sidelined with a sprained UCL and will need to prove healthy throwing in front of scouts to reclaim his lofty rank. This ranking is assuming all goes well and he has not lost anything with the injury.

No. 4: Kevin Gausman, Louisiana State University

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 6'4", 190

Born: 1/6/1991

Stats: 7-1, 3.16 ERA, 101 Ks, 82.2 IP

Gausman is a draft-eligible sophomore, and he pairs a high-90s fastball that can touch 100 MPH with plus secondary stuff, making him one of the most dominant pitcher in college baseball right now.

He was taken in the sixth round by the Dodgers out of high school, and it is unlikely he will fall out of the top five in June, as he profiles as a future top-of-the-rotation starter.

No. 3: Mike Zunino, University of Florida

Position: C

Height/Weight: 6'2", 215

Born: 3/25/1991

Stats: .320/.376/.629, 12 HR, 43 RBI, 37 R

Zunino enjoyed a fantastic sophomore season last year, hitting .371 BA, 19 HR, 67 RBI and solidifying himself as college baseball's top catcher entering this season.

He has rare offensive tools for a backstop and should be a franchise catcher for whichever team selects him, capable of making a Buster Posey-like impact once he reaches the majors.

No. 2: Mark Appel, Stanford University

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 6'5", 190

Born: 7/15/1991

Stats: 7-1, 2.72 ERA, 85 Ks, 86 IP

Viewed by many as the consensus No. 1 overall pick entering the season, Appel has not quite had the dominant junior season many anticipated, but he has done nothing to hurt his stock either.

A 15th-round pick out of high school, he has very smooth and repeatable mechanics and throws a heavy mid-90s fastball that should induce plenty of ground balls. With a plus changeup and two other solid pitches, he should move quickly through the system of whoever selects him.

No. 1: Byron Buxton, Appling County High School (GA)

Position: CF

Height/Weight: 6'2", 175

Born: 12/18/1993

Committed To: University of Georgia

A fantastic athlete who profiles as a five-tool talent, Buxton is the top high school position player in the draft. Depending on how the Astros choose to approach the first overall selection, he could be first off the board come June.

Speed is his greatest asset right now, but he also has terrific raw power and has drawn comparisons to B.J. Upton, with potential for even more.