2012 MLB Draft: Ranking the Most MLB-Ready Tools of Draft Prospects

This week’s draft coverage continues with a look at some of the top position players and their overwhelming tools. As you will see, some players are far more well-rounded than others; however, there’s still a wide array of talent in the 2012 draft class.

Having looked at the top pitches in the draft yesterday afternoon from both high school and college pitchers, today I will focus on which players have the most outstanding tools.

Best Athlete (College): Travis Jankowski

Position: OF

Height/Weight: 6’3”/185

Bats/Throws: L/R

DOB: 6/15/1991

College: Stony Brook

Unlike this year’s high school draft prospects, the college ranks are rather slim on all-around, elite athletes. Jankowski, a left-handed hitter, has the speed and bat to be a top-of-the-order hitter in the big leagues. He currently lacks power, but given his quick wrists, adding loft to his swing could make it a possibility.  His plus speed lends to his above-average defense, and his arm should be enough to stick in center field.

Best Athlete (High School): Byron Buxton

Position: OF

Height/Weight: 6’2”/190

Bats/Throws: R/R

DOB: 12/18/1993

High School: Appling County (Ga.)

College Commitment: Georgia

Not only is Buxton the top position player in the 2012 draft class, he’s hands-down the most athletic. I don’t like to throw the term around, but the Georgia native is abut as five-tooled as they come—although the development of his bat will ultimately be the determining factor. He has raw power at the plate with effortless bat speed, 80-grade speed that's equally impressive on the bases as it is in center field and a plus arm that yields 90-plus mph throws from the outfield.

Best Hitter (College): Mike Zunino

Position: C

Height/Weight: 6’2”/215

Bats/Throws: R/R

DOB: 3/25/1991

College: Florida

Zunino is a pure hitter who drives the ball to all fields and generates good extension after contact. Although his swing can get a bit long at times, it’s something that will be an easy fix with a big-league hitting coach. His 50-grade hit tool is one of the safest and most draftable tools in the entire class and could even grade out as a 60 by the time he reaches the Major Leagues.

Best Hitter (High School): Gavin Cecchini

Position: SS

Height/Weight: 6’0"/175

Bats/Throws: R/R

DOB: 12/22/1993

High School: Barbe (La.)

The younger brother of Boston Red Sox prospect Garin Cecchini, Gavin has quick wrists and compact swing that allow him to drive the ball from line-to-line. Like his brother, the ball jumps off Gavin’s bat due to a direct and fluid bat path. Furthermore, Cecchini understands his swing as well as any hitter in the draft.

Best Bat Speed (High School): Courtney Hawkins

Position: OF

Height/Weight: 6’3”/210

Bats/Throws: R/R

DOB: 11/12/1993

College Commitment: Texas

Although all of his tools stand out on the field, Hawkins’ plus raw bat speed is something special. His combination of strong wrists, explosive weight transfer and sheer physically strength give him double-plus power to all fields. He’s shown that he can jump on the best of fastballs, and the ball just sounds different off his bat when he connects.

Best Bat Speed (College): Richie Shaffer

Position: 3B

Height/Weight: 6’3”/205

Bats/Throws: R/R

DOB: 3/15/1991

College: Clemson

Shaffer’s strong wrists and compact, fluid swing generate exceptional bat speed, which especially stands out in a draft class devoid of projectable college bats. He’s able to catch up to top-notch velocity without sacrificing power or contact, while his advanced plate discipline allows him to let the ball travel deep and drive it to all fields.

Best Power (High School): Joey Gallo

Position: 3B/RHP

Height/Weight: 6’5”/220

Bats/Throws: L/R

DOB: 11/19/1993

High School: Bishop Gorman (Nev.)

College Commitment: LSU

Overview: Gallo put himself on every scout’s radar at the Perfect Game All-American Classic last August when he blasted a monster 442-foot home run at Petco Park. Furthermore, his 60-plus career home runs and counting at Bishop Gorman is a Nevada state record. Without a doubt, the left-handed hitter already possesses 80-grade power, and the most power of anyone in the 2012 draft class.

Best Power (College): Richie Shaffer

Shaffer has emerged as the top collegiate bat beyond Florida’s Mike Zunino, while his power is in a league of its own. At the moment, the right-handed hitter’s power grades out as about a 55, but there are still raw aspects of his swing that, when ultimately ironed out, could yield 60-to-65-grade pop and anywhere from 20-30 home runs.

This season, Shaffer has amassed 28 extra-base hits and a 1.064 OPS against very good SEC pitching. 

Best Speed (College): Travis Jankowski

One of the premier athletes of the 2012 draft class, Jankowski’s plus speed is incredibly apparent both in his routes in center field and on the base paths, where he has swiped 32 bases in 38 attempts this season. 

Best Speed (High School): D.J. Davis

Position: OF

Height/Weight: 6’0"/175

Bats/Throws: L/R

DOB: 5/5/1994

College: Meridian CC

It’s hard to be considered faster than Byron Buxton, but somehow, Davis is. He’s a superb athlete who has been clocked at 3.8-3.9 to first from the left side of the plate. Has surprisingly solid baseball skills as well.

Best Defensive Infielder (College): Marrero

Position: SS

Height/Weight: 6’1”/180

Bats/Throws: R/R

DOB: 8/25/1990

College: Arizona State

Arguably the most advanced shortstop in the 2012 draft class, Marrero has developed an outstanding reputation for has soft hands and 60-grade range. His defensive prowess makes him a lock to continue his career there at the next level. 

Best Defensive Infielder (High School): Gavin Cecchini

He’s not overly flashy at shortstop, but has tremendous instincts and has incredibly reliable and soft hands. All of his tools play up at the position due to all-out hustle, and he has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. 

Best Infield Arm (College): Deven Marrero

In addition to his fluid and advanced actions at shortstop,  Marrero’s 65-to-70-grade arm (depending on who you ask) plays up due to his natural instincts and high baseball IQ. It may not always appear to be a top-notch arm, but that’s merely a product of his positioning and first step.

Best Infield Arm (High School): Carlos Correa

Position: SS

Height/Weight: 6’4”/190

Bats/Throws: R/R

DOB: 9/22/1994

High School: Puerto Rico Baseball Academy

College Commitment: Miami

Only 17 years old, Correa has been clocked in the mid-90s from shortstop, and it could conceivable improve over the next few years. Even if he outgrows the position, his raw arm strength is more than enough for third base.

Best Defensive Outfielder (College): Travis Jankowski

As previously mentioned, Jankowski’s plus speed gives him above-average range in center field—a position that most scouts believe he can play at the Major League level. He takes aggressive and advanced routes to the ball in all directions, and there’s even some room for him to still improve.

Best Defensive Outfielder (High School): Albert Almora

Position: OF

Height/Weight: 6’2”/180

Bats/Throws: R/R

DOB: 4/06/1990

High School: Mater Academy (Fla.)

College Commitment: Miami

Almora gets excellent jumps in center field that lends to his plus range. Everything he does in the outfield is fundamentally sound, and he takes aggressive routes to the ball. He’s not a particularly fast runner, but his all-out hustle and footwork may allow him to stick in center. 

Best Outfield Arm (College): Tyler Naquin

Position: OF

Height/Weight: 6’1”/185

Bats/Throws: L/R

DOB: 4/24/1991

College: Texas A&M

Naquin has an absolute hose; a 70-grade arm that's one of the best among all college outfielders and possibly even the best in the 2012 draft class All of his throws have great carry and for the most part are accurate. Naquin knows it’s good, too, even baiting runners to test him at times.

Best Outfield Arm (High School): Byron Buxton

Of course Buxton has a great arm. In case you haven't already figured it out, the kid does it all on the field.