2012 MLB Mock Draft: Easy Choices for Every First Round Pick

There's an old Chinese proverb that reads, "He who over-thinks will mess up his draft very quickly."

Okay, so that's not actually a Chinese proverb, but it nonetheless holds true that getting cute at the draft is a surefire way for any GM and scouting staff to mess up the draft.

Don't get to crazy looking at potential, cherry-picking certain stats or falling in love with athleticism.

Keep it simple, stupid—if you love the player's ability and believe he's going to be great, pick him.

If you have your reservations and hope he lives up to his potential, pass.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the easy and obvious choices for each team at this year's MLB draft.

1. Houston Astros (56-106): Byron Buxton, OF (Appling County High School, Ga.)

Coming out of high school, Buxton is undoubtedly a project. He isn't going to be a Bryce Harper-type player on the fast-track to the major leagues, which is pretty darn rare in the first place.

But his skill set suggests he has Justin Upton upside, which is what a team looks for in a top pick and certainly makes Buxton hard to pass up. He's a five-tool prospect who has a good feel for the game, and if the Astos are willing to be patient, could be the best player in this draft.

What do the Astros have to lose? Buxton should be the pick.

2. Minnesota Twins (63-99): Mark Appel, RHP (Stanford)

As pitchers go, Appel is about as safe a bet as they come in this draft class.

He boasts three plus pitches with a mid-90s fastball, an sharp slider and a changeup. He should be a top of the rotation pitcher—think Zack Greinke here—and shouldn't need a lengthy stay in the minors after three seasons at Stanford.

He's underachieved at times, but the stuff is there for him to be a very good pitcher.

This should be the pick for the Twins.

3. Seattle Mariners (67-95): Lucas Giolito, RHP (Harvard-Westlake School, Calif.)

There have been concerns over his elbow, but his stuff is electric. If the Mariners think his elbow isn't a concern moving forward, this should be the pick.

4. Baltimore Orioles (69-93):  Kevin Gausman, RHP (LSU)

The Orioles should go after the best pitcher left in the draft at that slot. That is Gausman who, like Appel, could have a fast track to the majors given his college experience.

5. Kansas City Royals (71-91): Mike Zunino, C (Florida)

If Zunino drops to the Royals, he's a no-brainer in my opinion, and the team shouldn't hesitate drafting him.

For my money, he's got the upside of a player like Matt Wieters, in that he'll hit for both power and average, will field his position well, has a solid arm and does well managing a staff.

His upside may be limited compared to some of the other prospects, but he's also probably the most polished player in this draft.

Zunino will be a stud for the Royals.

6. Chicago Cubs (71-91): Albert Almora, OF (Marion Christian Academy, Fla.)

He's another young, five-star outfielder that could become a star. The Cubs can't pass him up here.

7. San Diego Padres (71-91): Kyle Zimmer, RHP (San Francisco)

His fastballs hit the upper 90s. That's always appealing.

8. Pittsburgh Pirates (72-90): Carlos Correa, SS (Puerto Rico)

He's a top-five talent and a player the Pirates shouldn't pass up, even if he does have to eventually move to third base.

9. Miami Marlins (72-90): Courtney Hawkins, RF (Carroll High School, Texas)

He's got a strong arm and serious pop. Sounds like the ideal corner outfielder to me.

10. Colorado Rockies (73-89):  Max Fried, LHP (Harvard-Westlake School, Calif.)

He's the best lefty in the draft, and has already displayed a solid understanding of the craft. The Rockies would be wise to remove him from the board.

11. Oakland Athletics (74-88): Deven Marrero, SS (Arizona State)

Marrero was considered one of the best prospects in this class before the year began, and then he went and had a disappointing season, lowering his stock slightly.

Still, he's a solid fielder and has shown some pop in the past, which makes him intriguing by default at the position.

12. New York Mets (77-85):  Michael Wacha, RHP (Texas A&M)

This might be a bit high for Wacha, but the Mets will love how polished he is, hoping he'll make a quick jump to the big leagues.

13. Chicago White Sox (79-83): Richie Shaffer, 3B (Clemson)

If you love raw power, Shaffer's your guy. Dude can send the ball out in a hurry.

14. Cincinnati Reds (79-83): Andrew Heaney, LHP (Oklahoma State)

He doesn't have the upside of Fried, but is the best lefty coming out of the college ranks this year and boasts a nasty breaking ball.

15. Cleveland Indians (80-82): Marcus Stroman, RHP (Duke)

His short stature may lead teams to believe he should be in the bullpen, but he has legitimate rotation stuff.

Stroman is another polished product coming out of the college ranks, and should have a short transition into the big leagues, whether in the bullpen or in a rotation.

16. Washington Nationals (80-81): Chris Stratton, RHP (Mississippi State)

The Nationals have been excellent adding major-league quality pitchers coming from college in the early rounds of the draft in recent memory.

Stratton has the stuff to keep that tradition going strongly.

17. Toronto Blue Jays (81-81): Joey Gallo, 3B/RHP (Bishop Gorman High School, Nev.)

Gallo has excellent power at the dish, but also has a powerful arm and hits the mid-90s with his fastball. He could be a third basemen, right fielder or pitcher at the next level.

Those sort of options are valuable in a prospect—just ask Rick Ankiel.

18. Los Angeles Dodgers (82-79): Lance McCullers, Jr., RHP (Jesuit High School, Fla.)

McCullers throws fireballs, plain and simple. Who doesn't like a guy who throws serious heat?

19. St. Louis Cardinals (90-72): Gavin Cecchini, SS (Barbe High School, La.)*

The Cardinals will likely focus on bats and position players in this draft, which has something to do with the departure of Albert Pujols and aging players like Matt Holliday, Carlos Beltran and Lance Berkman.

Cecchini is a legit shortstop who should handle the position for years to come.

20. San Francisco Giants (86-76): Stephen Piscotty, 3B (Stanford)

Piscotty is a finalist for the John Olerud Award, given to the best two-way player in the nation. Also, his name makes me think of biscotti, and that makes me like him even more. 

21. Atlanta Braves (89-73): Matt Smoral, LHP (Solon High School, Ohio)

He's a 6'8" lefty and throws a solid slider. Sounds like the prototype to me.

22. Toronto Blue Jays (81-81): Zach Elfin, RHP (Hagerty High School, Fla.)**

He's a big kid who has shown flashes of mid-90s velocity and a nice breaking ball. Elfin is a bit risky here, but at this point in the draft, just about every prospect is.

23. St. Louis Cardinals (90-72): David Dahl, OF (Oak Mountain High School, Ala.)

Like Cecchini, Dahl won't bring a ton of pop, but does have good speed, should hit for average to the alleys and will knock the occasional pitch over the wall. 

24. Boston Red Sox (90-72): Addison Russell, SS (Pace High School, Fla.)

Russell boasts solid bat speed and good pop. He'll probably get moved from shortstop, but should slot in nicely at third.

25. Tampa Bay Rays (91-71): Lucas Sims, RHP (Brookwood High School, Ga.) 

He's 8-0 with a 1.09 ERA for Brockwood this year. The Rays will gladly scoop him up here.

26. Arizona Diamondbacks (94-68): Stryker Trahan, C (Acadiana High School, La.)

He's got solid power, and honestly, the best name in the draft. The only way his name could be any better would be if he was a goal-scoring soccer player.

27. Milwaukee Brewers (96-66): Pierce Johnson, RHP (Missouri State)***

We've got a good run of baseball names going on right now, with Pierce Johnson adding his name into the mix.

Though he was only 3-6 this year, Johnson does have a 2.58 ERA and surpassed 100 strikeouts this season.

28. Milwaukee Brewers (96-66): Victor Roache, OF (Georgia Southern)

We've had Pierce and Stryker, but now we add a more villainous name with Victor Roache, who sounds like the guy who will beat you in poker and has his own illegal arms empire.

If the Brew Crew aren't concerned with his wrist, he could end up being one of the best hitters in the draft.

29. Texas Rangers (96-66): D.J. Davis, OF (Stone County High School, Miss.)

Davis can fly, and looks like the prototypical major league leadoff hitter.

30. New York Yankees (97-65): Corey Seager, 3B (Northwest Cabarrus High School, N.C.

He's the younger brother of Seattle Mariners' third basemen Kyle Seager, and Corey may be the better player someday.

31. Boston Red Sox (90-72): Carson Kelly, 3B (Westview High School, Ore.)****

Kelly is another player that could transition into being a full-time pitcher if he doesn't work out as a position player.

*Compensation from Los Angeles Angels for Albert Pujols

**Compensation for failing to sign 2011 first-round pick Tyler Beede

***Compensation from Detroit for Prince Fielder

****Compensation from Philadelphia for Jonathan Papelbon

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