2012 MLB Draft: 10 Draft Steals Your Favorite Team Can Take After Round 1

If you haven't already figured it out, I've come down with a nasty case of draft fever. Although the lack of talent in this year's draft class pales in comparison to previous years, the lack of unanimity regarding the entire first round is incredibly exciting. And don't expect any certainty across the board until names are called on June 4.

As I continue to break down the prospects in this year's class, I'll be examining them by position, as well as which organizations may be an ideal fit.

However, today I'll be taking a look at 10 draft prospects who could be a steal if drafted in the right spot, by the right team.  

Marcus Stroman, RHP, Duke

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 5’9”/185 lbs

Bats/Throws: R/R

DOB: 5/9/1991

College: Duke

Year: JR

At 5’9”, Stroman could probably pump low 90s from his knees. His size will ultimately hurt his draft stock, but his blinding arm speed and upper-90s fastball are legitimate. However, he struggles to throw consistently on a downward plane and could be in for a rude awakening upon entering pro ball.

Given his plus-plus fastball, there’s a strong chance that the right-hander will be transitioned to the bullpen, where he profiles as a high-leverage reliever or closer down the road.

Latest Mock Draft Projection: No. 9, Miami Marlins

Who Could Steal Him?: Stroman is a bit of a wild card regarding where he’ll ultimately be drafted, as many teams seem undecided on whether he has a brighter future as a starter or reliever. Therefore, Stroman has the potential to slip down the board, possibly even into the Nos. 15-25 range.

So, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s snatched up by the Nationals (No. 16), Dodgers (No. 18), Giants (No. 20) or Blue Jays (No. 22). 

Matthew Smoral, LHP, Solon HS (Ohio)

Position: LHP

Height/Weight: 6'8"/230

Bats/Throws: L/L

DOB: 3/18/1994

High School: Solon (Ohio)

College Commitment: North Carolina

An Ohio native, the lanky left-hander has missed most of the 2012 season after having surgery to repair a small fracture in his foot. Working from a high three-quarters arm slot, Smoral pumps an easy 92- to 94-mph fastball that should add a few ticks over time.

His best pitch, however, is without a doubt his plus slider, which is already could be a legitimate out pitch at the big-league level. The southpaw also features a low-70s curveball that has good shape and late break and offers hitters a much different look.

And finally, Smoral rounds out his rotation with a changeup that he throws with a similar arm speed, which in turn generates late fading action.

Latest Mock Draft Projection: No. 20, San Francisco Giants

Who Could Steal Him?: As with Lucas Giolito, Smoral’s stock took a hit following surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot early in the spring. Prior to that, there was talk that the 6’8” left-hander might go in within the first 10 picks. Therefore, any team looking for an elite arm after about No. 12 or No. 13 in the draft could walk away with a steal in Smoral.

Likely candidates: Cincinnati Reds (No. 14), Cleveland Indians (No. 15), Washington Nationals (No. 16) and Los Angeles Dodgers (No. 18). 

Mitch Haniger, OF, Cal Poly

Position: OF

Height/Weight: 6’2”/215 lbs

Bats/Throws: R/R

DOB: 12/23/1990

College: Cal Poly

A player whose draft stock is gaining momentum, Haniger is a toolsy outfield prospect with a big-league frame as well as legitimate baseball skills. He consistently drives the ball to all fields and has shown increasing power potential over the course of the current season.

Haniger has adapted a more patient approach at the plate, which has allowed him to manipulate more counts and, in turn, see more pitches to drive.

He’s played a solid center field this season and probably has enough speed to stick there, but his plus arm is a cleaner fit in right field.

Latest Mock Draft Projection: No. 41, Houston Astros

Who Could Steal Him?: I believe that Haniger is one of the more talented and projectable outfielders on the board, and worthy of a mid-first-round selection. However, due to the amount of arms available—especially in the middle of the first round—he’ll likely slide down the board until the first supplemental round.

Likely candidates: Oakland Athletics (No. 34), New York Mets (No. 35), St. Louis Cardinals (No. 36) and Milwaukee Brewers (No. 38).

Corey Seager, 3B, Northwest Cabarrus HS (North Carolina)

Position: 3B

Height/Weight: 6’4”/190

Bats/Throws: L/R

DOB: 4/27/1994

High School: Northwest Cabarrus (North Carolina)

College Commitment: South Carolina

The younger brother of Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager, Corey is a tall and projectable left-handed hitter who plays top-notch defense at the hot corner. He exhibits natural instincts in the field and possesses surprising speed. He has soft hands and a smooth transfer, and has popped 90 mph across the infield.

At the plate, Seager has impressive raw bat speed and the ball jumps off his bat. However, he has a hitch in his swing that makes him vulnerable to quality velocity, and he will likely need some experience to iron it out.

Committed to South Carolina, Seager will likely need first-round money to sign. But scouts are divided on whether he’s advanced enough to warrant such a pick, which may ultimately result in the third baseman falling to the second round.

Latest Mock Draft Projection: No. 31, Boston Red Sox

Who Could Steal Him?: Since it’ll cost significant money to sign him, teams that lack true left-infield prospects and projectable bats should target him hoping to make a splash: Atlanta Braves (No. 21), Boston Red Sox (Nos. 24, 31), Milwaukee Brewers (Nos. 27-28) and Philadelphia Phillies (No. 40).

Lucas Sims, RHP, Brookwood HS (Ga.)

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 6’2”/195

Bats/Throws: R/R

DOB: 5/10/1994

High School: Brookwood (Ga.)

College Commitment: Clemson

Sims is an athletic right-hander with repeatable mechanics and three above-average pitches. His fastball works best in the 92- to 94-mph range, where it generates some late sink and arm-side movement. This past summer, the right-hander’s fastball was clocked at 96-97 mph on multiple occasions.

Sims’ best offering is his curveball, which he throws with similar arm speed and gets late, downer movement. He has an advanced feel for the pitch and is confident throwing it in any count.

Beyond that, the right-hander also possesses a changeup, although he uses primarily to set up his fastball/breaking ball combination.

Latest Mock Draft Projection: No. 30, New York Yankees

Who Could Steal Him?: Sims’ draft stock has been on the rise in recent weeks, as he pitched deep into the Georgia state playoffs and therefore gave scouts extra looks. I’ve always considered him a late first round/early supplemental, but the more I read and see, I think he could ultimately be taken as high as the mid-first round.

This should give any of the following teams an opportunity to land the right-hander: Nationals (No. 16), Dodgers (No. 18), Giants (No. 20), Blue Jays (No. 22), Tampa Bay Rays (No. 26) and Diamondbacks (No. 26).

Avery Romero, C/3B, Pedro Menendez (Fla.)

Position: C/3B

Height/Weight: 6’/200

Bats/Throws: R/R

DOB: 5/11/1993

High School: Pedro Menendez (Fla.)

College Commitment: Florida

At 6’0" and 200 pounds, Avery won’t blind you with athleticism. However, that’s not to say that he’s without tools.

A right-handed hitter, Romero has one of the most promising hit tools in the entire 2012 draft class. He has plus raw bat speed, a direct bat path and enough loft in his swing to take it out to all fields. Furthermore, he makes adjustments at the plate but still maintains a consistent approach.

Although he’s spent most of his prep career manning the left side of the infield, it’s almost common knowledge that his career is behind the plate. He’s obviously still raw at the position, but his soft hands and strong, accurate arm make him a perfect fit.

Latest Mock Draft Projection: No. 48, Chicago White Sox

Who Could Steal Him?: For all of those teams who passed on either a bat-first catcher or third baseman in the first round could net a steal in Romero.

Some teams that could take a flyer on him are the San Diego Padres (No. 33), A’s (No. 34), Cardinals (No. 36), Brewers (No. 38), Cubs (No. 43), White Sox (No. 48) and Blue Jays (No. 50).

Joey Gallo, 3B/RHP, Bishop Gorman HS (Nev.)

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 possesses the most power of anyone in the 2012 draft class.

However, like most young power hitters, Gallo’s swing can get long at times and he lands hard on the front side, causing him to struggle with quality off-speed offerings. On the infield, Gallo has showcased a low- to mid-90s arm across the infield, and he moves surprisingly well for his size.

He’s also received consideration as a right-handed pitcher, as his mid-90s fastball is one of the best in the class and his slider has improved with experience. Recently, his fastball was clocked as high as 98 mph.

As expected, his potential as both a position and pitching prospect has hurt his draft stock, as teams seem to be undecided about where he best projects. Signed to play at Louisiana State next season, Gallo will have to be a high draft pick—likely as a position player—to forgo his scholarship.

Latest Mock Draft Projection: No. 24, Boston Red Sox

Who Could Steal Him?: Wow. I don’t even know where to begin with Gallo, who has major signability concerns headed into the draft. He honestly could go anywhere in the draft depending on a given team's projection—not only does Gallo have 80-grade power, he also possesses one of the best fastballs in the draft.

However, assuming that he’s drafted as a third baseman, here’s a diverse array of teams who could target him: Cubs (No. 6), A’s (No. 11), Blue Jays (No. 17), Braves (No. 21), Cardinals (No. 23), Red Sox (No. 24), Diamondbacks (No. 26), Brewers (Nos. 27-28) and Yankees (No. 30). For the aforementioned teams that have at least one more pick later in the round, the likelihood only increases.

Lance McCullers, Jr., RHP, Tampa Jesuit HS (Fla.)

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 6’1”/190

Bats/Throws: L/R 

DOB: 10/2/1993

High School: Tampa Jesuit (Fla.)

College Commitment: Florida

Say what you want about McCullers’ size and max-effort delivery. At the end of the day, all that matters is that he has some of the best pure stuff in the entire 2012 draft class.

At 6’1”, 190 pounds, the right-hander’s fastball registers 94-96 mph and has even been gunned at 98-100 mph. Despite his ability to flirt with triple digits, McCullers' best offering is his plus curveball with tight spin and hard, late bite.

Rounding out his arsenal is a changeup with has some fade but noticeably lags behind his other pitches. However, it does have potential to be an above-average pitch.

The only question is whether his future is as a starter or reliever. He’s a strong kid who repeats his mechanics and arm action, so I see no need for an immediate move to the bullpen. His stuff is excellent and could warrant a much higher draft pick than some expect. 

Latest Mock Draft Projection: No. 22, Toronto Blue Jays

Who Could Steal Him?: Like Stroman, McCullers is a wild card, as scouts are divided whether he can remain or starter or will ultimately be relegated to a bullpen role.

Teams in need of a power arm with electric stuff who could target him include: Toronto Blue Jays (No. 17), Los Angeles Dodgers (No. 18), Arizona Diamondbacks (No. 26), Texas Rangers (No. 29) and New York Yankees (No. 30).

Lucas Giolito, RHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (Calif.)

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 6’6”/240

Bats/Throws: R/R

DOB: 7/14/1994

High School: Harvard Westlake (Calif.)

College Commitment: UCLA

One of the nation’s top pitching prospects headed into the 2012 season, Giolito affirmed his potential as No. 1 overall draft pick by pumping 95-99 mph fastballs and dominating top-notch competition earlier this spring.

However, the right-hander has been sidelined since early March after spraining his UCL and has become one of the biggest gambles in the 2012 draft class. He’s begun throwing flat-ground sessions, though he’ll need to be able to throw for scouts to be a top pick.

A UCLA commit, Giolito’s injury will inevitably scare some teams enough to avoid drafting him. At the same time, his arm and arsenal—including a double-plus breaking and solid-average changeup—will surely be viewed as a gamble worth taking.

He’ll need big-time money to pass on his college commitment, which means he’ll likely have to be a top-10 selection come draft day.

Latest Mock Draft Projection: No. 6, Chicago Cubs

Who Could Steal Him?: Remember, prior to the UCL strain, Giolito was widely considered the top prospect in the draft class. While his injury is still a bit of a concern, the lanky right-hander threw a flat-ground session for scouts yesterday, and reportedly looked good. Therefore, I consider him a steal at any pick after No. 2 overall.

Byron Buxton, OF, Appling County HS (Ga.)

Position: OF

Height/Weight: 6'2"/175

Bats/Throws: R/R

DOB: 12/12/1993

High School: Appling County (Ga.)

College Commitment: Georgia

If Buxton’s hit tool develops as many scouts predict, he has the chance to be a legitimate five-tool player—a term that’s seldom tossed around. The Georgia native has plus speed that is as evident in the outfield as it is on the basepaths, and there’s even room for it to improve.

In the outfield, he also has arguably the best prep arm in the draft, having been clocked regularly in the low 90s with plenty of carry.

At the dish, Buxton has plus raw bat speed and an easy swing, which has led many scouts to project that the right-handed hitter will develop at least above-average power. Furthermore, his ability to recognize quality offspeed pitches at such a young age suggests that he’ll be able to hit for average in time, as well.

Latest Mock Draft Projection: No. 2, Minnesota Twins

Who Could Steal Him?: If he’s not the No. 1 overall draft pick, any team other than the Astros that lands the toolsy prep outfielder should consider it a steal.

That’s right; if the Twins draft him at No. 2, that’s a steal. 

My Other 2012 MLB Draft Rankings and Articles

25 Best Pitching Prospects in the 2012 Draft Class (May 23)

MLB Mock Draft 2.0: Who's Rising and Falling in First-Round Projections (May 22)

ETA of Top 25 College Prospects Debuting in MLB (May 21)

Ranking the 10 Most Dangerous Bust Candidates in the First Round (May 21)

Ranking the Most MLB-Ready Tools of Draft Prospects (May 18)

Ranking the Most MLB-Ready Pitches of Draft Prospects (May 17)

10 Under-the-Radar Draft Prospects Who Could Be MLB Stars (May 17)

Each Top 25 College Team's Draft Eligible Star (May 16)

10 Biggest Prep 'Signability' Risks in the 2012 Draft Class (May 16)