2012 MLB Mock Draft: Power Hitters Destined to Dominate

The MLB draft is far different than its more popular NFL and NBA counterparts. Since a vast majority of the players selected won't make an impact for quite some time, there's a lot more guesswork done by front offices in hopes of landing a future star.

One attribute that can help a prospect stand out is raw power. Every team looks for sluggers that demand respect in the middle of the order, which makes life a lot easier on everybody else in the lineup, and this class has some players with good potential in that area.

Here's a complete mock draft of the opening round featuring power hitters that have bright futures. They will be intriguing names to watch as they each make their way toward the major leagues.

1. Houston Astros (56-106): Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford

Appel has all the makings of an ace. He possesses three above-average pitches, including a great combination of a fastball and a change-up that will keep hitters off balance.

2. Minnesota Twins (63-99): Kevin Gausman, RHP, LSU

The Twins must start to focus on building a strong starting rotation that will give them the best chance to succeed in their spacious park. Gausman is a power pitcher with room to grow.

3. Seattle Mariners (67-95): Byron Buxton, OF, Appling County High School (Ga.)

It's taken awhile, but the Mariners are starting to turn things around with some young talent. Buxton is a five-tool player who should quickly make his way through the system.

4. Baltimore Orioles (69-93): Carlos Correa, SS, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy

One of the leagues most surprising teams this season, Baltimore still has some holes to fill moving forward. Correa fits the mold of new-age shortstops who can hit and possess a good glove.

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

Zunino has established himself as the best catcher in the class. Not only does he know how to handle a pitching staff, but he also has tremendous power potential which sets him up to become one of the league's premier players at the position.

There are always concerns about the ability for a catcher to last behind the plate for an extended period, with the most recent case being Joe Mauer with the Minnesota Twins. For now, it looks like Zunino has the ideal size to remain behind the dish, at least for a sizable portion of his career.

That's what makes him such an intriguing prospect and a likely top-five pick.

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

Already a solid defender, Almora should continue to improve at the plate as he makes his way up the ladder. Eventually he will become a good all-around player.

7. San Diego Padres (71-91): Lucas Giolito, RHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (Calif.)

The only concern with Giolito is that he's already been sidelined with an elbow injury. For a young pitcher, that's always concerning, but the upside keeps him high on the list.

8. Pittsburgh Pirates (72-90): Deven Marrero, SS, Arizona State

Similar to Correa, Marrero should develop into a shortstop that can makes things happen both at the plate and in the field. The Pirates shouldn't pass that up.

9. Miami Marlins (72-90): Kyle Zimmer, RHP, San Francisco

Zimmer has all the tools to become a front-end starter with four pitches already in his arsenal. His change needs work before he reaches the majors, but otherwise he's already in good shape.

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

A lanky lefty that will benefit from adding more strength and size, Fried projects as a ground ball pitcher, making him a nice fit for Coors Field.

11. Oakland Athletics (74-88): Courtney Hawkins, RF, Carroll HS (Texas)

Even though Hawkins still has a lot of work to do before he reaches his potential, he will eventually become a prototypical corner outfielder with a good arm and some pop.

12. New York Mets (77-85): Gavin Cecchini, SS, Barbe HS (La.)

Having watched Jose Reyes head to their division rival—the Miami Marlins—the Mets need to start thinking about the future of their shortstop position. Cecchini has good speed and a solid bat.

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

The White Sox have a player in the same mold as Shaffer in Adam Dunn. While Dunn obviously has a much longer track record of success, both guys swing for the fences and are willing to sacrifice some strikeouts for added power.

He does take his fair share of walks, though, which helps offsets the strikeouts. He's smacked 10 home runs for Clemson this season and should continue to develop even more power once he fills out in the coming years.

Even though there's a risk involved with taking a player like Shaffer early, the potential payoff makes it worth a shot.

14. Cincinnati Reds (79-83): Chris Stratton, RHP, Mississippi State

A fast riser, Stratton should continue to move up draft boards as the big day draws closer. Pitching in Great American Ball Park isn't any fun, but he has the stuff to survive it.

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

If there's one position that tends to go through the system faster than others, it's relief pitcher. Stroman is the best available and could help the Indians sooner rather than later.

16. Washington Nationals (80-81): Andrew Heaney, LHP, Oklahoma State

Heaney has a smooth, repeatable delivery that should allow him to dominate the lower levels right away. Finding an out pitch will be the key to him making it to the pros, though.

17. Toronto Blue Jays (81-81): Matt Smoral, LHP, Solon HS (Ohio)

The Blue Jays need pitching to survive in the AL East. Smoral has a solid base of a fastball and change. Adding a third pitch will allow him to become a more complete pitcher.

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

McCullers has a terrific fastball, which is the main reason he's caught the eye of scouts. His control needs to improve as do his secondary pitches, but he's worth a flier here.

19. *St. Louis Cardinals (90-72): Michael Wacha, RHP, Texas A&M

While Wacha has slid down the big board a little bit recently, he's still got a first-round arm. Like so many other pitchers outside of the top 10, finding pitches to work off his fastball is the key.

20. San Francisco Giants (86-76): D.J. Davis, OF, Stone HS (Miss.)

Davis is an outfielder with great speed and an ability to hit from gap to gap, which makes him an ideal fit for the Giants and AT&T Park, where he would eventually thrive.

21. Atlanta Braves (89-73): Joey Gallo, 3B/RHP, Bishop Gorman HS (Nev.)

Even though Gallo has both pitched and played the field in high school, his power makes it more likely that he'll start in the field with his new organization. He's another guy with some holes to fill in his swing, but that's what the minor leagues are for.

The Braves are enjoying the last season of Chipper Jones' remarkable run with the club, so picking a young third basemen to develop would seem like a good strategy, especially one with as much pop as Gallo if he develops as they expect.

Atlanta has been known to focus on pitching early in drafts, but the team has plenty of depth in that area. The Braves should take a chance on Gallo.

22. **Toronto Blue Jays (81-81): Hunter Virant, LHP, Camarillo HS (Calif.)

The positive side of Virant is that he has four pitches he can use to get hitters out. On the flip side, none of them are the dominant No. 1 pitch that you need in the majors, so he might slide on draft day.

23. St. Louis Cardinals (90-72): Lucas Sims, RHP, Brookwood HS (Ga.)

Sims still needs to work on adding a third pitch to his repertoire but has shown enough ability to warrant taking a change on this late in the first round.

24. Boston Red Sox (90-72): Carson Kelly, RHP/3B, Westview HS (Ore.)

The Red Sox would be fortunate if Kelly fell to them. He will eventually have to decide on a position, but since pitching is so hard to find, he'll probably start his journey there.

25. Tampa Bay Rays (91-71): Nolan Fontana, SS, Florida

Another shortstop in a class full of potential stars at the position. Fontana can do a little bit of everything, and that seems to fit the bill for the Rays under Joe Maddon.

26. Arizona Diamondbacks (94-68): Pierce Johnson, RHP, Missouri State

There are a lot of things to like about the Missouri State product, including a big-time fastball. He should fill a middle-of-the-rotation spot for a long time.

27. ***Milwaukee Brewers (96-66): Stephen Piscotty, 3B, Stanford

Has illustrated the ability to hit line drives on a constant basis, which should develop into more power once he bulks up, making him a better fit for the third base spot.

28. Milwaukee Brewers (96-66):Addison Russell, SS, Pace HS (Fla.)

Plate discipline will be the key for Russell as he attempts to develop more pop without becoming a classic boom-or-bust player.

29. Texas Rangers (96-66): Zach Eflin, RHP, Hagerty HS (Fla.)

Another pitcher with a good base featuring a fastball and change. Once he can develop a third pitch, he'll join an already talented Rangers squad.

30. New York Yankees (97-65): Clint Coulter, C, Union HS (Wash.)

The Yankees dealt top catching prospect Jesus Montero to the Seattle Mariners. Taking Coulter would give them another backstop to develop.

31. ****Boston Red Sox (90-72): Corey Seager, 3B, Northwest Carrabus HS (N.C.)

Seager has shown a good approach at the plate and in the field, making him a potential first-round pick. Still plenty of room for improvement, though.

Draft pick notes:

*Compensation from Los Angeles Angels for Albert Pujols

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

***Compensation from Detroit Tigers for Prince Fielder

****Compensation from Philadelphia Phillies for Jonathan Papelbon