2012 MLB Mock Draft: Rookies Ready to Make a Mark in the Pros

There a few players in the upcoming MLB draft that are going to need very little seasoning in the minors before making an impact in the pros. 

These guys may not have the highest ceilings in this draft, but they have the solid fundamentals and a skill set that is near pro ready. 

These guys will be highlighted with extra attention in my complete first-round mock draft below. 

Langford's 2012 MLB Mock Draft

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

Buxton has five-tool potential. He is a little light in the power department, but has a swing to generate nice lift and the power will develop as he grows stronger. 

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

Why Appel is Close to Pro Ready

Appel has a big league ready fastball. He throws it in the mid-90s when looking for the punchout, and he has excellent control with the fastball. 

He also has a devastating curveball. You'd like to see him gain a little control with the bender, but this pitch has a ton of late break and will be a nice strikeout pitch. 

Appel also has a developing changeup. This is the pitch that, whichever team drafts him, will go to work on, and as he makes improvements with this pitch, he will be ready for the show. 

3. Seattle Mariners (67-95): Mike Zunino, C, Florida

Why Zunino is Close to Pro Ready

Zunino's defense is ready for the majors, and he is still improving. He doesn't allow many passed balls and knows how to frame a pitch. He also has a strong arm and quick release. 

He is also a natural at the plate. He has a nice compact swing and great bat speed. He will hit his share of homers and doubles. 

He also is well disciplined. Zunino has a good eye, and has really developed his ability to sit back on the ball and drive it to all fields. 

Zunino will need some time in the minors to improve at hitting breaking balls, but with his plate approach and ability to go opposite field, this shouldn't take long. 

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

Why Gausman is Close to Pro Ready

Gausman's stay in the minors could be a short one for one reason: He can bring the heat. Gausman regularly touches the upper-90s on the gun. 

This could easily find him being a call-up prospect in his first year when teams expand their rosters. He will be a nice arm to bring out of the pen. 

The only reason this might not happen is if his team does not want to stunt his development as a starter. Gausman needs to strengthen his full arsenal of pitches is he wants to become a staple of a rotations.

5. Kansas City Royals (71-91): Carlos Correa, SS, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy

Correa will need considerable seasoning before he reaches the pros, but he has all the tools to be an elite shortstop. He has great size and power, while still being a smooth glove in the field. 

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

Amora needs to add some strength, but he is a natural athlete. He has explosive fast-twitch muscles and a smooth swing. He also has a good glove in the outfield. 

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

Zimmer has a nice fastball and strong curveball. He will need to continue to develop his slider and changeup before he is ready for a trip to the show. 

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

Marrero is inconsistent at the plate, but he has displayed good power. He has no inconsistency issues in the field. He has great range and a strong arm. 

9. Miami Marlins (72-90): Max Fried, LHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA)

Fried is the top left-handed pitching prospect in this draft. He will need to polish his off-speed pitches, but he has a ton of upside. 

10. Colorado Rockies (73-89): Lucas Giolito, RHP, Harvard-Westlake (CA)

The 6'7" Giolito has a remarkably smooth delivery for a pitcher of his stature. He has a power fastball and good curve. He will need to polish his command, but the sky's the limit with this pitcher. 

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

Hawkins has a ton of power. He needs more plate discipline and pitch recognition, but this is a legitimate 40-home-run-type of hitter. 

12. New York Mets (77-85): Marcus Stroman, RHP, Duke

Why Stroman is Close to Pro Ready

Stroman has a strong mid-90s fastball with decent command. He also has an excellent cutter that he throws from the same arm slot. Both of these pitches can be strikeout pitches in the majors. 

He has a developing slider with decent break and command. With some seasoning, this could become a reliable pitch. 

Stroman has the ability to be a closer and could quickly come up in a setup role. He is likely headed for the bullpen, as his small stature does not suggest that he will be able to handle the load as a starter. 

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

Shaffer has solid power and a refined batting eye. This is a player that should always have a solid OBP. 

14. Cincinnati Reds (79-83): Gavin Cecchini, SS, Barbe HS (LA)

Cecchini is a smooth fielder with a reliable glove. He is an excellent athlete who has gap power at the plate. 

15. Cleveland Indians (80-82): Andrew Heaney, LHP, Oklahoma State

Heaney doesn't have a dominant fastball, but he gets good movement on all of his pitches. He should develop into a solid middle-of-the-rotation-type of pitcher. 

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

Stratton already has a nice feel for four pitches: a two and four-seam fastball, slider and curve. He will be another nice young arm for the Nationals. 

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

Smoral is loaded with potential and will help fill out the Jays' quest for good young arms. 

18. Los Angeles Dodgers (82-79): Joey Gallo, 3B/RHP, Bishop Gorman HS (NV)

Gallo is big athlete with plus power from the left side of the plate. He also has a mid-90s fastball and could be developed as a pitcher. 

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

Wacha has a strong arm and a lot of movement. He needs to refine his mechanics and control, but he has a lot of upside. 

20. San Francisco Giants (86-76): Lance McCullers, RHP, Jesuit HS (FL)

The Giants have to begin rebuilding their rotation, and McCullers has the potential to be a top of the rotation pitcher. 

21. Atlanta Braves (89-73): D.J. Davis, OF, Stone HS (MS)

Davis has leadoff hitter written all over him. He is a burner on the bases and is developing a nice approach at the plate with gap power.

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

Virant has a mid-90s fastball and an excellent curve. He will need to fill out his arsenal, but there is no reason to think he won't be able to do so. 

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

Sims has to work on his mechanics and build up his stamina, but he has a good fastball, curve and change. 

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

Kelly has the quick twitch needed to play the hot corner. He also has solid bat speed and decent power. 

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

Fontana is a great fielder, but an inconsistent hitter. However, he does have a good eye and should always be able to get on base. 

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

Johnson has good size and a live fastball. He needs a ton of work on his off-speed pitches, but he has enough upside for the Diamondbacks to take him in the first. 

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

The Brewers have to find a long-term answer at third, and Piscotty is just that. He is not a great power hitter, but this guy rarely swings and misses. 

28. Milwaukee Brewers (96-66): Clint Coulter, C, Union HS (WA)

Coulter needs lots of work defensively behind the plate. However, he has great power and could be a 30 to 40 home run guy. 

29. Texas Rangers (96-66): Ty Hensley, RHP, Santa Fe HS (OK)

Hensley is a well-built pitching prospect with three potential plus pitches. 

30. New York Yankees (97-65): Zach Eflin, RHP, Hagerty HS (FL)

Eflin has the frame and fastball to be a major league starter. He will need to work on the rest of his pitches. 

31. ****Boston Red Sox (90-72): Stryker Trahan, C, Acadian HS (FL)

Trahan is built like a catcher. He also has nice raw power, but will have to work on his swing mechanics to succeed in the pros. 

*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