2012 MLB Mock Draft: Teams That Must Find a Difference-Maker

No team should ever go into the MLB draft without at least trying to find a future star or two who can make a difference at the Big League level.

If you're not in the scouting business to find the Next Big Thing (or a Next Big Thing), then what are you doing in it, exactly?

Of course, some teams are more desperate than others to find diamonds in the rough. That doesn't figure to change this year, with more than a handful of teams out to upgrade their farm systems more than the average quotient of urgency behind them.

1. Houston Astros: Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford

Like, say, the Houston Astros, whose farm system remains in shambles after years of mismanagement.

So much so that even shipping out Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence at the trade deadline last season wasn't enough to replenish it.

Mark Appel would be more than a nice start in that endeavor. The Stanford product is one of a number of prospects who could go here, including Byron Buxton, Kyle Zimmer and Kevin Gausman.

But his ace-caliber stuff, along with his ties to the Houston area, make him a natural fit for a 'Stros organization that should accept help wherever it can find some.

2. Minnesota Twins: Byron Buxton, OF, Appling County HS (Georgia)

The Twinkies are always on the lookout for stars, particularly from the high school ranks. Here's thinking Minnesota won't say "no" to a kid with Upton-esque talent if he's still available at this point.

3. Seattle Mariners: Mike Zunino, C, Florida

The Mariners like Mike Zunino. They like him not. They like Zunino. They like him not.

At the end of the day, the M's are long on pitching prospects but short on hitters to support them, especially those that can also play behind the plate. Granted, Jesus Montero is more than capable of catching, though Seattle might be better served saving his bat for the DH spot.

It's not out of the realm of possibility that the M's opt, instead, for a college pitcher (i.e. Kevin Gausman, Kyle Zimmer) or reach for a high school arm (i.e. Lucas Giolito) with this pick.

For now, though, it's safe enough to suggest they'll be happy enough to plug Zunino's bat into the lineup in a year or two.

4. Baltimore Orioles: Kevin Gausman, RHP, LSU

Pitching ain't the problem it used to be in Baltimore, or at least wouldn't appear to be with the way the O's have once again charged to the top of the AL East in the early going.

New management could throw everyone for a loop, but it seems fair to imagine they'll go for Kevin Gausman, who's shown an ability to hump it up to 99 on the gun with his fastball.

5. Kansas City Royals: Kyle Zimmer, RHP, San Francisco

Pitching is the name of the game for the Royals, especially now that their lineup is filled with the likes of Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas. There have been some concerns about Zimmer's velocity and his gimpy hamstring of late, though his four-pitch repertoire and presumed ability to scoot through the minors should make him sufficiently attractive to KC nonetheless.

6. Chicago Cubs: Albert Almora, OF, Mater Academy Charter (Florida)

Theo Epstein and company are in it for the long haul, which makes their interest in a high school hitter of Albert Almora's caliber all the more sensible. The Miami-area product has the talent, tools, advanced hitting acumen and slick glove in the outfield to be a star at Wrigley Field in short order.

7. San Diego Padres: Carlos Correa, SS, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy (Puerto Rico)

Forget about Matt Bush, Matt Antonelli and Donovan Tate.

At this point, the Padres can't afford to not take a chance on a high school prodigy like Carlos Correa. The Puerto Rico native is as gifted as any position player in this draft class, with stunning atheticism in the field and an eye for hitting that goes well beyond his years.

Whether Correa winds up at shortstop, third base or somewhere else on the diamond in San Diego, he'll be sure to shine.

8. Pittsburgh Pirates: Deven Marrero, SS, Arizona State

Deven Marrero's hitting tailed off a bit this season, though word on the street is that the Pirates are still high on him. The Arizona State product has some intriguing pop in his bat and, more importantly, his glove and his arm are ready to play shortstop at the Major League level.

9. Miami Marlins: Courtney Hawkins, OF, Carroll HS (Texas)

The Marlins have a certain fondness for high school outfielders with light-tower power (see: Stanton, Giancarlo). Courtney Hawkins fits the mold as well as any prospect in this draft class and he should be a natural addition in Miami in, say, four or five years.

10. Colorado Rockies: Max Fried, LHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (California)

Starting pitching is always at a premium, especially at Coors Field, and Max Fried has the arm to star in a Rockies uniform.

11. Oakland Athletics: Stephen Piscotty, 3B, Stanford

Money's rather tight in Oakland these days. Therefore, the A's will opt for Stephen Piscotty, a kid who's a solid prospect in the field and at the plate but, more importantly, should be easy enough to sign.

12. New York Mets: Gavin Cecchini, SS, Barbe HS (Louisiana)

Replacing Jose Reyes at shortstop has been no easy task for the Mets.

Not that anyone in Flushing Meadows ever expected it to be. Superstar shortstops come and go, but they don't grow on trees and certainly not in every draft.

And, realistically, Ronny Cedeno is far closer to a stopgap than a savior.

Gavin Cecchini, though, may well be something more. The gifted kid from the Bayou has drawn interest from the Mets, who haven't shied away from high school hitters in the past.

13. Chicago White Sox: Lucas Giolito, RHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (California)

The White Sox are in a unique position with regard to Lucas Giolito. Their new manager, Robin Ventura, coached against his high school team and saw what this kid is capable of up close.

The South Siders usually lean towards college prospects, but with their farm system depleted and ownership potentially unwilling to spend additional dollars under the new slotting rules, gambling on a talented prep star with a history of arm injuries may be the way to go.

14. Cincinnati Reds: Marcus Stroman, RHP, Duke

College arms are the charms for the Reds, who could fashion the diminutive Marcus Stroman into a flame-throwing bullpen arm in short order.

15. Cleveland Indians: Richie Shaffer, 3B, Clemson

Richie Shaffer is probably the best power hitter coming out of the college ranks this year, and fills a need for the Indians at third base.

16. Washington Nationals: Michael Wacha, RHP, Texas A&M

If Fozzie Bear were the scouting director of an MLB team, he'd have Michael Wacha on top of his big board.

As it stands, the Texas A&M product would be a solid pickup for a Nats organization already loaded with pitching, though, as the saying goes, you can never have too much of a good thing.

17. Toronto Blue Jays: Addison Russell, 3B/SS, Pace HS (Florida)

The Jays have never been ones to shy away from gambling on a high school hitter. They won't likely change that philosophy before picking up Addison Russell, who could certainly play somewhere other than third base now that Brett Lawrie appears to have the hot corner locked down in Toronto.

18. Los Angeles Dodgers: Ty Hensley, RHP, Santa Fe HS (Oklahoma)

Ty Hensley's profile is eerily reminiscent of the one that made Clayton Kershaw the seventh-overall pick in the 2006 draft. He's big, he throws hard, he's got a hard-biting curveball and he's from the Midwest.

Now, if only he threw left-handed...

19. St. Louis Cardinals (via Angels): Tyler Naquin, OF, Texas A&M

The Cardinals aren't exactly hurting for hitting heroes these days, though an advanced outfield bat like Tyler Naquin's should be ready in time to replace Carlos Beltran's when his contract comes due after next season.

20. San Francisco Giants: Andrew Heaney, LHP, Oklahoma State

There's no telling which way the Giants will go when Tim Lincecum hits free agency after the 2013 season. In the meantime, they'd be wise to groom a potential replacement for the two-time Cy Young winner, starting with Andrew Heaney.

21. Atlanta Braves: Matt Smoral, LHP, Solon HS (Ohio)

Matt Smoral's health and signability concerns are significant deterrents, but the Braves have a knack for turning prep stars into pro aces.

And Smoral has the tools to be the next one.

22. Toronto Blue Jays (Compensation Pick): Zach Eflin, RHP, Hagerty HS (Florida)

The real beauty of having a loaded farm system, as the Jays do, is the freedom it allows a team to take chances on high school, as Toronto may well choose to do with Zach Eflin.

Not to be confused with the kid from High School Musical.

23. St. Louis Cardinals: Victor Roache, OF, Georgia Southern

The Cards have gone batty for bats, I tell ya!

Granted, Victor Roache's still has a ways to go, but the improvement he's shown of late is certainly enough to suggest that he'll be swingin' in St. Louis at some point down the line.

24. Boston Red Sox: Chris Stratton, RHP, Mississippi State

Have you seen the Red Sox's bullpen recently? Andrew Bailey's injuries make him a liability going forward. Mark Melancon didn't last. Alfredo Aceves has been spotty so far.

And Vicente Padilla? Must I delve into it, other than to say he's still pitching somehow?

Not that Chris Stratton is necessarily a surefire solution to all that ails the Sox, but the kid knows how to strike 'em out and has plenty of experience working out of the bulpen.

Oh, and the last time Boston plucked a pitcher out of Mississippi State and dropped him into the closer's role, it worked out pretty well for 'em.

Y'all remember that Papelbon fellow, don't you?

25. Tampa Bay Rays: Stryker Trahan, C, Acadiana HS (Louisiana)

C'mon now. You don't think Joe Maddon, he of the crazy stunts and road trip costumes, wouldn't encourage Rays GM Andrew Friedman to go after a kid named Stryker Trahan?

Yeah, my thoughts exactly.

26. Arizona Diamondbacks: Lance McCullers Jr., RHP, Jesuit HS (Florida)

Pitching isn't exactly a pressing concern for the D'backs these days, though stuffing their stores with a talented tosser like Lance McCullers Jr. can't hurt their cause...can it?

27. Milwaukee Brewers (via Tigers): Wyatt Mathisen, SS/C, Calalen HS (Texas)

Wyatt Mathisen's arm will land him either at shortstop or behind the plate. The Brewers could use help at either spot, but can't have Mathisen play both, for obvious reasons.

28. Milwaukee Brewers: Lucas Sims, RHP, Brookwood HS (Georgia)

The Brewers would prefer to find at least one college prospect between their two first-round picks, though they won't likely argue with picking up a hitter, in Mathisen, followed by a pitcher with a high ceiling like Lucas Sims.

Even if both are plucked from the prep ranks.

29. Texas Rangers: Hunter Virant, LHP, Camarillo HS (California)

The Rangers have built a baseball empire with their bottomless store of pitching. Whether or not Hunter Virant ever pitches in Texas, then, won't make him any less valuable to the organization's long-term future.

30. New York Yankees: Brian Johnson, LHP, Florida

Much like their arch rivals, the Yankees could use another arm in their bullpen to make up for injuries to Mariano Rivera and Dave Robertson.

Brian Johnson might fit in a little too well for New York's liking, given his own concerns regarding his health and longevity. But the gifted lefty out of Florida could shoot through the minors if he stays healthy, camp out in the Yanks' bullpen for a bit and eventually stretch out into a Major League starter.

You know, like Phil Hughes was supposed to...

Too soon?

31. Boston Red Sox (via Phillies): Joey Gallo, 3B/P, Bishop Gorman HS (Nevada)

The Red Sox won't be scared off by Joey Gallo's high price tag, assuming their enamored enough with his power bat and cannon for an arm.

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