MLB Draft 2012: What Should Boston Do with Pair of 1st-Round Picks?

Believe it or not, the 2012 MLB First-Year Player draft is next Monday. Yes, like five days away next Monday.

With our minds mainly on all of the injuries the Boston Red Sox have suffered this season and how long they can stay over .500, general manager Ben Cherington and his team of scouts have been preparing for the draft. 

This year, the Red Sox hold two first-round picks—the 24th and 31st—and one compensation-round pick (37th) for Jonathan Papelbon signing with the Philadelphia Phillies this past offseason.

In last year's draft, Boston took pitcher Matt Barnes at No. 19 and catcher Blake Swihart at No. 26. In the compensation round, the Red Sox selected pitcher Henry Owens and outfielder Jackie Bradley. Those picks, however, were made by former general manager Theo Epstein.

The reigns are now in the hands of Cherington, who will audit the organization and determine which prospects will be the future of the Boston Red Sox.

As ESPN insider Keith Law writes (subscription required), Boston is most likely to go with a college player over an amateur with their opening pick and then just go with the best overall player thereafter. In his latest mock draft, Law has predicted Boston either goes with Texas A&M outfielder Tyler Naquin or high school shortstop Tanner Rahier with the 24th pick.

In his latest mock draft, B/R's Mike Rosenbaum predicts Boston will go with high school third baseman/pitcher Joey Gallo. 

If you look at who Boston has in their minor league system, there's a lot of talented outfielders including the aforementioned Bradley, Brandon Jacobs and Bryce Brentz among others.

Naquin would be a better selection over the others just because he's a college player, making him much more likely to sign over Rahier and Gallo, both of whom have committed to big-name schools. Yes, Boston has good talent in the outfield already but Naquin would be a solid asset for the future should one of their young stars not work out.

Boston also should look to get more pitching in the draft. Both Law and Rosenbaum essentially agree with that idea; Law thinks that Duke pitcher Marcus Stroman is a good fit while Rosenbaum predicts Boston will take Georgia pitcher Alex Wood. 

Stroman has been a starter with Duke but could eventually turn into a reliever. Wood is one of Georgia's best starting pitchers. The Red Sox would be smart to take either one of these players should they still be there when Boston is on the clock with the 31st pick.

The Red Sox have two very valuable first-round picks that they can't afford to be busts. The pressure is on Ben Cherington and hopefully he comes through when it counts on Monday.